Relegation Dogfight Thread

[saddler78]

Next Year will be tough at the bottom if the big spenders come up from L2 I imagine, Wrexham, Stockport should have a real go at this level, Mansfield usually spend well and of course Gillingham and MK as well sniffing around the Play Offs.

Whoever survives in that lower mid table area, Cambridge/Exeter/Shrewsbury/Burton/Cheltenham for example if they stay up are going to really find it tough going you'd think and any bigger clubs who have a bad patch may also be sucked into it.

They will have to spend big wont be good enough as they stand now for me and i have seen them all this season more than once.

 

[valefan16]

They will have to spend big wont be good enough as they stand now for me and i have seen them all this season more than once.

Possibly but imagine they will spend big, Wrexham especially and likely Stockport. Not saying either would go up but would likely be comfortable.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Possibly but imagine they will spend big, Wrexham especially and likely Stockport. Not saying either would go up but would likely be comfortable.

I agree, they will fare a lot better than the teams they are likely to replace meaning it will be even easier to be dragged into a dogfight at the bottom end.
This season is pretty pathetic, apart from a decent spell in Dec we have been awful all season, gifting goals away, yet currently sit in 12th, 13 points away from the relegation places with a -2 GD... da fuck are ya all doing?

 

[Si Robin]

We decided to give everyone else an 11 game head start - not sure about the rest.

 

[valefan16]

I agree, they will fare a lot better than the teams they are likely to replace meaning it will be even easier to be dragged into a dogfight at the bottom end.
This season is pretty pathetic, apart from a decent spell in Dec we have been awful all season, gifting goals away, yet currently sit in 12th, 13 points away from the relegation places with a -2 GD... da fuck are ya all doing?

We decided to be diabolical game 1, immense game 2-7 then see how quick you can go from top to bottom since!

 

[thewwfc]

I would say in our case, it was trying to do too much at once:

• as exciting as it was to see a ton of new signings, it was maybe a bit much to expect them all to gel quickly.
• Lot of loanees too, who were a mixed bag - and we ended up ditching some of them in Jan
• Trying to move to a back 3 as our first choice defensive line-up...and we were crap at it, we generally look a lot better with a back 4
• Cutting down on the dark arts - which is something I wanted to see for a long time, but then we started giving away a bunch more late goals when we cut back on the "game management"...
• Trying to play in a more ball-to-feet style...yet still having a traditional "big man" up front in a lone striker role doesn't really work

I don't think I'm unreasonable and was not expecting us to be anywhere near even a play-off tilt this season - my expectation was 8th-12th and I think the squad we have is perfectly good enough for that.

But going for 17 fricking games without a win?

 

[folletto]

I'm definitely not ruling Port Vale out of staying up yet. If two of us, Vale and Cheltenham can get a couple of wins out of the next 4/5 matches it really makes things interesting with the teams currently on 38.

Cheltenham away next Tuesday is going to be massive - I've just realised Vale aren't playing that day either. So somehow we are putting another game on them to catch up on.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I would say in our case, it was trying to do too much at once:

• as exciting as it was to see a ton of new signings, it was maybe a bit much to expect them all to gel quickly.
• Lot of loanees too, who were a mixed bag - and we ended up ditching some of them in Jan
• Trying to move to a back 3 as our first choice defensive line-up...and we were crap at it, we generally look a lot better with a back 4
• Cutting down on the dark arts - which is something I wanted to see for a long time, but then we started giving away a bunch more late goals when we cut back on the "game management"...
• Trying to play in a more ball-to-feet style...yet still having a traditional "big man" up front in a lone striker role doesn't really work

I don't think I'm unreasonable and was not expecting us to be anywhere near even a play-off tilt this season - my expectation was 8th-12th and I think the squad we have is perfectly good enough for that.

But going for 17 fricking games without a win?

To be fair we gifted you 6 points, you can always rely on us

 

[valefan16]

I'm definitely not ruling Port Vale out of staying up yet. If two of us, Vale and Cheltenham can get a couple of wins out of the next 4/5 matches it really makes things interesting with the teams currently on 38.

Cheltenham away next Tuesday is going to be massive - I've just realised Vale aren't playing that day either. So somehow we are putting another game on them to catch up on.

