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Post by autistichatter on Jun 1, 2022 10:20:10 GMT
Given that County will be competing against opponents, not just from another division but another League, next season, for the most part teams we haven't faced in donkey's ages, your Humble Scribe presumes upon your goodwill to venture a modest thread on our future opponents. Or, as someone from the NFL would say: Who Dey? Starting with the four teams coming down from League 1.
Crewe finished bottom, with a record of P 46 W 7 D 8 L 31 F 37 A 83 - Ouch! Top scorers for the Railwaymen were Chris Long on 10, Mikael Mandron 7 and Chris Porter (who has been released) on 6.
A total of 9 players were released, and Mikael Mandron will also leave at the end of his current deal at the end of June, although Crewe have also signed Courtney Baker-Richardson (8Gs in 32matches) from Newport County, along with M Conor Thomas (from Cheltenham Town, 20 Gs in 146 appearances) and D Kelvin Mellor (ex Nantwich Town and Carlisle, who will be in his second spell at the club).
Looks like the days of David Platt and Craig Hignett are far behind and new manager, and former assistant, Alex (good name for the club anyway) will have his work cut out at the Mornflake Stadium. Fun fact: one of my favourite County memories is a 2-1 win at Gresty Road in the Autoglass Windscreen/Asda Shopping Trolley Trophy back in 1991/2 (subsequent edit: yes definitely that season not 92/3).
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Post by autistichatter on Jun 1, 2022 10:40:15 GMT
Next up:
AFC Wimbledon or, as I prefer to think of them: Wimbledon. Since November 2020 they play on Plough Lane but not at Plough Lane if get me: the new ground (shared with London Broncos RU FC) being 200 yards further up the road, on the site of the old Greyhound Racing Stadium. Their record was P 46 W 6 D 19 L 21 F 49 A 75. Hmmm, so they fairly hard to beat but didn't score too many? Well their top scorers were Jack Rudoni with 12, Ayoub Assal 10, Ollie Palmer 8 and Luke McCormick on 7. so they must have been able to find the back of the net. Interim boss Mark Bowen left the club for a team in a "higher division" (which turned out to be Boring Boring Reading) and his replacement Johnnie Jackson (formerly at Charlton) joined in Mid May so is yet to sign new players although he did preside over the retained/released list. Good luck to 'em, I say, ecept when playing County of course. Fun Fact I watched the old Wimbledon (Robbie Earle vintage) play at Selhurst Park against Norwich many moons ago, too many to be honest.....
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Post by autistichatter on Jun 1, 2022 11:06:41 GMT
Next Up: Doncaster Rovers. Their 2021/2 record was P 46 W 10 D 8 L 28 F 37 A 82. Top scorer was one Tommy Rowe, yes, that Tommy Rowe, with 9 Gs in 43 appearances, back for a second spell after 2 years at Bristol City. Next highest scorer was Josh Martin, Joseph Dodoo and Joseph Olowu each on 4 so scoring goals was a major problem. Manager Gary McSheffrey has indicated that he expects significant improvement from his existing squad, "we can't have a complete overhaul because financially we're not just going to pay up ten players and say you can just leave". They recently signed a M called Harrison Biggins, who is the son of Wayne Dive Dive Dive Biggins, they signed him from Fleetwood where he has scored 6 goals in 100 games. McSheffrey looks to have a big job on at the Keepmoat Stadium, home of Rovers since 2007 in place of the old stadium which was, infamously, burned down by 3 men hired by club owner Ken Richardson, who got 4 years in jail for doing so. His excuse was that he wanted to use the insurance money to pay off the club's debts... Fun Fact I once watched the Rovers at the old ground against Scunthorpe. Rovers were managed by ex Stockport County Star (joking!) Gary Brabin, who was their player manager at the time, although some would say he was neither....
