EFL League 1, League 2, National League and below FOOTBALL 2022/23

[Fatsam]

18 hours ago, keptbybees said:

If Bromley could stop leaking 90th minute goals we'd be in a much better position. Was a cracking game against Notts County, though how their keeper wasn't sent off is beyond me.

 

I think you need congratulating for managing to keep Langstaff out for 90 minutes. 

 

Mildly annoying that we could only get a draw too, but proof once again that Maidenhead is one of the hardest places to go away to in world football. They were good. Although the result also had a lot to do with keeper Howard's coming but not coming enough blunder throwing away the victory late on. There's good reason why he's been dropped in recent games. Had Lainton not been out with illness, we'd be three not one point ahead of Notts County.

 

But beat Dagenham on Tuesday to extend our lead and it will have been an excellent couple of weeks. Probably a trickier game than the Maidenhead one, but it's about time we won there. Please win there Wrexham.

[Fatsam]

 

Oh fuck yes!

 

[Timmo]

Congratulations to Plymouth tonight for some top class cheating! We were shit after the first conceded goal, mind. Need to sort that soft underbelly out quick if we want to make the playoffs. Our threadbare squad is really struggling now. 

[Fatsam]

Even if we lose all our games, 7th placed playoff team Easteigh can't now catch us if my mathematics is correct.

 

I'm still absolutely entertaining the scenario where they end up beating us in the playoffs though.

[neoELITE]

32 minutes ago, Timmo said:

Congratulations to Plymouth tonight for some top class cheating! We were shit after the first conceded goal, mind. Need to sort that soft underbelly out quick if we want to make the playoffs. Our threadbare squad is really struggling now. 

 

 

I didn't think we deserved to win but we did. We had a good 20 minute spell and that was enough. 

Not sure we cheated though. 

[neoELITE]

I'm really glad Wrexham are there and have that cushion @Fatsam - the entire set up and town and the team really deserve to be competing at a higher level.  If you do go up, Wrexham are going to be a fantastic addition to the EFL and they'll do very well in League 2 as it really isn't that much of a difference and League 1 in the bottom half isn't that much different than League 2 if I'm quite honest.  The standard of loan player you can get certainly shifts when you're in and around the play-offs in League 1 and obviously, those free transfer signings become easier but the actual playing level and finances aren't something Wrexham will struggle with.  Mullin's a League 1 player as are a few others in your squad.  I really hope you do it. 

 

So this is the top of League 1 after yesterday. 

 

We've got Barnsley left from those remaining 11 fixtures (away on Saturday).  All our other games are against teams in the bottom half.  If we average 2 points a game, we'll surely go up on 96 points.  I can't see us crumbling away like last season as our squad depth is really good now and a weird stat I saw was that we've scored 16 goals from substitutes this season so that really proves that we can change a game if it isn't going well.  

 

I expect like @Fatsam would be, I'd be gutted if we don't go up.  Everything at the club is positive and going in the right direction.  

 

 

 

I think Derby will drop out of the play-offs.  They looked really tired in that last 20 minutes against us and they seemed to want to hold on to 0-1 as soon as they scored.  Barnsley are a real form side with games in hand and if they beat us, they'll be in with a shout but they play Wycombe away, Wednesday at home and Ipswich away this month plus an away trip to @El Pibe ' s Exeter City - never an easy place to go and get a result.  Bolton have played more games than everyone else and their next two games are Wednesday and Ipswich.  

 

I don't want to tempt fate with mentioning Ipswich's fixtures as they're scoring for fun at the moment but I think, I hope, we'll hang on and keep grinding out those results.

 

[El Pibe]

I have my ticket! Not feeling confident at all but I hope we give it a good go.

 

Looks like it's a sellout.

[Fatsam]

Cheers neoELITE.

 

Honestly I agree with all of that! Should we get promoted, I see no reason why we wouldn't be be up there at least where Stockport are next season. Our squad is stronger than the Stockport one from last year, and age wise the players are fine. Perfect even. We'd improve it if required I'm sure, but I don't think we'd need as much of a revamp. The strategy was always to sign players capable of not just getting us out of this league, but the one above. League Two's generous promotion slots hopefully aiding that. 

 

Not as comfortable as I'd like 4 points, and Notts County know that beating us at the Racecourse would take that to 1, but they have started to pick up injuries affecting results it seems and they now have less margin for error. Plenty of tough looking potential point dropping games coming up, but our 4-0 win away at Dagenham on Tuesday was at least the kind of performance League Champions put in and should give us confidence. 

