Premature Predictions 2017/18

[F!RTHY]

Brilliant. The under estimation of us is as bad as last time we were in this division.

Very solid keeper, name me a better one?

Better looking defence. Again don't think anyone could name better full backs from ours and Semi Ajayi will be best centre half in the league by far.

Our midfield contains Forde and Taylor. Two players that were excellent last time they were in this division. Especially Taylor. A fully fit Joe Newell could easily be the best player in the division as a fully fit Lee Frecklington could be.

Then up top we've got Ball who was a big performer in a very good Fleetwood side last year and Clarke-Harris who has been waiting for his opportunity to be the main man and 9 times out of 10 has been outstanding every time he's played for us.

We won't make any marquee signings and our manager is a wank fitness coach but our side is already good enough to piss all over the likes of Bradford.

Genuine question; is that the same back four that you had last season?

There are much better midfields in this league, Blackburn for one. Midfield is where we are short on numbers, so no camparision can be made here yet.

So, your basing whatever promotion credentials you may have on the strike force of Clarke-Harris and Ball, when the latter managed to score one in 4.6 games in L1. Then there's the former, who is still relatively young, granted, but he has an even poorer scoring ratio in L1 than Ball?

Alex Jones is only 22, but managed to notch 15 goals in his first season in professional football. Then we have Charlie Wyke who also signed in Jan 2017, who wasn't our pen taker, hit the bar 4 times, and managed 7 goals in 15 app.

No one can make any informed predictions at this point - not you, not me. There is still so much business to be done, but I do feel that your ignorance towards this league, and your naivety will show - as you need plenty of new additions to challenge, also (IMO)

This is all we have ATM;

Doyle

???---???--- Knight-Percival--- Chicksen

???---Vincelot---???---Law

Wyke---Jones

Those listed are not even guaranteed starters. Like I say, ourselves and others are far from the finished article.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

I know we won't do owt, especially with Warne as manager and Stewart being tight as fuck but saying that I doubt anybody could better our starting 11 at this point in time.

O'Donnell

Fisher Ajayi Belaid Mattock

Vaulks

Force Taylor Newell

Ball Clarke-Harris

Think we could play at 50% all season and reach play offs.

How many more signings are you expected to make?

 

[GFCSludge]

I don't want to go down.

 

[StevieEvansRedNWhiteArmy]

How many more signings are you expected to make?

3 this week. Proctor, Moore and Emmanuel.

Then I'd imagine we'll still try to sign Doidge after having one bid rejected and re-sign Pringle.

 

[hold'um Oldham]

Very early days but based on signings so far Blackburn are a comfortable first. Fancy Charlton or MK Dons for second and Pompey, Bristol Rovers and some other wildcard like maybe Peterborough, Fleetwood or even Oldham (I rate Sheridan) to compete the playoffs. Bradford will be the big disappointment of the season. Rotherham have more chance of a relegation battle than a promotion battle with their signings so far and losing mentality of last season. Gillingham, Walsall, Blackpool and AFC Wimbledon to go down. God knows how we'll do but I'm not expecting top 6 with the squad we'll have in September.

Think that's the first time in about 10 years we have been predicted to finish even top half never mind play offs by anyone.

Tbh our squad is looking solid this summer if unremarkable. Few signings still to come in but we are stronger than we have been at this stage for a good number of years.

I'd say we will be nearer top six than bottom 4 come may with top half achievable. Sheridan as you say is the key. Him and latics just seem to fit

 

[StevieEvansRedNWhiteArmy]

Genuine question; is that the same back four that you had last season?

There are much better midfields in this league, Blackburn for one. Midfield is where we are short on numbers, so no camparision can be made here yet.

So, your basing whatever promotion credentials you may have on the strike force of Clarke-Harris and Ball, when the latter managed to score one in 4.6 games in L1. Then there's the former, who is still relatively young, granted, but he has an even poorer scoring ratio in L1 than Ball?

Alex Jones is only 22, but managed to notch 15 goals in his first season in professional football. Then we have Charlie Wyke who also signed in Jan 2017, who wasn't our pen taker, hit the bar 4 times, and managed 7 goals in 15 app.

No one can make any informed predictions at this point - not you, not me. There is still so much business to be done, but I do feel that your ignorance towards this league, and your naivety will show - as you need plenty of new additions to challenge, also (IMO)

This is all we have ATM;

Doyle

???---???--- Knight-Percival--- Chicksen

???---Vincelot---???---Law

Wyke---Jones

Those listed are not even guaranteed starters. Like I say, ourselves and others are far from the finished article.

