Vanarama National League 2016/17

[PaulHaddock]

Dagenham are going to do well imo. They improved considerably towards the end of the season and with a pre-season with Still, playoffs beckon.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Dagenham resigning Scott Doe and Luke Howell certainly suggests they could be a good bet, and at 16/1 that's some generous odds considering John Still's CV. Cheltenham showed last season how far having a good manager can take you.

 

[GuiseleySteve]

It's far too early to really say but of course on paper Forest Green and Tranmere will be the favorites, both have strong squads and will yet strengthen. Of course Tranmere's question mark is there manager who has a track record of failure in this division. The two sides relegated from the league should do well considering the budgets they will come down with, I'd also fancy Gateshead and Wrexham to improve with Lincoln an outside bet for promotion.

Of course that depends on whether they have already spent against it trying to stay up or need it for other things?

 

[Luke Imp]

The bookies obviously don't rate Brabin too highly!

 

[Chris FGR]

Think the best managers in the Conference in no particular order are Mark Cooper, John Still, Gary Mills, Paul Cox, Chris Kinnear and Danny Cowley. Would expect at least one of them to take their side up this year.

As Barnet and Cheltenham have shown in the last couple of years, having a proven quality manager is what gives you the best chance of winning this league, not how much you spend.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Think the best managers in the Conference in no particular order are Mark Cooper, John Still, Gary Mills, Paul Cox, Chris Kinnear and Danny Cowley. Would expect at least one of them to take their side up this year.

As Barnet and Cheltenham have shown in the last couple of years, having a proven quality manager is what gives you the best chance of winning this league, not how much you spend.

Cooper has had one promotion in his whole career and that wasn't even in the conference. Where do you get your ideas from?

 

[1884 Belmont]

I don't get why we are being lauded as the best squad in the division. Yes, we've got some of the best players (Davies, Norwood, McNulty and Cook probably get into any side in the division), but we've got no recognised RB, no recognised LB and have lost 2 of the better backup CB's at this level in Riley and Hogan (who are easily good enough to start). Our entire defence (which was our strength) now consists of McNulty, Sutton (who was loaned out last season) and a couple of younger pro's.

We've got a solid spine, but we need some serious flesh on the bones in defence and out wide. Also, if we are to challenge for the title Brabin will likely need a personality transplant. He's just not that type of manager to go out and win 30+ games a season.

 

[Boz]

I don't get why we are being lauded as the best squad in the division. Yes, we've got some of the best players (Davies, Norwood, McNulty and Cook probably get into any side in the division), but we've got no recognised RB, no recognised LB and have lost 2 of the better backup CB's at this level in Riley and Hogan (who are easily good enough to start). Our entire defence (which was our strength) now consists of McNulty, Sutton (who was loaned out last season) and a couple of younger pro's.

We've got a solid spine, but we need some serious flesh on the bones in defence and out wide. Also, if we are to challenge for the title Brabin will likely need a personality transplant. He's just not that type of manager to go out and win 30+ games a season.

Add to that a lack of midfield creativity and pace in the side.
Rovers might go slightly better and creep into the play-offs this season, but can't see better than that.

 

[GTFCfish]

Think the best managers in the Conference in no particular order are Mark Cooper, John Still, Gary Mills, Paul Cox, Chris Kinnear and Danny Cowley. Would expect at least one of them to take their side up this year.

As Barnet and Cheltenham have shown in the last couple of years, having a proven quality manager is what gives you the best chance of winning this league, not how much you spend.

John Still is easily the best manager in this division.

 

[AtfcTilliDie]

Think the best managers in the Conference in no particular order are Mark Cooper, John Still, Gary Mills, Paul Cox, Chris Kinnear and Danny Cowley. Would expect at least one of them to take their side up this year.

As Barnet and Cheltenham have shown in the last couple of years, having a proven quality manager is what gives you the best chance of winning this league, not how much you spend.

Waddock?

 

[Chris FGR]

Waddock?

Yep. And Garry Hill. But neither will be going up next season.

 

[B2TF]

Shouldn't you be back home in Mordor for the bank holiday?

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

Dagenham look great value at 16/1 with John Still as manager! Wouldn't surprise me if they do a "Cheltenham". Dover look way underpriced and wouldn't touch Brabins Tranmere with a barge pole at 13/2 either!

