2024/25 League Two Promotion Thread

[leedsvaliant]

Think it entirely depends on our business in January. I think a couple of extra goal threats could see us top 7 but at the moment each game is too much a balance either way. We have enough quality to wipe the floor with some of the poorer teams but I just feel we play it too safe. There's always the risk of losing by the odd goal, whereas we need to bully some of the poorer sides more. Our goal difference is pretty poor too.

I'm hoping that we're one of those teams that no other team thinks is great, but somehow just regularly accumulates points and ends up sneaking in.

Not many relegated sides go straight back up, so I wouldn't be massively disappointed but it's a pretty poor league for me this year, so a really good opportunity for someone.

 

[gary]

I expect Wimbledon to at least make the play offs. We've still got 4 or 5 key player's out injured . Hopefully by the end of January a few of them will be back. Like others have said we are probably a typical league 2 side. Pragmatic and strong. I can honestly say no team has outplayed us this season. All the games we have lost this season have been by a one goal difference. Well one was by 2. If we can keep injuries down to a minimum we will be there or thereabouts. Being pragmatic mixed in with a bit of quality is enough to get you promoted out of this league. You don't have to play pretty easy on the eye 70% possession football to get promoted.

 

[valefan16]

Think it entirely depends on our business in January. I think a couple of extra goal threats could see us top 7 but at the moment each game is too much a balance either way. We have enough quality to wipe the floor with some of the poorer teams but I just feel we play it too safe. There's always the risk of losing by the odd goal, whereas we need to bully some of the poorer sides more. Our goal difference is pretty poor too.

I'm hoping that we're one of those teams that no other team thinks is great, but somehow just regularly accumulates points and ends up sneaking in.

Not many relegated sides go straight back up, so I wouldn't be massively disappointed but it's a pretty poor league for me this year, so a really good opportunity for someone.

I think Moore has to get promotion this year, the money he has had is massive, didn't someone say on OVF a scout of a fellow L2 club was stunned by how much we were going in with?

That said the league doesn't look like it would be much stronger next year, Burton, Shrewsbury and Cambridge are all smaller clubs, Crawley too look likely, although York might be strong coming up but aside from that isn't the mega spenders or fallen giants down there really as Oldham still seem to be evolving.

Top 7 would be just about acceptable if we won promotion but I think without a promotion it will be seen as a massive failure with the outlay we have put out there. It wouldn't be a disaster of course, and winning more games is fun but I think with the club and players being fairly clear on their ambitions they can't really go and say finishing 8th is a decent season.

 

[クレイグ]

If we have a decent January window, we'll finish top 7. I think.

 

[OneDecentLester]

If we have a decent January window, we'll finish top 7. I think.

What’s interesting is I think virtually all fans of every team that’s been mentioned in this thread will be thinking the exact same thing to this. We’ve all got slight issues that if we feel are addressed in this window (for example ours is a CB of equal quality & experience to Dunkley who has been a massive miss for us since getting injured in early October and looks like he could be done for the season & a striker to replace Grigg who’s out for months), then we can have a good crack at it.

I think it’s gonna be a very, very competitive 2nd half of the season, especially if most/everyone mentioned in this thread get what they want this window. Looking forward to it.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Walsall - A very well organised side with the best midfield in the division (that doesn't get the credit it deserves) as well as a match winner up top in Lowe. Thought our defence handled them very well when we played them but it's clear how they're winning games with ease when you have a back line as solid as theirs.

Us - More front foot football from us like yesterday and we'll go up. Got a lovely run of fixtures coming up in the next 6 weeks, the best defence in the division and very strong options up top. I genuinely back us to beat anyone on our day and 4 defeats all season (2 since mid-August) is impressive. With the squad stronger and with more depth than last season, I'm more optimistic of automatic promotion this season.

Salford - Robinson is a prick but he's managed to do an excellent job transforming a Salford side who have a more modest budget than they did a few years back. Are they flat track bullies or the real deal though? An average side when we played them but did look solid at the back.

