League 2 Relegation Thread 2018/2019

[Luke Imp]

Our local media aren't quite sure why Cambridge are where they are, based on the two games this season and Cambridge fans may feel the same based on their performances this season, I'm not sure, but that's almost as dangerous as being completely shite like Notts County.

 

[hellogregory]

After our poor run of form, we’ve turned things round and recorded 4 straight victories. 12 important points.

We’re now as good as safe for this season at least. Good luck all and see some of you back here next season.

 

[Andy Proctor]

we are surely involved in this after the horror show weve produced over the festive season, and we still have Lincoln away in a few days.

Lose about 10 nil to Lincoln only good thing is there won't be many vale fans there to see it. He must have lost the dressing room as Miller and rawlinson arnt in the squad at all anymore and Manny has gone from being out best player to now being the worst. Since he got sent off against Mansfield he's been awful. I can see us yeovil Notts county and Macclesfield fighting for the drop.

 

[Optipez]

We're in it til the finish.
However we played very well today, not just okay for a relegation threatened team but genuinely everything but the goal good.
If we do ok in the transfer window I think by seasons end the money will tell and we'll avoid the drop.

But I wouldn't bet the house on it.

 

[shoddycollins]

so, Notts aren't going down, Cambridge aren't going down (I can't contemplate the idea of a team with Jabo in going down) based on today, Macc aren't going down. Morecambe will escape again, we've already heard Cheltenham aren't going down, so who is? Yeovil and Crawley potentially?

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Our local media aren't quite sure why Cambridge are where they are, based on the two games this season and Cambridge fans may feel the same based on their performances this season, I'm not sure, but that's almost as dangerous as being completely shite like Notts County.

That old chestnut lol, the league table doesn’t lie it’s not based on one or two personal viewings. Everyone now is where, bar a place or two, they deserve to be.

Unfortunately

 

[Luke Imp]

That old chestnut lol, the league table doesn’t lie it’s not based on one or two personal viewings. Everyone now is where, bar a place or two, they deserve to be.

Unfortunately

Not just those games, but Cambridge don't appear to have been 22nd placed bad all season. Only the two viewing for our local media but I can't recall Cambridge fans coming on here too many times being completely despondent.

 

[valefan16]

Lose about 10 nil to Lincoln only good thing is there won't be many vale fans there to see it. He must have lost the dressing room as Miller and rawlinson arnt in the squad at all anymore and Manny has gone from being out best player to now being the worst. Since he got sent off against Mansfield he's been awful. I can see us yeovil Notts county and Macclesfield fighting for the drop.

It’s just completely dreadful the whole last three years. To put it into context I was pissed to lose 4-0 at Sheffield United two seasons ago and now I’m expecting us to get pumped by the likes of Mansfield and Lincoln. It’s the lowest ebb in 25 years of following this club that we’ve ended up in this mess. Adams did wonders to turn the club around but it wasn’t even this bad under V2001!

January is massive for this football club because wrong choices again and it could get even worse. This season is worse than last season despite our shit start a year ago with some of the performances. Fans are bored Shitless, half the squad seem to have fallen out with Aspin, performances through December have been diabolical and we’ve been hit for 4 today by a very poor Oldham outfit, adding to the shocker on Boxing Day.

Never did I think I’d be looking to the next game expecting a third battering by Lincoln City in a season. Let that sink in. 10 goals conceded against Lincoln City in 2 games. What a fucking mess!

Fans are even suggesting starting again they are that fed up, AFC Port Vale. Seems a tempting thought.

I’ve always been proud to be a Valiant and some great memories but utterly fed up and depressed with it at the moment.

Get Aspin out, get an experienced man in even if the third coming of the Messiah for a few months whilst we look and make a sensible long term choice. Get Miller out of the pub and up front with Pope, play Whitfield and Monty on the flanks, play full backs at full back and do the basics.

The Bruno gamble backfired Norman big time but it shouldn’t take this long to make Vale competitive in League 2!

 

[Laker]

Not just those games, but Cambridge don't appear to have been 22nd placed bad all season. Only the two viewing for our local media but I can't recall Cambridge fans coming on here too many times being completely despondent.

Oh we have been shite this season but the general feeling is that if Calderwood can get us to cut out stupid mistakes and we can start converting two rather than one of the ten great chances we seem to produce every game then we’ll be fine.

It’s nice to get Lincoln and MK out of the way now before Calderwood’s effect has taken place.

 

[LongEatonPie]

I did say that I wouldn't comment on Notts for a while but IF we get 3 or 4 key positions in during the window then this shower will keep us up.

I am completely dumbfounded that the majority of the team, based on today can't get their fingers out of their arses to play the same every game.

First half Bury had all of the ball but their keeper had to make a couple of good saves to keep them in the game. Second and we all knew Bury would come out and had a decent 20 mins But we rose above it and came back. Had Stead not changed his mind on the peno and hit it hard the way he sent it we would have very much deserved 3pts today.

