League Two Preview!

The new season is nearly here! We have got all you need to know about League Two!

Accrington Stanley:

The Season Ahead: Stanley lack the funds to pose a real threat to any team in this league but their fate will depend on their willingness to work hard and grind out the results. It promises to be a huge challenge to John Coleman`s side. John Miles may prove a good player this season. Miles joins Stanley from Macclesfield on a free transfer. The Liverpool Trainee Forward will provide vital goals for Accy in their attempt to stay in the Football League.

League Two Prediction: 23rd

Barnet:

The Season Ahead: The Bee`s have lost 6 players since last campaign and have failed to bring any in. Paul Fairclough is going to have to have a great 3rd season in charge of Barnet if they wish to remain in the league. Barnet have got talent in Jason Puncheon who left the Dons for Underhill during Danny Wilson`s reign, but Puncheon is young and Barnet cannot put to much pressure on him and will rely on more senior members of the squad to come forward and battle.


League Two Prediction: 24th

Bradford City:

The Season Ahead: The Bantam`s will be very disappointed to be in League Two after finishing in 22nd in League One last campaign. Bradford will be there or there about this season, their gaffer – Stuart McCall is capable of good things at Valley Parade and after Bradford`s drop from the Big time in the last decade, Bradford fans can be confident that he is the right man to stop the rot and turn this under-achieving club around. Stuart McCall has had a major reshuffle and the squad that Bradford own is plenty capable of promotion this season. Peter Thorne is a good buy for Bradford. The veteran 6 foot attacker will be a good replacement for Dean Windass. Thorne has a good level of experience and that will key factor in the Bantam`s promotion push.

League Two Prediction: 2nd

Brentford:

The Season Ahead: Brentford will be hoping for an immediate return to League One following last year`s relegation. The Bee`s must be careful not to cement themselves into the basement division. They have financial troubles and if they fail to get promotion this year they will certainly struggle in the following years. They have lost a key player in Jo Kuffour but should still make the play-offs.

League Two Prediction: 7th

Bury:

The Season Ahead: Bury finished 21st last year but will hope for a vast improvement this year. The Dons first opponents of season 07/08 came into a healthy some of money following Kevin Nugent`s move to Pompey through a sell on clause, although that money has not been spent on players, it may pay the wages of some useful new players bought in on frees such as Paul Morgan from Lincoln. We cannot expect miracles from the Shakers but they will be in contention for a play-off spot but will most probably end up mid-table come May 2008.

League Two Prediction: 13th

Chester City

The Season Ahead: Chester will Struggle this season and will have to fight the drop bravely. Bobby Williamson has bought in a few new players including former Don Paul Butler. Chester already has a good defence but Butler promises to strengthen Chester`s squad. His knowledge of the game will serve City well and may be the difference between League and Non – League football next season.

League Two Prediction: 19th

Chesterfield:

The Season Ahead: Chesterfield will look for Promotion this season after last season`s drop but have the ability to score goals which is a key factor in this league. Jamie Ward`s Pace accompanied with Steve Fletcher`s strength and Jack Lester`s eye for goal should prove to be a very useful attacking combination for the Spireite`s this campaign.

League Two Prediction: 5th

Dagenham & Redbridge:

The Season Ahead: The Dagger`s cruised the conference last season and will have to bring last seasons form into this year. Dag & Red will have to work very hard to keep their league status and with a lack of depth in the squad the Londoners may struggle.

League Two Prediction: 21st

Darlington:

The Season Ahead: Darlo have added no fewer than 8 new faces to last season`s squad including Polish attacker – Pawel Abbott. Abbott will be a key man for Darlington this season and if he can stay fit he is certain to score goals. Abbott joins from Swansea for £100,000 and is joined by Andy Oakes who is great between the sticks. Darlo have great depth in their squad and there is a lot of potential in the north with their huge stadium and willingness to spend money. They will do well this year and gain at least a play off spot.

League Two Prediction: 4th

Grimsby Town:

The Season Ahead: Grimsby will be happy with a mid table finish this year and may struggle to get it. The Mariners lack of activity in the transfer market will prove a stumbling block and they will again have a non-consistent season and will not make the play offs.

League Two Prediction: 15th

Hereford United:

The Season Ahead: The Bulls enjoyed a good opening season in the football league last campaign and Graham Turner will hope to build on last season`s impressive mid – table position. Everyone expected Hereford to drop back into the conference at the beginning of last season but Edgar Street proved to be a very challenging place to visit. They may struggle to score goals this season as they have released Stuart Fleetwood who failed to keep his brilliant early form. Hereford will finish in a similar position last year.

League Two Position: 16th

Lincoln City:

The Season Ahead: Lincoln will again compete after 5 years of play-off hurt in League Two. They have a good squad and a great up and coming manager in John Schofield. Last year they were boosted by Jamie Forrester`s goals but he may struggle to keep up with his advancing years. Lincoln will again be feared by many teams in this league and should once again make the play-offs.

