The Promotion Race....Championship, League 1 & 2 + Demotion

[Dogwatcher]

I would love one mate. If only for the giggles.

Let me know the cost.

Go in there and tell them you're an Aussie who supports them, and you want a memento - they might throw it your way!!!!

PS: post some photos of THE office and the roundabout if you can too!

Not that I ask for much mind

[Dirko]

Sloughtown FC

[devilsadvocate]

No probs mate, I'll see how I go this week. Will get your address and let you know the $ if I can source one.

I need to take some snaps of Slough, so I'll put some up of The Office and its surrounds.

Nice work there SJABC - I couldn't find a good pic of the Rebels strip.

[johntheclaret]

Struth !

So if Derby do as they say, and shore up the squad for a promotion push, then they should by your suggestions do it easily...
Hope they take the year if this is the case in the CCC to really prepare and strengthen the core of the group...

That's the problem SJABC. Teams coming down tend to lose the core, as these are the best, and get picked up. Quite often by those going up.

My point was that the worst of the worst in the EPL would be far too good for the best of the best in the CCC this year. Bristol City are definitely not EPL quality. I've seen them play, trust me they are definitely not EPL quality.

As for the Clarets, we have to be grateful that so many other sides in the CCC are as mediocre as we are, otherwise we could have been in a relegation battle ourselves, becuase we have been really crap at times this year.

[johntheclaret]

And to give you an idea of other attendances here are the remaining results from today

Chelmsford City 1 - 1 Ramsgate Attendance 1,588

So what accounts for the sizr of this crowd? Large compared to the others....
Maybe lots of confused South Aussie ex-pats there hoping to see another Crows/Power stoush???

Chelmsford are top of the league. Both games against AFC Wimbledon drew 3,000 + crowds. Chelmsford won both games BTW.

I was looking at the FC Utd gates. Seems there has definitle been a decline in attendances. I'll have to re-think my suggestion that they might have a better chance of league football, than Wimbledon. The Dons are a league higher than FC Utd and have a pretty consistent supporter base, whilst UTD are just about in the play-offs of their league. Attendances this year are only (and I say "only" ) 2,300. Still good going but way down on a couple of years ago.

[Dirko]

CCC

Colchester is officially the first team to be relegated back to League 1. They were actually the first team from
all the Leagues to have relegation confirmed...Seeya later the U's
This occured after Barnsley def Watford 3 - 0, and moved the Tykes 2 points clear from the drop zone.
Ian Botham's Sc.u.n.t.horpe. mob is still a long way away from getting back into the frame to stay in the
CCC a massive 9 points from 31st position...
I dare say they will be confirmed after this weekend's fixtures. They play Crystal Palace. A loss would see them
9 points adrift with three fixtures left. If Sheffield Wednesday get a point, adios the Iron !!

League 1

Swansea are 10 points clear, with 4 games in hand...win the next one and Doncaster lose then Cardiff and Swansea
will be on for next season (sorry RM can't see the Bluebirds getting up). Swansea play Carlisle who are in second spot
a massive game and if the Swans take their chance they'll be in the CCC pending results. If Carlisle win then the
Cumbrians are a huge shot of going into the CCC as well. They are 6 points clear in second.
Luton have to win the four games as they are 11 points down. Port Vale are 9 points and need the 4 games also...
Can see Luton being confirmed League 2 starters next year. The Hatters play Brighton who are a chance of getting into the
playoff area.

League 2

MK Dons are almost certain to go to League 1. They are 13 points clear from fourth with 5 games (maximum 15 points) to be played.
The Dons will be joined by the Peterborough barring disaster. The Posh (candidate for the best team nickname ), are 11 points
clear from fourth.
Wrexham are seven points behind 22nd spot and need some decent wins and results to go their way to avoid the drop back to the
lower leagues. Would be sad to see the Dragons go as the Welsh would then be left with only Cardiff & Swansea....

Will update early next week once the weekend results/news has come through...

