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Post by Admin on Jun 12, 2014 12:23:02 GMT 1
For the coming new season...
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Post by Panda on Jun 12, 2014 15:49:06 GMT 1
Seeing as we started with the League Cup last season, we might as well do it again.
The seedings have been announced for the 1st round. The round will be divided north/south with each tie seeing a seeded team play an unseeded one.
NORTH (seeded): Barnsley, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Bradford, Derby, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Nottm Forest, Port Vale, Preston, Rotherham, Sheff Utd, Sheff Wed, Wigan
NORTH (unseeded): Accrington, Burton, Bury, Carlisle, Chesterfield, Crewe, Fleetwood, Hartlepool, Mansfield, Morecambe, Notts County, Oldham, Rochdale, Scunthorpe, Shrewsbury, Tranmere, York
SOUTH (seeded): Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Bristol C, Cardiff, Charlton, Ipswich, Leyton Orient, MK Dons, Millwall, Peterborough, Reading, Swindon, Walsall, Watford, Wolves, Yeovil
SOUTH (unseeded): Cambridge, Cheltenham, Colchester, Coventry, Crawley, Dag & Red, Exeter, Gillingham, Luton, Newport, Northampton, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southend, Stevenage, Wimbledon, Wycombe
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Post by Panda on Jun 12, 2014 15:50:07 GMT 1
Meanwhile, just days after Hereford were booted out of the Conference, Salisbury could be heading the same way after an utterly shambolic takeover that looks to be heading towards an entirely predictable outcome...
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Post by Shireblogger on Jun 13, 2014 2:14:28 GMT 1
I'm pleased that the Conference is taking financial responsibility seriously, even if the Premier League and the Football League just pay lip service. However, it is sad that Hereford and Salisbury are recent casualties, as I have a soft spot for provincial clubs from medium-sized towns.
(And, paddy, yes I know Salisbury and Hereford both have cathedrals, and are therefore cities not towns).
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Post by o on Jun 13, 2014 8:49:51 GMT 1
It depends on your take of what the Conference do, they just wash their hands and demote teams to another league, rather than trying to help them out. Teams struggled when there was no tv deal, and the conference regularly takes points off teams or fines them for ineligible players, when most of the time the problem lies with them and their outdated systems. What is harsh for those clubs being demoted is that it is the fans that suffer, the fans that have put their hard earned money in, which the players take and then move to another club. Football clubs at most levels are no longer viable unless you have a rich owner, look at the Premier league, then look at Leeds, losing 100k a week, where and how? I hear Macclesfield are also very close to the edge, how many more teams need to fold before all the leagues look at the excessive wages players are receiving at all levels, and either sort it out or filter down more money from the fat cat pots at the top! If Mansfield's owner goes and decides he's had enough, we are stuffed, he's trying to make us self sufficient with 3g pitches and a club bar open every night, but it's a drop in the ocean, when players at our level are earning around 50k and we average crowds of 2800. I'd say invest in youth, well you can, but if you join the FA Youth leagues, you may lose your promising youths for 25k if a bigger team wants them, how stupid is that! So our youth team is outside the FA, and so is very local, and I expect our youth players wont be able to make the step up to league level, like Lian Lawrence, Bobby Hassell, Craig Disley and Leroy Williamson all did in one season! It's a real sad state of affairs in football at the moment. In the league cup, I'd love a fairly big team at home please, money in the coffers would be great early in the season, Forest would be great! I expect we'll get Port Vale away  |
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Post by Panda on Jun 13, 2014 10:59:34 GMT 1
Looks like Salisbury managed to get an extension yesterday as they're in the process of trying to remove one of the people involved in the takeover from the club.
The Conference is due to make a statement at 1PM today.
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Post by Panda on Jun 13, 2014 11:00:50 GMT 1
It depends on your take of what the Conference do, they just wash their hands and demote teams to another league, rather than trying to help them out. I'm no fan of the way the Conference is run (particularly their ridiculous attitude to artificial pitches) but what are they supposed to do? Pay the players' wages for them? |
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Post by Panda on Jun 13, 2014 13:35:24 GMT 1
Looks like Salisbury are being kicked out and they're not going as quietly as Hereford: www.salisburycity-fc.co.uk/press-statement-salisbury-city-fcIf Salisbury go, it will mean a reprieve for Dartford in the Conference Premier and Tonbridge Angels in the Conference South. Meanwhile, Hereford United have been placed in the Southern League Premier - a drop of two levels. |
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Post by o on Jun 13, 2014 13:50:11 GMT 1
It depends on your take of what the Conference do, they just wash their hands and demote teams to another league, rather than trying to help them out. I'm no fan of the way the Conference is run (particularly their ridiculous attitude to artificial pitches) but what are they supposed to do? Pay the players' wages for them? Exeter have just been given a loan of 250k, and they said it wasn't the first. Why can the football league do that, and not the football conference? Pretty sure a fair few other teams have had loans as well. The Conference wanted a bond of either 150k or 250k which Hereford couldn't touch during the season, so they have debts of 300k to pay off, a bond to pay and not get back for 12 months, and running costs to pay for the rest of the coming season, this isn't Chelsea or Man City, this is Hereford United in the Conference Premier. The Conference just seem to make it hard for clubs to try and survive. Should have let them go into administration, and start on -10 like Aldershot last season and give them a chance to survive by playing football. Salisbury is a difficult one as an owner has come in and not paid the 75k he was supposed to, hence their problems. Thing is they are punching well above their weight, their crowds rarely trouble 4 figures and that is even after they give away free tickets to schools and servicemen. The ground is nice enough, but it's miles out of Salisbury itself, which is a real problem in attracting the floating supporter. Conference South is about their limit until they improve their supporter base. Look at Alfreton, again punching well above their weight, and now need a new owner, and if they dont get one could well be in trouble as well. |
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Post by suedehead on Jun 13, 2014 14:17:47 GMT 1
Yes, I had thought about going to watch Salisbury until I saw how far out of town their ground was. Without a car it is very difficult to reach.
