League 2 relegation thread 14/15

[That Fat Centre Half]

How did Marion Harewood play?

He won a few flick ons against Wilkinson in the first half and was a bit of nuisance on perhaps one or two occassions, brought down a ball and played a really nice ball to turn McNulty, but that was really it. Frankly didn't get the service to make any sort of impact on the game really.

 

[Alan Partridge]

Hope we send Hartlepool down...

 

[Duffy]

Now that Carlisle are safe as many thought they would be it's a straight case of three terrible teams all trying to be slightly less terrible than the other two. Can't see either Tranmere or Chelts getting anything next up with Pools having the best chance of the three. Think its Cheltenham and Tranmere for the drop now.

 

[Matt_]

Are Carlisle fans now going to recognise that Curle hasn't done that bad a job given where they were when he took charge and where there are now?

 

[Matt_]

Saturday has to be Hartlepool's day to do it. Exeter have nothing to play for - Cheltenham face a very good Shrewsbury side. However - if there is a draw on Tuesday barring swing in goal difference - Shrews will already be up.

We'll not be officially promoted given a draw between Bury and Southend, one more point will be needed. Besides that we're still in with a chance of finishing top.

 

[hellogregory]

Are Carlisle fans now going to recognise that Curle hasn't done that bad a job given where they were when he took charge and where there are now?

The response he's got from the players after Easter Monday has been tremendous. Since then He's changed the system, he's got that extra effort and commitment from the players and he's changed my opinion of him.

As for the other teams. Hartlepool have the best run in, but I think we'll beat them on the last day if we put the same commitment in as we have in the last week.

 

[Duffy]

The response he's got from the players after Easter Monday has been tremendous. Since then He's changed the system, he's got that extra effort and commitment from the players and he's changed my opinion of him.

As for the other teams. Hartlepool have the best run in, but I think we'll beat them on the last day if we put the same commitment in as we have in the last week.

My jaw just dropped.

 

[T.A]

Keith Curle - manager of the year.

 

[hellogregory]

Keith Curle - manager of the year.

To turn that shower of shite into something resembling a team, he's done what was required.

 

[AdamStag]

Ive got to say a massive thanks to tranmere, cheltenham and hartlepool for being so completely wank we've stsyed up and 2 of 3 of you will go down.

If hartlepool could go down in bottom my season would be complete, cheltenham and tranmere are decent clubs with decent fans, it'll be a shame to lose one of you, hopefully one of you will survive

 

[daviejones]

To turn that shower of shite into something resembling a team, he's done what was required.

Yep, fair play to him. Started 6 points below the safety zone and now we're 9 points above it so when you look at it just based on that he's done an amazing job. Looking forward to next season in the league and with new ownership.

 

[shoddycollins]

Are Carlisle fans now going to recognise that Curle hasn't done that bad a job given where they were when he took charge and where there are now?

His best attribute had been that he's had a plan B, previous managers didn't. For most of the season we just tried to out score our opponents, but when we struggled to get a consistent attack that could be relied upon to score as many goals as our defenders were shipping, he tightened us up and since Accrington that plan B has kept us up. Today with a bit of the pressure off against a defensive team it was back to plan A, it worked and long may plan A continue.

 

[HertsCobbler]

I will give Curle credit as his plan worked a treat at Sixfields! Only Cambridge and Carlisle have stopped us scoring at home in the league this season.

 

[Habbinalan]

Pre-Xmas/Pre-Ronnie, I couldn't see anything but Hartlepool bottom. I still felt they would go down after they beat us but had no views on who I wanted go down provide we survived. However, thanks to the refund on my ticket, the beer and welcome at the Rat Race, Ronnie Moore's smile and their ability to get under Mansfield skins, I now hope they stay up. I wouldn't wish relegation on anyone but this thread has been a comfort in times of stress.

 

[AdamStag]

Pre-Xmas/Pre-Ronnie, I couldn't see anything but Hartlepool bottom. I still felt they would go down after they beat us but had no views on who I wanted go down provide we survived. However, thanks to the refund on my ticket, the beer and welcome at the Rat Race, Ronnie Moore's smile and their ability to get under Mansfield skins, I now hope they stay up. I wouldn't wish relegation on anyone but this thread has been a comfort in times of stress.

