The football season is back, and to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Football League I will again be previewing all 92 league clubs, predicting their fortunes for the upcoming season.
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| 2011/2012 League 2 Champions - Gillingham |
Team - AFC Wimbledon
Manager - Neal Ardley
Finish Last Season - 20th
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| Jack Midson |
Key Player - Jack Midson - Top scorer in the last two seasons, Midson will be vital if Wimbledon are to secure their football league status.
My Prediction - 18th - The best they can hope for is survival, and Dons fans would more than likely take that if they were offered it now. The fact that they exist as a football club is the most important statistic for AFC Wimbledon.
Team - Accrington Stanley
Manager - James Beattie
Finish Last Season - 18th
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| James Beattie |
Key Player - Ian Dunbavin - The scouse keeper is a bit of a cult hero at the Crown Ground and will be expected to have another consistent season as Stanley look likely to by fighting relegation again.
My Prediction - 19th - Like Wimbledon, Stanley will be happy to secure their Football League status for another year.
Team - Bristol Rovers
Manager - John Ward
Finish Last Season - 14th
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| Ryan Brunt |
Key Player - Ryan Brunt - The talented youngster signed on a permanent deal from Stoke at the turn of the year and will be spearheading the Pirates attack.
My Prediction - 4th - John Ward revitalised Rovers last season catapulting them from the relegation places to finish a respectable 14th and I expect them to finish in a play-off place at the very least. They also have one of the largest squads in League 2 which stands them in good stead for a promotion push.
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| Rory Delap |
Team - Burton Albion
Manager - Gary Rowett
Finish Last Season - 4th
Pre-season Activity - The Brewers have lost arguably their two best players in Calvin Zola and Jacques Maghoma to Abrdeen and Sheffield Wednesday respectably. Their departures see a combined 33 goals leave The Pirelli and Gary Rowett has penned his hopes on Rene Howe to fill their boots, he's certainly large enough. Other signings include Rory Delap who continues to steal a living as a professional footballer with his unique throw ins. Pre-season concluded with a tight 1-0 win over Walsall.
Key Player - Alex MacDonald - Having been on loan from Burnley last season, the stocky forward has joined on a permanent deal and is a creative player who likes to drop between midfield and attack and could be very influential for the Brewers this year.
My Prediction - 8th - I wouldn't completely rule out the play-offs, however replicating last seasons heroics will be hard without Zola and Maghoma to rely on.
Team - Bury
Manager - Kevin Blackwell
Finish Last Season - 22nd (Relegated from League 1)
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| Ashley Grimes |
Key Player - Ashley Grimes - The former Manchester City academy graduate has scored goals for fun at this level for Lincoln and Rochdale and has always had a certain swagger that suggests he should be playing higher.
My Prediction - 10th - An assault on the play-offs is expected, but with a huge overturn of players it may primarily for Blackwell to find his best eleven.
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| Yates and Cureton |
Manager - Mark Yates
Finish Last Season - 5th
Pre-season Activity - Mainstays from the last two season's play-off campaigns Marlon Pack and Kaid Mohamed have both departed Whaddon Road, along with former West Brom and Birmingham midfielder Darren Carter. As far as transfers in, Jamie Cureton at 38 years of age is League 2's Kevin Phillips and is superb business on a free. Ashley Vincent has returned to the Robins from Port Vale and will be looking to replicate the promotion he acheived with Vale last season. Another great bit of business is the signing of Shrewsbury captain Matt Richards, again on a free. They rounded off pre-season with a 3-1 loss to Kidderminster.
Key Player - Ashley Vincent - He was outstanding for Vale last season and is another player who could perform at a higher level.
My Prediction - 1st - Third times the charm for Town, good signings and Mark Yates will be determined as ever to get out of League 2.
Team - Chesterfield
Manager - Paul Cook
Finish Last Season - 8th
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| Marc Richards |
Key Player - Marc Richards - With all the new signings I've chosen a proven goalscorer at this level. With the service he could get 30 plus goals.
My Prediction - 2nd - Cook has put together a superb squad, the only question is of his experience and whether he can take this squad to promotion.
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| Rhys Murphy |
Manager - Wayne Burnett
Finish Last Season - 22nd
Pre-season Activity - .Former Arsenal youngster Rhys Murphy has joined on a free from Telstar and former Birmingham and Torquay centre half Brian Saah has signed after impressing on trial. The biggest departure has been that of centre forward Sam Williams. The Daggers pre-season ended with two defeats to Charlton and Luton Town.
Key Player - Rhys Murphy - The 22 year old will be relied upon for goals as a very inexperienced squad look set to face relegation.
My Prediction - 23rd - Their squad is by far one of the weakest in the division and having only just avoided relegation last term another season of struggle is on the cards.
Team - Exeter City
Manager - Paul Tisdale
Finish Last Season - 10th
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| Sam Parkin |
Key Player - Sam Parkin - The big man has scored goals at this level and higher before, will he be able to replicate it, in my opinion it could go either way for the 32 year old.
My Prediction - 13th - The loss of Cureton is a big one and with basically the same squad from last season, mid-table mediocrity beckons.
