League Two Preview

LEAGUE TWO PREVIEW

At the start of the League Two season the main consideration seems to be that one club (Crawley Town) are stuffed with cash, whilst many others (the other twenty three) haven't. Romantics will also wish AFC Wimbledon well as they begin their first season in the Football League. Those addicted to a spot of schadenfreude will now clap their hands with glee over the possibility of a Johnstone's Paint clash with their bitter enemies, MK Dons.

Other sideshows and curiosities include Paulo Di Canio's managerial debut with Swindon Town, Bradford's Guy Branston beginning life at his fifteenth club having joined the Bantams from Torquay and Micky Adams beginning a second spell as manager of Port Vale, having only left the Valiants to take over at Sheffield United at the end of last December.

But where will they all finish up? thegoal-line.com intends to provide you with some answers.

Crawley Town's goal-getter, Matt Tubbs.

Champions - Oxford United
Runners-Up - Crawley Town
3rd Place - Port Vale

Oxford United have had a fantastic pre-season, including a 2-0 win over Carling Cup holders Birmingham City and there is a feeling that under fresh young manager Chris Wilder that the U's could finally be going places. The signing of veteran defender Michael Duberry as well as an eyebrow-arching swoop for MK Don's Peter Leven points towards a healthy ambition. If anyone is going to finish above moneybags Crawley it'll probably be them.

According to the latest odds only Manchester United are clearer favourites to claim their title than Crawley Town. All the players who helped them to promotion last season, including top striker Matt Tubbs have stuck by the cause. Coupled with the signing of former Macclesfield striker Tyrone Barnett there'll sure to be goals galore at the Broadfield Stadium. That said Steve Evans may have to settle for runners-up spot, but considering it's their first season ever at this level that must be considered a success.

Everything was blooming in Port Vale's garden last season before lifelong Blade, Micky Adams was given the call to take over his boyhood club. Vale, who looked certain for automatic promotion suddenly dropped like a stone and finished a terrible 11th. Meanwhile Adams could do nothing for his beloved Sheffield United who were promptly relegated. Now he's back. Unfinished business? You bet. Promotion back to League One wouldn't be a bad start.

Play-Offs - Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers, Northampton Town, Accrington Stanley

With Paulo Di Canio at the helm of Swindon Town you can be sure that things won't be dull. Will he throw his toys out of the pram and have stormed out by October? Or will he mould the team into his own image as the Robins serenely delight us with some sumptuous football? Its going to be fun finding out.

Bristol Rovers are a curious beast and ones to watch. Like Swindon they were relegated last season but with a completely different team under former Torquay boss Paul Buckle and optimism is high in the air. May have to settle for a play-off spot though.

For one who nearly guided Bristol City into the Premier League and taken charge of the Latvian national side it seems a bit strange to see Gary Johnson managing at this level with Northampton Town. Having steered the Cobblers clear of relegation worries Johnson now has his sights set for promotion, which is something he has shown to be very capable of.

Accrington Stanley have little cash, small but voracious support and in John Coleman a manager who only Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger can claim to have been in their hot seats for longer. Were defeated in the play-offs last year, could they go one stage further this year?

There are some wily beasts amongst the managers of these clubs, but with his experience of guiding teams through the divisions we think that Gary Johnson's Northampton Town will take that final promotion slot.

Making up the rest of the top half - Shrewsbury Town, Southend United, Dagenham & Redbridge, Plymouth Argyle, Gillingham.

Shrewsbury Town have made some decent signings over the summer including Terry Gornell and Marvin Morgan. They also have a proven manager in manager in Graham Turner who has managed at pretty much every level. Sadly for them they may just come up short.

Southend United are being suggested as possible promotion contenders; with many of their off the pitch matters having been settled and with the recent signing of Neil Harris from Millwall it could well be an interesting year. Whether manager Paul Sturrock will be able to harness that we'll wait and see.

Dagenham & Redbridge probably expected to be relegated last season and would have turned their thoughts towards this season before their demotion was confirmed. John Still will have no problems getting the Daggers motivated again and they could come close to a top seven finish.

