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play offs
Apr 20, 2024 17:20:09 GMT
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Post by agl on Apr 20, 2024 17:20:09 GMT
Not that I can get too excited, but the play offs will be contested by Scunthorpe, Brackley, Chorley, Alfreton, Boston and Curzon. We finished five points short...in other words if we'd beaten Bishops Stortford away and Rushall at home we'd have made the top 7. Our record against those teams was actually pretty good...only three defeats in 12 games, I think. Defensively, only 37 goals conceded. Perhaps the two most worrying stats are 56 goals in 46 games (including 10 in two games at Buxton and Gloucester) and the collapse post Christmas. Only 6 wins, I believe. For what it's worth, I'm going for Brackley to go up.
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play offs
Apr 20, 2024 18:03:42 GMT
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Post by loskasleftfoot on Apr 20, 2024 18:03:42 GMT
I was impressed with Alfreton the other week.
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Post by inthestand on Apr 20, 2024 18:16:14 GMT
How ever you look at stats…the thing that is blatantly obvious…we didn’t have a good goal scorer, if we did..we would’ve made the playoffs…but real decent ones..cost money…Scunny for me…but what a fizzled out season for us….☹️
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Post by agl on Apr 20, 2024 18:21:28 GMT
How ever you look at stats…the thing that is blatantly obvious…we didn’t have a good goal scorer, if we did..we would’ve made the playoffs…but real decent ones..cost money…Scunny for me…but what a fizzled out season for us….☹️ True but still doesn't really explain why we were third at Christmas, and ended up 10th.
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play offs
Apr 20, 2024 18:39:50 GMT
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Post by muchwenlock on Apr 20, 2024 18:39:50 GMT
How ever you look at stats…the thing that is blatantly obvious…we didn’t have a good goal scorer, if we did..we would’ve made the playoffs…but real decent ones..cost money…Scunny for me…but what a fizzled out season for us….☹️ True but still doesn't really explain why we were third at Christmas, and ended up 10th. Too many injury prone players in a small squad both caton and peers missed big chunks of season Thomas and Edwards too .
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play offs
Apr 20, 2024 18:47:30 GMT
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Post by agl on Apr 20, 2024 18:47:30 GMT
True but still doesn't really explain why we were third at Christmas, and ended up 10th. Too many injury prone players in a small squad both caton and peers missed big chunks of season Thomas and Edwards too . A factor, possibly, but Peers didn't arrive until late October. We managed injuries ok pre Christmas and I don't think Thomas was a huge factor anyway.
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play offs
Apr 20, 2024 19:28:52 GMT
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Post by agl on Apr 20, 2024 19:28:52 GMT
And going back to play offs, I see that Halifax are in the NL play offs. One to mull over for the nay sayers who claim we are wasting our time getting promoted.
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Post by Anders on Apr 20, 2024 19:33:53 GMT
And going back to play offs, I see that Halifax are in the NL play offs. One to mull over for the nay sayers who claim we are wasting our time getting promoted. Someone will just lazily assume they are being massively bankrolled.
They aren't, it's still Bosomworth.
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Post by agl on Apr 20, 2024 19:38:15 GMT
And going back to play offs, I see that Halifax are in the NL play offs. One to mull over for the nay sayers who claim we are wasting our time getting promoted. Someone will just lazily assume they are being massively bankrolled.
They aren't, it's still Bosomworth.
Great effort by Halifax, although I'm not sure I'd want a chairman called Bosomworth. Sounds straight out of the Dick Emery show (ask your Dad, Rio).
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Post by inthestand on Apr 20, 2024 19:43:29 GMT
How ever you look at stats…the thing that is blatantly obvious…we didn’t have a good goal scorer, if we did..we would’ve made the playoffs…but real decent ones..cost money…Scunny for me…but what a fizzled out season for us….☹️ True but still doesn't really explain why we were third at Christmas, and ended up 10th. played well up until Christmas..then…and this has happened many times before…wet heavy grounds causing us injuries, just like it happens to many teams, our problem …our squad was far too small, it caused Cal to play many players out of position, we didn’t have a particularly good strike force..and more importantly, we never had the funds to strengthen like other clubs did….
