League One 1-24 prediction 24-25

[masi51]

Apologies for the ramble here!

Birmingham City
Rotherham United
--------------------------
Bolton Wanderers
Peterborough United
Charlton Athletic
Huddersfield Town
-------------------------
Blackpool
Barnsley
Lincoln City
Leyton Orient
Bristol Rovers
Stockport County
Wrexham
Mansfield Town
Wigan Athletic
Wycombe Wanderers
Exeter City
Cambridge United
Shrewsbury Town
Reading
--------------------------
Northampton Town
Burton Albion
Stevenage
Crawley Town

Firstly, us. Remains to be seen whether we end the summer window with the squad as strong as the end of last season, but we have more depth in central midfield and attacking areas this time round, which was our achilles heel last season. We have a huge Joe Taylor sized hole in our attack and no-one currently capable of scoring the number of goals he’d score over a full season or providing the sort of threat he did in behind. The loss of Alex Mitchell will depend on how well Montsma’s knee holds up. I’ve put us 9th, which could be a place or two too high if we don’t manage to find another Joe Taylor type loan in what remains of the window.

Evans + money = a successful season, so Rotherham will be right up there as a mainstay member of the ’Championship and L1 yo-yo club’.

Charlton will be the Oxford of this season and go from being awful last to decent this. They look full of physicality and muscle so I don’t think they’ll be bullied, and Jones should improve them significantly.

Birmingham have been eye catching with their signings and you’d back the calibre of their signings to see them through regardless of the inexperience of the manager. It’s Football Manager stuff across there.

Duff will keep Huddersfield ticking over and be solid if unspectacular like he was at Barnsley, although I can’t say their transfer business has stood out to me so it might be a little tricker initially (didn’t he have a slow start with Barnsley?).

Posh are always in and around it, likewise Blackpool with Critchley (although he’ll be hoping that isn’t such a disparity between their home and away form next season) and Bolton could probably do Evatt making them slightly less streaky next season. Always get the feeling they’re either going to win 8 on the spin or only win 2 in 8 – they drew far too many in the second half of last season.

Barnsley seem to have been quiet, I haven’t noticed them at all and I think it’s a big opportunity for Clarke. Whether it’s too big a job for him, time will tell but gut feeling for me is that it isn’t one that’s going to end in promotion.

Stockport, Mansfield and Wrexham have enough money and/or L1 managerial experience to steer clear of trouble but I think it’ll be a big ask for any of those to sneak into the PO’s. Coming top of the congested mid-table pack like we did a couple of seasons ago in that 9th-11th area is probably the aim and will be seen as a very decent season. I don’t know enough about Mansfield to comment on them but Wrexham seem like they have work to do across the front line and Stockport’s midfield looks like ours in 2021/22 i.e. in the main technical players with little physicality with Diamond, Fiorini and Bate but Mellon should prove to be a solid signing up front. For ease, I’ve thrown them all together because I think they’re much of a much to my now untrained L2 eye.

That mid-table pack will be tightly contested as normal, it’ll be interesting to see if Bloomfield kicks on with Wycombe after a decent first season.

Difficult to call Reading with their issues because as far as I’m aware, they haven’t signed anyone this summer? Seles did a good job there under the circumstances but if they don’t get things sorted prior to the end of August then they might be playing catch up. I’ve put them where I have through their current circumstance really.

Been a huge turnover of boardroom, staff and players at Burton that it’s so difficult to call what on earth is going to happen there! It’ll take some getting used to if they don’t sack the manager when relegation looms, sign a load of new players, have a squad of 40 and survive!

Wigan ended up having a comfortable season in 2023/24 but haven’t they had another budget cut this season (or at least having to shed the high earners?)? Probably another season of consolidating, I can’t see them troubling the PO’s.

Orient had similar issues in the second half of the season to what we did in the first i.e. attacking options injured and struggling to create.

Bristol Rovers had a pretty stinking second half of the season, I’m not sure whether that was down to injuries, poor squad, Taylor not really getting a reaction from them or a combination of all. They seem to have spent a bit, which doesn’t necessarily result in a good season but I fancy them to improve on last.

Stevenage have been a bit risky in handing the job to Revell. You’d imagine it’ll see a continuation of their style last season, but I suspect their form this season will be more akin to their second half of last season rather than the first.

