After all the bitching, name calling, wumming etc I thought it might be an idea to get some discussion on football in general and football outside the Premier League. Somewhere where we can discuss what's going on in the other divisions etc. Feel free to add something sensible and discuss any issues Please don't let it just become an ITFC bashing thread, let's talk football. I will start by mentioning just how bizarre the Championship is yet again this season, based on some of the recent results. Birmingham City - battered at home by Barnsley 0-5, Barnsley then go on to draw at home to struggling Ipswich. Brighton, top of the league, losing at home 1-0 to Birmingham who had just been stuffed (see above) Peterborough, without a point in the opening 7 games go away to Hull and win 3-1 League 1 Coventry City are having a bed time of life in the new division with Portsmouth not a whole lot better. Swindon Town are making an early challenge to achieve back to back promotions - as are Crawley Town. Personally I would be happy enough to see Swindon on the way back up but not sure about the other lots buying their way up. League 2 Wycombe Wanderers, already sacked their manager and still struggling at 2nd bottom in the league Gillingham are looking head and shoulders above most others and may finally start their rise back up the leagues, same with Port Vale. Seems like a long time since we played Port Vale in the Championship! AFC Wimbledon's dream is hitting a rough patch this season, could this be the start of their return to non-league football? Barnet, who always seems to be near the bottom of this division are now bottom and I would have no problem if they got relegated.
My first port of call looking at lower league results always starts, atm, in the Conference premier, I lived in Lincoln for 21 years, living just 6 or 7 hundred yards from Sincil Bank. Another link to the Imps is, of course, Chrissy Sutton was their manager for a while! Thai, your remarks about the Championship really goes to prove what I've heard many times, on any given day, any Championship side can be beaten by any other Championship side! We did so well getting straight out of there last time, it can be a total nightmare!
Without question, it is a mad, mad league but so enjoyable to watch whether your team is part of it or not! I wish Sky would put more focus on it as it is fascinating most weeks. I keep half an eye on Lincoln City too as I stayed there for a little over a year and visited the Bank a few times for midweek games. Wycombe is the first score I look for outside the PL though. I put this down to thinking they have the best football strip in the country
interesting thread thai - thought about doing something similar last week. i love watching lower league football (cue binner jokes about getting my wish in a few months time ) - the thing i miss most about watching norwich play lower down is the evening games. carrow road really rocks on a midweek fixture - how many evening games do we have at home this year? none i believe, well, in the league anyway. as for the leagues as they stand, the championship is as barmy as usual. you can pick any game, any week, between teams positioned anywhere in the league and not have a scooby who will win. fantastic stuff though the quality is somewhat lacking. there's some big spenders in that league again this year and with FFP around the corner, i'd guess there are as many as ten teams who HAVE TO be promoted this season or they'll be in financial trouble. i'm no mathematician but 10 into 3 doesn't go. for some, the gamble will pay off, big time, but its a terribly risky game to play with supporters clubs. i tipped brighton to win the league so as things stand there is a chance of that happening. i think they've got the binners tonight so knowing the championship it'll probably be an away win . i watched the midlands derby on sunday - it was a truly awful match, decided by a poor refereeing decision. other than that i've not seen too much championship footy this year. its getting bloody expensive to go! i'm going to a league two game in a couple of weeks which is £17 for a terrace ticket!! that is farcical - no wonder these teams are struggling to attract fans. but then, that's the price they have to charge to survive. in league one, interesting to see tranmere's resurgence under ronnie moore. they were a constant in the championship for a good few years a decade or so ago, often challenging for a place in the top flight. could they be about to reclaim their place? swindon seem to be riding the di canio effect very well. the less said about crawley the better but at least they've lost that total piece of work steve evans now. intriguing to see stevenage up the top again. i felt they'd struggle when westley left but they've surprised me. i don't like westley nor his methods (i'm not sure the preston players like them either!) but they worked for stevenage so good on them and gary smith for changing the feel of the club but maintaining the results - not easy to do. every year i tip rotherham to win league two, to no avail, but with evans there this year i chose against it and tipped paul tisdale's exeter to bounce staright back up. they've made a decent start, unlike my other tip, mark mcghee's bristol rovers, who have made a terrible start, though they did win at st james' the other day, so maybe they will begin to move forwards now! not looking good for wycombe though. i liked waddock but his team just can't defend and i suppose if you suffer two relegations you have to go, especially when you look like you might get a third! poor old ginger pele...
The next time we play on a Sunday I am going to start a thread to talk about the Saturday games. I hate Saturday when we don't have a game and I just want to talk about all the other games but no one has ever done it in here (yet)
Always interested in the lower leagues.Somehow it's all a lot more "real" than the Premiership.I see Jamie Cureton has scored 7 for Exeter already this season.Mrs CT is from ooop North and I like to take in a League 1/2 game whenever I am up there.Great idea re a Saturday thread btw.
One of my daughters lives on Robey Street and I might be going there at the weekend. If I do it will be a couple of pints in the Golden Eagle followed by Lincoln v Luton. If it happens I will give you a report.
Enjoy I predict an away win though. The Imps have been far from impressive so far this season (once again)
It's sad to see some of the 'traditional' clubs like luton and lincoln in the conference actually. i too like checking in on the lower league tables every week. i keep my eye out for exeter (cureton and i like Paul Tisdale) and bristol rovers (is Matt Gill still there, i think he is?), along with yo-yo Wycombe in L2 as they are local and Swindon in L1. Have the BBC dropped showing live championship games now due to funding? they had been showing a few games each season. i haven't noticed any this season; not having Sky, i used to enjoy those. anybody know.
I saw them 3 or 4 times last year and they were bloody awful. I saw them about a month ago when they lost 2-1 to Alfreton and they were even worse!! I like going because with the small crowds you can always get out for a wee so you can have a couple of extra pints in the Eagle before the game. It's a nice little ground as well unlike Crawley where another of my daughters lives. Broadfield Stadium is dreadful and a long walk from the Swan which is the only decent pub in Crawley.
not been to sincil bank for a few years. do they still have that stand on one side which only goes about an eighth of the way along the pitch?
I lived on Arthur Street which is at the bottom of Scorer Street, my local was the Chaplin Arms, except on a Monday evening, when it was up to the Centurion at North Hykeham for a "take your pick" style quiz night!
I have mentioned Truro City (Conference South) on a different thread but unfortunately tonight could be their last game. The playing staff have told the adminstrator that if a new owner isn't found then they will walk. The yalready face an ultimatum from the Conference that the new owner must be in place by 11 October or they will be expelled. Its very sad and the only chance of ever seeing League football in Cornwal will dissolve. On a brighter note. The great side of football, especially at lower league level, was illustrated when Chelmsford City had a collection for Truro during their match on Saturday and raised £750. Absolutely amazing how some people will show the wonderful side of human behaviour. In fact, my son and I were saying how much more we enjoyed life with the Canaries in League 1 than the plastic Premier League. Meeting supporters who were there for the right reasons and visiting grounds that had character. If we do get relegated this season I won't shed too many tears.
Good thread Thai I always look for the Cambridge Utd result and I get to see them when I can at the Abbey. I also follow Lowestoft, Leiston & Bury Town and have been to a few matches over the last couple of years. And no I do not believe that one of these will overtake Ipswich in the years to come! I used to referee at a pretty high standard in non league football and I have always enjoyed the "Raw" atmosphere!
i see wroxham got a very creditable draw in the trophy away to steve tilson's canvey island at the weekend. replay tonight if anyone fancies it...
