Who do you want to come up/down to the third tier?

[Son of Cod]

League 2’s top 3 is sorted I think and would like Crewe to join them through the playoffs.

Definitely not sorted yet. Stockport are pretty much up but it's still 2 from 3. Mansfield are at MK Dons on Saturday too, which is a tasty April fixture. Mansfield will be back in the top 3 by the time that rolls around as long as they avoid defeat at home to FGR tomorrow.

Barely a mention in this thread but you League Oners might need to be bracing yourselves for another dose of Crawley, they're hitting form at the right time and are capable of taking the good sides in the division to the sword. If they make the playoffs they'll be tough opponents. Madness considering they were completely written off by everyone in the summer.

 

[Son of Cod]

Cant see past the top 3 in League 2 at the moment. Are Crawley still owned by those Crypto guys? Feel like it would be interesting to see them come up, more so as you imagine that would be one of the spots for relegation likely taken next season. In reality anyone but MK though really.

Yes they are mate. To their credit though, they seem to have learnt from their mistakes of last season and have taken a backseat and cut out all the weird social media stuff. I think there is still a bit of uncertainty on their finances but a good seaaon on the pitch has certainly taken the spotlight off that side of things. The Crawley fans on here will obviously know more about all that.

 

[EricSabin]

Definitely not sorted yet. Stockport are pretty much up but it's still 2 from 3. Mansfield are at MK Dons on Saturday too, which is a tasty April fixture. Mansfield will be back in the top 3 by the time that rolls around as long as they avoid defeat at home to FGR tomorrow.

Barely a mention in this thread but you League Oners might need to be bracing yourselves for another dose of Crawley, they're hitting form at the right time and are capable of taking the good sides in the division to the sword. If they make the playoffs they'll be tough opponents. Madness considering they were completely written off by everyone in the summer.

Yeah I hadn’t realised the full Mansfield choke was in full swing, and then coupled with the result at the weekend…

Crawley are flying aren’t they, definitely part of the bunch that wrote them off with their dealings in the summer

 

[Son of Cod]

Yeah I hadn’t realised the full Mansfield choke was in full swing, and then coupled with the result at the weekend…

Crawley are flying aren’t they, definitely part of the bunch that wrote them off with their dealings in the summer

I think you'd be hard pushed to find someone who wasn't part of that bunch!

 

[BarrieOwl]

Shows the state of football when a 6.5mn loss is considered good.

What's happening with Dawson next season?

Hopefully he fucks off the useless Ginner prick

 

[EnglishRed]

Feel more confident we are heading up to League one after the last two results. Will be nice to be playing some properly big clubs after the depressing years of playing the likes of Dover and Maidenhead (with all due respect to those clubs) week in week out.

 

[thewwfc]

Feel more confident we are heading up to League one after the last two results. Will be nice to be playing some properly big clubs after the depressing years of playing the likes of Dover and Maidenhead (with all due respect to those clubs) week in week out.

Think all the biggest ones will be gone by the time you get here, but it’s all relative.

 

[Stocky]

All but secured you'll have our toe rags posting on here next season bar us losing our final 4, MK winning their final 3 and then turning over 26 or 27 goal difference in the process.

It's been a while. We've been on some journey up and down since we were last in this league in 2010.

 

[Luke Imp]

MK vs Mansfield at the weekend, which the former have to win really given the latter's game in hand on Tuesday.

I'm quite intrigued by Wrexham coming up for a number of reasons.

You can spend your way out of NL and L2 quickly if you want to, like both Stockport and Wrexham have, but the interesting part is whether the owners will have a bit of a breather before going again. They obviously can't come in and compete financially in L1 as they have done the last three or four years and I'm not sure the pull of Hollywood will be as strong for the lower Championship/top end L1 players that they'll be targeting.

From a far, it's also seemed as though Wrexham have brought in more experienced players for the here and now, which has obviously done the trick (we did similar when we won L2) but Wrexham (and Mansfield) have the highest average aged squads in L2.

From an average squad age and two quick promotions point of view we were similar to Wrexham and Stockport a few years back. We decided to take a bit of a breather, consolidate, change our transfer policy, lower the average age of the squad (27/28 to now 22) and slowly build again. They can probably afford to just keep throwing money at it as opposed to us, but at some point they'll have to get some kind of squad longevity in the squad and start signing younger players.

 

[Luke Imp]

All but secured you'll have our toe rags posting on here next season bar us losing our final 4, MK winning their final 3 and then turning over 26 or 27 goal difference in the process.

It's been a while. We've been on some journey up and down since we were last in this league in 2010.