I worry for Shrewsbury, something seems off there. I’ve could have put them bottom four but Hurst loves a 1-0 win and usually runs a tight ship defensively, which might be enough but I’m not fully convinced on him or them at the minute.

I’m getting second season syndrome from L1/L2’s yo-yo club Northampton who seem to be relying heavily on Brady after losing a couple of important players in the close season.

Exeter, like Cambridge (Shrewsbury and Burton also), need to find a way to score more goals otherwise they’re not going to improve much on last season. You can’t be averaging less than a goal a game and in three out of the four sides, be outscored by the relegated sides. There’s something about Caldwell and Monk that I’m just not a fan of, so I’ve probably put them down there due to that rather than any strong footballing views on them!

I think if Crawley play as open and expansive in L1 as they did in the L2 PO’s, then they’ll be in for a few hidings. Throw in the squad being picked off and some fairly low key signings (which admittedly they did and overachieved last season), then I’m not sure they’re going to survive.

Great outlook on your thoughts......Concerning us we lost the complete spine of our team in Feb which cost us
though i am not saying automatics also we had 3 lwb playing as they all got injured at some point
Evatt has addressed that by bringing a complete spine in as back up as well as a proven lge1 goalkeeper as back up without losing a single player from our first 11 apart from Maghoma who has returned to Brentford

 

[SVH]

Birmingham City

Rotherham United

--------------------------

Charlton Athletic (P)

Huddersfield Town

Peterborough United

Bolton Wanderers

-------------------------

Lincoln City

Wigan Athletic

Blackpool

Reading

Wycombe Wanderers

Barnsley

Stockport County

Wrexham

Leyton Orient

Mansfield Town

Exeter City

Stevenage

Bristol Rovers

Cambridge United

--------------------------

Burton Albion

Northampton Town

Shrewsbury Town

Crawley Town

 

[Luke Imp]

No idea who half those people are tbh!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1820830641790800347

 

[Floreat Salopia]

1) Birmingham
2) Rotherham

3) Bolton
4) Huddersfield
5) Peterborough
6) Blackpool

7) Wigan
8) Charlton
9) Wycombe
10) Barnsley
11) Stockport
12) Lincoln
13) Wrexham
14) Bristol Rovers
15) Burton
16) Shrewsbury
17) Leyton Orient
18) Reading
19) Mansfield
20) Exeter

21) Stevenage
22) Cambridge
23) Crawley
24) Northampton

 

[LancashireTrotters]

1) Birmingham
2) Bolton
——————————————
3) Huddersfield
4) Rotherham
5) Peterborough
6) Stockport
——————————————
7) Blackpool
8) Charlton
9) Wigan
10) Barnsley
11) Lincoln
12) Wrexham
13) Leyton Orient
14) Mansfield
15) Wycombe
16) Reading
17) Bristol Rovers
18) Burton
19) Stevenage
20) Northampton
——————————————
21) Exeter
22) Cambridge
23) Shrewsbury
24) Crawley

 

[SVH]

No idea who half those people are tbh!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1820830641790800347

21st should be red and our average should be 21, not 22. Shambles.

 

[Kernow_gas]

Birmingham

Huddersfield

Bolton

Rotherham

Barnsley

Peterborough

Blackpool

Wigan

Charlton

Bristol R

Wrexham

Stockport

Lincoln

Reading

Wycombe

Exeter

Leyton Orient

Burton

Cambridge

Mansfield

Stevenage

Northampton

Shrewsbury

Crawley

 

[Don Tonberry]

I'd like to think I've still got some fair knowledge about this division so I'll give this a go.

1) Birmingham
2) Rotherham
---------------------
3) Huddersfield
4) Wigan
5) Bolton
6) Charlton
---------------------
7) Lincoln
8) Peterborough
9) Blackpool
10) Stockport
11) Reading
12) Wrexham
13) Barnsley
14) Leyton Orient
15) Burton
16) Mansfield
17) Cambridge
18) Northampton
19) Stevenage
20) Wycombe
---------------------
21) Bristol Rovers
22) Exeter
23) Shrewsbury
24) Crawley

 

[Imp in Branston]

