The English Lower League thread (Part 2)

[gary69]

Sunderland still trying to grab a play-off spot as they come from behind and win away to WBA.

 

[al secord]

Mullin's a great guy. Had "f*** the tories" written on his boots at some point haha

Shut up? Lol

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

It's kinda funny because Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney obviously want to be 'the good guys' but in the context of non-league football, they were basically oil sheikhs with the resources they poured into the attempt to get back to the league. I watched the TV show and it's well done, and obviously Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have personalities that are pretty attractive, witty and personable etc.

There's of course a certain randomness to it. I think they picked a non-league club because it'd be a smaller investment to start with, because they're obviously not 'tycoon' level rich. But they picked Wrexham the same way a guy may pick a team to start a game with on FM. So they basically parachute in, and of course, it represents a huge alteration to the competitive landscape of that league where 1 million is a very big sum.

It's one of those things where it's like, no matter how smart they go about it and how good their intentions are, they're still an alien body in that organism. It's like a kinder, gentler and much smaller version of the Saudis at NUFC, but really fundamentally the same thing.

 

[luiginb]

I think they might be aware of that, by the way they were singing Notts County praises

 

[John Price]

 

[gary69]

In the playoffs spot battle, Luton came from behind and beat Boro after questionable PK winner.

It seemed that Zach Steffen didn't even touch the Luton player in the situation from which the PK was given.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Question about the Wrexham wage bill. Every says it's at high League one or low Championship level but I can't see it. Most of the players they brought in were from League two clubs. They did get a couple of Championship guys but they weren't starters for those clubs and those aren’t clubs with usually high wages so it wasn't like they were big earnings prior. They have no players in on loan so they aren't getting any help from EFL clubs paying a part of their wage bill either. So if it's really at high end league one level then league two and one clubs aren't paying well enough.

 

[les Habs]

It's kinda funny because Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney obviously want to be 'the good guys' but in the context of non-league football, they were basically oil sheikhs with the resources they poured into the attempt to get back to the league. I watched the TV show and it's well done, and obviously Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have personalities that are pretty attractive, witty and personable etc.

There's of course a certain randomness to it. I think they picked a non-league club because it'd be a smaller investment to start with, because they're obviously not 'tycoon' level rich. But they picked Wrexham the same way a guy may pick a team to start a game with on FM. So they basically parachute in, and of course, it represents a huge alteration to the competitive landscape of that league where 1 million is a very big sum.

It's one of those things where it's like, no matter how smart they go about it and how good their intentions are, they're still an alien body in that organism. It's like a kinder, gentler and much smaller version of the Saudis at NUFC, but really fundamentally the same thing.

I wouldn’t say it’s tycoon level, but I think Reynolds just sold his mobile company for a huge amount. I always thought it was crazy he even had a mobile company.

 

[robertmac43]

I saw some of the upper end guys are on 5-6k per week. A lot of money for non-league.

 

[HoseEmDown]

I saw some of the upper end guys are on 5-6k per week. A lot of money for non-league.

I know Mullin is probably on that and he's shown he's worth it. He also just lead league two in scoring before he signed so they had to offer what he would be making in league one. The other might be Palmer since he came from a league one team but he wasn't on a free so his wages should be a bit lower. Besides I can't see Tozar or Hayden that high, they were pretty good league two defenders but not guys you need or should be overpaying. Lee and Cannon I'm not sure on since they were previously at Championship clubs but both guys weren't even playing for those clubs as they were loaned out, so I doubt they had suitors willing to pay top dollar for them.

 

[Jussi]

I know Mullin is probably on that and he's shown he's worth it. He also just lead league two in scoring before he signed so they had to offer what he would be making in league one. The other might be Palmer since he came from a league one team but he wasn't on a free so his wages should be a bit lower. Besides I can't see Tozar or Hayden that high, they were pretty good league two defenders but not guys you need or should be overpaying. Lee and Cannon I'm not sure on since they were previously at Championship clubs but both guys weren't even playing for those clubs as they were loaned out, so I doubt they had suitors willing to pay top dollar for them.

Not sure how much Parkinson's salary is but I don't think he's very cheap. Plus, they also began paying salaries for a lot of club employees who were previously volunteers.

 

[Tuggy]

Could you imagine one of the greatest Welsh footballers of all time...it would certainly be Hollywood

 

[bluesfan94]

Burnley officially won the Championship yesterday

 

[HajdukSplit]

Sheffield United earn automatic promotion with three games to spare, they had a bit of a wobble midway through the season but managed to recover even with dealing with a FA Cup run

Luton and Middlesbrough are in the playoffs while incredibly still 9 teams are in play for the final two spots with several surprises amongst those teams.

Nobody relegated yet, but Wigan and Blackpool are on the ropes, pretty much have to win both their remaining fixtures and hope for help. QPR, Rotherham, Cardiff, Huddersfield and Reading essentially fighting to avoid one spot

 

[Artorius Horus T]

I noticed that this wasn't posted back in April 10th.

