The English Lower League thread (Part 2)

[Wee Baby Seamus]

I didn’t think they’d do it, but happy Southampton went up.



For a while they even looked like they might be promoted without the playoffs. Considering how their respective seasons are going, they should be getting Bella-Kotchap and Alcaraz back too, both of whom are familiar with the Premiership and proven. They’ll still need to do some spending though if they want to stay up.

Yep, I believe there are posts of mine in this thread from ~MW38 or so where I was convinced they’d go up automatically. 3 bad losses down the stretch unfortunately put a damper on that.

ABK back will be big, but the bigger variable will be if they can keep Harwood Bellis and Downes - both of whom will have other suitors to whom their parent clubs might rather sell.

Definitely need an upgrade at striker, as Armstrong has shown himself to be a brilliant-Championship bad-Premier League striker (god, how many strikers in that category eh). Walker-Peters should stay with promotion, so that’s big. And another midfielder for sure - pretty serious lack of top flight experience there.

 

[britdevil]

Harwood-Bellis confirmed he is staying after the game. Huge signing.

Downes will be harder to sign permanently. He'll want to prove it at West Ham. Although he clearly loves playing for Russell Martin.

Will ABK even be fit? Two years of terrible injuries.

 

[les Habs]

Yep, I believe there are posts of mine in this thread from ~MW38 or so where I was convinced they’d go up automatically. 3 bad losses down the stretch unfortunately put a damper on that.

ABK back will be big, but the bigger variable will be if they can keep Harwood Bellis and Downes - both of whom will have other suitors to whom their parent clubs might rather sell.

Definitely need an upgrade at striker, as Armstrong has shown himself to be a brilliant-Championship bad-Premier League striker (god, how many strikers in that category eh). Walker-Peters should stay with promotion, so that’s big. And another midfielder for sure - pretty serious lack of top flight experience there.

I’m always wary of thinking anyone will win the Championship much less a promotional playoff until the results are in.

Yeah, striker will be huge. Goals are always at a premium too. That said, being a Premier league side again, they should be able to get someone from another league.

Harwood-Bellis confirmed he is staying after the game. Huge signing.

Downes will be harder to sign permanently. He'll want to prove it at West Ham. Although he clearly loves playing for Russell Martin.

Will ABK even be fit? Two years of terrible injuries.

Harwood-Bellis is a big get for them.

Bella-Kotchap might be more than injuries. Also might be a confidence issue there. Didn’t seem to be playing well for PSV prior to getting injured and has hardly featured upon his return. Still brings a full season’s worth of experience at Premiership level and his market value is likely low so seems a no-brainer.

 

[britdevil]

I’m always wary of thinking anyone will win the Championship much less a promotional playoff until the results are in.

Yeah, striker will be huge. Goals are always at a premium too. That said, being a Premier league side again, they should be able to get someone from another league.



Harwood-Bellis is a big get for them.

Bella-Kotchap might be more than injuries. Also might be a confidence issue there. Didn’t seem to be playing well for PSV prior to getting injured and has hardly featured upon his return. Still brings a full season’s worth of experience at Premiership level and his market value is likely low so seems a no-brainer.

Apparently ABK was at Wembley today.

PSV was a strange move for him. I thought for sure he'd get a permanent move to a Bundesliga team. Last minute loan to a Dutch side, albeit with Champions league football, was just odd to me.

It'll be interesting if they re-integrate him.

 

[les Habs]

Apparently ABK was at Wembley today.

PSV was a strange move for him. I thought for sure he'd get a permanent move to a Bundesliga team. Last minute loan to a Dutch side, albeit with Champions league football, was just odd to me.

It'll be interesting if they re-integrate him.

Yeah, he seemed set for BVB if I recall correctly. That said PSV isn’t a bad move, but it turned out that way which is the troubling bit. Like I said though, I would imagine his market value is low and so unless the manager doesn’t want him I would imagine he’s back.

 

[HoseEmDown]

To drive this point even further.

The meat was fully picked off Southampton's carcass when they got relegated. Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Livramento, Salisu, Tella, Alcaraz, Djenepo, ABK.

They only made two signings with fees - Shea Charles and Ross Stewart. Everything else was frees and loans.

It is insane to me that there was chatter that Martin would get canned if they didn't go up. He's done an extraordinary job with this team.

I don't agree with almost any of this. Livramento was hurt the whole season, Tella was on loan, Djenepo wasn't an impact player, even Lavia played a lot but was so raw he didn't have any impact. Ward-Prowse, Alcaraz and Bella-Kotchap were the only big loses, Salisu missed almost half that season as well. They replaced Bella-Kotchap with Harwood-Bellis, Alcaraz with a returning from a great championship loan Smallbone and Downes helped with the Ward-Prowse loss.

