2023/24 League Two Promotion Thread

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Preseason bets

Mansfield Top 3
Mansfield to get promoted
Stockport to win the league

Will Swann Top Scorer
Paul Mullin Top Scorer

Crawley to be relegated

My bets in the National League however are laughably bad

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Preseason bets

Mansfield Top 3
Mansfield to get promoted
Stockport to win the league

Will Swann Top Scorer
Paul Mullin Top Scorer

Crawley to be relegated

My bets in the National League however are laughably bad

Will Swann was a good shout.

Have no idea why it took so long for Clough to start him regularly?

 

[AdamStag]

Will Swann was a good shout.

Have no idea why it took so long for Clough to start him regularly?

He was injured in pre-season which affected things but was also out for a bit with family issues.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

He was injured in pre-season which affected things but was also out for a bit with family issues.

Explains it to a degree but I saw him on the bench lots first half of the season when your attackers apart from Dunn weren’t exactly firing on all cylinders.

 

[AdamStag]

Explains it to a degree but I saw him on the bench lots first half of the season when your attackers apart from Dunn weren’t exactly firing on all cylinders.

Yeah a lot of it was under wraps, however his dad is a family friend so have known will since he at school, the lad just had no confidence and didn’t look at it at all when he came on.

Certainly a story of 2 halves this season for goals, “struggled” first half for goals and then seemingly can’t stop second.

 

[Greenacres]

I wonder what odds could have been had at the start of the season for all of the top three sides in Gloucestershire to be relegated...looking odds on, pardon the betting term, for that to happen.

I think the shortest odds would have been on Cheltenham, many would consider them to be punching above their weight, slightly longer for ourselves as not many clubs (except those who are really poorly run...cough!) are relegated twice in consecutive seasons and Gloucester only just missed out on the play-offs last season and seemed to have started to head in the right direction.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Will Swann was a good shout.

Have no idea why it took so long for Clough to start him regularly?

There was a lot of hype preseason, very promising signing and he was 20/1 which I thought was generous. Plus I was confident of this being YOTS so double downed.

Sadly for this bet he did nowt for most of the season until recently.

 

[Conker]

I had Will Swan for top goalscorer but he really struggled for a few reasons, including stuff mentioned and injuries. Been brilliant this year so far.

 

[chipmunx]

Mine was a 4 fold, Norwich top 6 finish, Blackpool top 6, barrow top 7 and Chesterfield to win the national league.

 

[AdamStag]

.

 

[JJ1990]

87 - Average Champions, Predicted Champions
86 -
85 -
84 - Predicted Automatics
83 -
82 - Average Automatics
81 -
80 -
79 -
78 -
77 -
76 -
75 -
74 - Stockport(39)
73 - Mansfield(40), Wrexham(40)
-------------------------------------------------
72 - Average Play Offs
71 -
70 - Predicted Play Offs, MK Dons(41)
69 -
68 -
67 - Barrow(39)
66 - Crewe(40)
65 -
64 -
63 -
62 -
61 -
60 - Gillingham(41)
-------------------------------------------------
59 - AFC Wimbledon(41), Crawley(39)
58 -
57 - Morecambe(40)

Warra promotion race we've got this season. 3 way battle for the title with only 1 point between the top 3, MK and Barrow not totally out of the automatic race and anyone of 4-5 teams who could still snatch 7th. Superb wins for Stockport, Wrexham, MK and Barrow. Mansfield drop to 2nd after losing at the Racecourse, but the top 3 looks very doable for them.

If MK can sort out their away form, they'll give themselves a shot, but if they don't, then the play-offs will have to do. Barrow putting together some decent form as well. Crewe continue to slip, 1 win in 6 now. Gillingham jump into 7th, or is that crawl?

The race for the final play-off spot doesn't feel like a race, it feels more like 4 very similar teams who can't seem to put their mark on it. Gillingham, Wimbledon and Crawley all failed to win at home, whilst Walsall drop out of the top 10 after being battered at MK, with Morecambe take their place.