1. Birmingham City
2. Huddersfield Town
——————————
3. Bolton Wanderers
4. Rotherham United
5. Charlton Athletic
6. Peterborough United
——————————
7. Blackpool
8. Lincoln City
9. Wrexham
10. Wigan Athletic
11. Stockport County
12. Barnsley
13. Wycombe Wanderers
14. Leyton Orient
15. Bristol Rovers
16. Reading
17. Mansfield Town
18. Exeter City
19. Burton Albion
20. Stevenage
——————————
21. Northampton Town
22. Cambridge United
23. Shrewsbury Town
24. Crawley Town

 

[ForzaCounty]

It's been quite a while since I've seen any 3rd Division football but I know you're all anxious to get some real expertise on this thread, so here's how the table will definitely finish

1. Rotherham
2. Birmingham
-----------------
3. Bolton
4. Huddersfield
5. Posh
6. Charlton
-----------------
7. Barnsley
8. Blackpool
9. Wigan
10. Wycombe
11. Reading
12. Stockport County
13. Lincoln
14. Wrexham
15. Bristol R
16. Orient
17. Mansfield
18. Exeter
19. Stevenage
20. Cambridge
------------------
21. Northampton
22. Shrewsbury
23. Burton
24. Crawley

 

[northstandexile]

Here is my offerering.

1) Birmingham
2) Huddersfield
3) Rotherham
4) Peterborough
5) Barnsley
6) Bolton
7) Stockport
8) Wrexham
9) Blackpool
10) Wigan
11) Mansfield
12) Bristol Rovers
13) Wycombe
14) Charlton
15) Lincoln
16) Leyton Orient
17) Reading
18) Burton
19) Exeter
20) Shrewsbury
21) Cambridge
22) Northampton
23) Stevenage
24) Crawley

 

[masi51]

Not going to do a 1-24 Four spots at the top Guaranteed anyone with aspirations of going up are playing for two places. Down at the bottom i see two who will struggle so again another two spots to avoid. Rest going through the motions.

1 Birmingham
2 Bolton
3 Rotherham
4 Huddersfield
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23 Northampton
24 Crawley

 

[Pedlar]

So the general consensus is that (we) Crawley Town are down. We have the lowest budget in the league but looking forward to proving the bookmakers and the experts in this group wrong. At least we have had the warning signs that we are in trouble, lets hope that there will be 4 teams unaware that that are in for a tough time.
Good luck everyone for a great season.

 

[masi51]

So the general consensus is that (we) Crawley Town are down. We have the lowest budget in the league but looking forward to proving the bookmakers and the experts in this group wrong. At least we have had the warning signs that we are in trouble, lets hope that there will be 4 teams unaware that that are in for a tough time.
Good luck everyone for a great season.

I for one hope you have a decent season....I like your manager and always love a giant killing story, but it will be a hard slog for you. Faal may get you enough goals to survive but the little i have seen of him he will have had to improved. My thoughts are you will be cut off after Christmas

 

[Pedlar]

I for one hope you have a decent season....I like your manager and always love a giant killing story, but it will be a hard slog for you. Faal may get you enough goals to survive but the little i have seen of him he will have had to improved. My thoughts are you will be cut off after Christmas

What is the required number of points for safety this season?

 

[Bartonyellow]

What is the required number of points for safety this season?

What are the lottery numbers for Saturday night?

 

[masi51]

What is the required number of points for safety this season?

one more point than the team in 21st

 

[northstandexile]

What is the required number of points for safety this season?

54 points is generally guaranteed safety, but most years it is less than that number.

 

[Bartonyellow]

54 points is generally guaranteed safety, but most years it is less than that number.

Hence my flippant reply. We don’t know. It could be 45 this season, might be 55. It will depend on so many factors.

 

[chief]

No idea who half those people are tbh!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1820830641790800347

Not looking good for the Slops.

Not sure how SixPointerTom comes to that much daylight between ourselves and Stockport.

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

Not going to do a 1-24 Four spots at the top Guaranteed anyone with aspirations of going up are playing for two places. Down at the bottom i see two who will struggle so again another two spots to avoid. Rest going through the motions.

1 Birmingham
2 Bolton
3 Rotherham
4 Huddersfield
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23 Northampton
24 Crawley

Bloody hell, is Tom Eaves really that bad?

 

[Millerbri]

Bloody hell, is Tom Eaves really that bad?

If you're going to struggle, he probably won't save you.
He will however score against us because he usually seems to.

