I've been having a look at our league one rivals this season and trying to weigh up who is likely to be pushing for the automatic promotion places and who might find themselves in Division 4 next season. Normally, I'd wait until the day before the season kicks off but with no money being spent outside of Southampton, I am taking a punt today.
Going Up? Much as I hate to say it, Southampton are going to have to have a major disaster not to win the title and do so by a country mile. Their squad is by far the best in the division and I honestly believe they could run two competitive teams this year. Kelvin Davies will be close to the best keeper in the division and they have quality throughout the side. Jose Fonte and Radhi Jaidi will present a defensive obstacle and they have the likes of Jason Puncheon and Dean Hammond in midfield providing the prompting for Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Lee Barnard. St Mary's could be a very hard place to win at this season and they may not yet have finished their spending.
I'm going to go for Sheffield Wednesday to go very close to an automatic Championship return. Alan Irvine has brought in eight new players so far with Clinton Morrison being the latest acquisition. Their only danger could be the "cup match" syndrome which we faced last season having dropped down. As an outside punt, I am going to go for Gus Poyet's Brighton & Hove Albion. Gus has been around some successful sides and he steadied the ship at the Withdean last year. They finished strongly, have strengthened during the close season and the added bonus of a new stadium to move to after next season.
Going Down? Much harder to guess but I'll plump for two strugglers from last season, Tranmere and Walsall as well as two who came up last season. Rochdale seem to have been pillaged since coming up and traditionally get a nosebleed outside Division 4. Notts County might also find the off-field challenges greater than those on it.
There, neck well and truly stuck out....
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There, neck well and truly stuck out....
ReplyDeleteBut not far enough! Where will Charlton finish Dave ??
Daggs - between 4th and 20th? Ok, I'll plump for 10th.
ReplyDeleteAs things stand, 10th wouldn't be TOO bad.
ReplyDeleteIf we can unearth a striker, i would fancy us for top six again.
Dave, I like your thinking here. I agree except the third promotion pick where I have chosen Huddersfield Town, as they have been quietly strengthening their already impressive squad. Brighton were close, but they have had to let several players go too. Ground there is looking good, and right by A27 and Falmer railway station, so nice and easy to get to next year.
ReplyDeleteCrowborough Addick
Dave, Pardew has had impressive looking squads in the past (at various clubs inc. our own when we dropped from the Prem) but this has not always gone hand-in-hand with suscess. His man-management may prove the key to the Saints season. If he gets his head from out of his own backside, they will be a real force. They are a side prone to bizarre, uncharacteristic results, and I doubt that will change this season. They'll challenge at the top, no doubt, but I don't have them down as being as convincing as Norwich was last year.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Addicks: considering the encouraging signings so far (more required, obviously) I'm confident that we can challenge for the Play-Off's. At least this season we should see a more 'honest' Charlton side. With that I mean a team that has signed up for the battle, rather than being a relic of better times.
Just do you know, Alan Irvine is Sheff Wed manager!
ReplyDeleteDave, Walsall finished 10th last season with a respectable total of 62 points - a bit unfair to call them strugglers.
ReplyDeleteIt's understandable that Southampton are favourites, but I find their chances to be somewhat overplayed - even without the 10-point penalty, they would still have finished below Charlton last season. However their goal difference perhaps tells the truer story (+38 versus our +23), whilst they scored more goals than all but Norwich, so I know where you're coming from.
If I had to pick a total outsider to do well, it would be Leyton Orient who now have a good manager and appear to have made some solid acquisitions.
Anon - of course he is! Thanks - don't know where that came from....
ReplyDeleteNYA - fair point re Walsall. I thought they fell away towards the end and should have checked. They always strike me as the epitomy of lower league football so maybe I'm allowing my prejudices to rule my thinking here!
ReplyDeleteFor all his bluster, Pardew actually doesn't appear to have enough ego - his endless tinkering suggests a lack of confidence that he has picked the right team, so if the Saints hit a bad stretch (like Leeds did) with their money he may press the panic button again.
ReplyDeleteThat said, they should still be good enough to finish 2nd.
Walsall? Strugglers?
ReplyDeleteWe finished 10th last season and I reckon we will do pretty much the same this season.
Of course you are entitled to your opinion and, for the record, I think Charlton will probably escape in 2nd place.
:0)
Cheers
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