The Ground Breaking Goal for 2015-2016

it's another bus ride from gaschats very own clairvoyant conductor....

Another category - super stretching goal?

Or Ground-Thumping maybe?

Following some excellent views from the gasheads I have needed to amend the goals below.

When we were at the bottom of division two all those years ago I decided to set about thinking differently about what would be our targets for the season. Amazingly, JW had an immediate impact on our fortunes and we won so many games our fears of relegation were put behind us. As many will know we never really had a realistic hope of clinching a play off place that season but it was fun seeing if we could. The history of ground-breaking goals season by season was:

2012/2013 – Achieved stretching goal of mid table – unbelievable at one point.
2013/2014 – Less said the better!
2014/2015 – Achieved ground breaking goal of promotion – happy days!


So what can we hope for in season 2015/2016. We have made a great start. One of our best starts I can remember for many years. Like many of you I remain optimistic about our chances this season. My optimism has increased following the recent results and have confidence that we can have another season that we can proudly shout about. Onto the goals for end of season.

SECURITY GOAL
Comfortable mid table – say 12th. Disappointing final position. Any less would be seen as failure in my eyes. If we do finish 12th it will give us a springboard to attack the top positions the season after.

REALISTIC GOAL
Play Offs. This is clearly in the minds of the manager and many on this forum. We are Bristol Rovers and it is good to see that we have a manager that aims high and sets publically what he considers is possible. Many will see this as realistic and certainly achievable.

STRETCHING GOAL
Promotion via the play offs. We have the experience of winning play off finals. If we get to the play offs we would fancy our chances against any of the teams around us. Quite a few fans are probably dreaming of this. It’s a great day out and all the better when we win. Back to back promotions through the play offs would be impressive. Certainly we might think that it is possible. For many this would be ground-breaking.

SUPER STRETCHING GOAL
Promotion via 2nd or 3rd place. This looks the most likely as of today.


GROUND-BREAKING GOAL
Obtaining the top spot. Right now we are on a high. When we beat Orient our expectations will be rising uncontrollably high. We will still be in August and there is a long way to go, some will say. We need to see where we are after Christmas, some will say. Take each game one step at a time, some will say. Some will say, let’s do groups of six games and see where we are – a series of mini leagues if you like. Good strategy and good tactics will be important for sure. Do well and the Ground-Breaking Goal will be in sight come March 2016.

WHAT DO I THINK?
As some can imagine, I would hope for a ground breaking finish. I’m certain that we will get to the play offs. I would like to wait a little longer before I confidently predict a finish. That, however, is not what this thread is about.

Right now, I am in the mythical bus, picking up passengers and expecting promotion. Could it be by avoiding the playoffs. I certainly think so. Putting my neck on the line, I’m expecting us to win the league but will be satisfied with back to back promotions through the play offs. I think many will agree. It's a bit of fun, but right now it’s a bit lonely on the mythical bus!

Satisfied with back to back promotions,i will be over the f...ing moon

BTW Rich, I heard your groundbreaking text/tweet being read out on 20man talks back on Saturday.....

Made me laugh

Yes you are right.

Of course it's fun and of course there is a theory. The theory of having various sets of goals when in sports. It's simple. Not complex. It's fun too!

This is the thing I have a problem with. You keep saying it's all a bit of fun, no more than "Guess The Score", and then you keep on bringing up the sports psychology again.

We're not "in" sport. at least not in the sense of being "in" Bristol Rovers,  playing or managing or working for the club.  We're just watching, cheering, reading, cursing and supporting.

So take a hypothetical example.

My realistic goal is the playoffs.  My groundbreaking goal is finishing top.

DC's realistic goal is not getting relegated.  His groundbreaking goal is getting to the playoff final.

We as fans can help.  Go to matches, cheer on the team, buy food and drink at the Mem, buy merchandise, etc etc.  That's fine.

But how can I help DC to raise his groundbreaking goals to my level? 

You have said for the last few years now that winners think positively, look forward not back, aim for the top etc.  Who are the winners, when you talk about them.  Us, or the team?  

And if it's us, then if we are to be winners, then the team have to be winners too.

So is this thread in any way intended to help us raise DC's expectations and so become more motivated and hence perhaps more successful?

Or is it all nothing more than "I reckon we'll win 3-0 on Saturday"?

If it is just all a load of b*llocks, but fun for all that, then fine.  All it means, for all the hundreds of posts over the years, is "Up The Gas" shouted from the Blackthorn.

If it means anything more at all, then I'd  love to know.