Crazy that we went down from L2 the same season - I thought our six years back to L2 and eight to L1 was a long time!

 

[denzel ecfc]

All but secured you'll have our toe rags posting on here next season bar us losing our final 4, MK winning their final 3 and then turning over 26 or 27 goal difference in the process.

It's been a while. We've been on some journey up and down since we were last in this league in 2010.

Looking forward to going back to Edgeley Park and a decent night out in MCR

 

[masi51]

Looking forward to going back to Edgeley Park and a decent night out in MCR

Manchester has changed so much in the last five years....Gone are the cheap local boozers replaced by fancy wine bars and gastro pubs. The city is moody and now has a London vibe about it, but i can see the pull if you are playing Stockport, Wigan or Bolton where the centres are shit holes but you can find plenty of pubs with sub £3 pints

 

[denzel ecfc]

Manchester has changed so much in the last five years....Gone are the cheap local boozers replaced by fancy wine bars and gastro pubs. The city is moody and now has a London vibe about it, but i can see the pull if you are playing Stockport, Wigan or Bolton where the centres are shit holes but you can find plenty of pubs with sub £3 pints

I'm aware it's changed, I have friends there. Still plenty of decent pubs if you know where to look. Not for 3 quid unless you want to go to Spoons, which I dont

 

[SF_]

Can't stand Manchester these days. Turned into a soulless, poncey city with daft prices if you want to go drinking. Used to go very regularly but I'd rather spend my money in Liverpool or Leeds now.

I'll only go there for gigs in future.

 

[masi51]

Can't stand Manchester these days. Turned into a soulless, poncey city with daft prices if you want to go drinking. Used to go very regularly but I'd rather spend my money in Liverpool or Leeds now.

I'll only go there for gigs in future.

Got to agree Liverpool is a cracking afternoon/Evening out.....As for Leeds i go to the Ebor every year at York.
We always make Leeds our base

 

[Less than a mile (WAFC)]

MK vs Mansfield at the weekend, which the former have to win really given the latter's game in hand on Tuesday.

I'm quite intrigued by Wrexham coming up for a number of reasons.

You can spend your way out of NL and L2 quickly if you want to, like both Stockport and Wrexham have, but the interesting part is whether the owners will have a bit of a breather before going again. They obviously can't come in and compete financially in L1 as they have done the last three or four years and I'm not sure the pull of Hollywood will be as strong for the lower Championship/top end L1 players that they'll be targeting.

From a far, it's also seemed as though Wrexham have brought in more experienced players for the here and now, which has obviously done the trick (we did similar when we won L2) but Wrexham (and Mansfield) have the highest average aged squads in L2.

From an average squad age and two quick promotions point of view we were similar to Wrexham and Stockport a few years back. We decided to take a bit of a breather, consolidate, change our transfer policy, lower the average age of the squad (27/28 to now 22) and slowly build again. They can probably afford to just keep throwing money at it as opposed to us, but at some point they'll have to get some kind of squad longevity in the squad and start signing younger players.

Yeah your mostly right. Think a lot of us expected to go through League 2 within a single season when we were stuck in the conference. There is such a bottleneck of top teams trying to get out that the quality of the teams at the top: Wrexham and Stockport for example was very high. We were labelled as arrogant by most for thinking so but looks as though we are to be proved right now.

IF we were to go up again, I expect it to be a big step up this time. Like you say, we have signed a few players for the here and now. Fletcher and Mcclean are good examples of this. We also brought in Jack Marriot in January who you all will be familiar with. He's been woeful and I was shocked to see Derby paid 5m for him?!?

I think a mid table finish would be likely but it is positive to see the relatively good seasons 3/4 of the promoted teams have had this year.

A lot of the newer fans only know success and to a certain extent winning every home game so the atmosphere here could get embarrassing really (if we're not winning).

 

[EnglishRed]

Yes I'm expecting next season to be a consolidation season. Failing in the play offs the year Stockport won the NL was a blessing as it allowed us to build a team ready for L2. We definitely need a rebuild. in the summer to be ready for L1 and that includes moving on some players who came in three years ago and who have been integral to our success so far but are now probably not up to the new challenge. We also need to keep growing the revenue with more US charm offensives.

I'd be over the moon with a finish somewhere around 10th.

 

[chief]

Think all the biggest ones will be gone by the time you get here, but it’s all relative.

We missed out on Leeds, Forest, Leicester, Southampton, Sunderland & Norwich at that level. I was too young to see us face City in the third tier so the biggest club I got to see us face in the league was probably Wednesday.

The thought of potentially facing the likes of Birmingham, Charlton and Bolton next season excites me like you wouldn't believe.

