Who's joining?

[joethegill]

So with a couple of teams already more or less guaranteed to be joining the league next season - Ipswich & Lincoln - and Bolton very close to joining as well, who else do we expect/want to be part of this league next season (presuming your club is still here)?

From the Championship, it's one of 6 for the final relegation spot:

17. Birmingham - 44 pts
18. QPR - 44 pts
19. Wigan - 41 pts
20. Millwall - 40 pts
21. Reading - 40 pts
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22. Rotherham - 39 pts

Interestingly on the final day Millwall go to Wigan and Reading host Birmingham - could be a massive afternoon! For me, I'd want Reading or QPR down - definitely not Wigan AGAIN. Birmingham, Millwall or Rotherham would just be a bit dull, as Birmingham would almost certainly walk the league, While the other two would most likely challenge in the play-offs. No basket cases out of any of them (Birmingham are a bit nuts, but they've served their punishment for now, and to be honest I reckon they'll be fine anyway.

Reading, Bolton & Ipswich for me.

From League Two Lincoln are up, then it's a 4 way battle for the other two automatic places:

2. Mansfield - 72 pts
3. MK Dons - 72 pts
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4. Bury - 71 pts
5. Tranmere - 68 pts

Bury were going like a train until recently but have lost their last 3, MK and Mansfield have been there or thereabouts all season, while Tranmere have come from deep to force their way into the reckoning. Bury and Tranmere would be the worst option travel wise for us, and I can't remember the last time we played Mansfield so I'd prefer them and MK. Mansfield and MK play each other on the final day, so it'll be interesting if they both need a point...

The play-off race:

6. Forest Green - 64 pts
7. Exeter - 62 pts
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8. Carlisle - 61 pts
9. Colchester - 60 pts
10. Swindon - 59 pts
11. Oldham - 57 pts (game in hand)
12. Stevenage - 57 pts
13. Newport - 57 pts (game in hand)

If Oldham and Newport win their games in hand then it'll go right down to the wire (can probably discount Stevenage realistically) as both are in good form. Colchester and Carlisle are both in shit form but in touch, while Exeter haven't won in 3. FGR have been there all season and probably deserve a play-off berth, while Swindon are unbeaten in 5, but draw too many perhaps. Final day game of FGR v Exeter could be fun.

I reckon a top 3 of Lincoln, MK and Mansfield, with the play-offs containing Bury, Tranmere, FGR and Oldham - Tranmere to come up.

 

[Robie]

I would like Reading to come down Mansfield ,Tranmere and Colchester to come up.

 

[PuB]

QPR down (frankly they deserve it), and it’s nearby. Not really bothered about who comes up, MK should stay down for eternity and I’m not a fan of Forest Green.

Providing of course we stay up.

 

[Camborne Gills]

The current bottom 3 will go.

Hopefully, it will be Lincoln, Mansfield, Bury and Exeter.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Lincoln Ipswich and Bolton so far - nice and local then.

 

[Gassy]

Providing we stay up:

Ipswich away would be wicked.

Reading coming down would be brilliant as well, potentially to take 3/4,000 on a Saturday.

Coming up, I don't mind. Anyone but FGR - preferably Swindon or Exeter from the play offs

 

[BelizeHatter]

QPR down (frankly they deserve it), and it’s nearby. Not really bothered about who comes up, MK should stay down for eternity and I’m not a fan of Forest Green.

Providing of course we stay up.

Nooooo. We want QPR if we go up. Became a bit of a local rival since the real ones took off into the stratosphere. Agree with the rest

 

[Jamo]

If we go up, then Reading to go down to their natural level and I couldn't give a monkies who goes up from league 2.

If we stay in league 1, then Rotherham, Mansfield and MK Dons as they're all within 90 minutes of me, and Forest Green or Exeter for the trip to the southwest.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Please not Milwall. My eighty four year old Peckham born dad will get us in trouble in the Devonport end by saying “come on the blues”.

 

[Eastfield Posh]

For a Posh point of view.

Ipswich is pretty much nailed on.
Would like Rotherham & Reading ( not been their before.

Coming up , one of our derbies back on the cards with The Imps as good as , Mansfield not too far away & would be a good anti Evans banter day between fans.
FGR , like Reading , never been before.
Hopefully , Fake Don's beaten in play off final.

 

[Fedora Dale]

If we stay up...
We've never played Ipswich, so that would be fun.
Bolton is a more attractive local Derby than Accy. Bury would be OK (and based on recent results against them, a probable six points but they seem to be imploding at the moment.)

Forest Green or Exeter would be quite fun; Mansfield gives the chance to check out Flitcroft's synergy; Lincoln might be formidable. MK can stay where they are, likewise Tranmere.

Don't want Rovrum down - Barnsley and Donny's bickering about who is bigger, etc, is quite amusing; Rovrum take themselves far too seriously. QPR or Reading will do instead.

 

[Reaper]

We'll be joining this league again next season and will be fully expecting us to go straight back up again if we keep most of our squad and if we sell our 3 biggest assets in Ajayi, Vaulks and Wiles then we talking around well over 5 million coming our way which should be a decent budget to go at.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

Providing we stay up:

Ipswich away would be wicked.

Reading coming down would be brilliant as well, potentially to take 3/4,000 on a Saturday.

Coming up, I don't mind. Anyone but FGR - preferably Swindon or Exeter from the play offs

If we stay up...
We've never played Ipswich, so that would be fun.
Bolton is a more attractive local Derby than Accy. Bury would be OK (and based on recent results against them, a probable six points but they seem to be imploding at the moment.)

