Winter Break

[lucy6lucy]

Whilst the Premiership knobs have wanted the European style winter break, we at TQ1 have had one. We must surely be fit and ready for the Derby come 19.45pm on Monday(oh, Exeter is due rain for next 48hrs). Whilst we have only played 3 matches in 2013, we are now 6 points off relegation and 7 off playoffs. Yes we do have games in hand on most, but we only have 1 game in hand on 23rd and 24th placed teams. It is essential we dont lose Monday. We will shortly have Macklin back, which should give us more options. Do you think it has benefited the squad having had such a break to reflect on what to do better in the 2nd half of the season. The only problem we now face is 2 games a week until pretty much the end of season, which creates its own problems in fitness, injuries etc. 6 points next week and its game on for playoffs, 0 points and we need to invest in andrex shares

[Dutchgull]

I just hope that we can get to 50 points pretty dam quick and we can almost relax a little bit.............

[AustrianAndyGull]

I don't think the enforced break has helped the squad one bit. Firstly in terms of being 'fresh' , well that hasn't done us any good this season. We lost at home to non league Harrogate with them having played until 10pm on a heavy pitch not 48 hours before the game and then having to travel 6 hours down to Devon the next day. We put in a shocker and drew at Plymouth despite our opponents having had a hard game previously away at Accrington on a bad pitch and after a long journey. We lost at Burton despite having nearly 2 weeks off since the AFC Wimbledon loss on New Years Day so we clearly are not getting the desired effect from these breaks.

I don't think it's a lack of fitness but more incorrect tactics and more worryingly, a lack of application and confidence. If it's the latter then we're in the sh*t and make no mistake. It might actually help us having 2 games a week for a while as we can then get some continuity and badly needed confidence back in the side and try and get some form together. Alternatively should we lose one there is another game quickly around the corner to try and win so we don't dwell on the loss.

I think that we have had some unprecedented winter weather these past couple of years and it's not always going to be like that. We didn't have hardly any snow in the first 8 years i moved to Chesterfield but then we have had three really bad years on the trot so you just never know.

Keep the winter programme. If it was scrapped then i definately WOULD hate Christmas then
The festive fixture programme makes my Christmas almost!

[RussianGull]

Boxing Day without football would be unbearable - you'd have to actually speak to your relatives.

I don't think our Winter Break will have had much affect on the team, I suppose any niggles should have disappeared but at the same time it means that the team has had a long while thinking about the lack of points they've recorded of late which just heaps the pressure on. I suppose it comes down to how Ling, Taylor and Mansell manage the feeling in the dressing room. I do think it vital that we take at least a point from City.

[goodluckgull]

We also have to consider that the team have had weeks of training either on the astro turf or in the gym, because of the weather. Their match fitness has suffered and maybe their ability to pass the ball on a grass surface will be effected too.