Port Vale - The thing with Vale is they always start well and go to shit in the winter. The thing with Darren Moore is he always starts well then goes to shit in the winter. They stopped the rot on Saturday in fairness but can they find form again? Not sure they have the minerals under Moore for the playoffs if they ended up in them but they definitely have the quality for the Top 3 and defended heroically against us with 10 men after brain dead Harper was sent off. With that squad and strong backing from the owner, it'd be an abject failure if they weren't promoted this season.

AFC Wimbledon - Yet to play them this season. Stevens was a great striker for FGR at this level but they often seem to lose their best player in January (Palmer and Al Hamadi come to mind) so keeping him is crucial to their success. Glad they stuck with Jackson when many others would've sacked him. He's turned it around.

Notts - Beat their depleted side with ease in November but not a fair representation of them at their best. I'm unsure on Maynard but he's doing a better job than he did last season. Excellent attacking options mean they'll be in with a shout of automatics.

Doncaster - Like Vale, another side who I think aren't suited for the playoffs and need to go up automatically. God help them if they make it and win the first leg again! Seriously though I expected more from them this season but they seem very inconsistent. Didn't look brilliant against us but scored a fantastic goal on the counter attack to secure a point. Think they'll come up short because of their inconsistency.

Bradford - Cook injury will either get the best out of players who know they now can't rely on him or it'll sink them. Alexander's record in April is exceptionally good and can see them going on a run late in the season as a result. But not convinced that squad is good enough over 46 games for automatic promotion this season. Hard to judge them in those horrible conditions but certainly not a bad side by any means.

Grimsby - This season is a year too soon for Artell's cartel. He always has had a knack of finding a way to lose games heavily stacked in his favour at times. Losing to us who didn't play a recognised striker and losing to Bradford who were missing Cook are two examples of this this season. I always remember him managing us and one game vs Newport still irks me to this day. We were so dominant and had them camped in their own half for almost an entire second half with the score 0-0 and we still lost the game 1-0 in injury time with Newports only attack of the half! This season is a learning curve for them but glad to see him and them both doing well this season. I said at the time give him 4 transfer windows and he's capable of building an excellent team. Well he's already showing promising signs of that after just 2!

Chesterfield - 10 minutes of madness vs them in August saw us get a well deserved pasting and they remain the best side I've seen this season (particularly in an attacking sense). But injuries and a leaky defence has understandably led to inconsistency. I feel next season will be their season, when they get rid of deadwood from the NL days and bring in some more proven quality for this level.

 

[kieran_vale]

Port Vale - The thing with Vale is they always start well and go to shit in the winter. The thing with Darren Moore is he always starts well then goes to shit in the winter. They stopped the rot on Saturday in fairness but can they find form again? Not sure they have the minerals under Moore for the playoffs if they ended up in them but they definitely have the quality for the Top 3 and defended heroically against us with 10 men after brain dead Harper was sent off. With that squad and strong backing from the owner, it'd be an abject failure if they weren't promoted this season.

We’ll see if it came to the playoffs though point of order I would say that Moore did manage Sheff Wed to turn around a 4-0 deficit in the playoffs last time he was managing in them and went on to win at Wembley. Our biggest issue is too often shitting the bed in the games we are more heavily favoured to win especially as I say at home. Hopefully getting Garrity back now and Byers who will be almost like a new signing in himself second half of the season.

Not making any predictions outside Walsall going up other than to say I would be stunned if come the last day of the season all wasn’t still to play for with maybe down to 12th still having a playoff interest. Just seems that even.

 

[Wootball]

I think Moore has to get promotion this year, the money he has had is massive, didn't someone say on OVF a scout of a fellow L2 club was stunned by how much we were going in with?

That said the league doesn't look like it would be much stronger next year, Burton, Shrewsbury and Cambridge are all smaller clubs, Crawley too look likely, although York might be strong coming up but aside from that isn't the mega spenders or fallen giants down there really as Oldham still seem to be evolving.

Top 7 would be just about acceptable if we won promotion but I think without a promotion it will be seen as a massive failure with the outlay we have put out there. It wouldn't be a disaster of course, and winning more games is fun but I think with the club and players being fairly clear on their ambitions they can't really go and say finishing 8th is a decent season.

My neighbour is a large Vale shareholder and apparently quite in the know. According to him, the figures Vale are working with in League Two is 'fucking diabolical'.