League Two Position: 6th

Macclesfield Town:

The Season Ahead: The Silkmen may struggle this year after their miraculous escape from relegation last season. Paul Ince has come to the Dons and Ian Brightwell has been given the job of manager. Macc will find it very difficult without Paul Ince`s inspiration and although they have brought in a few players it`s not looking good for Macclesfield.

League Two Prediction: 22nd

Mansfield Town

The Season Ahead: The Stags should be safe from relegation this year. Last year they finished 11th in League two. They have some good young players coming through the ranks and have strengthened their squad with a few new players following Giles Coke`s departure to the Cobblers. Mansfield should not go down but they still have a long way to go before they start challenging for the play-offs.

League Two Prediction 17th

Milton Keynes Dons:

The Season Ahead: MK Dons should have gone up last season without a doubt. Martin Allen had funds to get them up and although he told ‘four four two` magazine “we got 84 points and had 26 wins – that`s some going” he did under achieve. The main body of the squad that finished 4th place in League Two last season is still in place but a couple of big players for the Dons will not be there. It is still in the balance on whether star striker Izale Mcleod will leave, but the odds are that he will leave before the end of the transfer market, and the Dons will certainly miss the aerial presence of Clive Platt who has departed this summer. That said Paul Ince has made some very impressive signings in Kevin Gallen, Mark Wright, Colin Cameron and Drewe Broughton. The Dons now have a very good squad that is only missing a couple of Goal Keepers. Paul Ince`s men should be certain for promotion.

League two Predictions: 1st

Morecambe:

The Season Ahead: The Shrimper`s boss Sammy McIlroy will know how much of a challenge it will be to keep newly promoted Morecambe in the football league. After beating Exeter at Wembley in the Conference playoff final last season, they will be coming into the season with a lot of confidence and excitement, and with the great experience of Sammy McIlroy, Morcambe should just about keep the Shrimper`s up.

League Two Prediction: 20th

Nott`s County:

The Season Ahead: Nott`s County will be a difficult team to beat and if they can turn their home form around from last season, Meadow Lane will become a very daunting place to go and play football. With Veteran striker Jason Lee still battling for the magpies and with a bit of luck County may just take a play-off spot!

League Two Prediction: 10th

Peterborough United:

The Season Ahead: Posh haven`t had much to cheer about over recent seasons but this year should be different. With the money of Chairman Darrah MacAntony, – an Irish businessman, Darren Ferguson should take ‘the Chelsea of League Two` up. Posh have made some very good buys this market including ex- Walsall star Dean Keates. They also have the impressive group of players brought in in January including Aaron Maclean and George Boyd. London Road should host League One football next season!

League Two Prediction: 3rd

Rochdale:

The Season Ahead: Last season Dale proved that the visit to Spotland is not an easy one by beating some big teams such as MK Dons 5-0. They have a very use full manager in Keith Hill and although it`s unlikely that they get promotion this year, things are defiantly on the up for Rochdale.

League Two Prediction: 9th


Rotherham United:

The Season Ahead: Relegation had been staring the Millers in the face the last couple of years, and although they avoided it on the last day of the season two years ago with a 0-0 draw at Millmoor against MK Dons, the 10 point deduction handed out at the start of last season had them doomed from day one. The Millers can not expect an immediate return to League One though, as their terrible financial situation is holding them back. Rotherham just need to stay in the Football League.

League Two Prediction: 12th

Shrewsbury Town:

The Season Ahead: The Shrews hailed manager Gary Peters when he took them to the play-off final after occupying the final play-off spot last season, but losing in the final will not help their confidence. Shrewsbury move into a brand new stadium this season, and fans will be hoping that their first season in ‘The New Den` will be a successful one. However Shrewsbury do not have a talented enough squad and this year after losing key man Richard Hope from the back they will struggle to repeat last season`s playoff position.

League Two Prediction: 14th

Stockport County:

The Season Ahead: Stockport were unlucky not to be in the playoffs last season, just missing out to Shrewsbury. After a disappointing opening to the season, Jim Gannon led a huge revival and gave County a lot to cheer about. Stockport will be looking to build on last year and make the playoffs.

League Two Prediction: 11th

Wrexham

The Season Ahead: Wrexham avoided relegation on the last day of the season last season. Brian Carey has bought in a few good players that will bolster last season`s squad. The Dragons have taken a couple of players from Hartlepool in Eifion Williams and Michael Proctor and have also got Richard Hope who will do well for Wrexham. Wrexham will be safe from the drop.

League Two Prediction: 18th

Wycombe Wanderers:

The Season Ahead: Over the last two seasons Wycombe have started strongly but then let it slip in the second half of the season, but it is Paul Lambert`s job to convert the good form to all season. On their day Wycombe can play some good football and with the goals from Jermaine Easter they have potential. They have lost Tommy Mooney`s Strength up front but have made a very good signing in Gary Holt from Nottingham forest. Wanderers will be pushing for the playoffs this season.

League Two Prediction: 8th




By Sam Wainwright