Relegation Dogfight Thread

[shoddycollins]

Yep this is definitely the poorest league one season in my memory of being down here. We went 20 games without a win and have ended up pretty comfortably midtable. I do think it will be a lot stronger next season with the teams coming up/going down.

We have been really really poor and I don't think I've actually looked at any team we've played and been impressed barring maybe Bolton at the Valley, Pompey at Fratton and surprisingly Vale at Vale Park.

Despite that, it's still easily better than the top end of League Two... our first game this season was home to Fleetwood and even against a team who may still finish bottom the step up in quality from League Two was dramatic and I haven't seen a single team this season who are worse than the best teams in League Two last season.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Despite that, it's still easily better than the top end of League Two... our first game this season was home to Fleetwood and even against a team who may still finish bottom the step up in quality from League Two was dramatic and I haven't seen a single team this season who are worse than the best teams in League Two last season.

When we first came back up, I didn't think the standard was that much different, but we played Mansfield earlier in the season and absolutely played them off the park. Feel like we'd be in a much better place in league 2 if we were relegated, compared to previous relegations. I'd imagine we'd be among the favourites to go back up.

In some ways, I think we need to be relegated, so that we can reset ourselves and come back better prepared and stronger. At the moment, we're just treading water with players that aren't good enough for this level. We've seen teams drop down to league 2 and come back much stronger for it. We're in a better place than say Tranmere or Bradford for instance.

This second half of the season has shown how far away we are from even being an average league 1 club.

 

[valefan16]

Well done Burton.

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

Absolute shambles from vale..
Deserved relegation.
A frankly bizarre second half where we seemed to think we could stroll about doing fuck all, chief amongst them was that wanker Ojo.
A half fit uche was tearing them to pieces, so we took him off.
Made another team look incredible.
We’re a joke.

 

[kieran_vale]

Aye it’s over. Maybe Cheltenham suddenly spring to life and win at Burton but the signs ain’t great for them either. How a team can capitulate like that at home in a must win game from a position of real comfort at halftime is baffling. Don’t think it can officially be confirmed midweek v Wycombe other than for all intents and purposes but at least it saves the bother of the last couple of games.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Well done Burton.

Thanks but / if we lose Tuesday and you win it’s back on again. Let’s not pretend we are any good, we are not. So don’t give up hope yet.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Oh wow. I saw Port Vale 2-0 up at half time, expecting them to see it out and heep pressure on others around them. To then see at full time 2nd half the way it went, that must really impact those players, and will be difficult to see them come back from that.

Don't think anyone expected a Burton win too, so fair play indeed.

Only thing going for Cheltenham is their game in hand, but today is the opponent they would have wanted.

 

[thewwfc]

Here’s the teams still stuck in the mire.

Still some twists and turns possible, but hard to see Cambridge or Shrews dropping at this stage.

All eyes on Burton v Chelts on Tues, whilst Vale will be hoping we rock up in Burslem in our swimming trunks and pina coladas, ready for a well earned break.

 

[AmberAndy]

Absolute battle today in the most physical terms. Charlton a team of absolute beasts. We got bullied first half, but came back after the break and out battled them, getting a richly deserved point, and got a slice of luck when May hit the post when it seemed easier to score. Think one more point will see us safe, but think we might get three at the Gas on Tuesday if we play with the same intensity. Two cracking finishes for the two goals from Wickham and Bonne respectively.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I've said before, if we finish below Burton and Shrewsbury, comfortably the worst two sides we've played this season (worse than us) then we deserve it. That Second half has done for us, there's no coming back from that. Relegate us now, rip up the squad and start again. Exeter played with zero intensity and zero bother to win or lose and still won easily.

 

[valefan16]

Fleetwood have Burton don’t they still so that could be one that goes under the radar if they get within three points.

 

[SVH]

A good day for us today with Port Vale and Cheltenham getting beat.

A tough game against Charlton who are full of units and make it very very physical. I think a point away at Bristol rovers Tuesday will just about be enough in the end.

 

[kieran_vale]

Fleetwood have Burton don’t they still so that could be one that goes under the radar if they get within three points.

Fleetwood have to go to Peterborough midweek who will be smarting after what happened to them today. I don’t see a circumstance they get out of it now. Am pretty settled now on the existing bottom four will be in L2 next season and frankly I said it on another thread it’s almost a relief we won’t be in the firing line next season.

