2024/25 League Two Promotion Thread

[Grimsby Road]

The TV Deal hasn't worked as expected as a lot more has been moved, its great if away and you can catch a game you wouldn't have seen otherwise but for us nearly all our "Big games" have been moved, Crewe and Walsall home and away, Notts Home, Doncaster Home, Tranmere Away is usually a decent away one for us as is Accrington.

The 12:30 Saturdays aren't the end of the world but then you get the Monday or Thursday nights which are more damaging to attendances.

Personally they will ditch the black out eventually so may as well just do it, have all the games on TV at 3pm on a Saturday and leave games where they are.

The 4 week notice period we have now which I thought was meant to be at the start of the season sold to fans as giving plenty of notice is ridiculous for fans who go via trains etc looking for cheaper tickets.

Agree with all of that

I have been shafted out of 5 or 6 games i would have gone to , Notts & Donny away 2 of my favourites and they were unviable .

It can't be all worth it for 150k extra , next season now people have realised I reckon in some cases they will lose that in ST sales it just won't be worth it to people .

That last paragraph was the thing that's irked me even more it came over early doors you would get loads of notice , I'm guessing this 1 month thing was down the bottom somewhere or in the small print . Our game with you will probably be moved i reckon , suppose we will find out in a week or 2 - i would be interested if they can move them at even shorter notice near the end of season , wouldn't suprise me .

 

[valefan16]

Agree with all of that

I have been shafted out of 5 or 6 games i would have gone to , Notts & Donny away 2 of my favourites and they were unviable .

It can't be all worth it for 150k extra , next season now people have realised I reckon in some cases they will lose that in ST sales it just won't be worth it to people .

That last paragraph was the thing that's irked me even more it came over early doors you would get loads of notice , I'm guessing this 1 month thing was down the bottom somewhere or in the small print . Our game with you will probably be moved i reckon , suppose we will find out in a week or 2 - i would be interested if they can move them at even shorter notice near the end of season , wouldn't suprise me .

Isn't it Easter Weekend so think they are all on TV anyway aren't they as not Saturday 3pm? (as are next weekend with it being International Weekend).

I imagine the only one likely to be moved of ours now would be the AFC Wimbledon one which ironically might be good in that it only has a small away allocation which will sell out at the first points cut off so if there is everything riding on it that might be the only way most can see it.

 

[loz]

League One really is a bloodbath these days. And with three smaller budget teams going down and probably Burton who've blown it all on crap it'll be even tougher to survive. In theory could see three teams spending lots of money in the Championship go down as well which means if you're a Northampton, a Lincoln or an Exeter you're up against it from the get go.

Just depressing everyones willy waving about budgets though. Let's face it if likes of Huddersfield, Bolton and Barnsley are making a pigs ear out of getting out of League One the right way then I can't exactly see L1/L2 yo-yo mainstays Bradford and Port Vale troubling the promotion spots themselves in the near future. Great we've got more money but what's the cost? 8pm games on a Thursday Night, 12:30 kickoffs, a lower ceiling for almost all our clubs than 20 years ago even with these newfound riches and a poorer match day experience for the average fan, with fans who work on Saturdays and kids who play Saturday Morning football short changed to the point where getting an ST just isn't viable anymore. How is that going to grow clubs long term?

Whole thing is a disaster. We're in a promotion/playoff race again after years of mediocre football, a pandemic and then disastrous football and as much as I appreciate this team and their efforts, even if we've struggled a bit over the winter, I'm struggling to get excited because we've had 1 Saturday 3pm kickoff between mid-November and the final day and I work almost every Saturday.

Maybe being poorer and having less TV exposure was great. Maybe this was just a ploy for Sky to get the blackout scrapped and screen 3pm Premier League fixtures from 2029 onwards. Because the current system just harms the game. Should be a cap on home fixtures being moved as well. We've only had 2 Saturday 3pm away fixtures moved but we've had 8 Saturday 3pm fixtures moved (6 directly because of Sky and 1 indirectly because of Sky with 1 being the clubs own choice). It stinks and just as lower league football was booming post-pandemic as well.

Football fans will sympathise with this but unfortunately true fans come at the bottom of the list that efl and certainly sky hold. They see support from an arm chair more important than us fans handing over our cash to cheer our lads on. To hell with the traditionalists for whom a couple of pints followed by the footie has always been a Saturday ritual. That said, if promotion is reachable, you have to go for it. It creates interest and dominates conversation. Willy waving doesn't come into it when wondering if survival in a division higher can be done. No one plans for promotion to be followed by relegation unless there is financial reward such as premier/championship parachute. At the moment, the fans of a dozen or so league 2 clubs have interest at the top end and we should enjoy that situation albeit with trepidation every time a key player goes to ground.

