Deadbat
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League One Preview 2016/17 (incorporating Ins and Outs)
Well here goes nothing….every year I stick my neck out and predict where all sides will finish. Last year I think I got 4 of the top 6 and 3 of the 4 relegated sides too. Of course not many predicted sides like Burton, Walsall and Gillingham would be so high nor that others would struggle so much such as Doncaster and maybe even us!
I think this year is as open as any season and really could be any side that makes the top 6. I do not see any real stand outs for promotion or relegation but on budgets/squads and the managers they have; the below is where I feel teams may finish. Last year I predicted us 4th I believe. I am a little more cautious this time but with a few more incoming we may be higher than position I have us tagged in currently.
So here are my predictions complete with the ins and outs over the summer for our League One rivals (I may have missed odd transfer but hope most is there)
Scroll down for bonus predictions for the ‘other’ leagues and competitions!
-------
1) Millwall
Millwall have kept the nucleus of the side that reached the play off final and have some talented young players. They have the strike due of Morison and Gregory and plenty of legs and bite in the middle of the park. Craig, Williams and Webster are all solid defenders at the back. They have added players in the talented Worrall from Southend, the combative Hutchinson to replace the outgoing Upson and also the young Wylde who did so well for Plymouth last season. They look as good a bet as any to win the league with the squad they have.
Ins: David Worrall (Southend), Gregg Wylde (Plymouth), Shaun Hutchinson (Fulham), Shane Ferguson (Newcastle)
Outs: Ed Upson (MK Dons), Lee Martin (Gillingham), David Forde (Portsmouth – loan deal season), Paris Cowan Hall (Wycombe – loan deal till January) Mark Beevers (Bolton), John Marquis (Doncaster), Dexter Peter (Colchester), Carlos Edwards
Key Player: Lee Gregory.
Gregory remains despite rumours of his exit with Rotherham amongst those clubs interested. His striker partner Morison does a lot of the donkey work but Gregory is a class act and the Sheffield lad will be key to Milllwall’s promotion hopes. If he goes before the end of the transfer window then this would be a huge blow to the Lions.
2) Charlton
An absolute mess last season from ownership to management. Roland Duchatelet is still there as he presides over Charlton and several other clubs worldwide. They of course went for Chris Wilder but settled on another former Blade Russell Slade. He has done well at this level before and has made some shrewd signings. They seem to have a decent budget despite the trouble at the top and in Ajose, Holmes and Novak have bought well. Crofts is a player that has lost his way after some promise at Norwich and he also could be a really good addition. They will of course miss the talented Gudmundsson, Cousins and Pope but still have experience in the likes of main stay Johnnie Jackson and also centre back Roger Johnson. Callum Harriott is also a player that has attracted interest from the leagues above and Ademola Lookman is a talented youngster that is a player on the rise. Slade has to be get the team going again but his know how coupled with the talent he has up top means they will be right up there.
Ins: Nicky Ajose (Swindon), Andrew Crofts (Brighton), Lee Novak (Birmingham), Ricky Holmes (Northampton), Louis Yamfam (Stevenage)
Outs: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley), Nick Pope (Burnley), Jordan Cousins (QPR), Stephen Henderson (Nottm Forest), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenvenen), Tony Watt (Hearts – loan deal season), Joe Pigott (Cambridge), Igor Vetokele (Zolte Waregem), Simon Makienok (Preston), George Tucudean (Pandurri), Marko Dmitrovic (AD Alcoron)
Key Player: Nicky Ajose.
He was prolific at Swindon and with better service and players around him will look to be the main man at the Valley. With Holmes ad Crofts supplying the service, I expect Ajose to be up there for the League One leading scorer.
3) MK Dons
Karl Robinson eventually took the Dons up but his stay in the Championship was brief. He has done well on limited funds but does sometimes spoil it with some of his outspoken comments but will fancy his chances to get them back up. Lewington, Potter, Upson, Bowditch, Maynard, Reeves and Powell are all proven performers at this level. Veteran Walsall defender Paul Downing joins the group and will shore up a leaky back line from last year helping replace the outgoing Callum McFadzean. Simon Church comes back into the fold from Aberdeen and I expect him to score goals at this level and with Maynard adding the pace; they will not be short of firepower. Be surprised if they are at least not in the playoffs as many of the players remain from the side that went up a few seasons ago.