 

[valefan16]

Fleetwood have to go to Peterborough midweek who will be smarting after what happened to them today. I don’t see a circumstance they get out of it now. Am pretty settled now on the existing bottom four will be in L2 next season and frankly I said it on another thread it’s almost a relief we won’t be in the firing line next season.

To be fair based on today I would say we probably made Posh look far better than they are.

 

[leedsvaliant]

To be fair based on today I would say we probably made Posh look far better than they are.

I did say in the week that we treated Posh like prime Brazil. They're a 3rd division team with 3 or 4 decent players. Our approach was completely wrong. I don't give a shit about goal difference at this stage of the season, we should be going out to get points. Today shows that they're not that good, as did a couple of weeks ago against Carlisle. We gave a team with some talented but very young and inexperienced players some real impetus. We'll do the same against Bolton, go there treating it like a game at the Bernabeu.

 

[dannylad01]

I haven't thought we would go down all season. It's now the most concerned that I have been. It's only Vale, Burton and Cheltenham not showing any form that is keeping that little buffer we have. The complete lack of effort today makes me question if we'll get another point. Moat of the players won't be here next year and appear to have downed tools. Body language today and arguments amongst players didn't look good. We don't perform in midweek matches anyway, so fully anticipating our goal difference taking a battering again at Bolton on Tuesday, then a tough trip to Charlton, finishing with Orient at home. Wouldn't want to need anything going into that game.

Wycombe are on the beach. If Vale can muster up any kind of performance they can win that and be 3 points behind. Burton beat Cheltenham and they're level on points. Then becomes squeaky bum time.

 

[kieran_vale]

I haven't thought we would go down all season. It's now the most concerned that I have been. It's only Vale, Burton and Cheltenham not showing any form that is keeping that little buffer we have. The complete lack of effort today makes me question if we'll get another point. Moat of the players won't be here next year and appear to have downed tools. Body language today and arguments amongst players didn't look good. We don't perform in midweek matches anyway, so fully anticipating our goal difference taking a battering again at Bolton on Tuesday, then a tough trip to Charlton, finishing with Orient at home. Wouldn't want to need anything going into that game.

Wycombe are on the beach. If Vale can muster up any kind of performance they can win that and be 3 points behind. Burton beat Cheltenham and they're level on points. Then becomes squeaky bum time.

Ain’t happening it’s over you’re safe.

The thing that I’d say should be a concern will be next season. Some teams who have been awful at various points this season but survived will not be so lucky if you look at who will be coming into the division from both ends.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Ain’t happening it’s over you’re safe.

The thing that I’d say should be a concern will be next season. Some teams who have been awful at various points this season but survived will not be so lucky if you look at who will be coming into the division from both ends.

Yep. If we survive, we might get a record low points total next season. We're miles off this level in every department. We're run like a village cricket club.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Your boys were not that fussed, listen to Ben Garrity's interview on the Paddy the Baddy podcast...

They were definitely fussed today! Enjoy League Two

 

[valefan16]

They were definitely fussed today! Enjoy League Two

Certainly be more enjoyable than the last 15 months.

 

[leedsvaliant]

They were definitely fussed today! Enjoy League Two

I genuinely think we will. League One has been an absolute disaster. Our home form has been appalling since we came up. We're not ready for this level, it's as simple as that. I hate our team more than any We've had in the past 30 years....even when we last got relegated there were some likeable characters. The only player I like is Garrity...he deserves so much better than this. I'm bored of teams that are not even that good giving us a roggering.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

So 51 is officially safety as it stands, based on max points (Cheltenham with 4 games left, currently on 38 points), however with teams playing each other at the bottom, it will be less, plus everyones inability to win...

Remaining games for the bottom 5...

Burton
Cheltenham (H)
Reading (H)
Fleetwood (A)

Port Vale
Wycombe (H)
Bolton (A)
Cambridge (H)

Cheltenham
Burton (A)
Lincoln (H)
Peterborough (H)
Stevenage (A)

Fleetwood
Peterborough (A)
Leyton Orient (A)
Burton (H)

Fleetwood currently 6 points adrift, they're down. SURELY.