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Post by Anders on Apr 20, 2024 20:02:18 GMT
True but still doesn't really explain why we were third at Christmas, and ended up 10th. played well up until Christmas..then…and this has happened many times before…wet heavy grounds causing us injuries, just like it happens to many teams, our problem …our squad was far too small, it caused Cal to play many players out of position, we didn’t have a particularly good strike force..and more importantly, we never had the funds to strengthen like other clubs did…. But the injuries started to clear up after Christmas? Hall came back late Dec, then Peers in early Jan and most recently Thomas a month ago.
It's just Edwards and Coates who have been out since then really and the defence hasn't been the issue. Cal never telling us about injuries was a big gripe for most earlier in the season, not later.
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Post by Lobster on Apr 20, 2024 20:30:48 GMT
played well up until Christmas..then…and this has happened many times before…wet heavy grounds causing us injuries, just like it happens to many teams, our problem …our squad was far too small, it caused Cal to play many players out of position, we didn’t have a particularly good strike force..and more importantly, we never had the funds to strengthen like other clubs did…. But the injuries started to clear up after Christmas? Hall came back late Dec, then Peers in early Jan and most recently Thomas a month ago.
It's just Edwards and Coates who have been out since then really and the defence hasn't been the issue. Cal never telling us about injuries was a big gripe for most earlier in the season, not later.
Yeah, that's what's frustrated me most about this season. It felt like we dealt pretty well with some of the challenges from earlier in the season - the poor start, the injury pile-up, the six away games in a row and the half decent Cup run - but then we buckled on the home straight. This team should not have missed out on the playoffs.
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play offs
Apr 20, 2024 21:10:57 GMT
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Post by borussiachester on Apr 20, 2024 21:10:57 GMT
Based on their performances against us, my tip would probably be for either Brackley or Alfreton to win the playoffs. I get the impression most want Scunthorpe to win them as they’d otherwise be a threat next season, but it remains to be seen how much they’ll have to fasten their belts and it seems as though there’ll be something of a player exodus there whatever happens. Brilliant achievement for Mahony to lead Curzon to the playoffs, too, but I don’t really want them to go up - partly because it’s usually a good away day, and partly because they’ve got a few players I wouldn’t mind trying to poach!
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play offs
Apr 20, 2024 22:18:24 GMT
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Post by spencerwhelanleftpeg on Apr 20, 2024 22:18:24 GMT
In recent form last two months or so Brackley are the stand out team for me . I’ve been there 5/6 times now so it’s lost its appeal . They also deserve to go up how many times they missed out? On the other hand totally get why people want Scunthorpe out the way .
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 7:04:34 GMT
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Post by devadiva on Apr 21, 2024 7:04:34 GMT
In recent form last two months or so Brackley are the stand out team for me . I’ve been there 5/6 times now so it’s lost its appeal . They also deserve to go up how many times they missed out? On the other hand totally get why people want Scunthorpe out the way . I can see Scunthorpe being around for a bit. They will have to implement big cuts if they don’t get promoted which will make things worse for them. And I don’t think they will get promoted - I fancy Brackley to do it. Am not fussed though as the day out at Scunny was ace - as close to a proper FL match as we are going to get for a while.
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 7:10:41 GMT
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Post by Moltisanti on Apr 21, 2024 7:10:41 GMT
Alfreton I reckon
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 7:41:14 GMT
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Post by proudblue on Apr 21, 2024 7:41:14 GMT
Fancy Brackley to finally do it this year, but agree that Alfreton have every chance as well. Think Cal said as much after they won here the other week.
As for Scunny, who knows? I suppose they are regarded as favourites by virtue of having finished second, but a lot of their defeats this season seem to have been against sides in the top 10 of the division and it wouldn’t surprise me if they suffer another loss in the play-offs.
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 10:55:57 GMT
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Post by spencerwhelanleftpeg on Apr 21, 2024 10:55:57 GMT
In recent form last two months or so Brackley are the stand out team for me . I’ve been there 5/6 times now so it’s lost its appeal . They also deserve to go up how many times they missed out? On the other hand totally get why people want Scunthorpe out the way . I can see Scunthorpe being around for a bit. They will have to implement big cuts if they don’t get promoted which will make things worse for them. And I don’t think they will get promoted - I fancy Brackley to do it. Am not fussed though as the day out at Scunny was ace - as close to a proper FL match as we are going to get for a while. Deva diva of course you are correct Scunthorpe will provide a proper day out going to a decent ground. The lady who is their current chairman has said in an article I read that there is still plenty to do in terms of sorting out their creditors and the overall financial position . She has mentioned that in order to be responsible their budget will be significantly less next season regardless of the league they are in.
