League Two Preview

With the brand new season just over 24 hours away, Sports Journalist and lower league football anorak Andrew Webb takes a look at the clubs in League Two and gives us his views on what might happen in the coming season.



LEAGUE TWO

First and foremost, out of all three Football League divisions, I think this one is the hardest to judge. On their day any team is really capable of beating each other, as has been proved in the last couple of years with unfancied teams like Dagenham & Redbridge, Stevenage, Morecambe & Accrington Stanley all relative success in either winning promotion or reaching the end of season play-off's.

Daggers Delight - Nobody expected John Still's pub team to win promotion in 2010?  (Telegraph)

Promotion - Out of all the teams in League Two, if I had to choose a team that I believe will win the title this season then I would go for Northampton Town. Despite having a horrendous second half to last season, the Cobblers have really impressed me with their summer signings. Jake Robinson was a key player for Torquay United last term, whilst other signings such as Adebayo Akinfenwa, Shaun Harrad and Ben Tozer are proven players with a good pedigree. But most of all they have a good manager in Gary Johnson, who has a proven track record and it would be foolish not to consider his team as genuine title candidates.

Pushing Northampton all the way I expect will be Swindon Town. The Robins have had a pretty awful season last year and with all the coming's and going's at the County Ground recently, Swindon fans could be forgiven for not knowing who some of their players are when they kick-off on the opening day of the season. Nevertheless though, they will be one of the biggest clubs with the best resources in League Two, and with Paolo Di Canio, they have a manager who is a motivator and a born winner, and all these attributes are something that strikes me as a great reciepe for success.

Paolo Di Canio - Great player, a great manager too? (Swindon Link)

A number of teams such as Crawley Town, Southend United, Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale are fancied by the bookmakers to gain promotion this season, and the team who I think will secure the final automatic promotion place is Southend. In Paul Sturrock they certainly have a manager that is capable of getting the best out of his players. Having overcome financial difficulties in the last few years, Sturrock has added players like Neil Harris, Jean-Paul Kalala and Jemal Johnson to his squad during the summer and these are players who will excel in this division.

VERDICT: Northampton Town, Swindon Town and Southend United.

Play-off's - I'm not sure if I am being ignorant, but I just can't see Crawley taking an automatic promotion place this season, even though most bookmakers have them as odds on favourites for the title. However, I do believe they are more than capable of claiming a play-off place. The momentum they will have from last season's title triumph can only be a good thing and players like Matt Tubbs, Sergio Torres and John Akinde should flourish at this level. Midfielder Jamie Day will also add a bit of quality.

Will Crawley fans witness similar scenes this season? (Crawley Observer)

Another couple of teams I expect to finish in play-off positions are Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale. I know the Shrews felt they were really hard done that they missed out on automatic promotion last season at the expense of Wycombe, and I'm sure the former Hereford manager will have his side back in the promotion hunt once again this season.

Port Vale fell away from the promotion race badly in the second half of last season, but with Mickey Adams returning I believe he will get the best out of a small but talented group of players, with players like Lewis Haldane, Sean Rigg and Anthony Griffith perhaps benefitting more than most from Adams' return.

Lewis Haldane could benefit from Adams' return . (Port Vale F.C.)

That leaves one position up for grabs and a host of teams could take the final play-off spot. Bradford City will be stronger this year, but I'm unsure of whether or not Peter Jackson can take them from relegation fodder to play-off material in the space of 12 months. Bristol Rovers will fancy their chances, but I believe Paul Buckle has a tough job on his hands and they may take a while to settle due to the amount of new faces that have arrived at the club over the summer. Plymouth Argyle will be another contender, but it may be a season of transition down at Home Park.

If I had to stick my neck out and pick a team, then my choice would be Gillingham. A lot was expected of Andy Hessenthaler's team last season and it took him a long time before he started getting the results he wanted, but with a full season behind him now, I'm sure the Gills will be stronger this time around. The arrival of Danny Kedwell will bring goals and Chris Whelpdale, a player who has been on loan at the Priestfield previously, is also a player I rate very highly having saw him a number of times for Peterborough.

VERDICT: Crawley Town, Shrewsbury Town, Port Vale and Gillingham.

Gillingham have been successful in the League Two play-off's before.

Relegation - It may come as a surprise to some people, but I can see AFC Wimbledon struggling in their first year as a Football League club. What they have achieved since their formation has been nothing short of incredible, but I believe their squad as a whole is lacking in any real Football League experience and that is something that could count against them. On the positive side of things though, former Histon duo Gareth Gwillim and Jack Midson are great acquisitions and could make the grade at this level.

Haydon will be eagerly anticipating the new football season. (AFC Wimbledon)

The two teams I believe will get relegated though are Macclesfield Town and Burton Albion. The Silkmen struggle year upon year, and it seems inevitable that they will drop out of the Football League sooner or later. The resources available to the manager seems to get lesser each year and the writing could be on the wall for them I'm afraid. I also choose Burton Albion as I think Paul Peschisolido hasn't really managed to establish them as a Football League club and after their poor run last season, which saw them dragged into the relegation dog fight from absolutely nowhere, I wonder about the team spirit and belief the players have in their own ability at the club.

Finally, I'd like to finish by mentioning Barnet, who are one of my favourite teams in the entire league. I feel Lawrie Sanchez deserves a special mention as he has brought some really good players like Dean Brill, Danny Senda and Sam Deering to the club this summer. Added to the goals that Steve Kabba and Izale McLeod will provide, things are seemingly looking bright at Underhill for the first time in years, something which is really pleasing to see. I wish them all the best of luck.

VERDICT: Macclesfield Town and Burton Albion.

Things are looking considerably brighter at Underhill this season. (TeamTalk)

Don't forget to check back later today as Sport Matters... will be taking an in depth look at League Two club Cheltenham Town, who this season will celebrate their 125 year anniversary.