No.

O'Donnell and Ajayi were signed in january. Belaid was out most of the season. A Tunisian international should find this league fairly easy going.

Blackburn will win the league comfortably although I'm reluctant to say their midfield is far superior when they've just signed Richie Smallwood who was a big part in us being shite last season.

Ball got 14 in 46 which is a pretty good return for the role he plays. Clarke-Harris' career has been plagued with injury but has always looked class when played. He's ran some now PL defenders ragged, I'm not worried about him. Worth remembering we have Dexter Blackstock who if he wants to justify his 10k a week wage and forgets about being an agent for now, would be a class above any striker in this division, let's be reyt.

 

[Shrimpurh]

Like Bradford fans I don't really know where to put us next season yet as we haven't really made any signings.

We've only lost Will Atkinson (meh) and Adam Thompson (gutting).

Rumoured to be replacing Thompson with Kiernan (yay).

Keeping Ryan Leonard is massive. I'm beginning to think we will, chairman has realised it's not worth selling him for 350k and looks happy to let him go for free next summer.

 

[GFC4EVA]

I don't want to go down.

Neither do i but cant see anything else for us unfortunately. God i hope im wrong

 

[SMH]

We were unlucky enough to have Rich O'Donnell darken our goal last time we were in League One, let's just say we wouldn't have been promoted if we hadn't binned him off around late September and brought in 40 year old Jussi to play ahead of him. If he's better than most in this League then that's not saying much for this league. I just don't see the likes of Darren Potter and potentially Procter leading a promotion challenge. Plus Paul Warne hasn't proved himself yet as a manger and the club has a horrible losing mentality and football is a mental game as much as it is a physical one. I could be wrong but I have a feeling that Warne could be gone by Christmas.

 

[StevieEvansRedNWhiteArmy]

We were unlucky enough to have Rich O'Donnell darken our goal last time we were in League One, let's just say we wouldn't have been promoted if we hadn't binned him off around late September and brought in 40 year old Jussi to play ahead of him. If he's better than most in this League then that's not saying much for this league. I just don't see the likes of Darren Potter and potentially Procter leading a promotion challenge. Plus Paul Warne hasn't proved himself yet as a manger and the club has a horrible losing mentality and football is a mental game as much as it is a physical one. I could be wrong but I have a feeling that Warne could be gone by Christmas.

He is better than most of this league which is exactly my point, it's a shit league.

Potter and Proctor won't be first choice but I agree Warne is shite.

 

[Reaper]

I like Belaid. Far better than Wood.

I like Belaid as well but everybody seems to shag Richard Wood for some reason including Warne when he's shit.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

He is better than most of this league which is exactly my point, it's a shit league.

Potter and Proctor won't be first choice but I agree Warne is shite.

How do you know when the windows still open? Oh and your wonderful squad only started winning games when it was relegated with ooh 23 points. It's too early to judge any team yet.

 

[SMH]

He is better than most of this league which is exactly my point, it's a shit league.

Potter and Proctor won't be first choice but I agree Warne is shite.

I'm not going to argue with you on that, it is a terrible league. I don't understand why you've kept Warne in charge though, didn't he basically admit he would accept whatever role he was given even if it was kitman.

 

[StevieEvansRedNWhiteArmy]

How do you know when the windows still open? Oh and your wonderful squad only started winning games when it was relegated with ooh 23 points. It's too early to judge any team yet.

Here they are, gypo's are getting giddy. Probably at the thought of playing us again.

Are you trying to tell me this league is bereft with quality? Bare in mind the sides we were facing last season.

 

[StevieEvansRedNWhiteArmy]

I'm not going to argue with you on that, it is a terrible league. I don't understand why you've kept Warne in charge though, didn't he basically admit he would accept whatever role he was given even if it was kitman.

Cheap option.

Stewart's been milking us for what he can for years. Fed up of funding a championship club, that's why he pulled the plug on last season in November.

 

[loz]

Here they are, gypo's are getting giddy. Probably at the thought of playing us again.

Are you trying to tell me this league is bereft with quality? Bare in mind the sides we were facing last season.

 

[loz]

Here they are, gypo's are getting giddy. Probably at the thought of playing us again.

Are you trying to tell me this league is bereft with quality? Bare in mind the sides we were facing last season.

Is the bare in mind bit a self description?

