Part four of four: nPower League Two
Well, this is it. The final part of my mini series on how the top four English divisions will pan out in the forthcoming season. Hope you've been enjoying reading as much as I have writing this. Some of my predictions I have to say have been intriguing and this division will be a great way to roundup everything.
League Two is a super division. People sort of under value this league purely because of the small stadiums, the "who are ya" players and lack of television coverage on Sky or BBC. I believe League Two is a do-or-die division. Some teams here have been in the Premiership and Championship before but finance has let them down.
Bradford City is a fine example. Remember their Benito Carbone days? Now look where they are now - money problems are so bad, there were talks about losing out on their 25,000 capacity ground, Valley Parade. Rumours were spreading that they could move and share stadiums with local rugby league side Bradford Bulls but decided to stay at their stadium which has a lot of history.
This year, Plymouth Argyle are in this division, hoping to get a takeover after suffering a ten point deduction last season. They were in the Championship two years ago and after going into administration, they are in dying need to find a new owner if they're to get back where they belong. With chairman, Peter Risdale and manager Peter Reid on their side for their first full season at the club, they are one of the favourites to return back to League One.
There's a case in League Two that if they relegate to the division, they could be stuck there but if they promote from non-league football, they will boom. In recent history, we've seen Wigan Athletic reach for high grounds as they are now in the Premiership. They've not been in the Conference since 1978 and have done ever so well now.
In 2003, Doncaster were promoted to the football league and never looked back. They're now in the Championship, Yeovil Town went up in the same year and today are a solid League One team, same as Colchester United who left non-league in 1992.
Non-league football appears to be like a prison. If you're down there, you're in the dumps and at an undesirable position. Some clubs who have gone down, never looked back up. Take Chester City as an example. They relegated in 2009, and a year later they are no longer a football club due to their financial problems. Rushden and Diamonds only a few weeks ago discovered their fate as a football club and they were in the third tier not so long ago.
On the other hand, there are teams who have been in that rut and managed to get out of it. AFC Wimbledon will be the focus of this season after Sam Hammam left them in dire straits ten years ago. Now they've clawed their way back to the real business, will they get back to the Premier League before we know it, like in the 1990s?
Here are my thoughts on how League Two will look. They are a bit of fun, just for you to remember. Forgot to let you know in the other predictions, this table is subject to change. If a team goes into administration and docked ten points, that side in my table will get ten points less. Will wait and see. Hopefully no team will be in that situation this season...
Three of the four teams who were relegated to League Two instantly return back to the third tier. The other side in this equation, face life in the the dreaded non-league. Dagenham and Redbridge are that side as they suffered heartbreak on the final day drawing to Bristol Rovers, who beat Shrewsbury in the play-off final.
Plymouth were pretty much dominant throughout the season as they confirmed their promotion by Easter whilst Rotherham and Swindon join them to League One. Argyle finding new owners on the eve of the new season got them off to an excellent start and never looked back in the process.
Surprise of the season, Hereford. Them, Burton Albion and Bradford City in the first 30 matches of the season were battling for a play-off place. Seeing Shrewsbury, Bristol Rovers and Gillingham were looking comfortable in the top six, only one of the trio had to occupy that slot. Burton slipped after losing five in a row during February/March time which opened the door for the other two sides. Crewe and Southend came close but not enough to harm Bradford's chances of an opportunity to play a further two or three matches. They fell short against Shrewsbury in the end but a strong finish means that the increased confidence could ensure a battle for perhaps the top three next season.
As well as Dagenham suffer relegation pain, Aldershot join them meaning that both southern clubs would have hard work ahead of them as Blue Square Premier is a tough division. Morecambe, AFC Wimbledon and Torquay had results their way on the final day and are hoping for improvements next season.
Crawley Town were automatically promoted to League Two last year and were hoping to settle in this division. Their 15th place finish is just what they're needed after critics didn't really give them a chance.
Well, these have been my predictions, here is the round up for all of the divisions I have predicted over the last ten days.
PREMIERSHIP
Champions: Manchester United
Champions League: Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal
Europa League: Liverpool, Tottenham, Fulham
Relegated: West Brom, Fulham, Bolton
Ties to look forward to?: Liverpool v Leeds United, Aston Villa v Birmingham City
CHAMPIONSHIP
Champions: West Ham United
Promotion: West Ham United, Leeds United, Birmingham City
Relegation: Coventry City, Brighton and Hove Albion, Barnsley
Ties to look forward to?: Fulham v Charlton Athletic, Huddersfield v Cardiff City
LEAGUE ONE
Champions: Charlton Athletic
Promotion: Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield
Relegation: Bury, Stevenage, Leyton Orient, Exeter City
Ties to look forward to?: Coventry City v Sheffield United, Barnsley v Scunthorpe United
LEAGUE TWO
Champions: Plymouth Argyle
Promotion: Plymouth Argyle, Rotherham United, Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers
Relegation: Dagenham and Redbridge, Aldershot Town
Blue Square promotion: Luton Town, Wrexham
Ties to look forward to?: Leyton Orient v Bradford City, Wrexham v Exeter City
Well, this is it. The final part of my mini series on how the top four English divisions will pan out in the forthcoming season. Hope you've been enjoying reading as much as I have writing this. Some of my predictions I have to say have been intriguing and this division will be a great way to roundup everything.
