Day 134

I did some looking ahead. We have six league games before Christmas, along with one cup game (the FA Trophy First Round), plus two more before the new year. That’s nine games over the next 46 days (and ten over the next 49, since there’s another game on the 2nd of January). It’s more than a game a week, but not a brutal schedule by any means.

There’s a strong likelihood that I’ll be able to field a near full-strength side in every one of those matches. A couple of players may get burnt out and need a rest, but there’s enough of a buffer for them to recover. And we’ve got enough depth that I can do light rotation—Laurent, Russell, Atkinson, Power, Nutter, Kanouté, Watson, Anyon, Taylor, and Smith are all second or third choice and all capable of playing regular Conference football. In fact, I expect Laurent, Russell, Nutter, and Kanouté to push for a spot in my first-choice eleven over the next six weeks.

It’ll be a crucial period. If we do well, we’re set for promotion. If we do badly, we’re back in the mix with the other playoff challengers. And if we fall somewhere in between, with middling performances and so-so results, we could give Mansfield a clear run at the title.