Ups & Downs 2017/18

[Victor Meldrew]

There must be something in the water up that way with both Macclesfield and Stanley doing the business.
I would like to use this forum to thank my brother for pointing me in the direction of Macclesfield pre-season for an ante-post price of 25/1.
He may not thank me for it but some of the winnings will be used to cover the price of his season ticket next season.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Great work Vic!

Great to see folk looking outside of the box

(Two-thirds through your book btw....wow)

[Pepe the Horseman]

Brentford are 1 point outside the play offs with Barnsley & Hull left to play

Millwall in 6th play Boro in 5th next week, Millwall then have Villa while Derby have to play Cardiff, Villa and Barnsley.

Reckon Brentford could be a good bet to take the last play off place (can't find any odds on it though)

5/1 with Betvictor and Betway x

[Winston Biscuit]

Gainsborough Trinity relegated from Conf North.

First time they have been either promoted or relegated in their 145 year history

[From Despair To Where?]

...although they were voted out of The League in 1912 and have had a number of failed attempts to be re-elected.

[double d]

Gainsborough Trinity relegated from Conf North.

First time they have been either promoted or relegated in their 145 year history

How did they get up there then?

[From Despair To Where?]

They've basically always been tier 2 of the non league pyramid and got into Conference North because of restructuring.

They've won the top tier of the non league pyramid but prior to 1986, there was no relegation but the bottom 4 of the football league would apply for re-election along with any non league club applying to become a member of the football league. The vote was taken at the Football League AGM and the 4 clubs with the most votes would stay in the league. Football League clubs would generally vote for their own unless it was a grim, penniless Northern shithole that was an utter ballache to get to (Gateshead, Bradford Park Avenue, Barrow, Workington & Southport).

Since the creation of the 4th Division in 1958, only 5 non league clubs have applied successfully, Peterborough, Cambridge, Hereford, Wigan and Wimbledon, although Oxford were allowed to make up the numbers when Accrington Stanley went bust in 1962.

[Green]

The 60's was quite a decade for Northampton fans. Started at the bottom, finished off back there again.

1960/61 Div 4 Promoted
1962/63 Div 3 Promoted
1964/65 Div 2 Promoted
1965/66 Div 1 Relegated
1966/67 Div 2 Relegated
1968/69 Div 3 Relegated

Cobblers

[Green]

Gainsborough Trinity relegated from Conf North.

First time they have been either promoted or relegated in their 145 year history

Hopefully this will be a wake up call to them.

[Sanguine]

So as it stands....

Championship

Promotion - Wolves as champions, and likely one of Cardiff or Fulham. Villa can still do it if neither of those win either of their remaining two games.
Playoffs - Cardiff, Fulham and Villa assured of at least a play-off spot. Brilliantly a lot of the other contenders play each other. Villa play Derby and Millwall in their last two games, Sheffield United (currently 11th!) play Bristol City and Preston, Millwall play Middlesbrough. In that sense, Brentford might be a decent shout - they can still finish 5th, and play Hull and Barnsley.
Relegation - Sunderland are down, and Burton will join them on Saturday if they lose to Bolton. Barnsley will actually want Burton to win, otherwise beating Brentford at the weekend might not improve their position much.

League One

Promotion - Wigan and Blackburn
Playoffs - Shrewsbury and Rotherham, plus likely two of Charlton, Scunthorpe and Plymouth, the latter two have a game in hand, against each other, which might decide the final place.
Relegation - Bury are down, and MK Dons all but relegated. Northampton currently in 22nd, and their last two games are against the teams in 20th and 21st, Oldham and Walsall. Results of those will likely decide which two go down.

League Two

Promotion - Accrington Stanley and Luton, with one spot to be decided.
Playoffs - Wycombe are assured at least a playoff spot. Third and final promotion place likely between them, Exeter and Notts County. Add Coventry and Lincoln and the playoff teams come from those five, unless Mansfield win their remaining two games and Coventry collapse.
Relegated - Chesterfield are down, and will be joined by Barnet unless they pull off a miracle escape. They do at least play Chesterfield on the last day.

[double d]

So as it stands....

Championship

Promotion - Wolves as champions, and likely one of Cardiff or Fulham. Villa can still do it if neither of those win either of their remaining two games.
Playoffs - Cardiff, Fulham and Villa assured of at least a play-off spot. Brilliantly a lot of the other contenders play each other. Villa play Derby and Millwall in their last two games, Sheffield United (currently 11th!) play Bristol City and Preston, Millwall play Middlesbrough. In that sense, Brentford might be a decent shout - they can still finish 5th, and play Hull and Barnsley.
Relegation - Sunderland are down, and Burton will join them on Saturday if they lose to Bolton. Barnsley will actually want Burton to win, otherwise beating Brentford at the weekend might not improve their position much.

League One

Promotion - Wigan and Blackburn
Playoffs - Shrewsbury and Rotherham, plus likely two of Charlton, Scunthorpe and Plymouth, the latter two have a game in hand, against each other, which might decide the final place.
Relegation - Bury are down, and MK Dons all but relegated. Northampton currently in 22nd, and their last two games are against the teams in 20th and 21st, Oldham and Walsall. Results of those will likely decide which two go down.

League Two

Promotion - Accrington Stanley and Luton, with one spot to be decided.
Playoffs - Wycombe are assured at least a playoff spot. Third and final promotion place likely between them, Exeter and Notts County. Add Coventry and Lincoln and the playoff teams come from those five, unless Mansfield win their remaining two games and Coventry collapse.
Relegated - Chesterfield are down, and will be joined by Barnet unless they pull off a miracle escape. They do at least play Chesterfield on the last day.

Incredible that Plymouth were in the relegation places in December.

[Sanguine]

Incredible that Plymouth were in the relegation places in December.

It is. They got 7 points from their first 14 games, and 58 from the 29 since. It's a shame they have stuttered right at last, just two points of the last 9.

I did notice their climb up the table - from 24th to 5th in 20 games - and wonder if it were some sort of record.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

It would be good to have Plymouth back in the champ tbh

[double d]

It would be. Always fondly remembered for beating us in our record breaking season and THAT chip by Blakey

[Sanguine]

It would be. Always fondly remembered for beating us in our record breaking season and THAT chip by Blakey

I remember I was on holiday for the start of the season and was so disgusted at reading we had lost to Plymouth at home I didn't even bother picking up the Brighton result (a 2-0 win) until a week later, when I read the following Saturday's results (a 3-0 win at Preston) in the paper on the beach.

As an aside - to illustrate how different football's fortunes can be - Crewe were relegated from the Championship that season, and set for a finish around 17th or 18th in League Two this time around; as were Brighton, who of course will comfortably stay in the Premier League.

[Stranded]

L2 relegation looking interesting. Barnet win at Morecambe today leaving them 2pts adrift.

They have a home game v relegated Chesterfield whilst Morecambe go to Coventry, who need a point to guarantee a play-off spot.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Has Chris Coleman resigned from the mackems yet?

Sunderland at Accrington and Fleetwood lol.....just imagine

[AthleticoSpizz]

Coleman departs, you heard it here first.......

No credit due...it was a nailed-on obvious

[Double d v2]

Can Barnet pull off another miracle?

[Stranded]

Can Barnet pull off another miracle?

Either way, Martin Allen will probably quit again.