Who do we want then?

[Vanni]

It's early, I know that, but I'm bored and my nana used to say one has got to nip boredom in the bud.

Anyway, I was wondering if I'm alone in looking at the L1 and Connie tables now that it's January and hoping for one side over another to join us next year. It doesn't look like we've got much choice in L1 with Bolton and Southend seemingly doomed but the other spot is still very much up for grabs. I guess most would want MKD but not me as I'd rather a less stronger side (financially speaking).

Connie wise, it's gonna be Barrow's year ain't it?. True that they've only got a 3 point lead over second place Harrogate but they've got two games in hand, and their record of just the 1 defeat in their last 20 league games sure is impressive. Wouldn't mind the likes of Stockport, Yeovil, Pools et al joining them. I'm ok with ok Notts as well (as we always beat them) but part of me thinks County shouldn't get off so lightly and should spend another couple years down there. But for the love of god no Boreham Wood or Bromley please.

Speaking of the likes of Barrow and Harrogate, are their home grounds fit for league footy? Been a long time since I've been to Barra so I won't comment as things may have changed. Re. Harrogate, I haven't the foggiest as I've never been there.

 

[shoddycollins]

My views are predicated on us staying up. If we go down I really couldn't give two fucks, though don't really fancy being a non league team while Barrow are a league team.

Otherwise, Barrow up would be a nice change from the usual recent league teams returning from exile and bankrolled tinpotters, an added bonus for us in being a relatively close game (though I think Morecambe are still closer by road). I think their ground must meet league requirements or else local media up here would be talking about it already.

Looking at the other Conference promotion challengers, I can only pick out teams I don't want coming up, and that list starts and ends with Borehamwood, though I think I would prefer to see bigger teams like Notts, Hartlepool, Stockport and the like come back up than yet more tinpotters like Harrogate and Solihull.

To come down; Southend aren't all that exciting a prospect and they are a long way from Carlisle, though Bolton would be a decent away day for us. Tranmere and Shrewsbury are among my favourite away days so would be nice to have one (unlikely both) of those to play next year.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Wouldn’t mind seeing one of Harrogate, Halifax or Stockport coming up. Barrow look nailed on though.

 

[F!RTHY]

Coming up: anyone from Halifax, Barrow or Stockport. Be great to renew a bit of a rivalry with Stockport again.

Coming down: Don’t want Southend to come down but they looked fooked. Bolton, Tranmere and hopefully Dale/Accy get pulled into the mire - purely for geographical reasons only.

 

[E10rifle]

As long as Southend come down and Bromley & Boreham Wood don’t come up I’ll be happy enough. I suppose MK Franchise getting relegated is always a pleasure to see, but would then involve us having to actually play the two-bob plastic c***s.

Re. Harrogate, I haven't the foggiest as I've never been there.

Bloody posh place that’s very nice for a visit, but the ground is absolutely atrocious. Would be comfortably the worst ever seen in the football league, and that’s considering that Crawley exist. Plus they’d have to rip up their plastic pitch. Imagine you’ll see them accidentally-on-purpose lose in the playoffs.

 

[BlackHaddock]

No body south of Watford.

MK Mongs can do one too, although it would actually please me if they did come down. I've seen us play them at Selhurst Park, the National Hockey Stadium, their new place and Wembley already, that's enough thanks.

 

[Chris FGR]

Yeovil would be good and you kind of feel that Stockport deserve it after so many years of being shit. Notts have a lot of posters on here so would be alright too for banter purposes. Harrogate would be decent and Solihull not too far away so would be fine too.

Not too keen on Boreham Wood or Barrow.

 

[darren gregory]

Down Tranmere

Up Notts County Stockport or Halifax. Barrow looking good at the moment though.

 

[Crewelad87]

If God forbid were still here. Southend and Bolton are as good as down. Tranmere joining them would be the best.

Up from non league any of these but in order of preference Stockport, Halifax, Notts, Barrow, Harrogate, Solihull. Just not Yeovil it's just too far away and relatively boring away day I've done multiple times.

 

[chipmunx]

Harrogate, Boreham Wood and Bromley all have artificial pitches so would all need to dig them up in the summer if they come up.
Things should hopefully become clearer in the next week as we (Barrow) play one of our games in hand next Tuesday away at Solihull. 4 points or more from the 2 games away at Boreham Wood and Solihull would leave us at least 4 points clear with a game in hand.
Of the other teams who could come up;-Yeovil and Notts you know about, Harrogate and Solihull are bankrolled. Bromley and Solihull are direct physical teams as are Harrogate to a lesser extent.
Barrow's ground is up to EFL standards and new crush barriers are going in at present, work on a new fanzone building starting next month and roofing being put over the terracing at the Holker Street end in the summer. Our crowd average so far this season is 1861, however it's 2908 over the last 3. no-one has brought more than about 100 away fans to a league match this season;- Notts, Stockport, Wrexham and Evatt's old team Chesterfield have yet to visit though - so that will change.

*edit - the works on the Fanzone building started today...

 

[Richard Cranium]

L1 they all look depressing as fuck bar Tranmere who we will play on a Tuesday night anyway so couldn't care less.

Conf, Barrow weekender and gets Notts back.

