looking ahead...

[dansilk]

Burnham are now top, 3 points ahead of Hitchin (albeit they have a game in hand and far better goal difference): and Slough are looking well-placed for the playoffs, although maybe too far behind now to really challenge for the top place without some very helpful results elsewhere.

 

So all we need now is to go up, stay in the Southern rather than being switched to the Isthmian as someone suggested, and for at least one of Slough/Burnham to go up as well, and we could have a reasonably close local derby again

Not too many if's there!

 

Looking upwards, meanwhile, both Weston-super-Mare and Weymouth would presumably transfer into the Southern: or if they climb out, Worcester and Dorchester also would seem set there. Lewes and/or Hampton&Richmond seem likely to go to the Isthmian. So as it stands it's likely we'd see two entrants for the Southern, only one to the Isthmian.

 

This thread discusses the likely changes and there are maps inspired by the late great another here, based on the tables as they stand (although I note they're guessing Hitchin will switch to Isthmian while Ashford (Middlesex) & Wealdstone move to the Southern).

[Rother]

My brain hurts now.

[Woody SUFC]

Shall we all agree not to look any further ahead of the next match then? I know thats all i am thinking about!!

[Windsor_Sec]

So Dan are you expressing a preference for a local derby against Burnham plus trips to Truro, Tiverton, Rugby, Worcester, etc, etc, to the joys of the M25 and rejoining the Ryman League?

 

I somehow can't see a home match against Burnham offsetting the extra travelling costs concerned so, given the choice, I would opt for the Ryman Premier every time.

 

Whilst local derbies are enjoyable and, more often, more profitable than your normal league games, I do feel the lack of local derbies has somewhat contributed to our success this year as we all know the formbook goes out of the window where local derbies are concerned and possible points dropped against Slough, Burnham, Beaconsfield, Marlow might have seen us with say a 12 point lead with Totton having the ability to overtake us in the run-in - would you swap where we are now for that scenario?

[Woody SUFC]

http://www.mikeavery.co.uk/NewAlliancePremierLeague.htm

 

Have a read of that. Makes perfect sense to me. One more league at Prem level would help reduce travelling costs so much yet also allow some degree of away day fun! At levels below the leagues become VERY local however and that can only lower the quality by quite a lot locally.

 

As it stands i wouldnt be against a move back to the Ryman but i would mis the countryside locations we visit! Cant imagine a club like North Leigh would exisit in the ryman and thats a shame as that place is to me what non-league is about!

[dansilk]

So Dan are you expressing a preference for a local derby against Burnham plus trips to Truro, Tiverton, Rugby, Worcester, etc, etc, to the joys of the M25 and rejoining the Ryman League?

 

I somehow can't see a home match against Burnham offsetting the extra travelling costs concerned so, given the choice, I would opt for the Ryman Premier every time.

 

Actually I'd rather be in the Conference South, it's more compact than either! I agree, it's not a great choice. The Ryman gives shorter distances overall, but involves travelling around or via London so that isn't much fun, especially during rush-hours, and that's for virtually every game (Tuesday evening away to Lowestoft? That's leaving at lunchtime). Against that in the Southern, there's some easier trips but higher average distances - plus the real distances to Truro, Worcester and whatever the team nearly at Stafford is... Either way I think we're going to suffer with the travelling. I did like being in the Ryman and I actually think we might prefer the football style there, if it hasn't changed since our last switch.

 

Do you think we will be likely to move across, then?

 

us with say a 12 point lead with Totton having the ability to overtake us in the run-in - would you swap where we are now for that scenario?

Well, obviously I'd much rather see us in a weaker position in the league with more local derbies. why not have a few more games cancelled, too, so we can play three times a week because that's so good.

Uncalled-for fatuous questions deserve sarcastic answers.

Edited March 7, 2010 by dansilk