• Nigel Adkins has been given the Tranmere job on a permanent basis signing until the end of the 25/26 season. Continue the discussion here.

NL 2017-2018

Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
Although it is unfair for the 7th placed team to be promoted, this change could actually make it easier for us next season if we just miss out on the title again.
 

Boz

Member
Joined
30 Sep 2005
Messages
8,851
Player
Iain Hume
Not so sure. The better team
Is more likely to prosper in a two-legged game than a one off.
 
Joined
1 Oct 2005
Messages
5,690
Player
Alan King, Barry Dyson
Although it is unfair for the 7th placed team to be promoted, this change could actually make it easier for us next season if we just miss out on the title again.
Possibly, especially if 4-7 have to play their games within a week of the league season ending. I suppose the downside is that the semi-final is just one game. That's more risky, as home advantage doesn't always mean a lot.

I can see why the NL are doing this. It makes the season last longer as most teams will be battling to go up or stay up until the last two or three games. But play-offs are unfair and this proposal goes too far. I suggest they rename the National League and call it the National Cup. :)
 

Boz

Member
Joined
30 Sep 2005
Messages
8,851
Player
Iain Hume
The better team will have home advantage.
As BBTC says that doesn't always mean a lot. While I can see the attraction from the NL in terms of keeping more teams in contention, don't think it will work in our favour.
 
Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
Logically, we would still have to come through two ties to win promotion. So in that sense, nothing changes.
 

Ian

Super White!
Admin
Joined
21 Sep 2005
Messages
12,019
Player
Aldo
Manager
Kingy
Well, I think its fair to say we will probably be involved in the playoffs in some capacity, unless of course we finish top!
 
M

Mal

Guest
I still think that the points gained in a season should mean something. For example, if a team is 15 points ahead of one then that should equate to, say 5 goals. So 3 to 5 is one goal. It would have meant a three goal start against forest.

The hard slog of a league season should count for something.


I would say that most of the time it would mean a one or two goal advantage.
 
Joined
1 Oct 2005
Messages
5,690
Player
Alan King, Barry Dyson
I agree, Mal. But it won't happen as it would make it impossible for the lowest teams to progress. In my view, the fairest system would be just to promote the top two teams. But if a vote was held in the NL, the only vote in favour would be TRFC. We'd be outvoted by the turkeys.
 
Joined
1 Oct 2005
Messages
5,690
Player
Alan King, Barry Dyson
Now we know who is staying and who has arrived, what do you think of our chances this time round?

I am quite confident. We were unlucky last season with injuries and to have such a formidable opposition as Lincoln City. Surely history will not repeat itself? Our 95 points would have earned us the championship in some other years. This year, we have Micky for the whole season and not too many new players to blend into the side.

Compare the current squad with the beginning of last season – Vaughan/Buxton, Ihiekwe/McEveley, Mekki/Dunn, Maynard/Norburn, Steve Jennings/Wallace, Stockton/Alabi, Stephenson/Dawson plus Mangan, Waring and Tollitt. Then factor in the emergence of Pilling, Gumbs, Duggan and Clarke. I think we are stronger – or at least we will be when the injuries have cleared up.

Hartlepool and Leyton Orient have the parachute money but are in transition. Of the promoted clubs, I’d expect Fylde and Ebbsfleet’s financial clout to keep them in contention. Aldershot and Dag & Red are well set up and should continue where they left off. Of the others, watch out for the re-emergence of Eastleigh and Wrexham, although the Dragons new players may take time to gel.

My top seven – TRFC, Dag & Red, Aldershot, Wrexham, Ebbsfleet, Eastleigh, Leyton Orient, outsiders - Macclesfield.
 
Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
Of the newly arrived teams, Orient seem to have recruited the best: their squad looks very strong indeed. I originally thought they would finish in mid-table, but I think they will definitely be challenging now.

My top seven is very similar to BBTC's.

1. Tranmere
2. Dagenham
3. Aldershot
4. Orient
5. Hartlepool
6. Wrexham
7. Ebbsfleet
 

Sparky

Member
Joined
8 Sep 2009
Messages
7,530
Player
Chris Greenacre
I won't predict the top 7 and whilst I'm never the most positive, overall I think the league will be tougher this year.

Our record last season against the top 5 was poor. I think some of the lesser sides have recruited well although the likes of Macc and Dover are probably worse off. if we can get Tollit fit and keep everyone else ok then we have a good chance.
 

