TODAY we play our final home game of the season against Cambridge United, and we go in to the match enjoying our most consistent run of the campaign.

We’re six games unbeaten, seemingly scoring goals for fun – whilst keeping them out at the other end – and as you can imagine, there’s a real buzz about the training ground.

A couple of months back I wrote about a 15-game season within a season.

Back then we were in a slightly precarious position, but the players responded brilliantly, and we’re now finishing the season on a real high.

When you look at the numbers, if we’d had the same points return from the first two thirds of the season as we’ve had in the final third, we’d be in the play-off positions.

What’s more, it’s not as if we’ve had an easy ride over the past 13 games.

We’ve played teams fighting for their lives, and beaten them, and we’ve gone away to places like Bury and Wycombe, two teams right up at the top of the table, and taken all three points too.

As you’ve probably gathered if you read this column on a regular basis, I’m very much a realist, and will never get carried away and think I’ve ‘cracked it’.

But, all the signs are there that we’re moving in the right direction, and I’m confident that we’ve got the basic structure of the squad in place to have a real good go at pushing for a play-off place next season.

In recent weeks I’ve brought players that were on the fringes of the squad back into the starting eleven, and tried people out in different positions.

All of this has been done with one eye on next season and, by and large, I’ve been very pleased with what I’ve seen.

I’m building a team to get us in to League One, and while assessing and working with the players we already have here is hugely important, I’m very aware of what we’re lacking, and know that we need to bring in a few new players too.

Player recruitment is a complicated part of the job, but I know exactly who I want.

Believe me when I say I’m working extremely hard, alongside the chairman and chief executive, to make the right deals happen.

In relation to the above, those of you that are familiar with League Two football will know there’s a lot of churn – and by that I mean there are a lot of young loan players in the division, who sign for a team so they can get experience of first team football, before returning to their parent clubs.

I have been pleased with the effort that all our loanees have put in – it’s not always easy to be airlifted into a new club knowing that it will probably be a temporary move – and Kemar Roofe in particular has played a big part in our recent run.

Looking ahead to today’s game, obviously I’m desperate to keep our winning run going, and for the players, and for me, there are a couple of added incentives.

Back in October we travelled to the Abbey Stadium to play Cambridge in front of the Sky TV cameras.

It was by far our worst performance of the season and they beat us 5-1.

Put simply, that result really hurt and we’re itching to put things right.

Add to that the fact that it’s a varsity games (of sorts), not to mention our final home match of the season, and you get a strong sense as to why I, and the players, really want to win this one, and in style.

 

AS I do most weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time watching football over the past seven days – and what a treat Tuesday night was in the Champions League. 
Just as they did in the first leg in France, Barcelona blew Paris St Germain away at the Nou Camp, and did so by playing some of the most thrilling football I’ve seen in a long time. 
While they’re all master technicians and can manipulate the ball however and wherever they want, most of the time they keep things simple.
When Luis Suarez went there it took him a while to settle in, but he’s finding his feet now, and I think he’s a key part in their jigsaw.
So much so, that I think this current team might just be better than Pep Guardiola’s famous ‘tiki taka’ sides.

Suarez plays on the shoulder of the last man, and is always looking to get in behind defences.
They didn’t have that before, but by bringing him in, have added another dimension to their game.
Bayern Munich have less finesse, but are equally dynamic, and pulled off an incredible comeback against Porto to seal their place in the semis.
If you pushed me, I’d say Bayern and Barcelona are the two best teams left in the competition, and I am glad they will meet in the semi-finals.
Why?
Because it means we’ll get to watch them go head-to-head for at least 180 minutes.