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| Jeff Hughes |
Manager - Graham Alexander
Finish Last Season - 13th
Pre-season Activity - Another club who embarked on a recruitment drive at the beginning of the summer and have signed some decent players. Influential midfielders Steven Schumacher and Jeff Hughes have joined, having played in League 1 last season. They have added experience in defence in the form of Stevenage captain Mark Roberts, Southend's Ryan Cresswell and former Manchester City full back Stephen Jordan. The highlight of pre-season was the demolition of Preston in Nathan Pond's testimonial game.
Key Player - Jeff Hughes - Scored vital goals for Notts County last season and I was surprised he wasn't picked up by another league 1 club.
My Prediction - 5th - Under the stewardship of Graham Alexander, who is one of the brightest young managers in the Football League, Fleetwood will almost definitely make the play-offs and I wouldn't rule out automatic promotion. They have tremendous depth across the squad.
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| Colin Cooper |
Manager - Colin Cooper
Finish Last Season - 23rd (Relegated from League 1)
Pre-season Activity - .The most recent singing is that of former Nottingham Forest youngster Nialle Rodney, who played under Cooper at Bradford City. Mr Hartlepool Ritchie Humphreys has left the club after numerous years of service joining Chesterfield. Another departure is that of 27 year old left back Evan Horwood, who has signed for Tranmere Rovers
Key Player - Simon Walton - The former Plymouth man is a classy midfielder and a lot of Pools play will go through him.
My Prediction - 9th - The aim will be play-offs at a minimum, however I feel that having retained many of the team that lost for fun last term, that a consistent winning mentality may be hard to build
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| John McCombe |
Manager - Paul Cox
Finish Last Season - Promoted from the Conference
Pre-season Activity - Birmingham were in early to sign Matt Green from the Stags, who will be missed having scored 56 goals in 92 games in their run to the football league. The best arrival at Field Mill is that of Port Vale centre half John McCombe, having been promoted with Vale last season, his experience will be vital.
Key Player - John McCombe - I'm surprised that Vale let him go to be quite honest, his credentials at this level speak for themselves and he will be key to Mansfield's survival in this league.
My Prediction - 20th - I wouldn't be surprised if they finished mid-table but such is the quality of teams in this league, just outside the relegation positions is where I expect them to be at the end of the season.
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| Kevin Ellison |
Team - Morecambe
Manager - Jim Bentley
Finish Last Season - 16th
Pre-season Activity - The Bury duo of Mark Hughes and Marcus Marshall alongside Bolton youngster Jack Sampson are the stand out signings as Jim Bentley tries to build on last seasons comfortable 16th place finish. Promising centre forward Jordan Burrow has joined Stevenage, with Bentley managing to hold onto the majority of last seasons squad. Pre-season saw the Shrimpers lose to Wigan, Motherwell and Middlesbrough.
Key Player - Kevin Ellison - The 34 year old seems to be maturing with age and with financial restraints preventing the club from signing Danny Carlton, Ellison will again be looked on to provide goals from out wide.
My Prediction - 22nd - Morecambe are always punching above their weight at this level of football and a relegation dogfight beckons.
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| Chris Zebroski |
Manager - Justin Edinburgh
Finish Last Season - Promoted from the Conference
Pre-season Activity - Former Torquay and Cheltenham wide man Chris Zebroski has joined the Welsh side, also moving are the Oxford United pair Harry Worely and Adam Chapman. Justin Edinburgh has so far been able to hang onto his squad from last season. An emphatic 5-2 victory of an Aston Villa XI rounded off an encouraging pre-season for the Exiles
Key Player - Chris Zebroski - It didn't really work out for the forward at Cheltenham, but a consistent run of games and Newport could have one of League 2's best players on their hands.
My Prediction - 21st - Their infancy at this level has seen many tipping them for a straight return to the conference, although I predict a relegation battle they have a good team spirit from last season and that could make all the difference.
Team - Northampton Town
Manager - Aidy Boothroyd
Finish Last Season - 6th
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| ROD |
Key Player - Roy O'Donovan - A big season is expected of the Irishman, having promised so much in his career and not delivering as yet.
My Prediction - 7th - It will be tight but I expect Town to make the play-offs, by if nothing else Aidy's sheer determination to get them over the line and try to avenge last seasons disaster in the Play-off final at Wembley.
Team - Oxford United
Manager - Chris Wilder
Finish Last Season - 9th
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| James Constable |
Pre-season Activity - The big transfer news in Oxfordshire was that of former Reading and Stoke centre forward Dave Kitson, who with the right service should score for fun in this league. However there have been many departures too, including Liam Davis, Tom Craddock, Simon Heslop and Jon-Paul Pittman. A draw with Birmingham was followed by defeat to Oxford City during pre-season.
Key Player - James Constable - Despite Kitsons arrival, Constable remains the top forward at the Kassam and starts this season in search of the all time goal scoring record for the U's
My Prediction - 14th - Like several teams I've placed in mid table, a run for the play-offs is not out of the question, but a good start is imperative.
