League 1 25/26

[AdamStag]

Confirmed -
Cardiff
Plymouth* (barring a swing of 14 GD)

Retained from league 1
Bolton
Huddersfield
Blackpool
Lincoln
Barnsley
Rotherham
Stevenage
Wigan
Exeter
Peterborough
Northampton
Mansfield
Burton* (barring a swing of 12 GD)

Promoted from league 2 -
Doncaster
Port Vale

I mean if you’re north of Birmingham you’re in for a right laugh next season!

 

[thewwfc]

Ha. We were Argyle’s bogey team for ages until Schumacher went there, hopefully that continues.

If Hull come down, perhaps not one to get super excited about, but we haven’t played them since the mid-90s in the basement, so woo, I guess?

We have fuck all form or momentum going into the playoffs so I’m steeling myself for more third tier football next season.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Obviously delighted to have the scummers back, Cardiff will be interesting though.
Haven't been to Donny and Vale back- oh deep joy..

 

[kieran_vale]

Expect Bradford will go up as well on Saturday, they’re too good at home to blow it. Walsall have completely lost their heads and it’s all caught up with them now. Fun season though.

Hopefully we don’t make a complete pigs ear out of being in L1 again but who knows maybe our previous stint will give us knowledge of what not to do this time. Under no illusion though I’m expecting all four of the promoted sides to be among the favourites to struggle.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Guys...why aren't you all over on http://www.onefootballforum.co.uk? This site is constantly breaking and is useless.

 

[Throbber_for_Dunk]

Guys...why aren't you all over on http://www.onefootballforum.co.uk This site is constantly breaking and is useless.

That's here!

 

[leedsvaliant]

That's here!

Whoops! I meant the other one with football and forums and net in the domain. It auto changed my post. Much more reliable...all of league 2 have moved over there...this site is done.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Are all the Vale fans on there?? I'll stay here then thanks

 

[AdamStag]

Guys...why aren't you all over on http://www.onefootballforum.co.uk This site is constantly breaking and is useless.

League 1 didn’t all move like 2, most are still on here, i’ve created an account on the other though.

 

[valefan16]

Are all the Vale fans on there?? I'll stay here then thanks

Harsh we were all shaking hands on your pitch in 2022!

 

[valefan16]

Expect Bradford will go up as well on Saturday, they’re too good at home to blow it. Walsall have completely lost their heads and it’s all caught up with them now. Fun season though.

Hopefully we don’t make a complete pigs ear out of being in L1 again but who knows maybe our previous stint will give us knowledge of what not to do this time. Under no illusion though I’m expecting all four of the promoted sides to be among the favourites to struggle.

Better squad that the last two league one sides we put out now, bigger budget now Carol has sold her business and of course Flitcroft not in situ who it just didnt work with in L1 unfortunately so we should be better prepared to attack it.

Midfield will be fine at this level and the wing backs, Stockley is ok at this level, Tolaj hopefully can step up but we will have to sort the central defence, keeper and add depth up front, will be interesting to see as Moore does seem to have a pull on signing players as we saw last summer with Byers and Curtis, guess will come down to how much Carol is prepared to invest again.

 

[White horse]

I bet Lincoln are sick of being in this league, i think they have been in it even longer than us. they don;t spend 16 million on wages though like us, Evatt's recruitment was absolutely disgraceful. really has been a poor 5 years for the money wasted. Nlundulu back from loan aswell now ffs,

 

[Davidimp]

Burton have been here longer I believe.
Quite happy being here after 6 years in the national league
We've probably spent 16 million on wages during our time here since 2019.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Better squad that the last two league one sides we put out now, bigger budget now Carol has sold her business and of course Flitcroft not in situ who it just didnt work with in L1 unfortunately so we should be better prepared to attack it.

Midfield will be fine at this level and the wing backs, Stockley is ok at this level, Tolaj hopefully can step up but we will have to sort the central defence, keeper and add depth up front, will be interesting to see as Moore does seem to have a pull on signing players as we saw last summer with Byers and Curtis, guess will come down to how much Carol is prepared to invest again.

I would have thought Stockley would now struggle at League One, he did last time playing for Fleetwood.

 

[kieran_vale]

I would have thought Stockley would now struggle at League One, he did last time playing for Fleetwood.

Quite plausible, he did fill his boots against us when he was there but then again it’s not exactly unique company that season. He does fit into Moores rather direct way of playing so he’ll get a chance at least. All of that’s four months away in any case so lots can change.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I bet Lincoln are sick of being in this league, i think they have been in it even longer than us. they don;t spend 16 million on wages though like us, Evatt's recruitment was absolutely disgraceful. really has been a poor 5 years for the money wasted. Nlundulu back from loan aswell now ffs,

I'll have to dig out the footage but I'm pretty certain that you lot sang 'we'll never play you again' about 7 or 8 years ago...yet here we are.

I said after your promotion from league 2 that a 3 year old could have got you promoted from that league. Yet many on here were saying how wonderful Evatt was. I said he had basically done the bare minimum and so it proved. Ian Evatt thinks Ian Evatt is wonderful.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I would have thought Stockley would now struggle at League One, he did last time playing for Fleetwood.

I kind of agree. He's been very good for us this season but the step up might be a bit too much.

Often teams keep faith with their promoted side but I think we'll need to replace half the team if we want to consolidate. We should have plenty of money and a high profile manager this time. Unfortunately, there's no room for sentiment.

 

[GTFCfish]

Whoops! I meant the other one with football and forums and net in the domain. It auto changed my post. Much more reliable...all of league 2 have moved over there...this site is done.

 

[valefan16]

I kind of agree. He's been very good for us this season but the step up might be a bit too much.

Often teams keep faith with their promoted side but I think we'll need to replace half the team if we want to consolidate. We should have plenty of money and a high profile manager this time. Unfortunately, there's no room for sentiment.

He got 9 goals in 37 apps in a relegated Fleetwood side so not terrible and admits he struggled last season but has re-ignited a love of the game back here.

If he gets 9 goals next season that's 9 times better than Uche or Ryan Loft so that's an improvement! We do need another target man though to compete with him and cover injures, we can't just have the one again, Tolaj is the one I am interested to see how he does, been on fire in 2025 and really stepped up so can he do it again.

Its a league one midfield, Garrity we know can do it up here, Croasdale has been excellent and see no reason why he can't step up and Walters has been a revelation so should be even better (if we don't lose him to bigger clubs) and of course Byers is easily L1 level.

I don't think we need mega changes as we signed higher level players on big money longer term deals mostly to ensure we got back up but certainly need to sort that back line out as it probably isn't League One.

I would release Lowe, Harper, Sang (as good as he has been this season), Jones, torn on Smith a bit as much as I love him.

We should look to sign Rico Richards permanently as he looks a real prospect. I think Chislett goes, Moore doesn't seem to rate him and he looks like he wants to go South and not sure what we do with Ruari Paton, he didn't really set the world on fire (but neither did Tolaj initially) but probably moves on.

I think we need two centre halves, 1 pacey, one ball player of L1 calibre, another Target man to compliment Stockley, a new Goalkeeper as not sure Amos is number 1 and then just pad it out with some depth, but would put most of our budget into those areas. Probably see who Sheffield Wednesday release! Maybe a back up wingback as well if Sang goes as not sure Shorrock is ready for L1 level just yet (Danny Imray please!)