Welcome back Cheltenham Town

[WH_Stag]

Been to watch them 4 times this season, once against havant in the cup replay, and they were awful on all three occasions, sometimes the football was embarrassing and how they managed to win or get a point was baffling, honestly couldn't believe such a poor side was dominating the league.... Might be 4 bad games but the standard in that league looks to have seriously dropped?? Better to listen to someone who's seen more than 4 games though, welcome back!

 

[Bobbin']

Arguably our player of the season and certainly one of the best keepers in the league until he got injured a month or so ago. Despite that he's remained part of the squad and watched every game home and away, been a fantastic part of our team and we'd all love to have him back next season if you let us!

He's been immense, and it's a crying shame he got injured when he did.

Talk is we'll have him back on loan next season from you guys, I hope those rumours are right because he is a brilliant goalkeeper.

Pleased to hear it.

I don't see why we wouldn't be open to letting him go out on loan for another season and get some experience in the league. Would be good for all three parties I would have thought.

 

[CTFCfan99]

Been to watch them 4 times this season, once against havant in the cup replay, and they were awful on all three occasions, sometimes the football was embarrassing and how they managed to win or get a point was baffling, honestly couldn't believe such a poor side was dominating the league.... Might be 4 bad games but the standard in that league looks to have seriously dropped?? Better to listen to someone who's seen more than 4 games though, welcome back!

Which other games did you see?

 

[AdamStag]

You can't be shit and win the conference.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Maybe a question for the folks with clubs in the National League, but has the general standards dropped and has it become easier for those who have dropped?

That's not meant to under value the achievements of Barnet, Rovers, Cheltenham and possibly Tranmere, but previously to the last couple seasons teams generally dropped and lingered in a Conference shellshock - completely underestimating the competition and its sides.

It became an ongoing in joke that sides that would get relegated would start the following campaign high on bravado and notions of "pissing this tinpot division."
Now they seem to be doing it; so perhaps the quality has slipped even further, or the last couple of seasons have been blips from the norm?

Without a doubt the standard has dropped in recent seasons but I also think as Vanni says the quality of the teams who where relegated was very high. Think its a blip to the norm as I dont see either York or Daggers making a swift return.

 

[BeesKnees]

Without a doubt the standard has dropped in recent seasons but I also think as Vanni says the quality of the teams who where relegated was very high. Think its a blip to the norm as I dont see either York or Daggers making a swift return.

Strange thing is both us and Bristol Rovers are largely unchanged in our line ups and are doing fine in league two. Which suggests that if the conference has got weaker, then so has league two. Fleetwood could only manage 13th in their first league two season and Bristol Rovers look like matching Crawley.

 

[BarnwoodCTFC]

Gary Johnson wants back to back promotions here also.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Well, I can't see the clubs coming down from League 1 posing much of a threat, and this season's top sides have been average - apart from maybe the top 3. So if Cheltenham have a decent, competitive squad, who are used to winning games, then they've as much chance at promotion next season as anyone I'd imagine.

 

[JoshBCFC]

Seeing as we're losing 324480 Southern clubs this season, it's good to see Cheltenham up here.

Dover/Braintree would be hilarious to see in league football.

What about Forest Green? Would they even be allowed to come up with their ground?

 

[rudebwoyben]

What about Forest Green? Would they even be allowed to come up with their ground?

It easily meets the Football League entry criteria. There are many far far worse grounds in the National League than FGR's!

 

[JoshBCFC]

It easily meets the Football League entry criteria. There are many far far worse grounds in the National League than FGR's!

Fair enough

 

[Luke Imp]

Ok so they are not quite mathematically promoted jus yet, but realistically it's safe to say they are going to back playing in the football league next season.

Some achievement bouncing back at the first attempt as champions!

Has it been done before? From memory, Shrewsbury, Carlisle and Bristol Rovers came straight back at the first attempt, but via the playoffs. Can't recall anyone doing it as champions. Could be wrong though.

We bounced back straight away at Champions.

Maybe a question for the folks with clubs in the National League, but has the general standards dropped and has it become easier for those who have dropped?

That's not meant to under value the achievements of Barnet, Rovers, Cheltenham and possibly Tranmere, but previously to the last couple seasons teams generally dropped and lingered in a Conference shellshock - completely underestimating the competition and its sides.

It became an ongoing in joke that sides that would get relegated would start the following campaign high on bravado and notions of "pissing this tinpot division."
Now they seem to be doing it; so perhaps the quality has slipped even further, or the last couple of seasons have been blips from the norm?

In my opinion it's dropped, and as a result, it's a bit more even.

Cheltenham did have a couple of pieces of good luck (I don't really mean luck, I just can't think of the word). Gary Johnson and pretty much a clean slate of players, which isn't afforded to most Clubs who drop. Usually spend a year trying to get rid of the shite.

 

[JoshBCFC]

We bounced back straight away at Champions.


In my opinion it's dropped, and as a result, it's a bit more even.

Cheltenham did have a couple of pieces of good luck (I don't really mean luck, I just can't think of the word). Gary Johnson and pretty much a clean slate of players, which isn't afforded to most Clubs who drop. Usually spend a year trying to get rid of the shite.

I presume fortune is the word your looking for?

 

[AdamStag]

Crewe seem be in a bit of bother by all accounts, though i'd expect Doncaster to be strong candidates should they drop down.

As Northampton have proved - an average sized club who struggled a few seasons ago can transform and change and run away with things - and if Northampton can do it most teams should be looking at being able to achieve it.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Now confirmed!

 

[mowgli]

Congtats Cheltenham the first teamto win the title after being relegated the previous season in 25 years, Gary Johnson has done brilliantly this season.

 

[Si Robin]

Cheltenham can still balls it up with FGR coming up instead... Despite the Chelties likely to be back next week, this thread is premature.

Is it official enough yet?

 

[JJH]

Gary Johnson is a mastermind. Fair play to him.

 

[miagsygas]

Fair play to Cheltenham. Glad they're up, if we stay down this season I'll be happy to take a trip to Whaddon Road as always liked the away day there.

As we know from last season, it's a very hard job to bounce back from the disappointment, but I'm not surprised. Gary Johnson seems as much of a "sure thing" at that level much like a Martin Allen type, experienced, one of the better managers you'll see in there and knows the level, saw them in preseason and expected playoffs from them atleast.

Big chance of riding the wave of momentum too. Keep a side together and add a little quality and you never know.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Is it official enough yet?

Well seeing as this week it's confirmed FGR can't catch you, that makes it official. Last week FGR could, so it wasn't official... Basic maths really mate.

 

[CTFCfan99]

Forgot there are individual match threads on the L2 forum. How exciting

 

[miagsygas]

Forgot there are individual match threads on the L2 forum. How exciting

You can even have them for individual player signings, but only if they're as good as Rakish Bingham

 

[BCFC Jordan]

Had by far the best manager in the Conference and what a job GJ has done.

Fair play to Gary. Had such a huge task on his hands and could easily have gone to a club in L1 but fronted up to the Cheltenham challenge and rebuilt an entire squad, stopped the downwards momentum of a relegation and took them straight back up as Champions.

 

[Si Robin]

With a completely new squad as well. Only one player celebrating on Saturday was on the payroll last season, and he only played for the first 6 minutes of the season before being injured for the rest of it (absolving him of any blame for relegation).

The fact that on the opening day of this season our starting 11 were all making their league debut for the club shows just how great a job GJ has done.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Gary Johnson is a mastermind. Fair play to him.

Horses for courses, he wasn't so good for us...(that is being polite)

 

[Si Robin]

Ourselves and Barnet tend to have the same arguments over Martin Allen.