Team - Plymouth Argyle
Manager - John Sheridan
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| Marvin Morgan |
Pre-season Activity - Forwards Reuben Reid and Marvin Morgan make for an interesting partnership to say the least. They have been joined by the former Watford and Yeovil midfielder Dominic Blizzard. Sheridan has released the deadwood from the squad such as the hapless Warren Feeney. Drawing with MK Dons was the highlight of a mixed pre-season which saw Argyle lose to non-league Bideford
Key Player - Marvin Morgan - He scored 11 goals in Shrewsbury's promotion season a few years back, and he'll be expected to do the same here.
My Prediction - 16th - Argyle fans will just be happy that they have a club to support, an improvement on last season is expected
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| Simon Ferry |
Manager - Guy Whittingham
Finish Last Season - 24th (Relegated from League 1)
Pre-season Activity - A monumental amount of players have arrived at Fratton Park, with the majority of the players in their mid twenties it is fair to say that this is a team of players that have yet to fulfill their potential. Players such as Andy Barcham formerly of Spurs and Simon Ferry formerly of Celtic. The only question that remains is whether or not young star Jed Wallace will remain at the club having been touted by a number of clubs.
Key Player - Patrick Agyemang - The Ghanaian has bags of experience and has scored goals throughout his career, one last chance of glory at Pompey beckons
My Prediction - 17th - A big turnover of players combined with an inexperienced manager doesn't suggest play-offs, which is what the Pompey fans are predicting. For me survival is imperative.
Team - Rochdale
Manager - Keith Hill
Finish Last Season - 12th
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| Keith Hill |
Key Player - Ian Henderson - The former Colchester man is a clever player who should contribute both goals and assists at this level.
My Prediction - 11th - With Hill back at the helm a lot of Dale fans are predicting play-offs, however they say never go back and perhaps getting Dale out of this division for a second time might be too hard a task.
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| Matt Sparrow |
Manager - Brian Laws
Finish Last Season - 21st (Relegated from League 1)
Pre-season Activity - The recapturing of legend Matt Sparrow, a scorer in their 2009 play-off win over Millwall was a shrewd move from Laws who is still rebuilding his reputation as a manger. Other signings include veteran forward Deon Burton, who proved last season he could still perform at this level following promotion with Gillingham. Another veteran forward signed by Laws is that of Chris Iwelumo, the big Scot has moved from club to club in the last three years so some consistent game time could see him replicate his Colchester United form. One big loss from last season is that of winger Mark Duffy who has joined Doncaster Rovers.
Key Player - Matt Sparrow - An influential player who showed his footballing pedigree at Brighton, could see a decent contribution of goals as well.
My Prediction - 3rd - Another combination of good signings and a great depth of squad should see the Iron bounce straight back.
Team - Southend United
Manager - Phil Brown
Finish Last Season - 11th
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| Fat Fred |
Key Player - Freddy Eastwood - Fat Fred has (or should that be had) all the ability in the world and should be scoring 25 plus goals at this level, perhaps Brown can get him back to the level that Southend fans remember.
My Prediction - 8th - A definite challenge for the play-offs is on the cards, and with Brown wanting to play a better style of football a positive season looks on the cards at Roots Hall.
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| Callum Ball |
Manager - Alan Knill
Finish Last Season - 19th
Pre-season Activity - Alan Knill has made some shrewd signings so far this summer, the return of fans favourite Elliot Benyon alongside forwards Callum Ball and Karl Hawley, gives the Gulls an imposing front line. This is all to make up for the loss of Rene Howe, with Ball specially suited to replace Howe (In terms of waistline anyway). Pre-season saw 1-0 victories over Hereford and Weston Super Mare.
Key Player - Karl Hawley - Another player who has played and scored at a higher level.
My Prediction - 15th - Normally play-off certainties, however the majority of that play-off final team have now moved on, as the Gulls embark on a period of transition.
Team - Wycombe Wanderers
Manager - Gareth Ainsworth
Finish Last Season - 15th
.JPG) |
| Gareth Ainsworth |
Key Player - Dean Morgan - The pacy forward will be expected to at least break into double figures this term.
My Prediction - 12th - Ainsworth is still learning the managerial ropes, having only retired last season but with a mixture of youth and experience should a comfortable mid table finish.
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| Richard Cresswell |
Manager - Nigel Worthington
Finish Last Season - 17th
Pre-season Activity - .35 year old centre forward Richard Cresswell is expected to lead the line for Worthington's men. Other signings include Gillingham midfielder Lewis Montrose and Torquay forward Ryan Jarvis. Leaving the Minstermen is the talented central midfielder Matty Blair, which is a big loss. An impressive pre-season saw City draw with Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Leicester City and Blackpool
Key Player - Richard Cresswell - The former Preston and Stoke forwards experience will by key if they are to survive.
My Prediction - 24th - Rock bottom for the Minstermen, who in my opinion have the weakest squad in the league, despite this I will say it will be as tight as last season at the bottom.
Top Scorer - Jamie Cureton 20/1 Sky Bet
Promotion - Cheltenham 9/2 Sky Bet
Relegation - York City 9/1 Sky Bet
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