Bar the lottery of the play-offs, we more or less know the shape of our Division next season. It's worth taking a gander at who will be visiting, or where we might be going, next season.
Milton Keynes Dons - Ah, the Franchise. Cinema style seats at their place sort of indicate that this is not really football. A city that has concrete cows leads the way in artificial concoctions. Hence the artificial creation of a club that were stolen from South London. Are they dropping further or will their fate see them bounce straight back up? Suspect they will bring very few to Prenton Park.
Morecambe - Cole Stockton is likely to depart and our rivals from Bradford by the sea, as it used to be known, are due to renew acquaintances. An easy ish away day, offering the prospect of a night in the Lakes too. No strong feelings about this lot.
Accrington Stanley - Lovely ground, great beer and friendly stewards. Stanley are a club like us who will often be seen as 'living in the shadow' of teams like Burnley and Blackburn, but they are a club of rich tradition and clawed their way back in to the Football League after many years in the wilderness. If John Coleman is still there next season I expect them to be competitive.
Forest Green - a mystery as to how the team that played us off the pitch at Prenton Park when they last visited, did so badly in League One. Disliked, if not hated, because of their vocal and vegetarian Chair, Dale Vince, it remains to be seen whether he has lost interest or just been distracted by the energy crises, etc. They are very likely to be competitive. Doohan between the sticks will cause much amusement, but he will probably be moved on.
Stockport County - in the play offs. Back to back promotions look possible. If they don't go up they will be strong challengers next year and our local English derby game. Think they will go,up.
Carlisle United - They seem local but the journey takes forever. God knows how long it takes supporters from Gillingham to get to their place, but it's not really worth the journey. If they are in our division next season they will bring plenty to Prenton Park. They will also be tipped as promotion candidates but I reckon their bubble will burst.
Bradford City - Mark Hughes is currently at the helm, and failure to get promoted might see him depart. A trip to Bradford is always worth the effort, not least for the curry experience. Even with a new manager they will challenge next season.
Salford City - The other vanity project in our league next season. I'll say no more.
Mansfield Town - some of us can remember that bloke dancing on the roof of the cowsheds, was it Nigel Clough? Have they over achieved or under performed? Either way they are like a boil on the bum, never quite going away, but easy to forget about.
Barrow - a bit like us in that they are a shipbuilding town. A bit like us in that they have an old fashioned ground. A bit like us in that they seem to fall short.
Swindon Town - relegated last season, under performed this. Lots of history between us and them. When we played them away this season it was a hot, unseasonal October day. Probably means we'll play them in August and it will snow.
Grismby Town - Did what I expected them to do this season. Reckon they are next terms Hartlepool. Could be wrong, we'll see.
Crewe - Even with Eliot Nevitt they never set the world ablaze this season. An easy away day and they usually bring a reasonable following. Also think they could be next season's Rochdale.
Sutton United - Lots of exiles make the Sutton game, it's easy to understand why. A friendly ground with decent fans. No idea what's caused them to go into decline this season. They make me think of Priti Patel, unpredictable and a bit of a worry.
Newport County - poor season by their standards. They will probably be a bit miffed because their identity as the 'only team in the valley' has been stolen by their rivals from North Wales.
Walsall - what is there left to say about a team that there's very little to say about?
Gillingham United - Stevenage were the surprise package this season, Gillingham will fill their shoes next season. Hardly a hotbed of football, but the few Gillingham fans I've known have always been fanatical about their club. If you're thinking of going to the away fixture you should probably start your journey about now.
Doncaster Rovers - under-performed last season. Will under perform next.
Harrogate Town - Think they brought the lowest number of away supporters this season, half of them got on the wrong bus but came in anyway. They will struggle but will avoid relegation again.
Colchested United - If you want an example as to how not to build a new stadium this is the one. Their gaff is a soulless affair, perched on the edge of an industrial estate.
AFC Wimbledon - when the fixtures come out the first game they will look for is the visit of the franchise. Suspect their fans will be happy if they finish one place above them. They will be delirious if, in the circumstances, that place is 22nd.
Crawley Town - Escapes relegation by the skin of their teeth, and will spend the rest of next season doing the same. Like Colchester, a club with a non-descript ground. Never managed to book a holiday to,coincide with an away game their. The fixture gods will probably have us playing them on Boxing Day, away.
Wrexham - Our old rivals from North Wales are basking in the media attention that comes with Hollywood ownership. They'll bring loads to our place, we'll take loads to theirs. It will only be for a season.
And either
Notts County - Pedigree club who should be back in the League, ran Wrexham close all season, probably means they will blow it or
Chesterfield - Modern stadia, phoenix rising from the ashes. Getting to Chesterfield is always a tedious journey.
