There's only one place to start when previewing the League Two season - and that's Notts County.
What a weird scenario. I never thought I'd see a League Two club paying a former England manager £40,000 a week to act as their director of football. I kept checking it wasn't April 1st when I read those reports of Sven Goran Eriksson's arrival!
League Two: who will emerge on top?
I do wonder what benefits he can bring (apart from creating a media frenzy) because I don't think he went to many League Two games when he was scouting international players. But somebody knows what they are doing because they have bought well so far with signings such as Lee Hughes and Ben Davies. Part of me is sceptical, but on the other hand you can guarantee Sven won't want to be seen as a joke figure. He is a clever guy with a great record in football, so watch this space. Maybe he will have the last laugh.
Notts County are the bookmakers' favourites, but when I look at League Two I think Rochdale might make it third time lucky. I have a lot of time for Keith Hill, who has his own special way of managing; he lets the players have their say in the way things are done. They play some decent football and after two years in the play-offs I think he deserves some success. Maybe my heart is ruling my head a little bit but it would be nice to see.
Free from the shackles...
Rotherham should also do well. They are free from the shackles of their points deductions and Mark Robins has done a sensational job there in the last couple of years. Last summer they had nothing, but they found a stadium to play in and a training pitch and in that context they had a phenomenal season.
Darlington and Bournemouth will also enjoy playing on a level playing field. It's always hard for managers and players to swallow those penalties, which are beyond their control, but all of those clubs can be proud of the way they handled those problems. None of them let their heads drop and I expect them to acquit themselves well again this year.
Top-seven contenders...
For Shrewsbury, the loss of Grant Holt - who scored a huge percentage of their goals - will be massive. I spoke to Paul Simpson at the Masters Tournament and he was in a buoyant mood, suggesting that they can put last season's play-off disappointment behind them. They still need three or four more bodies - if he's allowed to spend - but he is a good young manager who knows the division very well.
Chesterfield could have a decent season. They'll hope Jack Lester will get among the goals again and Ian Breckin could be a key signing. He has stepped down a couple of divisions and his experience could be instrumental.
Bradford's Stuart McCall is another manager who wears his heart on his sleeve. He tendered his resignation last season, only to return after an outcry from the fans, so he's looking to push for promotion this year. It's nice to see these young managers setting their own targets. He is not lowering expectations, he is putting pressure on himself to be the best he can be - and that's what the best people do in any sport.
Bury played some lovely football last year and came so close to going up, so they need to be buoyed by that. They must think about all of the good things they did - not the fact they fell away towards the end of the season. Since Alan Knill took over 18 months ago they have changed dramatically - and he has said they need to push on and compete at the top end. That's good to see because it wasn't long ago that they were in dire straits and at risk of going under. They are the poor relations of Manchester football and it would be nice to see them at least feature in the play-off picture.
Maybe men...
Dagenham & Redbridge were a good side to watch last year, Paul Benson in particular, but we will have to see what they can achieve this time. They've lost several key players and they could struggle to recover from that.
Peter Jackson at Lincoln is a larger than life character who has battled illness and has come out the other side. It would be an understatement to say he hasn't got the largest budget in the world, but the club have some good youngsters coming through. It's their 125th anniversary this year and they will want to mark that by winning promotion for the first time since 1998. You never know what you're going to get with the inspirational Jacko.
Coming up... coming down
Burton Albion had a huge points lead in the Conference last year, but when Nigel Clough left they found it hard to get over the line. After sailing through 75 per cent of the season, they really stuttered towards the end but I do believe it is a club with a real future in league football. Paul Peschisolido is in charge now and he is a football purist who wants to entertain. They have put a lot if investment into that club and they will want to do well.
Torquay came through a big Wembley final and that experience will be a great benefit. Paul Buckle has said it may take six or seven games to get into the pace of the division and find their feet so he doesn't want to set expectations too high.
Morecambe went on a couple of really good runs during last season. Phil Jevons is a good signing and will bag a few goals and Sammy McIlroy has continued to impress me. The chairman is ambitious but they need to get things right on the pitch first.
