League 2 Relegation Thread 2018/2019

[Enzo Scifo's Right Foot]

I think the whole of the League 2 forum knows which scenario is far more likely haha

 

[Spanishstag]

So true

Aka just another episode of Bargain Brits Abroad staring Spanish Stag

Bargain brits abroad ,you havent a clue

 

[devilofajob]

I'd also be a bit nervous if I supported Crawley at the moment.

Only a bit!
We're creating chances but not scoring.
FGR at home next, not expecting much there.
Then Yeovil away - a "must not lose" game.
Last is at home to Tranmere. Really hope we're safe by then.

 

[Wooderson]

Tremendous result for Cambridge which surely secures their place in L2 next season. Looking like 2 from 3, but with Crawley to play us and Yeovil, they'll still be looking over their shoulders.

Important weekend coming up:

Notts v Northampton
Macclesfield v Morecambe
Swindon v Yeovil

On paper, we probably have the most favourable fixture, with mid-table Northampton seemingly safe and losing to 10-man Vale at home last weekend. Curle will be looking for a reaction to that, though. We have been pretty bad at home recently however, no goals in the last 3. We need to start building on our away form if we are to get out of this.

A few weeks ago Macc would have been looking at the Morecambe game as one they could surely win, but the Shrimpers have been in decent form lately and will probably see three points here, or even one, as guaranteeing safety.

Finally Yeovil have a tough task at Swindon, who suddenly look like they could crash the play-off party again following a couple of good wins.

I wouldn't be surprised by draws for us and Macc and defeat for Yeovil, which could (if 2 goals or more) send them to the bottom of the league for the first time and us out of the drop zone for the first time since November 17.

As an aside, I was really surprised to see Yeovil have scored only 37 goals. 10 of those came in just 2 games against us and Newport!

 

[valefan16]

This time last year Grimsby looked doomed to drop with a horrific long run of form but turned it around late on to scrape home so still hope for Yeovil but need to act now. Their run in looks the worst of the three by far though, Swindon away is tough, Crewe do well at home and Colchester is tricky.

That Crawley game is massive, lose that and you'd think they are gone, Crawley also have a tough run in too. Lose both to Yeovil and Notts and they could come unstuck. Win 1 though and they are probably over the line.

 

[AnotherStagsFan]

Yeovil look doomed with recent form + upcoming fixtures, between Macc and County for the final place.

 

[Buxton Vale]

despite some tricky looking games to come, I think we are out of this after today's win.

 

[Wooderson]

I wouldn't be surprised by draws for us and Macc and defeat for Yeovil, which could (if 2 goals or more) send them to the bottom of the league for the first time and us out of the drop zone for the first time since November 17.

So close!

 

[Blue Lion]

Best result of the day went to Yeovil with that unexpected point. Notts and ourselves will both be a little disappointed to drop points in winnable games. We need to beat Exeter on Tuesday now, otherwise we would be handing Notts the advantage in the relegation fight.

Elsewhere Crawley must be starting to worry now. One more win would be enough but even that could be difficult given their current form.

 

[JJ1532]

53 - Guaranteed Safety 2019
51 - Safety 2013
50 - Safety 2014
49 -
48 -
47 - Safety 2017 Port Vale(41)
46 - Safety 2018 Morecambe(41)
45 -
44 - Cambridge(41)
43 - Crawley(41)
42 - Safety 2015, Predicted Safety 18-19
41 -
40 -
39 -
38 -
37 - Yeovil(41)
-----------------------------------------------------
37 - Notts County(41)
36 - Macclesfield(40)
35 - Safety 2016

Forthcoming fixtures:

18th - Port Vale(41) - 47 points. Exeter(A), Stevenage(H), MK Dons(A), Macclesfield(H), Bury(A)
19th - Morecambe(41) - 46 points. Grimsby(H), Mansfield(A), Cheltenham(H), Cambridge(A), Newport(H)
20th - Cambridge(41) - 45 points. Newport(H), Swindon(H), Forest Green(A), Morecambe(H), Macclesfield(A)
21st - Crawley(41) - 43 points. Forest Green(H), Yeovil(A), Exeter(A), Notts County(H), Carlisle(A), Tranmere(H)
22nd - Yeovil(41) - 37 points. Crawley(H), Crewe(A), Colchester(H), Northampton(A), Carlisle(H)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23rd - Notts County(41) - 37 points. Northampton(H), Crewe(A), MK Dons(H), Crawley(A), Grimsby(H), Swindon(A)
24th - Macclesfield(40) - 36 points. Exeter(H), Forest Green(A), Northampton(A), Newport(H), Port Vale(A), Cambridge(H)

Starting at the bottom, Macc still can't buy a win and whilst they are still only 1 point off safety, there is still hope. But you just can't see where their next win is coming from. Looking like they need some divine intervention soon. Notts can't build on their win last week and drop points against Northampton. Still, got an on the beach Crewe side next week and a poor Crawley side not far off, so still plenty of chances to get out of trouble.

