EFL League 1, League 2, National League and below FOOTBALL 2022/23

[neoELITE]

I thought I'd kick off the thread for the new season. 

 

Welcome into the thread Derby County supporters and welcome back Barnsley and Peterborough to League 1 after a year off. 

 

I've already bought my season ticket to Plymouth Argyle.  8,500 other people have also joined me - our highest season ticket sales for a few decades.  We've made two signings, Matt Butcher from Accrington and Mikel Miller from Rotherham but we've lost a few and we might well be losing a key midfielder if Panuche Camara leaves and our highly rated goalkeeper Mike Cooper before the season starts.

 

I don't know where we'll end up - just missing out on the play-offs last season but I'm optimistic we can re-create that this season and maybe go one or two steps further if we can get some depth in the squad.  Our end of season form was dire and it was entirely down to injuries to key players.    

[merman]

Ipswich - still a little hard to evaluate the new manager with his lack of experience, but there were times it felt like things were heading in the right direction. A couple of good signings already (and the young Arsenal winger on loan should have an impact). We just need to score goals consistently.

[wev]

With Notts County it seems anything but play-off success can happen, I've got BT Sport on my phones plan this season so might even get to watch some games!

[Fatsam]

Chesterfield, Solihull and Notts County will be strong,  so I'd imagine 100 points plus will be the expectation for Parkinson to try and ensure Wrexham get that top spot this season. There was a drop off in squad quality beyond the core players last season so we've ditched half a dozen so far and it looks like we want better in two or three starting positions and will look to strengthen bench options too. We don't need to sign loads though really. Rumours of targeting league one players are out there, but it looks like our first new addition will be centre back Jordan Tunicliffe, who has rejected a new contract at Crawley and appears to be good. Pressure is going to be on, everyone expects us to win the league this year. We'll do well again I'm sure, but I'll let you know exactly how confident I am once I see our final squad.

 

Over 6,800 season tickets have been sold!

[neoELITE]

Derby takeover today

 

They have five players on the books and Rooney left. They could do a Bolton and end up in League 2 quite easily this season. I'd expect them to use a lot of loans but signing permanent players is going to be a struggle as players are signing up for clubs now and most teams have started pre-season. League 1 is also packed with quality these days. 

[Butters]

I know the line was about 'someone with fresh energy' or something like that, but why did Rooney leave? I haven't been keeping up, but it felt like as soon as the Kirschner bid collapsed, he'd had enough. Was he affiliated to that buyer in some way?

[merman]

4 hours ago, Butters said:

I know the line was about 'someone with fresh energy' or something like that, but why did Rooney leave? I haven't been keeping up, but it felt like as soon as the Kirschner bid collapsed, he'd had enough. Was he affiliated to that buyer in some way?

 

It is more likely that he saw the Kirschner bid as his best chance to keep the job, but any new bidder would want to bring in a more established manager. 

[neoELITE]

19 hours ago, Butters said:

I know the line was about 'someone with fresh energy' or something like that, but why did Rooney leave? I haven't been keeping up, but it felt like as soon as the Kirschner bid collapsed, he'd had enough. Was he affiliated to that buyer in some way?

 

15 hours ago, merman said:

 

It is more likely that he saw the Kirschner bid as his best chance to keep the job, but any new bidder would want to bring in a more established manager. 

 

He's incredibly wealthy and has a young family. I suspect this was a family decision. He did miracles at Derby given the mess that he inherited. I have a lot of respect for the guy.

 

https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/the-derby-county-situation-explained-will-the-rams-be-kicked-out-the-efl

[Timmo]

Derby fan here. Elated the admin nightmare is over and looking forward to the season. We’ll be well supported.  Supposedly we have around 10 signings lined up including Hourihane and James Chester. Curtis Davies supposedly on the verge of signing a new contract. I think we should have a squad good enough to be mid table. 

