Just wondering how good you guys think Crawley really are. I notice that they are favourites for League Two title in their first year, so the bookies think very highly of you? Don't really know much about you, but it seems like you could be moving up quickly. Have you got an ambitious chairman with financial backing? Just wondering how you got to be favourites.
You've hit the nail on the head there, but I don't think they will walk the league like people say. This division is pro through and through- no semi-pro minnows(no offence to anyone) and I think it'll take time although they've got quality players/ the funds to bring in who's needed. Definitely the team to watch though.
They have got the money. They are buying proven League 2 players and have players like Matt Tubbs who, I believe, will step up. I'd back them for promotion but not the title.
They're obviously winners with a winning mentality, so if they get turned over a few times early on it will be interesting to see how they respond.
I don't know much about them but was surprised to see them made favourites for League Two in their first season. It's not often that a team wins the title two years running.
Very rarely does a team get away in this league, with most clubs having genuine squads of under 20, the Xmas period brings up some unusual results, due to tiredness and injuries, it's not till the end of February do any clear favourites emerge. The trouble in this league is good players no matter how well the're paid, are not happy sitting on the bench, with such a short career. Tread water and you dissappear into non league. This could be one of Crawleys problems, keeping everyone happy and the morale up. Granted success does help.
I definitely think they will follow in Stevenage's footsteps this year and gain promotion, they are very similar in their style of play, and have probably got a stronger squad, so to win League 2 outright, is not beyond them.
Was at the match Saturday v Port Vale. Looked very comfortable for the most part, bigger side than the Valiants. First half hour was pretty drab but it then kicked into life. Soft soft soft sending off - even the Vale fans around me thought as much - though they should have had a penalty a couple of minutes before hand.... and as for the mong who invaded the pitch?!? I don't know very much about L2 footy but I do know think these two sides will be there or there abouts at the end of the season. Compared with the Morecambe v Rotherham match I attended opening day last season, this was a real step up in quality and entertainment.
We've been up and down league 1 and league 2 like a whore's drawers and also started in the Conf so I reckon I'm pretty well qualified to harp on about this lots. I think they will be up there or thereabouts at the end of the season. They've got an ex-Wycombe player in Sergio Torres, who, whilst not really League 1 quality can definitely cut the mustard in League 2. Add to that the likes of John Akinde who can't even get into the first team due to their strikers and you can see they'll do well. I also believe the difference in quality between mid League 1 and Conference isn't that great either, and this is proved by looking at the teams that HAVE jumped up twice - us, Cheltenham, Stevenage - and that's just off the top of my head in the last few years, I am sure there are more. As someone posted above, it's a funny old division that is because there isn't huge gulfs in quality (just ask Bradford!) and so much changes when players get injured etc. I wouldn't bet against them for an automatic. I hope the Shrews do it though really.
They've already had two big defeats, which proves my point, there very rarely dead certs for promotion in this league. My club Aldershot got off to a poor start, but have not lost for seven games, they were considered a bottom half of the league side, so much for the experts in forcasting. There is only so much a club can do with money in this league, the danger is by trying to buy their way out of this league, the team spirit can suffer. In my opinion there are at least 10 clubs that have a chance of getting into the play offs,and half of them with automatic promotion chances. Crawley is one of them.