 

[クレイグ]

We've no chance of automatics now. We're nothing without Sarcevic, Pattierinson or Pointon.

 

[JJ1990]

90 - Average Champions
89 -
88 -
87 -
86 - Predicted Champions
85 -
84 -
83 -
82 - Average Automatics
81 -
80 -
79 -
78 - Predicted Automatics
77 -
76 -
75 -
74 -
73 -
72 - Average Play Offs, Predicted Play Offs
71 -
70 -
69 - Walsall(37)
68 -
67 -
66 - Bradford(37)
65 -
64 -
63 - AFC Wimbledon(37)
-------------------------------------------------
63 - Doncaster(37)
62 -
61 - Notts County(37), Port Vale(36)
60 -
59 -
58 - Colchester(37)
-------------------------------------------------
57 - Crewe Alex(37)
56 - Grimsby(37)
55 -
54 -
53 - Salford(37)

What a silly week at the top as the teams continue to baffle and confuse. Walsall only manage a draw at Bromley but their gap extends to Bradford in 2nd after the Bantams suffered a shock home defeat to Tranmere. Wimbledon are into the top 3 on goal difference, even after only managing 3 points from their 2 games this week.

Doncaster only took a point from Crewe and that saw them slip to 4th. Notts County got a great away win at Grimsby, but then lost at home to Chesterfield, so keep bouncing between 4th and 5th. Port Vale move just behind them on goal difference as they too took 1 win and 1 loss from this week. Into the top 7 after a ridiculous run of form is Colchester, they are this seasons' Doncaster it seems. Have they peaked too soon, or finding form at just the right time?

Crewe are left to rue 2 wins from their last 11 and drop down to 8th with some more very tough games coming up. Grimsby lose back to back home games without scoring to see their top 7 hopes take a big hit. Then we have a new side into the top 10 in Salford, as they picked up a good win at Blundell Park to keep their promotion hopes alive.

For me, the clearest sign of just how poor this league has been this season is the fact that whoever wins the league and whoever finishes in the top 3 will likely have needed fewer points to do so than the historical average. For reference, Mansfield needed 86 points to finish 3rd last season. The team that wins the league this season might end up on the same amount. Might.

1st - Walsall, 68 points, GD 24: Gillingham(A), Wimbledon(H), Doncaster(A), Port Vale(H), Barrow(A), Harrogate(H), Newport(A), Accrington(H), Crewe(A)
2nd - Bradford, 66 points, GD 17: Colchester(H), Accrington(A), Port Vale(A), Crewe(H), Swindon(A), Notts County(H), Chesterfield(A), Doncaster(A), Fleetwood(H)
3rd - Wimbledon, 63 points, GD 23: Barrow(H), Walsall(A), Swindon(A), Harrogate(H), Doncaster(A), Chesterfield(H), Gillingham(A), Port Vale(H), Grimsby(A)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4th - Doncaster, 63 points, GD 10: Carlisle(H), Walsall(H), Cheltenham(A), Wimbledon(H), Tranmere(A), Colchester(H), Bradford(H), Notts County(A), Salford(A) TBC
5th - Notts County, 61 points, GD 17: Crewe(H), Newport(A), MK Dons(H), Colchester(A), Salford(H), Bradford(A), Cheltenham(H), Harrogate(A), Doncaster(H)
6th - Port Vale, 61 points, GD 8: Morecambe(H), Barrow(H), Crewe(A), Bradford(H), Walsall(A), Bromley(H), Carlisle(A), Grimsby(H), Wimbledon(A), Gillingham(H)
7th - Colchester, 58 points, GD 12: Bradford(A), Grimsby(H), Gillingham(A), Notts County(H), Newport(A), Crewe(H), Doncaster(A), Salford(A), Barrow(H)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8th - Crewe, 57 points, GD 7: Notts County(A), Port Vale(H), Grimsby(H), Bradford(A), Cheltenham(H), Colchester(A), MK Dons(H), Tranmere(A), Walsall(H)
9th - Grimsby, 56 points, GD -3: Newport(H), Colchester(A), Crewe(A), Morecambe(H), Harrogate(A), Swindon(H), Port Vale(A), MK Dons(A), Wimbledon(H)
10th - Salford, 53 points, GD 3: Bromley(A), Barrow(A), Gillingham(H), Notts County(A), Accrington(H), Morecambe(A), Colchester(H), Carlisle(A), Doncaster(H) TBC

Forthcoming fixtures:

Saturday 22nd March
Notts County v Crewe Alexandra
AFC Wimbledon v Barrow
Bradford City v Colchester United
Gillingham v Walsall
Grimsby Town v Newport County
Port Vale v Morecambe

It's a shame Salford v Doncaster has been moved as it would have complete a very interesting set of fixtures coming up. Still, some fascinating ties all the same. Both sides in the early kick off will fancy getting 3 points to either strengthen their top 7 place or get back in there. Bradford v Colchester looks very tasty as well.