Ins: George Williams (Fulham – loan deal season), Ed Upson (Millwall), George Williams (Barnsley), Paul Downing (Walsall)
Outs: Kyle McFadzean (Burton), Lee Hodson (Rangers)
Key Player: Nicky Maynard.
Not really kicked on after showing such early promise at Crewe and Bristol City but you expect him to score a lot of goals and cause all sorts of problems with his pace and strong running.
4) Bolton *promoted via the playoffs
Wanderers like Charlton, went down with a whimper and are haemorrhaging money but were taken over by the Sports Shield group headed up by former striker Dean Holdsworth. They made a surprise and shrewd appointment by luring Phil Parkinson from Bradford, where he had done a sterling job. It was a surprise to see him make that move as Bolton will probably average less crowds and seem to be going the opposite direction but he may have been given certain assurances that he did not have with the Bantams. They saw a lot of players move on but still have a lot of experience and quality with midfielders such as Pratley, Vela, Davies, Trotter, Spearing added to be incoming Chris Taylor. Up top they have the talented Zach Clough and the former Owl Gary Madine. Parkinson also brought in Jamie Proctor with him from Bradford. Not sure they have enough goals up top to be right up there for automatic but have enough muscle and experience in Dervite, Beevers and Moxey at the back. They have a decent keeper in Ben Amos too. With money in from selling young defender Holding to Arsenal they may bring in more firepower to compliment the riches in midfield. Will be around the top 6 I feel.
Ins: Mark Beevers (Millwall), Mark Howard (Sheffield United), Chris Taylor (Blackburn Rovers), Jamie Proctor (Bradford)
Outs: Neil Danns (Bury), Rob Holding (Arsenal), Liam Feeney (Blackburn), Hayden White (Peterborough), Niall Maher (Bury), Jamie Thomas (Burnley), Oscar Threlkeld (Plymouth), Tom Eaves (Yeovil), Rob Hall (Oxford), David Wheater, Stephen Dobbie, Paul Rachukba
Key Player: Mark Davies.
A talented footballer who can create for others. Has the intelligence to make those key threaded passes and to just get his foot on the ball. Will stand out at this level.
5) Scunthorpe
Surprised last season and just missed the playoffs. They have kept all the side together and have added to it with Sam Mantom coming in from Walsall to bolster the midfield. They have a lot of experience across the side and are a close knit outfit that are well drilled by Graham Alexander. The likes of Laird, Wiseman, Bishop, Dawson and King all give them a nucleus and with the poaching of Madden and Hopper up top have a goal threat. They have the continuity and togetherness to be right amongst the top and it would be more of a surprise if they are not around the top 6.
Ins: Duane Holmes (Huddersfield), Sam Mantom (Walsall), Josh Morris (Bradford)
Outs: Andrew Boyce (Grimsby), Gary McSheffrey (Doncaster), Niall Canavan (Rochdale), Sean McAllister (Grimsby), Dominic Vose (Grimsby – season long loan)
Key Player: Paddy Madden.
Prolific again last season with 23 goals in all competitions, Madden will be the goal getter again and if he can replicate the goals he got last season then they will be right up there knocking on the playoffs.
6) Sheffield United *losing play off finalist
Another year, another manager. United rolled the dice again after the desperately disappointing campaign under Nigel Adkins. In comes Blades fanatic Wilder who has helped clear out a lot of the deadwood and brought in a few useful additions. The side still lacks genuine leaders and may still get bullied for size/strength but Wilder seems like in his own words he ‘won’t fanny about.’ This is a side that still has defensive/goalkeeping questions and maybe still some concerns around the creative element. Young strikers Che Adams and Dominic Calvert Lewin may move on but with Sharp, Done, McNulty and Clarke, there is goals in this side if they can keep them out the other end. Difficult to know where to peg them. Wilder will do his utmost to get almost 20,000 fans finally thinking this is the year they escape this division but it is never straight forward with the Blades. A good start is vital to ensure the fans are ‘on board.’
