National League - Predict the League

[Shotsfan1993]

Alger's done his, with Tranmere to win the league, and Dover to go down: https://blog.betway.com/football/national-league-201718-preview-top-tips-for-all-outright-markets/

Alan Alger's getting boring with his "The National League is weaker than ever" rubbish each season. I'm sure he's said that every year since he stopped being the sponsor's PR officer!

 

[Conker]

It's probably true to be fair.

 

[Railway Blue]

The majority of tipsters have got us relegated. We're a much better team than finished so abysmally last season. My only concern would be tactics, which on the evidence of Tuesday's match still leave a lot to be desired, i.e. sitting back and inviting pressure for much of the second half. Striker Harry White looks a very good player. Can't understand why Solihull binned him.

 

[Luke Imp]

1) Tranmere
---------------
2) Dagenham
3) Aldershot
4) Wrexham
5) Hartlepool
6) Ebbsfleet
7) Leyton Orient
---------------
8) AFC Fylde
9) Barrow
10) Macclesfield
11) Eastleigh
12) Gateshead
13) Maidenhead
14) Boreham Wood
15) Sutton
16) Maidstone
17) Dover
18) Bromley
19) Halifax
20) Guiseley
---------------
21) Torquay
22) Chester
23) Woking
24) Solihull

Now, I've not kept a complete look-out in transfers down here this pre-season for obvious reasons so I might get a few things wrong.

Tranmere will always be there or thereabout, likewise Dagenham under Still.

Aldershot to carry on where they left off last season, although losing Kanu and Benyu will weaken them, Wrexham look solid in defence and midfield but I'm not convinced they've got enough goals in them as of yet and we don't know how Keates will do given that it'll be his first full season in charge.

Of the relegated sides, I've been more impressed with Hartlepool's signings than Orient's but there are question marks over both managers at this level IMO, particularly the former. Hartlepool look to have a decent amount of goals in them.

Fylde will need to tighten up at the back this season. They'll not be scoring 109 goals again and the need to be tightening their defence up quite a bit. I can remember thinking that Ebbsfleet's signings have look good but I can't for the life of me remember who they've signed!

Cox has got a tough job with a bit of a re-build at Barrow, likewise Askey at Macc but we all know what Macclesfield end up doing!

Gateshead appear to have done nothing of note this summer, Boreham Wood's 'safe' style will always seem them be in that mid-table area, which is that close you could go anywhere from 11th to 18th. Dover have lost far too many players and goals to be up there IMO and have had a bit of a Braintree type summer. Kinnear is someone who seems to get the best out of players and finding a way to get results so I don't think they'll do a Braintree, but I can't seem them troubling the top half.

No-one's screaming out bottom four, for me. Heard nothing of Solihull, Woking with a rookie young coach and little money doesn't look a recipe for (relative) success and also lost goals in Ugwu. You'd fancy Devonshire to get Maidenhead safe, I can't make my mind up on Chester so I've put them there by default really!

Worry for Torquay because there's nothing to suggest Nicholson will get any needed investment and the chances are that anyone half decent will be off,

As I say, I've not kept a 100% eye out so I may have missed a few transfers, which would change my opinion!

How are we all getting on with this, then?!

 

[E10rifle]

How are we all getting on with this, then?!

I literally hunted this thread out earlier to see how horribly wrong I got it. I’ll sort out a table at the end of the season and we can crown a champ.

 

[Soup Ladle]

I literally hunted this thread out earlier to see how horribly wrong I got it. I’ll sort out a table at the end of the season and we can crown a champ.

That’s incredibly tinpot. Good to see you’re adapting to life down here.

 

[Railway Blue]

The majority of tipsters have got us relegated. We're a much better team than finished so abysmally last season. My only concern would be tactics, which on the evidence of Tuesday's match still leave a lot to be desired, i.e. sitting back and inviting pressure for much of the second half. Striker Harry White looks a very good player. Can't understand why Solihull binned him.

Just shows what I know.
My consolation will be if Woking are relegated too. Btw where is Sparrow?

 

[Leewilson]

1) Tranmere
---------------------------
2) Leyton Orient
3) Aldershot
4) Daggers
5) Ebbsfleet United
6) AFC Fylde
7) Eastleigh
-----------------------------
8) Macclesfield
9) Barrow
10) Wrexham
11) Hartlepool
12) Dover
13) Gateshead
14) Bromley
15) Sutton
16) Torquay United
17) Guiseley
18) Boreham Wood
19) Maidstone
20) Halifax
----------------------------------
21) Chester FC
22) Maidenhead United
23) Solihull Moors
24) Woking

My bottom positions weren't a million miles off. Got Boreham Wood, Orient and Sutton horribly wrong.

How are we all getting on with this, then?!

Decent bottom 6 prediction that

 

[CestrianHawk]

Just shows what I know.

