EOS Premier Division 2020-21

[newcastle broon]

2 hours ago, Gordon EF said:

Has something happened at Whitehill Welfare to put them in to such a horrendous freefall? It was only a few years ago they were a really solid mid-table LL side. I get that team dropping out the LL might be more likely to freefall given it's probably easier to avoid relegation in the LL than the EoS Premier but losing every game so far, they look like they're sinking without a trace.

Has increased competition for players in the Edinburgh & Lothians area dragged them down the pecking order.

Where do you want to start?

A clusterfcuk of managerial appointments for around the past 5 years that have ended in disaster.

A changing of the old guard,guys that had over 100 years experience/service shared between them and well known around the eos circles standing down for one reason or another.

An ultimatum from the SFA for 30k + for floodlights when you're on crowds of less than 100 to get within a matter of months or lose license didn't help either.

Dropping out the LL was the biggest disaster for me to which like you say its probably easier to avoid relegation than the eos.

This season looks like another car crash but there is hope wi new manager in place just a few weeks ago,who knows the place inside out having spent nearly 10 years as a player there,whether it be the premier next season or realistically and hopefully a push for promotion from the 1st remains to be seen.

But last but not least as wi most clubs you need hard working volunteers to get by and the cries for help from the club are currently falling on deaf ears.

Any willing helpers or sugar daddies oot there contact the club. 

Mon the Welfare 

 

[Gordon EF]

5 minutes ago, newcastle broon said:

Where do you want to start?

A clusterfcuk of managerial appointments for around the past 5 years that have ended in disaster.

A changing of the old guard,guys that had over 100 years experience/service shared between them and well known around the eos circles standing down for one reason or another.

An ultimatum from the SFA for 30k + for floodlights when you're on crowds of less than 100 to get within a matter of months or lose license didn't help either.

Dropping out the LL was the biggest disaster for me to which like you say its probably easier to avoid relegation than the eos.

This season looks like another car crash but there is hope wi new manager in place just a few weeks ago,who knows the place inside out having spent nearly 10 years as a player there,whether it be the premier next season or realistically and hopefully a push for promotion from the 1st remains to be seen.

But last but not least as wi most clubs you need hard working volunteers to get by and the cries for help from the club are currently falling on deaf ears.

Any willing helpers or sugar daddies oot there contact the club. 

Mon the Welfare 

 

Thanks for that. At least, as you say, a bit of silver lining might be if you do end up relegated, you should at least be competitive in the new EoS second tier next season. Unlike another unnamed club currently in freefall that rhymes with reekin' that could have a good bit more to plummet.

[Ginaro]

6 hours ago, Gordon EF said:

Has something happened at Whitehill Welfare to put them in to such a horrendous freefall? It was only a few years ago they were a really solid mid-table LL side. I get that team dropping out the LL might be more likely to freefall given it's probably easier to avoid relegation in the LL than the EoS Premier but losing every game so far, they look like they're sinking without a trace.

Has increased competition for players in the Edinburgh & Lothians area dragged them down the pecking order.

They were solid mid-table in the first couple of LL seasons, however come 2016-17 it was a more competitive mid-lower end of the table. WW were 8th but only 3 points above 13th, and in 14/15/16th were three clubs who are no longer in the league (Hawick, Selkirk, Preston). Others improved while WW didn't, though they were also unfortunate finishing 15th in the only season so far where two teams have been relegated, due to the Cove/Berwick play-off situation.

Arguably the EOS Premier is now more competitive overall than the LL so it's no surprise to see relegated LL teams struggle. Probably doesn't help that all the clubs around them are in the pyramid and Scottish Cup - bit different to when they were the only Midlothian senior club.

Edited December 31, 2020 by Ginaro

[HibeeJibee]

Newtongrange and Musselburgh landed important wins. Whitehill recorded their first point.

Newtongrange Star 3-2 Penicuik Athletic

Musselburgh Athletc 4-2 Blackburn United
Crossgates Primrose P-P Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts

Sauchie P-P Tynecastle
Whitehill Welfare 1-1 Dunbar United
Musselburgh Athletic P-P Tranent
Penicuik P-P Newtongrange




New Year derbies in store for coming days, although Crossgates-HofB is already frozen off and Camelon are on cup duty.

