Relegation Thread 2017/18

[Soup Ladle]

Having watched my team play in the National league for 6 months now, I can safely warn anyone who comes down here that you will need to get your shit in order behind the scenes to stand any chance of coming back at the first attempt, also the most important factor IMO for any league side who goes down - Get in a manager that knows how to win games in this league, because teams at this level may not be any good technically compared to your squad, but they will fight for every loose and second ball, time waste, sit back and play on the break with quick nippy players, also the refs are easily conned and appalling in general, as well as watching virtually every team come to your ground and raise their game by a few points and play the game like a fucking cup final. You may think the same thing applies up here, but trust me once you've watched teams like Guiseley, Fylde, Boreham Wood and Gateshead turn you over you will see the point...........

We went 13 games without a win from September-December, when Steve Davis thought he could out pass and attack the smaller so called lesser sides than us.......Well having lost 6-1 away at Bromley on a 3G Pitch back in August due to this, I can confirm that you need to respect every side at this level that little bit more. That night Davis went gung ho in the second half and Bromleys three quick forwards tore us to shreds.

The FA Trophy as well is a big eye opener, we had a local derby away at Haringey Borough on another 3G surface in the first round, they're three leagues below us and their ground only holds 2000, they played the game like it was their last ever game, I've never seen a Non League side so determined to win a game. The second round away at Bogner Regis was a similar tale, they're bottom of the National league South but apparently saved their best performance of the season for when we game to town and narrowly beat them 2-1 in extra time. We have Gateshead at home on Saturday, if we draw the game then we will replay 3 days later..........

Also you will need to build a team that understands playing at this level with the required patience and who are prepared to have to deal with tough direct sides who use gamesmenship, as well as understanding that just because you have a vastly superior team in terms of technical ability, you must match your opponents for their work rate, otherwise you will get turned over.

Quality post that. Back up every point. Pools had 29 FT pros in the summer, one of the largest budgets and we recruited fucking Craig Harrison, knows nowt about this league and is now reduced to posting on here. we've lost SEVEN games at home, a lot to the most tinpot teams in this league, limited sides with 50 away fans. Got beat off Workington in the FA Trophy first round

Teams are no mugs down here and will gladly let you play into their hands. They'll sit back and hit you on the break (but only after you've let them do so half a dozen times before but fluff every chance). You can't get back in the game because your team lacks quality, attitude and desire, opposition shut up shop, roll around on the floor and celebrate like they've won the World Cup (e.g. Sutton) There's not a lot of good football (L2 is shite but in comparison it's like the Champions League)

It's a tough situation. Orient are pulling it around but we're mismanaged on every scale. Barnet would bounce back eventually because it's their level and they've done it before but I'd worry about Chesterfield if I was a Spireite. Every sympathy to anyone who goes down, it's not nice and it felt like the end of the world when we went down (although funnily enough, losing at home to Barnet 0-2 before the Donny game was the killer for me). Not ashamed to admit tears were shed.

The first year is crucial, if you get it wrong you're fucked. Look at Wrexham, Stockport, York now us. No idea if we'll even exist at the end of the season. It's a killer if you don't get it spot on. It's such a kick in the knackers going down and it really is a pivotal moment in your club's history.

 

[AdamStag]

It was the year (it only happened once in 5 years) that we didn't qualify for the fa cup first round which did for me.

Urgh

 

[Davidimp]

An away game at a ground that's closer to Barnet than the Hive is going to be a strange event.

Never went there but I'm pretty sure we outnumbered them everytime we went there.
Not a friendly bunch, well the officials anyway want paying for everything.
Match commentators, journos, match highlights all carry a premium there and they have a habit of kicking the away journos very quickly after the game.

 

[GTFCfish]

Never went there but I'm pretty sure we outnumbered them everytime we went there.
Not a friendly bunch, well the officials anyway want paying for everything.
Match commentators, journos, match highlights all carry a premium there and they have a habit of kicking the away journos very quickly after the game.

I think pretty much everyone outnumbered them when they went there to be honest.

 

[Davidimp]

I think pretty much everyone outnumbered them when they went there to be honest.

You could well be right, think they do well to get 300 home fans on a Saturday...

 

[AdamStag]

You could well be right, think they do well to get 300 home fans on a Saturday...

Sounds like Hyde.

Apparently an attendance of 675 and we took 300 (again I'm not bothered about attendnances) just find it amusing when 300 away fans is nearly as much as the home lot

 

[Luke Imp]

I hope Boring Wood don't come up.

Imagine being so low you charge Club's for radio commentary, match highlights, offer no complimentary tickets for media, Directors etc etc.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Everyone knows that Borehamwood are a bunch of cnuts..

 

[AdamStag]

Just do the same back to them, if they wish to be so sad

 

[GTFCfish]

I hope Boring Wood don't come up.

Imagine being so low you charge Club's for radio commentary, match highlights, offer no complimentary tickets for media, Directors etc etc.

But if they gave away too many complimentary tickets there would be no room to cram in all of Boreham Wood's army of fans.

 

[Westbars_Spireite]

I'm going to stop reading this thread.
It's just too much for me.

