National League Ante-Post

[Darran]

[TABLE=class: odds allOdds, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 1] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Tranmere Rovers[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]9/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]5[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]9/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]6[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]9/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]9/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]5[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]5[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]9/2[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Grimsby Town[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]6[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]11/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]6[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]9/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]6[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]6[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]5[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]13/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]6[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Eastleigh[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]15/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]8[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]15/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]6[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]15/2[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]7[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]7[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]7[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]8[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Forest Green Rovers[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]7[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]7[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]7[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]6[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]7[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]8[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]7[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]9[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]7[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Wrexham[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]12[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]12[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]12[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]10[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]12[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B D]12[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]12[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B D]12[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]12[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Cheltenham Town[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]10[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]10[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]9[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]14[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]10[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]11[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]10[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]9[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]10[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Barrow[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]16[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]15[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]16[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]20[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]16[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]20[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]16[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]14[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]16[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Gateshead[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]20[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]20[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]20[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]18[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]20[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]16[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]20[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]14[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]20[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Woking[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]16[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]15[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]14[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]20[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]16[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]14[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]16[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]12[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]16[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Lincoln City[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]18[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B D]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]22[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd hover] [/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]25[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]FC Halifax Town[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd] [/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd] [/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]22[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]28[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd] [/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Macclesfield Town[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]30[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]28[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]30[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Torquay United[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]20[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B D]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]40[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Chester FC[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]25[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]40[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Dover Athletic[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]35[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Aldershot Town[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Bromley[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B D]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]50[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Kidderminster Harriers[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]33[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]40[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]40[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Braintree Town[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]60[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]80[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Guiseley[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]60[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]80[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]50[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O D]80[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Southport[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]70[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]80[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B D]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]95[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Altrincham FC[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]105[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]80[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B U]105[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]66[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]80[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO0] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Boreham Wood[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]105[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]105[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]200[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]80[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O U]125[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: AO1] [TD=class: ChartFormButtons][/TD] [TD=class: Competitor]Welling United[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]105[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]105[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd B]200[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [TD=class: cellOdd O]100[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

[Darran]

New name for the Conference this season and it will be known as the National League for the upcoming season. Should be another interesting season ahead and I would be surprised if it wasn't tight again at the top as well.

[dawwe92]

Any1 knows when the bookies usually sets the odds for winner/promotion for Conference North/South?

[Darran]

Usually by now, but none of the bookmakers want to go up first. I know Betway and BetVictor have both got their tissues ready but neither want to be first up. Betway have always been first up, but now Alan Alger is with them he has told them to wait sadly.

[dawwe92]

Betway and Betvictor have gone up now. As I see it Conference North will be a twohorse race between Fylde and Alfreton. Fylde are favourites @ 6.00 and Alfreton are @ 11.00. Whats ur opinion Addpea?

[Darran]

I have started a thread for North/South yesterday.

[Darran]

I have finished writing my preview for all the leagues and will post tomorrow after I have had chance to get all my bets on.

[Darran]

