Who do we reckon will be up there come April?

I think we will finish in the top three, and there's no reason why with some improvement and some strengthening, we can't be the top team. The first third of the season has seen us set a decent platform after a poor start, and I don't think we've really hit our straps yet.

I don't think Barnet will run away with like Luton last year, but they score enough goals that I think they'll be in the top five.

Not been too impressed by any of the 'top' sides at the Mem yet, least not Halifax and Woking, but I know better than to judge sides on a single game. I bet opposition fans haven't been too impressed with us, and yet we're nine unbeaten so we must be doing some things right.

I think Torquay are rubbish, they've shipped 4 at Alfreton and Telford. They won't be in the top 5, is my bold prediction. But realistically I think any of the sides down to about 15th in the table are probably capable of putting a run together and challenging for the play offs.

Eastleigh need to find some away form so forget them. FGR have only scored one more than we have I think and they have a far more 'star' studded forward line than us! I think it's a good year to be in the division as the small clubs with the big backers aren't dominating the way Crawley, Fleetwood etc have in past seasons.

Wrexham fans seem to think they're bottle jobs (lost at home in front of a large crowd yesterday for example), hence why I can't decide.

Torquay can put some results together with the odd embarrassing slip up. They won't be far away, though I prefer our plodding solidity in terms of results!

Actually, re: Torquay, I watched the goals from their game yesterday and some of their defensive lapses were awful. So maybe they really are rubbish, I dunno.

I'm wondering whether the biggest test over the next month or so could be that Tuesday night in Alfreton, especially if we've been distracted by the Cup around that time.

Halifax and Woking are the flat track bullies so far and have the poorest records amongst the current top half of the table teams when playing their fellow top half dwellers.
Halifax P7 Won 0 Drawn 4 Lost 3 (0.37)
Woking P5 Won 1 Drawn 3 Lost 3 (0.80)

The top 3 teams using the above points average formula are:
1 Grimsby P6 W 3 Drawn 2 L 1 (1.83)
2 Torquay P5 W 3 Drawn 0 L 2 (1.80)
3 Macclesfield P9 W 3 Drawn 6 L 0 (1.66)

We are 6th in this category P9 Won 3 Drawn 3 Lost 3

Obviously you still need to beat the lower half teams but my top 5 to stay the distance,in no particular order are:
Barnet
Gateshead
Grimsby
Torquay
Wrexham

Think we will just miss out with our current squad BUT we can challenge if we push the boat out and secure 2 or 3 signings(Belanta may yet pay off so 2 or 3 depending how he shapes up) although any of the current top twelve might be thinking the same thing and it will be the team that goes down the speculate to accumulate route that will have the best chance.Having said that I don't think the money invested by the Forest Green Rovers and Eastleigh owners will see them finish top 5 as we all know ourselves bringing in mercenaries is no guarantee of success and I'm glad we've been forced into finding a financially more frugal route ourselves and there must be money left in our wage budget as Mr Turley would have been on a fat wedge at FGR and wouldn't go elsewhere for a lot less.The burning question is will our Board of Directors see this season as being the best financially to get us and themselves out of the mire or are their pockets now empty?

Unless I've done the maths wrong (a definite possibility), we'd be third in that formula. Of the top 12 so far, we've played Barnet (L), Woking (W), Halifax (W), FGR (D), Wrexham (W), Grimsby (D) and Eastleigh (D) scoring 12 points from 7 games giving us 1.71 points per game.

Torquay, barnet, kidderminster, Gateshead and us ( if we sign a good striker in january )