Those are the points we need to pick up unfortunately so not good in the scheme of things.

What annoys me most is that those players who have been (sackable in any other form of work) have now decided to play just because they now know the manager can get shot. Poor on every single count and honestly they should seriously look at themselves as frauds!

 

[Dave-Vale]

so, Notts aren't going down, Cambridge aren't going down (I can't contemplate the idea of a team with Jabo in going down) based on today, Macc aren't going down. Morecambe will escape again, we've already heard Cheltenham aren't going down, so who is? Yeovil and Crawley potentially?

We are going down.

I’ve said time and time again since the start of this calendar year that Aspin is out of his depth. Devoid of any real tactics or pattern of play, devoid of any ability to pick a starting 11 where the formation is apparent and devoid of any ability to make a sensible substitution.

The worst thing is that if he is sacked (and I suspect he will be after we are destroyed at Lincoln) then I have zero trust in Norman to appoint a decent replacement.

We are fucked.

 

[valefan16]

We are going down.

I’ve said time and time again since the start of this calendar year that Aspin is out of his depth. Devoid of any real tactics or pattern of play, devoid of any ability to pick a starting 11 where the formation is apparent and devoid of any ability to make a sensible substitution.

The worst thing is that if he is sacked (and I suspect he will be after we are destroyed at Lincoln) then I have zero trust in Norman to appoint a decent replacement.

We are fucked.

Interim will be Pugh possibly with Tonge but we’ve got 11 days between league games after Lincoln so hopefully if he goes we get someone in or an experienced man short term until the end of the season for instance.

 

[Dan_Macclad]

Askey.

 

[valefan16]

Askey was at the game yesterday although imagine out of interest for the Oldham job unless Smurf has approached him.

 

[Habbinalan]

Oh we have been shite this season but the general feeling is that if Calderwood can get us to cut out stupid mistakes and we can start converting two rather than one of the ten great chances we seem to produce every game then we’ll be fine.

It’s nice to get Lincoln and MK out of the way now before Calderwood’s effect has taken place.

Our local media aren't quite sure why Cambridge are where they are, based on the two games this season and Cambridge fans may feel the same based on their performances this season, I'm not sure, but that's almost as dangerous as being completely shite like Notts County.

Not just those games, but Cambridge don't appear to have been 22nd placed bad all season. Only the two viewing for our local media but I can't recall Cambridge fans coming on here too many times being completely despondent.

The reason why we're where we are has been apparent since before the start of the season. We were and are two competent strikers short of a half decent squad add a couple of defenders and we might have even flirted with the play offs. We didn't replace Leon Legge, Uche Ikpeazu and Billy Waters in a side that had struggled but come good towards the end of last season.

The reason was that large lumps of cash had disappeared down a blackhole whilst Jez George was living his dream of world dominance and those left to pick up the pieces without a pot to piss in turned a blind eye to the age and fragility of Jabo and Barry Corr.

On a few occasions, the team has played as well as it is capable and still failed to win because no one could put away the multiple chances we can create. Fall below that and we're there for the taking.

Yesterday was a classic U's performance this season - twice hit the woodwork, multiple blocks and saves, multiple shots off target. We've seen it before. We're not lowest scorers in the league because we can't create chances, even though our most reliable threat (Amoo's crosses for Jabo's finish) have had little time on the pitch together.

January signings plus avoiding injuries to key players are the straws that County and ourselves are hanging on to. Our off field issues are not bad enough to impact significantly further. The same can't be said for Vale and Morecambe (Players not paid on time for the second time this season over Xmas).

For me, the two worst away days are Crawley and Yeovil, so I'd be happy to see them go - and they have the managers to grant my wish. I struggle to see how Macc get to 50 points but if others implode 48 might be enough. Otherwise I think Morecambe (especially if Jim Bentley finally gets fed up and walks) and Vale will still be in the mix whilst County and ourselves need a magic January to avoid a nervous April. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Dan_Macclad]

Askey was at the game yesterday although imagine out of interest for the Oldham job unless Smurf has approached him.

Personally I think he's more suited to the chesterfield job but he wants to stay in the league.

He'd certainly play better football than Aspin!

 

[valefan16]

Personally I think he's more suited to the chesterfield job but he wants to stay in the league.

He'd certainly play better football than Aspin!

It’s not just the style that’s the problem, this squad should be easily comfy at this level, at the moment we are well clear but are teetering on getting dragged in after a bad month.

The issue with Aspin is his constant need to play players out of position despite having adequate players available to play in thier correct positions. It makes no sense. We look disjointed and that’s understandable with constantly changing the tactics and messing around with the personell.

 

[Wooderson]

Great that we performed well against a very decent Bury team (albeit without winning), but it means little if we can’t follow it up with decent result at Oldham on NYD.

