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

[merman]

On 22/01/2023 at 16:10, Plissken said:

I've seen photos.  Apparently the managers were happy to play on...

 

Not true. Managers asked the ref to call it off, but ref (wrongly) claimed it was past 75 minutes and the 1-1 score line at that point would stand.

[neoELITE]

9 hours ago, merman said:

 

Not true. Managers asked the ref to call it off, but ref (wrongly) claimed it was past 75 minutes and the 1-1 score line at that point would stand.

 

Not according to the Oxford manager.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64272531

 

Quote

 "If we're being totally honest the game probably should have been called off but had it been we would have had a point.

 

"Once they realised that if the game was called off the result would stand and that might then not be good enough for them to get in the top two, they wanted to carry on.

 

"From my point of view it was maybe the wrong decision that ended up being the right decision."

 

It was something the ref should have decided on with his officials. I do have sympathy for the Ipswich manager though if he was told the wrong thing by the ref. Of course, at 1-1, with us being 9 points ahead at the time, he's going to want to win.

 

It shouldn't be up to the managers, it's a call the ref should've taken. Having said that, at 1-1, the Ipswich manager would probably have criticised that if it was abandoned. I do like Robinson's mild trolling. He's a bit of a shithouse. 

[wev]

How's it feel being top of the table @Fatsam?

 

It's really tight now

[Fatsam]

2 hours ago, wev said:

How's it feel being top of the table @Fatsam?

 

It's really tight now

It is tight. As long as we avoid a load of injuries to key players I’m fairly confident that we will finish on 100 points plus. I’m just not sure we’ll be the only side to do that!

 

It is nice to be properly top though yes thanks. 3 points ahead, same games played, more goals, better goal difference. It feels mildly significant that we took that chance last night. Pressure maybe back on Notts County a bit. Looking over your shoulder at Chesterfield too.

[neoELITE]

Two fantastic results in the FA Cup for Ipswich and Wednesday. Both requiring replays. 

We didn't play either in the league but had a week off instead. 

[Fatsam]

Just the 1-0 for Notts County against poor at the minute Halifax keeps us top on goal difference then.

 

I'll be a fun, but strange one tomorrow against Sheffield United. Being the underdog at home is just not something we're used to, although Parkinson's playing style has won him some big cup games in his career, notably at Bradford, so can kind of suit it I think. It did away at Coventry last round. A Premier League bound Sheffield United will be a step up from Coventry and they should have way too much quality even with changes, but we're also just not used to losing at the Racecourse and we're used to scoring at the Racecourse. We'll go for it and try to take advantage of set pieces. They'll attempt to twat us as professionally as possible, most likely do that, but then fuck knows it's the FA Cup isn't it.

[Angles Morts]

Oh the joy of the transfer-deadline-day rumour-factory talking up the possibility of yet another of your academy stars being tapped up.

 

This time it's Jack Currie being pursued up by the Bristol rhyming-slangs. His song has the funniest choice of tune 😭

[Fatsam]

Looks like we are signing centre back Eoghan O'Connell from Charlton. From Cork like my favourite ever Wrexham centre back Brian Carey. Impressively swift to move on this after two limping off in that position on Sunday. One possibly out for the season. Looks a goodun to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[neoELITE]

I forgot the transfer window was still open as we signed all our new ones weeks ago. 

 

Fleetwood signing Stockley and Marriott is par for the course considering they are about as sustainable as a plastic barbecue. 

 

Peterborough have signed Chesterfield's Tshimanga.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64469661

That's going to dent Chesterfield's hopes of promotion and boost yours @Fatsam

[Fatsam]

Yeah, I think Chesterfield's best hope of competing with us and Notts County was getting Tshimanga firing for the season, but that wasn't really happening and I think it was always looking like he could be leaving in January. Realistically, their defeat to Barnet at the weekend means it's probably down to a two horse race for the title given the ridiculous form of the both of us. Notts County casually scraping a couple of wins together over the last few days.  Chesterfield would have to put together a hugely impressive run to pull it off. Be interesting to see how Tshimanga gets on in League One. Good player.

[Timmo]

Derby are fucking amazing at the minute. Absolute pleasure to watch. 

[neoELITE]

14 hours ago, Timmo said:

Derby are fucking amazing at the minute. Absolute pleasure to watch. 

 

Morecambe away from home are awful but yes, Derby are definitely storming up that league table. They should really with that squad. They have to play us away and also have Wednesday, Peterborough, Wycombe and Barnsley away. They won't win all five of those.

