Questions re League 2 in 19/20

[valefan16]

Thing is Notts County and Chesterfield were a shambles off the pitch too, took the County lot about 8 months in to realise but it was always ongoing. If Exeter start wank I don’t think they will pay for Harry Kewell, for instance.

Notts spent big but mostly on older players... we found in our first year it’s great having names like Michael Tonge, Anthony Kay and Danny Pugh... had it been five years earlier! Stick them three in the midfield and you’ve got plenty of footballing brains but absolutely zero energy! David Vaughan for example! Then once a bad start hits even spending more money can be fruitless if your confidence and atmosphere in the squad is rock bottom.

If anyone is likely to struggle though from the sides that did well Exeter I would doubt to be one of them, Carlisle (although their fans fan the negative thoughts on this) or FGR who’ve both lost a lot of players and not as yet overly replaced them would be more likely. Plenty of time to change that though!

 

[Spanishstag]

Theres not a chance in hell,s that exeter will get relegated there must be at least 7 or 8 teams that would have to have a really good season,and exeter to have a terrible season to boot ,it aint gonna happen

 

[Vanni]

A few predicting Vale might go down. Although I don't think we'll be troubling the top of the table, I feel like we have signed enough to keep us out of trouble. I'd be surprised if we were one of the two worst teams.

I guess people are looking at last year, but the club was being run into the ground with chancers as signings. There is a massive optimism around the place now , more season tickets being bought and a couple of signings with a bit of pedigree. That's got to be worth a few points.

Just seen this. FWIW, I don't think I've ever correctly predicted who will end up going down, so you can rest easy. I didn't even predict Daggers to go down the year they did when everybody else was saying they will deffo be one of the two sides, including a good number of their own fans!

But back to Vale, I want to make it clear that what I think is going to happen does not mean that I want it to, and I certainly do not want to see you go. As for my prediction, I think at least one of the sides to lose their league status will be a long established FL club, and Vale do strike me as being a club in danger right now due to the massive changes in the way the club is being run. AFAIC, this sort of change usually goes one of two ways - either a relatively good year or a bad one that can end up in relegation.

 

[valefan16]

To be fair Vanni we were favourites to go down in 2012/13 as we were in admin and had lost our main goal source... only to top the scoring charts in the land and win automatic so you never know and can see why we would be one of the favourites after three awful seasons.

The club is being run properly for once, even simple things like building a larger gym at Vale Park to better catering for the players to improved links with other clubs, bridges burnt in the previous regime so hopefully that change and new proffesionalism will shine through. Time will tell of course.

 

[RebornKirtonRed]

Fixture you’re most looking forward to - Exeter away first game. It will only go downhill from there.

{until we play you away again)


heck, that really hurt last season.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Just seen this. FWIW, I don't think I've ever correctly predicted who will end up going down, so you can rest easy. I didn't even predict Daggers to go down the year they did when everybody else was saying they will deffo be one of the two sides, including a good number of their own fans!

But back to Vale, I want to make it clear that what I think is going to happen does not mean that I want it to, and I certainly do not want to see you go. As for my prediction, I think at least one of the sides to lose their league status will be a long established FL club, and Vale do strike me as being a club in danger right now due to the massive changes in the way the club is being run. AFAIC, this sort of change usually goes one of two ways - either a relatively good year or a bad one that can end up in relegation.

I see where you are coming from.

I just feel that we have improved on last year, have a better diet, physio, fitness plan, tactics, owner and a plan for going forward. We actually should have been relegated last year as our club was a mess.

I know everyone says this but I can't imagine that we're in the bottom 5 in terms of squad.

 

[Buxton Vale]

Key player - Mark cullen if we can keep him fit. He is a quality player for league 2.

Signing you’re most excited about - David Amoo - we've not had a pacey winger for ages.

The player you expect to step up this season - Manny Oyeleke who I'm hoping will be free of injuries, and able to impose himself on the pitch more than last season. We also have a young left back named Ryan Campbell-Gordon who is highly rated and may get a few appearances from the bench throughout the season.

