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Post by Col ISIHAC. on Dec 22, 2006 20:01:00 GMT
Not an easy one. Que cera? The club believe that this season, we have the ability to get into the play-offs; or be promoted as of right. I have enough faith in the directors and club itself to believe that we would not be pushing for promotion - rather than consolidating - if we did not have the clout financially to survive - or we did not already have a core in the squad who could compete at a higher level. Wait and see...
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Post by amberaleman on Dec 22, 2006 21:51:08 GMT
There are a lot of ambitious clubs in the pyramid these days, but only four promotions into the Conference each season. So some of those ambitious clubs are bound to end up disappointed. I tend to think that if a club has played at a higher level (in living memory, at least!) then its aim should always be to return to that level. I started following Sutton during our first spell in the Conference, and so I'll always think of us as a club with Conference credentials. Of course, the Conference is tougher now than it was twenty years ago - but if a fairly modest club like Northwich Victoria can become a near-permanent fixture in the Conference then so could Sutton. But then, so could half of the clubs in Nationwide North and South. I've always loved the diversity in the Conference, with its mixture of ex-League clubs, wannabe League clubs - and those that are happy just to hang on at that level. But, like others, I think NS is probably my club's 'natural' level. As for the Nationwide League itself, there can be very few clubs below the Conference with genuine potential to get there and stay there. Since automatic promotion from the Conference started in 1987, the record of clubs advanced to the League for the first time is not terribly impressive. Only Wycombe, Cheltenham and Yeovil have really established themselves as forces at League level. Macclesfield, Boston, Accrington and Barnet are all languishing in the bottom third of League Two. And Scarborough, Kidderminster and Rushden & D have all been relegated back into the Conference (with the Seadogs having fallen a level further, and with their very existence now in doubt). So I don't see any of our clubs rising any higher than the Conference. Then again, strange things can happen in football.
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Post by bh on Dec 27, 2006 11:48:16 GMT
Having twice tasted the 'promised land' of the Conference twice, and obviously relegation from there the same, I feel entitled to comment. The first time there were very few full time sides, and obviously at the time we had a great side. It was a very enjoyable experience apart from the last season obviously. Having the chance to travel to the so called 'big' clubs Altrincham, Telford, Kettering, Weymouth, Morecombe, Kiddiminster, Scarborough, Barnet and such places, and competing with these teams was great. Following the first relegation, I always felt we may be able to return, not to decry the Isthmian League to better things. One of my fellow fans who I mostly travel to games with agreed that we were maybe at better standard than the Isthmian league, but not quite to the standard required of the Conference.
This obviously was proved correct, as when we did finally gain promotion, we were relegated that same season. Mind you if we had been allowed to keep the players we were robbed of like Steve Watson, Barry and Nassim Akrour we may have survived but who can tell.
I always thought that a league between the two could be the right place for us, and when it finally came about we just had to get there. unfortunately the team that took us into the league lost it's best player, Nicky Bailey and struggled to cope. Finally this season our 'new' manager seems to be getting to grips with the job, and is putting together a team to at least hold it's own in this league and maybe challenge for the play offs.
As for gaining promotion, experience is always a good thing. You cannot stand still if you do, you well you know the rest. I don't believe we have the finance to be able to survive for very long up there in the promised land, but, if you keep your best players, as we have not in the past alas hopefully a semi pro side could.
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Post by ambersalamander on Dec 27, 2006 19:25:15 GMT
EXACTLY what I always said about the gap between the leagues. Oh, and twice twice is four times
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Post by medibot on Dec 28, 2006 0:04:58 GMT
What's thrice, thrice, quadruple?
Time for BODMAS maybe?
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Post by Giggy of Telford on Dec 28, 2006 2:23:07 GMT
36!
....can that be my maths revision for the Christmas holidays?
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Post by bh on Dec 28, 2006 14:21:42 GMT
Ok Ok Ok, sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrry, but you only said after me!
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Post by ambersalamander on Dec 28, 2006 23:53:34 GMT
That's always gonna be thirty-six whichever way you do it. That's a polypin, that is
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Post by medibot on Dec 29, 2006 0:34:08 GMT
From maths to beer in one simple step. Genius.
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Post by ambersalamander on Dec 29, 2006 0:37:42 GMT
I can take anything to beer in one step. Sometimes it sliiiiiides, but always one step.
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Post by Col ISIHAC. on Dec 29, 2006 11:45:38 GMT
I can take anything to beer in one step. Sometimes it sliiiiiides, but always one step. Looks like a challenge to me! ;D Tabulation One step...
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Post by bh on Dec 29, 2006 14:52:27 GMT
One step plop, hic, flop!
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Post by ambersalamander on Dec 29, 2006 20:47:51 GMT
I, unlike some, am able to hold my drink!
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Post by bh on Jan 1, 2007 10:56:20 GMT
Young lady are you saying I cannot??
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Post by ambersalamander on Jan 1, 2007 20:59:07 GMT
Not YOU. I wouldn't know about you!
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