1st - Stockport, 74 points, GD 38: Wimbledon(H), Sutton(A), Colchester(A), Morecambe(H), Notts County(A), Accrington(H), Wrexham(A)
2nd - Mansfield, 73 points, GD 40: Accrington(H), Crawley(H), Forest Green(H), MK Dons(A), Gillingham(H), Barrow(A)
3rd - Wrexham, 73 points, GD 24: Doncaster(A), Colchester(A), Crawley(H), Forest Green(H), Crewe(A), Stockport(H)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4th - MK Dons, 70 points, GD 14: Notts County(A), Forest Green(A), Mansfield(H), Harrogate(A), Sutton(H)
5th - Barrow, 67 points, GD 13: Morecambe(A), Swindon(H), Bradford(H), Gillingham(A), Doncaster(A), Mansfield(H)
6th - Crewe, 66 points, GD 12: Forest Green(H), Accrington(A), Morecambe(A), Grimsby(H), Wrexham(H), Colchester(A)
7th - Gillingham, 60 points, GD -8: Harrogate(A), Bradford(H), Barrow(H), Mansfield(A), Doncaster(H)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8th - Wimbledon, 59 points, GD 11: Stockport(A), Salford(H), Swindon(A), Tranmere(A), Walsall(H)
9th - Crawley 59 points, 1 GD: Newport(A), Mansfield(A), Wrexham(A), Colchester(H), Barrow(H), Sutton(A), Grimsby(H)
10th - Morecambe, 57 points, GD -8: Barrow(H), Doncaster(H), Crewe(H), Stockport(A), Forest Green(H), Swindon(A)

As I've said before, the run ins look pretty balanced for every team. A mixture of the top, middle and bottom 8 all to play. Crewe have the most favourable set of fixtures it seems, with 4 bottom 8 teams to play. Not always that simple though.

Easter Monday Fixtures:

Crewe Alexandra v Forest Green Rovers
Doncaster Rovers v Wrexham
Harrogate Town v Gillingham
Mansfield Town v Accrington Stanley
Morecambe v Barrow
Newport County v Crawley Town
Notts County v Milton Keynes Dons
Stockport County v AFC Wimbledon

Couple of big games on Monday, Stockport wanting to stay top against Wimbledon who need points to get into the top 7. Then Morecambe mounting an unlikely charge against in form Barrow in a NW derby. Crewe have the most favourable game followed closely by Mansfield, but the others have some either inform or unpredictable sides. Or in MK Dons case, it's away from home, where they seem a totally different side.

 

[EnglishRed]

For Barrow to finish top three would be some achievement at this point (although doable). And MK still have a great chance, but having played a game less and their GD won't help them. That said still think the current top three will be the top three by the end of the season, although in what order I have no idea. It seems like every round of games a different team looks to have one hand on the title but I think there are some twists and turns still to come.

Seems cruel if either ourselves, Mansfield or Stockport drop out of the autos at this point. Squeaky bum time.

 

[Tinpot and proud]

For Barrow to finish top three would be some achievement at this point (although doable). And MK still have a great chance, but having played a game less and their GD won't help them. That said still think the current top three will be the top three by the end of the season, although in what order I have no idea. It seems like every round of games a different team looks to have one hand on the title but I think there are some twists and turns still to come.

Seems cruel if either ourselves, Mansfield or Stockport drop out of the autos at this point. Squeaky bum time.

Win our game in hand and we are 1 win behind you and Mansfield.....current form team in the last 6 matches....this is going to the last game or two I reckon.
I’m still not confident enough to make a cash bet on it though :/

 

[EnglishRed]

Win our game in hand and we are 1 win behind you and Mansfield.....current form team in the last 6 matches....this is going to the last game or two I reckon.
I’m still not confident enough to make a cash bet on it though :/

Guess who is second in the 6 games form table.

You can absolutely do it, but I just don't think there are enough games left in the season for you to overhaul us or Mansfield, particularly with your inferior GD and Away form given how many away games you have left.

That said, if Mansfields wobble continues (or if ourselves or Stockport start losing consecutive games) then it makes the last game of the season very interesting.

Would be a fantastic achievement by Wild if you manage it.

 

[クレイグ]

The amount of Wild fist-pumps if they got promoted would probably punch open a hole in the fabric of space to an alternate reality where absolutely bonkers and bizarre things happen - like Bradford City not being shit.

 

[WhiteRussian]

The amount of Wild fist-pumps if they got promoted would probably punch open a hole in the fabric of space to an alternate reality where absolutely bonkers and bizarre things happen - like Bradford City not being shit.

Been watching too many conspiracy programmes mate. It won't happen.

