The League One Promotion Thread 15/16

[Millwall_Matt]

I've been saying for ages millwall will be in the shake up for top two and it's looking like they maybe ready to crash the party.
Gills and saddlers fans - get a grip. You are bang in the mix and both win next week and it's all different. Come on guys pull yourself together...

Too inconsistent for top 2 I think. Games like Scunthorpe last Tuesday and Crewe a couple of weeks ago more or less rule us out of contention. We'll do well to get play-offs, get to the summer and offload the last load of detritus from Holloway's reign and another year's experience for the youngsters. I suspect we'll be targeting next year for a title tilt.

 

[Geosaddler]

I've been saying for ages millwall will be in the shake up for top two and it's looking like they maybe ready to crash the party.
Gills and saddlers fans - get a grip. You are bang in the mix and both win next week and it's all different. Come on guys pull yourself together...

Nope, we are signing out sadly. When you watch a team week in week out you get a better reflection than oppo fans despite how the table looks. Looks like a monumental battle to hold 6th place for us.

 

[valefan16]

We've dropped out of contention now after our usual bottle job when close. If we had even just average away form we'd be easily in the top six which is frustrating!

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

We've dropped out of contention now after our usual bottle job when close. If we had even just average away form we'd be easily in the top six which is frustrating!

With all due respect I don't think you're bottling it, just not quite good enough. You haven't shown any sort of consistency throughout the whole season to make me think you are capable of putting together a run of results to push into the top 6.

 

[blademan89]

With all due respect I don't think you're bottling it, just not quite good enough. You haven't shown any sort of consistency throughout the whole season to make me think you are capable of putting together a run of results to push into the top 6.

Not a single shot on or off target yesterday i dont think against a very poor side in us. That tells me vale are far from being playoff contenders

 

[valefan16]

With all due respect I don't think you're bottling it, just not quite good enough. You haven't shown any sort of consistency throughout the whole season to make me think you are capable of putting together a run of results to push into the top 6.

At home were extremely consistent and have been beaten once, away were too negative hence as yesterday no efforts on target. As I say even a slightly average away form and we'd cruise top six.

That said we are a half decent striker short of being a very good outfit, bit unlucky in that our best two players have missed most of the season especially Andoh who is one of the best wingers in the division (although Spurs were apparently ready to snap him up in Jan so if true would have probably gone now anyway if didn't do his ACL.

It's an awful division though devoid of much quality and isn't much between the top 20 sides and will be a missed opportunity for the sides that do miss out on the play offs as three remarkably average sides will be going up this season to the second tier. (All be it all three would need massive investment to have any chance of it not being a quick visit)

 

[Jockney]

At home were extremely consistent and have been beaten once, away were too negative hence as yesterday no efforts on target. As I say even a slightly average away form and we'd cruise top six

I think these are arguments Peterborough or Barnsley fans could use, but in your heart of hearts do you honestly think you're better than any of the top six? That should be the measuring stick.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

At home were extremely consistent and have been beaten once, away were too negative hence as yesterday no efforts on target. As I say even a slightly average away form and we'd cruise top six.

That said we are a half decent striker short of being a very good outfit, bit unlucky in that our best two players have missed most of the season especially Andoh who is one of the best wingers in the division (although Spurs were apparently ready to snap him up in Jan so if true would have probably gone now anyway if didn't do his ACL.

It's an awful division though devoid of much quality and isn't much between the top 20 sides and will be a missed opportunity for the sides that do miss out on the play offs as three remarkably average sides will be going up this season to the second tier. (All be it all three would need massive investment to have any chance of it not being a quick visit)

It's because you are not a very good team away from home and by the sounds of it set up wrong in away matches, that's not really bottling it though, is it? Its bad management.

 

[markpvfc]

We aren't good enough for the playoffs, probably not even good enough for the top half. We've played more games than everybody else in the division, when you've all caught up we'll see our real position.

 

[valefan16]

I think these are arguments Peterborough or Barnsley fans could use, but in your heart of hearts do you honestly think you're better than any of the top six? That should be the measuring stick.

Based on what I've seen there's not a great deal in it, Fleetwood on the day looked streets ahead of Coventry for example.

