Vanarama National League 2015/16

[DarkSithLord]

Where did you see/read that? If true that seems quite late, both for the fixtures to be released and the season starting (thought at the latest it would have been the 8th).

As for who we would likely to be paired with over Christmas, we had Barnet last year so I could see us getting Boreham Wood.

Got it from one of the Non League Twitter accounts. Cant remember which. No reason to not believe it.

 

[Chris FGR]

To be fair, it isn't too bad going north to south, M5 and M6 are pretty good as long as you don't get stuck at Brum...but as soon as you try going east it can be a bit of a nightmare.

It's not that bad, just get on the M4. I can usually do Ciren to London in about 80 mins.

 

[Greenacres]

It's not that bad, just get on the M4. I can usually do Ciren to London in about 80 mins.

Fair point, the M4 isn't too bad, but try going to somewhere like Cambridge, Lincoln or Norwich!

 

[Chris FGR]

Fair point, the M4 isn't too bad, but try going to somewhere like Cambridge, Lincoln or Norwich!

Good point, Lincoln was a mission to get to, as was Cambridge. Norwich is a pain to get to from pretty much anywhere in the country tbf.

Anything on the M4 corridor is fine though.

 

[White Army]

Season starts on the 8th according to the conference twitter

 

[Chris FGR]

The last few Conference seasons have all started on the second Saturday in August. So the 8th seems more likely then the 15th.

 

[Sparrow]

DarkSithLord might be talking about the Conference North, of course.

 

[Southern Shayman]

Fixtures were released 4th of July last year, can't see why they'd be significantly later.

Cue the Conference twitter rolling out about how they're the only league to do fixtures by hand...

 

[Luke Imp]

Someone needs to sack the whoever does the Conference Twitter account. It's cringey most of the time.

 

[Davidimp]

The done by hand thing is a joke it leads to certain weeks when some teams dont play at all!
Or you play a team twice in 5/6 weeks, or play away 3 Saturdays out 4 or vice versa the next month.

 

[Shotsfan1993]

According to the conference's twitter the fixtures will be out on 1st July

 

[Chris FGR]

The done by hand thing is a joke it leads to certain weeks when some teams dont play at all!
Or you play a team twice in 5/6 weeks, or play away 3 Saturdays out 4 or vice versa the next month.

There's been times when we haven't played a team for the first time until March, and then had them twice in 3 weeks. Or times when our 10th game of the season has been against someone we've already played. Last season we played 4 teams twice before we'd played half our fixtures.

I remember teams not playing at all as well, no excuse for that.

Fair play to Strudwick though, it's not an easy job and at least everyone completes their fixtures at the same time.

 

[Gladders]

So looking at the list of teams in this division next year, I'd be incredibly disappointed if we aren't at least challenging for the top spot come the final day next season. If we keep the core of the squad we have there is only really the money bags clubs FGR, Eastleigh, Barrow (anyone else?) and maybe Tranmere that look on paper right now to be challenging us of winning the league next season.

I know its early and a lot can change between now and August but this is the first time since we have come down that I have genuinely thought we should be winning the league next season (on paper at least).

Of course we will probably finish 10th now with Hurst sacked by Christmas!

 

[barnet_pls]

Hope u do win it - didn't deserve to lose today . . . . .

 

[rudebwoyben]

I don't think Barrow will challenge for the title, although they could be good for a play-off spot. For a start, moneyed or not, it's still difficult to attract players there and Edmonson has not managed at this level before. Eastleigh will not win the league with Hill in charge. FGR will be a threat next season as Pennock has now cut his teeth.
Who else is there? Tranmere and Wrexham both could challenge but they have a lot of work to do before they have squads that are ready.
So yes, I'd pick Grimsby as my choice to win the league next season.

 

[yellow]

Grimsby, Gateshead and Barrow

 

[rudebwoyben]

I don't think Gateshead will be anywhere near. They need a manager for a start!

 

[Si Robin]

I like how we're not getting a mention. I don't think we'll win it next season, but I do think we'll be making a run for the playoffs at the very least.

 

[East Bank Shot]

Our new boss has come out and said we'll be challenging for the play-offs next season. This league looks as poor as it has in a long time and I think we'll be at least top half at the end of the season, but probably not have the legs for a top 5 spot.

 

[Harry412]

So looking at the list of teams in this division next year, I'd be incredibly disappointed if we aren't at least challenging for the top spot come the final day next season.