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Post by autistichatter on Jun 1, 2022 11:29:15 GMT
Aaand finally (for today): Gillingham with a record of P 46 W 8 D 16 L 22 F 35 A 69 - level on points with Fleetwood but GD let them down after 9 years in L1. Top scorers were Vadaine Oliver with 11 Gs in 39 appearances and Danny Lloyd, yes that Danny Lloyd on 5 Gs in 27 games. Manager Neil Harris was recently fined £1,000 and given a one-match Touchline ban for language and behaviour that was "abusive, insulting and improper" - the ban will be served on opening day of 2022/3. The Gills recently released a total of 9 players, including Danny Rowe and top-scorer Vadaine Oliver, so although you could say they were unfortunate in going down on GD so maybe they should be contenders to do quite well or even go back up, it's hard to see where any improvement will come from. Manager Harris has been quoted as saying patience will be needed to land the players he is targeting, but that "strong progress has been made". Hmmmm Fun Fact: back in the day I used to visit Sportspages in Manchester and collect other teams' Fanzines, one of which Brian Moore's Head*, was one of my favourites with it's quirky blend of thoughtful analysis and B&W pics of early 80s pop bands. * "Looks Uncannily Like the Inside of the London PLanetarium" - If I remember correctly - happy to be corrected.
Next Up a few thoughts on the teams that missed out on the L 2 playoffs.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Jun 1, 2022 12:18:33 GMT
Good stuff, AH, and an interesting read for starters. Cheers!
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Post by gazz on Jun 1, 2022 16:01:59 GMT
Excellent reading, AH.
I think that Autoglass win at Crewe was in 91/92, though, mate. Wardy and Paul Wheeler got two belters in the Northern Area Semis - I was there that night too.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Jun 1, 2022 16:38:07 GMT
You're right about the timing there, Gazz. It was the season we went on to lose to Stoke in the Final.
Didn't we also beat Crewe at Gresty Road in 1997, when Paul Jones put away the winning penalty?
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Post by gazz on Jun 1, 2022 16:56:08 GMT
You're right about the timing there, Gazz. It was the season we went on to lose to Stoke in the Final. Didn't we also beat Crewe at Gresty Road in 1997, when Paul Jones put away the winning penalty? I honestly couldn't tell you, Maccy, as I didn't get to many games that season. My eldest son was only two and my youngest was just a baby, so I was spending all my spare time with them. I missed a hefty chunk of our greatest ever season thanks to those two, but I'm sure they appreciate it and count their blessing every day! Most people on here look back fondly and have many happy memories of that season, and I too have many memories of that time, but they were mostly nappy ones!
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Jun 1, 2022 19:10:53 GMT
Great start AH to a new thread. Very interesting reading. Looking forward to the next set.
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Post by woznorthyorksexile on Jun 1, 2022 19:52:36 GMT
You're right about the timing there, Gazz. It was the season we went on to lose to Stoke in the Final. Didn't we also beat Crewe at Gresty Road in 1997, when Paul Jones put away the winning penalty? On the subject of Gresty Road reminiscences, I can recall pitching up at the ground in time to have a swift one in the small club house they have/had? next to the stand and finding the entire County team in the bar having a pre-match loosener. Paul Hendrie (I guess that puts it somewhere during the mid-eighties) was last man out the bar approximately 15 minutes or so before kick-off. I seem to remember we lost.
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Post by autistichatter on Jun 3, 2022 12:51:45 GMT
And so to the teams that made the L2 Playoff, but didn't get promotion (which went to Port Vale, of course).
First up: Mansfield Town (aka The Stags or, to some, the Slags)
So Mansfield finished in 7th place but beat Northampton Town to make the playoff final. Their record was P 46 W 22 D 11 L 13 F 67 A 52. They edged into the playoffs by 1 point over Sutton United. Their top scorers were Rhys Oates with 12, then Jordan Bowery 9, Stephen McLaughlin 8, Oliver Watkins 8, Matthew Longstaff 6 and George Lapslie 6. So goals seemingly spread throughout the squad and a reasonably tight defence. Manager Nigel Clough, who took over on 6th November, after a poor start (P15 W 3 D 5 L 7) looks to have retained most of his squad from last season (Oates, Hawkins and Lapslie all under contract and retained: Bowery under discussions and "option triggered" for McLaughlin: Matthew Longstaff's loan has now expired). So you'd kind of expect them to challenge again. They are rumoured to be after L1 Portsmouth M Michael Jacobs who had 5 Gs in 11 starts for Pompey. They are also said to be in talks with ManUre for a return of last season's GK Nathan Bishop who was on a season long loan from Stretford. Hmmm, unless they suffer form the Playoff Curse, which always seems to affect one team from any playoff group, I'd say they have a significant chance of being in the promotion mix.
