East Midlands Collective

This season.

Played 34. 42 points. 14th place. 5 points above the relegation zone and 10 off the playoffs.

Last season.

Played 34. 42 points. 16th place. 5 points above the relegation zone and 13 off the playoffs.

Pretty much the same as last season despite the horrendous injury problems we have had. That is, IMO, a plus.

We now have a settled side, very few injuries and we are playing some good stuff. We go into the back end of the season with a fit squad and realistic hope of a decent finish.

A year ago we were entering a period of injury problems. The last 10 or so games saw us with double figures unavailable. We are not in that position this year. The last 12 matches last season saw us win 3, draw 3 and lose 6. An average of 1 point per game. Looking at the run in I can see us easily beating that average this season. That would see us finish with more points than last season and in a higher position than last season.

Considering the huge changes in personnel, the reduction of the squad size, the losing of most of the players on high wages and the refusal to pay over the odds in both wages and transfer fees and the limiting effect that will have had on who we can bring in, a remarkable achievement.

I realise that not everybody will agree with me. I realise that we all hoped we'd be in the mix but I also hope that most fans are sensible enough and knowledgable enough to look at the limiting factors and the injury problems and realise that we have done very well under the circumstances.

We'd all like the circumstances to be different (positively different) but they aren't.

4 or 5 positive additions to the squad will see us threatening the playoffs next season provided we dont get 17 simultaneous injuries again and we shouold see more of the better footbal that the side has been serving up over the past few games.

Reasons to be cheerful? I think so.

If you are in the same position next year, you can post again and this time it will be reasons to be cheerfull part 3.