Deadbat’s Season Preview 2015-16
Well here goes nothing again…….pin it and come back and laugh at the end of the season but here is my season preview / predictions for the new season.
For the last two seasons I predicted 7th in 2013-14 which I got bang on and then predicted 4th last season and we finished 5th. So not done too bad. I also picked the top 2 who went up last season….however I got some teams miles off too!
Least I have not sat on the fence I suppose….
- Wigan
Wigan may have been in free fall the last few seasons but they have actually invested wisely with some good acquisitions who should do really well at this level. The likes of Craig Davies and Will Grigg should score a hatful. They have signed proven league One players who are still young enough to develop in keeper Richard O’Donnell and also ex Wolves man Michael Jacobs. They have midfield battlers in likes of McCann, Perkins and also Cowie. At the back they have leadership and strength in Pearce and Barnett. They need to get off to a good start and adapt to the lower level and questions remain over a rookie manager in Gary Caldwell but having not been out of the Premier League and still have the Whelan family involved can chuck more money at it if needed. I would be very surprised if they not around the top 3 or 4 and I feel they may just nose the rest in a close fight at the top.
Key Man : Craig Davies, Striker
- Peterborough
Have disappointed in recent seasons since coming back down and Darren Ferguson paid the price. However they still have some real talent in the squad and I expect a much better effort this season. There have a bigger squad than most at this level and some pace and attacking threats. Jack Collison. Washington, Vassell and Maddison offer the goal threats and with more unity under former Academy boss Dave Robertson. They will be right up there this term and if the prolific Gornley from Ireland gets going might be tough to stop.
Key Man : Michael Bostwick, Midfielder
Playoffs : Sheffield United to beat Barnsley
- Sheffield United
Adkins has the feel good factor back at Bramall Lane and fans are much more positive. He has brought back Billy Sharp. Not sure Connor Sammon is much of a goal scorer but with talent around him like Sharp, Done, Adams and Murphy we should be much more of a goal threat. We have enough options in midfield too with the likes of Basham and a slim line Jose Baxter to create openings and there is a mix of experience and youth. Hopefully the shackles will be off and United can be less cautious and attack more. Have to make the home ground more of a fortress and ensure anyone who gets out of the Lane with even a point has worked like trojans to get it.
Still the big questions over the defence remain. We went into last season with this as a glaring weakness in terms of centre backs and it is very strange Adkins actually seems happy with Collins and McEvely; two players that are simply not reliable enough for a side going for promotion. The problem is by the time he realises it could be too late as a poor start last year cost us. The squad in comparison to many other contenders has more quality and experience than most. The division is much weaker and outside of Wigan there are no real stand out teams. United have a squad with depth that is the envy of most at this level and have to make it count. I feel we might have to do it the hard way but could be playoffs and promotion via this traditionally unlucky route.
Key Man : Jamie Murphy, Midfielder
- Barnsley
Lee Johnson is an excellent young manager who has done well at Oldham and got Barnsley flying up the league last season. He has made one or two decent signings and he has longer to get the side playing his way. Marc Roberts and Alfie Mawson toughen up the defence. Mason Holgate is also a rough diamond. Young striker Connor Wilkinson will help leading scorer Sam Winnall. They have signed some good young loan players from Arsenal (Daniel Crowley) and Manchester United (Ben Pearson) too but I think this prediction is more based on Johnson’s abilities.
Key Man : Sam Winnall, Striker
- Scunthorpe
This is my wild card if you like but Mark Robins is a decent manager and knows this league well. He has done some really astute business in the summer and has players who can get goals. They may have been nearer the bottom than top last season but will be a surprise packet. King, Wiseman and Laird from Preston are a trio of players that will improve the side massively. They have some young talent coming through and ex Blade Darius Henderson can come on and knock people about at the end of games.
Key Man : Paddy Madden, Striker
- Bradford
Just have a feeling buoyed by big crowds that could be around 15-20,000 every week at Valley Parade that they will have a good season. They have two big lads who will be threats in Hanson and also ex Blade Steven Davies. Also they have some creativity in Luke James (ex Hartlepool) and Josh Morris who was one of Fleetwood’s key men (caused United some real problems). Paul Anderson will give them some much needed width too. They will thrive on the home factor and win a lot more games here. If they can tighten up at the back then they will be right in the mix this season.
