Who will do best in Division 1?

[Devon_Lad]

Can't see us finishing below 6th. I expect us to be either 2nd or 3rd.

 

[Chris FGR]

Can't see us finishing below 6th. I expect us to be either 2nd or 3rd.

Based on what?

 

[Bartonyellow]

Can't see us finishing below 6th. I expect us to be either 2nd or 3rd.

From bottom maybe.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Based on what?

Our squad and other squads? Obviously subject to change when transfers start happening.

 

[Gassy]

It makes sense, why wouldn’t 2nd in L2 finish 2nd in L1 with the same squad?

 

[Chris FGR]

Our squad and other squads? Obviously subject to change when transfers start happening.

So you reckon your squad is better then between 18-22 of the league 1 squads?

Have you actually watched much league1?

 

[Monkey Tennis]

To be fair to Exeter, they've already strengthened by sending Zanzala back to us.

 

[chipmunx]

So you reckon your squad is better then between 18-22 of the league 1 squads?

Have you actually watched much league1?

although i don't want in any way ever to agree with DL on anything there must be some bad teams in L1 - i mean, just look at Ipswich.... 4 matches against Barrow and Oldham in the FA Cup;- couldn't beat either of us at home and lost to Barrow away.

 

[Vanni]

Exeter to do best, Stags/Vale to struggle, though that don't necessarily mean bottom 4.

That's all for now chaps.

 

[Luke Imp]

As already said, there's a split between the big hitters (either in terms of fanbase and/or budgets) and the others. Swap Charlton (13th) and Accrington (12th) over and it's pretty much a perfect top half and bottom half in terms of those with finance and the rest, so we're basically in a league of 12, 4 of whom go down.

There were some pretty poor sides at the bottom this season, though. We only won 3 out of 14 against the sides below us, were incredibly poor this season with no consistency whatsoever for various reasons and still finished 12 points clear. Not sure we'll be so lucky again if we have a similar season next year, mind!

 

[Devon_Lad]

So you reckon your squad is better then between 18-22 of the league 1 squads?

Have you actually watched much league1?

Yes, a lot. A handful of live games in person and I think all the TV games - Including the Play Off's which were exceptionally poor quality wise. With the added bonus of a few gems from our academy also appearing more next season, including 2 players that the 'top 6' premier league clubs have tried to take off us and failed.

 

[Devon_Lad]

To be fair to Exeter, they've already strengthened by sending Zanzala back to us.

How did we 'send him back'? The loan expired

 

[BarrieOwl]

Do you still need a keeper DL?

 

[Devon_Lad]

Do you still need a keeper DL?

Potentially, depends how Harry Lee progresses, potentially another one on loan for 6-12 months but we wouldn't want anyone permanently

 

[Chris FGR]

Yes, a lot. A handful of live games in person and I think all the TV games - Including the Play Off's which were exceptionally poor quality wise. With the added bonus of a few gems from our academy also appearing more next season, including 2 players that the 'top 6' premier league clubs have tried to take off us and failed.

So you’re saying that your current squad as it stands is top end league 1 level? I mean you finished below us and from what I’ve seen of league 1 our squad wasn’t at that level imo.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

How did we 'send him back'? The loan expired

Have you kept him? No. Ergo he's been sent back.

 

[FGR Stroud]

FGR Chairman Dale Vince has said that FGR will be playing Watford in Championship in season after next. He is still spitting feathers that they pinched his manager.
But it shows his mind set that he does not consider FGR to be in threat of relegation next season.

 

[Vanni]

Yes, a lot. A handful of live games in person and I think all the TV games - Including the Play Off's which were exceptionally poor quality wise. With the added bonus of a few gems from our academy also appearing more next season, including 2 players that the 'top 6' premier league clubs have tried to take off us and failed.

One does not form an opinion on the quality of any league whether it's the Championship or the dog and duck sunday league on those handful of games that make up the play offs. Many a play off game ends up being a boring one for the neutrals and that's understandable when there's so much at stake that players opt for the safety first approach as nobody wants to go down in history for all the wrong reasons.

Likewise with those games on the final day of the season. I did watch a good 70 mins of the Exeter Vale game before switching over to the Rovers game and tbh I thought Exeter looked no better than a mid table side on the day. But that don't mean L2 is shit or that Exeter are odds on favs for the drop next season now does it.

 

[Bartonyellow]

League 1 is two tiered - the haves and the have nots. You can bridge the gap, but it’s hard.. Cambridge did well last season and finished mid table, so you can survive.
We got promoted out of league 2 as champions and went straight through league 1 into the championship so it can be done, but it’s rare. Momentum will get you so far.
There are some big clubs down here, plus we now have derby who I’m sure will compete.
If Exeter and forest green finish 12th you have done very well.

 

[Vanni]

FGR Chairman Dale Vince has said that FGR will be playing Watford in Championship in season after next. He is still spitting feathers that they pinched his manager.
But it shows his mind set that he does not consider FGR to be in threat of relegation next season.

