Tranmere Rovers
Rubbing shoulders with us next season
By Kevin Borthwick
May 11 2023
Bar the lottery of the play-offs, we more or less know the shape of our Division next season. It's worth taking a gander at who will be visiting, or where we might be going, next season.
Milton Keynes Dons - Ah, the Franchise. Cinema style seats at their place sort of indicate that this is not really football. A city that has concrete cows leads the way in artificial concoctions. Hence the artificial creation of a club that were stolen from South London. Are they dropping further or will their fate see them bounce straight back up? Suspect they will bring very few to Prenton Park.
Morecambe - Cole Stockton is likely to depart and our rivals from Bradford by the sea, as it used to be known, are due to renew acquaintances. An easy ish away day, offering the prospect of a night in the Lakes too. No strong feelings about this lot.
Accrington Stanley - Lovely ground, great beer and friendly stewards. Stanley are a club like us who will often be seen as 'living in the shadow' of teams like Burnley and Blackburn, but they are a club of rich tradition and clawed their way back in to the Football League after many years in the wilderness. If John Coleman is still there next season I expect them to be competitive.
Forest Green - a mystery as to how the team that played us off the pitch at Prenton Park when they last visited, did so badly in League One. Disliked, if not hated, because of their vocal and vegetarian Chair, Dale Vince, it remains to be seen whether he has lost interest or just been distracted by the energy crises, etc. They are very likely to be competitive. Doohan between the sticks will cause much amusement, but he will probably be moved on.
Stockport County - in the play offs. Back to back promotions look possible. If they don't go up they will be strong challengers next year and our local English derby game. Think they will go,up.
Carlisle United - They seem local but the journey takes forever. God knows how long it takes supporters from Gillingham to get to their place, but it's not really worth the journey. If they are in our division next season they will bring plenty to Prenton Park. They will also be tipped as promotion candidates but I reckon their bubble will burst.
Bradford City - Mark Hughes is currently at the helm, and failure to get promoted might see him depart. A trip to Bradford is always worth the effort, not least for the curry experience. Even with a new manager they will challenge next season.
Salford City - The other vanity project in our league next season. I'll say no more.
Mansfield Town - some of us can remember that bloke dancing on the roof of the cowsheds, was it Nigel Clough? Have they over achieved or under performed? Either way they are like a boil on the bum, never quite going away, but easy to forget about.
Barrow - a bit like us in that they are a shipbuilding town. A bit like us in that they have an old fashioned ground. A bit like us in that they seem to fall short.
Swindon Town - relegated last season, under performed this. Lots of history between us and them. When we played them away this season it was a hot, unseasonal October day. Probably means we'll play them in August and it will snow.
Grismby Town - Did what I expected them to do this season. Reckon they are next terms Hartlepool. Could be wrong, we'll see.
Crewe - Even with Eliot Nevitt they never set the world ablaze this season. An easy away day and they usually bring a reasonable following. Also think they could be next season's Rochdale.
Sutton United - Lots of exiles make the Sutton game, it's easy to understand why. A friendly ground with decent fans. No idea what's caused them to go into decline this season. They make me think of Priti Patel, unpredictable and a bit of a worry.
Newport County - poor season by their standards. They will probably be a bit miffed because their identity as the 'only team in the valley' has been stolen by their rivals from North Wales.
Walsall - what is there left to say about a team that there's very little to say about?
Gillingham United - Stevenage were the surprise package this season, Gillingham will fill their shoes next season. Hardly a hotbed of football, but the few Gillingham fans I've known have always been fanatical about their club. If you're thinking of going to the away fixture you should probably start your journey about now.
Doncaster Rovers - under-performed last season. Will under perform next.
Harrogate Town - Think they brought the lowest number of away supporters this season, half of them got on the wrong bus but came in anyway. They will struggle but will avoid relegation again.
Colchested United - If you want an example as to how not to build a new stadium this is the one. Their gaff is a soulless affair, perched on the edge of an industrial estate.
AFC Wimbledon - when the fixtures come out the first game they will look for is the visit of the franchise. Suspect their fans will be happy if they finish one place above them. They will be delirious if, in the circumstances, that place is 22nd.
Crawley Town - Escapes relegation by the skin of their teeth, and will spend the rest of next season doing the same. Like Colchester, a club with a non-descript ground. Never managed to book a holiday to,coincide with an away game their. The fixture gods will probably have us playing them on Boxing Day, away.
Wrexham - Our old rivals from North Wales are basking in the media attention that comes with Hollywood ownership. They'll bring loads to our place, we'll take loads to theirs. It will only be for a season.
And either
Notts County - Pedigree club who should be back in the League, ran Wrexham close all season, probably means they will blow it or
Chesterfield - Modern stadia, phoenix rising from the ashes. Getting to Chesterfield is always a tedious journey.
Of course, we have lots to happen over the coming weeks. There will be managerial changes, transfers, takeovers and much more. Next season though, looks like being much more interesting than this,
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11/05/2023 10:29
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The last game I went to at Wrexham, we filled the Wrexhrent stand. With all the new Wrexham supporters coming out the woodwork, I can't see Tranmere being allocated that many tickets again.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:11:14:36:57 by BirkenheadRover.
