So according to The Derbyshire Times Chesterfield FC will be champions of The National League and Pools will finish 9th. Can't ever remember Pools being bigged up like this to win a league before a ball was kicked in anger. It will be all Derbyshire hype leading on from Hollywood AFC. Just because they finished 3rd, had a great season doesen't necessarily mean they will walk it. Not really knowing who they have signed or not really caring, I hope all the hype backfires and they don't fulfil their supposed potential. Oldham Athletic as the paper suggests could be in for a shout. Don't really know what's gone on their of late. Lastly, they reckon Rochdale will be slow to adapt to this league and struggle badly. We shall see. I see that Pools have The Spireites early on in the campaign. No bad thing. Get them at theirs before things settle down. Arguably the biggest club in the league is the basket case Southend United FC. No disrespect to United or their fans with that description but what the hell is going on there? One thing is for sure and that is big away followings at The Vic will be rarer than hen's teeth. Oldham, Chesterfield and to a bit lesser respect, The Heed, York City and Rochdale. Spotting The Dorking Massive will be fun. Can't wait for it all to start.

Saw that. I thought his comments about the other NL teams were interesting, especially the ones he expects to do well - alongside from the mighty Chesterfield.

Doubt he's really got a clue how Pools will do, or Rochdale for that matter.

It's odds on Chesterfield will finish above us, but a couple of decent results against them would be canny

Just the local rag banging a big drum.
Just because they nearly got promoted doesn’t mean you will next season, it’s not Buggins turn, doesn’t mean a thing. JWe got to Cardiff and got relegated the next season, depends how you respond to disappointment.

Think the fact that their local rag has said they'll win the league has hopefully put the mockers on their title challenge. Probably finish 3rd, like last season!

Some local rags are obviously supportive, some are over the top, almost snivelingly so and in those instances you find the logic of the sports reporter has given way to an optimistic drum beater and common sense and sensible reporting goes out of the window.
It appears that the local rag thinks the season has paused and the good form carries on seamlessly….time will tell, they may do well, but over confidence can be a trip hazard to their ambitions and expectations.

if they do not say stuff like that they might live in fear of being banned from their ground.

I'd still settle for finishing one place behind Chesterfield in the regular season

Chesterfield 3rd

I seem to remember Torquay got to the play off finals not that long ago and last season got relegated to the Southern League.

Aye their squad was ripped apart, Which is what would have happened to us.

Yep all true but the record books say Torquay= play off final, two season later relegated.

Obviously Chesterfield have hung onto their players and have cash to splash but the point I am making in a roundabout sort of way is that play off finalists dont necessarily kick on to automatic promotion which is what the Chesterfield newspaper is assuming.

would be a big surprise if Cheaterfield didnt win it----football not played on paper etc.. but they look the best squad by a reasonable distance.

If we finish within 20 points of chesterfield we will of done ok. On another level to what we can bring in.

New season…after you climbed the mountain and failed to reach the top, the second attempt can be a bit harder mentally.
All down to character.

Knew what you were getting at 1st time around Ozzy.

Just like the bookies having Crawley for the drop, Means nothing.
And Wrexham to go up, Don,t think they will myself, As we know you can not Judge Lge 2 on Na tLge terms.

Can't see why there seems to be a sense of awe about a team that finished 30 points behind 2nd place last season. Expect them to be in the top teams but they won't be getting over 100 points like Wrexham and Notts County.

only problem they will have is that they will be the favourites in most peoples eyes. every game they will have will see teams just doing a bit extra to put a spanner in their works. fine if you are a wrexham/notts county side head and shoulders above the rest but do not think they will be.

It might be a big surprise to you.
However, Football has a nasty habit of springing ‘big surprises’ on entitled teams.