The key for Southampton was that their players were playing way over their heads to begin with. Bazuna wasn't ready for the premier league, same for Lavia and Edozie. The key though were Armstrong and Adams who are great Championship players but not premier league ones.

Russell Martin did a great job also but the team was definitely promotion worthy, they weren't Ipswich he punched above their weight.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

 

[luiginb]

It was just a question of time until they set their sights on England.

 

[Savant]

It was just a question of time until they set their sights on England.

in my head canon RB Leipzig is repossessing Leeds for not paying for Jean Kevin Augustin

 

[GabeTravels]

in my head canon RB Leipzig is repossessing Leeds for not paying for Jean Kevin Augustin

RB Leedzig?

 

[Venkman]

Millwall and Montenegro GK Matija Sarkic passed away yesterday after collapsing at home. RIP.

 

[robertmac43]

Big broadcasting news. Looks like the success of Welcome to Wrexham is putting the EFL on the map even more. If only these games were streamable back when Brighton was in the second and third tiers.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1813926854111170610

 

[Jussi]

Wrexham's Paul Mullin has a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine as

Spoiler

Welshpool

.

 

[GabeTravels]

I get to watch my team play Championship football in 10 days!!! I also fly out for the first home game against Luton.

Sadly, Pompey striker Colby Bishop will be out indefinitely as a heart problem was discovered by the training staff. Glad it was caught and I hope he's fit soon enough.

I have zero expectations this season beyond staying up. I'd take 21st right now if you offered it to me...


...That being said, with some luck I think a mid table finish is very possible. Still need a few midfielders and probably another attacker. Would love another loan spell for Man City's Alex Roberston. He was electric last year and would've won player of the season had he not torn his hamstring. His number wasn't assigned and I know the team wants him back. Hoping they can get it over the line.

 

[HajdukSplit]

What are Derby's prospects in the Championship this season? They were always somewhat my team in England back when I started following the Prem in the late 90s because the amount of Croatians they had on them compared to some other English clubs at the time. I'll be honest I have kind of tuned out since the whole financial nonsense and relegation to League One but good to see them back. I actually bought a kit recently too, one from few years back but hey for $30 why not lol

 

[Jussi]

Ollie Palmer also has a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, one of the bar patrons in bar scene in the beginning.

 

[GabeTravels]

What are Derby's prospects in the Championship this season? They were always somewhat my team in England back when I started following the Prem in the late 90s because the amount of Croatians they had on them compared to some other English clubs at the time. I'll be honest I have kind of tuned out since the whole financial nonsense and relegation to League One but good to see them back. I actually bought a kit recently too, one from few years back but hey for $30 why not lol

I think they'll stay up, but not much beyond that. I admittedly haven't seen or heard much of their business this off season though.

 

[PanniniClaus]

The EFL seems to have run out of contract on DAZN Canada... gone into the neverworld for footy viewers. Dark web maybe.

DAZN Canada apparently picking up some non league action in England. That has to be a first.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Update - appears DAZN have done a last minute deal for the EFL. Pretty happy about this.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

 

[PanniniClaus]

Spirited contest... Blackburn take over.

Szmodics final act?

 

[GabeTravels]

Still need a few midfielders and probably another attacker. Would love another loan spell for Man City's Alex Roberston. He was electric last year and would've won player of the season had he not torn his hamstring. His number wasn't assigned and I know the team wants him back. Hoping they can get it over the line.

Well...sadly Cardiff signed him to a permanent deal. It's a bummer, but probably right to not stretch money-wise. Even if we had matched I'm not sure he would've come to us.

However former Pompey Academy player Matt Ritchie is back from Newcastle! Great morale and leadership boost.

Still need a center back, and at least one more midfielder. Tino Anjorin could potentially come back again from Chelsea...if he can stay healthy he's class.

6 hours until Leeds away...even though I fully expect to concede 3-4 goals, I'm excited.

 

[John Price]

 

[Venkman]

Quick prediction for the top 6 and relegation.

Leeds
Burnley
Luton
Sheffield United
Middlesbrough
Coventry

Plymouth
Derby
Oxford

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Quick prediction for the top 6 and relegation.

Leeds
Burnley
Luton
Sheffield United
Middlesbrough
Coventry

Plymouth
Derby
Oxford

Tops and bottom

Leeds
Middlesbrough
Luton

down
Plymouth
Oxford
Sunderland