League 2 - 2013/2014

[Big Boy]

A question for BG. Finish International Tuomas Rannankari is undergoing trials with the Green Army at the moment. It doesn't look as though he's going to make the grade. Is the Finnish national side really that bad?

[Bamboo Grove]

Totally unknown player to me, had to google him to find some info. He's played in one national team match and some U21 matches. Been in Holland for couple of years. Hopefully then, this will give him some experience.

[Big Boy]

Hopefully then, this will give him some experience.

That's the point, it doesn't look as though he's good enough to play for the Green Army - a team that has been struggling in the Football League's lowest tier.

[Zidane]

I remember about 10 years ago Macclesfield Town signed a Lithuanian international with over 80 caps,Andrejus Tereskinas,towards the end of the season.
He made his much vaunted debut and was absolutely atrocious.....only played once and didnt even make the subs bench again.

[Big Boy]

Yes, it always amazes me at the standard of some of these Internationals, yet if England play these teams, they barely scrape a win

Unfortunately one of the Green Army's better Internationals has 'walked' this season. Onismor Bhasera is currently without a club after having a trial with Turkish Super League side, Elazigspor. He's currently on trial at Yeovil Town.

He didn't even have the decency to let the Green Army know he wasn't coming back. The manager has said that he won't have him back after his poor attitude, and believes other clubs will steer clear of him for the same reason.

[Zidane]

Macclesfield Town have become a Community Interest Company and Cheshire East Council have brought the freehold to the ground.
The club was in a dire financial situation and this move is seen as a way of helping the cash flow situation.
The Iraqi owners of the last 10 years have severed their ties with the club writing off loans they had made to the tune of 1.3m GBP.
As you know,they were relegated from the Football League the previous season.They got a one season parachute payment from the Football League plus they had around 750k GBP made from transfers of their best players both during and after the season they were relegated.
One of the reasons they went down was that the players sold were replaced by either free transfers or loanees which werent up to scratch.
So last season they decided to have a huge effort into getting back into the Football League.They appointed a manager from down south,Steve King,who signed about 25 players of which many were southern based and were given accomodation by the club.
King himself was given a rented house in Prestbury (very rich area) and his son was educated at the local grammar school.
Initially,all went well and Macc were top after 8 matches but they fell away and were always just outside the play offs.
Once they couldnt make the play offs they lost 6 games on the trot and finished a disappointing 11th.King was then sacked.
They did have a good run in the FA Cup,reaching the 4th round and beating the likes of Swindon and Cardiff on the way and eventually lost to the eventual winners Wigan 1-0.
But the club lost over 550k GBP in the season which is a huge amount for a non league club.Youth team manager,John Askey,who has been with the club nearly 30 years (including as a player) has been appointed manager and Efe Sodje,a legendary Macc centre back who played for Nigeria in the 2002 World Cup,is his assistant.
The chairman and vice chairman who resigned after the appointment of King have come back which is good news as they are Macc through and through.
Most of the southern players have now left and players are a bit thin on the ground.Hopefully there is enough quality left in the squad for them to survive in the Conference next season and build a sound financial base.
Near neighbours Stockport County were in the Championship 11 years ago but will be starting next season in the Blue Square North,a division below the Conference,so just shows what can happen when a decline sets in.

Anyway,good luck to Plymouth next season.....Sheridan seems a pretty good manager and I think you should finish in the top half,at least !

[Big Boy]

Sheridan seems a pretty good manager and I think you should finish in the top half,at least !

I'm expecting top 7, and hopefully top 3.

[arcadianagain]

On a similar note Doncaster Rovers once gave a trial to a local lad but he wasn`t considered good enough, his name? Kevin Keegan.

[Big Boy]

Well today's the day that I've been waiting for with anticipation for a few weeks now. The Green Army open this season's campaign at Roots Hall this afternoon when they take on Southend Utd - not an easy start.

I think it must be 5 years since I've felt so positive about the forthcoming season, and I actually believe we have a good manager in charge for the first time in a long time. He has been slowly building the team, getting rid of the dross and gradually putting pieces of his jigsaw puzzle into place, Barring too many injuries, I believe a top 3 place is very achievable, although the smart money seems to be on a slow start and a top 10 finish - what do they know?

First time for a while we've got a couple of strikers who claim to be able to hit the proverbial barn door. Not only that, they've been smart with it by not showing their capabilities in pre-season friendlies, only scoring from the penalty spot . One of the new strikers has even set himself a double figures target for this season:


Here's hoping this thread can be re-named 'League 1' next season.

[Dannie Boy]

Here's hoping this thread can be re-named 'League 1' next season.

Yes, much better than Conference Premier!!

[Big Boy]

Not funny , but almost true.

[Dannie Boy]

Not funny , but almost true.

My local team (Dartford) are in the Conference and I am hoping for good things this season. I remember way back in 1974 watching Dartford lose by the very narrow margin of 2-3 against Plymouth in the FA Cup - I believe that Plymouth were then in the old 3rd Division and had a few scares during the game before ending as victors. Just looked it up and Plymouth had a good run that year, eventually losing at home to Everton in front of a bumper 38,000 crowd. Happy days

[Big Boy]

I was at both the Dartford and Everton games. A couple of friends left early when I think Dartford were 2-1 up to make sure they caught the train

[Dannie Boy]

I was at both the Dartford and Everton games. A couple of friends left early when I think Dartford were 2-1 up to make sure they caught the train

Now you mention it, I think I remember seeing a big hooligan in the away section of the crowd

[arcadianagain]

Not funny , but almost true.

My local team (Dartford) are in the Conference and I am hoping for good things this season. I remember way back in 1974 watching Dartford lose by the very narrow margin of 2-3 against Plymouth in the FA Cup - I believe that Plymouth were then in the old 3rd Division and had a few scares during the game before ending as victors. Just looked it up and Plymouth had a good run that year, eventually losing at home to Everton in front of a bumper 38,000 crowd. Happy days

I was there, I think Everton won 2-0, I remember some Everton hooligans trying to climb over the high wire barrier trying to get to the Argyle fans.