Are we forgetting the project?

I know our form has dropped, and the nerves may have played a part in the last three home games. We all had the title on our wish list given how long we led the league, but are we forgetting that this is a marathon, not a sprint?

If Lincoln go on to win the league, which looks very likely, they’ve done it in a very different way to us.

They have a more experienced squad, full of players well-suited to League One football. They rely heavily on set plays, counter attacks long balls, and a direct style. They are top of league but mostly have less possession then their opponents. You can’t simply sit back against them because they’ll punish you in those situations. If we try to play that way, we just don’t have the same personnel to be as effective.

The fanbases are different too. Our fans expect promotion, theirs are enjoying the ride. That creates two very different atmospheres, their ground is bouncing, while ours can feel tense and nervous with away teams putting 11 men behind the ball.

BBM is building something over the next three years. Yes, the final ball isn’t good enough at times, crosses, decision-making, and so on but think about where these players could be in three years with the experience they’re gaining now.

I feel every bit of the frustration, but if we take a step back, accept that the title is probably unlikely now, and get behind the team instead of booing a 0–0, we might actually enjoy this run more. It’s worth appreciating where this squad is in its journey, and what’s hopefully still to come.

I think the issue is being top for most of the season and then suddenly being so adrift in the space of a few games has taken the wind out of everyone's sails

I think people will perk up a bit when we get promoted but it just seems so flat now because we slipped away from top so quickly

Great opening post and you’re dead right that BBM has come in on a project not a Warnock type appointment of a quick fix.

We were all talking about getting a long term plan for years and now we have that fans are complaining as we’ve hit a slump in form.
So what?

We have a young team who have plenty to learn but have done brilliantly.

Absolutely correct.

People questioning the team sometimes passing the ball sideways and backwards don't seem to understand that it's all a part of keeping possession and not needlessly giving the ball away.
We've had plenty of unexpected success during the season playing this way.
Now a few results have gone against us, a few are beginning to doubt the philosophy introduced by BBM, who has obviously learned this from Pep and his coaching outfits.

It's still early days but the way most of our young squad have adapted has been a breath of fresh air.
Remember he has done this with last seasons squad and a couple of loanees.

Hopefully, BBM can recruit a few players this summer that will fit in with this style and prove the doubters wrong.
Otherwise, what's the alternative....return to the style of football that saw us drop two leagues in recent seasons!

Really good post.

Really good post.

Yes it is nice to see positivity being posted and not looking to knock the team for any reason

Great post and an accurate assessment of the situation.

Well said. All of us before the season started would have been overjoyed at our current position. This is a huge project. Our style of play is unrecognisable from the dross we have had to endure since Dave Jones left. We are not the finished product, we are a young team still learning on the job. Yes we will need five quality additions to our starting line up to finish in the top half of the Championship, with Bagan, NG & Wintle possibly leaving (not signed a new contract, contracts end this season). Our young players will be better next season for having the first team exposure of this season. I am really enjoying this season and believe we have overachieved to be in second place. Keep the faith, the future is bright with BBM in charge.

I know our form has dropped, and the nerves may have played a part in the last three home games. We all had the title on our wish list given how long we led the league, but are we forgetting that this is a marathon, not a sprint?

If Lincoln go on to win the league, which looks very likely, they’ve done it in a very different way to us.

They have a more experienced squad, full of players well-suited to League One football. They rely heavily on set plays, counter attacks long balls, and a direct style. They are top of league but mostly have less possession then their opponents. You can’t simply sit back against them because they’ll punish you in those situations. If we try to play that way, we just don’t have the same personnel to be as effective.

The fanbases are different too. Our fans expect promotion, theirs are enjoying the ride. That creates two very different atmospheres, their ground is bouncing, while ours can feel tense and nervous with away teams putting 11 men behind the ball.

BBM is building something over the next three years. Yes, the final ball isn’t good enough at times, crosses, decision-making, and so on but think about where these players could be in three years with the experience they’re gaining now.

I feel every bit of the frustration, but if we take a step back, accept that the title is probably unlikely now, and get behind the team instead of booing a 0–0, we might actually enjoy this run more. It’s worth appreciating where this squad is in its journey, and what’s hopefully still to come.