[neoELITE]

@Timmo Hourihane is the best player in League 1 if you do sign him

 When he was with us, he was superb. 

[filecore]

(Lincoln for those new round here!) Looking forward to this thread again. New manager, lots of new players. My ST was renewed back in first window.

Many will know I currently live in London, and so home games are like aways for me. Full day events,  (and Tuesday nights impossible). However, start a new job 1st Sep in Manchester, so will have a new journey to home games and plenty of 'new' real aways in the north west.

 

Bring on Exeter at home on 30th July.

[Timmo]

On 02/07/2022 at 22:16, neoELITE said:

@Timmo Hourihane is the best player in League 1 if you do sign him

 When he was with us, he was superb. 

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind few days. We have signed Hourihane, James Chester, Mcgoldrick, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen and retained a few of our better players as well. Really positive so far!

[neoELITE]

37 minutes ago, Timmo said:

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind few days. We have signed Hourihane, James Chester, Mcgoldrick, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen and retained a few of our better players as well. Really positive so far!

 

Your wage budget must be massive. Derby do understand FFP is a thing in League 1 don't they? Hopefully you'll not see history repeating itself at Pride Park.

[Timmo]

32 minutes ago, neoELITE said:

 

Your wage budget must be massive. Derby do understand FFP is a thing in League 1 don't they? Hopefully you'll not see history repeating itself at Pride Park.

We had 5 senior players, and a couple of those will go. We’re restricted to £8k/week. The new owner has made it very clear that he won’t let the same happen again. 
 

I think the timing is quite fortunate for us, a lot of good free agents out there, buyer’s market. 

[filecore]

Hourihane is ace. 8k a week in L1 is a lot. Yes there are some extreme outliers as a result of contracts (Bannon at Wednesday - 28K a week, McGeady at Sunderland was on about 30k pw) Obscene figures!  We can't compete with that money being thrown around.  I'm happy with mid-table this season.

[Fatsam]

Elliot Lee finally signs. Heavily rumoured three weeks ago and talking in a podcast saying he was looking for a "project" for his next move. Nailed on since. I've seen Youtube best bits videos make the most average of players look good, but bloody hell he's capable of some best bits. Luton fans seem to think he'll be fantastic for us.

 

Jordan Tunnicliffe in too. Last at Crawley and also good in our league for Fylde. Can play across the back three and should improve us a bit defensively.

 

And 35 year old goalkeeper Mark Howard who just got player of the season at Carlisle and played for Parkinson at Bolton.

 

Apparently we've been attempting to splash mega money on Crewe's Tom Lowery.

[neoELITE]

My friend's son Jack came on as a sub in a friendly against Swansea yesterday. I remember looking after him when he was a toddler like it was yesterday. Super proud of him. It's all he's ever wanted to do. Well done Jack.

[El Pibe]

Exeter City. Back in League One.

 

Not sure what to expect. We have a decent squad. Just hoping we can be competitive and maybe win a certain local derby.

[neoELITE]

On 20/07/2022 at 07:09, El Pibe said:

Exeter City. Back in League One.

 

Not sure what to expect. We have a decent squad. Just hoping we can be competitive and maybe win a certain local derby.

 

Hmmmm. We're a bit different since we were stuck in League 2. I know we played one game under the new chairman/management that suddenly wanted to play passing, possession football and although it ended up with your lot winning 4-0 in our last game, we're a different beast now with depth to the squad and saleable assets. 

Both fixtures are early kick offs so if you can't get a ticket, we can stream the games. Looking forward to it. 

 

Financial disparity in League 1 is wide so it's tough for smaller clubs like yours but Exeter are a passing side these days so who knows. I think you'll start well but fade as it's about squad depth and quality. We found that out last season in the last ten games. 

 

Good luck (honestly).

[neoELITE]

On 13/07/2022 at 06:32, neoELITE said:

My friend's son Jack came on as a sub in a friendly against Swansea yesterday. I remember looking after him when he was a toddler like it was yesterday. Super proud of him. It's all he's ever wanted to do. Well done Jack.