Boz

Member
Joined
30 Sep 2005
Messages
8,851
Player
Iain Hume
1. Dagenham & Redbridge
2. Tranmere Rovers
3. Aldershot
4. Barrow
5. Hartlepool
6. Fylde
7. Leyton Orient

I'm fairly confident about the top three, but unsure of the order. BBTC and RLC have the same trio in the top three, but more optimistically than me pitch Rovers top.

Dagenham have kept hold of most of their best players, including Hawkins up front and they did a lot of business early on, meaning plenty of time for the new players to bed in. Joe Widdowson left-back moving to Orient probably the only unwanted departure, like us they have less strength in depth at the back compared to other areas. With an experienced manager in John Still, they are our strongest opponent. Aldershot have also retained most of the best players from last season and are serious contenders.

After that, hard to call. The two relegated sides have managers who don't have experience of this league, which means adaptation time is a factor holding them back a little. Pools have kept hold of key scorer Amond and recruited well. Orient have put a very strong squad together, but due to their financial difficulties last season, it's been done from scratch and the lack of continuity will tell against them initially. Of the promoted sides Flyde and Ebbsfleet are both strong and should be thereabouts. Eastleigh, Wrexham and Sutton all likely to be in contention for a play-off spot.

At the other end, feel Solihull, Guiseley, Chester, Dover and Macclesfield in danger of going down. All have lost some key players and excepting Guiseley haven't replaced with similar quality.

BBTCs in/out list makes interesting reading, though in some cases you can make an argument in favour of the departed player. Vaughan/Ihiekwe/Stephenson going brings a loss of pace from the squad, Maynard more versatile than Norburn for example. All the players we've brought in, save Waring who is a bit of an unknown quantity, look decent for this level. Another factor is the injury situation, the optimism that Tollit and Wallace would be back for pre-season hasn't been borne out. Tollit now September/October, by which time a quarter of the season is over and as for Wallace, who knows...
 
Joined
1 Oct 2005
Messages
5,690
Player
Alan King, Barry Dyson
I forgot about Sutton, whose money from their cup run could fund a good team.

Having 7 instead of 5 involved in the promotion stakes will make for a more competitive season. Most games in the last few weeks will actually matter. Ironically, if the new system had been in place a year earlier, we'd have been involved in the playoffs and quite possibly promoted, as GB's team was playing well, particularly against the better sides.

This season, it's important we get off to a flier as the teams with newer, bankrolled squads should be more competitive as the season progresses and they begin to gel.
 

Sparky

Member
Joined
8 Sep 2009
Messages
7,530
Player
Chris Greenacre
Cheers Mal - I especially like this quote !

"For me, Tranmere will win it comfortably. Taking away what happened in the play-off final, they were mightily impressive for long spells last term and with the benefit of a full pre-season behind him, I expect Micky Mellon to take them onto the next level and get it wrapped up by Easter"
 
Joined
1 Oct 2005
Messages
5,690
Player
Alan King, Barry Dyson
Cheers Mal - I especially like this quote !

"For me, Tranmere will win it comfortably. Taking away what happened in the play-off final, they were mightily impressive for long spells last term and with the benefit of a full pre-season behind him, I expect Micky Mellon to take them onto the next level and get it wrapped up by Easter"

You may like it, Sparky, but I hope Micky doesn't see it. No pressure then. ;)
 
Joined
1 Oct 2005
Messages
5,690
Player
Alan King, Barry Dyson
After five games, an interesting pattern is beginning to develop. Basically, twelve teams are based in London and the south-east, while the rest are scattered around the country.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017–18_National_League

This weekend's table is dominated by the home counties teams with 10 of them in the top 11 and all 12 in the top 17. This was not the case in previous years and no team from the south-east has been promoted for some time. I wonder if there is now a shift of power. Certainly, the likes of Hartlepool and Torquay - and even Rovers - must spend a lot more money and time travelling to away games. Or is it just that the southerners are better teams?
 
Last edited:

Boz

Member
Joined
30 Sep 2005
Messages
8,851
Player
Iain Hume
Aldershot and Dagenham were good sides last season and Sutton have spent their cup money wisely. Some of the others, Bromley in particular, are a surprise. There's also a larger talent pool in the SE because of it's population, so we'd have to pay for players from that zone to move, when there are plenty of clubs in their own region, willing to take them on, why should they move up north otherwise than for a significant financial incentive.
 
Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
Other than Aldershot, Dagenham and perhaps Sutton, I would be surprised if any of the current top seven are still there at the end of the season, although Kinnear at Dover always seems to exceed expectations. I certainly don't think Bromley or Sutton will win the title.
 
Top