2023/24 League Two Promotion Thread

[TheEndIsNigh]

Both.

It's an incredibly competitive division seeing as at least two thirds of it could still end up getting promoted, but the standard is so weak that more or less anyone going up from this league will have a horrible season next year without big squad changes. Anyone who shows a bit of consistency between now and May will go up, it's that simple.

I didn’t see much of any of them last season, but I can’t believe Stockport Mansfield and Wrexham aren’t a fair bit better than Orient, Northampton and whoever else went up.

To be fair they’ve all done alright, the difference between the leagues can’t be that much.

 

[Conker]

Orient were a decent team to be fair, but nobody else stood out at all. Mansfield fan so know this league very well by now and obviously I’ll want to say this while we sit second but it’s definitely better this season than many previously overall

 

[DearneValleyRover]

I didn’t see much of any of them last season, but I can’t believe Stockport Mansfield and Wrexham aren’t a fair bit better than Orient, Northampton and whoever else went up.

To be fair they’ve all done alright, the difference between the leagues can’t be that much.

Good grief, by your own admission you didn’t see much of those teams. Then take into account they will have strengthened plus have the winning mentality momentum so basically you don’t know what you’re talking about

 

[GEORGE]

To be fair they’ve all done alright, the difference between the leagues can’t be that much.

It is considerably different. Especially top half of the Third.

 

[F!RTHY]

Win today against Barrow with another depleted squad and I might just start to believe.

We’re proving to have one of the best defences in the league. If we can get a tune out of Young and Cook, we’ve every chance of salvaging this season.

 

[BarraMatt]

If we can start doing our job properly we should make the playoffs. No one has games in hand anymore and we've got a four point gap to 8th. The big pack of chasers can hopefully keep beating each other.

 

[Master D]

MK Dons right up everyone's arse now, we knew they'd do this.

 

[AdamStag]

Tight as fuck.

Mansfield were able to improve goal difference while stockport drew and wrexham lost.

Crewe won at bottom half notts who continue to struggle under their bargain basement manager.

 

[JJ1990]

88 - Average Champions, Predicted Champions
87 -
86 -
85 -
84 -
83 - Predicted Automatics
82 - Average Automatics
81 -
80 -
79 -
78 -
77 -
76 -
75 -
74 -
73 -
72 - Average Play Offs
71 -
70 -
69 - Predicted Play Offs
68 -
67 -
66 -
65 -
64 -
63 - Mansfield(33), Stockport(34)
62 -
61 - Crewe(34)
-------------------------------------------------
60 -
59 - Wrexham(33)
58 - MK Dons(34)
57 -
56 -
55 -
54 -
53 - Barrow(33)
52 -
51 - Gillingham(34)
--------------------------------------------------
50 -
49 - Crawley(33)
48 - Walsall(34), Morecambe(33)

All change then. Stockport finally get knocked off top spot after only managing 2 draws in their last 2 games. Mansfield overtake them after battering inform Salford. Got to be the favourites for the title now surely? Crewe continue their very impressive 2024 with another 3, that's 1 defeat in their last 11 and they move into the top 3.

Wrexham can't win for toffee on the road, won 1 of their last 6 away and that was at Sutton. MK Dons continue their impressive charge with 4 points from 2 home games. Barrow didn't play because of a dodgy pitch. Gillingham keep the most unlikely of play-off pushes alive despite a horrendous goal difference.

And it's all change amongst the title packed chasing field, with Crawley now up to 8th, Walsall 9th after 2 home wins this week and Morecambe moving into the top 10. And no doubt this time next week, we'll have 3 new teams sat in there.

