D4 Promotion Push

Here’s the top of the D4 table with six games to play:

With 60 points needed to “guarantee” a playoff place, 67 points for the top three, and 73 for the title, it actually looks like none of the teams are likely to reach the points totals that would “guarantee” those finishing positions this season. Whether that’s down to a lack of quality or increased competition, or a combination, I don’t know, but it makes for an exciting run-in.

Leaders Brugge have a four point cushion and are looking for a second successive promotion and a return to D3 after seven seasons in the lower divisions under long-time boss Davy V.

Sevilla are on the long road back to D1, and who better to lead them there than the old dinosaur himself Mr TRX. Only the Mckenzies, Guri and ALB have won more division titles than Malcolm!

Olympiacos have made good progress under Master T over the last four seasons.

Like the three clubs above, Fiorentina are nother team doing well under a progressive manager Andy Martin. They will hope their run to the Cup Final won’t hinder their promotion chances. Fiore have one of (if not) the most unfortunate histories in Top 100 with four successive relegations in S7 to S10 that saw them plummet from D1 to D5.

Lille have been there or thereabouts in six of the last eight seasons, including promotion in S19. Have they got what it takes to go up and stay up?

CSKA are another progressive team, and like Lille had a recent promotion followed by immediate relegation. In fact, CSKA have had five promotions in their history, four of which have been followed by relegation the next season (other other time relegation came the season after next).

Another Moscow club Lokomotiv are really doing better than they hoped for at this stage. Promotion might be too soon?

It’s hard to imagine Wolfsburg in D1, but that’s where they spent S6 and S7. In fact, the once mighty Wolves had never been as low as D4 until The Special Gyan guided them there in S14. The club got a severe nosebleed under the glory days of Niall Taylor, who took them to two titles and up to D2 in three seasons.

Finally, Monaco have had an up and down career in Top 100 with four promotions and six relegations in their 21 seasons to date.

I think D4 is too close to call and a lot can change in the last six games. None of the teams look to have the consistency or quality to dominate, and luck will play a big part in who goes up and who misses out.