Ins: Jack O’Connell (Brentford), James Wilson (Oldham), Chris Hussey (Bury), Jake Wright (Oxford), Mark Duffy (Birmingham), John Fleck (Coventry), Leon Clarke (Bury)
Outs: Mark Howard (Bolton), Jay McEveley (Ross County), Harrison McGahey (Rochdale), Florent Cuvelier (Walsall), Ryan Flynn (Oldham), Diego DeGirolamo (Bristol City), Callum McFadzean (Kilmarnock), CJ Hamilton (Mansfield), Terry Kennedy (Alfreton), Ioan Evans (Gainsborough), Jamal Campbell Ryce, Dean Hammond, Jose Baxter, Bob Harris, George Willis
Key Player: Billy Sharp.
Without doubt one of the best strikers in the league. Last year scored a hatful with little real service. This year he may get more chances if Wilder’s Blades are more attacking than the plodding side seen under Adkins. Leon Clarke will take the weight off him and you feel those two could be a difficult combination to stop at this level.
7) Bristol Rovers
Rovers may have only just sneaked up and maybe finished below Oxford and Northampton but I have a sneaky feeling they may be the surprise packet from last season. They have a very talented manager in Darrell Clarke who Leeds considered luring to Elland Road in the summer. The squad may not be bristling with talent but back to back promotions suggest Clarke knows what he is doing. He has made a few smart acquisitions in Hartley and Moore and with the free scoring Taylor they will surprise team this season and may not quite replicate what Burton did but will be tough to beat at home.
Ins: Peter Hartley (Plymouth), Luke James (Peterborough – season long loan), Byron Moore (Port Vale),
Outs: Rory Fallon, Tom Parkes (Leyton Orient)
Key Player: Matty Taylor.
Taylor was prolific in League Two scoring 27 goals and Rovers have managed to keep hold of him. He will continue to shine even in a league higher as he scores all types of goals.
8) Gillingham
They were right amongst the pacesetters last season and whilst they fell away and missed out on the top 6 altogether, manager Justin Edinburgh is another talented young manager who clearly has the right stuff after impressing with Newport previously. Bradley Dack remains but John Egan will be a loss having been a key man at the back. Still they have brought in experienced Paul Konchesky and few midfielders who may help unlock the door in Knott and Wagstaff. Oshijala comes back on loan to help soften the departure of Egan. Not sure they quite have enough goals up top and will rely on Cody McDonald again although look out for young striker Joe Quigley on loan from Bournemouth who could help in this area.
Ins: Paul Konchesky (Leicester), Billy Knott (Bradford), Scott Wagstaff (Bristol City), Lee Martin (Millwall), Mark Byrne (Newport), Joe Quigley (Bournemouth – season long loan), Deji Oshijala (Cardiff)
Outs: Doug Loft (Colchester), Jermaine McGlashan (Southend), Brennan Dickenson (Colchester), Glenn Morris (Crawley), John Egan (Brentford)
Key Player: Bradley Dack.
The long flowing hair and goals/play of Dack was one of the features of the League One season last year. Despite a few teams showing interest he has remained at the Priestfield. He is more of a known quantity and will be a marked man but still should have quality to make a difference.
9) Oxford
A side that flirted with promotion for a few years, they made it over the line and manager Michael Appleton is another who seems to have got his career back on track after the early promise had seemingly stalled. Oxford lost two key men in Roofe and O’Dowda but have recruited very well to replace them with a number of strikers coming in and some good young Premier League loanees arriving. Wes Thomas will be a good addition adding pace and goals. Former Owl Maguire and Sercombe are steady players for League One and they will surprise a few sides this year. They won’t struggle and may push into the top half.
Ins: Wes Thomas (Birmingham), Rob Hall (Bolton), Kane Hemmings (Dundee), Curtis Nelson (Plymouth), Dan Crowley (Arsenal – season long loan), Simon Eastwood (Blackburn), Aaron Martin (Coventry), Christian Ribiero (Exeter), Joe Rothwell (Man Utd – season long loan), Tyler Roberts (West Brom)
Outs: Jake Wright (Sheffield United), Kemar Roofe (Leeds), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City)
Key Player: John Lundstram.
