Ups and Downs

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Don't think there's any real change in L1 as a result of last nights games.

In NL, it's unlikely that Wrexham will get into the PO's despite having a chance. They have Fylde who will probably only need a point and Sutton and Aldershot play each other for that 3rd place, which means something in this new NL PO system that's a load of bollocks anyway.

Dover play a Woking side who could go down even if they win and Boring Wood play already relegated Guiseley, Ebbsfleet already relegated Torquay (but can't get third because of Sutton and Aldershot playing each other) and Bromley a tricky one at Maidenhead.


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Weirdly, I think the new playoff system is good for non league football and should be implemented in all non-leagues. However, I'm vehemently opposed to it being implemented in the Football League.

The reason? There's only 1 automatic promotion place in most normal non-leagues, so why not include 6th and 7th to boost interest in the league for other clubs. However, to counterbalance it, weighting it in favour of the 2nd and 3rd placed sides too is a great idea. More often than not, sides in 2nd are some distance ahead of 3rd and 4th so I feel they've earned an advantage compared to those who shithouse a playoff spot on the final day. You also never really get a four horse race for the Conference title in particular, so why not incentivise things for the strongest two playoff participants?

It wouldn't work in the Football League as 2nd (and of course 3rd in League Two) is good enough for automatic promotion, so I'd be opposed to 7th (unless 4 up 4 down was implemented across tiers 1-4 which would never happen) or 8th (or 9th in League Two's case) scabbing their way to promotion when there's more than one automatic spot available in the first place.

 

[Luke Imp]

It's usually one up in most normal non-leagues because of regionalisation.

7th in the NL is shite, though. You usually get a decent top 3 or 4, but aside from that it's poor. That's not to say 7th place wouldn't make a fist of it in L2 because of the money it generates for them but it'd require a hell of an overhaul.

Last season was probably the closest there has been to a four horse race for the title with Lincoln, Tranmere, FGR and Dagenham. Them four were quite a way above the rest of the league last season for the most part. Dagenham fell away first, probably around mid-March, FGR were gone end of March and we'd won it by mid-April.

This is how it works for those who don't know (and I wasn't 100% sure until I posted in the NL Forum yesterday):

Wednesday 2nd May 2018
Qualifying Round - Match A - 5th place vs 6th place
Thursday 3rd May 2018
Qualifying Round - Match B - 4th place vs 7th Place
Saturday 5th May 2018
Semi Final - 2nd place vs winner of Match A
Sunday 6th May 2018
Semi Final- 3rd place vs winner of Match B
Saturday 12th May 2018
Promotion Final - Wembley Stadium

 

[valefan16]

So the NL play offs are only one legged all the way through the process? Highest placed team has home advantage I assume?

 

[Luke Imp]

They are in the NL, not sure about the NLS and NLN. I'm assuming they're the same, too.

 

[JJ1532]

The NLS/NLN and lower have always been one and done games, with the higher placed team playing at home. I'm in favour of this new play off format for the conference and below, but like TNO says, I don't think it would work at this level.

 

[springerbfc]

That play off setup is awful. Except for next season, when it gives us more chance of an instant return

 

[Dan_Macclad]

Next season it'll be a US style 'best of 7' series just to earn the right to play Tranmere.

 

[Luke Imp]

NL season has just finished.

Tranmere vs Aldershot or Ebbsfleet
Sutton vs Boreham Wood or Fylde

 

[valefan16]

MK join us and barring a miracle so do Northampton Town.

 

[Luke Imp]

So, Rochdale or Oldham for the other relegation spot in L1.

The NL PO's start tonight. First up, Aldershot vs Ebbsfleet then Boreham Wood vs Fydle tomorrow night.

 

[les.gtfc]

Anyone know why the Aldershot v Ebbsfleet game tonight is kicking off at 7pm?

 

[GodsGift]

Anyone know why the Aldershot v Ebbsfleet game tonight is kicking off at 7pm?

It's on BT, so I guess they want some viewers to tune in before their Champions League coverage? Just a guess.

 

[AdamStag]

Hmmmm

Aldershot vs ebbsfleet or Roma vs liverpool? Tricky one.

 

[Habbinalan]

Hmmmm

Aldershot vs ebbsfleet or Roma vs liverpool? Tricky one.

Stuck both on record and headed for the joys of the M25 to see City turnover both Hayes AND Yeading in their first ever play-off semi win, having failed 5 times. Not sure if I'm up for a Bank Holiday trip to Hartley Wintney for the final but we'll see.

 

[AdamStag]

Stuck both on record and headed for the joys of the M25 to see City turnover both Hayes AND Yeading in their first ever play-off semi win, having failed 5 times. Not sure if I'm up for a Bank Holiday trip to Hartley Wintney for the final but we'll see.

I remember Hayes AND yeading play rushden AND diamonds. T’was a crowded pitch

 

[rudebwoyben]

I remember Hayes AND yeading play rushden AND diamonds. T’was a crowded pitch

They did that this season as well!

 

[les.gtfc]

Amazing comeback from Ebbsfleet in the penalty shoot-out last night. 3-1 down and Aldershot only needing to score 1 of their last 2 penalties but Ebbsfleet won 5-4 with the Aldershot keeper hitting the post with their last penalty.

 

[AdamStag]

So ebbsfleet the other night and boreham wood made it through last night. Big crowd of 1200 for the game...

 

[DippyDon]

They're the ideal results for me purely for locality, but considering now 3 of the 4 teams left in the play offs are local enough you just know Tranmere are going to do it.

 

[Chris FGR]

Tranmere or Boreham Wood then.......

 

[Vanni]

I'd like Bwood to come up, just to piss off the so called purists ('they're not a proper club', 'natural order', blah blah blah)

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I don't mind non league clubs making the football league, but I draw the line at vanity projects and Boreham Wood really are a vanity project.

Shame Tranmere will inevitably do what they always do when it's a one off big game...

 

[Vanni]

BTW, is this Balanta chap decent enough to play for a FL side? I see he was with MK for three years and also featured in a handful of games for Carlisle

 

[DippyDon]

BTW, is this Balanta chap decent enough to play for a FL side? I see he was with MK for three years and also featured in a handful of games for Carlisle

I really liked him when he was here, and he's the main reason I'd like them to win the final.

 

[Luke Imp]

I genuinely have no idea how Boreham would cope in the FL.

When you've got Dover, who get 3 times their crowds, saying that promotion would probably be too much for them financially (bearing in mind they also have a backer like BW) then it makes you think.

They'd not get away with the sort of stuff they do at the minute, and have been doing, in the NL.

 

[les.gtfc]

Can you imagine if Boreham Wood came up, they'd probably set a record for being outnumbered by away fans at every home game next season.

 

[Silver Stone]

Can you imagine if Boreham Wood came up, they'd probably set a record for being outnumbered by away fans at every home game next season.

Maybe not every game, I can't imagine Morecambe bringing many down! But heck, even we did it the last two seasons.

 

[Vanni]

If Bwood come up, then we can all look forward to reading an in depth analysis of the reasons why Tranmere failed to do so by one of their fans on the NL forum.

'The conference is stronger than ever'

 

[GTFCfish]

The Boreham Wood match threads should be interesting reads too with 0 posts in them.

 

[Si Robin]

Do Boreham Wood fans exist, I genuinely don't recall seeing any.

Like others, I really hope Tranmere come up, not for "natural order" or any of that bollocks, but simply because Tranmere are not a bunch of bastards.