This obviously means Plymouth and Huddersfield are coming down while Derby and Bolton both go up.

 

[Throbber_for_Dunk]

Good to see some Wrexham fans on the internet of sufficient vintage to understand these things.

This season has been the weakest L1 in the three years we've been up here, even if it does seem next year will be a bit stronger. I can't imagine your powerbrokers aren't looking at the season Stevenage have had and thinking it's time to go big or go home.

As an observer it's reaching the interesting stage, most other ''projects'' like the last few years you've had find the limit in this next phase. Obviously Wrexham is a different prospect, even if that next stage is more unfamiliar than you'd assume with them.

Either way, as a U exiled in the North West, I'm hoping we're still around to visit youse and Stockport again in happier times. Both good away days, but my previous visits have been during pretty awful times. Imagine they'll feel like visiting two completely new clubs.

 

[chief]

Good to see some Wrexham fans on the internet of sufficient vintage to understand these things.

This season has been the weakest L1 in the three years we've been up here, even if it does seem next year will be a bit stronger. I can't imagine your powerbrokers aren't looking at the season Stevenage have had and thinking it's time to go big or go home.

As an observer it's reaching the interesting stage, most other ''projects'' like the last few years you've had find the limit in this next phase. Obviously Wrexham is a different prospect, even if that next stage is more unfamiliar than you'd assume with them.

Either way, as a U exiled in the North West, I'm hoping we're still around to visit youse and Stockport again in happier times. Both good away days, but my previous visits have been during pretty awful times. Imagine they'll feel like visiting two completely new clubs.

Looks like you'll be alright, I enjoyed my visits to Cambridge in non-league so I look forward to going back there (if we go up).

(If we go up, I am) Hoping the current bottom 4 stay there as Burton will be a new ground for me.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Luke Imp makes a good point on Stockport and Wrexham and the question is going to be whether they give it a go with what they have, are able to offload some players on quite expensive wages (both have been spending big the last two seasons) or risk increasing their yearly debt to add to what they have squad wise……both squads should hold their own here but neither will probably challenge without additions so depends what will come in.

A little bit of problem for both is a lack of bigger spending northern clubs about L2 and conference after those two who they can realistically offload some of their players two.

Bradford is always a possibility, Carlisle could be a very obvious option if they do adapt a ‘Billy big b*llocks’ approach this summer, maybe a couple of SPL clubs but after that isn’t many northern clubs will take, even their extremely good and solid L2 players at the wages they currently pay them, because of that I could possibly see both giving it a go with what they have and add only if possible.

 

[Luke Imp]

Stoke vs Plymouth tomorrow, which is a biggy! Blackburn vs Wednesday is another huge game on Sunday.

 

[Gassy]

Anyone but Huddersfield tbh, for some reason they’re just unappealing and boring to me. Wednesday we’ve played enough of so don’t want them coming down.

Would be great to have Birmingham and/or Stoke/QPR. QPR would be a 20 min walk as well, so would really be ideal

 

[denzel ecfc]

Stoke vs Plymouth tomorrow, which is a biggy! Blackburn vs Wednesday is another huge game on Sunday.

Hopefully Schumacher can do the business. Sorry Vale fans

 

[Luke Imp]

Big wins for Stoke and QPR.

Huddersfield vs Birmingham next weekend.

 

[Super_horns]

Big wins for Stoke and QPR.

Huddersfield vs Birmingham next weekend.

Depends how Sheffield W do tomorrow but that game might decide things .

 

[denzel ecfc]

Big wins for Stoke and QPR.

Huddersfield vs Birmingham next weekend.

Bad news that they play each other, sadly I think that means the scummers are safe.
Awful from Huddersfield today, sad to see a club chuck in the towel like that

 

[AdamStag]

Bad news that they play each other, sadly I think that means the scummers are safe.
Awful from Huddersfield today, sad to see a club chuck in the towel like that

Issue is for huddersfield is that after the 6 pointer against birmingham they’re away at ipswich last game, ouch.

Blackburn avoid defeat today and they’re as good as safe for me.

 

[Luke Imp]

Dunno what other people think but I've never seen Huddersfield as a Championship side really, they're historically a L1 side. They've done really well over the last decade with a couple of PL seasons in there but their finishes in the Championship are mainly in and around the bottom 6 or 7 aside from their two anomaly PO seasons.

 

[folletto]

I’m hoping Birmingham come down now. Hate the way they treated Eustace, hate how their cringe owner (I should know all about this as a Charlton fan) received rapturous applause despite horror decisions that could send them down.

Only thing is they’ll probably easily bounce straight back up, especially given it seems like they’ve got the money to buy who they want.