2024/25 League Two Promotion Thread

[EnglishRed]

It's Bradfords year you know....I'm convinced.

 

[Stocky]

I hope Bradford go on and win it to be honest, no disrespect to Walsall who I won't mind coming up with them. Bradford are a long suffering lot, would be a welcome addition to next season's fixture list in League One.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

I'm sure you'd just settle for promotion at this point, as would I. Title is a nice little bonus.

Absolutely I would. I would have for a few weeks now - it's just hard to see where the next win is coming from.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

I hope Bradford go on and win it to be honest, no disrespect to Walsall who I won't mind coming up with them. Bradford are a long suffering lot, would be a welcome addition to next season's fixture list in League One.

We've gone 18 years without a single promotion, with only one play off embarrassment and a JPT Trophy final no show for comfort - not many longer sufferers! Only one relegation though to be fair in that.

I think only Colchester have waited longer for a promotion than us.

Not that it's a competition!

 

[dedwardp]

We've gone 18 years without a single promotion, with only one play off embarrassment and a JPT Trophy final no show for comfort - not many longer sufferers! Only one relegation though to be fair in that.

I think only Colchester have waited longer for a promotion than us.

Not that it's a competition!

Yeah, 19 years for us. Two relegations since, usually finishing lower year on year. No finals or Wembley visit since 1998 and the only time we made the play-offs nobody was allowed to go because of covid.

 

[Stocky]

We've gone 18 years without a single promotion, with only one play off embarrassment and a JPT Trophy final no show for comfort - not many longer sufferers! Only one relegation though to be fair in that.

I think only Colchester have waited longer for a promotion than us.

Not that it's a competition!

Happy for you to come second.

Notts County up in some capacity too hopefully.

 

[Stocky]

Yeah, 19 years for us. Two relegations since, usually finishing lower year on year. No finals or Wembley visit since 1998 and the only time we made the play-offs nobody was allowed to go because of covid.

You're a shout for being that team that sneaks in the play-offs and wins it ala Crawley last season.

 

[mozzavale]

Yeah, Bradford just seem to have turned on the afterburners at the right time. Looks like they're finally getting their arse in gear and wouldn't surprise me if they ran away with it.

Walsall look to be spluttering over the line but because they got so many points at the start of the season, they are in a great position.

Notts and Wimbledon look to have hit a sticky patch. Donny once again winning a couple and then stuttering. Crewe with a dreadful result tonight and a really tough run to come.

Vale just don't look quite good enough. A top 3 team gets the win against a spirited but very limited Harrogate side. We've only beaten 2 teams by 2 or more goals all season, which just isn't conducive to going on a winning run. We look lost without Garrity and Stockley again. Byers should be the best player in the league but has been a disappointment in all honesty.

Still a long way to go but it seems that we're playing for playoffs at best.

To clarify, we've won 3 by by 2 or more goals. Salford, Newport and Fleetwood. Not great still, but just correcting you.

We were poor 2nd half tonight, ran out of ideas but still created enough to win against a solid team that are good at frustrating and killing the game as a spectacle.

The key to promotion and even winning the title is timing your run just right. We've room to improve, but just ticking along at the moment. In years gone by we'd have lost 2 or 3 since the turn of the year in games we've not played well in, but we've gone 10 undefeated now and keep picking up points, constantly getting overlooked when people talk about automatic promotion.

If we stay undefeated and pick up a few more wins through March, we'll start seeing Garrity and Stockley return for the run in. That could be what gets us into the top 3.

Bradford are flying but have they peaked too soon? Time will tell. Like others have said, nothing will surprise me.

 

[leedsvaliant]

To clarify, we've won 3 by by 2 or more goals. Salford, Newport and Fleetwood. Not great still, but just correcting you.

We were poor 2nd half tonight, ran out of ideas but still created enough to win against a solid team that are good at frustrating and killing the game as a spectacle.

The key to promotion and even winning the title is timing your run just right. We've room to improve, but just ticking along at the moment. In years gone by we'd have lost 2 or 3 since the turn of the year in games we've not played well in, but we've gone 10 undefeated now and keep picking up points, constantly getting overlooked when people talk about automatic promotion.

If we stay undefeated and pick up a few more wins through March, we'll start seeing Garrity and Stockley return for the run in. That could be what gets us into the top 3.

Bradford are flying but have they peaked too soon? Time will tell. Like others have said, nothing will surprise me.

I forgot Fleetwood!

