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The English Lower League thread (Part 2)

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Norwich sack Dean Smith after a poor run of form, currently 5th but 12 points off the automatic promotion spot
 
Pompey haven't won in the league since October...and despite a solid point against Ipswich Town last week, a dismal loss to Charlton made it clear things had hit a breaking point; the Cowleys are out.

I'm sad, because I really like Danny and Nicky, and thought they showed a great passion for the club and city...but it clearly was not working. I'm happy they pulled the plug when they did, despite the recent dismal form (9 points in the last 10 matches), the season's only half done. 9 points off the playoffs with 2 games in hand.
 
Gap starting to form between the top two and the rest of the league, hard to see anything but a Burnley/Sheffield United automatic promotion (2nd place Sheffield United are 11 points above 3rd place Watford)

However, 3rd-14th is only separated by 6 points, Middlesbrough and West Brom are the form teams now after a poor start to the season. Blackburn are incredibly still in the playoff spots despite a negative GD, they were hammered at Rotherham today. QPR and Reading falling back down to earth, QPRs constant managerial changes have not helped. Rough start to life for Kolo Toure at Wigan but he finally got a result with a last minute equalizer at Cardiff
 
spintheblackcircle said:
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This is my club and this is a well done, comprehensive look at the quick re-make of the roster as well as some of the off-field stuff.

What remains to be seen is whether the club’s new style will allow them to be competitive with the non-big-club tier of the PL assuming they are promoted. I admit I came to love the style of play and the shithousery because , well, it made other fans and clubs mad and it could be argued was the best way for a small club to stay up.

Anyway, I know a lot of fans are glad for the change in play style. Kompany is really doing great work.
 
Kolo Toure has already been sacked by Wigan, barely two months on the job (and he took over during the WC break so he only managed nine matches). He leaves with a 0% winning rate (3 draws, 6 defeats)
 
Middlesbrough are now within 4 points of 2nd place Sheffield United (though Sheffield have a game in hand); Burnley running away with things, they will win the league easily and probably get 100+ points

At the bottom, Huddersfield win in Warnock;s first game in charge, Wigan unbeaten since sacking Kolo Toure, some teams who started the season well are now being sucked into the relegation scrap (Reading and QPR). Meanwhile another club is climbing the table since a managerial change, Hull City with Liam Rosenoir in charge
 
Watford on their third manager this season, Bilic lasted six months, even though I like him as a coach, it was expcted based on Watford's history as they have fallen out of the playoff spots. New manager is Chris Wilder, who's stock has somewhat decreased since the job he did at Sheffield United
 
Ipswich did a terrible job killing the game off in hindsight but yes too much time was added on

And maybe I'm aging myself here, but as somebody who started following the EPL in the late 90s its hard to imagine seeing Charlton playing in League One in front of a mostly empty stadium, they were a fixture in the EPL for like a decade in that time period. Even Ipswich I remember making Europe one season in the early 2000s
 
I have only watched 1 of their matches, but the way Burnley has dominated this year, do they have the makings of a club that can stay up?
 
spintheblackcircle said:
I have only watched 1 of their matches, but the way Burnley has dominated this year, do they have the makings of a club that can stay up?
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Yes and no. They have several key players who are in on loan so if they can make a couple of them permanent that would help. Would try for Beyer and Tella. Try to bring back Maatsen on loan. They need to find a premier league quality CM and striker, Cork and Barnes would be ok
depth but not starters. If United really like Weghost maybe some sort of loan swap with him and McTominey?

Kompany has looked really good so far and has made all the right moves in the transfer market. If he can continue to improve and they get the right guys in I don't see why they couldn't survive.
 
Doesn’t bode well that their best player is an on-loan left back, but honestly who knows! Could also totally see Chelsea sending Maatsen back there for one more season - get him PL minutes when he’s behind Chilwell, Cucurella, and Colwill at Stamford Bridge
 
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