2025/26 League One Season

[Zog1]

SS has played 532, 433 and 4231, he tended to play 4231 more at Stoke.

Managers are people and they change over time, their understanding of the players at their disposal and their own tactical abilities. If SS is saying we need both strength and pace with wingers in the team, hes going the 433 and 4231 route, as you dont sign wingers to play at the back wing like we did with Sadlier.

[Johnnyrotten]

A bit off topic but its sinking in that Wrexham are in a division above us.  I'm sure that's the first time in my lifetime, never mind BW supporting years, that they've been above us.  Even in the very few seasons we've been in the same division (early 80s div 2 and the div 4 promotion season), I think we always finished above them.  Its just not right.

Anyway back on topic, looking forward to the break and what SS can mould over the summer.  We have to remember too that the transfer deadline isn't till 1st September, no team is going to have all its squad in place for the first game on 2nd August.  We'll still be trying to move players on throughout August, we know how frustrating it always is waiting for deals to happen.  Patience will be required.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

34 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

A bit off topic but its sinking in that Wrexham are in a division above us.  I'm sure that's the first time in my lifetime, never mind BW supporting years, that they've been above us.  Even in the very few seasons we've been in the same division (early 80s div 2 and the div 4 promotion season), I think we always finished above them.  Its just not right.

Anyway back on topic, looking forward to the break and what SS can mould over the summer.  We have to remember too that the transfer deadline isn't till 1st September, no team is going to have all its squad in place for the first game on 2nd August.  We'll still be trying to move players on throughout August, we know how frustrating it always is waiting for deals to happen.  Patience will be required.

 

1980-81, Division 2, we finished 18th, they finished 16th.

Before this season, its the only season since we entered the league in 1888 that they have finished above us.

[green genie]

3 hours ago, Zico said:

He played 3 at the back and possession based football? 

Say it ain't so @green genie

Majority of the time yes but had Hardie so wasn’t afraid to hit the channels 

[Johnnyrotten]

24 minutes ago, ZiggyStardust said:

1980-81, Division 2, we finished 18th, they finished 16th.

Before this season, its the only season since we entered the league in 1888 that they have finished above us.

Good info.  I remember playing Wrexham on Easter Monday 81 at Burnden (novelty of going to a game on a Monday for me), lowest crowd of season, 6.2k.

So next season the first ever they've been in a division above us in 130 odd years!

For perspective, Accy, Fleetwood, Rochdale, AFC Wimbledon, Burton and Rochdale were all in a higher division than us 4 years ago.

[deeane Koontz]

Gonna get FM manager just so i can fine and sell them all. I think it might make me feel better.

Edited April 27, 2025 by deeane Koontz

[L/H White]

I'm already dreading next season it won't change much unless the nucleus of the team is booted out the door 

[Whitesince63]

On 27/04/2025 at 00:11, Lostock Whites said:

Early, but am I weird to be kinda looking forward to a fresh season under Schuey, with some of his players to come in? 

Just trying to move on from this catastrophe of a season as quickly as possible for my own sanity.

We know Cardiff City & Plymouth are joining us along with one other of either Hull City, Luton Town, PNE, Derby or Stoke. Would like Hull or PNE personally, think they'd be less of a challenge than the others.

Port Vale, Doncaster joining too along with potentially Bradford and one more. Nice to see some northern clubs coming.

Glad to see the back of Brum and Wrexham. I think as it stands we will be the favourite to go up, will also have the leagues largest attendances, and probably the biggest club by some distance with big hitters less prominent. Pressure will be greater than ever, yet I'm looking forward to it.

Its been one long season, I guess the first thing everybody needs is a big long break.

 

Yes 100% agree with that but Schuey needs to add some serious experience and grit to the squad before then, which I’m confident he will. Like you, Hull or Nob End would be my favourites to come down.

[Zico]

2 hours ago, L/H White said:

I'm already dreading next season it won't change much unless the nucleus of the team is booted out the door 

Last three seasons including this I've backed us £500 on going up and £500 finishing top 6 to cover it

So I lost a grand this season

And right now I don't fancy taking that bet on next season to be honest

[Leyther_Matt]

14 minutes ago, Zico said:

Last three seasons including this I've backed us £500 on going up and £500 finishing top 6 to cover it

So I lost a grand this season

And right now I don't fancy taking that bet on next season to be honest

I do similar although you can knock off a zero! I’d have spent more than the bets if we’d have got to Wembley so nowt lost really 

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, Whitesince63 said:

Yes 100% agree with that but Schuey needs to add some serious experience and grit to the squad before then, which I’m confident he will. Like you, Hull or Nob End would be my favourites to come down.