Tuesday's game Burton v Cheltenham is massive.

Burton win that, and Port Vale lose their game, all of a sudden there is 6 point gap, with 2 to play, and will pretty much seal Port Vale's fate. However Cheltenham win, and Port Vale too (you would expect Shrewsbury to lose at Bolton), and all of a sudden it could look like this:
Shrewsbury 46
Burton 43
--------------------------
Port Vale 43
Cheltenham 41

Personally, I want Cheltenham to lose midweek to fall 8 points behind with 3 remaining, to give us the best chance of getting something next weekend and hopefully keeping our season alive, sorry Cheltenham!

 

[Si Robin]

I'm in two minds on things.

A little bit of me thinks if we lose Tuesday then Lincoln will put us out of our misery next week. However, I worked out last night that if we win, our last three games could be against teams on the beach and not as daunting as before.

Ultimately, we need a minimum of two wins. Knowing Cheltenham, to really put us through the ringer, those wins will be Burton and Stevenage and we'll stay up by 1 point.

I'd rip your hand off for that right now.

 

[valefan16]

I Think Burton will beat Fleetwood who likely will be down regardless so would need 47 points to be safe due to our goal difference that we’ve managed to screw away in 3 days.

The only way we survive is by winning two and Shrews losing all 3 I think purely due to their GD being close enough.

However after throwing a 2-0 lead away when relatively cruising in a game where the opponent had zero to play for and we had everything in the manner we did shows who unlikely us doing our bit is.

Bolton is a right off so Tuesday will all but seal it and Saturday officially.

 

[valefan16]

I genuinely think we will. League One has been an absolute disaster. Our home form has been appalling since we came up. We're not ready for this level, it's as simple as that. I hate our team more than any We've had in the past 30 years....even when we last got relegated there were some likeable characters. The only player I like is Garrity...he deserves so much better than this. I'm bored of teams that are not even that good giving us a roggering.

Im not arsed that much about going down as I’ve said before, the season has sucked the life away, we’ve lost over £3 million quid last season yet haven’t spent anything on producing a team of note. The club lost its focus and despite everyone seeing where it was heading wouldn’t listen until it was too late.

Hopefully relegation see’s the enjoyment come back next season and we manage to be more competitive, hopefully challenging the right end and winning more games.

46 Defeats in 2 seasons of which 37 since mid Jan 2023 is pretty soul destroying.

Even under poor owners we managed to be competitive at this level and despite more money and being better run we haven’t this time so needs a huge inquest once the inevitable is confirmed.

 

[Luke Imp]

All those run-ins look much of a much, not one particularly easier/harder than the other.

I still think Shrewsbury can count themselves very, very lucky this season, to have scored only 31 goals and not in the relegation zone is pretty mental.

 

[dannylad01]

All those run-ins look much of a much, not one particularly easier/harder than the other.

I still think Shrewsbury can count themselves very, very lucky this season, to have scored only 31 goals and not in the relegation zone is pretty mental.

I think its 23 of the 43 games played that we haven't scored in either. And likely in most of those we haven't really looked like scoring.

Hurst really not impressed by yesterday's "performance" and fearful for Tuesday if its repeated. Not going to fill the players with confidence, but most know that we either can't afford to keep them next year or the manager doesn't fancy them. Just hope professional pride takes over in the last 3 games.

 

[Carver]

I hope Port Vale come down with us.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I'm in two minds on things.

A little bit of me thinks if we lose Tuesday then Lincoln will put us out of our misery next week. However, I worked out last night that if we win, our last three games could be against teams on the beach and not as daunting as before.

Ultimately, we need a minimum of two wins. Knowing Cheltenham, to really put us through the ringer, those wins will be Burton and Stevenage and we'll stay up by 1 point.

I'd rip your hand off for that right now.

On the beach teams can be equally as difficult. We had to get a point to secure our league status against mid-table Mansfield. They beat us, playing in our own shirts too ffs

 

[valefan16]

On the beach teams can be equally as difficult. We had to get a point to secure our league status against mid-table Mansfield. They beat us, playing in our own shirts too ffs

Yeah pressure is off etc so can perform better.

In our promotion season with auto in our hands we lose to Walsall and Newport who both had nothing to play for… (well I suppose Walsall it was their cup final as it was DC).