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Post by autistichatter on Jun 3, 2022 13:19:13 GMT
Next up - the team Mansfield beat in the playoff semis - Northampton Town who missed out on automatic promotion to Bristol Rovers. With the sides tied on points the Gas edged the Cobblers out by scoring 7 in their final game meaning they had an identical GD of 22 so the next criterion was goals scored and the Gascscored 71 vs Northampton's 60. Anyway the Cobblers were P 46 W 23 D 11 L 12 F 48 A 38, so a pretty good record all in all, built on a stingy defence. Their top scorers were Sam Hoskins 13, Mitchell Pinnock 9, Fraser Horsfall 9, John Guthrie 8 and Paul Lewis 7, a nice spread of goals that. All of those 5 are either under contract or (Horsfall) have been offered a contract. Current manager Jon "Bonza" Brady, an Aussie, took over from Keith Curle in Feb 2021. After ghosting their way to 4th Brady acknowledges that the fans' expectations will be higher and he aims to meet them. Their chairman, Kelvin Thomas, reckons the squad are in good shape and the club are aiming to be "sensibly ambitious" but not to spend silly money. All in all, I'd say they are strong contenders for 2022/3.
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Post by autistichatter on Jun 3, 2022 14:23:23 GMT
And finally from the playoff heartache file, Swindon Town. Swindon finished 6th, level on points with Mansfield but with a better GD (23 vs 15). Their record was P 46 W 22 D 11 L 13 F67 A 52. Not a bad record, maybe a few too many goals allowed though... Top scorers were Harry McKirdy 23, Jack Payne 13, Tyreece Simpson (season long loan from Ipswich T) 11 and Josh Davison (loan from Charlton Athletic) 9.
Head Coach Ben Garner took over the reins on 21 July 2021 with only 7 players on the club's books. He brought in younger players and the results speak for themselves. At season's end four players were released including Captain Dion Conroy after 5 1/2 years and 123 appearances, 40 of which were in 2021/2. M Ryan East (23 apps in 2021/2) has departed for Bradford City. GK Joe Wollacott and F Harry McKirdy (who has attracted interest from Hibs and Coventry City) were both named to the L2 Team of the season.
There are some question marks however. As of the date of issuing their retained list the Robins had 9 players under contract with the option on another being taken up. A further 6 players have been offered new contracts and another is under discussion. So that doesn't exactly add up to a strong squad with good depth. Furthermore, Swindon's Director of Football, who appointed Garner and brought several players to the club resigned with immediate effect on 30th May, although he goes with the club's best wishes. More worrying, Garner is rumoured (so yes all standard rumour cautions should be in effect) to be the favoured candidate to fill the vacant Manager spot at Charlton Athletic, taking his assistants with him. That could/would put a big question mark over the team's prospects given how central he has been to the turnaround.
So yeah, if the playoff curse is going to hit anyone from last season's L2 playoffs, Swindon Town look the favourite.
Fun Fact: former Robin and former Hatter Mike Summerbee has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Good chap.
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Post by gazz on Jun 3, 2022 17:32:37 GMT
Absolutely fantastic piece of work again, AH, these really are a fantastic addition to the forum!
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Post by autistichatter on Jun 5, 2022 12:20:06 GMT
And so to the Nearly Teams - who didn't quite make it to the playoffs. First up: Sutton United who, of course, won the National League in 2020/1.
They certainly didn't struggle, finishing 8th, missing the playoffs by 1 point with a record of P 46 W 22 D 10 L 14 F 69 A 53.
Top scorers were David Ajiboye, Alistair Smith and Isaac Olaofe all on 8, with Robert Milsom on 7 and a clutch of 3 others each on 6. So goals were spread around nicely. Not too many conceded either. Manager Matt Gray has been in charge since December 2018, seeing them to the National League Title. The squad seems to be fairly stable with just 3 being released at the end of 2021/2: M Kenny Davis played 185 times and scored 7 goals over 5 seasons: W Ricky Korboa scored 3 times in 26 apps and GK Stuart Nelson made just 2 apps since signing as cover in Jan 2022. It all looks like steady as she goes and they can be pencilled in as contenders for a playoff spot.
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