Captain Lundstram has a number of loan spells when he was a talented young midfielder at Everton but has found a home at the Kassam Stadium. He gets his foot in but gets on the ball too and his play will be vital to Oxford’s continuing their upward trajectory.
10) Shrewsbury
May seem a lot higher than many would envisage, including the bookies but they have done some really smart work over the summer and manager Nicky Mellon will be confident they will not struggle this season and with a good start could push to the top half of the table. They raided Port Vale for a trio of players but the likes of Sarcevic, O’Brien and Riley all look like smart additions from League One rivals. El Abd will give some experience at the back. If they can get Ritchie Wellens fit that could help them even more. A lot will depend on whether Dodds and Barnett can get the goals.
Ins: Antoni Sarcevic (Fleetwood), Jim O’Brien (Coventry), Gary Deegan (Southend), Adam El Abd (Bristol City), Olly Lancashire (Rochdale), Louis Dodds (Port Vale), AJ Leitch Smith (Port Vale), Ryan McGivern (Port Vale), Joe Riley (Bury)
Outs: James Collins (Crawley), Nathaniel Knight Percival (Bradford), Matt Tootle (Notts County), Elliott Grandin, Jermain Grandison, Jean Louis Akpa Akpro (Barnet), Scott Vernon, Zak Whitbread
Key Player: Jayson Leutwiler.
A steadying presence in goal, Leutwiler was eyed by Wolves and others in the summer but has opted to remain at the Greenhous Meadow.
11) Bradford
They made the playoffs last year and with excellent crowds expectations will remain. New owners come in from Germany and with Phil Parkinson not hanging around, former Bantam legend Stuart McCall makes another return; his fourth return as a player or manager! The new signings don’t inspire any kind of thoughts of bettering last seasons’ 5th position. Colin Doyle comes for £1 (one pound – activating his release clause) from Blackpool and will compete with new German keeper Rouven Sattelmaier for the keeping shirt. Tough tackling Romain Vincelot will stiffen up the middle of the park. However, McCall has struggled when in English football previously as a manager despite success in Scotland and not sure he will get any more out of this squad than Parkinson did. I expect them to dip a bit this season. Parkinson had a certain way of playing (quite direct) and not sure McCall will be want to play that way.
Ins: Nathaniel Knight Percival (Shrewsbury), Jordy Hiwula (Huddersfield – season long loan), Timothee Dieng (Oldham), Colin Doyle (Blackpool), Romain Vincelot (Coventry)
Outs: Jamie Proctor (Bolton), Billy Knott (Bradford), Alan Sheehan (Luton), Steven Davies, Christopher Routis, Ben Williams (Bury), Josh Morris (Scunthorpe),
Key Player: Billy Clarke.
Former Blade Clarke has that extra bit of class and whether played as a striker or just off the top; he can cause defences problems. He will look to build on an excellent 15/16 campaign.
12) Northampton
Lost their manager, Wilder to United but quickly brought in another promising manager in Rob Page who saw more potential at Northampton than at Port Vale. Page signed a couple from Peterborough and bit target man Alex Revell will be a focal point of the attack. Lost Ricky Holmes to Charlton but kept the majority of the title winning side and they will be comfortable in mid table carrying on momentum from last season. The pressing game that Wilder employed will surely remain but Page will want to put his own stamp on things and it might take time for Town to settle but after a poor start they will move up the league.
Ins: Alex Revell (MK Dons), Harry Beautyman (Peterborough), Gabriel Zakuani (Peterborough), Paddy Kenny (Rotherham), Kenji Gorre (Swansea – season long loan), Jak McCourt (Barnsley), David Cornell (Oldham), Aaron Phillips (Coventry), Raheem Hanley (Swansea),
Outs: Ricky Holmes (Charlton), Nicky Adams (Carlisle), Danny Rose (Portsmouth), Evan Horwood (Chester), Ryan Clarke (Wimbledon),
Key Player: Adam Smith.
Became a steadying influence for the Cobblers last season whose defensive record was down in large part to the form of keeper Smith.