[johntheclaret]

Can yo ubelieve that Beckhams missus tried to take Peterborough Utd to court claiming hey were using her name. The case fell apart when Perterborough proved that they had been nicknamed The Posh for over a hundred years whilst madam was nicknamed for Posh Spice for 10 minutes.

On another note and completely off topic I know, but Brimingham City FC shares were suspended on the LSE today. Also owner (can't remember his name) and general manager (can't remember her name, but lets call her Mrs ex-Peschisolido) ah, Karen Brady, were both arrested pending charges of "dodgy dealings".

[RoosterMarty]

I don't hold out much hope of Cardiff reaching the playoffs so I know it will be it on next season. Cardiff vs Swansea will throw up two massive, massive games.

[johntheclaret]

Clarets 1 - 2 Sheff U

We were shite. Playoffs a dim and distant past. Defence was non existent, midfield was non existent.....hang on, I've already written this once.

After listening to th Roosters shite performance I was hoping for a bit of a cheering up at Turf Moor, but it was just like deja vue. Crap.

And just to top if off, I got chatting to a Western Bulldogs fan who hailed from Mt Gambier. Bastard just had to ask how the Roosters were going this year Never met the bloke before but when I recognised the WB (I actually thought it was a CDFC) scarf, I just had to say hello. glad I did to, had a real good chat.

[Dirko]

OK..Things are starting to move...

CCC
S.c.u.n.thorpe have been confirmed as relegated back to League 1, following the 2 nil defeat to Crystal Palace.
They are joining Colchester back down. One more team to fall, and that is looking like Sheffield Wed, Coventry or
Southhampton BUT there are 7 teams within 4 points of each other so I dare say this will go to the wire...
Stoke still on top by a point, but there are 5 teams within 5 points of top so some BIG games !!

LEAGUE 1
Swansea are the first team to be promoted to the CCC...Well done the Swans !
Carlisle lost to Leeds which closed the gap from third to second by 3 points, after Doncaster won on Friday.
Luton and Port Vale are adios, and are going to League 2

LEAGUE 2
Barring a disaster MK Dons will be in League 1, probably along with Posh.
Wrexham have games in hand, but are looking grim to go down as are Mansfield Town. 5 teams within 5 points
of demotion in League 2....

[Dirko]

Only two games last night...

CCC
Ipswich moved to within a point of a playoff spot after beating Norwich.
The Canarys are only 4 points clear from a relegation spot, so still not out of trouble.

LEAGUE 2
Wrexham need a miracle, but that ain't gonna happen !! One of the oldest clubs going
around will be playin in the conference leagues after losing overnight to Shrewsbury 3-0.
Wrexham are now 9 points from position 22. The win pushed Salop 9 points clear from
relegation...

Next wrap up will be Sunday !!

[drebin]

OK..Things are starting to move...

CCC
S.c.u.n.thorpe have been confirmed as relegated back to League 1, following the 2 nil defeat to Crystal Palace.
They are joining Colchester back down. One more team to fall, and that is looking like Sheffield Wed, Coventry or
Southhampton BUT there are 7 teams within 4 points of each other so I dare say this will go to the wire...Stoke still on top by a point, but there are 5 teams within 5 points of top so some BIG games !!

LEAGUE 1
Swansea are the first team to be promoted to the CCC...Well done the Swans !
Carlisle lost to Leeds which closed the gap from third to second by 3 points, after Doncaster won on Friday.
Luton and Port Vale are adios, and are going to League 2

LEAGUE 2
Barring a disaster MK Dons will be in League 1, probably along with Posh.
Wrexham have games in hand, but are looking grim to go down as are Mansfield Town. 5 teams within 5 points
of demotion in League 2....

I can't believe you haven't mentioned my mob - the woeful "foxes". If Wednesday knock off Plymouth tonight then they go 3 points clear of us and leave us in bottom 3. We have the following 3 games:

Saturday, 19 April 2008 Barnsley (away)
Saturday, 26 April 2008 Sheff Wed (home)
Sunday, 04 May 2008 Stoke (away)

It will take a miracle for us to stay up and lose our status of only 1 of 9 clubs not to have played below the top 2 flights of English Football.