They don't get under our skin, just one of their fans was inaccurate and misinformed over them being in the wrong in the miners strike

 

[MattStag]

We are so shit it's a miracle that we've somehow avoided the drop. So thank you Tranmere, Cheltenham and Hartlepool for being with us this year and may the best team win or the least shit one win.

 

[Amber Nectar]

Ive got to say a massive thanks to tranmere, cheltenham and hartlepool for being so completely wank we've stsyed up and 2 of 3 of you will go down.

If hartlepool could go down in bottom my season would be complete, cheltenham and tranmere are decent clubs with decent fans, it'll be a shame to lose one of you, hopefully one of you will survive

Always found 'pool fans generally ok myself.

Thank god there are at least 2 poorer teams than us otherwise we would be well and truly down 'casuse we are proper dog shit. A massive player clear out needed for us.

Whoever goes down I'll feel sorry for them. This'll be a massive eye-opener for them dropping in to the conference or whatever they want to call it these days. Despite Bristol Rovers going against the recent grain they probably find it very difficult to get out of and money will be very tight unless you've got someone to bankroll you.

 

[1884 Belmont]

We've got no manager either now - Micky's walked. (To be announced as 'mutual consent', but he's walked).

 

[hellogregory]

If they go down, I think tranmere will make a swift return. One or two years down there max.

Like us when we were down there, you should be able to attract some very good players for that level, players too good for that league, so much so that you can get promoted while not playing well for most of the season (we did this).

 

[AdamStag]

P

Always found 'pool fans generally ok myself.

Thank god there are at least 2 poorer teams than us otherwise we would be well and truly down 'casuse we are proper dog shit. A massive player clear out needed for us.

Whoever goes down I'll feel sorry for them. This'll be a massive eye-opener for them dropping in to the conference or whatever they want to call it these days. Despite Bristol Rovers going against the recent grain they probably find it very difficult to get out of and money will be very tight unless you've got someone to bankroll you.

One things for sure, if we keep Murray and don't invest in our side, we will be (rightfully so) favourites for relegation next term

 

[1884 Belmont]

If they go down, I think tranmere will make a swift return. One or two years down there max.

Like us when we were down there, you should be able to attract some very good players for that level, players too good for that league, so much so that you can get promoted while not playing well for most of the season (we did this).

Not a chance. The amount of people who got up and left today, we'll be lucky to get crowds of 3000 next year. Granted, we've not got any debt and we own our own ground, but we haven't got any money either.

 

[shoddycollins]

If they go down, I think tranmere will make a swift return. One or two years down there max.

Like us when we were down there, you should be able to attract some very good players for that level, players too good for that league, so much so that you can get promoted while not playing well for most of the season (we did this).

Chris Lumsdon was saying on BBCRC today that he feared the worst for them. These were the points he made (i.e. his words not mine)

When we were down there you still had 5 or 6 part-time teams down there. When we played Farnborough at home and beat them 7-0 some of their players had been in their regular jobs that morning and then travelled up to Carlisle. For the players these home games against such lowly opposition were almost like training days, allowing us to rejuvenate and focus more on winning the big games. However these days there are no part-timers in the conference, and instead you have clubs who are able to bring down players with Football League experience and give you a game. It's no longer possible for big clubs to use a large fully professional to such an advantage.

Tranmere (should they go down) may or may not be the biggest club ever to play in the conference, they'd certainly be one of them, however they also have a great stadium and possibly it would be the highest standard of stadium for a conference team ever (if we ignore that joke that Darlington used to play at). Teams will raise their game every time to have to play Tranmere even if Tranmere are only mid-table they'll still find that every opponent they face raises their game.

He also queried how much it costs to maintain such a stadium. Brunton Park may be a dump but it's probably cheap(ish) to run. He thought Tranmere might even be faced with the desperate situation where they have to sell their stadium to keep themselves solvent.

 

[shoddycollins]

All kicking off at Prenton Park apparently, a large crowd of fans gathered outside the main gates.