That was the view of most of the fanbase... until hindsight kicked in, and they all now claim they knew it would turn out badly.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

1. Tranmere Rovers (100 points club)
-----------------------------------
2. Dagenham & Redbridge
3. Ebbsfleet United
4. Wrexham (P)
5. AFC Fylde
6. Hartlepool United
7. Macclesfield Town
--------------------------------------
8. Eastleigh
9. Barrow
10. Leyton Orient
11. Gateshead
12. Sutton United
13. Aldershot Town
14. Boreham Wood
15. Maidstone United
16. Bromley
17. FC Halifax Town
18. Chester
19. Maidenhead United
20. Guiseley <--- 90th minute winner against Boreham Wood on the final day keeps them up. Again.
----------------------------------------
21. Dover Athletic
22. Torquay United
23. Woking
24. Solihull Moors

There will be two points between 6th and 11th

I think at one point I had over half the teams positioned in a play off place and the bottom third in a relegation place. Infact 14-17 will all have boringly boring mid table finishes.

Not sure why I have both Dagenham and Aldershot in the play offs either. One of them is nailed on for a fuck up of a season. Edit: I don't now, there we go. Brave shout. Now if I was really really brave I'd have Sutton sneaking 7th...

Well, I got Dagenham and Aldershot round the wrong way and I should have been brave and put Sutton in the play offs...

Dover is a horrible call, can I pretend I had them and Barrow swapped?

Guiseley still on for the 90th min winner ^^

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Well, I got Dagenham and Aldershot round the wrong way and I should have been brave and put Sutton in the play offs...

Dover is a horrible call, can I pretend I had them and Barrow swapped?

Guiseley still on for the 90th min winner ^^

Of course we'd love that but we've left it far, far too late this time. Sean St.Ledger has done a great job since taking charge, brought all the part time players back into the fold (that Cox had training on their own, totally ignored) and is encouraging some actual passing football. It's actually enjoyable to watch when we keep 11 players on the pitch. I hope Sean decides to stay. I can't help wondering where we'd be now if the original management team of Lockwood and Penny had been given the financial backing that Cox got.

 

[Master D]

1) Leyton Orient
2) Tranmere
3) Dag & Red
4) Aldershot
5) Wrexham
6) Eastleigh
7) Ebbsfleet
8) Fylde
9) Barrow
10) Macclesfield
11) Hartlepool
12) Gateshead
13) Halifax
14) Sutton
15) Maidstone
16) Torquay
17) Chester
18) Maidenhead
19) Boreham Wood
20) Bromley
21) Dover
22) Solihull Motors
23) Woking
24) Guiseley

Horrible. I seem to remember we all thought Dover would end up relegated after their owner threatened to pull the money out and then suddenly he didn't. Macclesfield will still finish 10th.

Orient to win the league

 

[Shotsfan1993]

1. Dagenham and Redbridge
--------------------------------------------
2. Tranmere Rovers
3. Hartlepool United
--------------------------------------------
4. Wrexham
5. Aldershot Town
6. AFC Fylde
7. Leyton Orient
--------------------------------------------
8. Ebbsfleet United
9. Barrow
10. Eastleigh
11. Gateshead
12. Sutton United
13. Maidstone United
14. Dover Althletic
15. Macclesfield Town
16. Maidenhead United
17. Woking
18. Bromley
19. Torquay United
20. Halifax
---------------------------------------------
21. Chester
22. Boreham Wood
23. Guiseley
24. Solihull Moors

Oh dear...

 

[DarkSithLord]

As the title suggests. Thought I would start one for the Premier.

Goodness me its tough this year!

Here is mine -

1. Tranmere Rovers
2. Wrexham
3. Hartlepool United
4. Ebbsfleet United
5. Aldershot Town
6. Dagenham and Redbridge
7. Leyton Orient
8. AFC Flyde
9. Barrow
10. Macclesfield Town
11. Maidstone United
12. Eastleigh
13. Gateshead
14. Sutton United
15. Boreham Wood
16. Bromley
17. Maidenhead United
18. Torquay United
19. Dover
20. Chester
21. FC Halifax Town
22. Solihull
23. Woking
24. Guiseley

Oh dear. Seems I got the top half all wrong!

 

[DontBringBertie]

A lot underestimating Dover again it seems.

I’m sure I did a table but can’t be bothered to look through the 6 pages - my one on the Woking forum is horribly wrong with Barrow in the top 5 and Bromley bottom 4.

Alan Alger’s prediction ability is the weakest it’s ever been.

 

[doveranddover]

Most people put Dover between 17th and 19th, and lower.
To be fair, I expect many Dover fans would have been happy with 17th at the start of the season.

 

[Boz]

I had Dover to go down and Macc to only just stay up, both had lost decent players and didn’t appear to have recruited well. Totally wrong, though both having decent managers has helped.

At the other end of my predicted table, Daggers and Pools had unpredicted financial issues, while Barrow had their funds cut back.

 

[Joe.]

Most people put Dover between 17th and 19th, and lower.
To be fair, I expect many Dover fans would have been happy with 17th at the start of the season.

I didn't do a full table prediction but had us as 10th and I said all along on various platforms not to underestimate CK in getting another side together capable of challenging.