Bad, maybe inexperienced management away from home has cost us so in that respect we've not been good enough or deserved a spot but based on what I've seen this season it's a missed opportunity as I doubt the division will be as dour again. (Although Bolton for example won't have the massive financial advantage Wigan have had maybe)

 

[Agombar stool]

League 1 is so bad this year that any team currently on about 40 points + could probably get into the play-offs this season.

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

We're happy being the best of a bad bunch at the moment then !

 

[Hurrikeen]

Stand by what I said last month that Wigan & Millwall for the autos. I still think there'll be a wobble for Burton coming up. I hope not though, I'd love Burton, Walsall & Gillingham to do it.

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

Stand by what I said last month that Wigan & Millwall for the autos. I still think there'll be a wobble for Burton coming up. I hope not though, I'd love Burton, Walsall & Gillingham to do it.

Burton suffering a wobble has been muted all season, 4 of our next 5 are away, if we get through this spell with out too much damage then I think we will be ok. Would be great if ourselves Saddlers and Gills go up !

 

[valefan16]

To be fair, only 1 side has been consistent (if unspectacular) and they are top. Oddly you have a side that lost 8 or 9 on the spin at one point now feeling they have a great chance of making the top 6, a side who's won 3 in 10 i think still in play off spots, Scunthorpe who've been poor in large spells now chasing the pack a few weeks after being hit for 5 at Blackpool and fearing a battle at the wrong end.

Its been a strange old division this season thats for sure, there is no quality in it really, not like Bristol City, PNE and MK Dons last season, Chesterfield and Swindon have weakened losing their best players (last seasons Chesterfield side would probably walk the league this year) Sheffield United seem to improve on paper but not on the pitch for whatever reason. Millwall impressed me, being the only side to win at VP this season but until recently they've not really done much, Wigan impressed at their place after spending a lot of money the week before but were meh at VP.

Mirror's the weirdness of the Premier League this season a little bit, Burton are top and i'd like to see them win it but head says Wigan who've spent big to overcome their issues in the first half of the season and wouldn't be surprised as said above if Millwall nick second IF Burton do have a wobble, most teams have one at some point and they are due one but who knows. Walsall, Gillingham and Coventry seem to be fading so 2 of Wigan, Burton and Millwall looks the likely outcome for the Auto's.

 

[JJH]

Stand by what I said last month that Wigan & Millwall for the autos. I still think there'll be a wobble for Burton coming up. I hope not though, I'd love Burton, Walsall & Gillingham to do it.

Mind you, everyone said that about us last season. We were always 'due a blip' but it never came.

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

We always come back with a win after a defeat, the character and spirit in the squad is first class. Wherever we finish it has been a remarkable season. Nigel Clough still has his irons in the fir regarding some quality loan players if we need them.

 

[JJ1532]

103 - Champions 2014
102
101 - Champions 2012
100
99 - Champions 2015
98
97
96
95 - Champions 2011
94 - Promotion 2014 Predicted Champions 2016
93 - Promotion 2012
92 - Promotion 2011
91 - Promotion 2016
90
89
88
87
86
85
84 - Champions 2013 Predicted Promotion 2016
83 - Promotion 2013
82
81
80
79
78
77
76 - Predicted Play-Offs 2016
75
74 - Play-Offs 2013, 2014
73 - Play-Offs 2012
72
71 - Play-Offs 2011
70
69 - Play-Offs 2016

63 - Burton(31)
59 - Wigan(32)
-----------------------------------------
58 - Gillingham(32)
57 - Walsall(31)
53 - Millwall(32)
52 - Coventry(31)
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50 - Southend(32)
48 - Sheff Utd(32)
48 - Bradford(31)
45 - Barnsley(31)

Forthcoming Fixtures:

1st Burton(31) - 63 points. Walsall(A), Sheff U(H), Crewe(A), Bradford(A), Fleetwood(H)
2nd Wigan(32) - 59 points. Bury(H), Millwall(A), Peterborough(H), Colchester(A), Bradford(H)
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3rd Gillingham(32) - 58 points. Chesterfield(H), Fleetwood(A), Scunthorpe(A), Crewe(H), Southend(A)
4th Walsall(31) - 57 points. Burton(A), Scunthorpe(H), Barnsley(H), Chesterfield(A), Fleetwood(A)
5th Millwall(32) - 53 points. Doncaster(A), Wigan(H), Blackpool(H), Swindon(A), Sheff U(H)
6th Coventry(31) - 52 points. Fleetwood(H), Barnsley(A), Rochdale(H), Shrewsbury(A), Blackpool(A)
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7th Southend(32) - 50 points. Port Vale(A), Crewe(H), Chesterfield(H), Barnsley(A), Gillingham(H)
8th Sheff Utd(32) - 48 points. Rochdale(A), Burton(H), Fleetwood(A), Oldham(H), Millwall(A)
9th Bradford(31) - 48 points. Blackpool(A), Colchester(H), Bury(A), Burton(H), Doncaster(H)
10th Barnsley(31) - 45 points. Bury(A), Crewe(A), Coventry(H), Walsall(A), Southend(H)

