League One Rivals thoughts on 12/13

[Worksop_Blade]

As this forum is full of threads on how we will rebuild and succeed/fail next season, I thought I'd have a look at the boards of who I think will be United's rivals for next season.

Pompey
PNE
MK Dons
Donny
Swindon
Notts County

I only picked the posts I thought were sensible.



PompeyMad - How do you see next season going.

effers2011: difficult to say as league one is a tougher league than people think. i think we will have a slow start but get a good winning run towards the end and finish in top half. if we sign the players we have been linked with we might just get the play offs as they are 2 decent strikers.

PompeyGun: Too early to say IMO, in fact I'd probably delay judgement until the end of August. After Kushnir's comments about getting in cheap replacements & exit strategy after 3 years, all of which sends a shudder down my spine, ATM I'm none too hopeful but hope to be surprised.

CorkHead:
IF... we get off to a good start
IF... the off-pitch shenanigans settle down
IF... we can get a decent buzz going and decent crowds to make FP a fortress
IF... Appy can put a side together that competes well physically as well as phootbally
IF... we can lose some of negativity surrounding the club and approach it as a fresh start
IF... we believe

...we may get a top half finish



PNE Online - Is the league ours for the taking?

Raefil: In answer to the OP. No its not there for the taking. Coventry will obviously start as massive favourites and Sheff Utd are a perennial thorn in our side. However I certainly think that Westley is building a squad that will put us in with a decent shout.

llanroc: Whilst I'm feeling confident, we have to also realise that they may not gel straight away, and might start off poorly. I'm sure they will click, but might not be as quick as some would like.

Bobbage: Apart from Stuckman all the players you mention have occasionally looked quality in a terrible team. The thing that excites me most about what is starting to build at Deepdale is that the way we are going the standard of players in the squad will be far higher this season and these outfield players will have to significantly raise their game or they'll be on the bench at best!

We've got a great chance at a play-off spot if they gel.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

The Concrete Roundabout MK Dons - Couldn't find a next season thread

Like I say I couldn’t find a thread on 12/13 but reading those boards makes me proud to be a Blade on here. It’s seems like all MK Dons fans are a tad erm stupid.

Anyway I found this post

OldFarmDons: I would have thought it would be very prudent for Karl to stay where he is

At 31 he has a few good years in which to build a reputation, but by flying the nest too soon he risks trading a benign environment for a less forgiving one where more may well be expected over a shorter period of time

Take it easy Karl, try again, finish the job that you are inching closer towards. If the squad stays largely intact then we will be well set for what should - in theory - an easier division than this year


DRFC-VSC Donny Rovers – Genuine Excitement

Sir Fran: As much as I think bad decisions etc have been made by the club over the last 12months I genuinely feel like this coming season is a new start, and a chance to rebuild what our clubs all about! Hopefully we run the stadium effectively and turn a profit, players playing for the shirt that we can once again associate with - which has been lacking! Massive test for dean saunders, in my view he shouldn't have got the job but he has so hopefully he proves me wrong once he's built his own team, gonna forget last season and judge him this!

Let the past be the past, we have a chance to re-build! hopefully other fans share my view and get behind OUR team!! To many people are to quick to jump on the bandwagon when were doin well and jump back off and slate the club when were not! Next season can be a very good season for us so let's ALL get behind the team, win lose or draw!

DrfcSteve: I am excited about the stadium and many off the field things that are happening with Rovers but I can't get excited about next season the way things are going so far. Too many people saying lets forget the past, no, we need to learn from the past.

The manager is one of the most important people in influencing the success of a football club. How many times do you see good teams on paper perform poorly with a rubbish manager, and smaller teams over achieve with a good manager.

My point is, no matter what team we start next season with, I'm not confident it will perform to its potential based on what we've seen from the manager over last season.

DonnyRoversfc: I'm VERY confident next season, and looking forward to it! Hopefully we dont lose Gillett, hird, baxo and we keep the majority of the ones on the 'retained' list... Add to them with good young players and i think we'll be in for a very fruitful season

I don't actually like the keepmoat, so hopefully next season, it can be a better place to go for me, with better atmosphere! I may even start drinking in the Belle Vue Bar

Maybe the sun is getting to my head, but i think next season will be as enjoyable as the DIV3 title winning one!


Bring it on i say!