 

We lost away at Wednesday. I don't think we've lost away for something like 12 games before that. Ipswich only drawing was helpful. Wednesday and Ipswich play each other next.  Reports from some traveling fans are that we basically got the tactics wrong. We need to start another streak. Automatic promotion is going to be 90 points+ this season.

 

 

 

[Timmo]

1 hour ago, neoELITE said:

They should really with that squad.

People keep saying this. We’ve a tiny squad which was decimated over the summer and is largely unrecognisable from Rooney’s team. Wages are probably pretty high (though they are strictly capped as part of our punishment) for some players in the context of the league but our squad consists of underperforming rejects released from other clubs and players who have come through our ranks, and then some loans. Two of our best performers were released for not being good enough by Sheffield Wednesday. I’ll give you McGoldrick who is an absolute cheat code who shouldn’t be in this league, but he’s made of balsam and misses every other match. And Hourihane is obviously quality, even if he’s not been that great for us yet. 

 

I’m not trying to make out we’re a poverty case but we’re a million miles off what Ipswich have been spending.

 

Can’t give enough credit to Paul Warne since he’s come in, he’s got us playing intense, sometimes kamikaze football but somehow not conceding many and it’s the best we’ve played in years. I feel like this team could survive the Championship with no bother.

 

Hopefully we both go up and Ipswich don’t make it!

[merman]

Chris Sutton can get in the bin, predicted Ipswich would lose 4-0 to Burnley in the first leg and is now predicting 5-0 for the replay.

[MikeBeaver]

40 minutes ago, merman said:

Chris Sutton can get in the bin, predicted Ipswich would lose 4-0 to Burnley in the first leg and is now predicting 5-0 for the replay.

Well, Chris Sutton can fuck right off, 3 mins in and it's 1-1 😛

[neoELITE]

Our keeper Mike Cooper is out for the rest of the season. I'm really fearful now for our promotion push as he's literally the first name on the team sheet and widely predicted to be sold for a lot of money in the future. 

[Plissken]

2 hours ago, merman said:

Chris Sutton can get in the bin, predicted Ipswich would lose 4-0 to Burnley in the first leg and is now predicting 5-0 for the replay.

Chris Sutton is paid to basically be a troll.

[El Pibe]

I'm quite looking forward to Argyle losing in the play-off final. 😉

[neoELITE]

2 hours ago, El Pibe said:

I'm quite looking forward to Argyle losing in the play-off final. 😉

 

That's not very nice is it. 

[neoELITE]

Thanks to Sheffield Wednesday being 2-0 up at Portman Road and drawing when we beat Portsmouth 3-1. Cost us a point difference and me £150. Wankers

 

Top of the league. We should have been done today after 60 minutes. We missed so many 1 on 1s. Portsmouth are awful. Physical and a long ball team. When they brought their subs on, they were much improved. An easy home win. The Portsmouth goalie is terrible.

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

League 1 needs to watch out now as we(Bolton) seem to do the same thing year in year out - Don't start playing until January/February. Less posession, shot and corners than Peterborough, but win 5-0. Who's most likely to slip up out of the teams above us?

[neoELITE]

9 hours ago, Superfamifreak said:

League 1 needs to watch out now as we(Bolton) seem to do the same thing year in year out - Don't start playing until January/February. Less posession, shot and corners than Peterborough, but win 5-0. Who's most likely to slip up out of the teams above us?

 

I'd like to say Ipswich but their February fixtures are against teams they should beat comfortably. 

Barnsley are my bet to slip out of the play offs. 

We're 17 points clear of Wycombe in 7th with 16 games left. I don't think we can slip that far down the league. 

[Timmo]

Wycombe played yesterday exactly as they should, stopping Derby playing and being aggressive. Whilst their first two goals had an element of luck, they had other chances as well and they weren’t undeserved. If we make the playoffs I’m hoping they don’t make it!

 

Bit unfair them having Tommy Wiseau as manager, though. 

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

4 hours ago, neoELITE said:

 

I'd like to say Ipswich but their February fixtures are against teams they should beat comfortably. 

Barnsley are my bet to slip out of the play offs. 

We're 17 points clear of Wycombe in 7th with 16 games left. I don't think we can slip that far down the league. 

 

Six points(But a worse GD) off second, 8 off top. What do you think our chances of sneaking up automatically are? Funnily enough, I think even though we sold our best player(Afolayan) in January, we've become a lot more dangerous. Hopefully dangerous enough to break into the top two.

 

Now if only we knew how to start playing before January.......

[deadtired]

Of course you could sneak top two but it’s a long shot.
 