Wimbledon, Grimsby and Port Vale have got to fancy home wins against 3 struggling/mid-table teams and Walsall I'd normally say should feel the same down at Gillingham, but given their current form I'm not so sure.

 

[クレイグ]

Easy Colchester win next week. Missing our star midfield which has carried us through our good run.

 

[kieran_vale]

Still think autos are going to prove to be beyond us but that was huge for us today. Keep Garrity, Byers and Stockley fit we have a chance but based on history it’s a big fucking if.

Good day for us and Wimbledon but under no illusion it’s extremely likely the following weekend may end up the opposite.

 

[クレイグ]

Still think autos are going to prove to be beyond us but that was huge for us today. Keep Garrity, Byers and Stockley fit we have a chance but based on history it’s a big fucking if.

Good day for us and Wimbledon but under no illusion it’s extremely likely the following weekend may end up the opposite.

You'll finish above us. We went on a poor run this time last year and looks like we're about to do the same again.

 

[Crewelad87]

The most inconsistent promotion race I've ever known. Just as a team looks to have cracked it, they fall to pieces. Fully expecting Colchester to go on a poor run now they've reached the play offs spots.

 

[Kauto Star]

Still think autos are going to prove to be beyond us but that was huge for us today. Keep Garrity, Byers and Stockley fit we have a chance but based on history it’s a big fucking if.

Good day for us and Wimbledon but under no illusion it’s extremely likely the following weekend may end up the opposite.

I can see you finishing in the top 3 no problem

 

[クレイグ]

I can see you finishing in the top 3 no problem

Playoffs for us, ya reckon?

 

[Kauto Star]

We've no chance of automatics now. We're nothing without Sarcevic, Pattierinson or Pointon.

To be fair, our defence is very good, but we cannot hope to win 1-0 every week like we had been doing.

Zero creativity today

 

[クレイグ]

To be fair, our defence is very good, but we cannot hope to win 1-0 every week like we had been doing.

Zero creativity today

I agree, but I think it's much weaker with Byrne in there. Don't like him at all.

 

[gary]

90 - Average Champions
89 -
88 -
87 -
86 - Predicted Champions
85 -
84 -
83 -
82 - Average Automatics
81 -
80 -
79 -
78 - Predicted Automatics
77 -
76 -
75 -
74 -
73 -
72 - Average Play Offs, Predicted Play Offs
71 -
70 -
69 - Walsall(37)
68 -
67 -
66 - Bradford(37)
65 -
64 -
63 - AFC Wimbledon(37)
-------------------------------------------------
63 - Doncaster(37)
62 -
61 - Notts County(37), Port Vale(36)
60 -
59 -
58 - Colchester(37)
-------------------------------------------------
57 - Crewe Alex(37)
56 - Grimsby(37)
55 -
54 -
53 - Salford(37)

What a silly week at the top as the teams continue to baffle and confuse. Walsall only manage a draw at Bromley but their gap extends to Bradford in 2nd after the Bantams suffered a shock home defeat to Tranmere. Wimbledon are into the top 3 on goal difference, even after only managing 3 points from their 2 games this week.

Doncaster only took a point from Crewe and that saw them slip to 4th. Notts County got a great away win at Grimsby, but then lost at home to Chesterfield, so keep bouncing between 4th and 5th. Port Vale move just behind them on goal difference as they too took 1 win and 1 loss from this week. Into the top 7 after a ridiculous run of form is Colchester, they are this seasons' Doncaster it seems. Have they peaked too soon, or finding form at just the right time?

Crewe are left to rue 2 wins from their last 11 and drop down to 8th with some more very tough games coming up. Grimsby lose back to back home games without scoring to see their top 7 hopes take a big hit. Then we have a new side into the top 10 in Salford, as they picked up a good win at Blundell Park to keep their promotion hopes alive.

For me, the clearest sign of just how poor this league has been this season is the fact that whoever wins the league and whoever finishes in the top 3 will likely have needed fewer points to do so than the historical average. For reference, Mansfield needed 86 points to finish 3rd last season. The team that wins the league this season might end up on the same amount. Might.