Last year's other new boys Aldershot were one of my favourite teams to watch in 2008/09. Gary Waddock will know they conceded too many goals, but he won't change the way he plays and will hope his players have learned their lessons from their first season back in the league. If they do that they can push on because they flirted with the top seven.
I think the relegated teams - Northampton, Crewe, Cheltenham and Hereford - won't need too much time to adjust. It's not like Newcastle going into the Championship, these teams all have players who know about life in League Two.
They should settle quickly, but they will quickly realise that League Two is as competitive as League One. The two divisions are much of a muchness so those four teams could find it hard if they want to go straight back up.
Possible Strugglers...
Grimsby were one of the luckiest teams in League Two last year. They were saved by Luton's points deduction and survived by the skin of their teeth. They are talking about moving to a new stadium, but they need to get it right on the pitch first. Mike Newell is not afraid to speak his mind and he knows they have got to do better this year. They need to start well to avoid putting themselves under pressure. A couple of defeats would get their fans thinking "not again" and their star player Nathan Jarman has already got an injury. That's not a good start.
Port Vale will be hoping that the old warhorse Geoff Horsfield can work some magic. He has been a tremendous servant to the game and Micky Adams has signed him for his experience. Having conquered testicular cancer, he is making positive strides and he will get his first taste of management as Micky's assistant. It's wonderful to see him go on to the next stage of his career.
Barnet are being tipped to struggle, but every time I hear one of their players being interviewed they seem to have a lot of confidence. John O'Flynn is their star player and I know their skipper Micah Hyde is a real competitor so they will be looking for big seasons from them. I just don't know if they'll have enough in a competitive division this year.
Macclesfield and Accrington are the bookies' favourites for relegation, which is no surprise because they probably have the two smallest budgets in the division. I'm sure John Coleman will pin the bookmakers' odds on the dressing room wall to inspire his players, but after a 16th-placed finish last year and the betting scandal that has rocked the club they will really need a couple of early victories to get rid of the negativity that surrounds them.
Keith Alexander is an honest guy and is already preparing himself for a season of struggle. If Macclesfield avoid relegation, it would be seen as a successful season. It might not be nice for fans to read that, but those are the bare facts. It's not pessimism, it's realism.
Comments (49)
Sam Lockwood (Shrewsbury Town fan) says...
the only good team in shropshire will go up with county and bradford playoffs will be chesterfield , bournemouth ,rotherham and torquay
Posted 09:11 12th August 2009
Dean Newbold (Rotherham United fan) says...
" notts county ???" money can,t buy success???. the millers to go up as champions not really bothered who is below us. we have spent too many years with minus points now we start level with all in division 2 and having just signed le fondre could be our season at last ..... " UP THE MILLERS !!!!!"
Posted 22:01 11th August 2009
Katie Smith (Manchester United fan) says...
i think bournemouth will go up this season because the manager is great and the team has great determination. also they have started well in their first game and they also ended well last season. hope the cherries go up !!! :)
Posted 21:17 11th August 2009
Darren Bell (Cheltenham Town fan) says...
to all you deluded lot who say that yr team will win the league u are all so wrong unfortunately for yrselves. we Cheltenham Town FC are gonna romp away with the league and johnstons paint trophy with big names like barry hayles, mike pook and elvis hammond. and not forgetting the player pulling power of martin allen. the league is our for the taking and take we will oh and we are 25-1 to win the league also which i've put £1000 on. oh and grimsby fans singing up the league we go lol when u went 1 nil up lol @ u 1 nil up and u messed it up story of yr season
Posted 20:15 11th August 2009
Ben Jackson (Grimsby Town fan) says...
Lincoln definately for promotion. Fantastic performance on Saturday against a very good Barney team. Lets have a few more in the 'Onion bag'!
Posted 19:46 11th August 2009
Darren Gregory (Port Vale fan) says...
Mid-table at best for us,, sneaking feeling for Bournemouth or Rotherham this year, as for Notts County i,d be daft not to include them due to cash cows in charge
Posted 16:09 11th August 2009
Dean Rogers (Dagenham & Redbridge fan) says...
Watch out for the Daggers everyone doubts them every season but they will get promoted so watch out.
Posted 15:43 11th August 2009
Jack Mitchell (Liverpool fan) says...
crewe will come back up
Posted 14:21 11th August 2009
Craig Pykett (Nottingham Forest fan) says...