 

He scored against Torquay!

[Angles Morts]

I've got no idea how our new-look Charlton Reject / Brentford Feeder team will get on this year.

 

There were fewer departures following our relegation than I expected, Jack Rudoni to Huddersfield, Nesta Guinness Walker to Reading. Surprised no one snapped up Ayoub Assal, not sure if his size or his fieriness has put people off.

Some experience added to the back line with Gunther and Pierce, and promising loans Paris and NYC from the Bees. Also the 6'9" Hudlin from Huddersfield who should be easy to make out from a distance.

 

Last year we had an academy team with an academy coach playing academy football 4-2-3-1. This year I expect a hard to beat but less exciting 3-5-2 with a more real-world attitude.

 

Now I just have to get over the shame of being in the last slot on the Football League Show.

[neoELITE]

Today's the day people. It's another season. Good luck to you all. 

Plymouth is cloudy and we host Barnsley (my Father in law's team). 

 

[Plissken]

Sheffield Wednesday are starting the season off on the right foot, by banning the relatives of people who claimed the refund on their season tickets that the club offered when games were cancelled due to Covid.

 

https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-fan-denied-new-season-ticket-following-civil-money-claim-against-club-3785800

 

(In summary, Weds play five home games behind doors due to Covid, announce ST holders to get a refund for the matches.  Fans apply, no refund forthcoming.  Fans contact club, hear nothing.  Fans go to small claims court, club pays up and then bans them and their families from having a season ticket in the future.)

[Fatsam]

Love this. Nice to see a club with hope in their hearts again, and a brass band.

 

But oh dear Oldham you'll understand soon enough.

 

 

 

 

[neoELITE]

1 hour ago, Plissken said:

Sheffield Wednesday are starting the season off on the right foot, by banning the relatives of people who claimed the refund on their season tickets that the club offered when games were cancelled due to Covid.

 

https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-fan-denied-new-season-ticket-following-civil-money-claim-against-club-3785800

 

(In summary, Weds play five home games behind doors due to Covid, announce ST holders to get a refund for the matches.  Fans apply, no refund forthcoming.  Fans contact club, hear nothing.  Fans go to small claims court, club pays up and then bans them and their families from having a season ticket in the future.)

 

That's shocking. Really poor.

 

1 hour ago, Fatsam said:

Love this. Nice to see a club with hope in their hearts again, and a brass band.

 

But oh dear Oldham you'll understand soon enough.

 

 

 

 

 

And that's completely disrespectful. Oldham played in the Premier League once. Let that sink in Mr Chairman. 

[neoELITE]

Heading off in a minute. That's a programme in my living room of the first full game I went to*

 

 

*aged 7, I went to a home game against Portsmouth in '83 but my Dad took us home at half time as there was a riot. My Mum didn't let me go again until my Dad talked her into it.

[neoELITE]

My mate sent me this. He didn't play but ❤️

Right next to Dan Scarr. 

 

 

We won 1-0. A cracking goal. I have no idea how it ended 1-0. Barnsley were awful. Their defence are going to struggle. They're all big, slow and clumsy.

[neoELITE]

Just to add. We've sold 9000 season tickets. That's incredible.

[Fatsam]

8 hours ago, neoELITE said:

And that's completely disrespectful. Oldham played in the Premier League once. Let that sink in Mr Chairman. 

 

Completely, but that'll make it even sweeter for Dorking when they inevitably take points off them. 

 

I went to watch Wrexham beat Macclesfield 4-0 today. Bizarre to go to a pre-season friendly where only two new players started. Has to be a record this millenium. Good to be back though. There was a black Lamborghini that looks like a batmobile parked up in the club car park that can only belong to Robbie Savage.

[wev]

I'm surprised it's not a white one, would match his teeth