(Sat) Crossgates Primrose P-P Hill of Beath Hawthorn
(Sat) Sauchie v Jeanfield Swifts
Blackburn = 'odd team'

(Sun) Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Dundonald Bluebell
(Sun) Linlithgow Rose v Broxburn Athletic

(Mon) Tynecastle v Lothian Thistle HV

(Tue) Whitehill Welfare v Dunbar United

[Casey Jones]

37 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:

Newtongrange and Musselburgh landed important wins. Whitehill recorded their first point.

Newtongrange Star 3-2 Penicuik Athletic

Musselburgh Athletc 4-2 Blackburn United
Crossgates Primrose P-P Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts

Sauchie P-P Tynecastle
Whitehill Welfare 1-1 Dunbar United
Musselburgh Athletic P-P Tranent
Penicuik P-P Newtongrange




New Year derbies in store for coming days, although Crossgates-HofB is already frozen off and Camelon are on cup duty.

(Sat) Crossgates Primrose P-P Hill of Beath Hawthorn
(Sat) Sauchie v Jeanfield Swifts
Blackburn = 'odd team'

(Sun) Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Dundonald Bluebell
(Sun) Linlithgow Rose v Broxburn Athletic

(Mon) Tynecastle v Lothian Thistle HV

(Tue) Whitehill Welfare v Dunbar United

Hello HJ.

As opposed to HappyNew Year, I hope it is a Happier New Year in 2021 than it was in 2020.

Thank you for all your contributions on this forum this and last season. In my mind, probably the best input details of this forum.

Cheers - CJ

[RedLichty]

On 29/12/2020 at 21:30, HibeeJibee said:

Excellent stream of Dunbar-Whitehill tonight.

Hosts largely dominated, scored with 20mins left, but visitor equalised late-on.

First point of season for Whitehill.

Shocker of a result for Dunbar.  They have some decent players, but this performance surely makes them serious relegation contenders with 5 down?  Things seemed to be looking up under John Coughlin but this must be the worst result of the season so far.

[Blowin In the Wind]

What are the chances of the Lithgae v Broxburn game going ahead?  Is there snow on the pitch?  I know the forecast is for overnight frost today and tomorrow.

[HTG]

22 minutes ago, Blowin In the Wind said:

What are the chances of the Lithgae v Broxburn game going ahead?  Is there snow on the pitch?  I know the forecast is for overnight frost today and tomorrow.

Pitch has a covering of snow on it just now. 

[newcastle broon]

43 minutes ago, RedLichty said:

Shocker of a result for Dunbar.  They have some decent players, but this performance surely makes them serious relegation contenders with 5 down?  Things seemed to be looking up under John Coughlin but this must be the worst result of the season so far.

Why a shocker Whitehill have improved under the new management and just a pity the league didnt start 8 or 9 games ago otherwise they might no be so far adrift. A couple of narrow defeats by Haws whereas I believe they (Haws)  pumped yous as well? 

I'd say yer worse result of the season was a 6 0 defeat at Camelon ?

Not sure 5 down is confirmed either but yes yous are one of potentially 5 contenders to go down. 

 

Edited January 1, 2021 by newcastle broon

[Ali_Wee_Jag]

I’d been hearing maybe 6 down depending on how things go in other leagues. However, surely we should be told how many down other than a seemingly movable number that started off as 4, then 5 and now possibly 6. How do clubs know where is safe? Play for top half just to avoid relegation?!

[FairWeatherFan]

4 minutes ago, Ali_Wee_Jag said:

I’d been hearing maybe 6 down depending on how things go in other leagues. However, surely we should be told how many down other than a seemingly movable number that started off as 4, then 5 and now possibly 6. How do clubs know where is safe? Play for top half just to avoid relegation?!

4 down from the Premier and 2 up from the EoS Conferences are the only things guaranteed.

