2024/25 League Two Relegation Thread

[Robshep]

I do get the feeling Morecambe couldn't have a better manager for this situation in Adams to scratch and claw their way out of this. Am left fearing for Tranmere I'm afraid to say with a never ending takeover hanging over them and clearly stuck with a manager who doesn't seem to have many answers.

Any answers.

 

[JJ1990]

52 - Guaranteed Survival
51 -
50 -
49 -
48 -
47 - Average Survival(00/01-23/24)
46 - Crewe(26)
45 -
44 - Port Vale(26)
43 - AFC Wimbledon(24), Notts County(25), Doncaster(26)
42 - Salford(25)
41 - Bradford(25)
40 -
39 -
38 - Expected Survival Grimsby(26)
37 -
36 -
35 - Chesterfield(25)
34 -
33 -
32 - MK Dons(24), Bromley(25)
31 - Cheltenham(25)
30 - Fleetwood(23), Colchester(25), Gillingham(24)
29 -
28 - Barrow(25), Swindon(27), Harrogate(26)
27 -
26 - Newport(24)
25 - Accrington(24), Tranmere(25)
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24 -
23 -
22 -
21 -
20 - Morecambe(25)
19 -
18 - Carlisle(25)

We have a new entrant into the relegation sweepstakes in Barrow. They are 2-6-9 in their last 17 games and given how they crashed and burned under Pete Wild when they were half decent, that is a massively concerning run for their fans. Swindon are picking up form at home at the right time and look to be pulling themselves to safety. Harrogate also got a big home win and they too should have enough you'd think.

It's not looking great for the 3 teams just below the drop zone. 3 defeats, they're in trouble and need results to keep the gap to the bottom 2 at a healthy length.

The gap is still 7 points for Carlisle and 5 points for Morecambe, but as we saw last season, the games are running out for those 2 and whilst the teams above the drop zone look vulnerable, they both need to get a shift on and find some wins in the coming weeks.

17th: Barrow, 28 points, GD -5: Grimsby(H), Doncaster(H), Newport(A), Gillingham(H), MK Dons(H)
18th: Swindon, 28 points, GD -8: Newport(A), Tranmere(H), Carlisle(A), Port Vale(H), Harrogate(A)
19th: Harrogate, 28 points, GD -14: Colchester(H), Doncaster(A), MK Dons(A), Crewe(H), Bradford(A)
20th: Newport, 26 points, GD -11: Swindon(H), Salford(A), Barrow(H), Crewe(A), Carlisle(H)
21st: Accrington, 25 points, GD -11: Crewe(A), Cheltenham(H), Port Vale(A), Wimbledon(H), Bradford(A)
22nd: Tranmere, 25 points, GD -21: Gillingham(H), Swindon(A), Colchester(H), Salford(A), Fleetwood(H)
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23rd: Morecambe, 20 points, GD -18: Colchester(A), Bradford(A), Fleetwood(H), Notts County(A), Accrington(H)
24th: Carlisle, 18 points, GD -20: Fleetwood(A), Notts County(A), Swindon(H), Grimsby(A), Newport(A)

Carlisle and morecambe are going to have to hope their away form is kinder to them in the coming weeks. Tranmere have some winnable home games, but if they don't win those, then things could get dicey. Accy's run in the coming weeks looks horrible, as does Harrogate's.

Next week's fixtures:

Tuesday 21st January
Harrogate Town v Colchester United

Friday 24th January
Newport County v Swindon Town

Saturday 25th January
Barrow v Grimsby Town
Colchester United v Morecambe
Crewe Alexandra v Accrington Stanley
Doncaster Rovers v Harrogate Town
Fleetwood Town v Carlisle United
Tranmere Rovers v Gillingham

Couple of biggies here. Newport v Swindon in a local(ish) game on Friday night, Carlisle going a relatively short distance to Fleetwood and Tranmere hosting out of form Gillingham all stand outs.

 

[Carver]

Just consider us as already relegated.

 

[BarraMatt]

We have been in the picture for a good month or so but have given ourselves a chance at least by changing a head coach.

 

[Carver]

We have been in the picture for a good month or so but have given ourselves a chance at least by changing a head coach.

I don't know what your owners ever saw in Clemence.

Since Evatt left I'd say Wild was the only decent appointment your club has made.

 

[BarraMatt]

I don't know what your owners ever saw in Clemence.

Since Evatt left I'd say Wild was the only decent appointment your club has made.

You should have got Wild in instead of that snooker player Mark Williams.

 

[Carver]

You should have got Wild in instead of that snooker player Mark Williams.