Well, a fair bit of change at the top of the table in the last week or so. We'll start at the bottom, where Barnsley are a surprise late entrant into the promotion race. Despite losing Lee Johnson, they recovered from the loss to Gillingham and beat Doncaster on Saturday to surge into the top 10. Couple of winnable games before 3 straight promotion chasers. 4 from these next 2 and they are right in the hunt. Bradford have also turned things around of late, picking up 7 points from their last 3 games and scoring 8 goals in the process. They also have some winnable games coming up, big few weeks for them. Sheff U continue to win one, lose one. Lost to Wigan, beat Donny, lost to Bury, beat Port Vale. Are they ever going to show enough consistency to make it into the play offs? Southend recovered from back to back away defeats to beat Burton tonight. They are well placed to pounce on any Coventry/Millwall slip up, especially with their next 3 games.

Coventry didn't play and slip to 6th. Teams behind them very close now. Big game against Fleetwood, lose that and the confidence might plummet. Beat a poor away from home Cod Army side though and they might just have turned things around for good. Millwall are a slightly more consistent version of Sheff U. Their home record has to be a concern, can't keep losing games on their own patch. Walsall continue to wobble, their late defeat at home to Wigan must have been a killer. They look very vulnerable at the moment, hope things don't fall apart for them. Gillingham also had a stumble, losing away at Oldham. Injuries on defence seem to have hurt them. They don't look so shaky, but need a good return from their next 4 to steady the ship I think.

Wigan burst into the top 2 with their win at Walsall, results elsewhere also helping them. Top 2 for them looks more and more likely barring an incredible collapse. Burton lost tonight at Southend, but they are still grinding out wins, so I don't think they are all that worried at the moment. Some tough fixtures for them over the next few weeks though.

Tell you what, the quality is lacking from most sides at this level this season, but the way things are shaping up, it looks like its going to be an exciting end to the season.

 

[joethegill]

Our last two games are Burton (A) and Millwall (H) - could both be huge!

 

[Jockney]

Still have four games against the top six left, two of them at home. I think a more consistent sheff Utd is an accurate description. That we are challenging despite not knowing our best side speaks volumes. Promising in the long term, though.

 

[Shrimpurh]

Well Posh have well and truly fucked it

 

[EricSabin]

Well Posh have well and truly fucked it

Brilliant ain't it. Less than 3,500 Posh fans there too!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Strange one Posh, easily the best side I've seen all season. Not enough goals after the departure of Washington in the team and they do concede though so problems were always likely.

 

[TomPNE94]

Well I hate to say we told you so regarding Westley but...

 

[SF_]

I've just looked at who Burton play in defence every week, Mousinho and Cansdell-Sherriff. Fuck me.

This has to be the worst third tier in English football history.

 

[Camborne Gills]

It ain't going to get any better next season either

 

[EricSabin]

It ain't going to get any better next season either

We're coming to win the league

 

[joethegill]

We're coming to win the league

Which pretty much sums up Cambornes post....

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

I've just looked at who Burton play in defence every week, Mousinho and Cansdell-Sherriff. Fuck me.

This has to be the worst third tier in English football history.

"Moose" has converted to a central defender since mid way through last season and has been absolutely excellent, much better in this position than midfield. Camsdell Sherriff has performed consistently well too. This will be his final season in the UK as he is back off to Oz next season.

 

[SF_]

"Moose" has converted to a central defender since mid way through last season and has been absolutely excellent, much better in this position than midfield. Camsdell Sherriff has performed consistently well too. This will be his final season in the UK as he is back off to Oz next season.

Both extremely poor for us but different set-ups/ different systems... sometimes it just works, fair play.