Well here goes nothing….every year I stick my neck out and predict where all sides will finish. Last year I think I got 4 of the top 6 and 3 of the 4 relegated sides too. Of course not many predicted sides like Burton, Walsall and Gillingham would be so high nor that others would struggle so much such as Doncaster and maybe even us!
I think this year is as open as any season and really could be any side that makes the top 6. I do not see any real stand outs for promotion or relegation but on budgets/squads and the managers they have; the below is where I feel teams may finish. Last year I predicted us 4th I believe. I am a little more cautious this time but with a few more incoming we may be higher than position I have us tagged in currently.
So here are my predictions complete with the ins and outs over the summer for our League One rivals (I may have missed odd transfer but hope most is there)
Scroll down for bonus predictions for the ‘other’ leagues and competitions!
-------
1) Millwall
Millwall have kept the nucleus of the side that reached the play off final and have some talented young players. They have the strike due of Morison and Gregory and plenty of legs and bite in the middle of the park. Craig, Williams and Webster are all solid defenders at the back. They have added players in the talented Worrall from Southend, the combative Hutchinson to replace the outgoing Upson and also the young Wylde who did so well for Plymouth last season. They look as good a bet as any to win the league with the squad they have.
Ins: David Worrall (Southend), Gregg Wylde (Plymouth), Shaun Hutchinson (Fulham), Shane Ferguson (Newcastle)
Outs: Ed Upson (MK Dons), Lee Martin (Gillingham), David Forde (Portsmouth – loan deal season), Paris Cowan Hall (Wycombe – loan deal till January) Mark Beevers (Bolton), John Marquis (Doncaster), Dexter Peter (Colchester), Carlos Edwards
Key Player: Lee Gregory.
Gregory remains despite rumours of his exit with Rotherham amongst those clubs interested. His striker partner Morison does a lot of the donkey work but Gregory is a class act and the Sheffield lad will be key to Milllwall’s promotion hopes. If he goes before the end of the transfer window then this would be a huge blow to the Lions.
2) Charlton
An absolute mess last season from ownership to management. Roland Duchatelet is still there as he presides over Charlton and several other clubs worldwide. They of course went for Chris Wilder but settled on another former Blade Russell Slade. He has done well at this level before and has made some shrewd signings. They seem to have a decent budget despite the trouble at the top and in Ajose, Holmes and Novak have bought well. Crofts is a player that has lost his way after some promise at Norwich and he also could be a really good addition. They will of course miss the talented Gudmundsson, Cousins and Pope but still have experience in the likes of main stay Johnnie Jackson and also centre back Roger Johnson. Callum Harriott is also a player that has attracted interest from the leagues above and Ademola Lookman is a talented youngster that is a player on the rise. Slade has to be get the team going again but his know how coupled with the talent he has up top means they will be right up there.
Ins: Nicky Ajose (Swindon), Andrew Crofts (Brighton), Lee Novak (Birmingham), Ricky Holmes (Northampton), Louis Yamfam (Stevenage)
Outs: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley), Nick Pope (Burnley), Jordan Cousins (QPR), Stephen Henderson (Nottm Forest), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenvenen), Tony Watt (Hearts – loan deal season), Joe Pigott (Cambridge), Igor Vetokele (Zolte Waregem), Simon Makienok (Preston), George Tucudean (Pandurri), Marko Dmitrovic (AD Alcoron)
Key Player: Nicky Ajose.
He was prolific at Swindon and with better service and players around him will look to be the main man at the Valley. With Holmes ad Crofts supplying the service, I expect Ajose to be up there for the League One leading scorer.
3) MK Dons
Karl Robinson eventually took the Dons up but his stay in the Championship was brief. He has done well on limited funds but does sometimes spoil it with some of his outspoken comments but will fancy his chances to get them back up. Lewington, Potter, Upson, Bowditch, Maynard, Reeves and Powell are all proven performers at this level. Veteran Walsall defender Paul Downing joins the group and will shore up a leaky back line from last year helping replace the outgoing Callum McFadzean. Simon Church comes back into the fold from Aberdeen and I expect him to score goals at this level and with Maynard adding the pace; they will not be short of firepower. Be surprised if they are at least not in the playoffs as many of the players remain from the side that went up a few seasons ago.
