Southend
Southend have consistently
been a mid-table in League 1 team since their return to the league in 2015 although
they missed out on the play-offs by a point in 2017. They have been a solid
team in the league and the surprise departure of Phil Brown in the middle of last
season showed the frustrations of not pushing consistently for the play-offs.
However, Chris Powell replaced him, and Southend showed some decent form at the
end of the season and Powell want that form to continue into the new season.
Southend have an excellent squad they will certainly fancy themselves at
competing for play-off spot at the minimum if not automatic promotion. Southend
have plenty of experienced players in their ranks who have seen everything football
including Michael Turner, Simon Cox, Michael Kightly and Anton Ferdinand. These
players will fancy adding another promotion to their CV’s. Chris Powell has
brought in new players during the transfer window he believes can allow Southend
to push for the play-offs. The likes of Luke Hyam, Tom Hopper, Harry Lennon and
Timothee Dieng have all played at this level and the latter three players being
involved in promotion battles for their previous clubs with some success and
some heartache. These players will add a winning mentality to the team and
Chris Powell comes with a proven track record in League 1 and like his players,
he would love to add another promotion to his CV having taken his beloved
Charlton up in seasons gone by. The Southend fans will fancy their chances this
season that the club can finish in the top 6 and who knows be celebrating
promotion in May and Chris Powell will be determined to bring success to Roots
Hall this season and there truly is optimism around the whole club that this
could be their year.
I really do fancy
Southend to finish in the top 6 because they have an excellent team mixed with
talent and experience and with a top manager like Chris Powell at the helm, Southend
could be celebrating at Wembley in May.
My Predicted Finish: 3rd (Promoted as Play-Off Winners)
Sunderland
It has been a miserable
decade at Sunderland. Countless battles against relegation, constant player and
management changes, anger towards owners and it has even seen the club suffer
back to back relegations. A huge club like Sunderland find themselves
languishing in the third tier of English football. Sunderland were abysmal in
the Championship last season and comfortably deserved to be relegated however,
could this season bring success and optimism for those long-suffering Sunderland
fans. The club has a new owner in Stewart Donald who is determined to bring the
glory days back and a highly ambitious, young manager in Jack Ross who is
hoping to bring success to the club following his wonderful spell in charge of
St Mirren where he guided them back to the Scottish Premiership. Ross has also
assembled a hungry, young squad hoping to deliver promotion back to the
Championship at the first time of asking. Gone are the flops of past years like
Lamine Kone, Fabio Borini, Jack Rodwell, Wahbi Khazri, Callum McManaman and
Jeremain Lens. And income players with a hunger, quality and desire to help
Sunderland reach the Championship and these include Jon McLaughlin, Chris Maguire,
Tom Flanagan, Max Power, Luke O’Nien, Jack Baldwin and Charlie Wyke. A total of
12 new players have walked into the Stadium of Light as Jack Ross makes his
changes apparent for the fans. However, Sunderland are also relying on some of
their talents from their academy including Bali Mumba, Josh Maja, Duncan
Watmore, Lynden Gooch and new club captain George Honeyman. The latter 3 have
all excelled in the clubs academy and Jack Ross will have total faith in them
to ignite the whole squad and bring the fans expectations to the players. Both
Honeyman and Watmore are die hard Sunderland fans and they can certainly relate
to the feelings of the fans and will be even more determined to get Sunderland
back to where it should be. However, with change comes trepidation with Jack Ross
needing a good start to the season to install that belief into the fans and
players that Sunderland can be promoted at the first attempt. The players need
to gel straight away and fight for everything and that will be expected from the
demanding fanbase that Sunderland has. Furthermore, the club must turn the
Stadium of Light into fortress because their home record over the last 4 years
is horrendous and if the stadium is full and the team is playing well, it will
be a nightmare for away teams to come to the Stadium of Light because in full
voice, it is a very intimidating place to go. Sunderland fans expect promotion
at the first attempt and anything other than that is certainly seen as a failed
season and the pressure will be on Jack Ross and his young team to deliver success
the whole club is desperate for.
I think Sunderland
will be celebrating promotion at the end of the season because there will be an
expectation from the fans and a determination from the owners, management and
players to put right the wrongs of the last decade for Sunderland.
My Predicted Finish:
2nd
Walsall
It has been a solid
number of seasons in League 1 for Walsall. The smallest West Midlands based club
in the football league will be determined to continue their prolonged spell in
League 1. Former Walsall player and fan Dean Keates is gearing up for his first
full season in charge having joined the club in the middle of last season.
However, Walsall work on a small budget and a small squad meaning avoiding relegation
would represent an excellent season for the Saddlers. However, the loss of
Erhun Oztumer is a massive blow for the club because over the last 2 seasons,
he has scored majority of their goals and registered the most assists. His move
to Bolton is a blow and Keates must quickly find a goal source and fast. Keates
has signed new strikers in Andy Cook and Morgan Ferrier who he will believe can
fill the gap left by Oztumer. Both Cook, and Ferrier arrive from non-league
following prolific spells in the National League and Keates will know all about
their abilities following his team as Wrexham manager. He will have complete
faith in them and they will be vital if Walsall are to avoid relegation. But
Walsall do have good players in their ranks including Joe Edwards, Kieron
Morris, Jon Guthrie and Luke Leahy. These players will be vital for Keates as
he looks to build a team capable of retaining their place in the league. As
well as adding two new strikers, Keates has also added 7 other new signings
including the returning Josh Ginnelly and Zeli Ismail are both back at the club
following loans and permanent spells. Keates must find a winning formula having
just about avoided relegation last time out and survival once again would represent
a good season for the club. The fans will want more but with bigger teams have
bigger budgets and arguably better players, safety would be good and mid-table
would certainly represent an excellent season for the club.
I think it is going
to be a long, hard season for Walsall. Cook and Ferrier must hit the ground
running to replace Oztumer because losing him is a huge loss. Keates needs a
good start to install the belief Walsall won’t be in the relegation battle but I
feel they will be dropping into League 2.
My Predicted Finish:
24th
Wycombe
What a wonderful campaign
it was for Wycombe last time out. Gareth Ainsworth has finally delivered what he
has been desperate for after years of consistent finishes either in the play-offs
or just outside, but they went one better last time out. The club now finds
itself in League 1 and will be determined to prolong their stay in the league
and this would represent another magnificent season for the club. Ainsworth has
plenty of experienced players at his disposal who will be confident of helping
the club secure back to back campaigns in the third tier and these include
Adebayo Akinfenwa, Matt Bloomfield, Sam Saunders, Nathan Tyson and Adam El-Abd.
These players will be crucial for the younger players in the squad and there are
plenty of talented players at the club. Gareth Ainsworth has dipped into the
transfer market and brought in further experienced players like Darius Charles
and Jason McCarthy. The latter signing will delight the Wycombe fans having
been a firm fans favourite during a loan spell from Southampton but now back on
a permanent deal, he will be determined to help Wycombe survive in the League.
Ainsworth will be desperate to bring the momentum from last season into the new
campaign and he will determined to ensure Wycombe stay up. The fans will hope
for safety and if this is secured it would represent another magnificent season
for the Chairboys.
I think Wycombe will
be in the relegation battle and will come out on top. I fancy to avoid relegation
and secure another season in the league. Consistency and home form will be key
for them to give them the best chance of staying up.
My Predicted Finish:
19th
No comments:
Post a Comment