 

[1884 Belmont]

Chris Lumsdon was saying on BBCRC today that he feared the worst for them. These were the points he made (i.e. his words not mine)

When we were down there you still had 5 or 6 part-time teams down there. When we played Farnborough at home and beat them 7-0 some of their players had been in their regular jobs that morning and then travelled up to Carlisle. For the players these home games against such lowly opposition were almost like training days, allowing us to rejuvenate and focus more on winning the big games. However these days there are no part-timers in the conference, and instead you have clubs who are able to bring down players with Football League experience and give you a game. It's no longer possible for big clubs to use a large fully professional to such an advantage.

Tranmere (should they go down) may or may not be the biggest club ever to play in the conference, they'd certainly be one of them, however they also have a great stadium and possibly it would be the highest standard of stadium for a conference team ever (if we ignore that joke that Darlington used to play at). Teams will raise their game every time to have to play Tranmere even if Tranmere are only mid-table they'll still find that every opponent they face raises their game.

He also queried how much it costs to maintain such a stadium. Brunton Park may be a dump but it's probably cheap(ish) to run. He thought Tranmere might even be faced with the desperate situation where they have to sell their stadium to keep themselves solvent.

Not quite true. We own Prenton Park and we used to own a plot of land over the road which we have just sold for circa £5m. Of that £5m, we have spent circa £2m on a new training ground to be built by the end of the year (work starts soon) and will put £3m towards various projects (essential repairs, paying off a large or even all of the overdraft mainly) - so we should bank about £1m. We currently lose about £1m a year but that is more down to, as Lumsdun said, constant repairs to the stadium and a stupid financing deal from the old owners. Once we pay off the overdraft (or a large part of it), we should be ok. We don't spend more on wages than we bring in - in fact we only spend about 40% of turnover on wages.

As for the biggest club ever - probably not - Luton, Yourselves and Oxford have all played top tier football and/or won a major trophy.
As for the best stadium ever - again, I'd say Wrexham have a better stadium than Prenton Park.

I honestly don't know where we go from here - twatted 0-3 by a side even we managed to beat 3 months back, no manager and a toxic atmosphere.

 

[1884 Belmont]

All kicking off at Prenton Park apparently, a large crowd of fans gathered outside the main gates.

Adams has quit and his car was pelted with eggs apparently.

 

[shoddycollins]

As for the biggest club ever - probably not - Luton, Yourselves and Oxford have all played top tier football and/or won a major trophy. As for the best stadium ever - again, I'd say Wrexham have a better stadium than Prenton Park.

I think it's more about perception. Nobody can really answer the question 'who is the biggest club' but Tranmere have been seen as big within living memory of the majority of football fans. I don't think you'll go under, but Lumsdon illustrates pretty well why teams who go down often struggle. You still have a chance to survive this season of course, everything can change in the next two weeks, especially with you getting a new manager (or at least a caretaker).

 

[AdamStag]

There are still those sides, we beat barrow 7-0 and 8-1 at home in successive seasons, then won 4-0 and 3-1 at theirs - an aggregate scoff of 22-2 in 4 games.

What is different is that there are now Mickey mouse clubs like forest green and Eastleigh who have money and can skew the league, added the fact you've got so many ex league clubs down there its really hard to get out of it.

The first season is about adapting, how would tranmere adapt to playing Braintree on their paddy field infront of 400 home fans? Or going half of their matches on a Tuesday night as the weather affects conference pitches more and tbe FA trophy buggers up fixtures and takes priority over league games?.

 

[Reremnart]

Nothing official about Adams going yet but I hope to God that he has.

 

[shoddycollins]

Or going half of their matches on a Tuesday night as the weather affects conference pitches more and tbe FA trophy buggers up fixtures and takes priority over league games?.

Or by March you've got teams with six games in hand over other teams.

I mean that would never happen in the league unless you let someone truly tinpot like Crawley in.

 

[1884 Belmont]

I think it's more about perception. Nobody can really answer the question 'who is the biggest club' but Tranmere have been seen as big within living memory of the majority of football fans. I don't think you'll go under, but Lumsdon illustrates pretty well why teams who go down often struggle. You still have a chance to survive this season of course, everything can change in the next two weeks, especially with you getting a new manager (or at least a caretaker).

I'm bricking it to be honest. I was born in '88. We were promoted to the 3rd tier in 1989 and the 2nd tier in 1991. I was less than a year old the last time we were at our current level. We've not been below that since the Third Division North was created (founder members). What the hell is in store for us?