I'm strangely invested in the novelty of PNE going down.  It would be a huge bonus to have that derby back (even if they're currently streets ahead of us ability wise).  Its incredible that not once have they been in the bottom 6 till now and they could still go down.  They were 11 clear with 10 games left (enjoying their FA Cup Q-F with Villa in mid table safety).

If they lose at Bristol City (hopefully they still need a result to get in play offs), Hull avoid defeat at Pompey and Luton get a point at WBA, it goes down to GD between PNE and Hull, currently a difference of 1.

A long week for their fans, makes me appreciate our stress free (boring) week 😀

[freds dad]

Looking forward to a few more Northern clubs next season and I might even buy an Away ST.

[ianofcleveleys]

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I'm strangely invested in the novelty of PNE going down.  It would be a huge bonus to have that derby back (even if they're currently streets ahead of us ability wise).  Its incredible that not once have they been in the bottom 6 till now and they could still go down.  They were 11 clear with 10 games left (enjoying their FA Cup Q-F with Villa in mid table safety).

If they lose at Bristol City (hopefully they still need a result to get in play offs), Hull avoid defeat at Pompey and Luton get a point at WBA, it goes down to GD between PNE and Hull, currently a difference of 1.

A long week for their fans, makes me appreciate our stress free (boring) week 😀

Apparently, the odd stat about it is that PNE could go down while Coventry go up having lost more games than PNE.

My missus works with a couple of theirs so will see their twitchy bum time first hand this week

[L/H White]

the last thing we want is PNE coming down as it's more guaranteed points dropped

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, L/H White said:

the last thing we want is PNE coming down as it's more guaranteed points dropped

I'm not anticipating too many points from any of the alternatives to be fair 😀 (I'm talking about with the current team, hopefully we'll be more resilient next season). 

Anyway, our last visit to PNE was a glorious 2-2 draw, one of the highlights of any local derby of recent years.

[gonzo]

Genuinely can't remember that ha

Last games I can remember there were those god awful 0-0 draws. We kicked the ball out of play instead of attacking in one of them.

[frank_spencer]

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I'm not anticipating too many points from any of the alternatives to be fair 😀 (I'm talking about with the current team, hopefully we'll be more resilient next season). 

Anyway, our last visit to PNE was a glorious 2-2 draw, one of the highlights of any local derby of recent years.

Started the season on a positive went massively tits up after that 

[tomski]

Get PNE down. Derby hoodoos went with Evatt

[Tonge moor green jacket]

51 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Genuinely can't remember that ha

Last games I can remember there were those god awful 0-0 draws. We kicked the ball out of play instead of attacking in one of them.

Was it a Heskey/Ameobi job?

Fans under the stand singing the song.

[Tombwfc]

I'm also in for the novelty of PNE. We played them six times in three and a half years while we were stinking out the Championship, but either side of that nothing since the playoff final. Haven't beaten them since then either.

[Zico]

So Plymouth and Cardiff down 

Could be one of the teams in bold

Be some twitchy arses at that last game 

Portsmouth v Hull

West Brom v Luton

Bristol City v Preston 

Stoke v Derby

 

 

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

Genuinely can't remember that ha

Last games I can remember there were those god awful 0-0 draws. We kicked the ball out of play instead of attacking in one of them.

I'm getting quite emotional thinking back to those incredible teams of the past that were capable of boring their way to a clean sheet in local derbies.

[Johnnyrotten]

13 minutes ago, Zico said:

So Plymouth and Cardiff down 

Could be one of the teams in bold

Be some twitchy arses at that last game 

Portsmouth v Hull

West Brom v Luton

Bristol City v Preston 

Stoke v Derby

 

 

If Bristol win at Leeds tonight they're guaranteed play offs so will be resting most of the team v PNE.  Come on Leeds!

[gonzo]

PNE fans were giving the players pelters on Sat apparently.

Even more so at Hull the week before which was their big day out that they call gentry day.  Players were politely told to fuck off at the end of the game.

 

[Johnnyrotten]

2 minutes ago, gonzo said:

PNE fans were giving the players pelters on Sat apparently.

Even more so at Hull the week before which was their big day out that they call gentry day.  Players were politely told to fuck off at the end of the game.

 

Its about time their matches actually meant something and had some jeopardy.  Until last week they don't seem to have had an "important" game for 10 years, when they got promoted at Wembley.   They've always enjoyed their gentry days in mid table obscurity, we only get the luxury of enjoying games in April/May if we've under achieved massively!