1st - Walsall, 68 points, GD 24: Gillingham(A), Wimbledon(H), Doncaster(A), Port Vale(H), Barrow(A), Harrogate(H), Newport(A), Accrington(H), Crewe(A)
2nd - Bradford, 66 points, GD 17: Colchester(H), Accrington(A), Port Vale(A), Crewe(H), Swindon(A), Notts County(H), Chesterfield(A), Doncaster(A), Fleetwood(H)
3rd - Wimbledon, 63 points, GD 23: Barrow(H), Walsall(A), Swindon(A), Harrogate(H), Doncaster(A), Chesterfield(H), Gillingham(A), Port Vale(H), Grimsby(A)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4th - Doncaster, 63 points, GD 10: Carlisle(H), Walsall(H), Cheltenham(A), Wimbledon(H), Tranmere(A), Colchester(H), Bradford(H), Notts County(A), Salford(A) TBC
5th - Notts County, 61 points, GD 17: Crewe(H), Newport(A), MK Dons(H), Colchester(A), Salford(H), Bradford(A), Cheltenham(H), Harrogate(A), Doncaster(H)
6th - Port Vale, 61 points, GD 8: Morecambe(H), Barrow(H), Crewe(A), Bradford(H), Walsall(A), Bromley(H), Carlisle(A), Grimsby(H), Wimbledon(A), Gillingham(H)
7th - Colchester, 58 points, GD 12: Bradford(A), Grimsby(H), Gillingham(A), Notts County(H), Newport(A), Crewe(H), Doncaster(A), Salford(A), Barrow(H)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8th - Crewe, 57 points, GD 7: Notts County(A), Port Vale(H), Grimsby(H), Bradford(A), Cheltenham(H), Colchester(A), MK Dons(H), Tranmere(A), Walsall(H)
9th - Grimsby, 56 points, GD -3: Newport(H), Colchester(A), Crewe(A), Morecambe(H), Harrogate(A), Swindon(H), Port Vale(A), MK Dons(A), Wimbledon(H)
10th - Salford, 53 points, GD 3: Bromley(A), Barrow(A), Gillingham(H), Notts County(A), Accrington(H), Morecambe(A), Colchester(H), Carlisle(A), Doncaster(H) TBC

Forthcoming fixtures:

Saturday 22nd March
Notts County v Crewe Alexandra
AFC Wimbledon v Barrow
Bradford City v Colchester United
Gillingham v Walsall
Grimsby Town v Newport County
Port Vale v Morecambe

It's a shame Salford v Doncaster has been moved as it would have complete a very interesting set of fixtures coming up. Still, some fascinating ties all the same. Both sides in the early kick off will fancy getting 3 points to either strengthen their top 7 place or get back in there. Bradford v Colchester looks very tasty as well.

Wimbledon, Grimsby and Port Vale have got to fancy home wins against 3 struggling/mid-table teams and Walsall I'd normally say should feel the same down at Gillingham, but given their current form I'm not so sure.

We lost at home to Cheltenham on Tuesday night so we are no certainties to beat Barrow next Saturday. At this stage of the season every game is difficult. Colchester are the only consistent team at the moment. Top 3 is a lottery.

 

[dedwardp]

Easy Colchester win next week. Missing our star midfield which has carried us through our good run.

For what it's worth, we have a makeshift midfield at the moment and having to play a left back in central midfield. That will still be the case next weekend with McDonnell on international duty.

Would snap your hand off for a point next weekend. We have some really tough games coming up so still expecting us to drop off a little, but the flipside of that is that there's quite a few big six-pointers there to really make some ground, particularly the three at home against Grimsby, Notts County and Crewe.

 

[kieran_vale]

I can see you finishing in the top 3 no problem

It’s possible I’m not going to bank on it though. It is well within what I have come to expect with Vale that next Saturday at home to Morecambe we can just as easily screw things up and then it’s all change again who is feeling good about themselves. I do think autos and the playoff spots will be going down to the last day. That’s the only thing am confident in.

 

[クレイグ]

For what it's worth, we have a makeshift midfield at the moment and having to play a left back in central midfield. That will still be the case next weekend with McDonnell on international duty.

Would snap your hand off for a point next weekend. We have some really tough games coming up so still expecting us to drop off a little, but the flipside of that is that there's quite a few big six-pointers there to really make some ground, particularly the three at home against Grimsby, Notts County and Crewe.

You'll get three points next Saturday. Not confident at all.