Ups and Downs

[Devon_Lad]

We challenged for the playoffs in 07-08 under Jim Harvey, when we had Fleetwood and Beesley up front. That was long before Vince took over. Remember Fleetwood scoring a hat trick at your place with well over 200 of us there out singing the home fans. On a Tuesday night.

Can't remember said game and definitely not your attendance - But 200 would surprise me. You normally brought about 20 fans and a dog. I remember 'Should've come in a taxi' echoing around SJP nearly every time we played you. Still, 200 fans is shambolic on a so called 'play off chasing' season against a play off rival who's just down the road from you. A football league club would've brought 500+, normally closer to a thousand.

You finished 10 points outside of play offs that season, don't do a Grimsby and Swindon and pretend that's close and a 'push for football league status'. Jesus fucking Christ.

 

[Chris FGR]

We fell away a bit granted. We were still in and around it all season. So not quite the laughing stock/woeful side that you claimed we always were before Vince.

In total we had 9 top 12 finishes in the Conference before going up, that's hardly coming from nowhere. Which is my point about Solihull and Harrogate. They've never been anywhere near it.

 

[Devon_Lad]

We fell away a bit granted. We were still in and around it all season. So not quite the laughing stock/woeful side that you claimed we always were before Vince.

In total we had 9 top 12 finishes in the Conference before going up, that's hardly coming from nowhere. Which is my point about Solihull and Harrogate. They've never been anywhere near it.

You had a season in that time where you finished 10 points from the play offs. Ok Chris, you win.

You didn't finish the league in the relegation zone twice but got saved by other clubs' incompetence either.

You've always been on the edge of league 2 peering in, just missing out on promotion for those 19 years like you say.

Am off to the pub.

 

[rudebwoyben]

You had a season in that time where you finished 10 points from the play offs. Ok Chris, you win.

You didn't finish the league in the relegation zone twice but got saved by other clubs' incompetence either.

You've always been on the edge of league 2 peering in, just missing out on promotion for those 19 years like you say.

Am off to the pub.

Bit of an odd time to be going to the pub!

 

[Crewelad87]

Ideally I'd love both Walsall and Shrewsbury down, infact I'd take one of them. Rochdale is a decent swap for a fairly local Bury so hope for them. I've got interest in Wimbledon until they move stadiums.

From the national League Wrexham would be my number one choice. It's been far too long since we've played them. After that it has to be Orient, don't fancy any of the tin potters, Solihull or Harrogate would be better than Salford or Fylde though.

 

[Chris FGR]

Totally missing the point. You sure you're not already at the pub?

The point is that we were planning/building towards promotion for YEARS. Especially under Vince and it was no surprise to anyone when we went up. On top of that we'd already played most of the teams in this league before coming up. None of that really applies to Solihull or particularly Harrogate, so either of them coming up would be a genuine shock and interesting to see.

 

[Luke Imp]

You also lost two or three years with Shockaday giving long, expensive contracts to young players and trying to play academy football.

 

[Chris FGR]

You also lost two or three years with Shockaday giving long, expensive contracts to young players and trying to play academy football.

Very true.

 

[T.A]

Totally missing the point. You sure you're not already at the pub?

The point is that we were planning/building towards promotion for YEARS. Especially under Vince and it was no surprise to anyone when we went up. On top of that we'd already played most of the teams in this league before coming up. None of that really applies to Solihull or particularly Harrogate, so either of them coming up would be a genuine shock and interesting to see.

I thought WUMs could spot other WUMs?

 

[Franchisor]

Bradford are basically the L1 us this year. Some high profile summer signings, lots of people tipping them for promotion.. but a total mess behind the scenes and managerial changes, and now they are bottom and looking like relegation faves. I doubt their fans thought they would be back down here so soon though.

Lots of similarities with us last season too. Most pundits had predicted we'd finish top 6 in L1, we'd made quite a few signings and ended up just plumetting down the table and staying in the relegation zone from January onwards.

 

[GTFCfish]

Spent 19 years one promotion away. Moved in to a Football League graded stadium in 06, finished in and around the playoffs 6 years running before we went up. Hardly promoted out of the blue, were we?

I did hear a rumour that you were

above every team apart from Cheltenham in the National League in the 2015/16 season so I expected to see you gracing the Football League in the 16/17season yo be honest.
What happened?

 

[Chris FGR]

I don't want to talk about it. Still get nightmares of that Arnold goal and that sinking feeling knowing it was all over.

Tbf though, losing to you at Wembley made the next year all the sweeter so there is that.

 

[Son of Cod]

I don't want to talk about it. Still get nightmares of that Arnold goal and that sinking feeling knowing it was all over.

Tbf though, losing to you at Wembley made the next year all the sweeter so there is that.

It was over after Bogle's second. Was written in the stars for us after losing on sudden death the season before. But yeah, I reckon it worked out fairly in the end. It was Bristol Rovers, Barnet and Cheltenham who jumped the queue.