Ins: George Williams (Fulham – loan deal season), Ed Upson (Millwall), George Williams (Barnsley), Paul Downing (Walsall)
Outs: Kyle McFadzean (Burton), Lee Hodson (Rangers)
Key Player: Nicky Maynard.
Not really kicked on after showing such early promise at Crewe and Bristol City but you expect him to score a lot of goals and cause all sorts of problems with his pace and strong running.
4) Bolton *promoted via the playoffs
Wanderers like Charlton, went down with a whimper and are haemorrhaging money but were taken over by the Sports Shield group headed up by former striker Dean Holdsworth. They made a surprise and shrewd appointment by luring Phil Parkinson from Bradford, where he had done a sterling job. It was a surprise to see him make that move as Bolton will probably average less crowds and seem to be going the opposite direction but he may have been given certain assurances that he did not have with the Bantams. They saw a lot of players move on but still have a lot of experience and quality with midfielders such as Pratley, Vela, Davies, Trotter, Spearing added to be incoming Chris Taylor. Up top they have the talented Zach Clough and the former Owl Gary Madine. Parkinson also brought in Jamie Proctor with him from Bradford. Not sure they have enough goals up top to be right up there for automatic but have enough muscle and experience in Dervite, Beevers and Moxey at the back. They have a decent keeper in Ben Amos too. With money in from selling young defender Holding to Arsenal they may bring in more firepower to compliment the riches in midfield. Will be around the top 6 I feel.
Ins: Mark Beevers (Millwall), Mark Howard (Sheffield United), Chris Taylor (Blackburn Rovers), Jamie Proctor (Bradford)
Outs: Neil Danns (Bury), Rob Holding (Arsenal), Liam Feeney (Blackburn), Hayden White (Peterborough), Niall Maher (Bury), Jamie Thomas (Burnley), Oscar Threlkeld (Plymouth), Tom Eaves (Yeovil), Rob Hall (Oxford), David Wheater, Stephen Dobbie, Paul Rachukba
Key Player: Mark Davies.
A talented footballer who can create for others. Has the intelligence to make those key threaded passes and to just get his foot on the ball. Will stand out at this level.
5) Scunthorpe
Surprised last season and just missed the playoffs. They have kept all the side together and have added to it with Sam Mantom coming in from Walsall to bolster the midfield. They have a lot of experience across the side and are a close knit outfit that are well drilled by Graham Alexander. The likes of Laird, Wiseman, Bishop, Dawson and King all give them a nucleus and with the poaching of Madden and Hopper up top have a goal threat. They have the continuity and togetherness to be right amongst the top and it would be more of a surprise if they are not around the top 6.
Ins: Duane Holmes (Huddersfield), Sam Mantom (Walsall), Josh Morris (Bradford)
Outs: Andrew Boyce (Grimsby), Gary McSheffrey (Doncaster), Niall Canavan (Rochdale), Sean McAllister (Grimsby), Dominic Vose (Grimsby – season long loan)
Key Player: Paddy Madden.
Prolific again last season with 23 goals in all competitions, Madden will be the goal getter again and if he can replicate the goals he got last season then they will be right up there knocking on the playoffs.
6) Sheffield United *losing play off finalist
Another year, another manager. United rolled the dice again after the desperately disappointing campaign under Nigel Adkins. In comes Blades fanatic Wilder who has helped clear out a lot of the deadwood and brought in a few useful additions. The side still lacks genuine leaders and may still get bullied for size/strength but Wilder seems like in his own words he ‘won’t fanny about.’ This is a side that still has defensive/goalkeeping questions and maybe still some concerns around the creative element. Young strikers Che Adams and Dominic Calvert Lewin may move on but with Sharp, Done, McNulty and Clarke, there is goals in this side if they can keep them out the other end. Difficult to know where to peg them. Wilder will do his utmost to get almost 20,000 fans finally thinking this is the year they escape this division but it is never straight forward with the Blades. A good start is vital to ensure the fans are ‘on board.’