Swindon Town – Again couldn’t find a Thread

So here’s Swindon winger Luke Rooney with his views

“We’ve certainly got the players. Even if we make no signings we’ve got the players to do well in League One,” he told the Advertiser. “No disrespect to the likes of Stevenage but if you look at a team like them in the play-offs, then there’s no reason why we can’t be in the play-offs, if not better, next season.
“I’m by no means patronising or disrespecting the likes of Stevenage, or your Brentfords and Carlisles who just missed out, but if those sort of clubs can be in the play-off reckoning there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t be there.



Notts County Mad – Currently joint 4th for promotion/Notts Ambition

Notts26: After looking at the odds on williamhill for next year, Notts are 9/1 and joint 4th favorite.

Just curious to see people opinions on that fact and how realistic that will be to achieve next season. Personally I think we have a long way to go to get around 4th next year and will need a good 5 or 6 good signings such as that of J Hughes this year, plus keeping the likes of Judge.

What do others think, do we have a chance of getting to around that position in the table next year

Magpie Mike: Personally, I always expect a top 2 finish until at least mid September. Plenty of clubs have shown you can compete with good management and a good team ethic, look at Blackpool almost sneaking into the Premiership again.

The Chairman clearly has more ambition than you, as he has axed managers for not competing with the best teams in the division.

Personally I'm predicting some steller summer signings, and a top two finish

Couple of other things I don't agree with, the "we're not a Sheffield which can sustain two clubs" why not, Nottingham is as big as Sheffield? And as for Florests fan base, watch them desert in droves if they struggle financially and get relegated. (likely if they can't find a buyer).

 

[Darren]

Couple of other things I don't agree with, the "we're not a Sheffield which can sustain two clubs" why not, Nottingham is as big as Sheffield? And as for Florests fan base, watch them desert in droves if they struggle financially and get relegated. (likely if they can't find a buyer).

Oh dear. Nottingham is about half the size of Sheffield.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Its always difficult to predict until early August but at this stage I would guess the likely candidates will be:-

Blades
MK Dons
Preston
Notts County

They all have at least a season under their belts at this level and have the opportunity to take stock/rebuild. The three relegated clubs could find it very hard. Coventry and Portsmouth are both struggling financially. I could perhaps only see Donny competing nearer the top end purely because they'll have the help of John Ryan. Depends how their summer goes.

Other outside runners, perhaps Brentford, Swindon and Carlisle. Decent sides who will probably have more or less the same team plus additions.

 

[axel smeets]

I am interested as to why PNE fans think

1. Coventry should be overwhelming favourites
2. We are a 'thorn in their side.'

Coventry have got absoloutely no money whatsoever, they do not own their ground, have little or no assets to speak of, and arguably have a poorer squad than the one that we went down with last season.

PNE should do well, although with that cunt Westley in charge, it will be horrific to watch I should imagine. They have revamped their squad and should be competitive next season. Although if they have a slow start, the sort of football Westley plays will mean PNE fans will hound the twat out. Otherwise, we could well find ourselves in a battle at the top with them. Let us hope so, anyway.

Donny will do fuck all, because they have got the wrong manager.

Fake Wimbledon should be the team to watch on the basis of what we saw last season. Robinson is clearly an up and coming young manager who has done well there.

But the division will be nowhere near as strong, you would have thought, as it has been this season. This season could have been the strongest 3rd tier ever seen, with Charlton, us, pork, Udders all having a 4 way battle at the top. If McCabe gets his hand in his pocket, and Wilson brings in good strikers, we might just be ok.

 

[marky200484]

No-one fancy Stevenage to be up there?

 

[Worksop_Blade]

No-one fancy Stevenage to be up there?

The squad that has dragged them up the leagues is in the process of disassembly.

Axel's mate Westley has already got Laird and is talking to the Mousinho.

Why do you hold such a grudge against Westley Axel?

 

[FleaPitBlade]

Oh dear. Nottingham is about half the size of Sheffield.

I got into a *ahem* heated debate *ahem* on foreign shores with a guy from Nottingham once. He took exception when I told him that the only thing decent thing to ever come out of Nottingham was a Yorkshireman.

 

[Selly]

Oh dear. Nottingham is about half the size of Sheffield.

And I'd hardley hold Sheffield up as a shining beacon of how a city can sustain 2 football clubs, considering we haven`t both been in the top flight for nearly 20 years, and considering where we both were this season...

 

[axel smeets]

I think he is a horrible, odious manager whose teams kick and punch their way to 'success.' He is the antithesis of Danny Wilson.

