League 2 Promotion Thread 14/15

[THE TERRACEMAN]

My best day in almost 50 years to watching the Brewers, well done to Shrewsbury who pushed us all the way and a hat tip to Bury for securing 3rd. The play offs - I have no idea, tough on all four clubs supporters having to endure that and may the best team win !

 

[Vanni]

Congrats to Burton, deserved title winners. Well done to Shrewsbury and Bury too Imo, the best 3 sides this year, closely followed by Southend.

 

[Kim Mitten]

I think Southend will be very low morale wise after their bottle job today. Pretty rare for a team to so narrowly miss out like that and then do well in the play offs. Seems a bridge too far for Wycombe too with their small squad unfortunately catching up with them at the worst possible time, but you never know. Must be 10 days or so to get players fit again now? Stevenage and Plymouth both pretty bang average to be honest. Hard to call a favourite.

Yes and sadly Southend are already one of those rare teams to do it. Didn't just miss the autos 04-05 fucked the title up as well - 5 games left we were 5 points clear of 2nd, went to Grimsby last day needing to win, drew 1-1, Swansea won at Bury and pipped us to 3rd. I've never seen a group of players look so broken as those at Grimsby but somehow Tilson got them up for the playoffs, didn't even concede a goal on the way to promotion, and it was much better winning in Cardiff than getting 3rd!

Actually think Wycombe have done Southend a favour winning and taking 4th, Stevenage look a better prospect. Have to say though I just don't think Southend score enough to win these, if Stevenage win the 1st leg even 1-0, 2-1 I think it will be over as this Southend team don't seem to be able to chase a game. I fancy Plymouth to win them, and surely Brown is gone (possibly to Pompey with Cook looking likely for Derby) should he fail to get this team promoted.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Plymouth will win the playoffs.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well done to Bury, but re morecambe trying their hardest to lose money......helping to get rid of a rare side who could bring away fans and keep overnight 6 hour treks

Think Wycombe could still do it, of the 4 clubs they are the one with nothing to lose. They have already had a fantastic season well beyond expectations, promotion is a big bonus, but it is very close to call as none of them really you'd back.

 

[HertsCobbler]

I think Wycombe are running out of gas, In the two games I have seen them - I can only descible them as jammy and use every trick in the book. Their keeper though is outstanding and commanding - he went off with a knee injury today, if he is injured then that will weaken them.

Due to injuries they did not seem to have any full backs playing - so that could be exploited by a better team. From a selfish point of view - Plymouth or Southend can go up. Plymouth is miles away and they always seem to beat us, Southend as I have done it so many times I am bored.

 

[Laker]

I'd like Plymouth to go up (purely for geographical purposes) but I have a sneaky suspicion Stevenage are going to do it. They seem to have been under the radar all season and despite playing shite football they are pretty effective. And you just know Westley will have them well prepared.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I think whoever goes up through the play offs are going to find it very tough next season in League 1. The gap is massive between the two divisions. A poor League 2 will paper over cracks.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

I think whoever goes up through the play offs are going to find it very tough next season in League 1. The gap is massive between the two divisions. A poor League 2 will paper over cracks.

As proven by the awful seasons Rochdale, Fleetwood and Chesterfield have had...

 

[Shrimpurh]

I think whoever goes up through the play offs are going to find it very tough next season in League 1. The gap is massive between the two divisions. A poor League 2 will paper over cracks.

we got 84 points lol if we go up not that I think we I don't think we'll struggle

 

[Museshrimper]

Yesterday was long and painful. Congratulations Bury.

 

[Shrimpurh]

Fuck off

 

[UTS]

Fuuuuuucckkkinngggg yaaaasssssssssss Worral you fucking legend. We don't concede!!!!!

OH

 

[Braindead]

I think whoever goes up through the play offs are going to find it very tough next season in League 1. The gap is massive between the two divisions. A poor League 2 will paper over cracks.

Based on what theory of relatively do you base your opinion.

Or could it be that as Luton just missed the boat the smell of sour grapes might be wafting around.