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Post by suedehead on Jun 16, 2014 11:46:54 GMT 1
Premier League and Football League fixtures will be published on Wednesday morning (18 June) so not long to go.
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Post by Panda on Jun 17, 2014 10:46:01 GMT 1
League Cup 1st round draw:
Oldham v Middlesbrough
Shrewsbury v Blackpool
Sheff Wed v Notts County
Tranmere v Nottm Forest
Leeds v Accrington
Bolton v Bury
Rochdale v Preston
Rotherham v Fleetwood
Carlisle v Derby
Port Vale v Hartlepool
Morecambe v Bradford
Barnsley v Crewe
Chesterfield v Huddersfield
Blackburn v Scunthorpe
Burton v Wigan
York v Doncaster
Sheff Utd v Mansfield
Reading v Newport
Bristol C v Oxford
Brighton v Cheltenham
Coventry v Cardiff
Luton v Swindon
Dag & Red v Brentford
Charlton v Colchester
Crawley v Ipswich
Wolves v Northampton
Yeovil v Gillingham
MK Dons v Wimbledon
Exeter v Bournemouth
Stevenage v Watford
Plymouth v Leyton Orient
Birmingham v Cambridge
Portsmouth v Peterborough
Millwall v Wycombe
Southend v Walsall
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Post by o on Jun 17, 2014 12:34:46 GMT 1
Sheff United away, not bad, would have preferred a home draw though |
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Tom
Member
*Of Royal Blood*
Posts: 15,419 
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Post by Tom on Jun 17, 2014 16:26:21 GMT 1
Pleased with the draw when I received it this morning. Good opportunity to give some of the U21s a game, especially as a Reading XI played Newport in a pre-season friendly last year.
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Post by Shireblogger on Jun 17, 2014 18:09:12 GMT 1
Burton v Wigan - a good chance this will be my first match of the season
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Post by Panda on Jun 18, 2014 9:36:56 GMT 1
Opening fixtures:
PREMIER LEAGUE (16 August)
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Burnley v Chelsea
Leicester City v Everton
Liverpool v Southampton
Manchester United v Swansea City
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Queens Park Rangers v Hull City
Stoke City v Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
CHAMPIONSHIP (August 9)
Blackburn Rovers v Cardiff City
Brentford v Charlton Athletic
Brighton and Hove Albion v Sheffield Wednesday
Derby County v Rotherham United
Huddersfield Town v Bournemouth
Ipswich Town v Fulham
Middlesbrough v Birmingham City
Millwall v Leeds United
Nottingham Forest v Blackpool
Watford v Bolton Wanderers
Wigan Athletic v Reading
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Norwich City
LEAGUE ONE (August 9)
Barnsley v Crawley Town
Bradford City v Coventry City
Colchester United v Oldham Athletic
Fleetwood Town v Crewe Alexandra
Leyton Orient v Chesterfield
Milton Keynes Dons v Gillingham
Port Vale v Walsall
Preston North End v Notts County
Rochdale v Peterborough United
Sheffield United v Bristol City
Swindon Town v Scunthorpe United
Yeovil Town v Doncaster Rovers
LEAGUE TWO (August 9)
AFC Wimbledon v Shrewsbury Town
Accrington Stanley v Southend United
Bury v Cheltenham Town
Cambridge United v Plymouth Argyle
Carlisle United v Luton Town
Dagenham & Redbridge v Morecambe
Exeter City v Portsmouth
Newport County v Wycombe Wanderers
Northampton Town v Mansfield Town
Oxford United v Burton Albion
Stevenage v Hartlepool United
Tranmere Rovers v York City
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Post by o on Jun 18, 2014 12:25:32 GMT 1
Burton v Wigan - a good chance this will be my first match of the season It's a poky small ground, but if Wigan bring a few, it should have some atmosphere, get their early for parking spaces on the verge though! |
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Post by suedehead on Jun 18, 2014 17:35:24 GMT 1
The Premier League, in their wisdom, has decided not to introduce the vanishing spray for free kicks. UEFA are more enlightened and it will be used in the Champions League. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27908119 |
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Post by Shireblogger on Jun 18, 2014 21:10:08 GMT 1
Burton v Wigan - a good chance this will be my first match of the season It's a poky small ground, but if Wigan bring a few, it should have some atmosphere, get their early for parking spaces on the verge though! I've been to Burton many times, and I quite like the ground. I wouldn't call it poky - it must be one of the most modern stadia in Britain with a capacity in the 5,000-10,000 range. |
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Post by Panda on Jun 19, 2014 12:33:10 GMT 1
Dave "Only Person Who Applied" Hockaday is confirmed as the new Leeds boss...
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