Forest Green or Exeter would be quite fun; Mansfield gives the chance to check out Flitcroft's synergy; Lincoln might be formidable. MK can stay where they are, likewise Tranmere.

Don't want Rovrum down - Barnsley and Donny's bickering about who is bigger, etc, is quite amusing; Rovrum take themselves far too seriously. QPR or Reading will do instead.

Don’t think I’ve ever seen from another set of fans ‘going to Ipswich’ and ‘fun’/‘wicked’ together it’s nice to be welcomed!!

 

[Kenneth E End]

We'll be joining this league again next season and will be fully expecting us to go straight back up again if we keep most of our squad and if we sell our 3 biggest assets in Ajayi, Vaulks and Wiles then we talking around well over 5 million coming our way which should be a decent budget to go at.

Don't sit on the fence, like...

 

[Gassy]

Don’t think I’ve ever seen from another set of fans ‘going to Ipswich’ and ‘fun’/‘wicked’ together it’s nice to be welcomed!!

I’ll definitely be going. A quick google shows that last time we played in the league, I was 2 months old!

Will Harrison be playing for you next season or do you reckon you’ll try moving him on?

 

[Reaper]

Don't sit on the fence, like...

Theres a huge difference in quality between the 2 division, you'll find that out next season. Last time we came down we finished rock bottom with a record low points tally and came straight back up again with alot of the same players with a couple of decent signings.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Theres a huge difference in quality between the 2 division, you'll find that out next season. Last time we came down we finished rock bottom with a record low points tally and came straight back up again with alot of the same players with a couple of decent signings.

For sure, I don't disbelieve that. But Sunderland have probably the biggest budget of any side in history in L1 and still haven't been able to get over the line. Expectations often lead to disappointment.

On budgets, we would probably go from the top 6 budget in L1 to probably bottom 4 in the Championship. There is so much money flushing around from owners in that division now. In terms of funding in a couple of years the gap will widen further when funding goes up from £6m to £12m.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

I’ll definitely be going. A quick google shows that last time we played in the league, I was 2 months old!

Will Harrison be playing for you next season or do you reckon you’ll try moving him on?

He hasn’t had much game time this season, other than injuries, not too sure why. Doesn’t look any worse than Jackson

 

[Gassy]

He hasn’t had much game time this season, other than injuries, not too sure why. Doesn’t look any worse than Jackson

He was brilliant in L1. Whilst the championship may have been a step too early for him, it would be wise to keep him in L1

 

[AdamStag]

You’ve realistically got 2 from Mansfield, MK and bury, though we’re all within 2 points of each other and Mansfield going to MK on the last game of the season. We all keep tripping over each other

Mansfield +31 76
MK +23 75
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Bury +24 74
Tranmere +15 71

Playoff wise, basically everyone from 2nd to 12th could end up in them.

 

[Reaper]

Like to see Mansfield and Tranmere go up. Hopefully not MK Dons, shit club and shit fans.

 

[AdamStag]

Like to see Mansfield and Tranmere go up. Hopefully not MK Dons, shit club and shit fans.

The idea of being in the same league as Ipswich and Bolton is hilerious.

 

[Davidimp]

Two years ago we played Ipswich in the fa cup, now we're playing in the same league as them, totally crazy!

 

[Bobbin']

Two years ago we played Ipswich in the fa cup, now we're playing in the same league as them, totally crazy!

Not that crazy, we played Doncaster in the FA Cup this season and are playing in the same league as them.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Ipswich fans are in for a shock next season.
You will find most teams will look to turn you over and you will find what Sunderland have found this year.

 

[T.A]

Ipswich fans are in for a shock next season.
You will find most teams will look to turn you over and you will find what Sunderland have found this year.

Nah Sunderland would have walked this league if they had managed to sort themselves out sooner off the field. If Ipswich keep the majority of their players they will walk it next season.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

We know it’s not going to be easy and really need a good start to get some wins on the board and build confidence. Fairly decent stuff being played but no bite and mistakes at the back have cost us.

What is quite crazy is that it’ll be the first time down here in 62 years and one of less than a handful of clubs to have won a European trophy and then fall into the third tier! For a small town club, that’s not too bad! Just hope it’s a short term stay.

What we will have in our favour is an advantage money wise (which isn’t something we could say this year!), attendances that could arguably be the highest next year if Sunderland and Portsmouth both go up. Depends whether Evans allows Lambert to get the players he wants.

 

[Bobbin']

Not so sure Ipswich will walk it though they will obviously be right up there. Rotherham will be up there if they keep their squad together and would expect those that miss out on promotion this year to be challenging again, save for us if we aren’t under new ownership.

I actually expect it to be similar to this season where 5 or 6 teams could all go up.

 

[Davidimp]

Not that crazy, we played Doncaster in the FA Cup this season and are playing in the same league as them.

We were non-League at the time is my point, never did I think back then we would be both be in the same division two years later.

 

[Davidimp]

Not so sure Ipswich will walk it though they will obviously be right up there. Rotherham will be up there if they keep their squad together and would expect those that miss out on promotion this year to be challenging again, save for us if we aren’t under new ownership.

I actually expect it to be similar to this season where 5 or 6 teams could all go up.

The top 5/6 seem a long way clear of the rest.
As an outsider looking in seems there are 3 leagues in one, top 5/6 , the next 6 hovering nearish the playoffs , then the rest.