The Promotion Thread 2019

[Kenneth E End]

Surprised it has taken this long for someone to start this thread, but anyway, 2018 games are now complete - most teams have 21 games to go so we're well on the way to the run in.

The obvious thing to say is that it appears no team out of the top 7 will get into the automatics with Blackpool already 16 points behind the top 2 and it appears almost as unlikely that any team outside of that will get into the play offs either.

As for the race for the top 2, looks like it's going to be an intriguing race up until the end of the season. Three teams are averaging more than 2ppg which must be almost unheard of for any EFL division during any year. I can see Sunderland using their financial muscle to strengthen in January and likewise Portsmouth will be wanting to tighten their grip on top spot after some indifferent recent form.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Think you mean Blackpool rather than Brighton Kenny - that threw me for a bit and took longer to work out who you were talking about than I care to admit!

As for us in terms of the grand scheme of promotion, got to say I think we will eventually fall away. January is looking a brutal month for us in more ways than one and I think things are beginning to catch up with us with knocks and niggles coming into the picture. The team that has got us here is looking fatigued which is understandable as it has barely changed for circa 2 months now.

My personal view is we will fall away but secure a play off place. If we get out of January still in the top 2 id be surprised and might begin to change that view. Depends on the transfer business of ourselves and others though. Cant help but think Sunderland are going to start to motor soon.

As said on the match thread, feeling pretty relaxed about it all. Last season I was desperate for promotion, and actually to win the league really, this year just really pleased with what we are doing and the football we are playing to match it, happy to see where it will take us.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

No team outside the top 7 are allowed in this thread.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

No team outside the top 7 are allowed in this thread.

Except us mate.

 

[Craig]

A win today and I'll start believing in our automatic chances again. We've had a great little run over Christmas with three wins in a row over top 8 teams and the two games I saw we played very well for the most part compared to some lacklustre recent performances so the team seems to be getting into their stride again. We've also got a fully fit squad going into the new year (bar Jack Walton but he's not gonna play unless Davies is injured or on international duty anyway) so a lot to be positive about at the moment.

 

[oakroader]

All aboard...choo choo

 

[LS Bantam]

Reserve us a spot for about April time, see you then.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

We've won 3 in a row and have 6 of the bottom 10 in our next 7 games. Will be interesting to see where we are come March.

 

[Bobbin']

Turning into quite a race for those top two positions now, Portsmouth dropping points and seeing their lead shorten each week, Luton still on a hot streak despite losing Jones, Sunderland stumbling through but doing enough to keep their points tally ticking over and Barnsley and Charlton hitting form to keep the heat on.

The top 5 do seem to be slowly pulling away from the rest with Peterborough and Doncaster doing their best to stay in touch.

For me, this is probably the most exciting promotion race in this division for some time. Certainly the best since 09-10 when there was Norwich, Leeds, Millwall, Swindon and Charlton all battling it out until the final game.

Exciting to be involved in at the moment and honestly can’t even begin to call it at this stage.

 

[Maple Hatter]

Agree will be a very exciting and tense finish to the season. No club is exempt from a dip in form and it seems Portsmouth are the latest to experience it. Thankfully for them they had a healthy lead at the top when it started and I'm quite sure they will return to their previous form at some point.
For me, as I wrote in the general thread, Barnsley are the favourites. They have impressed me greatly in the two games we've played against them and seem to have a well balanced squad and are now coming into some great form.
Sunderland have huge expectation, especially at home and while they aren't losing many games they seem to be drawing a lot. They do however have money and lots of it to spend if needed. They will almost certainly strengthen in the next week.
If Charlton lose players in the transfer window it could dent their chances, but like Barnsley they look a strong outfit that are hitting form at the right time.
As for us. A huge month on and off the pitch. So far so good but we still have no permanent manager, although big Mick is doing fine. The tough January fixture list continues with in form Southend away and of course the big one against Portsmouth at home. Off the pitch we had great news about Power Court but realistically we expected a yes on that vote. A more crucial one relating to a the Newlands Park project which will fund the stadium is due in February. If we are still in the hunt in mid February and we get a positive decision on Newlands Park then the club will be on a high and we could make a serious attempt to go up via the autos. Very pleased with our two recruits in January but we also have to fend off interest from other clubs for some of our star players, James Justin and Jack Stacey in particular. Two key players that we rely heavily on.
Can't see any other team outside the top 5 making a challenge for the autos. The play offs are a different issue. Might as well just pull a name out of a hat.

 

[Bobbin']

Agree will be a very exciting and tense finish to the season. No club is exempt from a dip in form and it seems Portsmouth are the latest to experience it. Thankfully for them they had a healthy lead at the top when it started and I'm quite sure they will return to their previous form at some point.
For me, as I wrote in the general thread, Barnsley are the favourites. They have impressed me greatly in the two games we've played against them and seem to have a well balanced squad and are now coming into some great form.
Sunderland have huge expectation, especially at home and while they aren't losing many games they seem to be drawing a lot. They do however have money and lots of it to spend if needed. They will almost certainly strengthen in the next week.
If Charlton lose players in the transfer window it could dent their chances, but like Barnsley they look a strong outfit that are hitting form at the right time.
As for us. A huge month on and off the pitch. So far so good but we still have no permanent manager, although big Mick is doing fine. The tough January fixture list continues with in form Southend away and of course the big one against Portsmouth at home. Off the pitch we had great news about Power Court but realistically we expected a yes on that vote. A more crucial one relating to a the Newlands Park project which will fund the stadium is due in February. If we are still in the hunt in mid February and we get a positive decision on Newlands Park then the club will be on a high and we could make a serious attempt to go up via the autos. Very pleased with our two recruits in January but we also have to fend off interest from other clubs for some of our star players, James Justin and Jack Stacey in particular. Two key players that we rely heavily on.
Can't see any other team outside the top 5 making a challenge for the autos. The play offs are a different issue. Might as well just pull a name out of a hat.