Many may expect Plymouth Argyle to struggle as a result of their current upheavals, but we think they'll have a half decent season although no promotion glory awaits Peter Reid's men this term.

Gillingham, led by Andy Hessenthaler, pulled off a bit of a trick by signing AFC Wimbledon's main striker Danny Kedwell. Last season they finished in eighth place, they may have to be disappointed again.

The other ten - Crewe Alexandra, Rotherham United, Torquay United, Burton Albion, AFC Wimbledon, Barnet, Bradford City, Aldershot Town, Cheltenham Town, Macclesfield Town.

There's something reassuring about Crewe Alexandra being managed again by Dario Gradi. Perhaps their days of promotion as far as the Championship may be behind them but Gradi's determination to play football in the right way and develop talent is ever to his credit. Crewe were involved in some crazy games last season, long may it continue although it will also cost them a stab at the play-offs.

Rotherham United are one of the many clubs in this division to have undergone some sort of financial hardship. But under former Brentford boss Andy Scott there may be some reason for optimism. Mid-table may be the best they can hope for though.

Having lost manager Paul Buckle to rivals Bristol Rovers and Guy Branston, club player of the year to Bradford City, Torquay United start the season in a slightly worse shape than they finished the previous one. Despite the likes of Eunan O'Kane pulling the strings in the midfield this may well be a disappointing campaign for the Gulls.

Goal-shy Burton Albion had a near-escape last year. Paul Peschisolido will be eager to avoid a repeat, otherwise his job may be severely under treat.

Without doubt the fairy-tale club are AFC Wimbledon as they begin their first year back in the Football League haven risen from the ashes. There are those who think they will be able to repeat their non-league success and soon find themselves at England's top table. Perhaps they may need to learn to walk before they can run. A season of consolidation is on the cards and then who knows quite where this story will go next? Hopefully, now that Merton Council are finally onside an eventual move back to their ancestral home will be more than fitting.

Barnet are due a good season. Lawrie Sanchez who until recently was managing in the top flight with Fulham and at International level with Northern Ireland certainly thinks so too. He may be right but will simply safety satisfy his ambitions?

In terms of size and potential fan base, Bradford City is by far and away the Leviathan of League Two albeit one that enjoys a nice, long kip. Another long snooze fest for the Bantams.

Aldershot Town's troubles last season revolved around a lack of goals which resulted in a 14th place finish. Would not bet against history repeating itself.

A tough year could be beckoning for Cheltenham Town. They conceded an avalanche of goals last time around and as one of the smaller clubs of the division a repeat could very well signal their doom. They should have enough to cling on.

Like Cheltenham, Macclesfield Town are one of the smaller clubs in the division and so the sales of Hamza Bencherif and Tyrone Barnett could yet prove fatal if they aren't adequately replaced. Could be a white knuckle ride at Moss Rose.

Going Down - Morecambe, Hereford United

Morecambe have relied perhaps too heavily on the goals of veteran striker Phil Jevons. Last season he struggled with injuries and so the Shrimpers also found life difficult. This season they also have a rookie manager in the guise of former club captain Jim Bentley. He will be charged with reversing the slump. If he doesn't then Morecambe are certainly heading out of the League.

Hereford United also had a tough season last year and they'll be relying on the form of defender Stefan Stam to help keep them afloat in this division. It may be too hard a task.

Greenwich Gull August 6th 2011 07.35am

Torquay in the bottom half - how could you?

In all seriousness, the two I'd personally disagree with are your high placings for Vale and Accrington. Given the continuing off-field chaos at the former and lack of resources at the latter, I'd put both of these in mid-table.

It's otherwise hard to be offended by your predictions - quite a few people (myself included) have Oxford and Northampton down as the sides who'll break into the promotion reckoning this time around. Oxford are a big club and won't need much improvement to challenge for a top 7 spot, while Gary Johnson has brought in some exciting players and has done this before with Yeovil.

I'd choose a different bottom 2, perhaps Burton and Macclesfield, but would agree that after their last campaigns both Morecambe and Hereford's primary concern this season would be survival.

Once again it's looking set to be an open contest in a genuinely competitive division.