 

[Arbury]

Firstly, congrats to the promoted teams, Shrewsbury(1st) and bury(2nd) have been the two best teams I've seen this season(I haven't seen burton) and secondly I never ever thought that kenny would be beaten as a certain type of poster but uts you top him by some considerable distance.

As for the playoffs, it's a tough one, Wycombe seem to have been up there all season and it's still undoubtedly been a successful one for them, quite fancy Plymouth to beat them though although the pressure is all on Sheridan n co IMO.
The other game is to hard to call, Southend were definitely the better side out of the two but with westley in charge you can just never write Stevenage off, you just know he'll set them up right with that annoying brand he has and probably pinch it.


Oh one more thing, weren't you Luton lot meant to be involved in this????

 

[Kenneth E End]

Or could it be that as Luton just missed the boat the smell of sour grapes might be wafting around.

Not at all. We've got a solid foundation to build on next year. We will be in that top 3 this time next year.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Based on what theory of relatively do you base your opinion.

Or could it be that as Luton just missed the boat the smell of sour grapes might be wafting around.

To be fair to Kenny he is probably basing it off the League 1 sides we played this year Vs what we've seen for most of this from sides in this division. We played Crawley and Swindon in the cups and the way they moved the ball, their general overall play and in the case of Swindon in particular their technical ability, was far and away superior to anything I saw from any League 2 side at Kenilworth Road this year, to the extent that if we went up, which for a large portion of the season looked likely, I held the view we would be coming right back down again.

Now I think that's partly because in most league matches we drew teams into our style of quite turgid football that didn't make games a great spectacle but purely based on the League 1 sides we've had the chance to see the gap seemed quite large, with many league 2 sides "built for this league", a strong defence and an attack capable of nicking a goal. If you look at the goals for columns of the promoted sides this year you'll see the League 2 promoted sides have scored considerably less than those from other leagues, testament to the "grind it out", defence first nature of the division.

I'd also base the assessment of the fact that we were in the playoffs for a great deal of the season despite any reasonable outsider, and indeed most Luton fans, saying that we weren't a particularly good team. I think the fact we held onto 4th for ages despite barely winning a game for about 2 months lends a great deal of credence that the teams at the top weren't great for large portions of the year, including ourselves.

Given the above I don't think Kennys opinion is particularly unfair or worthy of ridicule, just perhaps based on what he saw on the pitch this year, it is however a bit naive that the promoted clubs will just standstill and not adapt to higher surroundings.

Personally I harbour no "sour grapes", as highlighted above we were in a false position for much of the year given we weren't great shakes and merely regressed to the mean after a decent first 2/3rds of the year. Still, some reasonable positives to take and a basis to go from for next year.

 

[Arbury]

Fuck me it's started already.

 

[Matt_]

Congratulations to Burton, worthy Champions this season.

Many would have questioned the appointment of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at the time, but his record since taking over (P30, W19, D8, L3) has been exceptional. The only problem with having a name manager is big clubs are more likely to come knocking and Burton may struggle to keep him.

 

[Matt_]

As proven by the awful seasons Rochdale, Fleetwood and Chesterfield have had...

The gap is a lot bigger than most people realise.

Yes some promoted teams do have a good first season in League 1 but then often struggle the following season with relegation common in the second season up. Establishing a club at that level, without loads of money, is difficult for most going up from League 2.

 

[Matt_]

I'd like Plymouth to go up (purely for geographical purposes) but I have a sneaky suspicion Stevenage are going to do it. They seem to have been under the radar all season and despite playing shite football they are pretty effective. And you just know Westley will have them well prepared.

I will be quite happy with any of the sides other than Stevenage winning the play offs. With the Franchise going up this season it would be perfect if neither of those clubs darken our door next season.

 

[Kenneth E End]

perhaps based on what he saw on the pitch this year, it is however a bit naive that the promoted clubs will just standstill and not adapt to higher surroundings.

Fair point. However, it would be difficult for any team that has just been promoted to completely shun the players that got you there. In my opinion, I'm not sure Burton are particularly equipped for the league above. Shrewsbury certainly are as probably are Bury; both of which will have money to strengthen. Southend I'd argue are in a similar position. Stevenage and Wycombe I don't think will get to the final anyway. Plymouth have been painfully inconsistent, but again I don't think they're far away from that consistency needed.