Of course, we have lots to happen over the coming weeks. There will be managerial changes, transfers, takeovers and much more. Next season though, looks like being much more interesting than this,
Rubbing shoulders with us next season
Posted by: Total Tranmere (IP Logged)
Date: 11/05/2023 10:29
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Agree about Notts County. I hope they win on Saturday. Meadow Lane is deffo one of the nicest grounds at this level.
The last game I went to at Wrexham, we filled the Wrexhrent stand. With all the new Wrexham supporters coming out the woodwork, I can't see Tranmere being allocated that many tickets again.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:11:14:36:57 by BirkenheadRover.
Just found out that Michael Flynn is the new boss at Swindon, he got the job a couple of days ago, i didn't realise..Doncaster, who sacked their boss the other day, are set to reappoint Grant McCann.
Sure to be an interesting season..First of all,.How are Rovers gonna fare? Will Wrexham be marching up the leagues? i think what will be really interesting is how are FGR gonna do..Vince has these ambitions of getting them into the Championship and they've had a miserable season in L1..Maybe the gap between L1 and L2 is really telling now but personally i think with them losing Rob Edwards is what hit them real hard, he got them up last season and then exactly a year ago today he infuriated Vince by going off to become new Watford boss without informing Vince,it didn't work out at Watford,but The Hornets are a basket case when it comes to appointing managers, but look at Edwards now doing a great job at Luton..i don't think they really recovered or established themselves when Edwards went., his departure hit them hard...Big Dunc? is he the answer? i have my doubts...will FGR be up there in the new season? or will it all fall flat for them?
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:11:18:45:06 by hong kong rover.
I'd rather stay in League 2 for 3 or 4 seasons, until finally having a team that could crush League 2 and win the League outright/easily. There's no point going up via play-offs, if only to come back down. Short-term it's brilliant, but I'd rather the club built itself up slowly. I'd be happy with scoring more goals next season, and maybe finishing 10th. I'd like Tranmere to play the long-game. I just hope recruitment is better this time. The season that Tranmere crush League 2 would be amazing. And it's worth waiting for. Getting a solid foothold in League 1. And League 2 football is never an option
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:11:19:37:25 by BirkenheadRover.
BirkenheadRover I'd rather stay in League 2 for 3 or 4 seasons, until finally having a team that could crush League 2 and win the League outright/easily. There's no point going up via play-offs, if only to come back down. Short-term it's brilliant, but I'd rather the club built itself up slowly. I'd be happy with scoring more goals next season, and maybe finishing 10th. I'd like Tranmere to play the long-game. I just hope recruitment is better this time. The season that Tranmere crush League 2 would be amazing. And it's worth waiting for. Getting a solid foothold in League 1. And League 2 football is never an option
Totally agree Iβd like us to keep building on the decent players we have replacing the likes of Lewis and Walker. People say Walker would run our midfield but as we speak the lad canβt even get on the pitch without injuring himself
BirkenheadRover Agree about Notts County. I hope they win on Saturday. Meadow Lane is deffo one of the nicest grounds at this level. .
I;d rather Chesterfield went up. Notts County dodged a bullet with a bit of fortune in an Oldham match the day Tranmere dropped from league 1, just prior to the Palios takeover and I have had a bit of beef with them for a couple of bad tempered games in the Martin Allen era, some of that beef spilling out onto this forum, between some Tranmere and county fans, although I refrained from personal stuff against County fans, as I tend not to air dirty laundry in public.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Looking ahead to next seasons NL, Oldham could do well and if Southend can sort out their off field troubles they could be up there,,Garrard will probably have Boreham Wood pushing the top teams and Askey should do ok with Hartlepool..See that Rochdale have appointed Jim McNulty as their new boss..Dale could struggle i feel.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:13:14:45:47 by hong kong rover.
is this Notts keeper on drugs? madman...gives away a stupid free kick in the box and then conceds a penalty, all in the first 4 mins....Chesterfield don't have a sub keeper on bench, Risky!
BirkenheadRover I'd rather stay in League 2 for 3 or 4 seasons, until finally having a team that could crush League 2 and win the League
outright/easily. There's no point going up via play-offs, if only to come back down. Short-term it's brilliant, but I'd rather the club built itself up slowly. I'd be happy with scoring more goals next season, and maybe finishing 10th. I'd like Tranmere to play the long-game. I just hope recruitment is better this time. The season that Tranmere crush League 2 would be amazing. And it's worth waiting for. Getting a solid foothold in League 1. And League 2 football is never an option
Totally agree Iβd like us to keep building on the decent players we have replacing the likes of Lewis and Walker. People say Walker would run our midfield but as we speak the lad canβt even get on the pitch without injuring himself
Can see where you both are coming from but you canβt build a team at this level, well not one that would compete at L1 with our modest budget and giving 2 year deals. It just wonβt work. We would need decent investment and giving decent wages and contract lengths for it to work, I would say Peterborough are in this bracket. But we are far from them.