I would have had him up here but many of our fans said no to him because of the 'Barrow connection' which is ridiculous because it's not like our rivalry is something significant like Celtic and Rangers or Liverpool and Everton.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

He’s gone to gillingham but I think Coleman may well have suited barrow as a club.

 

[BarraMatt]

I would have had him up here but many of our fans said no to him because of the 'Barrow connection' which is ridiculous because it's not like our rivalry is something significant like Celtic and Rangers or Liverpool and Everton.

Aye you wouldn't have been in any danger, and would have at least got you away from it with the players you had with a few additions rather than signing a whole new squad.

 

[Spireitelass97]

it's harder up here and I don't like it, I preferred it when we won by 2 or 3 every week

It was fun wasn’t it

 

[Spireitelass97]

I think last season definitely adds some shine to our experience in the NL. Before the takeover it was truly grim, a bit of optimism pre-season each time which quickly vanished as the seasoned pros we signed retired by November and we were getting beaten by Maidenhead and Solihull.

I'll never forget how toxic the atmosphere was at that boxing day game when we got a pasting from Solihull and a few invaded the pitch.

Was awful wasn’t it. I don’t think you can quite explain how low you feel seeing your club on brink of relegation to regional leagues and probable extinction. We weren’t as close as some, but was a horrific feeling

 

[Spireitelass97]

I miss those clubs you mention that have drifted out of the football league. Hopefully York City will be back next season along with perhaps Oldham.

You missed our near neighbours Halifax off your list too

I’d be happy if Oldham take a bit longer to get back up

 

[hellogregory]

You can have Williamson back, please please please!

Make up your mind.

One minute you want him gone, the next thing you’re swayed by a 5 minute speech at a fucking fans forum and see him as the man to lead us to great things, then after another defeat you’re back to wanting him out again.

One day you’re convinced we’re staying up, now you’re saying consider us already relegated. What will it be tomorrow?

 

[Roger Stone]

A big 5 weeks coming up for us. 8 games, 6 home and 2 away. Including Swindon, Barrow, Morecambe, Carlisle and Cheltenham all at home. Away form has been shite so need home wins sharpish. Short of CBs again - looks like Brennan broke his arm yesterday and Jameson suspended for 3 games. A good time for Swindon to play us, a bit like the reverse fixture.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Now that Carlisle have finally learned after 5 months how to pass……I’m trying to work out if we have enough time left to get out the tactics book on learning how to cross and shoot, I’d hoped we’d worked out passing by mid October but it’s just taken a little longer than hoped.

 

[Tallow]

According to local radio podcast, Carlisle potentially signing 4 more players this week.
If true, I'm not convinced it's a good thing. We already have one of the biggest squads in the league and with 9 new signings already the manager should be utilising his group of players better.

 

[LS Bantam]

The super dooper American owners need to be investing in a bigger changing room to fit all these new signings in to.

 

[Moonie]

According to local radio podcast, Carlisle potentially signing 4 more players this week.
If true, I'm not convinced it's a good thing. We already have one of the biggest squads in the league and with 9 new signings already the manager should be utilising his group of players better.

Trouble is we're still short of quality, particularly in the wingback roles. Harper has regressed massively since a couple of promising performances early this season, Davies isn't back until late February, and Ellis is not a wingback. If Armstrong is going, we're still short up front too. Also, if Fusire is as bad as he looked when he came on in the second half yesterday, we're still a CM/DM short. Embleton and Wearne are not CM, they're attacking midfielders. Finally, we're likely a CB short too - Barclay and Hayden have endured awful seasons.

 

[hellogregory]

It’s simply not realistic to expect these players to gel overnight. By the time they do (if they do) the gap will be unassailable and we’ll be almost mathematically down.

We are wasting money for nothing. We’re going to be relegated regardless, it’s so clear. Results have got worse over the last month. Only we’ll be going down with a massive list of players on long expensive contracts.

Then what if Williamson goes when relegation is confirmed, or even before? Do we allow another head coach to bring in his own players?

 

[Moonie]

It’s simply not realistic to expect these players to gel overnight. By the time they do (if they do) the gap will be unassailable and we’ll be almost mathematically down.

We are wasting money for nothing. We’re going to be relegated regardless, it’s so clear. Results have got worse over the last month. Only we’ll be going down with a massive list of players on long expensive contracts.

Then what if Williamson goes when relegation is confirmed, or even before? Do we allow another head coach to bring in his own players?

Got to hope that some of these signings are Clarksons, and that some stability will exist through him if/when MW eventually leaves.

It's a struggle at the moment.