By Nathan Jackson
November 13 2011

Every year we occasionally take a look at the division we're in and how it is going and who we think will join the division. Unlike previous years we'll be looking at our division and three others, rather than the two we've had to look at in previous years.

So we’re almost half way through the season and the top of the Blue Square Premier table is as most would expect it.

Last year’s Playoff Semi Final losers Wrexham and Fleetwood sit level on 40 points at the top of the table. Despite all of their off the field problems, Wrexham have proven the team to beat, but with Fleetwood’s money you wouldn’t bet against them running away with it and getting promoted to the Football League just a few years after being in the same division as Lincoln United.

Recent defeated Playoff Finalists Cambridge (2008 and 2009) and York (2010) sit just behind them and taking up the last Playoff spot is arguably the surprise package Southport. Southport were relegated to the Blue Square North last season but were saved from the drop via the annual AGM Cup which saw Rushden chucked out of the Blue Square after effectively going bust.

Gateshead had started the season in blistering form but have fallen away recently and arguably the big under-achievers so far are Luton Town. The pre-season favourites sit seventh in the table, although admittedly they are seventh, just two points from the Playoffs.

Kidderminster are next in eighth and then come another surprise package, Braintree, whom we in the Playoff places not so long ago. They share points with Mansfield with Tamworth and Barrow just behind them.

Then come the sides who are already falling into the midtable also-rans category, comfortably above the drop zone but a fair distance below the Playoff places. That groups consists of Forest Green (26 points), Ebbsfleet and Darlington (both 25 points), although the latter could certainly find themselves in trouble soon due to increasing financial issues that have seen Darlington fans on internet forums state that the club is nearing an end.

Grimsby, Stockport and Lincoln are all within two points of each other as all three struggle to pull away from the drop zone. City do have the difficult task of an away game against top of the table Wrexham to compete with in their next game and could find themselves back in the drop zone if that result doesn’t go our way. Fortunately, although we have quite a few tough games coming up, we do also have a few winnable games.

Kettering are level on points with City with promoted Telford on 18 points, one point and one place above the drop zone.

Hayes and Yeading and Newport are still fighting for survival, but promoted Alfreton are already looking down and out with just ten points and the worst goal difference in the division, whereas Bath City, who had finished 10^th last season, are rock bottom on just eight points and ten points from safety. It does somehow seem right though that the two worst sides City have faced are the bottom two.

The battle to come up to the Blue Square Premier from the Blue Square North is certainly heading up, with half the division in with a realistic chance of chasing for the promotion.

Hyde are top after former Imp Scott Spencer’s free scoring antics this season. Spencer has had a brilliant season personally, being called up to the England C squad and has scored 13 goals for them so far this season. They sit on 44 points but have played more games than anyone else in the division and as many as three more than some of the teams in the Playoffs. Stalybridge Celtic are two points behind them.

After years of being relegation fodder, Gainsborough are having a good season and currently sit third in the table on 31 points. Less than 20 miles from Lincoln, a lot of City fans probably wouldn’t mind if Gainsborough do get promoted as it would certainly be interesting.

Losing Playoff Finalists Guiseley are fourth on thirty points before Corby sit on 27 in the Final Playoff places. The rest of the top half is very compact, with Nuneaton and Worcester on 27, Altrincham, Droylsden and Colwyn Bay on 25, Boston United on 24 and Halifax on 23.

The Blue Square South does look a bit more predictable with Woking six points clear of Sutton, although the latter do have a game in hand. If Woking do get promoted then there is a good chance that they will be replacing their current tenants, Hayes and Yeading, as they are currently in the Blue Square Premier relegation zone. Dartford and Welling are both on 33 points and are five clear of Chelmsford.

Dover (28), Boreham Wood (27), Basingstoke (26 and have only played 15 games), Dorchester (25) and Tonbridge Angels (24) are all within striking distance of the Playoffs.

Coming down from League Two is a much harder thing to predict.

The bottom of the League Two table already has a familiar look to it with Barnet, Bradford, Northampton, Hereford and Crewe all in their annual battle to avoid the drop.

Plymouth sit bottom at the moment on 9 points from 17 games. Their financial issues have been well documented but at least now if they do get relegated for a third year in a row then they would probably survive if they went down to the BSP. The only issue with Plymouth being in the BSP would be that there is not a side in that will realistically be in the BSP next year that are even close to Plymouth, they would be true outcasts.

Barnet, the worst side in League Two in recent years not to have been relegated yet (and before another Barnet fan says that's being bitter, it's a statistical fact you've been the worst side in the last two seasons not to have gone down) are in the other relegation place, but are level on points with local rivals Dagenham.

Everyone says Bradford being in 21^st is a surprise, but let’s not forget that Bradford have struggled for several years and a relegation to the Blue Square Premier would not be as much of a surprise as some would indicate, whereas Northampton are another club with that “We’re massive” attitude that doesn’t help their cause.

Dagenham are 22^nd following their relegation from League One and could join a growing number of clubs to be relegated after five years in the Football League (a stat shared by Kidderminster, Rushden, Boston and Chester). Hereford are in 19^th and are again struggling, whereas Crewe and Accrington will both have to be wary of their form if they are to maintain their gap over the relegation places.

The season so far and the future of the BSP

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 13/11/2011 00:08

theimps.ka
13/11/2011 00:08

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