[Dogwatcher]

Who are the other 8 mate?

[drebin]

Who are the other 8 mate?

Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.

[johntheclaret]

OK..Things are starting to move...

CCC
S.c.u.n.thorpe have been confirmed as relegated back to League 1, following the 2 nil defeat to Crystal Palace.
They are joining Colchester back down. One more team to fall, and that is looking like Sheffield Wed, Coventry or
Southhampton BUT there are 7 teams within 4 points of each other so I dare say this will go to the wire...Stoke still on top by a point, but there are 5 teams within 5 points of top so some BIG games !!

LEAGUE 1
Swansea are the first team to be promoted to the CCC...Well done the Swans !
Carlisle lost to Leeds which closed the gap from third to second by 3 points, after Doncaster won on Friday.
Luton and Port Vale are adios, and are going to League 2

LEAGUE 2
Barring a disaster MK Dons will be in League 1, probably along with Posh.
Wrexham have games in hand, but are looking grim to go down as are Mansfield Town. 5 teams within 5 points
of demotion in League 2....

I can't believe you haven't mentioned my mob - the woeful "foxes". If Wednesday knock off Plymouth tonight then they go 3 points clear of us and leave us in bottom 3. We have the following 3 games:

Saturday, 19 April 2008 Barnsley (away)
Saturday, 26 April 2008 Sheff Wed (home)
Sunday, 04 May 2008 Stoke (away)

It will take a miracle for us to stay up and lose our status of only 1 of 9 clubs not to have played below the top 2 flights of English Football.

So far so good Drebin. Sheff W 0 - 1 Argyle at half time..

Just a footnote. Plymouth have not lost a game when they have been winning at half time, so far this season

[johntheclaret]

Bad news Drebin.

Sheff W 1 - 1 Argyle

Leicester drop into the bottom three as The Owls leapfrog bothe The Foxes and the Sky Blues.

only a point in it still though so it could have been worse, I guess

[Dirko]

Righto was going to wait til the weekend, but the midweek games have thrown a few possibilities up !!

CCC
Drebin's Foxes are in the drop zone. As noted on this and other threads if they go down will be only 7 teams to have never fallen below the 2nd league. They dropped into the zone after Sheffield Wednesday got a valuable point against the Argyles. There are SEVEN teams within 4 points of the drop zone, so incredibly these teams pending results could see themselves in LEAGUE 1.
Norwich 52...they play WBA, QPR, Sheffield Wed
Barnsley 52...Leicester, Charlton, Norwich
Blackpool 50...Sheff Wed, Plymouth, Watford
Southampton 50...Burnely, WBA, Sheffield United
Sheffield Wed 49...Blackpool, Leicester, Norwich
Coventry 49...Colchester, Wolves, Charlton
Leicester 48...Barnsley, Sheffield Wed, Stoke City
Sheffield Wednesday play three teams in the drop zone ! Probably the best positioned team. Will be bloody good viewing !!
Barnlsley lost to Hull City 1 - 3, Hull moves into second on goal difference. Incredibly if Hull get into the Premier League it will end the record of being the biggest city anywhere in Europe, to have never played in the First division !! WBA defeated Wolves 1 nil and sit top by 2 points.
Wolves are now 3 points from a playoff spot.
TOP SIX are WBA 74,Hull City 72, Stoke City 72, Bristol City 71, Watford 69, Crystal Palace 65...followed by Ipswich on 64 & Wolves 62.

LEAGUE 1
Bristol picked up 3 valuable points against Walsall to drag themselves 8 points clear. Should be enough. Leeds dropped points to Huddersfield but are sitting good for a playoff spot. The dropped points for Walsall may haunt them as they are 4 points from a playoff spot...