I know I assumed tomorrow was one we'd catch up on game wise but your all playing as well!

We have Peterborough scheduled in for 10th April but nothing on Wycombe yet, with Easter matches ruling two midweeks out and 5th March looks out now with it being next week we only really have 19th March or 16th/23rd April to fit that one in! Cant really afford anymore postponements!

Mind you nothing will beat the last 10 days of the 2001 season when we had to play 6 games!

Thursday Northampton Away Won 2-0
Saturday Notts Co Home Lost 2-3
Monday Bristol Rovers Away Won 3-0
Tuesday Oxford Away Drew 1-1 (last game at the Manor)
Thursday Walsall Home Lost 0-2
Saturday Luton away Drew 1-1

Imagine Klopp with that pile up! especially two games in 24 hours!

 

[codaplenty]

We decided to be diabolical game 1, immense game 2-7 then see how quick you can go from top to bottom since!

Whichever 4 come up from league 2, it won't be a walk in the park. To my mind they will have reached their level, could be comfortable in league 1 but one or two will struggle. You only have to look at other leagues to see how promoted teams fare
Sheffield Utd/ Burnley - well screwed
Rotherham in Championship rock bottom, too good for league 1 but the Championship a bridge too far. The Owls, look at the season there having
Btw what's the betting Phil Parkinson won't get the boot from Wrexham if they don't go up ?

 

[kieran_vale]

And another deduction incoming for Reading with another HMRC issue. They’re pretty much lapping the field for amount of deductions a club could have.

Reading set for fresh points deduction for HMRC-related issues after hearing

Reading are set to be hit with a second points deduction of the season for HMRC-related issues, the Reading Chronicle understands. The Royals,…

www.readingchronicle.co.uk

 

[valefan16]

And another deduction incoming for Reading with another HMRC issue. They’re pretty much lapping the field for amount of deductions a club could have.

Reading set for fresh points deduction for HMRC-related issues after hearing

Reading are set to be hit with a second points deduction of the season for HMRC-related issues, the Reading Chronicle understands. The Royals,…

www.readingchronicle.co.uk

2 points... win tonight and we would close in on them so opens up that I guess.

 

[AmberRich]

And another deduction incoming for Reading with another HMRC issue. They’re pretty much lapping the field for amount of deductions a club could have.

Reading set for fresh points deduction for HMRC-related issues after hearing

Reading are set to be hit with a second points deduction of the season for HMRC-related issues, the Reading Chronicle understands. The Royals,…

www.readingchronicle.co.uk

Feel like that's still a pretty light punishment in the grand scheme of things.

 

[kieran_vale]

Have to admit I’m rather hoping they try to get another abandonment and activate that suspended deduction. Very grubby and desperate on our part I will admit but beggars can’t be choosers. It is of course all moot right now for us given we are incapable of winning but Charlton and Cheltenham are definitely benefiting from this.

 

[valefan16]

Have to admit I’m rather hoping they try to get another abandonment and activate that suspended deduction. Very grubby and desperate on our part I will admit but beggars can’t be choosers. It is of course all moot right now for us given we are incapable of winning but Charlton and Cheltenham are definitely benefiting from this.

Its poor that they were allowed to sign the players they did in the summer either side of sanctions by the EFL. Seemed bonkers as clubs missed out of Smith and Knibbs for example.

 

[LordJord]

I know its not the Reading fans fault, but I am still baffled by only a 2 point penalty. How many occasions is that now that they have failed to pay people on time? Surely it should be an increasing penalty for each further occasion, not reduced.

Not sure what is happening with their ownership, hopefully they get something sorted. But as mentioned above, the fact they were signing players for big wages when being in and out of sanctions is pretty ridiculous.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Because they're not technically in administration this could go on and on into next season and maybe even beyond...

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Makes us look bad that Knibbs didnt want to joint us from Reading in the January window - he would rather stay at a basket case club, not knowing if he is going to get paid on time each month!

 

[kieran_vale]

Because they're not technically in administration this could go on and on into next season and maybe even beyond...

Not saying I want this to happen but you do wonder at what point expulsion from the league comes into play? The threat of it might be the only thing that would force that owners hand in selling up.