Anyway, back on topic. GIVE US SCUNTHORPE PLEASE. This years of Lincoln nonsense has been fun but it's got a bit boring now we aren't as good as them.

 

[Luke Imp]

No real change at the bottom of L1 because only Rochdale decided to win.

Scunny sacked McCall yesterday.

In the NL, Orient were playing the second leg of their FA Trophy game and not only got to Wembley, but saw Solihull and Wrexham lose. Hard to see them fluffing their lines now with 2 or 3 games in hand on the nearest challengers, although Orient are home to Fylde in one of their games in hand tomorrow, which is also the FA Trophy Final line-up, so an away win might liven things up a little..

 

[AdamStag]

I’ve always seen Wycombe Southend and Rochdale as 4th div sides anyway, Accrington well... so it wouldn’t be anything new to see them down here.

 

[WhiteRussian]

Can someone tell me how they work promotion from the NL now. Champions up obviously but 1 from 6 in the playoffs?

 

[Wooderson]

Can someone tell me how they work promotion from the NL now. Champions up obviously but 1 from 6 in the playoffs?

I am interested in this also...

 

[Crewelad87]

No real change at the bottom of L1 because only Rochdale decided to win.

Scunny sacked McCall yesterday.

View attachment 10630

In the NL, Orient were playing the second leg of their FA Trophy game and not only got to Wembley, but saw Solihull and Wrexham lose. Hard to see them fluffing their lines now with 2 or 3 games in hand on the nearest challengers, although Orient are home to Fylde in one of their games in hand tomorrow, which is also the FA Trophy Final line-up, so an away win might liven things up a little..

View attachment 10632

Swap Wimbledon for Shrewsbury and I'd be very happy for the bottom four to stay as they are.

 

[Luke Imp]

Can someone tell me how they work promotion from the NL now. Champions up obviously but 1 from 6 in the playoffs?

I am interested in this also...

4th vs 7th and 5th vs 6th in a two leg game.

Then 2nd and 3rd vs the winner of one of those games (can't remember which way round) at home in a one-off game and then the Final.

2nd and 3rd have two games less and a guaranteed home game basically.

 

[Wooderson]

4th vs 7th and 5th vs 6th in a two leg game.

Then 2nd and 3rd vs the winner of one of those games (can't remember which way round) at home in a one-off game and then the Final.

2nd and 3rd have two games less and a guaranteed home game basically.

Thanks!

 

[rudebwoyben]

4th vs 7th and 5th vs 6th in a two leg game.

Then 2nd and 3rd vs the winner of one of those games (can't remember which way round) at home in a one-off game and then the Final.

2nd and 3rd have two games less and a guaranteed home game basically.

No, they're all one-off matches now. No 2-legged play offs at all.

 

[Chief Rocka]

I am interested in this also...

You may also be interested to know it's four down...

 

[Luke Imp]

No, they're all one-off matches now. No 2-legged play offs at all.

That changed this season then? I'm sure it was two-leg last season?

 

[Chief Rocka]

That changed this season then? I'm sure it was two-leg last season?

Was like that last season, all single games, 2nd and 3rd like you say get home advantage and are one match away from a playoff final.

 

[Luke Imp]

Ah right. When Aldershot and Ebbsfleet went to penalties last season, I just assumed it was the second leg!

 

[AdamStag]

It was trialed in the conference north/south and northern premier etc last season and works well.

But yeah if you finish 6th or 7th you’ve basically got 2 x 1 legged games away and then the final. Think it was taken from the rugby league model

 

[Wooderson]

Excellent win for Orient over Fylde last night and they now look pretty set for a return to the FL. Good news for this division as they are a cracking club and Brisbane Rd is a top away day. Sad we will probably bypass them!

But it offers some hope for the likes of us, should the likely drop happen. Might be stuck there for a bit, but with a couple of obvious exceptions most decent-sized clubs seem to normally find their way back sooner or later?

 

[dedwardp]

Dreams of playing Ipswich next season seem to have disappeared now, so as long as Southend come down and Orient come up then that will have to do. I'd take AFC Wimbledon, too.

 

[Luke Imp]

Excellent win for Orient over Fylde last night and they now look pretty set for a return to the FL. Good news for this division as they are a cracking club and Brisbane Rd is a top away day. Sad we will probably bypass them!

But it offers some hope for the likes of us, should the likely drop happen. Might be stuck there for a bit, but with a couple of obvious exceptions most decent-sized clubs seem to normally find their way back sooner or later?

Used to be a 6 or 7 year average stay IIRC, although in recent years, Bristol Rovers, Barnet, Cheltenham and now, likely, Orient have done it in one or two.

 

[Wooderson]

Used to be a 6 or 7 year average stay IIRC, although in recent years, Bristol Rovers, Barnet, Cheltenham and now, likely, Orient have done it in one or two.

Tranny as well..