7-days to shape the season

The 7-days between the 14th - 21st January could decide whether the Poppies continue to fight relegation from within the bottom four or sit just above the cut-off mark and work at throwing other clubs down the table and below us.

In a seven day period we play Boston and Curzon at home and Telford away.  Three eminently winnable games.  Three wins which could potentially lift us well up into mid-table, or, as this season's table reads - the upper reaches of the relegation battle.  Like most Poppies fans I imagine I've simply looked at the teams in our immediate vicinity, without looking further into the "safe" mid table.  Well, I've done that today and the table makes more encouraging reading than I had imagined.

Teams that at first glance seem safely ensconced in mid-table mediocrity are actually only a couple of bad results away from tickling the relegation zone.  Equally, teams that seem nailed-on for relegation, (cough, Bradford, cough) have hauled themselves clear of the drop zone with a few back to back wins.  It really is THAT tight.

My biggest worry isn't how the team will do.  They'll give their all and if things go our way they should pick up points.  I'm more concerned with our increasingly fractious fan base.  Will they even come to these important games?  After the chastening 373 against Gloucester I'm not sure anymore.  How many of our supporters will continue to grizzle from their homes under the mistaken belief that somehow calling for the Manager's and Chairmen's head every other week in any way equates to being a Poppies fan?  Will too many of us continue to moan about games and performances we couldn't be bothered to actually witness for ourselves.  

Could some of those hundreds of local people who still refer to themselves as Poppies fans but who's only connection with the club comes in the form of online barracking actually get to a game?  How great would it be to top 1000 for the Boston game.  What a pick-up for the players, the club and the bank balance?

Next Saturday against Boston should be a game no self-respecting Poppies fan will miss.  A win and we leapfrog them and their big budget signings, shiny stadium and string of former Poppies gaffers.  And if that's not enough to tempt everyone to Latimer Park, we're pretty sure finally getting the chance to buy the Anniversary PATGOD should do it!

Don't let Eli get all the Poppies man-love....!