Key Man : James Hanson, Striker
- Doncaster
Will be a real local feel about the top reaches of the division this next season. Doncaster were one of the best sides we saw at the Lane. They may have lost Kyle Bennett to Pompey but they have a lot of experienced players still with the likes of Richie Wellens, newcomer Richard Chaplow and Jamie Coppinger. They also have striking threats in Nathan Tyson and former Swindon man Andy Williams. If they can get off to a better start should be up and around the top 6.
Key Man : Richie Wellens
- Swindon
A side that made the Play off final but have been ravaged over the summer losing key talents such as Gladwin and Luongo and seeing out of contract Foderingham released. Striker Andy Williams also moved on and Louis Thompson went back to parent club Swindon. Talents like Byrne and Kasim remain but the squad looks very small and will rely on wily business from Mark Cooper in the loan market. Can see the young squad not quite faring as well this time around.
Key Man : Nathan Byrne, Defender
- Millwall
Another side that has come down but they have seen a lot of players move on or be released and the squad lacks leadership and experience. They can have a real home advantage with the intimidation of the fans which will be more of a factor at the lower level. Another rookie manager but one respected at the Den in Neil Harris. They have brought back experienced defender Tony Craig and have a talent in midfield in Nadim Abjou but the squad does have a lot of holes that need addressing. They might find things harder than they think.
Key Man : Lee Gregory, Striker
- Rochdale
Had a really good season last season and were quite close to the playoffs. Manager Keith Hill always does well with limited resources. He continues to surprise. Ex Blades Brandy and McGinty have moved on after doing very little but they have a solid spine and ex Plymouth man Allesandra will add something different. The surprise factor is not there this time but they will still be around the upper echeleons.
Key Man : Ian Henderson, Striker
- Bury
A newly promoted side but one that in my opinion will do very well as have tons of experience and seem to have a larger budget than they have had at this level than before. They have recruited some experienced strikers in Leon Clarke and Tom Pope and have players like Ryan Lowe and Daniel Naridello around too. Peter Clarke adds experience at the back. I midfield they have some athleticism with Etuhu and Jacob Mellis. David Flitcroft has done well to bounce back from leaving Barnsley and expect him to carry on Bury’s transition here.
Key Man : Leon Clarke, Striker
- Coventry
The move back to the Ricoh did not quite herald the transformation that Sky Blues fans would have hoped but the first full season for Tony Mowbray should herald more stability. They have not really added many players with young striker Adam Armstrong coming in from Newcastle on loan and former Orient midfielder Romain Vincelot arriving. They have some experienced players such as Reda Johnson and Jim O’Brien but do lack genuine striking options and unsure the squad is strong enough to contend at the top.
Key Man : Adam Armstrong, Striker
- Fleetwood
Had a superb season last year and skirted with the top 6. However they have lost a few key players in the summer and Josh Morris will be a real loss. In comes Jimmy Ryan from Chesterfield and Amari Bell from Birmingham. I think they will have enough to not be near the bottom but be difficult for them to be quite as high as last season. Graham Alexander is a good young manager and has to be commended for job he has done here.
Key Man : Jimmy Ryan, Midfielder
- Gillingham
Stayed up fairly comfortably in the end and manager Justin Edinburgh continued to prove his talent after doing so well at Newport. They seem to be a bit more settled and have kept much of the squad together. They will not contend for promotion but will not be amongst the strugglers either and if they continue to be strong at home; they can surprise some of the bigger sides.
Key Man : Cody McDonald, Striker
- Walsall
Have not quite fared as well for the last few seasons and with small crowds and limited budget, it is hard for them to keep punching above their weight. Lost another key man in Richard O’Donnell but still have some talent in Romaine Sawyers and Tom Bradshaw who will get them enough goals to keep them away from the strugglers.