The reason there's the potential for further relegation is (1) The SPFL Play-off. (2) The Lowland League Play-off. (3) The Lowland League presumably going back down to 16 clubs for 2021-22 (4) Which league any Lowland League club would be relegated to. 

 

 

 

 

[Ginaro]

1 hour ago, Ali_Wee_Jag said:

I’d been hearing maybe 6 down depending on how things go in other leagues. However, surely we should be told how many down other than a seemingly movable number that started off as 4, then 5 and now possibly 6. How do clubs know where is safe? Play for top half just to avoid relegation?!

The only thing that's known is that the EOS Premier will have 16 teams next season and 2 First Division teams will be promoted. Unlike in the Juniors, being part of the pyramid means what happens above has an affect, as additional teams might need to be relegated to get back to 16 teams.

Worst case, but the most unlikely scenario, would be 7 teams relegated from the EOS Premier. If Brora beat Albion Rovers, the WOS champion gets promoted, LL reverts to 16 teams and relegates 3 EOS teams (VoL, Ed Uni, A.N. Other), First Division champions promoted - the EOS Premier would have 23 teams so 7 would need to be relegated.

We'll know by the end of February whether any WOS clubs will have a licence, which would rule out that part of the scenario. Also looks unlikely that more than 2 East teams will finish at the bottom of the LL. So as it stands, if Kelty beat Brechin and Tranent get promoted then only 4 EOS Premier teams will be relegated.

[GordonS]

7 hours ago, Blowin In the Wind said:

What are the chances of the Lithgae v Broxburn game going ahead?  Is there snow on the pitch?  I know the forecast is for overnight frost today and tomorrow.

I haven't seen the pitch but I live round the corner and the grass around here is almost all still covered. There was a thaw on Hogmanay, a freeze overnight, a little thaw and now tonight there's a hard freeze. It was minus 3.5°C when we got back at 11pm. Looking at the forecast I would be surprised if the areas of the pitch that are in shade could thaw out before Sunday afternoon, but it's possible, especially if they got covers out.

[newcastle broon]

7 hours ago, Ginaro said:

The only thing that's known is that the EOS Premier will have 16 teams next season and 2 First Division teams will be promoted. Unlike in the Juniors, being part of the pyramid means what happens above has an affect, as additional teams might need to be relegated to get back to 16 teams.

Worst case, but the most unlikely scenario, would be 7 teams relegated from the EOS Premier. If Brora beat Albion Rovers, the WOS champion gets promoted, LL reverts to 16 teams and relegates 3 EOS teams (VoL, Ed Uni, A.N. Other), First Division champions promoted - the EOS Premier would have 23 teams so 7 would need to be relegated.

We'll know by the end of February whether any WOS clubs will have a licence, which would rule out that part of the scenario. Also looks unlikely that more than 2 East teams will finish at the bottom of the LL. So as it stands, if Kelty beat Brechin and Tranent get promoted then only 4 EOS Premier teams will be relegated.

Could do wi confirmation what part of the pyramid Brechin are gonnae play in should they finish bottom though. 

Absolute piss take and by still not knowing  makes a mockery of the whole pyramid system. 

[newcastle broon]

6 hours ago, GordonS said:

There was a thaw on Hogmanay, a freeze overnight, a little thaw and now tonight there's a hard freeze. It was minus 3.5°C when we got back at 11pm. 

Hope you haven't been breaking tier 4 rules and partying Gordon  

[FairWeatherFan]

16 minutes ago, newcastle broon said:

Could do wi confirmation what part of the pyramid Brechin are gonnae play in should they finish bottom though. 

Absolute piss take and by still not knowing  makes a mockery of the whole pyramid system. 

All the same rules are in place. They'd be relegated to the Highland League. After the attempt last year to change the rules failed, i'm not sure anyone is trying at this point.

Their fans seem resigned to the Highland League, which is why they are simply focusing on not finishing bottom. With 2/3rds of the season to play they've got plenty of chances to avoid relegation.

[newcastle broon]

10 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said:

All the same rules are in place. They'd be relegated to the Highland League. After the attempt last year to change the rules failed, i'm not sure anyone is trying at this point.