That being said, Yeovil's last minute point against Swindon could be a game changer for them. Crawley at home next for them, massive chance to keep their heads above water. As for Crawley, they keep dropping and look in more and more danger each week. There is always one that plummets and makes a late push to go down. It could happen.

As for Cambridge, their win against Bury is huge. Need a win from one of their back to back home games you feel. Morecambe keep Macc at bay with a useful point and have an out of form Grimsby next week. A win there should seal their safety. The Vale also are almost there after a comfy win yesterday.

Still so tight and I still can't call which way this one will go.

 

[Wooderson]

Good summary JJ, our fate will depend a lot on how much the mid table teams we face are indeed ‘on the beach’... you think your lot will be up for a scrap next week? At least we have shown some character in the last 2 following what could have been a killer blow v Exeter.

 

[valefan16]

Think we have done enough now although how well we are playing we should still rattle off a few more points. Equalled last years total which was enough. 250/1 with most bookies now!

Crawley can’t afford to lose to Yeovil or Notts or they could make it a four way battle. Yeovil getting a rare point could be a boost. Think Notts will stay up personally.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

It feels like we won't get out of it. Every time we win an unexpected game we can never follow it up with a win. Whilst I'm delighted with the point given we fell behind just after half time and were down to 10 men our defending was utterly shambolic for both goals and the Yeovil goal was a sucker punch. We've been in since November which feels like an eternity anything to lift the gloom will improve. With Macclesfield playing Exeter this week a draw sends us bottom 3 points would be disasterous. I just can't see us doing it.

 

[Wooderson]

It feels like we won't get out of it. Every time we win an unexpected game we can never follow it up with a win. Whilst I'm delighted with the point given we fell behind just after half time and were down to 10 men our defending was utterly shambolic for both goals and the Yeovil goal was a sucker punch. We've been in since November which feels like an eternity anything to lift the gloom will improve. With Macclesfield playing Exeter this week a draw sends us bottom 3 points would be disasterous. I just can't see us doing it.

I know what you mean, but after the Cheltenham game we were 7 points and -22 goals off getting out of the bottom two - and yet the only thing that kept us in yesterday was an injury time goal for Yeovil. And at least the players don’t seem to have given up, coming back to equalise with 10 men then literally putting their bodies on the line (twice!) to preserve a point. If we can show that kind of desire over the next five games we’ll stand half a chance (just cut out the daft defensive mistakes).

 

[Blue Lion]

It feels like we won't get out of it. Every time we win an unexpected game we can never follow it up with a win. Whilst I'm delighted with the point given we fell behind just after half time and were down to 10 men our defending was utterly shambolic for both goals and the Yeovil goal was a sucker punch. We've been in since November which feels like an eternity anything to lift the gloom will improve. With Macclesfield playing Exeter this week a draw sends us bottom 3 points would be disasterous. I just can't see us doing it.

At least you actually win a few games here and there. Macc, Yeovil and Crawley can't buy a win. I would say you have the best chance of staying up out of the bottom three.

 

[jacobncfc]

I think that trip to Crewe next week is massive for us - our recent away form is very good, Gresty Road is a ground where we have a cracking record overall and Crewe don’t have a great deal to play for. Got to be targeting a win.

 

[Optipez]

Suspect we'll take loads to Crewe it feels like a chance to get a win.
Very tight between the three of us and Crawley are doing their best to join us.
If, and it's a huge if, we can actually get out of the bottom two at some point it would give us a massive lift. We've felt doomed for months but we've at last started fighting as a team.
I'll be glued to the phone checking Tuesdays score, great chance for Macclesfield to get out the bottom two themselves.

 

[Railway Blue]

What will happen to Notts if they do go down? Will they be able mount a challenge for a quick return. It seems that most big teams (Luton, Tranmere, Grimsby, Chesterfield, etc) just find that they cannot adapt quickly enough to the type of football that's required.

 

[GEORGE]

What will happen to Notts if they do go down? Will they be able mount a challenge for a quick return. It seems that most big teams (Luton, Tranmere, Grimsby, Chesterfield, etc) just find that they cannot adapt quickly enough to the type of football that's required.

All depends who you have as manager. When we went down we brought in a manager that was used to this league and the teams that were in it. You also have to show a certain amount of respect and not be " The big billy bollox " who everyone wants to beat. Mind you a second year and i'm not so sure how it would have panned out for us.

 

[darren gregory]

Oddschecker have the bottom 3 as all odds on for relegation !!!
Nothing like the bookies hedging their bets.