I just don't think we quite have it in us. We look a bit laboured and we massively miss Garrity and Stockley. Always time for us to improve, but if we're not quite in full flow at this stage of the season, I'm not sure when we will. Midfield looked to struggle tonight. Far too deep and very sloppy in possession.

 

[jacobncfc]

Happy for you to come second.

Notts County up in some capacity too hopefully.

We are cooked unless Jones and McGoldrick come back soon and are with it quickly. We’ve got no attacking gameplan really other than hope they do something good.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

1 promotion in 26 years for us and that was sneaking into the playoffs on 69 points (must be a near low to get in. In that 26 years we've also had 4 relegations, with 2 admins nearly ending in liquidation to add a cherry on top. Don't get me wrong as lower league fans we all suffer, but the last time we won a title was 40 years ago when the Bradford fire happened. I think we are just about due one, it would be fitting for the anniversary as well.

 

[LS Bantam]

Obviously far too early for all this ‘congratulations on your trophy’ comments from the exact same people who have been saying the same to Walsall all season.
Put a run together in this league and you dramatically rise, Walsall first half of this season, us second half, Doncaster last season, I’m sure there’s loads of examples - we were absolutely miles away last year, put a run together at Easter and finished a point outside the Play Off’s. Too many points left for anyone to think the season is over now, more so for those with games in hand and still excellent squads.
10 consecutive home wins last night, a new club record but also the final match of six(?) straight weeks of Tuesday/Saturday games that despite still winning has really left its mark on the team, thankfully the depth of this squad has kept us up there, by far the main reason we’ve remained competitive.

 

[loz]

Bradford are flying but have they peaked too soon? Time will tell. Like others have said, nothing will surprise me

Good question. A quarter of the season remaining and a lot of points to play for. In our favour though is the depth of our squad and I don't just mean quantity. Last night , we were without 6 first choice players including 3 of the most creative in the division.

 

[Kauto Star]

1 promotion in 26 years for us and that was sneaking into the playoffs on 69 points (must be a near low to get in. In that 26 years we've also had 4 relegations, with 2 admins nearly ending in liquidation to add a cherry on top. Don't get me wrong as lower league fans we all suffer, but the last time we won a title was 40 years ago when the Bradford fire happened. I think we are just about due one, it would be fitting for the anniversary as well.

Just to correct you Wilsden, its 2 promotions in 26 years. We were promoted to the Premier League in 1999

 

[Kauto Star]

It's Bradfords year you know....I'm convinced.

Wrexham's too in league 1?

Thanks for beating the puppy dogs last night. It would be great to renew our West Yorkshire rivalry next season with our dear neighbours

 

[Kauto Star]

I hope Bradford go on and win it to be honest, no disrespect to Walsall who I won't mind coming up with them. Bradford are a long suffering lot, would be a welcome addition to next season's fixture list in League One.

Do you fancy your chances of promotion yourselves again this season?. You've done remarkably well in league 1

 

[Vin Weasel]

To clarify, we've won 3 by by 2 or more goals. Salford, Newport and Fleetwood. Not great still, but just correcting you.

We were poor 2nd half tonight, ran out of ideas but still created enough to win against a solid team that are good at frustrating and killing the game as a spectacle.

The key to promotion and even winning the title is timing your run just right. We've room to improve, but just ticking along at the moment. In years gone by we'd have lost 2 or 3 since the turn of the year in games we've not played well in, but we've gone 10 undefeated now and keep picking up points, constantly getting overlooked when people talk about automatic promotion.

If we stay undefeated and pick up a few more wins through March, we'll start seeing Garrity and Stockley return for the run in. That could be what gets us into the top 3.

Bradford are flying but have they peaked too soon? Time will tell. Like others have said, nothing will surprise me.

I agree that teams peak and then fall due to fitness, mentality or experience.
But these teams generally have a smaller group of players to pick from.
The massive difference for us this year, and definitely since January, is we can rotate our squad or have players been taken off for precaution, yet still find a way to win.
The players brought in during the window, Mellon, Lapslie, Adaramola, Khela, all started last night and starred.
Neill Byrne hasn't started for months, yet comes in last night and we are solid.
We've only conceded 3 goals in 12 league games.
Pointon has a bruised foot so we can afford to give him a week off to get him back fully fit for the run in.
Sarcevic is our only worry, his injury is awaiting the results from a scan.
Pattison has man flu so won't be too far off.
We can bring back the experience of Jamie Walker any time, just like last night, and he produces a motm display with 2 assists even though he's been in and out the last 3 months.
Everything points to a squad going the distance for eachother with plenty of talent to select from.