Their fans seem resigned to the Highland League, which is why they are simply focusing on not finishing bottom. With 2/3rds of the season to play they've got plenty of chances to avoid relegation.

That's fair enough but boundary lines still seem a major talking point for the pyramid especially EoSFL circles. 

[FairWeatherFan]

11 minutes ago, newcastle broon said:

That's fair enough but boundary lines still seem a major talking point for the pyramid especially EoSFL circles. 

That's more about what's happening below the HL/LL than above, with the issue of Tayside clubs trying to access the pyramid.

The Angus SPFL clubs exerted whatever influence they had to try and get it changed in the past year and failed to get it altered. There's not been any rumblings to suggest it's being attempted again this year.

[8MileBU]

On 31/12/2020 at 13:03, Gordon EF said:

Has something happened at Whitehill Welfare to put them in to such a horrendous freefall? It was only a few years ago they were a really solid mid-table LL side. I get that team dropping out the LL might be more likely to freefall given it's probably easier to avoid relegation in the LL than the EoS Premier but losing every game so far, they look like they're sinking without a trace.

Has increased competition for players in the Edinburgh & Lothians area dragged them down the pecking order.

That’s what I’d assumed Whitehill’s slump was down to, basically the LL getting stronger through the likes of Kelty and Bonnyrigg. Didn’t realise there’d been as much going on like the stuff @newcastle broonhas listed below.

On 31/12/2020 at 15:42, newcastle broon said:

Where do you want to start?

A clusterfcuk of managerial appointments for around the past 5 years that have ended in disaster.

A changing of the old guard,guys that had over 100 years experience/service shared between them and well known around the eos circles standing down for one reason or another.

An ultimatum from the SFA for 30k + for floodlights when you're on crowds of less than 100 to get within a matter of months or lose license didn't help either.

Dropping out the LL was the biggest disaster for me to which like you say its probably easier to avoid relegation than the eos.

This season looks like another car crash but there is hope wi new manager in place just a few weeks ago,who knows the place inside out having spent nearly 10 years as a player there,whether it be the premier next season or realistically and hopefully a push for promotion from the 1st remains to be seen.

But last but not least as wi most clubs you need hard working volunteers to get by and the cries for help from the club are currently falling on deaf ears.

Any willing helpers or sugar daddies oot there contact the club. 

Mon the Welfare 

Some of the issues you’ve highlighted here are actually fairly common in the lower leagues and it says a lot for the hard work put in at several clubs with ageing committees. It’s a tough one for a lot of clubs to attract a younger generation to get involved with committees with many areas younger generations have to up sticks and move for work reasons etc and a lot of new housing attracting incomers with no links or ties to their “local” side.

On 31/12/2020 at 19:59, Ginaro said:

They were solid mid-table in the first couple of LL seasons, however come 2016-17 it was a more competitive mid-lower end of the table. WW were 8th but only 3 points above 13th, and in 14/15/16th were three clubs who are no longer in the league (Hawick, Selkirk, Preston). Others improved while WW didn't, though they were also unfortunate finishing 15th in the only season so far where two teams have been relegated, due to the Cove/Berwick play-off situation.

Arguably the EOS Premier is now more competitive overall than the LL so it's no surprise to see relegated LL teams struggle. Probably doesn't help that all the clubs around them are in the pyramid and Scottish Cup - bit different to when they were the only Midlothian senior club.

I would agree with this and the same thing was the case last season. It’s been said a hundred times on here in recent seasons but I think eventually over the next half a dozen or so years it’s almost a given that the LL will mostly resemble what was the Juniors. 

[Stag Nation]

1 hour ago, newcastle broon said:

Could do wi confirmation what part of the pyramid Brechin are gonnae play in should they finish bottom though. 

Absolute piss take and by still not knowing  makes a mockery of the whole pyramid system. 

Who do you want to confirm it? The rules haven't changed, and AFAIK there is no proposal to do so.

No one is taking the piss, all you have is some speculation on the forums about the Tayside problem.