Fixture you’re most looking forward to - probably Walsall away.

Who will go up - Bradford, Swindon Plymouth and possibly Mansfield for the play offs if they can hold their nerve this time around. If they can't then it might be Newport.

Who will go down - its looking bad for Macclesfield at the moment, and Carlisle don't look to be in a good place, although they tend to perform better than you might expect. Other than that, Morecambe may not be able to avoid the pull of gravity this time around.

League 2 top scorer - Vaughan or Doyle

Prediction where your team will finish - 14th or 15th or thereabouts.

 

[The Terminator]

Key player - Marvin Ekpiteta

Signing you’re most excited about - Conor Wilkinson, but they're all very average at best to be honest.

The player you expect to step up this season - Jordan Maguire-Drew

Fixture you’re most looking forward to - Forest Green away, my ownly new ground.

Who will go up - Bradford, Plymouth, Mansfield & Salford all stand out for one reason or another.

Who will go down - Difficult to see beyond Macclesfield and Morecambe.

League 2 top scorer - James Vaughan
Prediction where your team will finish - 18th

 

[Luke Imp]

Last 11 seasons for you. Top two scorers for each plus anyone who has scored over 25, as that is usually enough to be top scorer.

In 11 years, only five top-scorers have been promoted. Norwood, Kee, Taylor. Winnal and Pope, and only four of them automatically. If you instead look at players who have scored 25 or more 7 have been promoted out of a total of 13, so slightly better but still not a huge proportion. I'd say it's quite common for a player to score lots of goals and not go up. Billy Kee the only player in that time to win both the golden boot AND the league title.


Last season, though Tranmere went up and Mansfield didn't, Mansfield did still finish ahead of them in the league.

11/12 was interesting, a lean year as there were four joint top on 18, most seasons that isn't even enough to finish 3rd, and lo and behold, none actually got promoted.

18/19
Norwood (Tranmere) 29 - promoted via playoffs
Walker (Mansfield) 22 - playoffs

17/18
Kee (Accrington) 25 - champions
Eisa (Cheltenham) 23
McNulty (Coventry) 23 - promoted via playoffs

16/17
Akinde (pen) (Barnet) 26
Marquis (Donny) 25 - automatic

15/16
Taylor (Brovers) 27 - automatic
Simpon (Orient) 25

14/15
Tubbs (Wimbledon/Pompey) 21
Cureton (Daggers) 19

13/14
Winnal (Scunny) 23 - automatic
Reid (Plymouth) 17
Hogan (Rochdale) 17 - automatic

12/13
Pope (Vale) 31 - automatic
Cureton (Exeter) 21

11/12
Midson (Wimbledon) 18
Bayo (Northampton) 18
McLeod (Barnet) 18
Grabban (Rotherham) 18

10/11
Donaldson (Crewe) 28
Lowe (Bury) 27 - automatic
McDonald (Gills) 25

09/10
Hughes (Grimsby) 30
Pitman (Bournemouth) 26
LeFondre (Rochdale / Rotherham) 25 - playoffs (though Rochdale went up automatically)

08/09
Holt (Shrews) 20 - playoffs
Lester (Chesterfield) 20

On a slightly different point, it was unusual in 2017/18 that 4 of the lower sides, on paper, had decent goal scorers but still struggled (Chesterfield - Dennis, Barnet - Akinde, FGR - Doidge, Vale - Pope).

 

[FGR Stroud]

Key player – George Williams

Signing you’re most excited about - Aaron Collins [Chris has already explained reasons to which I agree]

The player you expect to step up this season - George Williams.

Fixture you’re most looking forward to - Cheltenham is always the first fixture that both sets of fans look to on fixture list. Always a full house, both home and away. BUT I’m looking forward to Bradford City away, a team FGR have not played in the EFL. They are a big club with plenty of history and probably the highest attendances. Guaranteed a great atmosphere.
Who will go up - Bradford, Plymouth, Mansfield and FGR [via play-offs]

Who will go down - Cambridge and Macclesfield

League 2 top scorer – Don’t know

Prediction where your team will finish - 6th

 

[Si Robin]

Key player – George Williams

Signing you’re most excited about - Aaron Collins [Chris has already explained reasons to which I agree]

The player you expect to step up this season - George Williams.