There ground is 12,000 ours is 33,000 big difference in atmosphere but we have averaged 19,000 plus they have not been in the championship as far as I am aware,
if they have not for a long time so there atmosphere is going to be completely different to ours.

But I will say this ,we would fare better in the championship than they will ,
they are very agriculture in there way of playing it works in this division but our style will be good in the championship compared to there's.

Great post and Monty I agree with you 100% !!!

I know our form has dropped, and the nerves may have played a part in the last three home games. We all had the title on our wish list given how long we led the league, but are we forgetting that this is a marathon, not a sprint?

If Lincoln go on to win the league, which looks very likely, they’ve done it in a very different way to us.

They have a more experienced squad, full of players well-suited to League One football. They rely heavily on set plays, counter attacks long balls, and a direct style. They are top of league but mostly have less possession then their opponents. You can’t simply sit back against them because they’ll punish you in those situations. If we try to play that way, we just don’t have the same personnel to be as effective.

The fanbases are different too. Our fans expect promotion, theirs are enjoying the ride. That creates two very different atmospheres, their ground is bouncing, while ours can feel tense and nervous with away teams putting 11 men behind the ball.

BBM is building something over the next three years. Yes, the final ball isn’t good enough at times, crosses, decision-making, and so on but think about where these players could be in three years with the experience they’re gaining now.

I feel every bit of the frustration, but if we take a step back, accept that the title is probably unlikely now, and get behind the team instead of booing a 0–0, we might actually enjoy this run more. It’s worth appreciating where this squad is in its journey, and what’s hopefully still to come.

There ground is 12,000 ours is 33,000 big difference in atmosphere but we have averaged 19,000 plus they have not been in the championship as far as I am aware,
if they have not for a long time so there atmosphere is going to be completely different to ours.

But I will say this ,we would fare better in the championship than they will ,
they are very agriculture in there way of playing it works in this division but our style will be good in the championship compared to there's.

Lincoln City have never played in the top division of English football. Despite being founder members of the Second Division in 1892 and having over 100 seasons in the Football League, they have never reached the top flight, setting a record for the most seasons in the league without playing in the top tier.

I know our form has dropped, and the nerves may have played a part in the last three home games. We all had the title on our wish list given how long we led the league, but are we forgetting that this is a marathon, not a sprint?

If Lincoln go on to win the league, which looks very likely, they’ve done it in a very different way to us.

They have a more experienced squad, full of players well-suited to League One football. They rely heavily on set plays, counter attacks long balls, and a direct style. They are top of league but mostly have less possession then their opponents. You can’t simply sit back against them because they’ll punish you in those situations. If we try to play that way, we just don’t have the same personnel to be as effective.

The fanbases are different too. Our fans expect promotion, theirs are enjoying the ride. That creates two very different atmospheres, their ground is bouncing, while ours can feel tense and nervous with away teams putting 11 men behind the ball.

BBM is building something over the next three years. Yes, the final ball isn’t good enough at times, crosses, decision-making, and so on but think about where these players could be in three years with the experience they’re gaining now.

I feel every bit of the frustration, but if we take a step back, accept that the title is probably unlikely now, and get behind the team instead of booing a 0–0, we might actually enjoy this run more. It’s worth appreciating where this squad is in its journey, and what’s hopefully still to come.

There ground is 12,000 ours is 33,000 big difference in atmosphere but we have averaged 19,000 plus they have not been in the championship as far as I am aware,
if they have not for a long time so there atmosphere is going to be completely different to ours.

But I will say this ,we would fare better in the championship than they will ,
they are very agriculture in there way of playing it works in this division but our style will be good in the championship compared to there's.

Lincoln City have never played in the top division of English football. Despite being founder members of the Second Division in 1892 and having over 100 seasons in the Football League, they have never reached the top flight, setting a record for the most seasons in the league without playing in the top tier.

Lincoln City's highest-ever league position is 5th in the Football League Second Division (then the second tier of English football and now Championship), achieved in the 1901–02 season. They have never competed in the top tier of English football