How do people think their team will fare?

[Matt - DTFC]

This season that is. Stoopid thread title wouldn't let me squeeze it all in!

I was initially looking forward to a season of possibly winning games but our get out of jail free card looks to have scuppered that! Typically Dorchester have now managed to confuse the bejeezers out of me in pre-season. It looks like we've signed enough decent players that our starting eleven should be very competitive (less said about our subs/lack thereof the better). Indeed we go and prove this by thumping a few little teams and playing very well against the Muff and then even better against Bournemouth. Then, in true Magpies style we look like dogs doo against Sherbourne (I know) and the Farnborough. Which dillio team am I meant to know will show up this year?!

Consequently I have two predictions. Team A shows up and we'll be top half, team B and we'll be fighting hard to get the bottom spot with a couple of other equally pants teams.

Stupid football.

[Meadow]

We were very hit and miss last season, dropping 18 points to the bottom 4 on our way to the play-offs. We released a lot of last season's players (including a couple we shouldn't have) and brought a load more in.

The wonderkid who was supposed to be the answer to all our problems got injured in our second PSF (a pre-existing problem apparently )

We lost to teams we shouldn't have in pre-season, and only really got our act together against Sutton (sorry guys) and Tonbridge - both in the league below us.

I've no idea how we're going to do in the BSS, I just hope the players don't go AWOL as much as they did last season.

[ojiveojive]

The bookies usually have The Moors as odds on favourites for the drop from the BSN, which is alright by me cos we have so far proved them wrong ;D.

Our pre-season was dismal to begin with, drawing with Stratford Town and losing to Leamington Town, rising to not bad against a Birmingham City Academy side to not quite enough to get the blood rising against Hayes & Yeading.

We are hobbled by being unable to afford a first class (at our level) striker who can score 20+ goals a season and having full backs who look poor and poorer (one isn't even a full back and he's the better of the two!), with no cover for our two centre backs when the inevitable injuries/suspensions kick. Keeper is one of the best in the league, though and he'll get plenty of opportunity to prove it! Midfield could prove to be quite creative and if we get someone playing on the right wing as well as on the left wing we might stretch a few defences.

Optimistically I'll go for a 10th to 15th place. Anyone want to take a tenner?

[ambersalamander]

Well, I think we'll do OK, although to be honest it's vey difficult to judge a brand new team in a new league with a new management team from pre-season games alone. I think we'll finish somewhere in the middle of the top half- possibly play-offs.

[coops]

Aug 4, 2008 17:42:56 GMT ojiveojive said:

Optimistically I'll go for a 10th to 15th place. Anyone want to take a tenner?

How about a tenner to the charity of the winners choice that Tamuff finish above The Poors this season?

[davetscfc]

I think we'll have a real struggle to stay up. Finances mean we've got a much smaller squad than in recent seasons, only about 18 players. If everyone remains fit and available we have a decent side who can definitely compete at Conference level (reservations about the lack of pace at the back aside). However as we already have 3 players (including last season's ever present goalkeeper) ruled out for the first 2 months of the season it doesn't bode well in that respect.

A long hard season in what looks like a tougher league than last season awaits.

[Matt - DTFC]

Hey Dave did you see Dorch signed Danny Clay permanently?! Old news I know but a great signing. Very surprised you let him go as I'd have thought he have managed very well in the Conference. Seems we've finally been sensible and not tried to get an entire full-time squad (think only four players are now) so it was probably ideal for Danny.

[peekay]

We've only kept hold of 5 players from last season (and 2 of them are goalkeepers) so we have a mostly new squad. The worrying part is that ,having dropped from step 3 to step 4 we seem unable to attract even players who have already played at that level. Most of the new players are stepping up 1 or 2 divisions. For that reason I believe we could well be in for yet another relegation scrap.

[thevicar]

Contrary to the beliefs of our rather interesting new owner, I think we're going to find it tough again this season - mid table at best and more than likely lirting with relegation again. I'd also guess that there will be some silly arse off field shenanigans with the owner trying to play at management before the end of the season.

[davetscfc]

Aug 5, 2008 8:35:23 GMT Matt - DTFC said:

Hey Dave did you see Dorch signed Danny Clay permanently?! Old news I know but a great signing. Very surprised you let him go as I'd have thought he have managed very well in the Conference. Seems we've finally been sensible and not tried to get an entire full-time squad (think only four players are now) so it was probably ideal for Danny.

Great signing for you as I'm sure I said when he went on loan. from the few opportunities he had he was capable of playing at Conference level, but for some reason his face didn't seem to fit. I know he turned down going full time which some people think contributed to him being overlooked but our joint players of the season were both part timers so there was more to it than that.

[amberaleman]

I don't like making predictions about football, particularly where my own team is concerned, because there's so much scope for egg/face communion. After all, if the game were predictable it would be much less interesting! But now that Sutton have signed Chukki Eribenne (who scored twice on his debut in tonight's 2-2 draw at Dulwich Omelette) I'm confident that we have the squad to win the Ryman League. Unfortunately, we know there's a big gap between having the potential and realising that potential. So I'm going to be cautious and forecast 2nd place followed by success in the play-offs.

[loudefc]

Because of some bloke leaving to manage some Tinpot side in London(good luck Doz).We have had to cut our cloth a bit.Which i am happy with.
Smaller squad.If they stay fit and don't get silly suspensions we should be OK.
Away to Thurruck 1st game.They gave us a good hiding last season.So we will have a good bench mark come 4-45 Saturday
Top half finish i hope.
Good luck all this season.

[Col ISIHAC.]

ISIHAC!!

We have to do two things if H&W are to prove worthy of the pre season hype.

Concede fewer goals - going from a clean sheet to three consecutive games with 4 conceded in each last season knackered us. It's always our goal difference which lets the team down compared to the top 6 / 10.
Drop fewer points away from home. Disaster last year, the games referred to above were all away; WLP was somewhat fortress like; travelling did strange things to the whole team for some reason.

If that can be achieved, and home form remains consistent then play offs at least. The signings Galey has mede certainly look to have strengthened us defensively; ironically, scoring goals has been the issue thus far. To improve on last season, clean sheets away from home, draws rather than sloppy defeats away from home, and the consistency at home which kept us in the hunt to be maintained.

Do that, and we might; just might, be this season's Wesel; without the nasty after effects!

[votp]

As The Vicar intimated, our off field activities may be more important than the season so I would be happy wth not leaving it till the last game to stay in the division. You know, the usual stuff, mid-table, reasonable cup run, few new grounds, meet some nice people etc.

[frankiegth]

I can't see Hucknall tearing up any trees, avoiding the drop (on merit) will do for me. We'll see over the next nine months though.