 

[Pennywise]

Bolton and Southend are certainties. I’d take Tranmere back.

Anyone from Barrow, Harrogate, Bromley, Boreham Wood, Halifax or Solihull as they’re all new grounds. Notts County and Stockport would be decent local games to get back. Yeovil are the only ones I’m hoping don’t make it back.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Harrogate, Boreham Wood and Bromley all have artificial pitches so would all need to dig them up in the summer if they come up.
Things should hopefully become clearer in the next week as we (Barrow) play one of our games in hand next Tuesday away at Solihull. 4 points or more from the 2 games away at Boreham Wood and Solihull would leave us at least 4 points clear with a game in hand.
Of the other teams who could come up;-Yeovil and Notts you know about, Harrogate and Solihull are bankrolled. Bromley and Solihull are direct physical teams as are Harrogate to a lesser extent.
Barrow's ground is up to EFL standards and new crush barriers are going in at present, work on a new fanzone building starting next month and roofing being put over the terracing at the Holker Street end in the summer. Our crowd average so far this season is 1861, however it's 2908 over the last 3. no-one has brought more than about 100 away fans to a league match this season;- Notts, Stockport, Wrexham and Evatt's old team Chesterfield have yet to visit though - so that will change.

Isn't Borehamwood where the Arsenal women play? That's not artificial?

 

[Chief Rocka]

Isn't Borehamwood where the Arsenal women play? That's not artificial?

I honestly don't know what surface Boreham Wood play on? I thought there were only three teams that play on plastic abominations, Harrogate, Bromley, Sutton.

I've only seen us play on Harrogate's pitch but it's like watching a 99p beachfront floater the way the ball bounces on these pitches, we had to rest certain players who've had knee and ankle injuries before simply because of the surface.

And for what it's worth on topic, Barrow are due a dip in form, Yeovil chuck too many points away to win it, Boreham Wood possibly if they can keep their front three, I think Harrogate are gonna win it, Notts playoff winners.

 

[chipmunx]

Isn't Borehamwood where the Arsenal women play? That's not artificial?

"ASTRO PITCH HIRE
Boreham Wood Football Club’s function and facility team are taking bookings for our brand-new 5th Generation Astro Turf.
Our new pitch is one of the newest, and most advanced artificial surfaces currently on the market; no expense has been spared to ensure that it will play as close to natural grass as you can get."

 

[chipmunx]

it's actually a hybrid pitch - part synthetic and part grass - so i'm not sure what it's actually classed as

 

[chipmunx]

Barrow are due a dip in form.

we had a dip in form at the start of the season. We were P9 W2 D1 L6 after 9 games. Since then we are P20 W16 D3 L1 and the 1 we lost we had a player sent off at 1-1 (it was rescinded on appeal)

 

[Chris FGR]

Any decent strip clubs in Barrow?

 

[chipmunx]

Any decent strip clubs in Barrow?

none that you won't be already barred from....

 

[Chris FGR]

No point you coming up then. Not travelling that far north for a weekend in a fucking freezing place like that with nothing to warm me up.

 

[les.gtfc]

The only problem with Barrow is that whatever time of year you go it's bloody freezing.

I remember playing there in our Conference days, late April I think it was and the whole country was in some sort of mini heatwave and it was still bloody freezing there!

 

[chipmunx]

The only problem with Barrow is that whatever time of year you go it's bloody freezing.

I remember playing there in our Conference days, late April I think it was and the whole country was in some sort of mini heatwave and it was still bloody freezing there!

we have a few warm days - just a few mind - and never during the football season

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

it's actually a hybrid pitch - part synthetic and part grass - so i'm not sure what it's actually classed as

The majority of Bundesliga clubs have the hybrid pitches, I believe that Wembley and the new Spurs ground are the same. Not sure about the other PL clubs though...

 

[SELatic]

Tranmere/Rochdale down and Halifax/Stockport up assuming we remain in this league

 

[Vanni]

Relegation to the National league is a real sickener and I wouldn't wish it on any L2 club, but thing is if it were to happen to the my club then I would still rather certain NL sides over others to come up. More so now that the NL is not as strong as it once was, with the relegated clubs standing a better chance of reclaiming their FL place in only a year or two. For ex, if we were one of the two relegated clubs last year, then I would've praying for Salford to go up. One less heavily bankrolled team the better our chances would be the following season.

 

[EricSabin]

I’ll have Barrow up because my mate works there

League 1, MK and Bolton. Southend is meh.

 

[kieran_vale]

From a personal perspective MK coming down would make for an easy away game for me. That said it really is a dreary experience watching a game there as nice as the stadium is.

Stockport coming up would be good fun, not least as I think that would mean the first time Vale and Jim Gannon will have crossed paths since his time here. Also hoping for Notts County just because of it being one of the best away days.

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

I’ll have Barrow up because my mate works there.

My condolences

 

[EricSabin]

My condolences

Only actually has to go to Barrow on match days luckily.

I went to Barrow v Maidenhead in September, was enjoyable and Ulverston is a decent night out.

 

[Vanni]

There's one thing I'm not getting - plastic pitches. As in what is the logic behind certain clubs having a really decent playing budget when they do not want to rip up their plastic pitches?