 

[masi51]

Bloody hell, is Tom Eaves really that bad?

He was for us but that was way back when everything was in black and white he may have improved

 

[Millerbri]

Lots of people are a lot more confident in my team than I am.

When we were relegated on previous occasions, we kept together players who were not quite Championship quality but very good in this league.

This time we will start with probably only about 5 from last season.

We've lost one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship and neither Dawson or Phillips are close to being at Johansson's level.
The places in midfield and defensive positions are certainly still up for grabs with no-one really cementing their place so far.

We should be ok with a forward line of JCH, Nombe, Hungbo and Huggill with Osong and Holmes as subs and Andre Green available from around October.

Don't get me wrong, we have some good players, but I think a play off spot would be decent this time around.

 

[The Terminator]

1. Birmingham City - They will either win it at canter or struggle
2. Bolton Wanderers - Like the look of their squad again.
----------------------------------------------
3. Huddersfield Town
4. Rotherham United
5. Peterborough United
6. Charlton Athletic
-----------------------------------------------
7. Blackpool
8. Wycombe Wanderers
9. Wrexham
10. Stockport County
11. Lincoln City
12. Barnsley - Cutting their cloth is seems, cannot see them doing well under Clarke.
13. Wigan Athletic - Again Cutting their cloth, big hitters gone and a young side.
14. Bristol Rovers
15. Mansfield Town
16. Stevenage
17. Leyton Orient
18. Northampton Town
19. Exeter City
20. Cambridge United
----------------------------------------------------
21. Reading - First XI is ok, but such a small squad due the owership issues.
22. Shrewsbury Town - Can't see where the goals will come from
23. Burton Albion - They cannot be as bad as they was last season, but I don't rate Mark Robinson
24. Crawley Town - Based on the fact their team from last season has been disbanded

As always any club form 14 downwards could easily get sucked into a relegation battle and go down if they get hit hard with injuries or their signings don't work out and do the business.

We've got a better squad overall this season and have some better backups, especially in defence.

But if Dan Agyei and Charlie Kelman get injured we will struggle to maintain an impact up front, last season missing chances cost us a higher placed finish.

 

[Less than a mile (WAFC)]

54 points is generally guaranteed safety, but most years it is less than that number.

been checking have you

 

[dannylad01]

Will be completely wrong but here goes!

A lot of people have Shrewsbury down for relegation this season. Being realistic I see a tough season for us too, and would bite your hand off for 20th. The hope is we can be solid enough and pick up enough points. We just can't compete with the money being thrown about at now. We've taken a gamble on players coming off long term injuries, so hopefully they'll come good and stay fit (Savin and Rossiter mainly).

I think Birmingham could have a slow start but will win the league at a canter. Rotherham will be up there (they always are in League 1), as will Huddersfield.

Not totally convinced by Bolton. Having seen them over the last couple of years I don't think they'll have enough to be in the automatics. Peterborough will also be in the play offs.

Can see Stevenage and Northampton suffering the 2nd season syndrome.

Burton's new owners have certainly invested in players. Not sure their signings would pull them much higher up the league. Interesting to watch from a Shrewsbury perspective as their new owners were rumoured to be looking at us first.

Of the promoted teams, Wrexham and Stockport will be comfortable mid table. Wrexham will spend in January if they are struggling. Mansfield will be behind those 2. Don't know enough about them TBF. Can't see anything but bottom for Crawley.

1) Birmingham
2) Huddersfield
3) Rotherham
4) Peterborough
5) Bolton
6) Blackpool
7) Charlton
8) Barnsley
9) Lincoln
10) Wigan
11) Reading
12) Wrexham
13) Stockport
14) Leyton Orient
15) Wycombe
16) Exeter
17) Bristol Rovers
18) Mansfield
19) Cambridge
20) Shrewsbury
21) Burton
22) Stevenage
23) Northampton
24) Crawley

 

[Pedlar]

one more point than the team in 21st

I’ll take that

 

[Dan Phillips]

I'll say it now.

One of either Birmingham, Rotherham, Bolton, Huddersfield or Peterborough, won't even make the top 6.

 

[masi51]

I'll say it now.

One of either Birmingham, Rotherham, Bolton, Huddersfield or Peterborough, won't even make the top 6.

first 4 will not sure about Peterborough myself