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 12:59:18 GMT
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Post by sealandender1 on Apr 21, 2024 12:59:18 GMT
I know it’s from the Nationwide League but Gateshead don’t meet the criteria for possible promotion. As such they have been removed from the play-offs and Solihull have a bye through to the semi-final!!!
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 13:28:35 GMT
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Post by Lobster on Apr 21, 2024 13:28:35 GMT
I know it’s from the Nationwide League but Gateshead don’t meet the criteria for possible promotion. As such they have been removed from the play-offs and Solihull have a bye through to the semi-final!!! Saw that. Something to do with them failing to secure a ten-year tenancy for the ground. Seems harsh when any club with a privately owned stadium is actually more at risk of being left without a ground.
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 14:42:29 GMT
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Post by proudblue on Apr 21, 2024 14:42:29 GMT
Typically the National League managed to make a mess of its handling of the situation by initially announcing Solihull would get a bye rather than Altrincham, who finished higher in the table. Looks like they’ve now reversed the decision.
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Post by yossergolf on Apr 21, 2024 14:59:23 GMT
I know it’s from the Nationwide League but Gateshead don’t meet the criteria for possible promotion. As such they have been removed from the play-offs and Solihull have a bye through to the semi-final!!! You would think that the next placed eligible club would then go in to the play offs and keep the format of the play offs
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 15:04:24 GMT
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agl likes this
Post by Lobster on Apr 21, 2024 15:04:24 GMT
I know it’s from the Nationwide League but Gateshead don’t meet the criteria for possible promotion. As such they have been removed from the play-offs and Solihull have a bye through to the semi-final!!! You would think that the next placed eligible club would then go in to the play offs and keep the format of the play offs Wouldn't surprise me if the NL finds some way to keep Boreham Wood up through all this.
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 17:11:30 GMT
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Post by theshed1 on Apr 21, 2024 17:11:30 GMT
If a ground is not up to EFL standard should that club even be allowed in the National League. Surely they should have League standard grounds only so this scenario doesn't happen again and if a team not meeting this criteria gets into the playoffs in the NLN or NLS then the highest placed club that meets the criteria replaces said team in the playoffs
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Post by deesideblue1 on Apr 21, 2024 17:49:14 GMT
You would think that the next placed eligible club would then go in to the play offs and keep the format of the play offs Wouldn't surprise me if the NL finds some way to keep Boreham Wood up through all this. Does your catering need to be at a certain level to go into the NL? If so we’re never going up.
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Post by Lobster on Apr 21, 2024 19:06:36 GMT
If a ground is not up to EFL standard should that club even be allowed in the National League. Surely they should have League standard grounds only so this scenario doesn't happen again and if a team not meeting this criteria gets into the playoffs in the NLN or NLS then the highest placed club that meets the criteria replaces said team in the playoffs Think I see where you're going with this! Brackley, Alfreton and Curzon out, so 10th place takes it!
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 19:59:40 GMT
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Post by theshed1 on Apr 21, 2024 19:59:40 GMT
If a ground is not up to EFL standard should that club even be allowed in the National League. Surely they should have League standard grounds only so this scenario doesn't happen again and if a team not meeting this criteria gets into the playoffs in the NLN or NLS then the highest placed club that meets the criteria replaces said team in the playoffs Think I see where you're going with this! Brackley, Alfreton and Curzon out, so 10th place takes it! So be it at least these sugar daddies would have to invest in more than just buying the league
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play offs
Apr 21, 2024 22:51:18 GMT
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Post by Rio Doherty on Apr 21, 2024 22:51:18 GMT
I actually think the winner of the Alfreton Town-Boston United game will go up. Billy Heath has a very strong core at Alfreton, who’ve been there a few years, so perhaps they now have it in them to finally go up. It’s well-documented that they’re not an attractive side to watch, but they’re still a really solid, well-organised, and hard-working team who grind out results. As I said on another thread, I hope we take a leaf or two out of Alfreton’s book next season, by recruiting some physical, tough tacklers in midfield, and a big target man up top who knows where the net is. As for Boston, they have confidence and momentum on their side. They’ll be buzzing after sneaking into the play-offs, and will be backed by a strong away following, so it could go either way.
