Premature pre-pre-season predictions (on a regional basis)

[Fedora Dale]

League One this season seems to split into four geographical zones - The County Palatine, The Broad(er) Acres, The Ancient See of Lichfield and The Flatlands of The South.

For a bit of fun, here's how I currently see the six teams in each area finishing in comparison to each other...

Flatlands
Gillingham
Millwall
Peterborough
Southend
Colchester
Swindon

Gillingham are my dark horses to do very well. Good manager, and their first choice xi looks strong. Millwall seem to be the best organised of the three relegated sides. Posh are rebuilding but should have enough class in the squad to comfortably avoid trouble. Southend's experienced battlers and Colchester's talented youngsters will spur each other on locally and they will finish close to each other - in either order. Swindon have lost several good players, may lose more and may suffer a playoff hangover.

See of Lichfield
Burton
Shrewsbury
Coventry
Walsall
Port Vale
Crewe

Burton and Shrews should both do well after promotion - but I rate Jimmy Floyd above Mad Micky Mellon as a manager. Coventry still seem to be a bit in flux, but have a much better manager this season - and the potential fanbase to build momentum if they ever get a run of wins going. Walsall are competently WABLO in a win-five then lose-five sort of way. Vale and Crewe look to both have tough seasons ahead (mainly based on the pessimism of both sets of fans on here).

Broader Acres
Barnsley
Scunthorpe
Sheffield United
Bradford City
Doncaster
Chesterfield

To be honest, this region is exceptionally strong. Any of the top four in my list could well be promotion candidates. I rate Johnson as manager (his combined Oldham/Barnsley points tally last season would have got a playoff spot. Scunny have money, and have made some shrewd signings. Sheff U are the biggest club in this league and must come good sooner or later whilst Bradford also look strong - and can vary between passing and "hoofing" to good effect. Doncaster should also be up with these four - they have decent players and an excellent infrastructure, but are held back by an inept manager. Chesterfield have lost a lot of players, but Saunders does seem to be signing fairly credible replacements.

County Palatine
Rochdale
Bury
Wigan
Fleetwood
Oldham
Blackpool

If we can learn to defend crosses, we'll be there or thereabouts - and Dale/Bury may well spur each other on at the right end of the table. Bury have made some very useful signings, but can Flitcroft get them working as a team? Not convinced by Wigan at all - and I'm not sure they realise how tough this league is. Fleetwood were very good last year, but appear to be downsizing a bit financially (probably don't want to take the piss out of Blackpool too much). Oldham have appointed a little known youth coach as manager - we appointed the same in Steve Eyre a few years ago and finished 24th. Blackpool are a shambles, unfortunately.

 

[Dan Phillips]

I can see us surprising quite a few people this season...



By finishing below Crewe.

 

[Mop]

Can't see too much to argue with there. Can see Sheff Utd storming the league, and not sure we'll do as well as you anticipate (I.e. Finishing above Wigan), but stranger things have happened....

 

[joethegill]

Interesting concept. I'll give it a quick go...

Millwall
Peterborough
Gillingham
Swindon
Southend
Colchester

I think we'll do ok, but can't see us doing better than Posh or the Wall. The Essex boys to fight it out towards the bottom, Swindon somewhere mid-table.

Coventry
Shrewsbury
Walsall
Port Vale
Burton
Crewe

Pretty weak group this IMO. I don't expect any of them to be troubling the top 6 too much, but Cov look the best placed. At least 3 of this will struggle to stay up.

Sheffield United
Barnsley
Bradford City
Scunthorpe
Doncaster
Chesterfield

Probably the strongest collection - I think Barnsley will have a cracking season, but I think Sheff Utd will top the league. Could have as many as 5 of these in the play-off picture.

Wigan
Fleetwood
Bury
Oldham
Rochdale
Blackpool

If Wigan get it right then they could easily bounce back, they have the resources. Don't see Rochdale having as good a season, and IMO Bury and Oldham haven't recruited that well as of yet. Blackpool seem fucked, although they're starting to spend a bit. Fleetwood much the same as last season.

 

[Topher]

seems to be a lot of talking Vale down (a lot from our own fans), but if you compare our possible best XI with the most used XI from 13/14 when we finished 9th, I'd only take Loft and the strikers (because we have none right now), and hopef we'll at least get something comparable if not better than Williamson and Pope there.