 

[Darren]

And I'd hardley hold Sheffield up as a shining beacon of how a city can sustain 2 football clubs, considering we haven`t both been in the top flight for nearly 20 years, and considering where we both were this season...

Well yes. There are 7 cities outside London with two clubs - three of them - Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool are the centres of large conurbations and have thus, for the most part, had both their teams in the top division (forgetting Birmingham City's lower divisions sojourn from 1986-2002). Sheffield, whilst a large city, is not the centre of a large conurbation and hence has struggled to have more than one team in the top division.

Of the other three, Nottingham has been able to sustain one club fairly consistently in the top division with the other getting there once in a blue moon; Bristol has occasionally had one club there and the other never whilst Stoke has had one club often there and the other never.

 

[cahill]

Well yes. There are 7 cities outside London with two clubs - three of them - Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool are the centres of large conurbations and have thus, for the most part, had both their teams in the top division (forgetting Birmingham City's lower divisions sojourn from 1986-2002). Sheffield, whilst a large city, is not the centre of a large conurbation and hence has struggled to have more than one team in the top division.

Of the other three, Nottingham has been able to sustain one club fairly consistently in the top division with the other getting there once in a blue moon; Bristol has occasionally had one club there and the other never whilst Stoke has had one club often there and the other never.

Nottinghamshire's population is bigger than Sheffield's. No real rivals either unlike South Yorkshire which has 4 clubs playing at a similar level and competing for support, although the Dingles and Pikeys are poorly supported it means their populations won't automatically gravitate to the Sheffield clubs

 

[Guesty]

I think Nottingham's population is smaller than Sheffield's but that's only due to it's tight border. It's Urban area is larger than Sheffield's.

 

[metalblade]

I think you will find the real rivals to the scabs are Derby County.

 

[essexblade87]

Pompey, Doncaster, Coventry all depend on how they handle there dodgy finances. MK Dons, Notts County, Swindon, Preston would be my tips to rival us at the top end. Think if we can play like we did most of this season we will be in the top 2. All depends on the summer though

 

[metalblade]

Sheff Utd, M K Dons, Preston, Notts Co for the top 4 spots not necessarily in that order. Good bets for the remaining play off spots Coventry City, Tranmere, Carlisle, Bournmouth and Portsmouth. I cant see any of the promoted teams making the play offs, sorry Doncaster you have a cheaper version of Robson in charge prepare for free fall.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

If we finish in 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th get ready to see the lowest attended league one Play Off semi finals and possibly final.

Could it be possible to stretch our 4 final losing streak to 5?

We need to go for 1st, 2nd or 7th.

 

[PaulMK]

The Concrete Roundabout MK Dons - Couldn't find a next season thread

Like I say I couldn’t find a thread on 12/13 but reading those boards makes me proud to be a Blade on here. It’s seems like all MK Dons fans are a tad stupid]

Who you callin stoopid

 

[Kenilworth]

Yes Worksop, that's a bit harsh - Paul has certainly added to the debate on here and has been welcome.
For me I think MKD will be the main threat next year. Can see them pushing for automatic, if they keep their squad together and play like they did last year - If they hadn't lost Baldrick to Sham early doors then they would have been a much stronger threat last season. However, Allyourdice had a cunning plan

 

[Darren]

I think Nottingham's population is smaller than Sheffield's but that's only due to it's tight border. It's Urban area is larger than Sheffield's.

You're right, in that the government defined Nottingham urban area has a slightly higher population than the government defined Sheffield urban area, but thats only because the former is very generously defined to include Ilkeston, Heanor, Ripley and Eastwood which are some distance from Nottingham and which actually have countryside between them and Nottingham

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottingham_Urban_Area

On the other hand the Sheffield urban area is very limted and does not include Chesterfield, Dronfield and Stocksbridge, not to mention a large part of the various settlements in the NW of the Metropolitan District of Sheffield (Bradfield, Oughtibridge etc)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_Urban_Area

All in all the population of Sheffield and its immediate hinterland is quite a bit higher than that of Nottingham and its surroundings.

 

[Pedro Verde]

Sheff Utd, M K Dons, Preston, Notts Co for the top 4 spots not necessarily in that order. Good bets for the remaining play off spots Coventry City, Tranmere, Carlisle, Bournmouth and Portsmouth. I cant see any of the promoted teams making the play offs, sorry Doncaster you have a cheaper version of Robson in charge prepare for free fall.

If we are to go for promotion we need to sign 2 strikers, who can score goals we have no chance if we have Creswell and Porter as our main strikers