View Full Version : European Soccer Part XIII
The Nationwide League completed its season this weekend, setting up the following with regards to the promotion ladder:
Division 1:
Going up to the EPL: Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion
Playoffs: Sunderland v. Crystal Palace, West Ham United v. Ipswich Town
Going down: Wimbledon, Bradford City, Walsall (on GD to Gillingham)
Nottingham Forest managed a win today to get to 60 points, and a respectable, if disappointing 14th place finish.
Division 2:
Going up to the First Division: Plymouth Argyle, QPR
Playoffs: Bristol City v. Hartlepool, Brighton and Hove Albion v. Swindon Town
Going down: Wycombe Wanderers, Notts County, Rushden and Diamonds, Grimsby Town
Division 3:
Going up to the Second Division: Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Torquay United
Playoffs: Huddersfield v. Lincoln City, Mansfield v. Northampton
Going down: Carlisle United, York City
Coming up from the Conference: Chester City
Playoffs: Hereford v. Aldershot, Shrewsbury v. Barnet
Bob Gray
05-10-2004, 12:24 AM
Walsall was sure hard done by today, as they went down due to only drawing 2-2, but both their opponents' goals were on questionable penalties and they also had a guy sent off which was also questionable. And this all happened at home for Walsall! If I was that ref, I'd get out of town quick!
Sorry, I'm not going to miss Walsall, really. Forest absolutely could not buy a break at the Bescot Stadium, ever. Having them out of the league works for me (and for Forest).
Bob Gray
05-10-2004, 12:36 AM
I don't have any interest in Walsall whatsoever, but any team that goes down due to two questionable penalties and a questionable sending off in the last game of the year, when they scored two goals straight up themselves, is a team that is pretty hard done by. I was listening to the Ipswich game this morning and the commentators on that game had a good deal of discussion about the events at Walsall.
Bob Gray
05-10-2004, 11:28 AM
Saw this headline over on soccernet this morning: "Beckham on his way to Arsenal". Certainly an attention grabbing headline! It was only referring to his participating in the testimonial for Martin Keown though. :D
Originally posted by Bob Gray
Saw this headline over on soccernet this morning: "Beckham on his way to Arsenal". Certainly an attention grabbing headline! It was only referring to his participating in the testimonial for Martin Keown though. :D I'm sure HOBART!!! will be on his way to spin that one into further gospel of Beckham in 5... 4.... 3...
Don King
05-10-2004, 01:25 PM
I dreamed last night that Arsenal lost to Leicester 3-1. But the match was at Leicester so I guess there's zero chance that I'm psychic. :)
If Sunderland ends up coming back to the EPL, will it make a difference to anyone? My stars, they were awful in 2002-03.
Big Poppa Pump
05-10-2004, 01:50 PM
Fans in Norway taunt, spit on US player (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=300069&cc=5901)
Terrierbyassociation
05-10-2004, 01:55 PM
Yeah, those fans are going to be banned for life for their actions and these are HOME FANS, the US player was on the away team. I can't believe people would be racist like this, not only is it stupid, it makes your team look bad too.
ColbyWMHB
05-10-2004, 02:20 PM
Originally posted by Wildcat Willy Wannabe
The Nationwide League completed its season this weekend, setting up the following with regards to the promotion ladder:
Division 1:
Going up to the EPL: Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion
Playoffs: Sunderland v. Crystal Palace, West Ham United v. Ipswich Town
Going down: Wimbledon, Bradford City, Walsall (on GD to Gillingham)
How long ago was Wimbledon in the EPL? It was less than 5 years, correct? What a collapse.
Sunderland with McCarthy at the reins won't be as dreadful as they were last year should they win promotion. They set a record for futility that I don't think they can reach!
And way to go Gulls...because of the classic show Fawlty Towers, I've always liked to see Torquay United win...I'm happy to see them promoted to the Second Division.
Craig P.
05-10-2004, 02:23 PM
Originally posted by jmh
Question for whomever might know... Is MLS not playing overtime this year? I just got done watching an exciting seesaw game between the Metros and the Quakes, with the Metros tying it at 5 in the 89th minute, and was looking forward to the game keeping going, and then it didn't... :( They dropped OT in accordance with FIFA's decision to eliminate golden goal OT periods.
Craig P.