1st - Mansfield, 63 points, GD 38: Newport(A), MK Dons(H), Swindon(H), Tranmere(A), Bradford(A)
2nd - Stockport, 63 points, GD 29: Colchester(A), Newport(H), Salford(A), Crawley(A), MK Dons(H)
3rd - Crewe, 61 points, GD 16: Morecambe(H), Doncaster(A), Sutton(H), MK Dons(A), Wimbledon(H)
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4th - Wrexham, 58 points, GD 15: Forest Green(A), Accrington(H), Morecambe(A), Harrogate(H), Tranmere(H)
5th - MK Dons, 58 points, GD 11: Wimbledon(A), Mansfield(A), Salford(H), Grimsby(A), Crewe(H)
6th - Barrow, 53 points, GD 8: Crawley(A), Gillingham(H), Colchester(H), Walsall(A), Harrogate(H)
7th - Gillingham, 51 points, GD -7: Salford(A), Barrow(A), Tranmere(H), Wimbledon(A), Grimsby(H)
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8th - Crawley, 49 points, 0 GD: Barrow(H), Morecambe(A), Harrogate(A), Notts County(H), Stockport(H)
9th - Walsall, 48 points, 4 GD: Accrington(H), Doncaster(H), Forest Green(A), Barrow(H), Colchester(A)
10th - Morecambe, 48 points, -4 GD: Crewe(A), Crawley(H), Wrexham(H), Newport(A), Salford(A)

Tuesday 27th February
Forest Green Rovers v Wrexham
Walsall v Accrington Stanley

Only 2 of the current top 10 play on Tuesday, but so tight is it at the top that a lot of the teams below them are playing and could leapfrog them into the play-off picture. Wrexham need a win at an improving FGR you feel, but will they get one? Can Walsall continue their good home form?

Saturday 2nd March
AFC Wimbledon v Milton Keynes Dons
Colchester United v Stockport County
Crawley Town v Barrow
Crewe Alexandra v Morecambe
Newport County v Mansfield Town
Salford City v Gillingham
Wrexham v Accrington Stanley

MK Dons play the grudge match, which looks more favourable to them than it would have been a few weeks ago. Stockport need a win and a still stuttering Colchester might be just the place to do it. Crewe, Mansfield and Wrexham all play one of the top 7 chasing pack. Gillingham face in form Salford.

12-13 games to go and I genuinely don't think you can predict who'll finish in 1st, in the top 3 or in the top 7. So wide open.

 

[devilofajob]

Relegation fodder Crawley flattering to deceive again. 5 more hard games now. Will be delighted with 8 points from those.
If we keep a clean sheet next week, will be 4 in a row and something we've not done as a football league team.

 

[AdamStag]

It’s a very tight league and to a degree the closing pack are closing in, MK i believe will be a massive threat to whatever the sides are which aspire to a top 3 finish.

There isn’t a side up there that can or should say with any confidence they’ll go up.

To be knocking along at nearly 2 points a game yet only he 3/4 clear of 4th is ridiculous.

 

[saddler78]

I didn’t see much of any of them last season, but I can’t believe Stockport Mansfield and Wrexham aren’t a fair bit better than Orient, Northampton and whoever else went up.

To be fair they’ve all done alright, the difference between the leagues can’t be that much.

None of them are better than Orient last season but probably better than the others that went up.Was never that impressed with Stevenage Northampton or Carlisle Mansfield and Stockport have been the best I've seen closely followed by Wrexham.

 

[chief]

We're on 59 points.

 

[Sussexred]

Wow...1 place from the play offs....with a bunch of rejects and non league players.
Some teams have 4 times our wage bill so can understand their fans frustration.
It's great for the league though with so many teams in the mix as it will keep interest and attendances up.
Crewe and Mansfield the best 2 I've seen this season.

 

[Ellis]

We are cooked.

 

[Optipez]

Relegation fodder Crawley flattering to deceive again. 5 more hard games now. Will be delighted with 8 points from those.
If we keep a clean sheet next week, will be 4 in a row and something we've not done as a football league team.

From everything I read about you on here this summer you have to be the surprise success of the season. Going really well very quietly.

 

[Optipez]

None of them are better than Orient last season but probably better than the others that went up.Was never that impressed with Stevenage Northampton or Carlisle Mansfield and Stockport have been the best I've seen closely followed by Wrexham.

I thought you were one of the better teams I've seen this year, never really got going against you, you completely smothered us and won pretty easily.

 

[Casey]

I'll wave hello to this thread but I don't think we'll make the play offs. 3 clean sheets on the bounce but in all of those games the opposition had plenty of chances to score (Our keeper chosen as mom in 2 of them). We just let in too many goals from too many attempts.

Love to be wrong though.