Fixture you’re most looking forward to - Cheltenham is always the first fixture that both sets of fans look to on fixture list. Always a full house, both home and away. BUT I’m looking forward to Bradford City away, a team FGR have not played in the EFL. They are a big club with plenty of history and probably the highest attendances. Guaranteed a great atmosphere.
Who will go up - Bradford, Plymouth, Mansfield and FGR [via play-offs]

Who will go down - Cambridge and Macclesfield

League 2 top scorer – Don’t know

Prediction where your team will finish - 6th

Umm - no it isn't. I looked for the first day, boxing day and last day before I even considered specific teams.

I'm not even sure now when we're playing your lot.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Umm - no it isn't. I looked for the first day, boxing day and last day before I even considered specific teams.

I'm not even sure now when we're playing your lot.

2nd November: Cheltenham v FGR
28th March: FGR v Cheltenham.

 

[Jam0]

Key player - Josh Coulson. Has to already be up there and respected as one of the leagues top center halves. An old school style center back with a pretty no nonsense attitude about defending. Not the quickest but postionally he’s very good. Huge threat on set pieces as well. Was our third top scorer I think last season. Great guy and a great chant about him having a massive forehead.

Signing you’re most excited about - There’s only been 3 so far. Probably Connor Wilkinson as out of the 3, he’s the only one to come in with very good reviews from his previous club. Seems like a really promising player.

The player you expect to step up this season - There’s a lot of talk in E10 about Jordan Maguire-Drew and Dale Gorman at the moment. There’s a real player in JM-D, technically on his day he’s outstanding and scored one ridiculous left footed dipping volley last season away to Havant that demonstrates what he’s got in his locker. Very young still though. Gorman came in with no pre season last year but our fans have got high hopes for him. There seems to be a decent center mid in there last year but it just didn’t click. Expecting him to kick on in a more technical league rather than one full of lumps.

Fixture you’re most looking forward to - Swindon at home. There are personal connections for me, I’ve got family friends coming up in the away end, which Swindon always bring good following. Couple of Orient and Swindon links with players too like Baudry.

Who will go up - Not all that familiar with the league but Mansfield, Bradford and Swindon look well equipped. I hate to say it but I think Salford will be there or thereabouts. Walsall have been scarcely talked about but they’ve got a couple of good players.

Who will go down - Personally don’t think the league looks particularly strong so there’s a number of contenders for me here. Macclesfield, Morecambe and Stevenage more obvious candidates but Carlisle’s troubles are quite well documented on here and I wonder what the deflation of the playoffs will do to Newport’s chances next year? Could see them struggling.

League 2 top scorer - Andy Cook will get goals you’d think as will Donaldson at Bradford.

Prediction where your team will finish - Probably bang in the middle so will say 12th or 13th. You’ll notice next to no posts about Orient being a promotion or relegation candidate and I think that’s spot on.

 

[Howzy]

Key player - Luke Varney, On and off the pitch he is excellent probably won't play as much this season but his influence in the dressing room is invaluable

Signing you’re most excited about - Rohan Ince, Has impressed in all friendlies and he has the quality to still play in the championship, needs to dust up his passing as can be wayward at times but once he sheds off the cobwebs of a year out of the game he will show his quality

The player you expect to step up this season - If given the chance George Lloyd, has scored about a million goals at youth level and did well out on loan last season he is 19 now, i just hope he gets minutes

Fixture you’re most looking forward to - FGR home always

Who will go up - Plymbury, Bradford, Mansfield, PO Swindon

Who will go down - Macc, Leyton Orient

League 2 top scorer - Tav Campbell
Prediction where your team will finish - 7th

 

[ambernuts]

I just want to put on record how my blood boils every time I read an Orient fan talking about my boy Joshy Coulson. Should never have been let go, absolute travesty. I’ve grown up watching Mr Cambridge and no matter what some Us fans may say I don’t think we’ve improved on him. A great chap and an excellent pro, he had one pre-season where he came back a little overweight but oh boy did he prove himself that year.