Brave words indeed but I think he is underestimating L1. FWIW I think FGR will be fine next year but it all depends on the players that will be leaving the club in the summer and of course who comes in but FGR going up to the Championship next year is not going to happen. i

 

[SMH]

I didn't realise that all four newly promoted sides stayed up last season in L1. That's a serious achievement. Be interesting to see if one of them suffers bad second season syndrome like Crewe did. They all have good managers though, which makes it less likely unless any of them leaves.

A couple of clubs who had flirted with relegation for a while finally dropped last season such as Wimbledon and Gillingham and I wouldn't be surprised if Shrewsbury's luck runs out next season.

 

[Chris FGR]

Vince didn’t say that seriously, he was bantering/having a dig at Watford. What he actually said at the fans forum is we can’t aim to progress beyond league 1 until our new stadium is built, which is most likely 3-4 years away. The aim is to still be in league 1 by the time it’s built.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Brave words indeed but I think he is underestimating L1. FWIW I think FGR will be fine next year but it all depends on the players that will be leaving the club in the summer and of course who comes in but FGR going up to the Championship next year is not going to happen. i

I agree. Indeed I believe that FGR will be one of the bookies relegation favourites.
FGR ended season in virtual relegation form plus they've lost their charismatic manager and some 1st teamers.
Also they will have the smallest attendance in League 1 even when packed to the rafters.
And here opponents will thoroughly enjoy their trips to TNL when they realise that away fans have the entire length of pitch to support their team.
I don't think any other club offers away fans such a privilege. Usually away fans are stuck in a corner.
Basically FGR are offering away teams a goal start before start of game.

 

[northstandexile]

I agree. Indeed I believe that FGR will be one of the bookies relegation favourites.
FGR ended season in virtual relegation form plus they've lost their charismatic manager and some 1st teamers.
Also they will have the smallest attendance in League 1 even when packed to the rafters.
And here opponents will thoroughly enjoy their trips to TNL when they realise that away fans have the entire length of pitch to support their team.
I don't think any other club offers away fans such a privilege. Usually away fans are stuck in a corner.
Basically FGR are offering away teams a goal start before start of game.

Rochdale and Crewe offer seating all down one side for away fans

 

[FGR Stroud]

Rochdale and Crewe offer seating all down one side for away fans

Away supporters at TNL must stand during game, except for a small number in the bus shelter. That gives them a tremendous advantage when questioning referees decisions. They can and have affected the game in their favour.
And just as a matter of interest, the TV gantry is situated above away support so watching replays on YouTube all one hears are the away fans offering their opinion of game. Quite amusing at times.

 

[BarrieOwl]

FGR Chairman Dale Vince has said that FGR will be playing Watford in Championship in season after next. He is still spitting feathers that they pinched his manager.
But it shows his mind set that he does not consider FGR to be in threat of relegation next season.

He's a fucking moron.

 

[BarrieOwl]

I agree. Indeed I believe that FGR will be one of the bookies relegation favourites.
FGR ended season in virtual relegation form plus they've lost their charismatic manager and some 1st teamers.
Also they will have the smallest attendance in League 1 even when packed to the rafters.
And here opponents will thoroughly enjoy their trips to TNL when they realise that away fans have the entire length of pitch to support their team.
I don't think any other club offers away fans such a privilege. Usually away fans are stuck in a corner.
Basically FGR are offering away teams a goal start before start of game.

You don't know much about other clubs stadia and away sections do you.

 

[PuB]

You don't know much about other clubs stadia and away sections do you.

Quite, how many tickets was it we gave you again? 3,600?

(And for the L2 members benefit, they sold them all too and many had a cracking day out in Rochester before/after)

 

[kieran_vale]

I didn't realise that all four newly promoted sides stayed up last season in L1. That's a serious achievement. Be interesting to see if one of them suffers bad second season syndrome like Crewe did. They all have good managers though, which makes it less likely unless any of them leaves.

A couple of clubs who had flirted with relegation for a while finally dropped last season such as Wimbledon and Gillingham and I wouldn't be surprised if Shrewsbury's luck runs out next season.

I’ve always felt it’s not the first season that you’re likely to struggle as will ride the momentum but the second one once the novelty wears off. For us and Mansfield maybe a slight handicap in that other teams have already started on retained lists etc but nothing can’t overcome.

In our case if we are fortunate enough to get promotion on Saturday it will be a season of looking to consolidate and will be perfectly content with that. This will sound a bit more disrespectful than I intend it but if Morecambe, Cheltenham and Cambridge can all do it then there’s no reason we couldn’t with some good recruitment.

 

[FGR Stroud]

You don't know much about other clubs stadia and away sections do you.

Agree I've never been to Hillsborough but I've been to most other clubs so know full well that in most stadiums opposition fans get put in a corner.