If we keep our defence fit for long enough and get a decent striker in we'll be upper mid table easily. Big if though.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Thought I'd resurrect this. Got a few wrong (Wigan, Walsall, Shrews, Colchester) but generally not too bad

League One this season seems to split into four geographical zones - The County Palatine, The Broad(er) Acres, The Ancient See of Lichfield and The Flatlands of The South.

For a bit of fun, here's how I currently see the six teams in each area finishing in comparison to each other...

Flatlands
Gillingham Millwall
Millwall Gillingham
Peterborough Peterborough
Southend Southend
Colchester Swindon
Swindon Colchester

Gillingham are my dark horses to do very well. Good manager, and their first choice xi looks strong. Millwall seem to be the best organised of the three relegated sides. Posh are rebuilding but should have enough class in the squad to comfortably avoid trouble. Southend's experienced battlers and Colchester's talented youngsters will spur each other on locally and they will finish close to each other - in either order. Swindon have lost several good players, may lose more and may suffer a playoff hangover.

Got this lot reasonably well...

See of Lichfield
Burton Burton
Shrewsbury Walsall
Coventry Coventry
Walsall Port Vale
Port Vale Shrewsbury
Crewe Crewe

Burton and Shrews should both do well after promotion - but I rate Jimmy Floyd above Mad Micky Mellon as a manager. Coventry still seem to be a bit in flux, but have a much better manager this season - and the potential fanbase to build momentum if they ever get a run of wins going. Walsall are competently WABLO in a win-five then lose-five sort of way. Vale and Crewe look to both have tough seasons ahead (mainly based on the pessimism of both sets of fans on here).

Walsall did far better than I thought, Shrews far worse.

Broader Acres
Barnsley Bradford
Scunthorpe Barnsley
Sheffield United Scunthorpe
Bradford City Sheff United
Doncaster Chesterfield
Chesterfield Doncaster

To be honest, this region is exceptionally strong. Any of the top four in my list could well be promotion candidates. I rate Johnson as manager (his combined Oldham/Barnsley points tally last season would have got a playoff spot. Scunny have money, and have made some shrewd signings. Sheff U are the biggest club in this league and must come good sooner or later whilst Bradford also look strong - and can vary between passing and "hoofing" to good effect. Doncaster should also be up with these four - they have decent players and an excellent infrastructure, but are held back by an inept manager. Chesterfield have lost a lot of players, but Saunders does seem to be signing fairly credible replacements.

Much as expected. The first three came good in the end, Sheff U flattered to deceive as usual, Donny more inept than I thought.

County Palatine
Rochdale Wigan
Bury Rochdale
Wigan Bury
Fleetwood Oldham
Oldham Fleetwood
Blackpool Blackpool

If we can learn to defend crosses, we'll be there or thereabouts - and Dale/Bury may well spur each other on at the right end of the table. Bury have made some very useful signings, but can Flitcroft get them working as a team? Not convinced by Wigan at all - and I'm not sure they realise how tough this league is. Fleetwood were very good last year, but appear to be downsizing a bit financially (probably don't want to take the piss out of Blackpool too much). Oldham have appointed a little known youth coach as manager - we appointed the same in Steve Eyre a few years ago and finished 24th. Blackpool are a shambles, unfortunately.

Apologies to Wigan for underestimating them. Otherwise as expected, thanks to Oldham eventually appointing a proper manager

 

[Millwall_Matt]

Thought I'd resurrect this. Got a few wrong (Wigan, Walsall, Shrews, Colchester) but generally not too bad

Kudos for spotting Gillingham, not many predicted them to have a good season even if it did collapse a bit in the last month.

 

[valefan16]

seems to be a lot of talking Vale down (a lot from our own fans), but if you compare our possible best XI with the most used XI from 13/14 when we finished 9th, I'd only take Loft and the strikers (because we have none right now), and hopef we'll at least get something comparable if not better than Williamson and Pope there.

If we keep our defence fit for long enough and get a decent striker in we'll be upper mid table easily. Big if though.

Certainly rammed peoples doomed for relagation predictions down throats again!

 

[Indian Dan]

There's always hope for next season, though

 

[The Reverend Skyblue]

I'd say Fedora that's bloody good predicting.

None of us saw the Burton story so you can't find fault there but everything else was not far off, apart from Port Vale .
Great job you need a career change