 

[AdamStag]

I look forward to getting the rub of the green from officials monday, maybe if we trip over in the D we might get awarded a penalty

Let’s face it, we’ve 3 consecutive home games to accrington, crawley and FG, the latter being the game in hand on MK, if we fuck that up it’s on us, simple.

Accrington are in terrible form and should be the perfect pick me up, i think if we fail to beat accrington we’ll do a mansfield for the rest of the season.

 

[Luke Imp]

Outstanding effort by Gillingham to try and get promoted scoring less than a goal a game!

 

[chief]

Imagine if the team in 7th goes up.

They'd be next year's Carlisle.

 

[Marbles]

Imagine if the team in 7th goes up.

They'd be next year's Carlisle.

Think the Gill$ would be okay tbh.

 

[chief]

Think the Gill$ would be okay tbh.

Would take some mighty $PEND to keep that shower of shite up.

Tbh, out of those currently in the play-offs I only see MK potentially staying up if they went up. Maybe Barrow due to their RADAR detection skills.

 

[Scum.]

Would take some mighty $PEND to keep that shower of shite up.

Tbh, out of those currently in the play-offs I only see MK potentially staying up if they went up. Maybe Barrow due to their RADAR detection skills.

We usually challenge at the right end of League One when we are in it (1 automatic promotion and 4 times in the L1 play-offs in the last 15 or so years) so I’d like to think we could push on and challenge for the play-offs if we do go up. Ironically our playing style probably works better in L1 anyway.

It was less than 2 years ago we lost to Wycombe in the L1 play-offs after finishing 3rd and narrowly missing out on automatic promotion by a point on the last day…the next season…well, that is why we are here with you lovely L2 lot

 

[Tinpot and proud]

I look forward to getting the rub of the green from officials monday, maybe if we trip over in the D we might get awarded a penalty

Let’s face it, we’ve 3 consecutive home games to accrington, crawley and FG, the latter being the game in hand on MK, if we fuck that up it’s on us, simple.

Accrington are in terrible form and should be the perfect pick me up, i think if we fail to beat accrington we’ll do a mansfield for the rest of the season.

Imagine if the team in 7th goes up.

They'd be next year's Carlisle.

Hey that’s not the attitude to have.....have more positivity.....I honestly don’t believe they will beat you in the final

 

[Bottega Don]

Apart from the abuse from other fanbases, MK must be an enjoyable team to support.

Their lowest ever finish is 4th in L2, kind of stuff some of us dream about

 

[Scum.]

Apart from the abuse from other fanbases, MK must be an enjoyable team to support.

Their lowest ever finish is 4th in L2, kind of stuff some of us dream about

Come and join us, you are a Don after all.

Plus yes, that stat I used to evidence how much bigger of a club than Bradford we are over the last 20 years (when football began) - indisputable. #MASSIVE

 

[DippyDon]

Apart from the abuse from other fanbases, MK must be an enjoyable team to support.

Their lowest ever finish is 4th in L2, kind of stuff some of us dream about

There was a poll on twitter the other day about the most boring EFL team. A lot of people mentioned us, but we've had 7 promotions/relegations and 5 play off campaigns in 19 seasons under this guise... definitely not boring.

 

[Scum.]

There was a poll on twitter the other day about the most boring EFL team. A lot of people mentioned us, but we've had 7 promotions/relegations and 5 play off campaigns in 19 seasons under this guise... definitely not boring.

Hopefully not 6 play offs because we are shite at them. As Shrewsbury Town, Scunthorpe United, Peterborough United, Huddersfield Town and Wycombe Wanderers will attest to.

Slowly making history by attempting to overtake PNE’s record of 9 play-offs without promotion, but doing it even worse by not even making past the semi-finals…

 

[WhiteRussian]

I don't want to see another play off campaign. Campaign, thats a joke, surrender is more apt. However if it happens I shall attend with my Leonard Cohen mix on my walkman.

 

[chief]

Apart from the abuse from other fanbases, MK must be an enjoyable team to support.

Their lowest ever finish is 4th in L2, kind of stuff some of us dream about

We get just as much as MK, if not more. Doesn't stop it being enjoyable.

It wasn't enjoyable before our current owners because we were fucking shite to watch. I'd go out of blind loyalty back then.

 

[GTFCfish]

There was a poll on twitter the other day about the most boring EFL team. A lot of people mentioned us, but we've had 7 promotions/relegations and 5 play off campaigns in 19 seasons under this guise... definitely not boring.

I bet Reading won that poll?