Speculating over what’s needed for success
Tranmere Crest
By David Sindall
July 22 2024
The distractions of the Euros have gone and the race to match fitness has started. No ball has been kicked in competition and I wondered about, as I always do, what form is required to deliver success in League Two. There is a general consensus that last season we travelled badly. We lost more away games than any club in the Division, even more than the two relegated teams. It got me wondering what level of loss can you suffer and still go up.
This isn't entirely scientific, but I've looked back over the last 4 seasons. Obviously teams set out to win as many games as possible, that's the intention but you don't have to win all your games to be a success. Looking at teams that make the play-offs the number of home defeats each team suffered were 20/21 7 (Tranmere); 21/22 7 (Swindon) ; 22/23 8 (Salford) and 23/24 9 (Crawley). Put differently, if you get beat in the league at home more than 7 times, you're unlikely to make a play off berth. The mathematicians amongst you will have worked out that the average is 8 home defeats amongst those numbers, but I'd argue you would be cutting it fine.
On away trips you would expect the data to be a bit more generous, it isn't really. Over the same period teams that made the play offs lost 9 (Morecambe) 20/21; 9 (Mansfield) 21/22; 8 (Stockport) 22/23 and 10 (Doncaster) 23/24. The average there comes out at 9 away defeats, but Doncaster last season were a bit of an outlier, I reckon avoiding defeat in 8 away games is the absolute minimum to make the playoffs.
And yet, there is a quirk. I also looked at automatic promotion. For home games the number of defeats reads 7 (Bolton) 20/21; 5 (Bristol Rovers) 21/22; 5 (Northampton) 22/23 and 3 (all to 3) 23/24. Maybe last season was exceptional on the home form front, but it looks like losing more than 5 home games limits your likelihood of auto promotion. If you want automatic promotion you also have to travel well, albeit not as well as I imagined. Over the same period you could get beaten in 8 (Bolton) 20/21; 7 (Bristol Rovers) 21/22; 5 (Orient and Stevenage) 22/23 and 7 (Wrexham) 23/24.
Now, last season we lost 8 games at home. Arguably the improvement to make the play offs is easy, and even getting it down to 5 home defeats isn't impossible if we were pushing for automatic promotion. Our away form irequires a sea change though. Going from getting beat on our travels in 8 games or less is a huge challenge. I reckon that's where we need our most improvements. We need to be less nervous when we leave Prenton Park and much meaner when we are at home. Plus, there are no such things as meaningless defeats. The mantra 'the season isn't decided in August' etc ignores the impact of cumulative defeats. Every point is vital, every game is important.
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Certain players needing to buck up their ideas eg. Kristian Dennis.
Finding a way to be more successful than last season without a game changer eg. Rob Apter.
Hopefully, if there is a stronger starting eleven next season we will be more ambitious in the season ahead
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:07:22:19:30:16 by hong kong rover.
Get the midfield & Forwards to chase down the opposing team when they get the ball & not stand & watch like England did.
Make the whole team play the game faster
Don't play out from the back, start the game in the oppositions half.
And let the team know by cheering & singing & letting the team know that the fans are 100% behind the team
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:07:23:19:47:27 by jal jal.
btw..did anyone see that programme on BBC 2 last night, The Apartheid Killer? worth a watch.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:07:23:20:39:46 by hong kong rover.
Quote:Bored rover
Simple: Spend loads of money so you have better players than the other teams or spend some money so you have some better players than other teams. Cant skimp on a Gk, CD x2 CDM and striker. Someone needs to keep the ball out the net at one end and then someone needs to give the ball to someone at the other who can put it in the net. Have self belief and be expressive on the pitch, work hard. I don't think our crowd help we are quick to express a moan and a for god sake. Puts players on edge they have to be able to make a mistake and not get pilloried otherwise they wont play freely and will look for the simple way out
It’s my experience that the crowd has been subdued rather than the moaning you talk about (always odd individuals who’re never happy). I actually think there’s been an air of acceptance and apathy from many attending. Therefore, I’m not buying into this fan blaming, which is just a distraction from the real issues. The Kop has even tried to gee up the players when the team has been struggling; admittedly short-lived but that’s what happens when you don’t get a response from the players.
The reality is, even with a raucous crowd, we’d be still in the same position as we are because we struggle to score; this will put more pressure on the team or individuals than any moans and groans. Memo should go out to the Kop to practise their sucking skills to suck the damn ball into the net…..fans fault!
Quote:Phil65Quote:Bored rover
Simple: Spend loads of money so you have better players than the other teams or spend some money so you have some better players than other teams. Cant skimp on a Gk, CD x2 CDM and striker. Someone needs to keep the ball out the net at one end and then someone needs to give the ball to someone at the other who can put it in the net. Have self belief and be expressive on the pitch, work hard. I don't think our crowd help we are quick to express a moan and a for god sake. Puts players on edge they have to be able to make a mistake and not get pilloried otherwise they wont play freely and will look for the simple way out
It’s my experience that the crowd has been subdued rather than the moaning you talk about (always odd individuals who’re never happy). I actually think there’s been an air of acceptance and apathy from many attending. Therefore, I’m not buying into this fan blaming, which is just a distraction from the real issues. The Kop has even tried to gee up the players when the team has been struggling; admittedly short-lived but that’s what happens when you don’t get a response from the players.
The reality is, even with a raucous crowd, we’d be still in the same position as we are because we struggle to score; this will put more pressure on the team or individuals than any moans and groans. Memo should go out to the Kop to practise their sucking skills to suck the damn ball into the net…..fans fault!
They were bood off at half time last week
Quote:Bored roverQuote:Phil65Quote:Bored rover
Simple: Spend loads of money so you have better players than the other teams or spend some money so you have some better players than other teams. Cant skimp on a Gk, CD x2 CDM and striker. Someone needs to keep the ball out the net at one end and then someone needs to give the ball to someone at the other who can put it in the net. Have self belief and be expressive on the pitch, work hard. I don't think our crowd help we are quick to express a moan and a for god sake. Puts players on edge they have to be able to make a mistake and not get pilloried otherwise they wont play freely and will look for the simple way out
It’s my experience that the crowd has been subdued rather than the moaning you talk about (always odd individuals who’re never happy). I actually think there’s been an air of acceptance and apathy from many attending. Therefore, I’m not buying into this fan blaming, which is just a distraction from the real issues. The Kop has even tried to gee up the players when the team has been struggling; admittedly short-lived but that’s what happens when you don’t get a response from the players.
The reality is, even with a raucous crowd, we’d be still in the same position as we are because we struggle to score; this will put more pressure on the team or individuals than any moans and groans. Memo should go out to the Kop to practise their sucking skills to suck the damn ball into the net…..fans fault!
They were bood off at half time last week
If you’re suggesting our teenage “ultras”, and possibly the odd “grown up” in the Kop booing them off at half-time impacted on their psyche, I’m suggesting their half-time chocolate hob-nob, nice warm cocoa and Nigel’s positivity pep talk, would have put any hurt feelings to bed. Whilst the games have been on, there’s been very little audible slating, definitely nothing to excuse any outcomes on the pitch.