Obviously take it anecdotally, but it's certain to be significantly over what anyone else has in League Two without a doubt.

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

If we have a decent January window, we'll finish top 7. I think.

Weirdly and I've said since the summer that I don't think we're good enough. And I still believe that.

But there's a nagging feeling that now Cook (presumably given the radio silence) is out long term we'll actually improve. Especially with the return of Patto and Sarce. I think we're a pressing (goal scoring) forward and a commanding centre half away now.

 

[Alfie]

Promotion odds: -

 

[gary]

Don't think I'll be backing Wimbledon at that price. In truth there are probably 10 clubs maybe a few more that have a realistic chance of promotion .

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Just from what I've seen. I'm going with Walsall, Notts County and Wimbledon going up automatically with Crewe winning the play offs.

 

[Scum.]

The fact we don't even make the cut at this stage says it all about how much of a shit show this season has been so far. Far too inconsistent to be promoted automatically, which means another year in L2 if so as we have the worst record out of any team in the play-offs.

6 play-off semi final defeats out of 6 play-off campaigns. Fuck the play-offs.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Bradford at 2/1 and Grimsby at 22/1 is just plain weird. Both with decent chance of the playoffs.

 

[saddler78]

This would be a spectacular fuck up if we don't go up now we basically need a mid table type second half of the season to guarantee the autos and we should be able to do better than that I'd hope but you never know Forest Green almost got caught a few years ago after doing similar

 

[Soz]

My neighbour is a large Vale shareholder and apparently quite in the know. According to him, the figures Vale are working with in League Two is 'fucking diabolical'.

Obviously take it anecdotally, but it's certain to be significantly over what anyone else has in League Two without a doubt.

That would make your neighbour one of Carol Shanahan, Kevin Shanahan or a liar then.

 

[leedsvaliant]

My neighbour is a large Vale shareholder and apparently quite in the know. According to him, the figures Vale are working with in League Two is 'fucking diabolical'.

Obviously take it anecdotally, but it's certain to be significantly over what anyone else has in League Two without a doubt.

The shareholders are the Shanahans, so Carol and Kevin must be your neighbours. Your neighbour is feeding you shit.

On the other hand, there's no doubt we've spent A Lot of money. Byers will be on a silly wage for this level, plus the transfer fees we paid in the summer. Wage bill is between 4 and 5 million according to the Chief Exec.

I'm not sure we've had great value for money, but if Byers gets fit (and it's a big if), he could be the game changer.

 

[クレイグ]

Weirdly and I've said since the summer that I don't think we're good enough. And I still believe that.

But there's a nagging feeling that now Cook (presumably given the radio silence) is out long term we'll actually improve. Especially with the return of Patto and Sarce. I think we're a pressing (goal scoring) forward and a commanding centre half away now.

Get Draper in (think it's unlikely), a decent CB and a backup 'keeper and I think we look pretty strong. Fingers crossed/.

 

[LS Bantam]

Get Draper in (think it's unlikely), a decent CB and a backup 'keeper and I think we look pretty strong. Fingers crossed/.

Agree with that, Walsall (if they’re in for him) would surely be favourites of the L2 sides in for Draper but obvs he’d be a top signing for anyone in this league.
Tomkinson sounds a straight forward one if that happens, not sure he’s massively better than what we have but would definitely improve us even just a little bit and plenty of potential going forward in the future.
Definitely our best window in a while if we can bag a few more of these rumoured.

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

Agree with that, Walsall (if they’re in for him) would surely be favourites of the L2 sides in for Draper but obvs he’d be a top signing for anyone in this league.
Tomkinson sounds a straight forward one if that happens, not sure he’s massively better than what we have but would definitely improve us even just a little bit and plenty of potential going forward in the future.
Definitely our best window in a while if we can bag a few more of these rumoured.

I never hugely rated Tomkinson last year. He was ok, but nothing special.

That being said, he doesn't look like he's running in treacle every time he moves so for that alone I'd take him back.

