League 1 Promotion Thread

[Krazy8]

It's in the bag - Swindon, Franchise and Blunts are crap.

You forgot the emoticon again

 

[blademan89]

It's in the bag - Swindon, Franchise and Blunts are crap.

We may be but we a certainly a tad better than you. My prediction at this stage is

2.mk dons
3.swindon
4.pne
5.us
6.bradford

Which i think is the same as i said about 2 months back

 

[Indian Dan]

You still think Franchise will make the autos?

They're shot

 

[blademan89]

You still think Franchise will make the autos?

They're shot

Yes i just think pne have hit form a little early i obviously could be completely wrong its just my guess. If we dont go up i want pne and mk dons to go up as mk is a shite away trip and im sick of going to deepdale.

 

[Inspector Todd]

Yes i just think pne have hit form a little early i obviously could be completely wrong its just my guess. If we dont go up i want pne and mk dons to go up as mk is a shite away trip and im sick of going to deepdale.

Nah, not a chance. Preston will get 2nd.

 

[Ravey 28]

Our next 3 games are away, then MK Dons at home followed by Bristol City away. We still have to go to Preston too.

Bearing the above in mind, and that Preston are already two clear of us and a game in hand, they're clear favourites for 2nd.

Still quite a few games left still though; anything can happen

 

[hodge]

For me I reckon it will be:

1) City/PNE
2) City/PNE
-------
3) Swindon
4) MK
5) Sheffield Utd
6) Barnsley

I'm starting to believe we will be there at the end now, if we lose a 12 point lead in 11 games then we deserve everything we get, only question will be whether Preston can pip us to it imo, reckon we will both finish in the 90's. Reckon Johnson will help push Barnsley into the play offs.

 

[Ciderup]

For me I reckon it will be:

1) City/PNE
2) City/PNE
-------
3) Swindon
4) MK
5) Sheffield Utd
6) Barnsley

I'm starting to believe we will be there at the end now, if we lose a 12 point lead in 11 games then we deserve everything we get, only question will be whether Preston can pip us to it imo, reckon we will both finish in the 90's. Reckon Johnson will help push Barnsley into the play offs.

If it ended like that and given current form, I would fancy Barnsley to get up via the play offs. There's a lot to be said for momentum when the lottery starts and Swindon / MK will have the added problem of lifting their players after missing out on automatic promotion.

 

[Agombar stool]

Our next 3 games are away, then MK Dons at home followed by Bristol City away. We still have to go to Preston too.

Bearing the above in mind, and that Preston are already two clear of us and a game in hand, they're clear favourites for 2nd.

Still quite a few games left still though; anything can happen

5 tough matches for us which probably shape our season. If we can somehow win 4/5 we'll be in a good position for 2nd.

Preston look to be hitting form at the right time.

 

[Agombar stool]

If it ended like that and given current form, I would fancy Barnsley to get up via the play offs. There's a lot to be said for momentum when the lottery starts and Swindon / MK will have the added problem of lifting their players after missing out on automatic promotion.

Unfortunately can't disagree with that. It would be just the way football goes that Barnsley (who we have beaten easily twice this) beat us in the play-offs!

 

[JJH]

Just my opinion, and am open to debate, but -

1st - Bristol City
2nd - PNE
-------------------------
3rd - Swindon
4th - MK Dons
5th - Bradford
6th - Sheff Utd/Barnsley

Hard to say for 5th and 6th, so many teams in the hunt.

 

[TomPNE94]

1st - PNE
2nd - Barnsley
-------------------------
3rd - Bradford
4th - MK Dons
5th - Swindon
6th - Sheff Utd/Bristol City




Maybe.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

1st - PNE
2nd - Barnsley
-------------------------
3rd - Bradford
4th - MK Dons
5th - Swindon
6th - Sheff Utd/Bristol City




Maybe.

Blasphemy.

 

[SF_]

Don't give a fuck about anyone else, we just need enough wins to stay second

 

[Indian Dan]

Will the excitement of gaining promotion this season last long when your club - whoever - becomes, at best, anchored in mid-table mediocrity next season?

 

[D B Disco]

Will the excitement of gaining promotion this season last long when your club - whoever - becomes, at best, anchored in mid-table mediocrity next season?

Yes.

Daft question IMO

 

[Indian Dan]

So, you will be just as excited next season being an also-ran than this when you have run away with it?

Next season, maybe I suppose, but after that - no way. Fans don't - or shouldn't - get excited just because they are playing a better/bigger class of opposition, it only comes about watching your own side being successful.

 

[SF_]

Burnley, Blackburn and Bolton on the fixture list, i'd cope.

