League 2 v National League
 

It wasn't too long ago that it was thought that the top 8 in the NL would hold their own in League 2 ,but now the promoted teams struggle to adapt.
Is L2 stronger or the NL weaker ?

Re: League 2 v National League
 

[QUOTE=Colonel D;2083889]It wasn't too long ago that it was thought that the top 8 in the NL would hold their own in League 2 ,but now the promoted teams struggle to adapt.
Is L2 stronger or the NL weaker ?[/QUOTE]

This season is a bit inconclusive, yes FGR have made a slow start but Lincoln are doing ok and the 2 relegated teams, both long term league teams, are bottom half in the NL. Generally L2 have bigger budgets so can attract better players and have bigger squads, but over the last 10 years the gap has closed, the NL has got stronger and L2 has been littered with teams who have got themselves into a financial mess.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

[QUOTE=davewilli;2083905]This season is a bit inconclusive, yes FGR have made a slow start but Lincoln are doing ok and the 2 relegated teams, both long term league teams, are bottom half in the NL. Generally L2 have bigger budgets so can attract better players and have bigger squads, but over the last 10 years the gap has closed, the NL has got stronger and L2 has been littered with teams who have got themselves into a financial mess.[/QUOTE]

I think that generally L2 has got stronger , but it is like having a cold shower for the relegated clubs , who take time to adapt and use their parachute payments wisely.
Also players would rather play in the FL than drop to the NL.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

L2 is of course generally stronger than the NL for obvious reasons. Accrington Stanley is a good example of a successful L2 team on a shoestring budget but with a wise chairman and inspirational manager. Brave and bold John Coleman likes his Accrington team to express themselves and play exciting football. Consistent performances foster better results in the long term. That is why Accrington with wise recruitment have punched their weight in recent seasons against so called bigger clubs in L2.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

[QUOTE=cynprifathro;2084097]L2 is of course generally stronger than the NL for obvious reasons. Accrington Stanley is a good example of a successful L2 team on a shoestring budget but with a wise chairman and inspirational manager. Brave and bold John Coleman likes his Accrington team to express themselves and play exciting football. Consistent performances foster better results in the long term. That is why Accrington with wise recruitment have punched their weight in recent seasons against so called bigger clubs in L2.[/QUOTE]

Yes money doesn't guarantee success.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

L2 is a lot stronger now than it used to be and theres some bigger clubs that have dropped down into it like Coventry.

Ive seen Notts County this season and tbh if by some fluke we did go up we would be coming straight back down. There is a gulf between the two divisions as FG and Lincoln are finding out. Used to be that whoever won the conference usually did well in L2. We haven't got the deep pockets to compete like the other two clubs that went up last season.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

[QUOTE=NottsRed;2084242]L2 is a lot stronger now than it used to be and theres some bigger clubs that have dropped down into it like Coventry.

Ive seen Notts County this season and tbh if by some fluke we did go up we would be coming straight back down. There is a gulf between the two divisions as FG and Lincoln are finding out. Used to be that whoever won the conference usually did well in L2. We haven't got the deep pockets to compete like the other two clubs that went up last season.[/QUOTE]

Don't think we would...since we have been down here for 10 season's not many teams have been relegated back down...can think of Torquay York...are there any others,,

Re: League 2 v National League
 

[QUOTE=NottsRed;2084242]L2 is a lot stronger now than it used to be and theres some bigger clubs that have dropped down into it like Coventry.

Ive seen Notts County this season and tbh if by some fluke we did go up we would be coming straight back down. There is a gulf between the two divisions as FG and Lincoln are finding out. Used to be that whoever won the conference usually did well in L2. We haven't got the deep pockets to compete like the other two clubs that went up last season.[/QUOTE]

I don't think so.

There are financial fair play rules in the FL which favour clubs with larger fan bases like ours........and righly so.The bigger your turnover from gate receipts and merchandising etc, the bigger your budget.

The sugar daddy, bankrolled clubs with tiny attendances can't survive for long at that level as they are capped to spending a proportion of their working turnover.

Shame the FFP rules aren't extended to the NL as we'd have a much stronger chance of getting out of this pit.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

[QUOTE=cynprifathro;2084097]L2 is of course generally stronger than the NL for obvious reasons. Accrington Stanley is a good example of a successful L2 team on a shoestring budget but with a wise chairman and inspirational manager. Brave and bold John Coleman likes his Accrington team to express themselves and play exciting football. Consistent performances foster better results in the long term. That is why Accrington with wise recruitment have punched their weight in recent seasons against so called bigger clubs in L2.[/QUOTE]

He'd be my number one choice as manager here.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

[QUOTE=[Removed User];2084282]Good grief. He’s an okay fit for that club as they have no ambitions beyond staying in one of the bottom two divisions so there’s no work going on of any note on the youth side or club/ground infrastructure. He tried elsewhere and failed miserably and not without good reason. He’d be an appalling fit for us.[/QUOTE]

Accy are another team that punch way above their weight and one that are founded on the money provided by the FL but spend that money well.

IMO the conference is a different beast and a squad/team has to built quite quickly and if it isn't working has to be changed equally as quickly.
Look at FGR and how even with money still managed to take years to get promoted.

DK has done part of the job but again there seems to be no strategic direction from above so now we sit here with improvements to be made - that is clear to almost everyone - money in the pot and no action.

If DK can be persuaded to make a move then we can push on but if we sit as we are for the next 10-11 games then we could miss the boat.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

I think, in terms of comparing L2 (Div 4 to us oldies) with the NL (Conference FFS), there are 2 separate things going on. Generalising here but...

In terms of tactics / style of play, L2 and NL seem pretty similar on the whole. For decent, passing football you've got to look at L1, but in L2 there's much more direct play like we have to endure.

In terms of players, however, the cut off does appear to be at the L2 / NL point. Whilst L2 teams play in a generally similar way to NL ones, they do it much better because the players are better and, so, the ball moves quicker and more accurately, and the pace of the game is quicker and generally quite a bit better to watch than the turgid stuff we watch.

That isn't to say there aren't lots of NL players who couldn't make the step up but, equally, there are many more who are a million miles off the standard for an average L2 player.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

[QUOTE=[Removed User];2084364]Agree with your first two paras. Not sure about the rest. I don’t think they’re guilty of a lack of strategic direction. In fact I think we’ve seen more strategic thinking in the past 12 months than we have in the past 40 years. If they’re guilty of anything it’s a mixed message. Is it a 2 year plan? Is it promotion this season? I’m not sure.[/QUOTE]

Judging by the solid defence , who have 2 year deals and the rest , who generally have one year deals or are on loan I would suggest it is a 2 year plan.

Re: League 2 v National League
 

[QUOTE=[Removed User];2084364]Agree with your first two paras. Not sure about the rest. I don’t think they’re guilty of a lack of strategic direction. In fact I think we’ve seen more strategic thinking in the past 12 months than we have in the past 40 years. If they’re guilty of anything it’s a mixed message. Is it a 2 year plan? Is it promotion this season? I’m not sure.[/QUOTE]

Glad you agree with build the squad quite quickly and also change it on the same premise as I think that is something that needs to be done.

The strategic comments are based on the WAFC board providing direction to the manager as we have now waited through weeks on inactivity despite the obvious. Extending Reid was a mistake both short term and long term.