 

[Son of Cod]

I mean to be fair he's like, 5th choice at best, in a remotely ideal world he shouldn't be playing. I think Cook has got a bit wrong this season, but I mean, he/we've been desperately unlucky. I think this season was always going to be an adjustment one and go again next year though in fairness, I said that at the start. No voices of discontent with Cook yet, I think that would be extremely knee jerk and unnecessary.

Are you not fuming that any semblance of form you had has all but vanished into thin air since he said your season was done with about a third of it to go? It can't have not affected your players and you were still well in the playoff picture at the time. Seemed an absolutely bonkers conclusion to draw, let alone to say in the media.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I agree that teams peak and then fall due to fitness, mentality or experience.
But these teams generally have a smaller group of players to pick from.
The massive difference for us this year, and definitely since January, is we can rotate our squad or have players been taken off for precaution, yet still find a way to win.
The players brought in during the window, Mellon, Lapslie, Adaramola, Khela, all started last night and starred.
Neill Byrne hasn't started for months, yet comes in last night and we are solid.
We've only conceded 3 goals in 12 league games.
Pointon has a bruised foot so we can afford to give him a week off to get him back fully fit for the run in.
Sarcevic is our only worry, his injury is awaiting the results from a scan.
Pattison has man flu so won't be too far off.
We can bring back the experience of Jamie Walker any time, just like last night, and he produces a motm display with 2 assists even though he's been in and out the last 3 months.
Everything points to a squad going the distance for eachother with plenty of talent to select from.

I must admit, I'm surprised at how well you're doing. When you beat us on Boxing Day, we were depleted by injury and basically the difference was Cook. The rest of the side looked OK but workmanlike. At the time I thought playoffs at best.

It seems that since then you have got into a groove and when I watched you against Bromley the other week, you looked a good team. The midfield looked particularly good and absolutely controlled things.

We've got quality in our team and a pretty deep squad, but there's no doubt that Garrity and Stockley are virtually irreplaceable with how we like to play. We just look a weaker team without them.

You've had a good transfer window by the looks of it. Our best signing in January looks to be out for the season and the others are pretty poor signings so far. We seem to continually think we'll be ok in January whilst other sides make improvements.

 

[LS Bantam]

I must admit, I'm surprised at how well you're doing. When you beat us on Boxing Day, we were depleted by injury and basically the difference was Cook. The rest of the side looked OK but workmanlike. At the time I thought playoffs at best.

It seems that since then you have got into a groove and when I watched you against Bromley the other week, you looked a good team. The midfield looked particularly good and absolutely controlled things.

We've got quality in our team and a pretty deep squad, but there's no doubt that Garrity and Stockley are virtually irreplaceable with how we like to play. We just look a weaker team without them.

You've had a good transfer window by the looks of it. Our best signing in January looks to be out for the season and the others are pretty poor signings so far. We seem to continually think we'll be ok in January whilst other sides make improvements.

The good run started in December when we beat you, Chesterfield, a few others, all were games beforehand I thought ‘we’ve no chance there’, we played nearly all the top sides and apart from Notts County we did well (similar run of games to come in April).
But the difference has been that January window, we added back ups of the same standard as those starting that has allowed for the rotation that so far has seen us get round another run of injuries. Pattison/Sarcevic playing December onwards has also been significant but as before both missing at the minute, but to make the point, we bring in Lapsilie (two goals last night), bring in Jamie Walker (two assists last night), Adaramola at left back to replace Lewis Richards who was in the best form of his career… there’s strength in depth since the window that I can’t think of other squads we’ve had at any level over the years.

 

[Stocky]

Do you fancy your chances of promotion yourselves again this season?. You've done remarkably well in league 1

We've done well but I'd have trepidation for us in the Championship to be honest. Would feel a bit of a lions den at this moment in time.

We do have a decent shout for the play-offs so therefore we can't deny we do have a chance.

I would suggest we'll fall short tbf, automatics are certainly a stretch and there will be some big hitters in the Play-Offs.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Just to correct you Wilsden, its 2 promotions in 26 years. We were promoted to the Premier League in 1999

Yeah that was 26 years ago, I was talking specifically since then. So in 25 years would probably be more accurate.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

I must admit, I'm surprised at how well you're doing. When you beat us on Boxing Day, we were depleted by injury and basically the difference was Cook. The rest of the side looked OK but workmanlike. At the time I thought playoffs at best.