 

[PrestonCha]

Dan, look at Bournemouth & Brentford. Look at what happened last time we were promoted from this league.

It's not uncommon for the promoted teams from League 1, to immediately compete right at the top end of the Championship.

Anything can happen. And as you quite rightly point out....this could mean mid-table mediocrity or relegation.

From a North End fans perspective...I'd just be glad to see the back of this tin-pot shit League. If only for 12 months.

 

[Luke_ciderhead]

So, you will be just as excited next season being an also-ran than this when you have run away with it?

Next season, maybe I suppose, but after that - no way. Fans don't - or shouldn't - get excited just because they are playing a better/bigger class of opposition, it only comes about watching your own side being successful.

The words of somebody who hasnt seen his team in the second tier for a long long time. Of course fans get excited playing a better class of opposition. Wolves, Cardiff and Forest or Fleetwood, Crawley and Rochdale? Id rather be mid table playing the former every week than top playing the latter. Who wouldnt?

The only way it would become dull is if we were stuck in mid table year after year after year. But The likelyhood is, we will find ourselves pushing for the playoffs or battling relegation at some point. And of course theres the buzz surrounding the stadium redevelopment. Theres plenty to look forward to over the coming years and believe me, nothing excites me more than the prospect of leaving the likes of Swindon behind and not having to play in this division anymore.

 

[D B Disco]

So, you will be just as excited next season being an also-ran than this when you have run away with it?

Next season, maybe I suppose, but after that - no way. Fans don't - or shouldn't - get excited just because they are playing a better/bigger class of opposition, it only comes about watching your own side being successful.

Not strictly true...for me anyway.

I go to watch football to be entertained, both by the game itself but also the whole match day experience. There's no doubt that the match day is enhanced when playing the bigger/better teams...larger crowds, better atmosphere etc.

Of course I want to go and see City playing well and being successful, but it's not always about winning.

Although, if you were to follow your argument through to playing in the Premiership, then I think it becomes more valid as we would only ever be also rans, whereas in the Championship we would start every season with a realistic chance of being successful.

 

[Indian Dan]

Burnley, Blackburn and Bolton on the fixture list, i'd cope.

I suppose we should ask, for example, Huddersfield fans if they are enjoying their 4th(?) year in the Championship as much as the year they got promoted from L1.

I've seen Swindon play in all 4 leagues and although the season in the PL had novelty value, getting stuffed on a fairly regular basis soon loses its allure.

I'd take the di Canio promotion winning season in L2 over a meh season in the Championship every time.

 

[JonBCFC]

Last time we got promoted from this league we ended up in the play off final the following year..

Loads of teams that go up from L1 follow it up with a successful championship season. Brentford this season, Southampton and Swansea recently too.

 

[Ravey 28]

I know what you mean Dan, and there's logic behind your point.

However I'd rather have a few seasons in the bottom half of the championship (where the extra revenue will help the club for years) than beating Accrington Stanley for the league 2 title under a manager that nearly bankrupted the club in the process!

 

[Big Bird]

I'm desperate to see us at that level again. Might give the council something to think about in terms of ground development as well (though probably not).

 

[TomPNE94]

I know what Dan means, because the last 2 seasons have been great (on the whole)

It's so much more fun watching your team win most weeks.

 

[mpmbee]

The championship has been brilliant fun this season. There is a step up in class for sure but the gulf between the top of league one and the bottom third of the Championship isn't that great imo. If the teams going up can supplement their squads with some quality signings like ourselves and Wolves have done then I think they can push on for the top half/top six next season.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

The championship has been brilliant fun this season. There is a step up in class for sure but the gulf between the top of league one and the bottom third of the Championship isn't that great imo. If the teams going up can supplement their squads with some quality signings like ourselves and Wolves have done then I think they can push on for the top half/top six next season.

Spot on. In terms of gulf there is very little between the struggling Championship sides and better League One sides. If a promoted League One side can keep the momentum and confidence, add a little quality, they're highly likely to be just fine. Just don't take the Rotherham approach of scatter gun signing players all over the shop. And even they look set to survive.

What impressed me about Brentford is how you managed to compete against the better Championship sides immediately, where as we were smacked about by them for a few months initially.

 

[blademan89]

Just seen the playoff dates. Both league one semi finals are on thursday 7th may which means if were in it i miss it as i dont get back from barbados til friday morning so hopefully its at home which is very likely 5th or 6th spot. The 2nd legs are on the sunday with one at 12.15 and the other 6.30pm hopefully again should we be in it then the 6.30 one is what id want. Then the final is sunday 5.30pm kick off which basically just fucks all fans up north for trains home.

 

[Big Bird]

5.30...random. Great opportunity for a booze up mind.