by Jeff » 03 Aug 2011, 18:02
I think its shaping up to me an interesting season in L2 this time around.
A number of clubs who under-achieved last season have made some good acquisitions and look likely to get themselves back up amongst the front runners - I'm looking primarily at Oxford, Northampton and Bradford here. Bristol Rovers will be up there - although I wouldn't like to say whether it'll be top 3, top 7 or top 10, a lot will depend on how the group of players gel. A side like Swindon, well I don't think even their fans know where they will end up. A bit of a random mix of foreign players and live-wire but inexperienced manager could be spectacularly successful or dismal.
Crawley I expect to see up there in the top 3, probably with Shrewsbury and Rotherham - I like the look of the way Shrewsbury have strengthened their side, and Rotherham were very impressive against us on the last day which suggests they have a good core of players.
There is an pretty close mix of sides ranging from lower-playoffs to lower mid-table, and this is where I see us amongst. There are a few other sides undergoing something of a transition. Port vale and Gillingham are big enough sides but haven't massively improved their squad. Gillingham will perhaps challenge for a top 7 place but Vale I'm not so sure about - wafer thin up front and very few additions from a side which slumped badly last season. Crewe have lost the goals of Donaldson and not really strengthed either, but you'd expect them to hold steady in the middle ground along with Southend, who have had a much easier summer this time around and have kept together a solid nucleus of players. AFC Wimbledon I expect to be comfortably around lower mid-table, although a lot will depend on how their young squad of non-league graduates fare in L2. Dagenham have lost key players in Vincelot and Green, but have some quality retained from the last couple of seasons up front like Nurse and Scott, and you can always be sure that John Still with have a London-based Non-league player tucked away somewhere to burst onto the scene
As for sides who could surprise, I'd say that Morecambe could pop up at the right end of the table if they get Jevons and Carlton firing - they have a few decent names in that squad. Cheltenham could also make a big step up - I'd expect to see Daryl Duffy do alright at this level. And Barnet have made some nice signings as well, Dean Brill in goal, Danny Senda (if they keep him fit) as well as retaining Izale McLeod. As for going the other way, I think Aldershot may be in for a struggle. Any side that signs up Anthony Pulis, thinking he can bring something to the party, must be in a dire situation.
Down at the bottom end, Accrington have lost pretty much all their star performers from last season - Gornell, Ryan, McConville, Edwards to name a few - and not really replaced them with any recognised quality aside from Danny Coid. However we say this every year, and a lot depends on what Coleman can work his magic on. Macclesfield are another side who are tipped to perennially struggle - had they not lost Bencherif and Barnett I'd have had them down to surprise, but their success will depend on how their replacements fit in. I can also see Hereford struggling. A lot may depend on whether Frenchman Yoann Arquin has a similar impact as Manset did last season. And finally Plymouth, I think they face a bit of a struggle partly in the sense that nobody is still really sure whats happening regarding ownership. They have signed a couple of half decent players (if Feeney and Kandol deals go through for example) but almost every signing is something of a risk, somebody who the jury is out on. Frenchmen, kids and bit part players at this level don't make for a strong looking squad, particularly one thrown together so late in the day.
I think that covers everyone?!
EDIT - whoops, forgot Burton!!!! A couple of weeks ago I'd have said struggle, but having signed Danny Blanchett, Ross Atkins and a strike partnership of Calvin Zola and Justin Richards - supplied with bullets from Maghoma, Palmer or Cleveland Taylor - they could well spring a surprise, and Saturday could be quite a test.
I think its shaping up to me an interesting season in L2 this time around.
A number of clubs who under-achieved last season have made some good acquisitions and look likely to get themselves back up amongst the front runners - I'm looking primarily at [b]Oxford[/b], [b]Northampton[/b] and [b]Bradford[/b] here. [b]Bristol Rovers[/b] will be up there - although I wouldn't like to say whether it'll be top 3, top 7 or top 10, a lot will depend on how the group of players gel. A side like [b]Swindon[/b], well I don't think even their fans know where they will end up. A bit of a random mix of foreign players and live-wire but inexperienced manager could be spectacularly successful or dismal.
[b]Crawley[/b] I expect to see up there in the top 3, probably with [b]Shrewsbury[/b] and [b]Rotherham[/b] - I like the look of the way Shrewsbury have strengthened their side, and Rotherham were very impressive against us on the last day which suggests they have a good core of players.
There is an pretty close mix of sides ranging from lower-playoffs to lower mid-table, and this is where I see us amongst. There are a few other sides undergoing something of a transition. [b]Port vale[/b] and [b]Gillingham[/b] are big enough sides but haven't massively improved their squad. Gillingham will perhaps challenge for a top 7 place but Vale I'm not so sure about - wafer thin up front and very few additions from a side which slumped badly last season.[b] Crewe[/b] have lost the goals of Donaldson and not really strengthed either, but you'd expect them to hold steady in the middle ground along with[b] Southend[/b], who have had a much easier summer this time around and have kept together a solid nucleus of players. [b]AFC Wimbledon[/b] I expect to be comfortably around lower mid-table, although a lot will depend on how their young squad of non-league graduates fare in L2. [b]Dagenham[/b] have lost key players in Vincelot and Green, but have some quality retained from the last couple of seasons up front like Nurse and Scott, and you can always be sure that John Still with have a London-based Non-league player tucked away somewhere to burst onto the scene
As for sides who could surprise, I'd say that [b]Morecambe[/b] could pop up at the right end of the table if they get Jevons and Carlton firing - they have a few decent names in that squad. [b]Cheltenham[/b] could also make a big step up - I'd expect to see Daryl Duffy do alright at this level. And [b]Barnet[/b] have made some nice signings as well, Dean Brill in goal, Danny Senda (if they keep him fit) as well as retaining Izale McLeod. As for going the other way, I think [b]Aldershot[/b] may be in for a struggle. Any side that signs up Anthony Pulis, thinking he can bring something to the party, must be in a dire situation.
Down at the bottom end, [b]Accrington[/b] have lost pretty much all their star performers from last season - Gornell, Ryan, McConville, Edwards to name a few - and not really replaced them with any recognised quality aside from Danny Coid. However we say this every year, and a lot depends on what Coleman can work his magic on. [b]Macclesfield[/b] are another side who are tipped to perennially struggle - had they not lost Bencherif and Barnett I'd have had them down to surprise, but their success will depend on how their replacements fit in. I can also see [b]Hereford[/b] struggling. A lot may depend on whether Frenchman Yoann Arquin has a similar impact as Manset did last season. And finally [b]Plymouth[/b], I think they face a bit of a struggle partly in the sense that nobody is still really sure whats happening regarding ownership. They have signed a couple of half decent players (if Feeney and Kandol deals go through for example) but almost every signing is something of a risk, somebody who the jury is out on. Frenchmen, kids and bit part players at this level don't make for a strong looking squad, particularly one thrown together so late in the day.
I think that covers everyone?!
EDIT - whoops, forgot [b]Burton[/b]!!!! A couple of weeks ago I'd have said struggle, but having signed Danny Blanchett, Ross Atkins and a strike partnership of Calvin Zola and Justin Richards - supplied with bullets from Maghoma, Palmer or Cleveland Taylor - they could well spring a surprise, and Saturday could be quite a test.
