Last season Solihull did brilliantly once Flowers arrived, but I certainly didn't expect it to continue this season. I also thought Wrexham's changes of manager were going to be the finish of them ........ but they seem to be flourishing too. David Beckham's money seems to have been pretty poisonous so far for Salford .......... but things do change quickly at this level. The step up is a huge issue and some clubs see it as one step too far. Do all those in line for promotion want it? Would a season in League 2 be the death of them? For Harrogate and Sutton it would be dig up the pitch time. Fylde have long aimed at league status but they are running ahead of even their own dreams if they go up before 2020.
Matt's right, Salford would probably throw in a few more Rooneys if they fail to go up, but Notts County, if they come down, are a pretty big club and in us have a local example of exactly how NOT TO handle the drop. Only coming top gets you up, the next six places are just a test of stamina and nerve. Buying your way to the EFL is harder than it sounds.
The EFL met in Preston this week and largely fell apart over Sky and the inevitable difference of opinion between the 24 Championship clubs and the rest. I can't help thinking that for once in my life I've got it right about football - bring in 8 National League clubs and from the total 100 clubs form 5 divisions of 20. Below them the National League could regionalise into North and South and part time clubs would no longer need to be faced with the several five or six hundred mile Tuesday night or Saturday round trips that ensure they struggle ever to build up the financial reserves to make an assault on EFL status. And the winners of all the leagues might just be the best players rather than those with the most resilient hamstrings.
Matt's right, Salford would probably throw in a few more Rooneys if they fail to go up, but Notts County, if they come down, are a pretty big club and in us have a local example of exactly how NOT TO handle the drop. Only coming top gets you up, the next six places are just a test of stamina and nerve. Buying your way to the EFL is harder than it sounds.
The EFL met in Preston this week and largely fell apart over Sky and the inevitable difference of opinion between the 24 Championship clubs and the rest. I can't help thinking that for once in my life I've got it right about football - bring in 8 National League clubs and from the total 100 clubs form 5 divisions of 20. Below them the National League could regionalise into North and South and part time clubs would no longer need to be faced with the several five or six hundred mile Tuesday night or Saturday round trips that ensure they struggle ever to build up the financial reserves to make an assault on EFL status. And the winners of all the leagues might just be the best players rather than those with the most resilient hamstrings.