National League There always seems to be a change to the name of the league and this season is the biggest one yet as the Conference has been rebranded (rather pointlessly in my view) and it is now known as the National League. Let’s start with the team I think are going to be going up as Champions. I usually start fancying one team for the title around the beginning of April and that team this time around was Eastleigh. They remind me a lot of Fleetwood. A small team who are well funded and who made the play-offs in their first season in the division. Fleetwood were well beaten by AFC Wimbledon and Eastleigh were comfortably seen off by Grimsby last term. The year after Fleetwood were fairly easy winners of the title and although I doubt Eastleigh have a Jamie Vardy lurking in their ranks, I really do think they can repeat what Fleetwood did. Last season I made plenty opposing Eastleigh away from home during the first half of the season as they really struggled. However in the 2^nd half of the season their away form massively improved as they got to grips with the league. If they can perform like that over the whole season then that should see them with enough points to land the title. Their home form dipped a little after being pretty much unbeatable for a fair part of the season, but it provided a solid base. They have signed well over the summer to add to an already strong team and I find it pretty hard to see how they cannot improve on what they achieved last season. Fleetwood needed a year at this level (as most clubs do whichever league they have come from) and Eastleigh clearly did as well. I think there are very few teams who can win the league this season and on that basis I think they are a very solid e/w bet at 8/1 (general) as I would be surprised if they finished outside the first three. I was planning on having a lumpy win single on Eastleigh, but one of the reasons why I have gone e/w way is because I have begun to fancy Grimsby more and more. I have never fancied Grimsby to win the league and it may seem odd to fancy them this time around, given the poor record of play-off final losers in their next season at this level, but there are reasons to think this could be the year that they finally get out of the division. To help get over the upset of losing at Wembley, Grimsby fans have given more than £100k to the club to spend on players. That is a huge amount and how can it not lift the players to want to do well for the fans who have helped play their wages. They have lost a couple of vital players from last season and I must admit I am not sure that £50k signee Omar Bogle is up to making the step up, but they have added well to the squad. They have also been superb in pre-season. Now I am not one to get carried away with pre-season form as it doesn’t mean an awful lot in the grand scheme of things, but in this case I think it is fairly important as it proves the players are in the right frame of mind after play-off heartache in May. They have tended to not be quite good enough to win the title in the last few seasons, but I think they are in the best position they have ever been and they have to be the savers at 5/1. T ranmere are also at the head of the market and they have done well to get Gray Brabin in as manager as he knows the league well, which I always think is crucial. He has got some decent players in as well and I do think they can reach the play-offs, but given Bristol Rovers couldn’t even win the title last season I find it hard to see how a smaller club like Tranmere can. It was Rovers’ slow start which stopped them and it wouldn’t be a surprise if it took Tranmere a while to acclimatise. It is so hard for relegated teams to go up at the first time of asking and if Tranmere are to do it I think it will be via the play-offs. Being a Gloucester City fan I have been desperate for Cheltenham to be relegated back to non-league for years, so naturally I was happy with their relegation. The only snag is I now have to think about them as a punting prospect and thus have to forget about me wanting to lose every game. With that in mind I actually think they might do OK this season and could sneak into the play-offs. Gary Johnson hasn’t been in the league for a while, but he has won the division before and he has made some solid signings. However the same comments for Tranmere apply here and, as Cheltenham are an even smaller club, I struggle to see them doing any better than the play-offs and they are more likely to just miss out. The other Gloucestershire club in the division, Forest Green, are in single figures yet again to win the division, but they have struggled to put money into a proper title bid. They did reach the play-offs last season, however they never really looked like beating Bristol Rovers. I am not overly enthused by the players they have signed and I just think they will be found lacking again. I am not sure they have the right man in charge either, although he does now have a season at this level under his belt. They can go well again, but I just can’t see them winning it. Wrexham are the other team near the head of the betting and they have done well in getting Gary Mills in as manager. I was impressed with what he did at Gateshead and he knows the league very well. I can’t help thinking he will need another season to gain promotion though and they might well be the team I end up backing this time next year. Past these six, it is pretty hard to see any of the others being capable of winning the division. Woking gave us a great run for our money at big odds last season and really should have been in the play-offs. Gary Hill might well be able to find a bit more improvement, but it is hard to see how they can improve enough to get anywhere near a title bid. Barrow just won the Conference North last season and have money, but they haven’t made any eye-catching signings and I don’t fancy them at all. I can’t see Gateshead doing much now Gary Mills has left and Halifax look a shadow of the side they have been the last two seasons and they might struggle to get into the top half. Lincoln have signed well and although the manager is unproven they might well do better than their odds suggest. I think the same can be said about Aldershot and I like the players they have added. Consistency has been their big problem since being back in the division, but if that can be fixed then they might be capable of being in and around the play-offs. Chester could improve under Steve Burr, and Bromley could end up being the best of the promoted sides. They have signed well and usually one of the promoted teams end up doing very well so it could be them. Bet 365 have a handicap market and I think it is worth taking Eastleigh with a +4 start and Aldershot with a +23 start. Betway have a “to finish in the bottom 4” market and it looks competitive. If I had to name three I think will go down it would be Welling, Altrincham and Southport. None of them offer much value though so I will take a couple of chances of finding the fourth team. Braintree could be in for a season of struggle now Alan Devonshire has left and they are a team who have really been punching above their weight being in the division. Their pitch is always waterlogged as well and they could easily have a busy last couple of months to the season if the weather is against them. Their squad doesn’t look that strong either and they look a fair price at 11/4. The other team worth backing are Torquay. That might sound surprising, but they nearly went out of business over the summer and their manager Paul Cox has admitted he has a full-time team on part-time wages. I do like Paul Cox as a manger and he might well be able to see them safe, but with a young squad and little money to strengthen, they could well be in for a long season. At 7/2 they are certainly worth an interest.

[Darran]

Betway did a superb thing today where you could Tweet them a bet idea and they would price it up. The main two bets I like are Aldershot to finish top half and Halifax to finish bottom half. Also put up Bromley to be top promoted club and Bromley to be top half. A Eastleigh/Grimsby and a Grimsby/Eastleigh forecast and in the North Gainsborough to finish top half. All worth bets I think here is the link https://sports.betway.com/#/soccer/specials/betyourway

[ricay85]

Josh Payne is a significant signing for Eastleigh as he is class player . Big loss for Woking. 13/10 Eastliegh to finish in top 5 - would others on here think its value ?

[bromsgrovegreen]

Kidderminster have slashed their budget big time losing some good players over the last season they will do well to finish anywhere near midtable imo