 

I'm just desperately trying to relax and enjoy the games at the moment. I am, but it's not easy.

 

Fingers crossed we both go up.

[deadtired]

Tough day for Wednesday but pleased we held on for another 1-0 win. 
 

Bolton at home next and then Barnsley away, really need to beat Bolton as I can’t see us getting anything at oakwell, would be very happy with a point there. They are the one team this season who completely turned us over for 90 minutes, and can see the same thing happening again. 

[neoELITE]

A tough trip to Barnsley yesterday. 3-0 defeat. What we have left are games against teams in the bottom half. 

[deadtired]

Shrewsbury away is a tough one (Barnsley away and Shrewsbury away are the two games we have left that I’m not looking forward to), but otherwise you have a good run in. I think you’ll manage it.

[neoELITE]

58 minutes ago, deadtired said:

Shrewsbury away is a tough one (Barnsley away and Shrewsbury away are the two games we have left that I’m not looking forward to), but otherwise you have a good run in. I think you’ll manage it.

 

It's doom and gloom on our forums. 

I'd rather have the fixtures we have than away games against the top ten. 

We have Forest Green Rovers next weekend. That's a good fixture to have at home to start a good run. 

I think Wednesday are up now. I can't see them losing half their games. 

[deadtired]

Always the way with football fans. If Wednesday lose against Barnsley I can imagine some idiots calling for Moore to go 🤷🏻‍♂️ I remember some fans moaning when we were like 3rd in the premier league, god knows how they cope nowadays 😂 I’m just glad the toxic atmosphere has finally lifted around Wednesday whatever happens, and I really like Moore as a person.

I think you’ll be fine. Win all your home games, which you should do, puts you on 89 points. Then you have 5 away games left I think? Win 2 draw one lose 2 puts you on 96 points. Heck win and draw 1 you’re on 93. I just can’t see Barnsley or Ipswich beating that. Ipswich have to go to oakwell yet, they have Shrewsbury at home next and derby away too. All tough and could see them dropping points, which they can’t afford to do.

 

Argyle are organised, you have a game next week to steady the nerves, your home record is incredible. Got to believe.

 

[merman]

Six clean sheets in a row, 596 minutes without conceding a league goal - new club records for Ipswich

[El Pibe]

On 12/03/2023 at 10:15, neoELITE said:

 

It's doom and gloom on our forums. 

I'd rather have the fixtures we have than away games against the top ten. 

We have Forest Green Rovers next weekend. That's a good fixture to have at home to start a good run. 

I think Wednesday are up now. I can't see them losing half their games. 

 

That has Duncan Ferguson's 1st win in  charge at high-flying Argyle written all over it.*

 

*I can dream!

[deadtired]

On 20/02/2023 at 00:14, Superfamifreak said:

So we(Bolton) have a new stadium sponsor. From the 1st of July we will be playing at, and I shit you not, the 'Tough Sheet Stadium'.

 

The only way that will work without the piss being constantly taken would be to go a full season undefeated there.

not sure how to tag you but were you at the game tonight?

 

Thought you played well, you weathered the first 25 minutes well then played some nice stuff! Still love lee, nice to see him playing again.
 

Thought you definitely deserved a penalty in second half, no idea how that wasn’t given but I’ll take it! 

 

We really missed Byers in midfield, but glad this game is over and want Barnsley out the way too on Tuesday. Just hope our injuries aren’t for too long.

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

14 hours ago, deadtired said:

not sure how to tag you but were you at the game tonight?

 

Thought you played well, you weathered the first 25 minutes well then played some nice stuff! Still love lee, nice to see him playing again.
 

Thought you definitely deserved a penalty in second half, no idea how that wasn’t given but I’ll take it! 

 

We really missed Byers in midfield, but glad this game is over and want Barnsley out the way too on Tuesday. Just hope our injuries aren’t for too long.

I wasn’t, but I’ve seen plenty of your fans say we were the best team to go there this season, which is nice to hear.

 

I was dreading the floodgates opening when your goal went in. But it seems to be a thing with us, not playing until we go behind. 
 

Hopefully we’ll push on and secure a play off spot now as we’ve been pretty dreadful over the last month or so. 
 

Next game is the big one though!

[neoELITE]

On 16/03/2023 at 09:47, El Pibe said:

 

That has Duncan Ferguson's 1st win in  charge at high-flying Argyle written all over it.*

 

*I can dream!