Scunthorpe FC got relegated from National League to the regional league; National League North.
- after last season they were relegated out of the english league football, after being there for 72 straight years,
now back to back relegations, to the sixth highest tier of english football

Just 11 years ago, Scunthorpe FC was a Championship side...

 

[luiginb]

I noticed that this wasn't posted back in April 10th.

Scunthorpe FC got relegated from National League to the regional league; National League North.
- after last season they were relegated out of the english league football, after being there for 72 straight years,
now back to back relegations, to the sixth highest tier of english football

Just 11 years ago, Scunthorpe FC was a Championship side...

Always liked their crest, looks like a guy holding a bottle haha

I remember their physio coached them all the way to the Championship some years ago, in lieu of a coach, so it was probably never a very well run team.

 

[JPBolts]

Sheffield United earn automatic promotion with three games to spare, they had a bit of a wobble midway through the season but managed to recover even with dealing with a FA Cup run

Luton and Middlesbrough are in the playoffs while incredibly still 9 teams are in play for the final two spots with several surprises amongst those teams.

Nobody relegated yet, but Wigan and Blackpool are on the ropes, pretty much have to win both their remaining fixtures and hope for help. QPR, Rotherham, Cardiff, Huddersfield and Reading essentially fighting to avoid one spot

Think Sheffield United will probably be going straight back down tbh. Especially with the uncertainty in ownership.

If the playoff final is not Luton/Middlesbrough, then I will be pretty surprised. They have been a tier above the rest of the pack.

 

[les Habs]

Not a fan of a Bale storyline were I a Wrexham supporter and the notion sort of tarnishes the story for me, not that I’ve been lapping it up anyway. Besides, Bale won’t join them. He’s clearly done with football.

 

[luiginb]

Not a fan of a Bale storyline were I a Wrexham supporter and the notion sort of tarnishes the story for me, not that I’ve been lapping it up anyway. Besides, Bale won’t join them. He’s clearly done with football.

Bale won't risk his knees against those league two defenders

 

[JPBolts]

Plymouth & Ipswich get promoted to the Championship while Wigan get relegated after a draw with Reading, which leaves the royals in the bottom 3 based on a 1 goal difference with Huddersfield Town who themselves have 2 games in hand. It happens that Huddersfield v Reading is the last game of the season as well. 6 years ago, that game was the championship playoff final.

 

[NJDevs26]

Not a fan of a Bale storyline were I a Wrexham supporter and the notion sort of tarnishes the story for me, not that I’ve been lapping it up anyway. Besides, Bale won’t join them. He’s clearly done with football.

The Ben Foster comeback and dramatic hero turn would have already jumped the shark if it was written and not actually real life, now there’s a non zero chance he’s coming back next year too lol

 

[spintheblackcircle]

League Two looks to be fun the last 4 or 5 match days. Leyton Orient are the only club that has locked up 1 of the 3 automatic promotion spots. There are 6 clubs within 3 points of the last 2 spots and some have matches in hand

2nd-Northampton 74 pts 4 matches left (1 against Bradford City)
3rd-Stevanage-73 pts 5 matches left
4th-Stockport-71 pts 4 matches left (1 against Carlisle, 1 against Leyton Orient)
5th-Carlisle-71 pts-4 matches left (1 against Stockport)
6th-Bradford City-71 pts-5 matches left (1 against Northampton and last match of the season they host 1st place Leyton Orient who will have nothing to play for)

Should be a very exciting last match day. Orient were in and Stevanage have locked up 2nd. Northampton was 1 minute away from clinching the last automatic promotion spot when Bradford City scored the game winner. The only club with 2 matches left is Bradford, they have a makeup game at 16th Crewe on Wednesday.

3rd-Northampton 80 pts-at 11th Transmere
playoff spots
4th-Stockport County-78 pts-23rd Hartlrpool
5th-Carlisle-75 pts-at 13th Sutton
6th-Salford-75 pts-18th Gillingham
7th-Bradford City-75 pts-at 16th Crewe and 1st place Leyton Orient, who were shut out 3-0 today with nothing to play for

8th-Mansfield-72 pts-at 20th Colcester

 

[NJDevs26]

Plymouth & Ipswich get promoted to the Championship while Wigan get relegated after a draw with Reading, which leaves the royals in the bottom 3 based on a 1 goal difference with Huddersfield Town who themselves have 2 games in hand. It happens that Huddersfield v Reading is the last game of the season as well. 6 years ago, that game was the championship playoff final.

I almost forgot some Tampa (and now ex Tampa) players owned a piece of Plymouth lol

 

[HajdukSplit]

Rotherham safe after defeating Middlesborough who are now confirmed to finish 4th. Pretty important match in a few hours as Blackburn host Luton, Luton are now secure in 3rd but Blackburn really need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, though their negative GD can come back to bite them.

Wigan and Blackpool relegated, down to Reading/Huddersfield now, Huddersfield with a game in hand and completely have control of their destiny, they actually play each other on the final weekend, Huddersfield's game in hand is midweek against already promoted Sheffield United so if they get a result in that one that game will be a dead rubber

 

[spintheblackcircle]