It seems that since then you have got into a groove and when I watched you against Bromley the other week, you looked a good team. The midfield looked particularly good and absolutely controlled things.

We've got quality in our team and a pretty deep squad, but there's no doubt that Garrity and Stockley are virtually irreplaceable with how we like to play. We just look a weaker team without them.

You've had a good transfer window by the looks of it. Our best signing in January looks to be out for the season and the others are pretty poor signings so far. We seem to continually think we'll be ok in January whilst other sides make improvements.

For me I had you to win the league, or would have if you didn't have Darren Moore. Never rated the guy, despite his promotion at Wednesday with a crazy budget. I think he's negative and holding you back.

We weren't at our best against you that day, but players were only just returning from injury and we'd just been smashed by Notts. We are a different side now.

 

[Coalite]

Grimes not being good enough was of course news that was broken by none other than myself well over a year before Chesterfield came up and it generally fell on deaf ears.

The question is, are any of the Chesterfield fans listening when I say once again that your golden boy Paul Cook is not the man for the job? What was he thinking saying your season was over a few weeks ago. Sounds like you've been on the beach since. You can't blame that one on being decimated by injuries. Got form for losing his head in the media, hasn't he?

As others have said, Grimes playing is out of necessity rather than choice.

It goes without saying that our performances since Christmas have been generally poor and it's doubly frustrating that we were in a decent position at the time to have a real good go at it in the second half of the season. It's just not happened and injuries (of course), departures and a general loss of form from key players has proper banjaxed us.

It'll be a while yet before you hear anyone calling for Cook's head. Put simply though, he will have to come up with solutions to the fact that every man and his dog knows exactly how his teams play.

 

[leedsvaliant]

For me I had you to win the league, or would have if you didn't have Darren Moore. Never rated the guy, despite his promotion at Wednesday with a crazy budget. I think he's negative and holding you back.

We weren't at our best against you that day, but players were only just returning from injury and we'd just been smashed by Notts. We are a different side now.

I agree with your point about Moore. I don't think he's particularly bright and I think Sheffield Wednesday got promoted in spite of him. He's playing to par this season really and he is pretty good at playing and winning tight matches against the teams around us. His difficulty is creating a team that can take it to teams that just sit in. There doesn't appear to be much of a plan in that situation and we just kind of hope something will fall.

 

[AdamStag]

So like, are Bradford going to actually do it!?

Looking promising.

(if we stop up) class away day.

 

[FiRTHYY]

We still have this very tough April fast approaching.

Port Vale (a)
Crewe (h)
Swindon (a)
Notts County (h)
Chesterfield (a)
Doncaster (a)

With Fleetwood at home on the final day.

 

[loz]

We still have this very tough April fast approaching.

Port Vale (a)
Crewe (h)
Swindon (a)
Notts County (h)
Chesterfield (a)
Doncaster (a)

With Fleetwood at home on the final day.

That's a tough month but playing us now won't be easy for those teams.

 

[spireite]

Are you not fuming that any semblance of form you had has all but vanished into thin air since he said your season was done with about a third of it to go? It can't have not affected your players and you were still well in the playoff picture at the time. Seemed an absolutely bonkers conclusion to draw, let alone to say in the media.

Oh yea proper annoyed at the down turn in form. I don't think there's a team in this land that could lose their top 3 scorers, and their entire defence and still maintain a top 3 charge in fairness though. What has annoyed me is how we've gone about trying to replace those, it's obviously not been good enough and we've been left having to field players who weren't really getting a game last season, nevermind this, which seems to be why we've dropped like a stone. I don't really blame Cook for not trying to fix everything in that January window though, it was mostly short term sticky plasters that haven't worked.

I don't recall Cook saying that exact thing but he's got an unfortunate habit of saying way too much to the media at times, which is why he uses Webb basically as a spokesperson so it's entirely possible he did.

I reckon he's got enough credit in the bank here to have at least the summer, get the decks clear, have a rebuild and let's go again. If we are sat in the same position after that then there might be a few queueing to sharpen the axe

 

[Kauto Star]

A bit of a blow on our injury front today.

Sarcevic ruled out for a few weeks due to the hamstring injury picked up at Salford last weekend.

Pattison's illness turned out to be him having his appendix removed, so again, ruled out for a few weeks

Pointon needs to rest a bruised foot for a couple of weeks.

Richards ruled out for the season requiring surgery for hamstring and shoulder injuries.