Think I had Tranmere top which hasn't worked out too well.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

I did well on this last year.. generally terrible this year!

 

[Seventyseven]

1. Aldershot
2. Tranmere Rovers
3. Dagenham & Redbridge
4. Hartlepool
5. Wrexham
6. Leyton Orient
7. Torquay
8. Barrow
9. Gateshead
10. Sutton
11. Boreham Wood
12. Chester
13. Bromley
14. Halifax
15. Ebbsfleet
16. Fylde
17. Solihull Moors
18. Woking
19. Macclesfield
20. Eastleigh
21. Maidenhead
22. Maidstone
23. Dover
24. Guiseley

Time for a change in fortune for us. Surely we can't have another shit season!

Oh bugger! One right (so far).

 

[The_Boss]

So no one had us winning the damn thing then? You all know nothing!!

 

[E10rifle]

Hello fellow tinpotters, as promised I have hastily thrown together a table of who managed to be least wrong. Mathematics is not a strong point of mine, so feel free to check your score. One penalty point awarded for each incorrect position in your prediction, so lowest score wins. Tie-breakers for position were 1. how many correct predictions you made and 2. who supports the least tinpot team.

1. Luke Imp (Lincoln) 125 [2]
2. Andy Harrier (Kidderminster) 129 [3]
3. Leewilson (Daggers) 129 [2]
4. White Army (Tranmere) 132 [1]
5. simsini (Bromley) 134 [6]
6. DarkSithLord (Alfreton) 134 [2]
7. EnglishRed (Wrexham) 134 [1]
8. Joseph Smith (Solihull) 135 [3]
9. Moss Rose Silkmen (Macclesfield) 138 [2]
10. Back in the DHSS (Tranmere) 138 [1]
11. Look Out There Are Llamas (Orient) 138 [1]
12. Sparrow (Woking) 138 [1]
13. Pablosammy (Tranmere) 139 [2]
14. E10rifle (Orient) 140 [2]
15. GodsGift (Lincoln) 140 [2]
16. RLC (Tranmere) 140 [1]
17. MTFC_07 (Macclesfield) 141 [1]
18. The Terminator (Orient) 141 [0]
19. TRFC_Fan (Tranmere) 142 [1]
20. Bluandwite (Chester) 144 [4]
21. Mark kavanagh (Tranmere) 144 [2]
22. DontBringBertie (Woking) 144 [2]
23. Impish (Lincoln) 144 [1]
24. Minstermen central (York) 144 [1]
25. Shotsfan1993 (Aldershot) 145 [2]
26. Darlo On Tour (Darlington) 145 [0]
27. dan_wrexhamafc (Wrexham) 146 [4]
28. Master D (Wrexham) 146 [2]
29. Padge (Wrexham) 147 [3]
30. Boz (Tranmere) 148 [1]
31. Bendubz (Maidstone) 148 [1]
32. wrexham (Wrexham) 150 [3]
33. Semi-skimmed Silk (Macclesfield) 150 [2]
34. PoolieTom (Hartlepool) 150 [1]
35. Blue Lion (Macclesfield) 150 [0]
36. East Bank Shot (Aldershot) 152 [2]
37. Vanni (Cambridge) 152 [1]
38. joethegill (Gillingham) 154 [1]
39. Farleigh (Maidstone) 158 [2]
40. fifaking (Wrexham) 162 [0]
41. Tranmerewhite (Tranmere) 166 [0]
42. Fedora Dale (Rochdale) 174 [1]
43. Seventyseven (Torquay) 176 [2]
44. fantstone (Maidstone) 180 [0]

Lincoln showing their experience of winning the league by picking up the title via Luke Imp, there. Special mention to simsini for posting an enormous 6 correct scores.

Tranmere and Orient fans generally fared better than their fellow big club followers/sheep botherers over the border (which is a bit of a surprise seeing as the National League is Wrexham’s home turf), whilst Andy Harrier and DarkSithLord carried the flag for the regional league tinpotters with a pair of top 6 finishes.

No-one managed to replicate their team’s finishing position, though myself and DontBringBertie were both one place shy of achieving that inordinately minor feat.

At the other end of the table our lone predictor from Torquay took a familiar spot in the relegation zone, whilst everyone from sub-M25 Kent unsurprisingly showed themselves up as thick as pigshit.

E10

 

[Shotsfan1993]

Did anyone manage to correctly predict where their team would finish? Or was that just me?

 

[Luke Imp]

Well put together, E10. What do I win?

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Well put together, E10. What do I win?

Ego points.

 

[BarraMatt]

Well put together, E10. What do I win?

Exclusive Cowley Bros merchandise.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Exclusive Cowley Bros merchandise.

Tactic spreadsheet for the league one clash against Salford on Dec 26 2025.

 

[E10rifle]

Well put together, E10. What do I win?

Lee Thorpe’s signed jockstrap.

 

[Soup Ladle]

The winner should receive a signed and commemorated.....

In my humble opinion, the runner up should get a special book marking Bristol Rovers' glorious instant promotion back to the FL in 2015.