2016-17 League Two teams

[JJ1532]

League Two is starting to become more set for next season.

18 of the 24 teams are already confirmed, 1 all but confirmed.

Blackpool(relegated from L1)
Doncaster(relegated from L1)
Crewe(relegated from L1)
Colchester(relegated from L1)
Cambridge
Wycombe
Carlisle
Mansfield
Exeter
Luton
Leyton Orient
Barnet
Notts County
Hartlepool
Crawley
Stevenage
Yeovil
Morecambe
Newport
Cheltenham(promoted from conference)

(1 of FGR or Grimsby to come up)
(3 of Accrington, Plymouth, Portsmouth or Wimbledon to stay in L2)

L2 looks grim for us next season. Everyone is miles away. No matter who we get on Tuesdays, it'll be a pain in the arse to get to. Most away games we'll be lucky to break 250, same with teams visiting Gresty Road. Not looking forward to it one bit. How do you see League Two shaping up for next season?

 

[MJA]

League 2 is looking very Southern these days and even some of the Northern sides are a nightmare to get to so can see what you mean with regards to travel. The 2 sides to join you from L1 will be within a 90 minute radius though so that will at least give you a few closer journeys.

Looking at the remaining L1 fixtures I feel the bottom 4 will finish as it is now with Donny and Blackpool joining you in L1 (this is mainly on the basis that Fleetwood have your lot on the last day ). If that is the case, I'm not sure any of the relegated sides will get themselves straight back up as L2 can eat you up as much as any division. Always difficult to predict things until all teams are confirmed for the new season but I suspect those in the top 10 who fail to get promoted this season will compete towards the top again next season with a few of those current bottom half teams also pushing up the table.

 

[AdamStag]

It is a very southern league, and anything southern is obviously dodgy.

I guess for me living in Manchester Crewe is easy to get to, ideal if Accrington stay down. If Doncaster and Blackpool/Fleetwood came down that would be another 2 sides - ideally Grimsby from the conference also.

 

[Moomin]

Stop moaning. Our local rivals are 40 miles away....A trip to cheltenham which is 110 miles from Exeter is considered a local game.

 

[cufc17]

Aye stop complaining, we don't even have any rivals. Having said that, Hartlepool fans seem to have a weird obsession with us for some reason. Same with Preston, Leeds etc.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Aye stop complaining, we don't even have any rivals. Having said that, Hartlepool fans seem to have a weird obsession with us for some reason. Same with Preston, Leeds etc.

Oh yes our massive local derby.

 

[jacobncfc]

Some of those potential promoted teams look fun, well up for Forest Green away, whatever one of those is.

 

[thewwfc]

Excited for Doncaster to come down, I've done most lower league grounds but not that one. Also I remember a tues night League Cup game against them, a belter of a fixture which went to extra time and penalties, and thinking how miserable it must be to trudge back to S Yorks after all that. So I owe them at least the respect of visiting.

I like Forest Green because they used to be a Wycombe rejects FC, but that's no longer the case and also they seem to be the new Crawley in terms of being bankrolled . Wouldn't mind the Grimmers back, never done the trip to Cleethorpes and I've always liked piss on my fish.

 

[mowgli]

Some of those potential promoted teams look fun, well up for Forest Green away, whatever one of those is.

Hope you like veggie food as it's all FGR serve up.

 

[Habbinalan]

Hope you like veggie food as it's all FGR serve up.

Pubs and chippies in Nailsworth are excellent, it's just the interminable trip there and back through Toryshire that take the edge off.

 

[hellogregory]

Oh yes our massive local derby.

We're not really local to Hartlepool so I struggle to understand why your fans are so obsessed with us

 

[dedwardp]

Wycombe, Luton, Orient, Barnet, Crawley and Stevenage is much better than League One. Just need Braintree to join us and Wimbledon and Cambridge to stay down - looks a lot more fun already.

 

[AdamStag]

In a weird way, Doncaster would be our main rival next season. County obviously are location wise, but there's no bad blood or ill feeling between either party. Doncaster is very much a different story.

Still, nice to see some new faces down here

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Hope you like veggie food as it's all FGR serve up.

*vegan. No egg roll for you.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Wycombe, Luton, Orient, Barnet, Crawley and Stevenage is much better than League One. Just need Braintree to join us and Wimbledon and Cambridge to stay down - looks a lot more fun already.

There's no possibility of Cambridge and Wimbledon both being promoted. It would be quite remarkable if Braintree were to be in League 2 next season. When you were in the Championship in 2006/07, they were 4 levels below you!
I don't think FGR will win the play-offs, they've imploded over the past couple of months and while the dismissal of Pennock may improve team harmony, it's a bit much to expect that to engineer the complete turnaround in team performance necessary to win the play-offs.

