Division Three, 2024/25

[Worthy4England]

Stockport dumped out of the play offs by Orient on pens. Thank the Lord.

I know what you mean, but I think we have a better recent record against the other three, still in it. If it wasn't for proximity, I'd be glad to see the back of Stockport.

[TonyDomingos]

Stockport dumped out of the play offs by Orient on pens. Thank the Lord.

I know what you mean, but I think we have a better recent record against the other three, still in it. If it wasn't for proximity, I'd be glad to see the back of Stockport.

You're thinking of the "old" (ie Evatt-era) Bolton. Next season, the Schuper Whites will destroy all in their path. Fact.

[Worthy4England]

Good point, well made. We shall not watch them progress from their defensive third to our 6 yard box, without a single tackle being observed. Winner.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I've been grudgingly impressed with Stockport (and even more grudgingly with Challinor) but you do wonder if this might be a high-water mark.

They really went for it last summer with 10 first-team signings plus four higher-division loanees; of the loanees, three didn't play much but the other was the phenomenal Louie Barry. It's to their credit they coped well without him after Christmas - January brought Owen Moxon plus three more loanees, again only one of whom played more than a handful - but they presumably won't have another very busy summer of incomings. They might try the old "quality not quantity" line but we've heard that before...

[BWFC_Insane]

I've been grudgingly impressed with Stockport (and even more grudgingly with Challinor) but you do wonder if this might be a high-water mark.

They really went for it last summer with 10 first-team signings plus four higher-division loanees; of the loanees, three didn't play much but the other was the phenomenal Louie Barry. It's to their credit they coped well without him after Christmas - January brought Owen Moxon plus three more loanees, again only one of whom played more than a handful - but they presumably won't have another very busy summer of incomings. They might try the old "quality not quantity" line but we've heard that before...

Could go either way. I see Challinor moaning about their fans walking out after losing on penalties. I do think he’s potentially an excellent manager and maybe the sort of manager we might have needed. Bit Allardyce like in some respects. But yeah it might be tough to repeat their feats next season but then again he’s managed to bounce back before.

Sets up an all southern final - not sure how I feel about that but Leyton Orient have the Oxford trick now of absolutely no pressure whatsoever and yet are the sort of team who might do well in that scenario.

[TANGODANCER]

Good point, well made. We shall not watch them progress from their defensive third to our 6 yard box, without a single tackle being observed. Winner.

And there was I thinking I'd seen it so often that the tactic was part of the great plan.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Could go either way. I see Challinor moaning about their fans walking out after losing on penalties. I do think he’s potentially an excellent manager and maybe the sort of manager we might have needed. Bit Allardyce like in some respects. But yeah it might be tough to repeat their feats next season but then again he’s managed to bounce back before.

Sets up an all southern final - not sure how I feel about that but Leyton Orient have the Oxford trick now of absolutely no pressure whatsoever and yet are the sort of team who might do well in that scenario.

Could go either way? I agree it's far from certain that they will get worse, but I'd be very impressed if they got better. True, they could use this season's experience to get to the final next time - again, we've seen that story - and it's possible the new division will have fewer big guns.

Challinor could in some ways have been a sensible successor to Evatt because he tends to prefer the back three, he loves to press, etc. But he's firmly contracted and has proven before that he doesn't make obvious, small-increment managerial moves (I'm thinking of him leaving fourth-tier Hartlepool for the non-league Hatters).

I still want Charlton to go up purely because I think of the four contenders they're the most likely to be title contenders next year. All four could do it, but I think Jones could further tighten and solidify them. To me it feels like Wycombe are definitely on the slide after a brilliant first half of the season, while Orient feel like they've had a good run but it's more temporary form than permanent class.

[jmjhb]

Stockport will at least sell out the away end. The others won't.

[Wrighty92]

The other thing to remember is Wycombe will almost certainly lose Richard Koné if they stay down and Leyton Orient's 3 (arguably) best players this season will be returning from their loans - Keeley (GK from Spurs), Donley (CAM from Spurs) and Kelman (ST and L1 top scorer from QPR). Galbraith could arguably be one of their top players too and would likely leave if they stay down.

I think Charlton will stay strong and maybe even strengthen.

Stockport is an interesting one, I think the whole ship sinks if Challinor leaves, they have a very strong squad but they'll lose Brad Hills back to Norwich from his loan and hopefully someone poached Ethan Pye as that would hurt their very solid defence. I think they'll be up there next season and I'm very glad we've now had weeks to rest and plan pre-season while they've been slaving away and now have to deal with the hurt of losing a playoff campaign and less prep time for the preseason and recruitment drive

[The_Gun]

Could go either way. I see Challinor moaning about their fans walking out after losing on penalties. I do think he’s potentially an excellent manager and maybe the sort of manager we might have needed. Bit Allardyce like in some respects. But yeah it might be tough to repeat their feats next season but then again he’s managed to bounce back before.

Sets up an all southern final - not sure how I feel about that but Leyton Orient have the Oxford trick now of absolutely no pressure whatsoever and yet are the sort of team who might do well in that scenario.

Could go either way? I agree it's far from certain that they will get worse, but I'd be very impressed if they got better. True, they could use this season's experience to get to the final next time - again, we've seen that story - and it's possible the new division will have fewer big guns.