For me (and i'm happy to say this) the league is notts countys to win. They have real firepower upfront and look very exciting. To go down i've got Burton Albion, i'd love them to stay up but they only just got the title without clough so i feel survival is beyond their ability without him there.
Posted 08:54 11th August 2009
Rich Beales (Notts County fan) says...
We went all the way last time with Neil Warnock without money! This time we have the cash! You Pies!!!
Posted 23:26 10th August 2009
Daniel Stabs (Notts County fan) says...
The mighty Magpies surely made the best start that any team could wish for. Infact preseason was fantastic and the game against Bradford was amazing. Both teams played fantastic infact Bradford matched County to some extent but a few errors in the defence of Bradford lead to a hammering by the Magpies. They have changed so much, playing fantastic football and i am so excited being a true Notts fan, I cant wait to go to every game and watch some "football". I can say that its the best football ive seen at Meadow Lane for many years and i have been going for 15 years atleast. I could go on and on but ill wrap it up by saying County have the best chance to get to League 1 without many worries and im sure we will get automatic promotion.
Posted 20:38 10th August 2009
Mitchell Ingram (Hereford United fan) says...
25/1 hereford for promotion, i agree thats totally worth a punt
Posted 18:38 10th August 2009
Danny Cosgrove (Crewe Alexandra fan) says...
C'mon the alex... straight back up, then who knows, get the winning mentality back and playoffs next season and straight back to the championship... got the right man for the job... EEE III EEE III EEE III O , UP THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE WE GO.
Posted 08:58 10th August 2009
Luke Ferguson (Rotherham United fan) says...
cmon you millers!! this is our season!!
Posted 15:51 9th August 2009
Bammerz Howe (Lincoln City fan) says...
jacko's going to take lincoln to the top this season with star quality of players we have got. UP THE IMPS bring on every team we play.
Posted 14:31 9th August 2009
Ryan Wallace (Morecambe fan) says...
I firmly believe Morecambe can make a solid pudh for promotion this season. Reaching the play-offs is well within our capabilities. Jevons is an excellent league goalscorer and should get 15+ goals this season. Come on you Shrimps!
Posted 10:39 9th August 2009
Mark From bramley (Rotherham United fan) says...
Watch it, the MILLERS are about!
Posted 23:05 8th August 2009
Scott Russell (Hereford United fan) says...
Its nice to see no one talking about Hereford. No one talked about us the year we got promoted either. Its a new squad mixed with hunger and experience. Our away record in this division is really good, we just need to keep stop dropping points at home. Outsiders for promotion @ 25/1 its worth a punt!!!
Posted 23:54 7th August 2009
Dan Wilkinson (Bournemouth fan) says...
Id just like to say to the people commenting on here etc,i wouldnt count Bournemouth out of the title picture this year. We have a fantastic young passionate manager who cares about the club. A club captain who gives the youngsters drive and a few star players(Brett Pitman,Liam FeeneyDanny Hollands and Shaun Copper. Im not saying that we will win the league,but i do think we could scratch 3rd or maybe come out with a play-off place. Just my views.
Posted 17:09 7th August 2009
Ian Blues (Chelsea fan) says...
Bradford City - some of you are having a laugh!!! Under the present ownership the club is on a one way ticket to nowhere and worse. Watched and loved the club for two decades, and only the stadium is recognisable from the team which beat Chelsea 2-0. Peter - there isn't a single player of your skill and invention in the squad, and you know it - and no wonder on the current wage/transfer budget. When are you cheapskates going to learn, that if you pay peanuts for season tickets, you end up with a bunch of monkeys, and conference football. I'd feel sorry for Macca but how much sympathy can you have for a man who doesn't insist on a pot to p*** in, and pretends he doesn't need one. And, of course, their are a sizeable contingent of fans, don't believe in him anyway - Bradford fans, I don't miss. Listen, your only hope is new owners, to rid yourself of those clowns Julie and Mower, and it wouldn't go amiss to revise views on GR along the way. Without him, you wouldn't even have the memories to keep you warm of a cold Saturday afternoon in January. With luck we'll see you in the Cup...
Posted 13:59 7th August 2009