 

[JJ1532]

Well, tricky weekend ahead for most of the strugglers:

Port Vale v Newport
Chesterfield v Swindon
Colchester v Barnet
Forest Green v Crawley
Grimsby v Exeter
Lincoln v Crewe
Luton v Cheltenham
Wycombe v Morecambe
Yeovil v Carlisle

None of the bottom 9 play each other and there aren't many winnable games for those down the bottom from what I can see. Maybe the Vale can beat a dropping Newport and Yeovil and Forest Green would probably back themselves at home, but after that, we could be looking at mostly losses this weekend.

 

[BeesKnees]

Mad day so far for the bottom clubs

 

[Douglas_Valley_Reds]

There is always one team that pulls clear when you least expect it, maybe Chesterfield are not yet done, and there is always one teams that falls from apparent safety, step forward Port Vale, imagine the outcry if it's club legends Aspin & Rudge that drag the Vale into non-league football.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

That's us snuck above Grimsby who really are having the mother of wobbles. Win at home and pick up the odd point away, turns out they weren't lying it's a good formula.

 

[BeesKnees]

There is always one team that pulls clear when you least expect it, maybe Chesterfield are not yet done, and there is always one teams that falls from apparent safety, step forward Port Vale, imagine the outcry if it's club legends Aspin & Rudge that drag the Vale into non-league football.

If we beat Port Vale next weekend then ourselves and Chesterfield will have some hope.

 

[spireite]

Absolutely vital that we held onto that win today looking at the other results. Still 5 points adrift despite it.

 

[Vanni]

There is always one team that pulls clear when you least expect it, maybe Chesterfield are not yet done, and there is always one teams that falls from apparent safety, step forward Port Vale, imagine the outcry if it's club legends Aspin & Rudge that drag the Vale into non-league football.

Except Vale were never in a comfortable mid table position. The one side that's in freefall is Grimsby.

 

[GTFCfish]

We're in BIG trouble.

 

[kieran_vale]

Very concerning for Vale. Been lucky previously that other results have largely been kind but that ended today. Wouldn't go so far to say Barnet is must win next week but for me it is definitely a must not lose kind of game.

 

[valefan16]

There is always one team that pulls clear when you least expect it, maybe Chesterfield are not yet done, and there is always one teams that falls from apparent safety, step forward Port Vale, imagine the outcry if it's club legends Aspin & Rudge that drag the Vale into non-league football.

It’s not Aspin or Rudges fault the mess we are in.

 

[Buxton Vale]

I wonder what the odds were on those results today? Its not done us any favours, but I wouldnt swap places with Barnet or Chesterfield right now. Congrats to all the teams who pulled off unlikely results this afternoon.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Hell of a result for us! Well done Artell and the team. Sounds like some really good individual performances, Miller in particular proving his doubters wrong (me). Shame it was almost stalemate in the relegation fight.

I said at the beginning of the month the aim would be to stay out of the bottom two. Done that. Aim for March has to be 7 points minimum, but considering the games we have we should be looking at more or we’ll be conceding points to teams around us. I think we’d then have enough in us to get over the line in April.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

We've been as good as down since September. The only question is who is coming with us?

 

[AdamStag]

You'd be Gutted to be either Chesterfield or Barnet win and then see everyone else did.

Excellent result for Crewe

 

[shoddycollins]

I hope Boring Wood don't come up.

Imagine being so low you charge Club's for radio commentary, match highlights, offer no complimentary tickets for media, Directors etc etc.

I'm sure they won't be allowed to pull that shit in the Football League with rights handled differently. Although I hope they never get up here. They aren't even a tiny club with a vision and cheerful fans a-la FGR or Morecambe.

 

[shoddycollins]

We've been as good as down since September. The only question is who is coming with us?

Despite everything I still think Chesterfield and Barnet have a big job on to avoid relegation. Either of them might, Barnet have least have given plenty of indications that they have it in them to, but they have to find actual form not just potential form and hope the teams above them don't get too many jammy wins off the arse of a defender or a suspect refereeing decision.

 

[markpvfc]

I wonder what odds bookies would give me that we don't win another game this season.

 

[AdamStag]

I wonder what odds bookies would give me that we don't win another game this season.

Have you still got to play Grimsby?

If so, 1/5

 

[Dave-Vale]

We are in deep trouble.

The only 2 things we have is that Grimsby look desperate to be even worse than us and we still have to play them, Barnet, Chesterfield and Crewe so our fate rests firmly in our hands. Win 2 and draw 2 of those and we should be fine but at the minute I can’t see us winning another game this season.

No fight, no passion and no willingness to want the ball and try to do anything creative with it. Just constantly hoofing it forward to an isolated striker. Our football players actually look scared to play football.

Have to admit that even I’m becoming frustrated and concerned over some of Aspins formations, tactics and bizarre team selections. His insistence on having a midfield pairing of 2 from Kay, Tonge and Pugh is bemusing when it’s evident that we need some energy and creativity there. Why not try one of them (preferably Kay, as the other 2 are complete garbage) with Whitfield and Hannant? We don’t even have a proper goalkeeper or a left back in our over sized squad full of centre halves. He also doesn’t seem to be able to motivate this group of players. Not in the same way I’ve seen other former Vale managers (Micky Adams and Brian Horton) motivate a group that aren’t the best.

I don’t blame him competely as Norman clearly sold him a boat full of lies to get him here simply because he knew full well that it would get the majority of fans off his back, even for a short while (which it did). Aspin also inherited most of this squad which simply isn’t good enough.