 

[valefan16]

Because they're not technically in administration this could go on and on into next season and maybe even beyond...

Well our fans and theirs have a massive love in which is nice but fails to note that we ended up the only side punished for their fans getting a game abandoned! Bonkers. Yes the statue funds are nice and yes we should back them but we never got a game abandoned and affected other sides when we had issues.

I know Portsmouth fans are bitter about them and can sort of see the point.

 

[Luke Imp]

I know its not the Reading fans fault, but I am still baffled by only a 2 point penalty. How many occasions is that now that they have failed to pay people on time? Surely it should be an increasing penalty for each further occasion, not reduced.

Not sure what is happening with their ownership, hopefully they get something sorted. But as mentioned above, the fact they were signing players for big wages when being in and out of sanctions is pretty ridiculous.

They should have asked Ron Martin at Southend how to HMRC pay late without incurring points deductions!

 

[valefan16]

Not saying I want this to happen but you do wonder at what point expulsion from the league comes into play? The threat of it might be the only thing that would force that owners hand in selling up.

Doubt it would... didnt a Belgian side follow that trajectory and ended up winded up after 102 years...

K.S.V. Roeselare - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

and this other club he was with:

Beijing Chengfeng F.C. - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Not saying I want this to happen but you do wonder at what point expulsion from the league comes into play? The threat of it might be the only thing that would force that owners hand in selling up.

It's a proper grey area. What they've done though would more or less get you expelled from any other professional league on the Continent. But, for some reason, our football authorities are a lot more laid back about unpaid taxes. But they're technically not in administration either so it's a very strange situation that isn't going to be rectified anytime soon. I reckon they'll stay up, make more signings but still not pay wages on time next season which is unfair on a club paying bills all the time like yourselves or Cheltenham who may well finish 21st this season.

This is one of the reasons we need an independent regulator in English football. Seen it so many times where clubs have cheated paying tax only to spend big immediately after. Should have budget controls enforced that allow tax and non-football creditors to be paid back over a 3 or 5 year period. Why should small businesses go to the wall whilst a club prospers? I still find it very sore that Palace did this then got a miracle promotion to the PL and 11 straight years at that level whilst businesses they short-changed went to the wall.

 

[AmberRich]

If Reading stay up over most of the teams currently in this relegation fight then that just sends a massive message to the rest of the league that overspending and cheating gets you a slap on the wrist but ultimately its worth it.

Sam Smith said he'd stay if we improved his contract, we couldn't afford his or Knibbs so we let them go. Reading after years of financial mismanagement though can happily spunk money on them. Undoubtedly them two alone have gained them more points than what's been deducted.

2 point add on is a joke.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Fuck em. Take 30 points off them and 20 next season.
Send a statement.
Otherwise what’s the point of running a tight ship.

 

[kieran_vale]

It may well be all over bar the shouting for us by then but Wycombe at home rescheduled for 16th April. Basically has left us with 3 of the last 4 at home if we are still in with a shout by then. Somewhat negated by the away game being Bolton but who knows they might be up by then or confirmed to just be in the playoffs themselves so might take it easier.

 

[valefan16]

It may well be all over bar the shouting for us by then but Wycombe at home rescheduled for 16th April. Basically has left us with 3 of the last 4 at home if we are still in with a shout by then. Somewhat negated by the away game being Bolton but who knows they might be up by then or confirmed to just be in the playoffs themselves so might take it easier.

Happy as I am taking the family on a big holiday over Easter so was worried we'd be relegated whilst im taking the kids Disneyland! Which would make for me with a face like thunder in the photos!

 

[Bartonyellow]

Happy as I am taking the family on a big holiday over Easter so was worried we'd be relegated whilst im taking the kids Disneyland! Which would make for me with a face like thunder in the photos!

That face will be more to do with the price of the drinks and food in the parks…

 

[valefan16]

That face will be more to do with the price of the drinks and food in the parks…

Well there is that! Dont forget the tip and Tax on top!

 

[leedsvaliant]

If Reading escape the drop, I'd still be going nuts with the league over allowing them to sign players like Smith and Knibbs. They should NEVER have been allowed to assemble the squad they have given what's happened. It's basically cheating someone else out of a league one place. Relegation minimum punishment is what they should get.