 

[Soup Ladle]

We're not really local to Hartlepool so I struggle to understand why your fans are so obsessed with us

Yes, we're hugely obsessed. I believe there was a spike in local suicides the night you took six points off us this season.

But anyway, why wouldn't we be? The whole of L2 can marvel in the division's biggest, most passionate local derby, for another season.

 

[shoddycollins]

Yes, we're hugely obsessed. I believe there was a spike in local suicides the night you took six points off us this season.

But anyway, why wouldn't we be? The whole of L2 can marvel in the division's biggest, most passionate local derby, for another season.

We took six points off you in one night? Was that the night we let you sign Billy Paynter?

Methinks Darlo could be back up here before long in any case. Only be two divisions below us next season and this promotion could be the kick they need to finally get some momentum.

 

[hellogregory]

Yes, we're hugely obsessed. I believe there was a spike in local suicides the night you took six points off us this season.

But anyway, why wouldn't we be? The whole of L2 can marvel in the division's biggest, most passionate local derby, for another season.

Get in!!

 

[Soup Ladle]

We took six points off you in one night? Was that the night we let you sign Billy Paynter?

Methinks Darlo could be back up here before long in any case. Only be two divisions below us next season and this promotion could be the kick they need to finally get some momentum.

You can't argue with Paynter's record this season but anyway I believe Paynter signed in the day time

Darlo have done well but think they'll plateau a bit in Conf North. Plenty of bigger, better backed sides in there for them to negotiate. They'll play us again I'm sure in the future, but think it'll be a while.

 

[shoddycollins]

Sky Sports needn't focus all their attention on the Premier League, Harlisle v Cartlepool WILL be the highlight of next seasons fixture list!

 

[Hooped Wizard]

I'd say we'll piss this league but I said the same when we got relegated from the championship 2 years ago.

Paul Dickov and Darren Ferguson have caused a good squad to relegate us.

On paper we should do well, Andy Williams, Coppinger, Evina, Andy Butler, Nathan Tyson, Gary MacKenzie, Richard Chaplow and Craig Alcock all have top level experience and their contracts don't run out. But then we were one of the favourites to go up this year and we've been relegated. It's amazing what shite managers can do isn't it ?

Anyway Ferguson is staying on, so the start of the season will be very bad for us - when he does eventually get the bullet in October time I hope we finally just for once appoint a competent manager.

 

[Roger Stone]

Fingers crossed for a south - west bias for next season.
Confirmed - Newport, Exeter, Yeovil, Cheltenham.
Possibles - Portsmouth, Plymouth, Rovers, FGR.
Plus Crawley, Barnet, Stevenage, Luton, Orient, Wycombe, Colchester all down south.
Would be a tidy line up, good for the coffers too.
Looking forward to Donny and Blackpool trips.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

Fingers crossed for a south - west bias for next season.
Confirmed - Newport, Exeter, Yeovil, Cheltenham.
Possibles - Portsmouth, Plymouth, Rovers, FGR.
Plus Crawley, Barnet, Stevenage, Luton, Orient, Wycombe, Colchester all down south.
Would be a tidy line up, good for the coffers too.
Looking forward to Donny and Blackpool trips.

You should be honoured really.

A walk along the rural countryside hills or along the beautiful lake to visit a stadium equipped for Championship football both resource and capacity wise (we did it very well for 5 years). North and most of the east stand will be shut off next season. Sad times.

 

[JJ1532]

Updated the OP. Donny are all but down barring a stupid swing in results their way. Cambridge also confirm their place for next season.

Its 1 from 2 to come down with them from L1. 1 from 4 to come up from the conference. 4 from 7 to remain from those in the promotion spots.

 

[The Alex]

I wouldn't be surprised if we challenged in the top half next season. Ryan Lowe may be old but would be a good signing, a few more experienced signings and we have some good young players like Ainley, Kirk, Cooper and Saunders, all could have good seasons. We need to get our business done early and have a solid side ready for pre season.

 

[JJ1532]

I wouldn't be surprised if we challenged in the top half next season. Ryan Lowe may be old but would be a good signing, a few more experienced signings and we have some good young players like Ainley, Kirk, Cooper and Saunders, all could have good seasons. We need to get our business done early and have a solid side ready for pre season.

Sorry, but I just don't buy it. This side is still going to be coached by 2 of the dumbest coaches I've ever seen. The youngsters don't progress under these 2 and just dropping down a level won't solve that. The reason we did well under SD was because he had a talented team that could play well on their own. Look at the best players we've had under SD. Powell, Chuks, Ajose, Murphy, Westy, Coco, Inman(work with me here). They are and were good players because they did their own thing. They needed little coaching and little guidance, their own talent carried them through. But for me, theseyoungsters(Cooper, Saunders, Jones, Kirk etc) need guidance. They need coaching, they need support. Support they won't get from this management. There is little evidence that Davis can motivate this group enough for mount a top half challenge. Why will the tactics be any different than the shambles we saw this season? The tactics that saw us stand off teams off the ball and get passed around with ease. On the ball, are we going to go for games, be aggressive and go for wins and go for goals? I don't see it. Managers rarely change and Davis' philosophy is clearly to sit deep and defend the lead. Hell, last Saturday proved that when he took off Haber for George Ray. That is who he is as a manager. As for his assistant, Collins is a moron who is clearly out of his depth.

