Rival Watch

[Mr Angry]

I think we have to congratulate Oxford on their promotion; even though they didn't look anything special against us (unlike Bolton) they did what was needed when it mattered, and deservedly won the game.

[Franchise FC]

And stop Reading FC too. Really doesn't help us having Bolton in L1 next year.

Yeah, I’m more bothered about Reading than Ryan Reynolds

Agreed. Just need Reading to be consistent and turn up in 46 league games and there should be a decent reward. Hopefully Brum will start the season well, which should mean Eustace will be sacked by the end of October, leaving the way open for the Selles revival.

Did I miss Eustace going back to Birmingham ?

[Clyde1998]

No shots on target in a playoff final is criminal

Can't recall Reading having a shot on target in their last time in a PO final either.

Or Huddersfield if truth be told, hence why it was unquestionably the worst game of association football I have ever witnessed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_EFL_ ... Statistics

2-1 Huddersfield on shots on target in that game (10-8 to us off target). All the shots on target came in the second half - our shot on target came in the 48th minute. Both of their shots on target were long range speculative efforts.

Imagine doing worse than us in 2017.

[Snowflake Royal]

Bolton will be an interesting one. Their defence is shit, the vultures will be circling for their attacking talent and they're coming off the double whammy of an auto promotion and play off heartbreak.


Could win the league, could fiinish 18th.

[Snowflake Royal]

Also Posh- two PO failures in a row. Can they keep the quality in that squad together and in the same shape, or are they going to dip?

They have quite a young team admittedly. Although a hell of a lot of Bolton's will be pushing 30 next year, so getting to beyond prime.

[Sutekh]

Yeah, I’m more bothered about Reading than Ryan Reynolds

Agreed. Just need Reading to be consistent and turn up in 46 league games and there should be a decent reward. Hopefully Brum will start the season well, which should mean Eustace will be sacked by the end of October, leaving the way open for the Selles revival.

Did I miss Eustace going back to Birmingham ?

No I'm the dumdum, I meant Mowbray.

[Franchise FC]

Agreed. Just need Reading to be consistent and turn up in 46 league games and there should be a decent reward. Hopefully Brum will start the season well, which should mean Eustace will be sacked by the end of October, leaving the way open for the Selles revival.

Did I miss Eustace going back to Birmingham ?

No I'm the dumdum, I meant Mowbray.

Given his health issues I’m not convinced he’ll start the new season

[Sutekh]

Crawley have returned to the 3rd division for the first time since 2015. Their highest ever league placing was 10th in the 3rd division back in 2013. Time to start a new derby perhaps?

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Crawley have returned to the 3rd division for the first time since 2015. Their highest ever league placing was 10th in the 3rd division back in 2013. Time to start a new derby perhaps?

They looked decent today, good footballing side and some good technical players, they'll surprise a few people next season.

Nice to see Liam Kelly play well.

[blythspartan]

Not that it’s the right place to put this but I find watching Premiership football so dull these days. I am watching Man City play West Ham, but I much preferred watching Crewe play Crawley earlier. I am probably alone here but City’s success has just made it all so oxf*rd boring.

[LUX]

Definitely agree.

OTOH there were 37 goals scored today, which is impressive.

[Snowflake Royal]

Not that it’s the right place to put this but I find watching Premiership football so dull these days. I am watching Man City play West Ham, but I much preferred watching Crewe play Crawley earlier. I am probably alone here but City’s success has just made it all so oxf*rd boring.

Watched Arsenal vs Everton, was unimpressed. Yes the first touch and pace is better than L1 obviously. But it certainly didn't make me rue the quality of football I've seen already.

That (double) step up in quality is not even remotely worth the cost step up.

Thay second Arsenal goal would be a bit embarrassing in L1, let alone trying to decide a PL trophy.

[Chameleon]

Its good there's another decent side in the league which will hopefully stop Hollywood FC going up.

And stop Reading FC too. Really doesn't help us having Bolton in L1 next year.

Don't think we are in serious contention anyway, unless we make some clever signings.

Playoff form for most of the year, top 5 attendances - an extremely young squad comprising some of the best U21s in the country. We're solidly in the playoff conversation.

[Sutekh]

Not that it’s the right place to put this but I find watching Premiership football so dull these days. I am watching Man City play West Ham, but I much preferred watching Crewe play Crawley earlier. I am probably alone here but City’s success has just made it all so oxf*rd boring.

Not to mention that whatever they've won for the last 10+ years is "tainted".

[Mr Angry]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Manchester City get relegated down to L1 or even L2, and have all of their trophies stripped of them as part of the punishment when the Premier League FINALLY get around to having a look at those 115 charges...........

[South Coast Royal]

And stop Reading FC too. Really doesn't help us having Bolton in L1 next year.

Don't think we are in serious contention anyway, unless we make some clever signings.

Playoff form for most of the year, top 5 attendances - an extremely young squad comprising some of the best U21s in the country. We're solidly in the playoff conversation.

I think "some of the best U21s in the country" is perhaps a bit OTT.
Who do you think they are just as a matter of interest?
Are any playing for England U21s?

[Clyde1998]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Manchester City get relegated down to L1 or even L2, and have all of their trophies stripped of them as part of the punishment when the Premier League FINALLY get around to having a look at those 115 charges...........

I think the Premier League are looking at the charges, but the complexity and legal implications means it's not a quick process. The maximum penalty Man City can face is expulsion from the Premier League - which would obviously end up in court. Whatever decision the Premier League makes needs to withstand court challenges.

Additionally, I believe the EFL have suggested in the past the only way for a club to join the EFL is through relegation from the Premier League or promotion from the National League. If that's accurate, they'd end up below League Two.

[SCIAG]

Don't think we are in serious contention anyway, unless we make some clever signings.

Playoff form for most of the year, top 5 attendances - an extremely young squad comprising some of the best U21s in the country. We're solidly in the playoff conversation.

I think "some of the best U21s in the country" is perhaps a bit OTT.
Who do you think they are just as a matter of interest?
Are any playing for England U21s?

Presumably talking about how they came 6th in the league and are in the semi-finals of the play-offs.

Of course that doesn't factor in players who aren't in the U21 side, like Bindon and Craig for us, or Rico Lewis for Man City.

[Who Moved The Goalposts?]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Manchester City get relegated down to L1 or even L2, and have all of their trophies stripped of them as part of the punishment when the Premier League FINALLY get around to having a look at those 115 charges...........

It would greatly surprise me if there is any footballing sanction of note at all! The PL won't have the balls to do it because they know they don't have the financial clout of an oil nation to see it through. The likely result will be a huge fine (which the dopers will find down the back of their solid gold sofas or in the coin trays of their Bugatti Veyrons) and a half-hearted slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, the smaller clubs will continue get points deducted for lesser offences as the the football pyramid gets more and more fragmented.

[Sutekh]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Manchester City get relegated down to L1 or even L2, and have all of their trophies stripped of them as part of the punishment when the Premier League FINALLY get around to having a look at those 115 charges...........

It would greatly surprise me if there is any footballing sanction of note at all! The PL won't have the balls to do it because they know they don't have the financial clout of an oil nation to see it through. The likely result will be a huge fine (which the dopers will find down the back of their solid gold sofas or in the coin trays of their Bugatti Veyrons) and a half-hearted slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, the smaller clubs will continue get points deducted for lesser offences as the the football pyramid gets more and more fragmented.

If that happens it's everyone, all on the pitch everywhere.