Challinor could in some ways have been a sensible successor to Evatt because he tends to prefer the back three, he loves to press, etc. But he's firmly contracted and has proven before that he doesn't make obvious, small-increment managerial moves (I'm thinking of him leaving fourth-tier Hartlepool for the non-league Hatters).

I still want Charlton to go up purely because I think of the four contenders they're the most likely to be title contenders next year. All four could do it, but I think Jones could further tighten and solidify them. To me it feels like Wycombe are definitely on the slide after a brilliant first half of the season, while Orient feel like they've had a good run but it's more temporary form than permanent class.

I think some of us commented on it at the time, but Stockport did tremendous transfer business last summer. They'd be doing tremendously well to replicate that success two years in a row, although their owner does seem happy to spend on wages, and they've clearly got some smart people working there. I'd probably have them down for being about as good again next year.

Charlton now seem to have found some much needed stability, and are well placed to contend again if they don't go up. They don't have any important players coming out of contract this year, barring Thierry Small, who their fans are resigned to losing if they don't go up. It's also possible that Tyreece Campbell attracts interest from the Championship, but they'd likely get a decent fee for him which they could reinvest.

Orient, I think, are the least likely to kick on if they stay down due to three (Donley, Kelman and Keeley) of their best four players being on loan, and the other one (Galbraith) being very likely to get bought by a Championship club. They'd really struggle to replace that quartet.

Edit: Beaten to the punch by Wrighty!

[TANGODANCER]

I mean. You'd have said that regardless of who we were playing. I'll grant you an upwardly-mobile Hollywood FC and a Huddersfield smarting from relegation - but the rest were mid-table fodder last season.

So many player/manager changes have occurred since last season that I reckon predicting much right now is open to some big degree of uncertainty once the season starts. Everybody being a year older is a consideration and mid-table after a month might produce a few shocks. A Cup game as a second fixture is not quite ideal as a guide to much except if "keep em guessing" is the game. That said, pre season should be interesting to say the least.

[BWFC_Insane]

Well that’s a rough old start to the season. Under pressure right from the off.

Sat Aug 10 Leyton Orient A

Wed Aug 14 Carabao Cup One

Sat Aug 17 Wrexham H

Sat Aug 24 Charlton Athletic A

Wed Aug 28 Carabao Cup Two

Sat Aug 31 Exeter City H

Sat Sep 7 Cambridge United A (International Date)

Sat Sep 14 Huddersfield Town H

I mean. You'd have said that regardless of who we were playing. I'll grant you an upwardly-mobile Hollywood FC and a Huddersfield smarting from relegation - but the rest were mid-table fodder last season.

There is always a post….

[truewhite15]

Well that’s a rough old start to the season. Under pressure right from the off.

Sat Aug 10 Leyton Orient A

Wed Aug 14 Carabao Cup One

Sat Aug 17 Wrexham H

Sat Aug 24 Charlton Athletic A

Wed Aug 28 Carabao Cup Two

Sat Aug 31 Exeter City H

Sat Sep 7 Cambridge United A (International Date)

Sat Sep 14 Huddersfield Town H

I mean. You'd have said that regardless of who we were playing. I'll grant you an upwardly-mobile Hollywood FC and a Huddersfield smarting from relegation - but the rest were mid-table fodder last season.

There is always a post….

And here you are, a year later, getting far more pleasure out of saying "I told you so" than you likely would have had we been promoted.

I think the word is "insufferable".

[TANGODANCER]

We're pretty good at coming from behind, but If we can develop a trend of getting in front and staying there instead of doing that, then that's surely the priority aim for 2025. Granted, it isn't unique as all the rest will have the same thing in mind, but the Supers are all we care about and what we did in 2004 is history that we have to forget.


Please Mr Schu, let's forget Mr Nice guy and be front-runners for a change. Was it your Uncle Bert who was famous for the Unfinished Symphony? Oh, sorry that was Schubert not Schumacher, .

Enough, he cried... COME ON YOU WHITES..

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Charlton beat Wycombe 1-0 and face Orient in a NE v SE London final (in NW London).

[TonyDomingos]

Charlton beat Wycombe 1-0 and face Orient in a NE v SE London final (in NW London).

Surely Orient are East Laaandaaahn? Jellied eels are going to take a hammering a week on Sunday.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Charlton beat Wycombe 1-0 and face Orient in a NE v SE London final (in NW London).

Surely Orient are East Laaandaaahn? Jellied eels are going to take a hammering a week on Sunday.

Norf of the river, geez

[jmjhb]

Charlton beat Wycombe 1-0 and face Orient in a NE v SE London final (in NW London).

Happy with that - certainly the form teams of this calendar year, although Stockport can feel hard done by. Hope Charlton win.

[TonyDomingos]

Charlton beat Wycombe 1-0 and face Orient in a NE v SE London final (in NW London).

Surely Orient are East Laaandaaahn? Jellied eels are going to take a hammering a week on Sunday.

Norf of the river, geez

Caaaaaaant.

After 35 years in London, I feel I've finally mastered the language.

[BWFC_Insane]

Haven’t watched any of the play offs…can’t really face it. Indeed results on here first I knew of them.

Now we know the final I can also safely say I will be giving that an equally wide berth. Can they both lose?