 

[JJ1990]

107 - Predicted Champions
90 - Average Champions
89 -
88 -
87 -
86 -
85 -
84 -
83 -
82 - Average Automatics
81 - Predicted Automatics
80 -
79 -
78 -
77 -
76 - Predicted Play Offs
75 -
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72 - Average Play Offs
71 -
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61 -
60 -
59 -
58 - Walsall(25)
57 -
56 -
55 -
54 -
53 -
52 -
51 -
50 -
49 -
48 -
47 -
46 - Crewe Alex(26)
45 -
44 - Port Vale(26)
-------------------------------------------------
43 - AFC Wimbledon(24), Notts County(25), Doncaster(26)
42 - Salford(25)
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41 - Bradford(25)
40 -
39 -
38 - Grimsby(26)
37 -
36 -
35 - Chesterfield(25)

A great week for Walsall, losing Nathan Lowe aside. 2 home wins, 9 goals scored. Stretching their lead to 12 points to 2nd and 15 to 4th. It would take a monumental collapse for them to not get promoted. Can they see it through. 4 point week for Crewe from back to back away games, not too bad. Port Vale are starting to put some form back together after a come from behind win over Newport.

Wimbledon, Notts County and Donny all recorded routine wins over strugglers to keep pace with the teams above them. Salford are the big losers on the day as their surprise defeat against Fleetwood sees them slip to 7th. Bradford close the gap to 1 point after their win at Carlisle. Grimsby and Chesterfield lose ground, but aren't too far away.

1st - Walsall, 58 points, GD 27: Bradford(A), Fleetwood(A), Salford(H), Colchester(A), Gillingham(H)
2nd - Crewe Alexandra, 46 points, GD 12: Accrington(H), Wimbledon(H), Harrogate(A), Newport(H), Wimbledon(A)
3rd - Port Vale, 44 points, GD 5: Chesterfield(A), Colchester(A), Accrington(H), Swindon(A), Notts County(H)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4th - AFC Wimbledon, 43 points, GD 18: MK Dons(A), Crewe(A), Bradford(H), Accrington(A), Crewe(H)
5th - Notts County, 43 points, GD 15: Bromley(H), Carlisle(H), Gillingham(A), Morecambe(H), Port Vale(A)
6th - Doncaster Rovers, 43 points, GD 6: Harrogate(H), Barrow(A), MK Dons(H), Grimsby(H), Morecambe(A)
7th - Salford City, 42 points, GD 8: Cheltenham(A), Newport(H), Walsall(A), Bromley(H), Tranmere(H)
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8th - Bradford City, 41 points, GD 7: Walsall(H), Morecambe(H), Wimbledon(A), Harrogate(H), Accrington(H)
9th - Grimsby Town, 38 points, GD -4: Barrow(A), Gillingham(H), Bromley(A), Carlisle(H), Doncaster(A)
10th - Chesterfield, 35 points, GD 9: Port Vale(H), Bromley(H), Cheltenham(A), Walsall(A), Chesterfield(A)

Not much change in the forthcoming fixtures obviously, some big ties coming up next weekend though.

Next week's fixtures:

Saturday 18th January
Bradford City v Walsall
Milton Keynes Dons v AFC Wimbledon
Barrow v Grimsby Town
Cheltenham Town v Salford City
Chesterfield v Port Vale
Crewe Alexandra v Accrington Stanley
Doncaster Rovers v Harrogate Town
Notts County v Bromley

Couple of 6 pointers. Walsall heading up to Valley Parade looks to be a decent game given their form and Bradford's home record. Wimbledon head to MK for the grudge match. Chesterfield v Port Vale also looks tasty. The rest of the teams seem to have fairly winnable games against mid-table or lower teams, so good chance for them all to pick up wins.

