Rival Watch

[Sutekh]

Non league clubs had been pushing for an automatic promotion place for years but we're usually denied in the re-election days by the League clubs closing ranks.

The exceptions being clubs like Barrow and Workington as most clubs were happy to vote out an absolute ball ache of an away trip. Clubs like Hereford, Wimbledon and Wigan who entered the league in the 70s made a pretty decent go if being league clubs. It was only really In the early days of automatic promotion that some piss poor clubs got into the league on the back of fluking a decent season and the relegated club had a more than decent chance of bouncing straight back up (Lincoln, Colchester, Darlo, Carlisle and Hartlepool all did IIRC).

I think the balance is about right now with 2 up, 2 down, although there is a bit of a financial gap developing in the National League.

Personally think it should be 3 down replaced by the top 2 plus the play off winners.

[WestYorksRoyal]

The NL now is probably a similar level to L2 at the turn of the century, if not better. All but 1 or 2 teams are full time, there are clubs like Oldham and Chesterfield who should never have fallen that far plus ambitious upstarts. It makes it very hard to climb out when there's just one automatic spot.

There's easily an argument forced L3 with relegation into NL North/South. Would also bring them within the EFL's financial controls, as it is currently a bit of a wild west even by the standards of English football.

[Stranded]

Charlton apparently set to announce Conor Coventry as a permanent signing today. Fee apparently £1m.

Also in for Clark-Harris from Peterborough, for around £500k.

[Snowflake Royal]

Charlton apparently set to announce Conor Coventry as a permanent signing today. Fee apparently £1m.

Also in for Clark-Harris from Peterborough, for around £500k.

That's a hell of a lot for a mid-table L1 side to pay, they could be in a lot of trouble soon if it doesn't pay off.

[Stranded]

Charlton apparently set to announce Conor Coventry as a permanent signing today. Fee apparently £1m.

Also in for Clark-Harris from Peterborough, for around £500k.

That's a hell of a lot for a mid-table L1 side to pay, they could be in a lot of trouble soon if it doesn't pay off.

That was my initial reaction. New owners flashing cash. Coventry is the kind of signing who could end up being worth a lot more but a big risk.

[Sutekh]

Charlton apparently set to announce Conor Coventry as a permanent signing today. Fee apparently £1m.

Also in for Clark-Harris from Peterborough, for around £500k.

That's a hell of a lot for a mid-table L1 side to pay, they could be in a lot of trouble soon if it doesn't pay off.

That was my initial reaction. New owners flashing cash. Coventry is the kind of signing who could end up being worth a lot more but a big risk.

Sorry but who on earth is he, never heard of him. Is he actually any good?

[Pepe the Horseman]

Charlton apparently set to announce Conor Coventry as a permanent signing today. Fee apparently £1m.

Also in for Clark-Harris from Peterborough, for around £500k.

That's a hell of a lot for a mid-table L1 side to pay, they could be in a lot of trouble soon if it doesn't pay off.

That was my initial reaction. New owners flashing cash. Coventry is the kind of signing who could end up being worth a lot more but a big risk.

Charlton 40/1 to make top 6 and 175/1 for promotion. 13 points off 6th, so big ask, but given how shit the league is a bit of quality could make a big difference.

What happened with Clark-Harris? I thought Posh transfer listed him to give him a Championship move. Guessing no takers. Has he been playing?

[morganb]

Didn't realise there was a League 1 game this evening - Carlisle lost. They've played 3 more than us and are still 3 points behind.

Exeter, Cheltenham and Reading all play next mid-week.

[Stranded]

Didn't realise there was a League 1 game this evening - Carlisle lost. They've played 3 more than us and are still 3 points behind.

Exeter, Cheltenham and Reading all play next mid-week.

Yeah, we have a real chance to pull away from them in the next few weeks, depending on squad strength and any additional deductions of course.

[Hendo]

Didn't realise there was a League 1 game this evening - Carlisle lost. They've played 3 more than us and are still 3 points behind.

Exeter, Cheltenham and Reading all play next mid-week.

Thought they were really shocking when we played them a couple of months ago. I know we've been bad in some games, but they were a different level of bad.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Oh how I look forward to the day when we can look at our competitors results with the knowledge that our biggest rival is our owner.

But yes, a few results falling kindly for us since the weekend.

[leon]

Oh how I look forward to the day when we can look at our competitors results with the knowledge that our biggest rival is our owner.

think you need word change in there

[Stranded]

Cheltenham v Carlisle postponed tomorrow.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Decent win for Exeter at Bristol Rovers last night. All teams seem to be showing a bit of fight apart from Fleetwood and Carlisle who are surely done. I think quite a high points total may be needed. 50 used to be the Championship benchmark, but add in the extra relegation spot and the closeness of teams, we could be looking at 55 as the magic number this season.

[Brogue]

Decent win for Exeter at Bristol Rovers last night. All teams seem to be showing a bit of fight apart from Fleetwood and Carlisle who are surely done. I think quite a high points total may be needed. 50 used to be the Championship benchmark, but add in the extra relegation spot and the closeness of teams, we could be looking at 55 as the magic number this season.

Bristol Rovers Exeter is a local derby, form guides don't tend to matter in them sort of games i suspect thats just a one off tbh

[WestYorksRoyal]

Decent win for Exeter at Bristol Rovers last night. All teams seem to be showing a bit of fight apart from Fleetwood and Carlisle who are surely done. I think quite a high points total may be needed. 50 used to be the Championship benchmark, but add in the extra relegation spot and the closeness of teams, we could be looking at 55 as the magic number this season.

Bristol Rovers Exeter is a local derby, form guides don't tend to matter in them sort of games i suspect thats just a one off tbh

Exeter's recent form is 12 points from 8 games. Admittedly their other wins were against Carlisle and Wycombe, but they have also taken points off Portsmouth and Stevenage in that run. They have a bit of momentum, and we know how far that can take sides.

[stealthpapes]

It feels a bit like teams drop a bit, realise they've dropped and put on a bit of gas for a few weeks to move away. From our point of view, there's been this group 4-6 points above us, but its different teams in a different order.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Cliche alert. We just need to focus on ourselves. For a long time, it felt like Exeter were the only team to hunt, now we're just 5 points off 14th which is nuts. Since Shrewbury (which I still haven't got over), we've picked up 19 points from 11 which over a season is play off form. Keep that up and we'll be fine. I've no idea who would join Carlisle and Fleetwood given how close it is, but we wouldn't be one of them.

The biggest threats are the transfer window and any further points deductions for HMRC issues. If we have a decent squad on 1 February and the our penalty is suspended, we'll be fine. Basically our biggest opponent is Dai, again.

[rabidbee]

Decent win for Exeter at Bristol Rovers last night. All teams seem to be showing a bit of fight apart from Fleetwood and Carlisle who are surely done. I think quite a high points total may be needed. 50 used to be the Championship benchmark, but add in the extra relegation spot and the closeness of teams, we could be looking at 55 as the magic number this season.

Bristol Rovers Exeter is a local derby, form guides don't tend to matter in them sort of games i suspect thats just a one off tbh

It's still a 90-minute drive, with the barren wasteland also sometimes called Somerset between them. I've never known a Bristol fan to mention Exeter (admittedly, I rarely met Gasheads). Not sure how the Grecians feel about Bristol, of course.

[morganb]

Charlton Athletic (who we play in a couple of weeks) sack head coach Michael Appleton after 12-game winless run

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68077419