 

[PuB]

'Bereft with quality'

What?

 

[LS Bantam]

Breaking news - L1 does not have the same quality found in the Championship. We go over to our reporter in Rovrum for more details...

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Here they are, gypo's are getting giddy. Probably at the thought of playing us again.

Are you trying to tell me this league is bereft with quality? Bare in mind the sides we were facing last season.

Hardly, your not as big and glamorous as you seem to think. I don't see how you can gauge the quality of any team at present when they are all in the process of rebuilding. I'm also aware of the quality of teams in the Championship it wasn't that long ago we faced the same problem of being a small fish in a large pond although we didn't perform as badly.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Very early days but based on signings so far Blackburn are a comfortable first. Fancy Charlton or MK Dons for second and Pompey, Bristol Rovers and some other wildcard like maybe Peterborough, Fleetwood or even Oldham (I rate Sheridan) to compete the playoffs. Bradford will be the big disappointment of the season. Rotherham have more chance of a relegation battle than a promotion battle with their signings so far and losing mentality of last season. Gillingham, Walsall, Blackpool and AFC Wimbledon to go down. God knows how we'll do but I'm not expecting top 6 with the squad we'll have in September.

Can't agree with that at all. Blackburn only have 16 senior players and so far made two signings a midfielder let go by Rotherham who were rock bottom last season and a soon to be 33 year old midfielder who was an excellent Championship midfielder but has declined a lot over the past few seasons. Still think Whittingham will be very good.
As of this very day we have a 30 man squad and are a lot stronger than Blackburn, so I'd say it was ours to lose. It's up to us to show a statement of intent and try and keep our better players. Unlikely I know but if the transfer window closes and we have a spine of Burn, Gilbey, Morsy, Powell and Grigg then we would have a stronger side than the one that won this league just over 12 months ago.

James, Daniels, Burke, Gilbey, Morsy and Grigg were unavailable for either 6 months of the season or in some cases all season and would be in our strongest 11. Bogle should be fully fit for the first time since signing. Jack Byrne looks a good prospect and should come into the fold. The likes of Jacobs and Power were very good in this division the season before last and are most likely to stay, Colclough should have a big impact too as he should stay too.

 

[joethegill]

Can't agree with that at all. Blackburn only have 16 senior players and so far made two signings a midfielder let go by Rotherham who were rock bottom last season and a soon to be 33 year old midfielder who was an excellent Championship midfielder but has declined a lot over the past few seasons. Still think Whittingham will be very good.
As of this very day we have a 30 man squad and are a lot stronger than Blackburn, so I'd say it was ours to lose. It's up to us to show a statement of intent and try and keep our better players. Unlikely I know but if the transfer window closes and we have a spine of Burn, Gilbey, Morsy, Powell and Grigg then we would have a stronger side than the one that won this league just over 12 months ago.

James, Daniels, Burke, Gilbey, Morsy and Grigg were unavailable for either 6 months of the season or in some cases all season and would be in our strongest 11. Bogle should be fully fit for the first time since signing. Jack Byrne looks a good prospect and should come into the fold. The likes of Jacobs and Power were very good in this division the season before last and are most likely to stay, Colclough should have a big impact too as he should stay too.

They've just signed Dack.

 

[NorthernSoul]

They hadn't last time I looked, good signing, what was he like last season as didn't hear his name much?
Blackburn need a good 7/8 more signings though and with them being very unstable off the pitch and with ridiculous debts, will be interesting to see how things go.

 

[womble76]

Imo he was average last season and not that impressive they have signed him on the season before last seasons form which he is not in anymore.

 

[joethegill]

Not as good as the 15/16 season but still head and shoulders above most of the league class-wise (definitely not 'average'). He needed to move last summer really, but on the back of an injury-laden end to the season the interest cooled. This is a very good move for him at a good time.

 

[SMH]

Can't agree with that at all. Blackburn only have 16 senior players and so far made two signings a midfielder let go by Rotherham who were rock bottom last season and a soon to be 33 year old midfielder who was an excellent Championship midfielder but has declined a lot over the past few seasons. Still think Whittingham will be very good.
As of this very day we have a 30 man squad and are a lot stronger than Blackburn, so I'd say it was ours to lose. It's up to us to show a statement of intent and try and keep our better players. Unlikely I know but if the transfer window closes and we have a spine of Burn, Gilbey, Morsy, Powell and Grigg then we would have a stronger side than the one that won this league just over 12 months ago.