I might stick a few quid on us. I think we have a chance to be honest. Good manager and some of our core team back. I'm not expecting us to be up there but at 16/1 it's probably worth a punt.

 

[Silver Stone]

I could throw Jay Saunders' hat in the ring, three promotions in four years and all... but I won't.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

I don't get why we are being lauded as the best squad in the division. Yes, we've got some of the best players (Davies, Norwood, McNulty and Cook probably get into any side in the division), but we've got no recognised RB, no recognised LB and have lost 2 of the better backup CB's at this level in Riley and Hogan (who are easily good enough to start). Our entire defence (which was our strength) now consists of McNulty, Sutton (who was loaned out last season) and a couple of younger pro's.

We've got a solid spine, but we need some serious flesh on the bones in defence and out wide. Also, if we are to challenge for the title Brabin will likely need a personality transplant. He's just not that type of manager to go out and win 30+ games a season.

The perception is that Tranmere underperformed last season, so in that respect there'll be an improvement. The squad you've got is more than a lot of clubs have at this stage of the summer, and the signing of Cook also shows intent.
Plus the bookies have only heard of Tranmere, and see they've got the biggest crowds.

 

[Raymondo316]

We're replacing our 3G pitch a year earlier than we planned
http://www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/2016/05/new-league-signals-new-3g-pitch/

 

[joethegill]

We're replacing our 3G pitch a year earlier than we planned
http://www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/2016/05/new-league-signals-new-3g-pitch/

Big outlay for the stones this year then, new pitch in addition to a new stand and presumably a bit of a budget to bring in conference level players - hopefully it doesn't go tits up!

 

[Silver Stone]

I heard we'd saved some money from our FA Cup run to help with relaying the pitch (which we were going to do next year anyway). We should be okay, I trust Oliver and Terry to not go nuts.

 

[Murphy]

What a wonderful novelty it is that we're one of the favourites to go up (albeit ridiculously early on), and we've actually made some good early signings. Won't count my chickens too soon, but I'm fairly excited for the coming season.

 

[Raymondo316]

Big outlay for the stones this year then, new pitch in addition to a new stand and presumably a bit of a budget to bring in conference level players - hopefully it doesn't go tits up!

To be fair we had planned to do both next summer anyway, just now we're having to do it a year earlier. Anyway the rumour is our current pitch failed the yearly FIFA inspection, so we haven't really got a choice to wait.

Had been looking worst for wear for awhile now. You could see massive black patches of rubber on certain parts of the pitch....

 

[Bendubz]

Big outlay for the stones this year then, new pitch in addition to a new stand and presumably a bit of a budget to bring in conference level players - hopefully it doesn't go tits up!

Should be fine, though I have a feeling we might have to go into minor debt for a short time with no income from others using the pitch over the summer on top of all this outlay. As soon as the new one's installed then we'll be right back out of it though I reckon.

 

[DarkSithLord]

North Ferriby United ‏@northferribyutd 4m4 minutes ago
North Ferriby United are pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Housham as First Team Manager.@TheNationalLge

 

[CrazyImp]

North Ferriby United ‏@northferribyutd 4m4 minutes ago
North Ferriby United are pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Housham as First Team Manager.@TheNationalLge

Quite surprised at that.

 

[Raymondo316]

Plans to bring our ground up to National standard

 

[GTFCfish]

Plans to bring our ground up to National standard

I always remember my dad telling me about going to Maidstone in the late 80s/early 90s and people watching the game from their living room windows as the houses were that close to the pitch!

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

Yeah there was a housing development behind one of the goals at Watling Street. Went down to Dartford a few times as a young 'un.

 

[Silver Stone]

So should planning permission be given (it should), work on the new stand will run from November to March. So all you lovely people will want to avoid away games here during that period.

 

[Raymondo316]

Gonna be interesting where we put the Dover fans on boxing day/new years day

 

[DarkSithLord]

Alan Alger ‏@Alan_Alger_ 3m3 minutes ago
One of the 68 clubs in the National League touting around a sponsorship package at 450k per season. Can nearly get the whole league for that

 

[Chris FGR]

The two finalists have been named in the competition to design our new stadium, Glenn Howells Architects and Zaha Hadid Architects. http://www.forestgreenroversfc.com/news/first-team-news/2016/finalists-named-to-design-new-stadium