I think your next managerial appointment will decide whether you finish in the top two, as obvious as they may sound.

You seem to play a certain style of football that the majority of this league struggle with. In your two games without Jones you’ve still been unlucky at Sunderland and blown away Peterborough, you just need to keep on doing what you’re doing and need a manger to come in and keep you playing the same way.

I’d say the biggest worry for you is a new manager coming in trying to change things and implement a different style, I think that’s where you would come unstuck.

I agree that Portsmouth will right themselves eventually and that big lead will help them although that has already been eaten up so they will need to liven up quickly.

I think we will run it close but ultimately we’ve played two games more and I still have question marks over our consistency. We do have important players gradually coming back from injuries though, which will hopefully give us a boost for the run in.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Mick Harford is doing just fine, but it could be argued that he doesn’t even need to be there as the players know their individual roles so well they just get on with it and manage themselves.

I’m also concerned that a new manager would want to put their own stamp on things and try and reinvent the wheel.

 

[K-Win]

Yes, it looks like we've officially hit our sticky patch. Ben Thompson was such a big influence for us and it looks like he'll now be staying at Millwall after making their first team on Saturday I think Jackett had been hanging on to see if they'd let him come back for the second half of the season but that now looks unlikely. It's the same situation with Andre Green going back to Villa. I'm thinking he would have had a big part to play in the run in if he'd stayed.

This is the risk you take with loan players, though so can't complain. We've brought in Andy Cannon and Bryn Morris this month but they will need time to fit in, and it's likely that neither will be at Thompson's level.

Oli Hawkins has also been a big miss as the spearhead for Curtis and Lowe to play off. It's no coincidence that the form of our wide men has dipped in his absence. He should be back soon though, hopefully for our next league game at Luton!

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Best 3 teams I've seen by a mile this season in order are:

Barnsley
Luton
Sunderland

Wouldn't be surprised if them 3 went up, the other promotion chasers were very meh, although teams obviously have off days though they all still beat us like but we are turd.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

We won’t make the playoffs due to our inability to see games out, we had enough chances to be 5 up at Wycombe before they scored then sat back and conceded 3 same on Saturday we got back in the game but missed 3 sitters got to 90 mins sat back and conceded, 5 points thrown away in the last 10 minutes of games you can’t do that and expect to go up.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Getting a bit tight at the top now!

Oh and we’re top for the first time!

 

[BelizeHatter]

Very very tight Top 5 and weekly pressure for everyone, but Pompey prob feeling it the most right now. Tuesdays Pompey visit to The Hatters is very nicely set up. They win and it's wide open, we win and open a bit if a gap with most of our tough fixtures behind us. As ever there's bound to be twists and turns and the transfer windows still open with Sunderland looking to splash the cash. Exciting times.

 

[Kenneth E End]

...Sunderland better get a move on then. They’re expected to sign Grant Leadbitter this week.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

Please not Luton....just please

 

[Kenneth E End]

Please not Luton....just please

And your issue is?

 

[SoutheySWFC]

And your issue is?

Luton, as a place

 

[Kenneth E End]

Luton, as a place

You don’t live there, so what is the problem?

 

[SoutheySWFC]

I don't ever want to visit it either

 

[oakroader]

has it been mentioned yet...???
premier league leaders...Liverpool
championship leaders...Leeds United
league one leaders...Luton Town
league two leaders...Lincoln City
national league leaders...Leyton Orient
the year of the "L's" ????

 

[Craig]

Not a likeable club in sight.

 

[Kenneth E End]

So January was our monster month in terms of games; I said on the 1st if we can come through the month relatively unscathed, we’d be on course.

I’d have been delighted with 8 points - we end up with 11 out of 5 games and now 17 unbeaten, with all games against promotion rivals virtually. Astounding.

 

[Son of Cod]

So January was our monster month in terms of games; I said on the 1st if we can come through the month relatively unscathed, we’d be on course.

I’d have been delighted with 8 points - we end up with 11 out of 5 games and now 17 unbeaten, with all games against promotion rivals virtually. Astounding.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Bogle was quality and completely changed the game in our favour. Unfortunately the referee swung it back in Luton's.

Still a long way to go.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Where did I say he was rubbish? I said he should do well for Portsmouth.

 

[Son of Cod]

Bogle was quality and completely changed the game in our favour. Unfortunately the referee swung it back in Luton's.

Still a long way to go.

Unsurprising. I can't remember which Town fan I was having the discussion of which of Bogle's transfers was the biggest mistake. Could have been Frealaf? Anyway, he thought going to Wigan was and I disagreed in that forcing his way out of Wigan after they went down was. He would have absolutely torn L1 to shreds alongside the likes of Powell, Grigg, Power, etc. I think he went to the Championship too soon, but he could be a top striker at this level in the right side.