Think Yeovil v a sinking Crawley is pivotal.
Depends which Crewe turn up against County, surely the weirdest team in the League.
On their day top 3 side, on an off day awful.
Mind you guess that applies to most sides from 7th downwards.

If i had to call it i'd still say County and Macc based on fixtures.
So tight it's unreal.

 

[Conker]

I thought the result yesterday for County would have been a decider in my mind if it was a win or loss, but the point does not really change much.

My guess at the moment would be County and Yeovil, I just have a gut feeling about Macclesfield. I I haven't even looked at the remaining fixtures so it really is just a wildshot.

 

[Conker]

What will happen to Notts if they do go down? Will they be able mount a challenge for a quick return. It seems that most big teams (Luton, Tranmere, Grimsby, Chesterfield, etc) just find that they cannot adapt quickly enough to the type of football that's required.

It's very rarely established FL clubs come straight back up, being a club used to the FL is almost a negative for a few seasons due to various reasons. Took Mansfield five years, christ it even took Luton that long - Tranmere did very well to come up so soon and Bristol Rovers was a bit of a freak season.

You always have suprises too, we won the title but Kidderminster of all teams were touch and go untill the final game not to mention the odd 'tinpot moneybag' team, then the usual challenges that will be failing in promotion for eternity ie Wrexham.

 

[darren gregory]

2 weeks running Northampton have been leading against 10 men strugglers and got 1 point.

I've been studying because we were in the thick of it. The thing is as Cambridge proved at Bury weird results happen at this time of year.

Crawley play Yeovil and County and 3 play off sides so they may be a touch nervous themselves. Massive games.

Slightly off topic Orient seem to be bottling it and them twats Salford are looking good

 

[valefan16]

2 weeks running Northampton have been leading against 10 men strugglers and got 1 point.

I've been studying because we were in the thick of it. The thing is as Cambridge proved at Bury weird results happen at this time of year.

Crawley play Yeovil and County and 3 play off sides so they may be a touch nervous themselves. Massive games.

Slightly off topic Orient seem to be bottling it and them twats Salford are looking good

Hoping Salford fail as a lower league Man City finances to the hilt but money talks. Imagine they’d be favourites next season too if they come up and we’d all be part of the circus when we play them.

 

[huddsmoose]

I hadn't appreciated how much Crawley are in the mix. Their fixtures are tougher than rivals too. Could still see Macc and County get out of it, especially if Macc get a point or three out of their game in hand.

 

[jacobncfc]

What will happen to Notts if they do go down? Will they be able mount a challenge for a quick return. It seems that most big teams (Luton, Tranmere, Grimsby, Chesterfield, etc) just find that they cannot adapt quickly enough to the type of football that's required.

Impossible to tell. We don’t even know who the owner is going to be in a few weeks’ time.

The clubs around a similar size to us who’ve gone down all seem to come back relatively quickly (Oxford, Brovers, Tranmere and possibly now Orient), but with the obvious exception of Luton. But that’s no guarantee.

 

[Conker]

Oxford must have been down for around 4 seasons? They got promoted via play-offs too.

I think a basketcase like County would do well to replicate anything earlier than that, but anything is possible!

 

[Soz]

I think Notts county will stay up.

They seem the most likely to get a result at the moment.

 

[Boz]

What will happen to Notts if they do go down? Will they be able mount a challenge for a quick return. It seems that most big teams (Luton, Tranmere, Grimsby, Chesterfield, etc) just find that they cannot adapt quickly enough to the type of football that's required.

Rovers problem was not so much adapting, when we went down had relatively few players under contract and had to rebuild the side almost from scratch. Bought the right kind of players in; proven quality at NL or done it before, but probably the wrong manager in Brabin. Don’t know how many of their current squad the Magpies would retain if going down and Ardley?

Hoping Salford fail as a lower league Man City finances to the hilt but money talks. Imagine they’d be favourites next season too if they come up and we’d all be part of the circus when we play them.

Wouldn’t FFP be a factor? Salford don’t have much of a fan base and might have to curb any spending to be compliant.

 

[valefan16]

Rovers problem was not so much adapting, when we went down had relatively few players under contract and had to rebuild the side almost from scratch. Bought the right kind of players in; proven quality at NL or done it before, but probably the wrong manager in Brabin. Don’t know how many of their current squad the Magpies would retain if going down and Ardley?

Wouldn’t FFP be a factor? Salford don’t have much of a fan base and might have to curb any spending to be compliant.

Ways around it, Mansfield spend big on 4000 crowds, as have Bury for example and Fleetwood in the past on less than that, I believe its not purely on gates but income so for example you could own the club and have your business sponsor it and invest it as income that way maybe?