If we did have success and get promoted, likely our best players move on, for free due to contracts or sold to make us sustainable and increase budget. Just like when Nors left and FGR a perfect example having their team broken up - manager, Cadden, Wilson who were crucial in making their system work. All the players have aspirations to play higher and get more money than we can pay, so we will always lose anyone who fullfil potential/have a great season.
I donβt buy into building a team either, BR, PV, Exeter all put the majority of their squad together last season got promoted then ripped them up and then all recruited another 10+ players. You could say FGR assembled their team over a couple of years then look what happened to them.
Notts have got better as the half as gone along, but Langstaff is nowhere to be seen, i honestly don't think he has touched the ball yet...Notts look best coming down the right..Chesterfield can deffo score again with this Notts defence playing the risky high line..Chesterfield have been in a few times with Dallas. intriguing this.
Extra time it is...Notts with a lot of the ball in that 2nd half but unable to really find a way until the howler from Chesterfield keeper gifted them a late equalizer...Langstaff has been so so quiet all afternoon, hardly seen him, its not really been a case of Chesterfield doing a job on him and keeping him quiet its more a case of Notts not getting him involved in the game.,strange...
Would have preferred Chesterfield as they would have been less of a threat, but Notts deserved it on the basis of their huge points haul.
Bringing a fresh goalkeeper on just before the end was a very clever move, and it paid off.
Its going to be a tough division next season, we need to watch out.
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Congrats to Notts, the sub keeper does it for them..Notts deserved it today and also for the season theyve had...Chesterfield had a good 1st half but after half time it was really all Notts...Commentator said Paul Cook didn't watch the shoot-out, he couldn't bear it and went to the dressing room.
Langstaff v Mullin...Langstaff scored 42 goals this season and not one of them was a penalty..how many of Mullins goals came from the spot this season? quite a lot!..Langstaff scored a pen in the shoot out but did nothing all game, lol.
Nemane was an exciting player today for Notts today down the left,. Bostock was probably Notts best player today but a crazy pen from him in the shoot-out.
I was impressed by Dobra in the Chesterfield team. As the afternoon wore on it looked like it would be County. Both teams were a credit to National League though, and both looked better than us.
Less than 4,000 at Salford yesterday for their 1st leg play off semi..i am guessing there must have been a fair few Stockport in attendance..Can understand the cost of living problems and the fact it is a small stadium, but that is a pathetic showing from Salford......There will probably be about 20,000 tonight for Bradford v Carlisle..
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:14:17:51:56 by hong kong rover.
Apparently, they had the whole end in which Salford scored in the league game but, according to the TV commentators the play off rules say they only have to make 10% of capacity available to the away team.
A busy lively 1st half, Bradford 1 up at the break..2 competitive teams going at each other, not much between them really, Carlisle have responded reasonably well since conceding.
Stockport 0-0 Salford at half time...Stockport have to find a goal in the 2nd half....I am looking forward to the Carlisle v Bradford game a little bit later on...I just have a feeling that this game could get a bit feisty, one thing is for sure is that it will be very competitive just like the 1st leg was at Valley Parade.
Managers tend not to last long at Salford,,if they lose today, will the boss be shown the door?..Cmon Stockport, i have no problem with them doing well,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet.
hong kong rover Managers tend not to last long at Salford,,if they lose today, will the boss be shown the door?..Cmon Stockport, i have no problem with them doing well,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet.
,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet why hkr ???
hong kong rover Managers tend not to last long at Salford,,if they lose today, will the boss be shown the door?..Cmon Stockport, i have no problem with them doing well,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet.
,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet why hkr ???
Bought their way into the footy league by that insufferable 'Class of '92 shower'...Always sacking their managers, horrible owners who demand instant success and think it can come by just pumping money in...They are a 'Carry-on club.'
hong kong rover Managers tend not to last long at Salford,,if they lose today, will the boss be shown the door?..Cmon Stockport, i have no problem with them doing well,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet.
,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet why hkr ???
Bought their way into the footy league by that insufferable 'Class of '92 shower'...Always sacking their managers, horrible owners who demand instant success and think it can come by just pumping money in...They are a 'Carry-on club.'
After the 1st leg at Bradford last weekend, the Carlisle boss described the ref as a 'Homer,' meaning a ref that favours the home side..He later had to retract his comments...Good job he never said 'Homo'..lol.........Carlisle 1 up at the interval.
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