This really does look like one of the weakest leagues for a while and I feel that Grimsby can take advantage of that. This seaason all of the so called 'big clubs' ended up midtable, Wrexham 11th, Lincoln 15th, Kidderminster 16th etc
Meanwhile the highest finishing clubs look pretty weak and inconsistent. The other play off teams (FGR and Eastleigh) are decent sides but not great. Macclesfield and Woking were probably just one season wonders who'll slot straight back into mid-table net season and neither Dover, Halifax or Gateshead look like they'll be winning this league any time soon.
I did my annual predictions table, using: http://tournamentscheduler.net/ The fixtures won't be right but I had the right teams so it seemed good enough. I had Grimsby as runaway winners with Cheltenham, Wrexham, Barrow and FGR in the playoffs.
I personally think Tranmere may be underestimating this league and after releasing quite a few good players it may not be as easy as they're anticipating.
Down the other end I predicted that Boreham Wood, Torquay, Braintree and Welling will go down with Southport just about surviving as usual.

I guess we'll just have to see how next season pans out....

 

[DarkSithLord]

This really does look like one of the weakest leagues for a while and I feel that Grimsby can take advantage of that. This seaason all of the so called 'big clubs' ended up midtable, Wrexham 11th, Lincoln 15th, Kidderminster 16th etc
Meanwhile the highest finishing clubs look pretty weak and inconsistent. The other play off teams (FGR and Eastleigh) are decent sides but not great. Macclesfield and Woking were probably just one season wonders who'll slot straight back into mid-table net season and neither Dover, Halifax or Gateshead look like they'll be winning this league any time soon.
I did my annual predictions table, using: http://tournamentscheduler.net/ The fixtures won't be right but I had the right teams so it seemed good enough. I had Grimsby as runaway winners with Cheltenham, Wrexham, Barrow and FGR in the playoffs.
I personally think Tranmere may be underestimating this league and after releasing quite a few good players it may not be as easy as they're anticipating.
Down the other end I predicted that Boreham Wood, Torquay, Braintree and Welling will go down with Southport just about surviving as usual.

I guess we'll just have to see how next season pans out....[/QUOTE

Where did you put Guiseley?

 

[Gibber_McGee]

Could go one of two ways for Grimsby - keep the squad together, push on and get promoted or suffer playoff final hangover just as a quite few clubs before them have. It's hard to put into words just how gut wrenching it is to get so close and then miss out and it is difficult to regroup quickly.

I'd expect Grimsby, Wrexham, Eastleigh, FGR, Barrow and Tranmere to all be challenging in and around the top and play-off spots. Don't know about Cheltenham.

 

[Harry412]

Where did you put Guiseley?

A few points above the relegation zone.

 

[Luke Imp]

I'd agree that the league is looking weaker again next season.

The way it's going, we'll be having a team go up and come straight back down at some point IMO.

 

[localhero]

I personally think Tranmere may be underestimating this league and after releasing quite a few good players it may not be as easy as they're anticipating.

Who are these good players we've released? All I can see is a list of some of the worst players I've ever seen in a Tranmere shirt and who've just contributed to the worst season we've had in our 131 year history.

A lot of predictions being made far too early on here, it's not even the end of May and most teams haven't signed a single player yet. We've got basically a whole squad to build, who knows, we might even sign the best team this league's ever seen or (more likely) the complete opposite.

 

[yellow]

If we weren't in such a horrible position off the pitch I'd be fancying our chances of a top 5 finish.

 

[Southern Shayman]

All this guff about it "being the weakest in years next season" is such premature rubbish.

It might be weakest in terms of "big clubs" in a while but nodoby knows who anybody's signed. I personally think it will be massively competitive. All the sides coming up will be hugely competitive (got loadssssaaaa moneyy) and you're probably looking at 5 or 6 sides with a £1million plus budget.

So I don't think there'll be a side that's runaway winners, but there'll be 6 or 7 very good sides in a very competitive league IMO

 

[Luke Imp]

5 or 6? Doubt that.

FGR, Tranmere and...? Grimsby haven't had one this season, Wrexham won't have, we won't, I doubt Barrow will, Gateshead have never had a budget that high...

 

[rudebwoyben]

Eastleigh will. It's part of their vision.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

I'd take Tranmere to do what Bristol Rovers did this year. They should be able to attract good players in the North West and as long as they get their preparation right over the summer to hit the ground running should go close.

Wrexham would be my other pick. Think Mills will get them going.

As mentioned elsewhere, Grimsby have to buck a trend for losing play-off finalists which isn't favourable. If they hang onto their best players they should get back to the top 5.