Two big pluses were the performances of NI U21 centre back Pierce Bird, and Andy Kellett, both previously ignored this season. Also, David Vaughan finally looked like the player we thought he was in a system that suited him better.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Not just those games, but Cambridge don't appear to have been 22nd placed bad all season. Only the two viewing for our local media but I can't recall Cambridge fans coming on here too many times being completely despondent.

You can’t be serious Luke? Why not just those games how many have you or the Lincoln media seen?

What’s been the reason in the 19 games they’ve failed to win? Bad luck each time?

 

[Laker]

You can’t be serious Luke? Why not just those games how many have you or the Lincoln media seen?

What’s been the reason in the 19 games they’ve failed to win? Bad luck each time?

Detailed above by me and Alan if you can be arsed to read.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I did Laker and it makes interesting reading.

I was just illustrating how silly Luke’s comments were.

 

[Luke Imp]

Hardly silly comments *before* the situation has been explained.

 

[JJ1532]

It’s not just the style that’s the problem, this squad should be easily comfy at this level, at the moment we are well clear but are teetering on getting dragged in after a bad month.

The issue with Aspin is his constant need to play players out of position despite having adequate players available to play in thier correct positions. It makes no sense. We look disjointed and that’s understandable with constantly changing the tactics and messing around with the personell.

Should it? Based on what? Outside of Pope, who else is capable of scoring 10+ goals in your squad? Even if you played each player in his optimal position, who are your goalscorers? You seem to have a lot of very average L2 players, very few of which seem capable of getting more than 5. Kay, Tonge, Worrall, Pugh, Joyce. Miller and Quigley look good in the conference, but have done nothing in the FL. Dodds is a striker that hasn't scored in 18 months and has a career high of 9.

I only ask because I know from painful experience about overestimating your own squad. I thought for many a season that the Alex were capable of so much more. But eventually I came to realise that the reason why they only played well once every 4-5 games was because they weren't capable of better. Yes, having a competent manager helps, but maybe you just have a very average squad?

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Hardly silly comments *before* the situation has been explained.

Two live matches vs league table after 25 games. Yup I’m sticking with silly. People put far too much emphasis on their concrete views of an opposing team or individual player from 90 or at most 180 mins they’ve seen. Makes no sense

 

[Chris FGR]

My concrete views of Notts, based on the 1 time I' ve seen them is they are a bit shit.

 

[Gladders]

My concrete views of Notts, based on the 1 time I' ve seen them is they are a bit shit.

I agree with Chris, that must be a first!

 

[valefan16]

Should it? Based on what? Outside of Pope, who else is capable of scoring 10+ goals in your squad? Even if you played each player in his optimal position, who are your goalscorers? You seem to have a lot of very average L2 players, very few of which seem capable of getting more than 5. Kay, Tonge, Worrall, Pugh, Joyce. Miller and Quigley look good in the conference, but have done nothing in the FL. Dodds is a striker that hasn't scored in 18 months and has a career high of 9.

I only ask because I know from painful experience about overestimating your own squad. I thought for many a season that the Alex were capable of so much more. But eventually I came to realise that the reason why they only played well once every 4-5 games was because they weren't capable of better. Yes, having a competent manager helps, but maybe you just have a very average squad?

Montano has scored 5 in 4 games when fit and played correctly.

Whitfield can score when played.

Defensively we are decent aside from the Lincoln and Oldham debacles we’ve conceded 22 in the other 23 games, keeper one of the best at this level.

There’s enough quality to be far better than last season, when you had Tonge and Pugh in the central midfield offering zero energy.

Not saying we should be challenging but this squad certainly should maintain its relative comfort from any drop fears.

The problem we have in terms of goals is mainly down to the crazy way we set up with zero width or pace most games and generally start with 4-6 centre halves on the pitch.

This squad is much better than last season. Still some dead wood and some loanees who haven’t done much but the core 11-14 are decent enough to be comfortably mid table.

 

[AdamStag]

Great that we performed well against a very decent Bury team (albeit without winning), but it means little if we can’t follow it up with decent result at Oldham on NYD.

Two big pluses were the performances of NI U21 centre back Pierce Bird, and Andy Kellett, both previously ignored this season. Also, David Vaughan finally looked like the player we thought he was in a system that suited him better.

Certainly an encouraging draw for you against bury, they were good against us though we won out in the end - and I genuinely thought they’d have far too much quality for you, but a point is still a good effort.

 

[AdamStag]

I agree with Chris, that must be a first!

They looked a solid top half conference side, which of course I’d know about!

 

[Si Robin]

My concrete views of Notts, based on the 1 time I' ve seen them is they are a bit shit.

I've not seen them yet - but we beat them 3-0 at a time when we couldn't score for toffee, so they must be shit.