Brackley Town have made the play-offs for the umpteenth time, so can they shake off their bottle job mentality to finally get promoted to the National League for the first time in their history? I was really impressed by them last week, and in my opinion they were the best Brackley side I’ve seen us play against over the years. Credit to Gavin Cowan, who’s surprised me as he’s doing a very good job. He was really average at AFC Telford United, and started their decline, but he’s done very well in his debut season at Brackley. Former Seal Shepherd Murombedzi was excellent against us last Saturday. He was very industrious, plus has been at Brackley for a while, alongside the likes of Danny Lewis and Gareth Dean, so it’s a matter of time they go up. Whether Cowan is the man to banish The Saints’ play-off curse remains the all-important question.
I can’t see Scunthorpe United doing it, surprisingly. On paper their squad is good enough to be competing for the play-offs in the National League, let alone the National League North, and really they should’ve been out of sight by March. In reality, despite being second for the majority of the season, Scunny still lost almost a dozen games, including against us, plus in the second-half in the campaign they had a bit of a habit of throwing away silly points. I highly doubt they’ll be in this division for as long as ourselves, York City, and Stockport County are/were, but I reckon the sheer amount of pressure may be too much for their players on the day. Glanford Park is a ground like no other in this league, which is a major bonus for Scunthorpe, but something just tells me that they won’t do it.
Not convinced that Chorley will do it either. They’re a strong side, and Andy Preece is doing a great job, but having been on fire at the beginning of 2024, The Magpies have been inconsistent of late. The teams who achieve in the play-offs tend to be the ones bang in form, so I can’t see Chorley going all the way.
Craig Mahon has done a tremendous job to get Curzon Ashton in the play-offs for the first time in this league. I know hindsight is wonderful, but I definitely believe we’ve been missing Alex Kenyon in our side this season. It’s not our fault that he turned down a new contract last Summer, but he’s the type of player we need in the sense he has steel and gets stuck in. I’m guessing he’s played a key role in Curzon’s successful season as well. I reckon Chorley will just about edge them out, but it’ll still probably be a close one.
Preferably, I actually want Brackley Town to go up just to see the back of them for a bit. Last season they knocked us out of the play-offs, and this year they all-but ended our play-off hopes, so I’m a bit sick of them now 🤣. Factoring in the fact that St James Park isn’t a great ground, plus I’ve been there six times, so I wouldn’t shed any tears in not going there for a while. Hoping that Scunthorpe United will stay down as it was a cracking away day this season, plus it’s the standout ground in a league full of average set-ups. We took four points off them too, so they’re definitely nothing to be feared of. Chorley and Curzon Ashton are local away days, so hoping they don’t go up, plus I can’t stand Chorley as a club either, which is a bonus! Boston’s a ball ache of a journey, so I wouldn’t be too sad to see them go, even though their new ground is an impressive facility. Finally, I’ve been to Alfreton a few times so wouldn’t be too bothered if they were to go up, and at least that’d be one less team to park the bus at the Deva again next season.
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play offs
Apr 22, 2024 7:38:26 GMT
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Post by RonD on Apr 22, 2024 7:38:26 GMT
If a ground is not up to EFL standard should that club even be allowed in the National League. Surely they should have League standard grounds only so this scenario doesn't happen again and if a team not meeting this criteria gets into the playoffs in the NLN or NLS then the highest placed club that meets the criteria replaces said team in the playoffs The International Stadium is up to standard. Gateshead Council won't guarantee a 10 year lease which is an EFL criteria. It's scandalous.
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Post by theshed1 on Apr 22, 2024 9:59:17 GMT
If a ground is not up to EFL standard should that club even be allowed in the National League. Surely they should have League standard grounds only so this scenario doesn't happen again and if a team not meeting this criteria gets into the playoffs in the NLN or NLS then the highest placed club that meets the criteria replaces said team in the playoffs The International Stadium is up to standard. Gateshead Council won't guarantee a 10 year lease which is an EFL criteria. It's scandalous. I am aware of that maybe I should have said if clubs cant meet the EFL requirements of entry instead of standard its all the same really EFL rules are there for all to abide by wether we agree with them or not. It's not as if they weren't known about the EFL and the NL have been working with the club for 2 years on this issue
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