 

FGR were quite frankly awful. Even at 2-0 down, they had everyone behind the ball. We scored two headers. That doesn't happen often. It was pure valium football - utterly dull. I don't think there was a single offside and I can't remember a single moment that FGR looked like scoring. 

 

The teams at the top are relentless. 

 

Accrington away on Tuesday night. It's a must win game. 

[El Pibe]

FGR looked so good for most of last season but tailed off completely towards the end and haven't been able to arrest that slide.

 

Very strange.

[deadtired]

8 hours ago, neoELITE said:

 

FGR were quite frankly awful. Even at 2-0 down, they had everyone behind the ball. We scored two headers. That doesn't happen often. It was pure valium football - utterly dull. I don't think there was a single offside and I can't remember a single moment that FGR looked like scoring. 

 

The teams at the top are relentless. 

 

Accrington away on Tuesday night. It's a must win game. 

I expect you’ll be top again if you do, I’ll be amazed if we manage to get more than a point at Barnsley. 

[neoELITE]

On 19/03/2023 at 15:55, deadtired said:

I expect you’ll be top again if you do, I’ll be amazed if we manage to get more than a point at Barnsley. 

 

An ugly 0-2 at Accrington who played better with ten men. The lad sent off was lucky not to be off within ten minutes. A two footed off the ground lunge that luckily missed one of our players. His second yellow was a one footed lunge. He seemed to have a row with the home fans as he trudged off too. Accrington were so ill disciplined. The weather was awful but we got the three points. Our keeper was MOTM. 

Connor Grant came on for us after a really long time out injured.and sealed the win. Really happy for him as it wasn't certain he'd ever play again. 

Our first goal was an enormous deflection. No way it wasn't an own goal. But they all count I guess.

 

We're top again but I'd rather you'd have won tonight. 

[deadtired]

A win is a win at the end of the day, and you don’t need many more to secure promotion. Especially one away from home.

 

I knew we’d lose tonight, I’m just annoyed they briefly gave me hope 😂😂😂 Wednesday way though.

 

Some of our fans are in meltdown after drawing against Bolton and losing tonight as predicted, but you know it’s not the end of the world. I mean if we don’t go up you’ve just got to applaud the teams that do, as us, Plymouth, Barnsley and Ipswich have overall been incredible. Ipswich seemed to have turned a corner mentally, the win at Bolton was impressive in my opinion. 

[neoELITE]

10 hours ago, deadtired said:

A win is a win at the end of the day, and you don’t need many more to secure promotion. Especially one away from home.

 

I knew we’d lose tonight, I’m just annoyed they briefly gave me hope 😂😂😂 Wednesday way though.

 

Some of our fans are in meltdown after drawing against Bolton and losing tonight as predicted, but you know it’s not the end of the world. I mean if we don’t go up you’ve just got to applaud the teams that do, as us, Plymouth, Barnsley and Ipswich have overall been incredible. Ipswich seemed to have turned a corner mentally, the win at Bolton was impressive in my opinion. 

 

I think it'll be 95+ points. Last season we got 80 and didn't make the playoffs. 

[deadtired]

10 hours ago, neoELITE said:

 

I think it'll be 95+ points. Last season we got 80 and didn't make the playoffs. 

You had a difficult run at the end last season though that really did you in. This year I’d say you have the easiest, then us (though very similar, think the average position of our opponents left is 16th for both of us), then Barnsley and then Ipswich have the hardest (think theirs is 10th). So it’s in our hands, just got to get the job done.

[neoELITE]

It's not over but. 

 

[deadtired]

😂😂😂

 

what did I witness?

[neoELITE]

I don't know how but we're still top of the league. Well done Forest Green Rovers. The absolute worst team I've seen in League 1 hammering Sheffield Wednesday 1-0. 

 

[deadtired]

We didn’t even have a shot on target! It would be the Wednesday way to mess it up with our run in. 

[neoELITE]

53 minutes ago, deadtired said:

We didn’t even have a shot on target! It would be the Wednesday way to mess it up with our run in. 

 

You did. It probably doesn't feel like it. You had three but then, they're often not amazing saves.

 

[deadtired]

Well that’s not what I remember 😂😂😂

 

I’m more concerned now, losing to the bottom team is awful when you’re at the top. I know we miss Byers when he’s injured but my god, I think that’s the worst performance I’ve seen in years.

 

Football for you though 🤷🏻‍♂️