05-10-2004, 02:24 PM
Originally posted by ColbyWMHB
Sunderland with McCarthy at the reins won't be as dreadful as they were last year should they win promotion. They set a record for futility that I don't think they can reach!Reyna's ACL had to have been a big blow for them that season.
MavrckMngr
05-10-2004, 03:26 PM
Originally posted by Terrierbyassociation
Yeah, those fans are going to be banned for life for their actions and these are HOME FANS, the US player was on the away team. I can't believe people would be racist like this, not only is it stupid, it makes your team look bad too.
Reminds me of the Lokeren fans that chanted "there ain't no black in the Union Jack" when Man City was there for UEFA Cup. Vile, racist little thugs.
Come onnnnn Ipswich. I'm happy the Canaries got promoted (and WBA), but I'll be furious if West Ham makes it.
Bob Gray
05-10-2004, 03:50 PM
there's a lot of this stuff that goes on in European soccer, which is ironic, since the Euros always think they're so advanced and beyond such things. It seems there's always a story about the fans of some Italian team taunting black players from other teams. I know Arsenal has had several such experiences for players like Cole, Campbell, and Vieira.
Terrierbyassociation
05-10-2004, 03:53 PM
Two notes of importance:
1.Owen says he's not leaving Anfield.
2. Ferguson has begun to whine that Euro 2004 is going to damage ManU's CL chances. Never have I hated a manager so much. Almost every English ManU fan would give up club before country any day! Any self-respecting Englishman/woman/child regardless of club affiliation would be much happier with a Euro 2004 win than a ManU CL win. Sheesh.
I hate you SAF. I HATE YOU.
Red Cloud
05-10-2004, 03:59 PM
Originally posted by ColbyWMHB
How long ago was Wimbledon in the EPL? It was less than 5 years, correct? What a collapse. If my memory serves me correctly, they were in the EPL only 2 years ago. They're into the 2nd division as fast as Wednesday was.
Among other former EPL teams that reached the 2nd division that I know of are Man City (now back to the EPL, thank God), and QPR, but I'm sure there are others (Sheff U?).
I don't know of any Div 3 that were formerly in the EPL... how far down has a former EPL side gone? Anyone?
Big Poppa Pump
05-10-2004, 04:03 PM
Dear SAF,
Had you managed to grab hold of second place in the Premiership, you wouldn't have to go through CL qualifying, and the players that you have in Euro 2004 would be suitably rested for your 2004-2005 CL run. For now, be happy that you have such players at Old Trafford that their national teams would want them, other Premiership teams don't have that talent luxury. Shut your trap, and ****** off for running Becks out of town.
Very irritably yours,
United fans
FerrisLives
05-10-2004, 04:07 PM
Originally posted by ColbyWMHB
How long ago was Wimbledon in the EPL? It was less than 5 years, correct? What a collapse.
Yeah, it's been 5 years since Wimbledon were in the Premiership. Bradford City fell even faster, they were in the Premiership 4 years ago.
But, if you were going to make a rankings of the worst run clubs in all of England:
1)Bradford City
2)Wimbledon
3)Leeds
4)Sheffield Wednesday
5)Carlisle
Wimbledon and Bradford would have a prominent spot in anyone's rankings. Bradford spent money they didn't have like it was monopoly money and the club nearly ceased to exist. Bradford's spending habits make Leeds seem fiscally conservative. Wimbledon had an owner who managed to alienate all the club's fans so that they were playing in an empty stadium that they were groundsharing with another team, and then he moved them to another city. Good riddance to those two clubs in division 1.
FerrisLives
05-10-2004, 04:12 PM
Wolverhampton got relegated 3 consecutive years in the mid 80's.
and Swindon Town got relegated in consecutive years in 93 and 94.
Nathan
05-10-2004, 04:23 PM
Originally posted by Big Poppa Pump
Dear SAF,
Had you managed to grab hold of second place in the Premiership, you wouldn't have to go through CL qualifying, and the players that you have in Euro 2004 would be suitably rested for your 2004-2005 CL run. For now, be happy that you have such players at Old Trafford that their national teams would want them, other Premiership teams don't have that talent luxury. Shut your trap, and ****** off for running Becks out of town.
Very irritably yours,
United fans
BPP RULES!!!
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