James, Daniels, Burke, Gilbey, Morsy and Grigg were unavailable for either 6 months of the season or in some cases all season and would be in our strongest 11. Bogle should be fully fit for the first time since signing. Jack Byrne looks a good prospect and should come into the fold. The likes of Jacobs and Power were very good in this division the season before last and are most likely to stay, Colclough should have a big impact too as he should stay too.

Is that the same Blackburn that beat us comfortably at Ewood in March? I also remember the last time we had a 30 man squad. Our manager got sacked because he couldn't control a dressing room full of unhappy players who couldn't get in the team due to squad size and we got relegated.

As for our players, Burke and Byrne are unproven in League One, Daniels and James are both crocked and may not be the same player when they return. Gilbey while very promising has been relegated two seasons running and hasn't actually been part of winning team in his career yet. Power is the most overrated player Latics have had in years. Grigg won't have the service he did last time round because Yanic isn't here and without him we probably wouldn't have won promotion last season at all.

We need at least one if not two pacy wingers to feed Grigg. We have one keeper on the books whose only senior experience is picking the ball out of the net every week at Torquay. And as for Morsy and Powell, if they're both still at the club come the end of deadline day I'll run through Mesnes Park in the nuddy.

 

[Bobbin']

I don't know a huge amount about Blackburn's squad at the minute but if it's as bare as some people are suggesting then I do not see them as shoe ins for the title at all, quite the opposite actually.

You have to factor in all the extra games they have to play, first round of FA cup, Checkatrade trophy etc and they will have injuries as will every side.

On the face of it last year, we had quite a decent first 11 but as I said with boring regularity throughout the season on here, the depth in the squad was terrible and would be our undoing and it was, once we had a few injuries we had to replace them with either kids with no experience or just trash.

It's a long old season in this division and you need more than just a good starting line-up if you're going to walk the league.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Is that the same Blackburn that beat us comfortably at Ewood in March? I also remember the last time we had a 30 man squad. Our manager got sacked because he couldn't control a dressing room full of unhappy players who couldn't get in the team due to squad size and we got relegated.

As for our players, Burke and Byrne are unproven in League One, Daniels and James are both crocked and may not be the same player when they return. Gilbey while very promising has been relegated two seasons running and hasn't actually been part of winning team in his career yet. Power is the most overrated player Latics have had in years. Grigg won't have the service he did last time round because Yanic isn't here and without him we probably wouldn't have won promotion last season at all.

We need at least one if not two pacy wingers to feed Grigg. We have one keeper on the books whose only senior experience is picking the ball out of the net every week at Torquay. And as for Morsy and Powell, if they're both still at the club come the end of deadline day I'll run through Mesnes Park in the nuddy.

They won 1-0 and had just one shot on target all game and looked even worse than us which was a feat in itself. We beat Blackburn 3-0 and should have been double, but that is meaningless, the results between us last season count for nothing this season. They've already lost Emnes, their stand out player.

Burke and Byrne looked good in the Championship so I'd expect League One to be ok. Daniels, James and Gilbey have been unlucky with injury and maybe they won't be as good but give they're 23/23/22 years of age, if they can return to full fitness then we know that they're excellent at League One level. Power was very good in League One and under a good manager will be fine in the Championship.

I agree we need to trim the squad more than make signings, get rid of 5/6 back up players and then shift an attacking midfielder on and replace with a quick player as Wildschuts pace hasn't been replaced.

A goalkeeper is certainly priority. It wouldn't surprise me if Powell and Morsy go but you stated how things stand at the moment being the reason why Blackburn would be nailed on and they can't even name a full match day squad of senior pros. Let's not forget Blackburn could quite easily lose Graham/Mulgrew etc too.

It's a long way until the window closes and a lot of changes for all teams could take place, who knows a team tipped to go down could get bought out by billionaires and spend 10m.

 

[Parchpea]

Weve let 3 stalwarts go really in Ball, McLaughlin and Ryan but getting in Kyle Dempsey and Conor McAlveny in addition to Wes Burns back end of last season is a big plus.

Fleetwood will put out a young vibrant team next season, last season we did exceptionally well but the team was pretty functional, tactically smart and effective, but Im hoping for more excitement this even if we finish lower down.

Key now is securing a decent right back and with Rosler I think we will be alright. The clubs always ambitious so will aim for top 6 again, but think Im safe in saying most fans wouldn't complain if we finish top half.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

Now we have signed most of our squad, I will predict 10th