Ellis bid rejected again!!

[numpte]

....and if they were in the Premier League they'd be challenging for a Champions League spot.

Jeez, perhaps when I see the red shirts come out next week I'll think Man Utd have actually come to play us.

And we're just about to sell half our team to Championship sides!!!!

[PhilGull]

Crawley have six (I think) players with league experience. Granted they are doing well this season but so are we. To say that they could be challenging for League One play-offs is a little OTT imho.
As the professional Football League club, playing at home we will be favourites. I don't expect us to win the match but I will be very disappointed if we don't.

[numpte]

Exactly.

[CraigUnder]

in todays HE, they say the team that had made a bid for ellis were rochdale, http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/tufc/ ... ticle.html

[HRG]

I'm with Richinns and Cambgull on this one. Considering who they have already beaten and the money they've spent they will be favourites.
Most football fans will be on our side I think even if the media are not.

[Plymouth Gull]

I don't think the side Crawley have assembled is a side that would be in the top 7 of league 2. They have done what we did - signed players who know what they're doing in the Conference. Tubbs was always scoring at Salisbury as was Brodie at Rochdale. Neither have played in the League, so it's untested waters.

Sergio Torres and Pablo Mills are two players that spring to mind that have played in L2, but thats it, really. The Crawley squad is nothing better than an average L2 side in my opinion, it's just its been so expensively assembled.

On the other hand, we have lost to some average L2 sides this year already, so lets make sure it doesn't happen again!

[Jeff]

I don't think the side Crawley have assembled is a side that would be in the top 7 of league 2. They have done what we did - signed players who know what they're doing in the Conference. Tubbs was always scoring at Salisbury as was Brodie at Rochdale. Neither have played in the League, so it's untested waters.

Sergio Torres and Pablo Mills are two players that spring to mind that have played in L2, but thats it, really. The Crawley squad is nothing better than an average L2 side in my opinion, it's just its been so expensively assembled.

On the other hand, we have lost to some average L2 sides this year already, so lets make sure it doesn't happen again!

I was about to post the same thing. Crawley have a decent side don't get me wrong, but I don't think there is any player in that side who would easily slot into our side.

Not sure if the side they have had out today is full strength or not, but it reads

Michel Kuipers
Glenn Wilson
Pablo Mills
Kyle McFadzean
Dean Howell
Sergio Torres
Dannie Bulman
Josh Simpson
James Dance
Matt Tubbs
Craig McAllister

Out of that lot, you'd say that Torres, Bulman, Tubbs and Mills are the standout names. And Josh Simpson looked pretty handy against us for Southend. But would any of the above named be picked over Wroe, Mansell, Benyon and Ellis? I doubt that. Not saying they arn't good players, but I actually think the squads are very evenly matched.

[cambgull]

....and if they were in the Premier League they'd be challenging for a Champions League spot.

Jeez, perhaps when I see the red shirts come out next week I'll think Man Utd have actually come to play us.

And we're just about to sell half our team to Championship sides!!!!

Firstly, I really don't get what your problem is as you seem to be intent on contradicting me in every thread I post in.

All I was merely saying is that they actually have a decent side and will certainly be a very tough test. The reasons I believe they will be favourites are:

The strength and depth of their team compared to our very small squad.
Their wins against better teams than us.
Their wins against better teams than we have beaten.
Their form compared to ours.
Money.
The fact that we had quite a poor record against them when we were in the Conference and that was before they spent a tonne of money.

However, things have changed a little since we last played them as we are now in a fairly secure position on L2 although the core of the team is still fairly similar to that in the Conference. I still can't really see how we are such sure favourites as you seem to insist, purely based on the fact that we aren't even doing anything incredibly special in the league above them. (The league they'll probably be in next year).

[PhilGull]

And surprise surprise, all the bookies have us as favourites! We're about evens, Crawley a little over 2/1.

[numpte]

Of course we are, WERE AT HOME!!!! to an expensively arranged set of journeymen lower league footballers.

[happytorq]

much as i hate to say it, 2/1 about Crawley is pretty great. If only i had a way of putting 20 quid on. I'd be happy to lose it!

[ferrarilover]

much as i hate to say it, 2/1 about Crawley is pretty great. If only i had a way of putting 20 quid on. I'd be happy to lose it!

www.bet365.com

You're welcome, but DON't say I didn't warn you.

Matt.

[usagullmichigan]

but we can't join as betting is against the law in the US. Remember the US is the land of the FREE!

[cambgull]

but we can't join as betting is against the law in the US. Remember the US is the land of the FREE!

It is the land of the free, apart from if you want to bath a donkey in <insert state here> or legally shoot your mother for sleeping with a barnacle in <insert state here>. And if you subscribe to fox you get to watch a cup match between 2 small teams who you've never heard of in a sport that you don't really watch!

[usagullmichigan]

The Torquay is not on Fox soccer. I looked .