Plymouth looked extremely well organised at Hillsborough (even if their tactics were wrong first half) and are a good unit of players, I’d be surprised if they slip up… especially as their home record is incredible. I expect they'll go up as champions tbh. I’ve always liked them as we share history with Paul Sturrock and he gave me some of the only positives I’ve had in the last 28 odd years watching Wednesday. 

 

As for us (Wednesday), I always expect we will blow it at some point as is tradition, but we’ve got a big enough squad (even when we lost Byers and Bannan we kept winning) to survive our continual injury crisis and Moore tactically is very astute at the moment, so I hope we can manage second, but if I had to choose between the two then I’d say you’re better catching us then Plymouth. But we do have 2 games in hand over you. Tough but it’s football and plenty of games to play.

[neoELITE]

20 hours ago, Superfamifreak said:

 

Six points(But a worse GD) off second, 8 off top. What do you think our chances of sneaking up automatically are? Funnily enough, I think even though we sold our best player(Afolayan) in January, we've become a lot more dangerous. Hopefully dangerous enough to break into the top two.

 

Now if only we knew how to start playing before January.......

 

Of course that's possible and your run in looks quite easy but your next six/seven fixtures aren't except tomorrow. MK Dons are the worst team we've played this season. After that you're in for some tough away games. 

 

The points total is going to be huge for automatic promotion this season. We've only dropped three points at home all season and we aren't as far ahead of 3rd as you'd expect.

 

I don't want to say it but I think we'll go up. Our squad last year fell apart but this season, we have the numbers to see it out. Our away form isn't great but at home, we're superb. 

 

 

[deadtired]

13 hours ago, neoELITE said:

 

Of course that's possible and your run in looks quite easy but your next six/seven fixtures aren't except tomorrow. MK Dons are the worst team we've played this season. After that you're in for some tough away games. 

 

The points total is going to be huge for automatic promotion this season. We've only dropped three points at home all season and we aren't as far ahead of 3rd as you'd expect.

 

I don't want to say it but I think we'll go up. Our squad last year fell apart but this season, we have the numbers to see it out. Our away form isn't great but at home, we're superb. 

 

 

Agree. You have 9 home games left. That’s 27 points, even if you drop 7 points (unlikely but let’s be negative… max I can see you dropping is 4, personally I think 2/3) that puts you on 84. If you then just draw all your remaining away games you’re on 92 points. It’s really hard for you not to go up just on your home form, but I know football and all that.

 

If you had lost on Saturday against Portsmouth I might have said there was a (small) possibility of you not finishing at least top 2 (losing top spot, losing your keeper, bla bla meaning players weren’t as confident etc) but nah you’re going up, you just cantered on as per so you’ve got the fortitude to do it. I’ll be surprised if you don’t.

[neoELITE]

A hard won 1-3 win at Oxford. The pitch was a bit slow and bobbly and Oxford were tough opponents this evening. 8 yellow cards in the game told a tale. There were a lot of tactical fouls from both teams and it looked frustrating to play in and was a frustrating watch. Apparently we took almost 2000 and the attendance was just over 8000. I can see why Oxford fans are staying away. They're not playing well. We were poor but won without that much effort and should have scored more. I enjoy a midweek away game as I can sit on my recliner and listen to my Dad have a mild stroke every time we defend a corner.

 

Derby didn't win, Ipswich didn't win. Bolton did though. @deadtired I'm glad we've played you twice already. Another 5-0.

 

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

6 minutes ago, neoELITE said:

Another 5-0.

 

Last 5 games Read:

W5 D0 L0 GF14 GA1

 

Ominous form.

 

Out of our remaining games I'd say all of them other than Ipswich & Wednesday are completely winnable, but we never make things easy for ourselves. Just got to hope for some slip ups from the teams around us. And just how costly could that defeat to Derby last month end up being?

[neoELITE]

15 minutes ago, Superfamifreak said:

 

Last 5 games Read:

W5 D0 L0 GF14 GA1

 

Ominous form.

 

Out of our remaining games I'd say all of them other than Ipswich & Wednesday are completely winnable, but we never make things easy for ourselves. Just got to hope for some slip ups from the teams around us. And just how costly could that defeat to Derby last month end up being?

 

Put an accumulator on that. I bet you don't win.

 

Ipswich look easier to beat than Wycombe do at the moment. That's Saturday for you. You also have to go away to Port Vale and Morecambe. They're horrible fixtures. Shrewsbury and Fleetwood at home are also two games I'd worry about. 

 

I'm enjoying the Ipswich forum tonight. Good grief. It's brutal.