League Two is a super division. People sort of under value this league purely because of the small stadiums, the "who are ya" players and lack of television coverage on Sky or BBC. I believe League Two is a do-or-die division. Some teams here have been in the Premiership and Championship before but finance has let them down.
Bradford City is a fine example. Remember their Benito Carbone days? Now look where they are now - money problems are so bad, there were talks about losing out on their 25,000 capacity ground, Valley Parade. Rumours were spreading that they could move and share stadiums with local rugby league side Bradford Bulls but decided to stay at their stadium which has a lot of history.
This year, Plymouth Argyle are in this division, hoping to get a takeover after suffering a ten point deduction last season. They were in the Championship two years ago and after going into administration, they are in dying need to find a new owner if they're to get back where they belong. With chairman, Peter Risdale and manager Peter Reid on their side for their first full season at the club, they are one of the favourites to return back to League One.
There's a case in League Two that if they relegate to the division, they could be stuck there but if they promote from non-league football, they will boom. In recent history, we've seen Wigan Athletic reach for high grounds as they are now in the Premiership. They've not been in the Conference since 1978 and have done ever so well now.
In 2003, Doncaster were promoted to the football league and never looked back. They're now in the Championship, Yeovil Town went up in the same year and today are a solid League One team, same as Colchester United who left non-league in 1992.
Non-league football appears to be like a prison. If you're down there, you're in the dumps and at an undesirable position. Some clubs who have gone down, never looked back up. Take Chester City as an example. They relegated in 2009, and a year later they are no longer a football club due to their financial problems. Rushden and Diamonds only a few weeks ago discovered their fate as a football club and they were in the third tier not so long ago.
On the other hand, there are teams who have been in that rut and managed to get out of it. AFC Wimbledon will be the focus of this season after Sam Hammam left them in dire straits ten years ago. Now they've clawed their way back to the real business, will they get back to the Premier League before we know it, like in the 1990s?
Here are my thoughts on how League Two will look. They are a bit of fun, just for you to remember. Forgot to let you know in the other predictions, this table is subject to change. If a team goes into administration and docked ten points, that side in my table will get ten points less. Will wait and see. Hopefully no team will be in that situation this season...
Three of the four teams who were relegated to League Two instantly return back to the third tier. The other side in this equation, face life in the the dreaded non-league. Dagenham and Redbridge are that side as they suffered heartbreak on the final day drawing to Bristol Rovers, who beat Shrewsbury in the play-off final.Plymouth were pretty much dominant throughout the season as they confirmed their promotion by Easter whilst Rotherham and Swindon join them to League One. Argyle finding new owners on the eve of the new season got them off to an excellent start and never looked back in the process.
Surprise of the season, Hereford. Them, Burton Albion and Bradford City in the first 30 matches of the season were battling for a play-off place. Seeing Shrewsbury, Bristol Rovers and Gillingham were looking comfortable in the top six, only one of the trio had to occupy that slot. Burton slipped after losing five in a row during February/March time which opened the door for the other two sides. Crewe and Southend came close but not enough to harm Bradford's chances of an opportunity to play a further two or three matches. They fell short against Shrewsbury in the end but a strong finish means that the increased confidence could ensure a battle for perhaps the top three next season.
As well as Dagenham suffer relegation pain, Aldershot join them meaning that both southern clubs would have hard work ahead of them as Blue Square Premier is a tough division. Morecambe, AFC Wimbledon and Torquay had results their way on the final day and are hoping for improvements next season.
Crawley Town were automatically promoted to League Two last year and were hoping to settle in this division. Their 15th place finish is just what they're needed after critics didn't really give them a chance.
Well, these have been my predictions, here is the round up for all of the divisions I have predicted over the last ten days.
PREMIERSHIP
Champions: Manchester United
Champions League: Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal
Europa League: Liverpool, Tottenham, Fulham
Relegated: West Brom, Fulham, Bolton
Ties to look forward to?: Liverpool v Leeds United, Aston Villa v Birmingham City
CHAMPIONSHIP
Champions: West Ham United
Promotion: West Ham United, Leeds United, Birmingham City
Relegation: Coventry City, Brighton and Hove Albion, Barnsley
Ties to look forward to?: Fulham v Charlton Athletic, Huddersfield v Cardiff City
LEAGUE ONE
Champions: Charlton Athletic
Promotion: Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield
Relegation: Bury, Stevenage, Leyton Orient, Exeter City
Ties to look forward to?: Coventry City v Sheffield United, Barnsley v Scunthorpe United
LEAGUE TWO
Champions: Plymouth Argyle
Promotion: Plymouth Argyle, Rotherham United, Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers
Relegation: Dagenham and Redbridge, Aldershot Town
Blue Square promotion: Luton Town, Wrexham
Ties to look forward to?: Leyton Orient v Bradford City, Wrexham v Exeter City
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