Ins: Jack O’Connell (Brentford), James Wilson (Oldham), Chris Hussey (Bury), Jake Wright (Oxford), Mark Duffy (Birmingham), John Fleck (Coventry), Leon Clarke (Bury)
Outs: Mark Howard (Bolton), Jay McEveley (Ross County), Harrison McGahey (Rochdale), Florent Cuvelier (Walsall), Ryan Flynn (Oldham), Diego DeGirolamo (Bristol City), Callum McFadzean (Kilmarnock), CJ Hamilton (Mansfield), Terry Kennedy (Alfreton), Ioan Evans (Gainsborough), Jamal Campbell Ryce, Dean Hammond, Jose Baxter, Bob Harris, George Willis
Key Player: Billy Sharp.
Without doubt one of the best strikers in the league. Last year scored a hatful with little real service. This year he may get more chances if Wilder’s Blades are more attacking than the plodding side seen under Adkins. Leon Clarke will take the weight off him and you feel those two could be a difficult combination to stop at this level.
7) Bristol Rovers
Rovers may have only just sneaked up and maybe finished below Oxford and Northampton but I have a sneaky feeling they may be the surprise packet from last season. They have a very talented manager in Darrell Clarke who Leeds considered luring to Elland Road in the summer. The squad may not be bristling with talent but back to back promotions suggest Clarke knows what he is doing. He has made a few smart acquisitions in Hartley and Moore and with the free scoring Taylor they will surprise team this season and may not quite replicate what Burton did but will be tough to beat at home.
Ins: Peter Hartley (Plymouth), Luke James (Peterborough – season long loan), Byron Moore (Port Vale),
Outs: Rory Fallon, Tom Parkes (Leyton Orient)
Key Player: Matty Taylor.
Taylor was prolific in League Two scoring 27 goals and Rovers have managed to keep hold of him. He will continue to shine even in a league higher as he scores all types of goals.
8) Gillingham
They were right amongst the pacesetters last season and whilst they fell away and missed out on the top 6 altogether, manager Justin Edinburgh is another talented young manager who clearly has the right stuff after impressing with Newport previously. Bradley Dack remains but John Egan will be a loss having been a key man at the back. Still they have brought in experienced Paul Konchesky and few midfielders who may help unlock the door in Knott and Wagstaff. Oshijala comes back on loan to help soften the departure of Egan. Not sure they quite have enough goals up top and will rely on Cody McDonald again although look out for young striker Joe Quigley on loan from Bournemouth who could help in this area.
Ins: Paul Konchesky (Leicester), Billy Knott (Bradford), Scott Wagstaff (Bristol City), Lee Martin (Millwall), Mark Byrne (Newport), Joe Quigley (Bournemouth – season long loan), Deji Oshijala (Cardiff)
Outs: Doug Loft (Colchester), Jermaine McGlashan (Southend), Brennan Dickenson (Colchester), Glenn Morris (Crawley), John Egan (Brentford)
Key Player: Bradley Dack.
The long flowing hair and goals/play of Dack was one of the features of the League One season last year. Despite a few teams showing interest he has remained at the Priestfield. He is more of a known quantity and will be a marked man but still should have quality to make a difference.
9) Oxford
A side that flirted with promotion for a few years, they made it over the line and manager Michael Appleton is another who seems to have got his career back on track after the early promise had seemingly stalled. Oxford lost two key men in Roofe and O’Dowda but have recruited very well to replace them with a number of strikers coming in and some good young Premier League loanees arriving. Wes Thomas will be a good addition adding pace and goals. Former Owl Maguire and Sercombe are steady players for League One and they will surprise a few sides this year. They won’t struggle and may push into the top half.
Ins: Wes Thomas (Birmingham), Rob Hall (Bolton), Kane Hemmings (Dundee), Curtis Nelson (Plymouth), Dan Crowley (Arsenal – season long loan), Simon Eastwood (Blackburn), Aaron Martin (Coventry), Christian Ribiero (Exeter), Joe Rothwell (Man Utd – season long loan), Tyler Roberts (West Brom)
Outs: Jake Wright (Sheffield United), Kemar Roofe (Leeds), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City)
Key Player: John Lundstram.