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

Fair point. However, it would be difficult for any team that has just been promoted to completely shun the players that got you there. In my opinion, I'm not sure Burton are particularly equipped for the league above. Shrewsbury certainly are as probably are Bury; both of which will have money to strengthen. Southend I'd argue are in a similar position. Stevenage and Wycombe I don't think will get to the final anyway. Plymouth have been painfully inconsistent, but again I don't think they're far away from that consistency needed.

On what grounds are Burton not equipped for league 1 ?

 

[T.A]

On the account your names not "Luton"

 

[Braindead]

Fair point. However, it would be difficult for any team that has just been promoted to completely shun the players that got you there. In my opinion, I'm not sure Burton are particularly equipped for the league above. Shrewsbury certainly are as probably are Bury; both of which will have money to strengthen. Southend I'd argue are in a similar position. Stevenage and Wycombe I don't think will get to the final anyway. Plymouth have been painfully inconsistent, but again I don't think they're far away from that consistency needed.

So the opinions of Gary Rowett and Nigel Clough don't matter?
Radio sheep have reported that both have spoken to JFH and from what they have seen of us recently we already have more than enough to compete.
Then you have the prospect of Jimmy finding a couple more El Kayatti's in the Dutch league added to his obvious contacts in England, and the spirit he has forged with the current players and things look a whole lot different.

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

Think I will go with the opinions of Gary Rowett and Nigel Clough above Kenneth E End.

 

[Kim Mitten]

I think Burton will be absolutely fine in League One. I disagree that it's much of a step up - to the top end maybe, but the bottom half, no. I think every team in the top 7 has every chance of being mid-table, maybe more given the right circumstances, in League One next season.
I don't know about the people who run Burton Albion, but my word they have an eye for a manager. It should not be underestimated the job JFH has done to keep the continuity and mentality in the players that Rowett started earlier in the season. Deserved winners of this division and I hope they can keep JFH and thrive in the division above.

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

I agree with the above, the top few sides are a notch above but the rest of the division is not too much above league 2. I am confident we will do well. I also think Shrewsbury and Bury will do well and whoever comes up through the play offs.
JFH is very astute and ambitious, but he is grounded. Of course we will lose him at some stage in the future but he will go with our blessings, he picked us because of our chairman Ben Robinson and how the club is run, we are a good fit at this stage in his career. His little girls have become Albion supporters and joined in on the pitch at the celebrations at Morecambe, Cambridge and the Pirelli stadium yesterday, that sums up our club to be honest.

 

[Brox]

The bottom third of League One was poor quality last season, basing it off that, all three promoted sides would cope fine, certainly with a summer of improvements. Of the sides in the play-offs it's Wycombe and ourselves that would probably struggle the most. Wycombe have four very good loan players they'll lose, in Saunders, Yennaris, Onyedinma and Mawson, which would be a massive dent in their squad. As for us we were pants until Christmas so without improvements I'd anticipate we'd struggle.

 

[Murphy]

Massive well done to all three promoted teams, especially Burton who were by far the best team I've seen this season after they went 1-0 down against us - think they'll handle themselves well in League One, maybe with a more prolific striker mind. Was listening to WAGUPodcast the other week and I didn't realise how much the goals have been shared out around the team this season, might be a bit more difficult next year. Similarly Shrewsbury were always going to go up, they always make it because of their home form which is totally ridiculous in this league whenever they're down here. Sad to see Bury go because we always tend to get 4 or 6 points off of them, but they're a likeable club so I'm happy.

As for the play-offs, I really fancy Stevenage. Sort of team that'll grind out the results, especially against Southend. Don't think Wycombe have it in them to go for 3 more games, and Plymouth rely far too much on scoring first from what I've seen which is a bit of an issue really. So yeah, Stevenage for me which is beyond belief given how poor they were at our place over Christmas and when we played them in March. Still, if you can grind out the results and be up there, you;re obviously doing something right.