Casey

 

[chipmunx]

I'll wave hello to this thread but I don't think we'll make the play offs. 3 clean sheets on the bounce but in all of those games the opposition had plenty of chances to score (Our keeper chosen as mom in 2 of them). We just let in too many goals from too many attempts.

Love to be wrong though.

Casey

Hopefully a certain Dom Telford will stop that clean sheet run next week....

 

[saddler78]

 

[SaddlerJonny]

I have no idea what is happening but suddenly we are here.

 

[JJ1990]

Without wanting to sound too patronising, I'm glad Walsall finally seem to be having some success. Their good seasons seem to come once in a blue moon, but good to see them getting into the promotion race.

 

[AdamStag]

For comparison reasons last season the last auto spot went to northampton on 83 - crewe in 3rd are on track to get 82.53 points so let’s go with 83.

The top spot last season went to orient who won it with 91, if we carried on at our PPG we’d end up on 88

Regarding playoffs - salford took the last playoff spot on GD from us on 75 (hopefully we’ve rectified the GD issue this season ) - as it stands walsall would finish on only 69 - no side in 7th has made the playoffs with less since torquay in 10/11

 

[Richard Cranium]

If 83 is the predicated points total for the automatics then.

Mansfield need 20 points from a possible 39.
Stockport need 20 points from a possible 36.
Crewe need 22 points from a possible 36.
Wrexham need 23 points from a possible 36.
MK need 25 points from a possible 36.

 

[Crewelad87]

Things can change quickly, as has been proven with Stockport as a month ago everyone would have said they were as good as promoted back then. Looking at it now, I can't see Mansfield messing it up, but it's getting close to silly season and some odd results tend to happen this time of year. After Mansfield, I honestly think its anybodies, MK look like they have the toughest fixtures. Wrexham's last two games are Crewe away and Stockport at home, I can see that being massive. I'd be very surprised if atleast 1 if not 2 of the spots go right down to the last day.

 

[WhiteRussian]

We have a shit run in but conversly any points we take will in many cases be from a promotion rival. Saying that I do think we will struggle to get to the autos and will end up in the lottery that is the playoffs. Who of the other 4 is with us will probably be from Crewe, Wrexham and Stockport. Mansfield are just too good to fuck it up this time.

 

[AdamStag]

I think a lot will determine on home form.

We’ve swindon, colchester, accrington, crawley, FG and gillingham where if we can pick up more than 12 points we’d be well set, we’ve also MK a week on tuesday.

Away, tranmere, bradford, barrow are all potentials.

 

[DippyDon]

We have a shit run in but conversly any points we take will in many cases be from a promotion rival. Saying that I do think we will struggle to get to the autos and will end up in the lottery that is the playoffs. Who of the other 4 is with us will probably be from Crewe, Wrexham and Stockport. Mansfield are just too good to fuck it up this time.

I said at the start of February that Feb/March will be key for us and if we're still in touch after Notts County on Easter Monday then we'll be in with a shout. We've not done too badly in February and I'm slightly more confident now than I was then.

 

[joethegill]

20 points from our 12 remaining would give 71 points which might be enough to sneak into the play-offs. So you're probably talking 6 wins, 2 draws or 5 wins, 5 draws.

As a quick breakdown we have to play:

Top 7 - Mansfield (a), Crewe (h), Barrow (h + a)
Middle Third - Wimbledon (a), Morecambe (a), Harrogate (a), Bradford (a)
Bottom 8 - Salford (a), Tranmere (h), Grimsby (h), Doncaster (h)

Even though Barrow are a top 7 side as it stands I don't think it's a bad thing we've got to play them twice still as they seem to starting to falter. Mansfield and Crewe obviously tricky games, although I don't expect Crewe's run of form to last forever and Mansfield might be home and hosed by the time we play them in the penultimate game. Of our fellow play-off chasers we only have away games left which is a bit annoying, but those three home games against Tranmere, Grimsby and Donny simply have to be three wins if we've got any chance.

 

[Alain]

One thing for sure is that we will not be relegated this season and we are quietly going about our business and creeping up the division - we will certainly give it a go - Scott Linsdey certainly picked up some gems from the lower leagues and is steadily improving them - the latest recruit from the USA Jeremy Kelly in January is also beginning to show what a talent he is despite our supporters initially sceptical concern.