Retained list

[upthemaggies]

I stand corrected you are right Luton were in this league for five seasons starting from the 09/10 season which was our Munto season.

What’s remarkable is that their journey at this level was similar to ours thus far. They finished 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th before finally finishing top. So like us season on season they slipped and it took them four seasons to get it right before doing it in season five. Perhaps when they finished 7th they realised and it was a reality check that they needed to get out of here before sliding further or had learned exactly what was missing and what was needed to be champions at this level. Perhaps the novelty of being “the team to beat” had wore off. Whatever it was we should take note.

We have finished 3rd, 4th and 5th. If we are following Luton’s path then I would take finishing 7th next season and then win the title the season after. For us I think it all depends how much changes over the summer and who stays or goes as to whether we can jump a season compared to Luton and do it in season four. Without Wrexham we would stand a far better chance in season four than if they do stay down here.

Like Luton I think we might need to accept it’s a slow burner and a long term thing. Someone said it on here you can’t have 20 years of decline and expect it all to be sorted in two or three seasons. It took Luton ten years from being relegated to this level to get back to League One. But look where they are now some 13 years later a championship playoff semi final. This decade might well be about getting us back to our natural level which is mid table league one.

3rd, 5th, 5th for Notts so far. Luton reached the play off final twice in the first three seasons.

How many different managers did Luton have in their 5th tier era (not including caretakers)?
Mick Harford
Richard Money
Gary Brabin
Paul Buckle
John Still

What would have happened if they'd stuck with one of the first four? Maybe they'd have gone up earlier, maybe they would stayed down for longer.