Key Man : Tom Bradshaw, Striker
- Chesterfield
I could be miles off with this prediction but there is always one side who does well one
season and then falls off. I would not have pegged Chesterfield any higher than 10-12th even keeping their players but having lost Doyle, Darwika, Roberts and Clucas, I do not see them bouncing back from having the spine of their team ravaged. Sylvain Ebanks Blake is a player on his way down and Dean Saunders is a huge drop off from the excellent Paul Cook and worryingly has a record for taking teams down. They might just stave off such a turnaround but it will be tough.
Key Man : Tommy Lee, Goalkeeper
- Burton
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink carried on the superb work started by Gary Rowett and the Brewers came up as Champions. Losing Adam McGurk to Portsmouth was a blow and the squad lacks experience at this level to some degree but they should carry on the momentum from last year to stay up.
Key Man : John Mousinho, Midfield
17.Oldham
Not quite the same after Gary Johnson left. They have Lee Croft back and have brought in experienced David Dunn but it is a thin squad on the whole with former Blade Danny Philliskirk counted on for the creativity. They have some striking options in Dominic Poleon, Jonathan Forte and also Jake Cassidy but Forte will not score as many goals this season and without this it will be tougher.
Key Man : David Dunn, Midfielder
- Port Vale
Vale did ok for large parts of the season but then tailed off towards the end. They have lost some key players including striker Tom Pope. Ex Blade Michael Brown is still there but they have a real lack of quality in the rest of the squad and I fear they may have a season looking over their shoulders.
Key Man : Anthony Grant, Midfielder
- Shrewsbury
Have bounced between the bottom two divisions in the last few years but I think the have enough to survive this time around. Young players such as Connor Goldson and Ryan Woods will continue to develop and they have some experience in the likes of Liam Lawrence. James Collins and Tyrone Barnett have to get the goals or they may be sucked into a scrap though at the bottom.
Key Man : Connor Goldson, Defender
- Southend
Were literally seconds away from being back in League Two but a late leveller and then penalty drama saw them deny Wycombe to gain promotion. They lost striker Barry Corr who opted to for a bigger pay deal at Cambridge. However they have an excellent keeper in Daniel Bentley and a manager who has been about a bit in Phil Brown. Think they will need to be strong at home to survive but with lack of goal threats and a small squad it could be a step too far.
Key Man : Daniel Bentley, Goalkeeper
22.Colchester
Last day heroics saw them survive but one or two veterans have moved on. They have signed a few defenders in Brindley (ex Rotherham) and Briggs (ex Millwall) but have largely the same squad as last year. Ex Blade Chris Porter may be a good pro but the fact he is now captain and expected to lead from the front says it all about their chances this season. They will definitely be one of the stragglers.
Key Man : George Moncur, Midfielder
23. Blackpool
I do not see the rot stopping anytime soon. The club is a mess. The arguments rage and the chairman clearly does not seem to give a damn. Most of the experienced players they did have left have moved on. They have brought in a few loan players that are inexperienced and a few lads from the Scottish Leagues but it looks a threadbare squad. Neil McDonald has the impossible task of trying to halt the slide but with arguments on (Nial Ranger who signed a new contract but already called the new manager out on twitter) and off the pitch (with Oyston and the fans); I cannot see how they can turn things around. If fans boycott games it will make it even harder for them.
Key Man : Colin Doyle, Goalkeeper
24. Crewe
Crewe stayed up by the skin of their teeth last year and do not seem to have brought many
notable players in losing a couple including the influential Anthony Grant. Unsure where the
goals will come from. They will continue to bring through the young talent but can see them
struggling this season.
Key Man : George Ray, Defender
And for a bonus laugh….
Here are my predictions for the other leagues:
Premiership :
1. Chelsea
2. Man Utd
3. Man City
4. Arsenal
Relegated :
18. Aston Villa
19. Bournemouth
20. Norwich
Championship :
1. Middlesbrough
2. Derby
Promotion in Playoffs : Burnley beat Hull
Relegated :
22. MK Dons
23. Birmingham
24. Charlton
League Two :
1. Cambridge
2. Portsmouth
3. Notts County
Promotion in Playoffs : Orient beat Oxford
Relegated :
23. Mansfield
24. Dagenham