LEAGUE 2
MK Dons drew nil all against Hereford and are 4 points clear on top. The Posh second by 7.
The draw pushed Hereford up into third and promotion. Rochdale picked up three points over Barnet and have just about shored up a lpayoff spot, and are only 4 points behind third...

No change down the bottom of the league.

ALDERSHOT have won promotion to League 2, from the Blue Square Premier.

[drebin]

YES!!!

Barnsley 0 - LEICESTER CITY 1

A precious 3 away points!!!

[Dirko]

Drebin would be happy...having a look at what time he posted the result one thinks he may have stayed up for it !!

CCC
RELEGATION
Drebin's Foxes are OUT of the drop zone. The spot for the third team to be relegated is still way open. Sheffield Wednesday now sit in the drop zone. See below for updated points and results from the weekend games.
Blackpool 53...def Sheff Wed 2 - 1, still to play Plymouth & Watford
Coventry 52...won 5 -1 over Colchester, still to play Wolves & Charlton
Norwich 52...lost 1 - 2 to WBA, still to play QPR & Sheffield Wed
Barnsley 52...lost nil - 1 to Leicester still to play Charlton, Norwich
Leicester 51...won 1 -0 over Barnsley, still to play Sheffield Wed & Stoke City
Southampton 50...lost nil -1 to Burnely,still to play WBA & Sheffield United
Sheffield Wed 49...lost 1 -2 to Blackpool, still to play Leicester & Norwich

WOW ! Some horrible results for teams in the relegation battle...If Blackpool get a draw against the Argyles they should be safe, the other teams need to win...
PROMOTION
WBA 77...won 2 -1 over Norwich, still to play Southhampton & QPR...5 points clear from third...a draw next week will see them through.
Stoke City 75...won 2 -1 over Bristol City, still to play Colchester & Leicester...3 points clear from third...have a easy draw..looking good.
Hull City 72...lost nil - 2 to Sheffield Utd, still to play Crystal Palace & Ipswich...bad result...3 points from promotion...not good.
Bristol City...lost 1 - 2 to Stoke City, still to play Sheffield Utd & Preston...bad result...virtually no chance...4 points adrift...playoff spot.

PLAY OFF SPOT
Watford 69...lost 0 -2 to Crystal Palace, still to play **** & Blackpool..6 points from the promotion spot,unrealistic,play off loom.
Crystal Palace won 2 - 0 over Watford, still to play Hull & Burnley...cannot make Promotion, but play off looking a possibility.

Ipswich on 65, Sheffield United on 63 & Wolves on 63 (game in hand) can make the play off spot as could Cardiff on 60 (game in hand).

LEAGUE 1
Bournemouth won 3 - 1 over Walsall to cling to it's hopes of staying in League 1, Gillingham got a point. Still too close to call. The spot for the other promotion place heats up with Carlise dropping points & Doncaster picking up three. Last play off spot between Leeds & Brighton. Nottingham Forrest & Southend within touch of promotion.

LEAGUE 2
MK Dons & Peterborough are into League one. The third spot is wide open between Hereford,Rochdale, Stockport, Darlington & Wycombe.
5 teams possibilities to go down, Macclesfield, Chester City, Notts County, Dagenham & Red & Mansfield Town. 4 points separates them all..

[johntheclaret]

Reckon WBA will be crowned champoins and Stoke will go with them. forget the rest, As for the play offs, you can forget Wolves, Ipwsich and Cardiff. The four there will be the four that play off, with the last promo spot going to Palace. Warnock just has that knack of getting sides up.
Hull blew it on Saturday and their run in is a toughie.

At the bottom, make way in league one for Southampton. What a shock that will be to the boys from St Mary's. Oddly, they did ok in the ELP when thy had a shite ground and no support. Since the new ground and 30 odd thousand support they have gone down and down.
Leicester will be ok, and Barnsley have just about done enough considering their heartbreak FA semi final exit. the great escape will be from Sheff Weds. Thay have been kissing the arse of CCC all season but Soton are so bad and have a difficult run in. the Owls will have more bottle, they were in the same state last year.

Just a personal opinion only though