Lowe will help and if we can get Bakayogo to sign, that will be a boost. The CM we sign will be the game changer. If they can help and guide Jones, Wintle, Ainley and co, that will make a massive difference. If we get another Bingham/Fox character, we'll struggle. Our issue is that we don't have any CM that looks capable of scoring goals or create them. Maybe Ainley does that, but its a bit too soon to peg him as a guy that we can count on to be a consistent L2 player just yet. I honestly think that if we made a manager change, this team would be rejuvenated. But whilst SD and JC stay in charge, I think we'll be severely hamstrung and won't do anything better than a mid table finish.

L2 is tougher than it looks. Look at some of the sides that will be staying down out of the play offs. Donny will have a large budget for this level. There are a lot of tough scrapping teams who will just kick our lads off the park. Can we step up physically and compete with these teams? Going to be a big ask. For me, I'd take a bottom half finish that sees us finish well clear of the drop zone. Somewhere in the 50-60 region would be a decent achievement for this group. Then we can get rid of Davis, Turton, Nugent, Ray, Bingham and anyone else who has shown to not be good enough. Next season for me is about stopping the rot and getting the foundations in place for a good 17-18 season.

 

[Urban]

Sorry, but I just don't buy it. This side is still going to be coached by 2 of the dumbest coaches I've ever seen. The youngsters don't progress under these 2 and just dropping down a level won't solve that. The reason we did well under SD was because he had a talented team that could play well on their own. Look at the best players we've had under SD. Powell, Chuks, Ajose, Murphy, Westy, Coco, Inman(work with me here). They are and were good players because they did their own thing. They needed little coaching and little guidance, their own talent carried them through. But for me, theseyoungsters(Cooper, Saunders, Jones, Kirk etc) need guidance. They need coaching, they need support. Support they won't get from this management. There is little evidence that Davis can motivate this group enough for mount a top half challenge. Why will the tactics be any different than the shambles we saw this season? The tactics that saw us stand off teams off the ball and get passed around with ease. On the ball, are we going to go for games, be aggressive and go for wins and go for goals? I don't see it. Managers rarely change and Davis' philosophy is clearly to sit deep and defend the lead. Hell, last Saturday proved that when he took off Haber for George Ray. That is who he is as a manager. As for his assistant, Collins is a moron who is clearly out of his depth.

Lowe will help and if we can get Bakayogo to sign, that will be a boost. The CM we sign will be the game changer. If they can help and guide Jones, Wintle, Ainley and co, that will make a massive difference. If we get another Bingham/Fox character, we'll struggle. Our issue is that we don't have any CM that looks capable of scoring goals or create them. Maybe Ainley does that, but its a bit too soon to peg him as a guy that we can count on to be a consistent L2 player just yet. I honestly think that if we made a manager change, this team would be rejuvenated. But whilst SD and JC stay in charge, I think we'll be severely hamstrung and won't do anything better than a mid table finish.

L2 is tougher than it looks. Look at some of the sides that will be staying down out of the play offs. Donny will have a large budget for this level. There are a lot of tough scrapping teams who will just kick our lads off the park. Can we step up physically and compete with these teams? Going to be a big ask. For me, I'd take a bottom half finish that sees us finish well clear of the drop zone. Somewhere in the 50-60 region would be a decent achievement for this group. Then we can get rid of Davis, Turton, Nugent, Ray, Bingham and anyone else who has shown to not be good enough. Next season for me is about stopping the rot and getting the foundations in place for a good 17-18 season.

We've already got one Bingham down here, thanks.

 

[AtaturkOzgutson]

Let's have Blackpool down, either way it's a weekender in Blackpool but one is more appealing and much easier to get to!

I have a perverse soft spot for Braintree, and would probably die laughing if they were a football league team. Grimsby to do it and help the North/South balace (which Mansfield types complain about the most, strangely ) as well as the tinpot balance.

Let's lose Wimbledon, Oxford and either of Accy/Bristol as there's nowt between them really.

 

[jacobncfc]

Anyone but Grimsby to come up for me. Nowt against them but i've been there loads of times and it's pretty boring as away trips go.

Doncaster coming down is sound, we've got a fantastic record at the Keepmoat. Don't think we've ever even conceded a goal there.

 

[BeesKnees]

I loath Braintree with a passion, so I want them out. I'd also rather see someone who is trying to buy success fail so that's FGR out. Dover or Grimsby then, both are pigs to get to so overall I'm not enthused by any of them