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:11:18:45:06 by hong kong rover.
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:11:19:37:25 by BirkenheadRover.
Quote:Totally agree I’d like us to keep building on the decent players we have replacing the likes of Lewis and Walker. People say Walker would run our midfield but as we speak the lad can’t even get on the pitch without injuring himselfBirkenheadRover
I'd rather stay in League 2 for 3 or 4 seasons, until finally having a team that could crush League 2 and win the League outright/easily. There's no point going up via play-offs, if only to come back down. Short-term it's brilliant, but I'd rather the club built itself up slowly. I'd be happy with scoring more goals next season, and maybe finishing 10th. I'd like Tranmere to play the long-game. I just hope recruitment is better this time. The season that Tranmere crush League 2 would be amazing. And it's worth waiting for. Getting a solid foothold in League 1. And League 2 football is never an option
Quote:BirkenheadRover
Agree about Notts County. I hope they win on Saturday. Meadow Lane is deffo one of the nicest grounds at this level. .
I;d rather Chesterfield went up. Notts County dodged a bullet with a bit of fortune in an Oldham match the day Tranmere dropped from league 1, just prior to the Palios takeover and I have had a bit of beef with them for a couple of bad tempered games in the Martin Allen era, some of that beef spilling out onto this forum, between some Tranmere and county fans, although I refrained from personal stuff against County fans, as I tend not to air dirty laundry in public.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Quote:BirkenheadRover
Come on the Notts County. They've got some sound supporters and the club is too big to be down there.
+1
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:13:14:45:47 by hong kong rover.
Quote:Prefer Chesterfield to get promoted. Fewer resources, more likely to be relegation fodder.BirkenheadRover
Come on the Notts County. They've got some sound supporters and the club is too big to be down there.
Quote:CoatedgorillaQuote:Totally agree I’d like us to keep building on the decent players we have replacing the likes of Lewis and Walker. People say Walker would run our midfield but as we speak the lad can’t even get on the pitch without injuring himselfBirkenheadRover
I'd rather stay in League 2 for 3 or 4 seasons, until finally having a team that could crush League 2 and win the League
outright/easily. There's no point going up via play-offs, if only to come back down. Short-term it's brilliant, but I'd rather the club built itself up slowly. I'd be happy with scoring more goals next season, and maybe finishing 10th. I'd like Tranmere to play the long-game. I just hope recruitment is better this time. The season that Tranmere crush League 2 would be amazing. And it's worth waiting for. Getting a solid foothold in League 1. And League 2 football is never an option
Can see where you both are coming from but you can’t build a team at this level, well not one that would compete at L1 with our modest budget and giving 2 year deals. It just won’t work. We would need decent investment and giving decent wages and contract lengths for it to work, I would say Peterborough are in this bracket. But we are far from them.
If we did have success and get promoted, likely our best players move on, for free due to contracts or sold to make us sustainable and increase budget. Just like when Nors left and FGR a perfect example having their team broken up - manager, Cadden, Wilson who were crucial in making their system work. All the players have aspirations to play higher and get more money than we can pay, so we will always lose anyone who fullfil potential/have a great season.
I don’t buy into building a team either, BR, PV, Exeter all put the majority of their squad together last season got promoted then ripped them up and then all recruited another 10+ players. You could say FGR assembled their team over a couple of years then look what happened to them.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:13:17:22:36 by dave-p.
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Bringing a fresh goalkeeper on just before the end was a very clever move, and it paid off.
Its going to be a tough division next season, we need to watch out.
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Notts should do very well next season.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:14:17:51:56 by hong kong rover.
Quote:Jack of all Trades
Stockport were not happy only given 500 tickets compared to 1400 for the league meeting.
ok cheers Jack, i didn't know that...The sooner Salford disappear of the face of the planet, the better.
New one on me, I didn't know that.
All to play for second leg.
Quote:,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet why hkr ???hong kong rover
Managers tend not to last long at Salford,,if they lose today, will the boss be shown the door?..Cmon Stockport, i have no problem with them doing well,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet.
Quote:WozzaQuote:,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet why hkr ???hong kong rover
Managers tend not to last long at Salford,,if they lose today, will the boss be shown the door?..Cmon Stockport, i have no problem with them doing well,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet.
Bought their way into the footy league by that insufferable 'Class of '92 shower'...Always sacking their managers, horrible owners who demand instant success and think it can come by just pumping money in...They are a 'Carry-on club.'
Quote:fair enough hkrhong kong roverQuote:WozzaQuote:,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet why hkr ???hong kong rover
Managers tend not to last long at Salford,,if they lose today, will the boss be shown the door?..Cmon Stockport, i have no problem with them doing well,,As for Salford, just want them to disappear off the planet.
Bought their way into the footy league by that insufferable 'Class of '92 shower'...Always sacking their managers, horrible owners who demand instant success and think it can come by just pumping money in...They are a 'Carry-on club.'
