Ups & Downs 23/24

[Winston Biscuit]

Kicking this off as we usually have one.

Will add more later when I have time, but I wanted to mainly point out for now that Blackburn's run it is quite ridiculous. With 8 games left they still have to play the top 4 teams, plus Coventry who are pushing for the play offs

[Winston Biscuit]

Chesterfield, effectively promoted back to the EFL anyway due to goal diff, but 1 point tonight against Halifax would seal it

[Stranded]

Chesterfield, effectively promoted back to the EFL anyway due to goal diff, but 1 point tonight against Halifax would seal it

Would be quite an early promotion for the NL?

Interesting* if you look at the play-off sides - with the exception of Barnet (and Aldershot if you see them as the same club) the rest would be new clubs to the EFL: Bromley, Gateshead, Solihull Moors, Altrincham.

[South Coast Royal]

Chesterfield, effectively promoted back to the EFL anyway due to goal diff, but 1 point tonight against Halifax would seal it

Would be quite an early promotion for the NL?

Interesting* if you look at the play-off sides - with the exception of Barnet (and Aldershot if you see them as the same club) the rest would be new clubs to the EFL: Bromley, Gateshead, Solihull Moors, Altrincham.

Gateshead were in the football league back in the 50s but your overall point is interesting.

[Winston Biscuit]

Solihull Moors sounds the most non leaguey name, so I want them to go up

[Dirk Gently]

For years and years I thought they were called Solihull Motors. It was a real revelation just a couple of seasons ago when I discovered the truth.

[Dirk Gently]

It's the downs in the National League that I find most fascinating.

Oxford City in 24th place are as good as doomed, but the next ten points from 42 to 52 span 14 teams, right up to Rochdale in 1oth place, who are only eight points outside the play-offs. In fact, ten teams span the five points between 23rd place (42 points) and 14th place (47 points) - all to play for with six or seven matches left.

Maidenhead didn't do themselves any favours last weekend getting thumped at Dagenham & Redbridge.

[Green]

Skateboarding back from the Netherlands

[paultheroyal]

It's the downs in the National League that I find most fascinating.

Oxford City in 24th place are as good as doomed, but the next ten points from 42 to 52 span 14 teams, right up to Rochdale in 1oth place, who are only eight points outside the play-offs. In fact, ten teams span the five points between 23rd place (42 points) and 14th place (47 points) - all to play for with six or seven matches left.

Maidenhead didn't do themselves any favours last weekend getting thumped at Dagenham & Redbridge.

More worryingly. Eastleigh are in utter freefall.

[Sutekh]

Chesterfield, effectively promoted back to the EFL anyway due to goal diff, but 1 point tonight against Halifax would seal it

Would be quite an early promotion for the NL?

Interesting* if you look at the play-off sides - with the exception of Barnet (and Aldershot if you see them as the same club) the rest would be new clubs to the EFL: Bromley, Gateshead, Solihull Moors, Altrincham.

Gateshead were in the football league back in the 50s but your overall point is interesting.

But not the current iteration of the club. The original Gateshead were a FL club for a good 40 years I think, first as South Shields then as Gateshead when they moved to the town in the 30s. Were voted out of the FL in 1960 and completely collapsed in 1973. The current club was formed in 1977 after Gateshead United, who moved over from South Shields in 1974, folded.

They must have one of the cr@ppiest stadiums to watch football at though.

[Stranded]

Chesterfield, effectively promoted back to the EFL anyway due to goal diff, but 1 point tonight against Halifax would seal it

Nerves clearly got to them last night - turned over 4-2. Will a case of when not if though.

[Brum Royal]

For years and years I thought they were called Solihull Motors. It was a real revelation just a couple of seasons ago when I discovered the truth.

Their ground is right next door to the Jaguar plant on the edge of Solihull tbf. Nice little ground too.

But the name comes from the merger of Solihull Borough FC and Moor Green FC, and so incorporates both former team names

[Pepe the Horseman]

As funny as it'd be for Leicester to stay down after throwing away their massive lead, I'd be just as happy with a Leeds choke.

[Sutekh]

Rotherham all but mathematically doomed. Have to win every remaining game well and hope Hudds and Weds lose all their games as well as hoping Plymouth lose every game they have heavily. Next game? A visit from Plymouth on Friday....

Carlisle still hanging on in there, need to win every game they have left and hope Burton don't win any of their games (not to mention hoping that Cheltenham and Port Vale lose evey game too!) - hope they do it as that'd mean Reading are already safe

[Sanguine]

It is mathematically possible for a Championship side to reach 100 points this season and not be promoted. Max points - Leicester 106, Ipswich 105, Leeds 104.

A record will surely go though - the most points accumulated by a side that failed to win promotion in the EFL is 90, held jointly by Sheffield United (2011/12, League One) and Sunderland (1997/98, Championship). In fact there is a chance that even Southampton pass the 90-point mark and finish 4th.

[Brum Royal]

8 points separating Swansea (15th) and Sheff Wed (23rd), going to be a fun battle at the bottom with everyone having 6 left to play

[Silver Fox]

Rotherham’s relegation confirmed

[Clyde1998]

I believe, if I've calculated this right Portsmouth need seven more points to be automatically promoted from League One: a win for them against Shrewsbury and a Bolton loss at Bristol Rovers would mean Bolton could only finish above Portsmouth on goal difference.

At the other end, Carlisle will be relegated if they fail to win at Northampton or Burton defeat Oxford.

[Loafer]

I wish Rotherham would just stop getting promoted, they're oxf*rd boring

[Sutekh]

Rotherham’s relegation confirmed

Plymoth sacked Ian Foster after appointing him in the new year, caretaker bloke comes in for last night game and apparently dropped all of Foster's signings and Plymouth won 1-0.

Note, Foster will no doubt rock up as Reading's next manager.