by tomogull » 07 Dec 2015, 13:57
Well, here we are - halfway through the the National League season. Who are the tops and who are the flops? For me, both Cheltenham and Forest Green are doing better than I expected. I had a feeling Forest Green would slip back a bit this season after failing in the Play Offs for two seasons. Someone posted on here that Johnson, Cheltenham's manager, was shrewd and that they could go well. They've been proved right. It's tight for the play off places. The expected teams are there - Grimsby, Wrexham, Eastleigh - but I don't think we expected Dover and Braintree to be up there in the mix. Guiseley are doing okay - most predicted they would be dead certs for relegation.
The flops - Tranmere are the biggest surprise non-performers, followed by Gateshead and Chester not living up to pre-season expectations. Other teams who we thought would do a bit better than they are - Aldershot, Halifax and er, um Torquay.
The relegation battle is now on with seven teams in contention - Altrincham, Welling, Boreham Wood, Southport, the Gulls, Halifax and Kidderminster. Aldershot look just about out of the battle but they have to be careful. Southport seem to be turning things around and Halifax are starting to pick up a few points under Paul Cox whereas we are not picking up points. It's all looking alarmingly depressing.
Of the players who left Plainmoor at the end of last season, Krystian Pearce is showing his worth with Mansfield and Aaron Downes is having a good season as Cheltenham's captain. Jordan Chappell and Ryan Bowman are playing regularly for Chester and Gateshead, although Bowman's goals seem to have dried up. Toby Ajala seems to be used as a sub by Dover. Duane O'Achie and Courtney Cameron don't appear in Dover and Southport squads, although both may be out injured. Ben Harding rarely appears in Gosport's squad so no doubt he's injured again and Elliott Benyon scores now and again for Hayes & Yeading. Karl Hawley, Stourbridge, continues to miss penalties (he missed one against Eastleigh in the Cup on Saturday). Martin Rice is Truro's first choice 'keeper and they are going well.
Well, here we are - halfway through the the National League season. Who are the tops and who are the flops? For me, both Cheltenham and Forest Green are doing better than I expected. I had a feeling Forest Green would slip back a bit this season after failing in the Play Offs for two seasons. Someone posted on here that Johnson, Cheltenham's manager, was shrewd and that they could go well. They've been proved right. It's tight for the play off places. The expected teams are there - Grimsby, Wrexham, Eastleigh - but I don't think we expected Dover and Braintree to be up there in the mix. Guiseley are doing okay - most predicted they would be dead certs for relegation.
The flops - Tranmere are the biggest surprise non-performers, followed by Gateshead and Chester not living up to pre-season expectations. Other teams who we thought would do a bit better than they are - Aldershot, Halifax and er, um Torquay.
The relegation battle is now on with seven teams in contention - Altrincham, Welling, Boreham Wood, Southport, the Gulls, Halifax and Kidderminster. Aldershot look just about out of the battle but they have to be careful. Southport seem to be turning things around and Halifax are starting to pick up a few points under Paul Cox whereas we are not picking up points. It's all looking alarmingly depressing.
Of the players who left Plainmoor at the end of last season, Krystian Pearce is showing his worth with Mansfield and Aaron Downes is having a good season as Cheltenham's captain. Jordan Chappell and Ryan Bowman are playing regularly for Chester and Gateshead, although Bowman's goals seem to have dried up. Toby Ajala seems to be used as a sub by Dover. Duane O'Achie and Courtney Cameron don't appear in Dover and Southport squads, although both may be out injured. Ben Harding rarely appears in Gosport's squad so no doubt he's injured again and Elliott Benyon scores now and again for Hayes & Yeading. Karl Hawley, Stourbridge, continues to miss penalties (he missed one against Eastleigh in the Cup on Saturday). Martin Rice is Truro's first choice 'keeper and they are going well.