I wish him and the Os the best of luck this coming season.

On the Us, unfortunately I think our stay in the FL maybe over.

 

[The Terminator]

I just want to put on record how my blood boils every time I read an Orient fan talking about my boy Joshy Coulson. Should never have been let go, absolute travesty. I’ve grown up watching Mr Cambridge and no matter what some Us fans may say I don’t think we’ve improved on him. A great chap and an excellent pro, he had one pre-season where he came back a little overweight but oh boy did he prove himself that year.

I wish him and the Os the best of luck this coming season.

On the Us, unfortunately I think our stay in the FL maybe over.

He is now our captain as well. What a man, a huge reason we won the National League last season and not just because of his goal scoring ability!

He improved with the ball at his feet as well under Justin Edinburgh.

A Combined Orient/Cambridge XI from the last 20+ years is very easy make!

 

[shoddycollins]

He is now our captain as well. What a man, a huge reason we won the National League last season and not just because of his goal scoring ability!

He improved with the ball at his feet as well under Justin Edinburgh.

A Combined Orient/Cambridge XI from the last 20+ years is very easy make!

Jabo!

 

[Chris FGR]

Umm - no it isn't. I looked for the first day, boxing day and last day before I even considered specific teams.

I'm not even sure now when we're playing your lot.

There's quite a few of your lot that do though tbf, certainly judging by the amount of 'banter' I have to put up with when the fixtures come out .

 

[Si Robin]

If many of them are over 20 I'll be amazed.

I've actually worked out over the past weekend that unless I can find a babysitter, I won't be going to the home FGR game anyway as the wife will be flying home from Hong Kong.

 

[Chris FGR]

I agree that it's definitely mainly the young lads who are trying to set this up as a rivalry and embarrass themselves with the Green Street shite.

There is a fair bit of interest generally in how the other side are doing these day though, natural what with the two clubs being at the same level and close geographically especially given how we're swapping players I suppose.

Personally never been bothered, just as happy to win against you as against anyone else (not that we do very often lol) and would quite happily swap losing both games heavily for a top 7 finish.

 

[Si Robin]

Babes - I have four kids (although the oldest will look after himself and the middle child would be at the game with me).

However, I struggle with two year old twins at home, I'm not running around after them in a crowd of people at a football match.

Edit - my post was in response to FGR Stroud who appears to have deleted his message.

 

[Si Robin]

I agree that it's definitely mainly the young lads who are trying to set this up as a rivalry and embarrass themselves with the Green Street shite.

There is a fair bit of interest generally in how the other side are doing these day though, natural what with the two clubs being at the same level and close geographically especially given how we're swapping players I suppose.

Personally never been bothered, just as happy to win against you as against anyone else (not that we do very often lol) and would quite happily swap losing both games heavily for a top 7 finish.

I find it hard to have a strong rivalry with a club that I used to go and see whilst mine were away and I couldn't attend. Until 15/16 there was no animosity between the clubs or fans and I don't have it in me to strike up a rivalry I don't truly believe in.

I don't like Dale Vince, and I don't like doping of clubs to such an extent that they are unsustainable - and by that I mean how would the club survive if the backer suddenly pulled all his money out. That does not mean that I hate FGR or their original fanbase though.

 

[GTFCfish]

Cheltenham v FGR is such a huge fixture that when our own fixtures were out i bypassed them all and just looked up when the two Gloucestershire GIANTS were facing each other instead.

 

[E10rifle]

Cheltenham v FGR is such a huge fixture that when our own fixtures were out i bypassed them all and just looked up when the two Gloucestershire GIANTS were facing each other instead.

It’s like Dulwich Hamlet vs. Fisher Athletic all over again. The horror, the horror...