Captain Lundstram has a number of loan spells when he was a talented young midfielder at Everton but has found a home at the Kassam Stadium. He gets his foot in but gets on the ball too and his play will be vital to Oxford’s continuing their upward trajectory.
10) Shrewsbury
May seem a lot higher than many would envisage, including the bookies but they have done some really smart work over the summer and manager Nicky Mellon will be confident they will not struggle this season and with a good start could push to the top half of the table. They raided Port Vale for a trio of players but the likes of Sarcevic, O’Brien and Riley all look like smart additions from League One rivals. El Abd will give some experience at the back. If they can get Ritchie Wellens fit that could help them even more. A lot will depend on whether Dodds and Barnett can get the goals.
Ins: Antoni Sarcevic (Fleetwood), Jim O’Brien (Coventry), Gary Deegan (Southend), Adam El Abd (Bristol City), Olly Lancashire (Rochdale), Louis Dodds (Port Vale), AJ Leitch Smith (Port Vale), Ryan McGivern (Port Vale), Joe Riley (Bury)
Outs: James Collins (Crawley), Nathaniel Knight Percival (Bradford), Matt Tootle (Notts County), Elliott Grandin, Jermain Grandison, Jean Louis Akpa Akpro (Barnet), Scott Vernon, Zak Whitbread
Key Player: Jayson Leutwiler.
A steadying presence in goal, Leutwiler was eyed by Wolves and others in the summer but has opted to remain at the Greenhous Meadow.
11) Bradford
They made the playoffs last year and with excellent crowds expectations will remain. New owners come in from Germany and with Phil Parkinson not hanging around, former Bantam legend Stuart McCall makes another return; his fourth return as a player or manager! The new signings don’t inspire any kind of thoughts of bettering last seasons’ 5th position. Colin Doyle comes for £1 (one pound – activating his release clause) from Blackpool and will compete with new German keeper Rouven Sattelmaier for the keeping shirt. Tough tackling Romain Vincelot will stiffen up the middle of the park. However, McCall has struggled when in English football previously as a manager despite success in Scotland and not sure he will get any more out of this squad than Parkinson did. I expect them to dip a bit this season. Parkinson had a certain way of playing (quite direct) and not sure McCall will be want to play that way.
Ins: Nathaniel Knight Percival (Shrewsbury), Jordy Hiwula (Huddersfield – season long loan), Timothee Dieng (Oldham), Colin Doyle (Blackpool), Romain Vincelot (Coventry)
Outs: Jamie Proctor (Bolton), Billy Knott (Bradford), Alan Sheehan (Luton), Steven Davies, Christopher Routis, Ben Williams (Bury), Josh Morris (Scunthorpe),
Key Player: Billy Clarke.
Former Blade Clarke has that extra bit of class and whether played as a striker or just off the top; he can cause defences problems. He will look to build on an excellent 15/16 campaign.
12) Northampton
Lost their manager, Wilder to United but quickly brought in another promising manager in Rob Page who saw more potential at Northampton than at Port Vale. Page signed a couple from Peterborough and bit target man Alex Revell will be a focal point of the attack. Lost Ricky Holmes to Charlton but kept the majority of the title winning side and they will be comfortable in mid table carrying on momentum from last season. The pressing game that Wilder employed will surely remain but Page will want to put his own stamp on things and it might take time for Town to settle but after a poor start they will move up the league.
Ins: Alex Revell (MK Dons), Harry Beautyman (Peterborough), Gabriel Zakuani (Peterborough), Paddy Kenny (Rotherham), Kenji Gorre (Swansea – season long loan), Jak McCourt (Barnsley), David Cornell (Oldham), Aaron Phillips (Coventry), Raheem Hanley (Swansea),
Outs: Ricky Holmes (Charlton), Nicky Adams (Carlisle), Danny Rose (Portsmouth), Evan Horwood (Chester), Ryan Clarke (Wimbledon),
Key Player: Adam Smith.
Became a steadying influence for the Cobblers last season whose defensive record was down in large part to the form of keeper Smith.