 

[kieran_vale]

107 - Predicted Champions
90 - Average Champions
89 -
88 -
87 -
86 -
85 -
84 -
83 -
82 - Average Automatics
81 - Predicted Automatics
80 -
79 -
78 -
77 -
76 - Predicted Play Offs
75 -
74 -
73 -
72 - Average Play Offs
71 -
70 -
69 -
68 -
67 -
66 -
65 -
64 -
63 -
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61 -
60 -
59 -
58 - Walsall(25)
57 -
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52 -
51 -
50 -
49 -
48 -
47 -
46 - Crewe Alex(26)
45 -
44 - Port Vale(26)
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43 - AFC Wimbledon(24), Notts County(25), Doncaster(26)
42 - Salford(25)
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41 - Bradford(25)
40 -
39 -
38 - Grimsby(26)
37 -
36 -
35 - Chesterfield(25)

A great week for Walsall, losing Nathan Lowe aside. 2 home wins, 9 goals scored. Stretching their lead to 12 points to 2nd and 15 to 4th. It would take a monumental collapse for them to not get promoted. Can they see it through. 4 point week for Crewe from back to back away games, not too bad. Port Vale are starting to put some form back together after a come from behind win over Newport.

Wimbledon, Notts County and Donny all recorded routine wins over strugglers to keep pace with the teams above them. Salford are the big losers on the day as their surprise defeat against Fleetwood sees them slip to 7th. Bradford close the gap to 1 point after their win at Carlisle. Grimsby and Chesterfield lose ground, but aren't too far away.

1st - Walsall, 58 points, GD 27: Bradford(A), Fleetwood(A), Salford(H), Colchester(A), Gillingham(H)
2nd - Crewe Alexandra, 46 points, GD 12: Accrington(H), Wimbledon(H), Harrogate(A), Newport(H), Wimbledon(A)
3rd - Port Vale, 44 points, GD 5: Chesterfield(A), Colchester(A), Accrington(H), Swindon(A), Notts County(H)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4th - AFC Wimbledon, 43 points, GD 18: MK Dons(A), Crewe(A), Bradford(H), Accrington(A), Crewe(H)
5th - Notts County, 43 points, GD 15: Bromley(H), Carlisle(H), Gillingham(A), Morecambe(H), Port Vale(A)
6th - Doncaster Rovers, 43 points, GD 6: Harrogate(H), Barrow(A), MK Dons(H), Grimsby(H), Morecambe(A)
7th - Salford City, 42 points, GD 8: Cheltenham(A), Newport(H), Walsall(A), Bromley(H), Tranmere(H)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8th - Bradford City, 41 points, GD 7: Walsall(H), Morecambe(H), Wimbledon(A), Harrogate(H), Accrington(H)
9th - Grimsby Town, 38 points, GD -4: Barrow(A), Gillingham(H), Bromley(A), Carlisle(H), Doncaster(A)
10th - Chesterfield, 35 points, GD 9: Port Vale(H), Bromley(H), Cheltenham(A), Walsall(A), Chesterfield(A)

Not much change in the forthcoming fixtures obviously, some big ties coming up next weekend though.

Next week's fixtures:

Saturday 18th January
Bradford City v Walsall
Milton Keynes Dons v AFC Wimbledon
Barrow v Grimsby Town
Cheltenham Town v Salford City
Chesterfield v Port Vale
Crewe Alexandra v Accrington Stanley
Doncaster Rovers v Harrogate Town
Notts County v Bromley

Couple of 6 pointers. Walsall heading up to Valley Parade looks to be a decent game given their form and Bradford's home record. Wimbledon head to MK for the grudge match. Chesterfield v Port Vale also looks tasty. The rest of the teams seem to have fairly winnable games against mid-table or lower teams, so good chance for them all to pick up wins.

Our first come from behind win this season even. Still think there are some fundamental flaws we need to iron out to even consider top three not least our extremely poor defending on set pieces. Opponents seem good for a goal from one far too often for it to be just a blip. That said we looked a decent attacking threat today so hopefully can carry that over into other games. The next one is a very difficult away game though.

 

[クレイグ]

Ugh. Morecambe and Harrogate coming up. Struggled against both in the last few seasons. Walsall will beat us and we'll probably draw against Wimbledon as usual.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Ugh. Morecambe and Harrogate coming up. Struggled against both in the last few seasons. Walsall will beat us and we'll probably draw against Wimbledon as usual.

Some very kind home games for you I would say. A win next week for us would be huge, going into some very winnable games.

 

[Meadow]

I'm biding my time. We're in a good position but Wimbledon disappoint at times. If our injured players come back as new we should win automatic promotion. This is a good squad. Will we do it? If we do it will be our first automatic promotion since the Conference South in 2009.