Bury
Its fair to say it was
a miserable season for the Shakers of Bury. The club sank to relegation from
League 1 without much of a fight until relegation become inevitable. However,
club legend Ryan Lowe now in charge on a permanent basis, will be determined to
lead the club back to League 1 at the first attempt. Lowe admitted Bury were pretty
abject last season and he has rung the changes following the relegation. However,
Lowe has kept some of the experienced heads at the club including Joe Skarz,
Jermaine Beckford, Stephen Dawson and Danny Mayor. These players will be vital
to Bury’s chances of success this season. As he promised at the end of the
season, Lowe has changed the Bury squad and added 12 new signings during the
transfer window. Proven League 2 players such as Chris Dagnall, Nicky Adams,
Byron Moore, Chris Stokes and Tom Miller are amongst the 12 to walk into Gigg
Lane. Dagnall is a proven goal scorer while Adams and Moore are excellent
creative players with good records in League 2. However, Lowe has created a
good balance between young players and experience with players like Gold
Omotayo, Jordan Archer, Jamie Barjonas and Mathew Hudson being able to learn
and grow from experienced players at the club. The Bury fans will expect promotion
at the first attempt with the bare minimum being a top 7 finish but the fans
will want automatic promotion.
I think Bury will be battling
for a play-off spot this season and may just come up short this season but the
club needs consistency because there has been far too many changes in playing and
coaching staff in recent years and the fans will just want some consistency at
the club they love
My Predicted Finish:
8th
Cambridge
Its been a
frustrating few seasons for Cambridge with the club wanting to battle hard for
the play-off spots and promotion to League 1. However, mediocre spells
throughout the season ultimately costs them and they finish in mid-table. Cambridge
must find consistency this season if they are to battle for a play-off spot. Joe
Dunne is the man tasked with getting Cambridge towards the play-off spots after
a good spell in caretaker charge. Cambridge do have decent players at the club
but certainly struggled last season without Luke Berry, but Dunne will believe
he has a squad good enough to be competing at the higher echelons of the table.
The likes of Jabo Ibehre, Harrison Dunk and David Forde are good players at
this level and more things will be expected from this season. However, what is interesting
to note, is the fact that Cambridge have only made 3 new signings in the transfer
window in Louis John, George Taft on a permanent deal and winger Reggie Lambe.
John had an excellent season in non-league Sutton’s defence, while winger Lambe
has had good spells at Mansfield and Carlisle and comes with a good reputation
at this level and Dunne will be confident of getting the best out of him. The Cambridge
fans will want more than mid-table this season and will want the club to push
on and firmly challenge for a play-off spot. Joe Dunne must deliver something
for the Cambridge fans to get excited about with mid-table once again their
most likely destination once again this season.
I think Cambridge are
a mid-table side and comfortably finish there once again this season. They will
try to push for the play-offs, but I feel they will come up short once again
and I think they are lacking in areas of the pitch and I’m a bit surprised they
haven’t added a few more players but of course, there is still time for them.
My Predicted Finish:
12th
Carlisle
It was a mixed season
last time out for Carlisle as they proved why they finished in the play-offs
the previous season but also struggled for consistency and ultimately saw them
finish in mid-table. However, the surprise departure of Keith Curle at the end
of season hit the club hard a little despite the fact he was part of the team
working on what players stay and leave the club. However, Carlisle head into
the new season with new boss John Sheridan who joins the club with an excellent
record in League 2 after spells at the likes of Chesterfield and Plymouth.
Sheridan also has a new squad to work with following 12 departures and 10 new
arrivals so far. Sheridan has recruited Dean Holdsworth to join his set up at
the club and he has been responsible for recruiting new players and he has brought
in the likes of Gary Miller, Anthony Gerrard, Adam Collin and MacAulay Gillesphey.
The club has recruited experienced players at this level as well as several loan
signings who are eager to impress in the football league and these include Joel
Fryer, Jerry Yates, Ashley Nadesan and Regan Slater. All are hungry and eager
to impress, and the Carlisle fans will be hoping to see the best of them at the
club. Despite the 12 departures from Brunton Park, Sheridan still has some of
the old heads from last season to call on and these include Jason Kennedy, Kelvin
Etuhu, Jamie Devitt, Tom Parkes and Richie Bennett. Sheridan will be relying on
these players to pass on the expectations of the club and fans onto the younger
and new players at the club. It is difficult to suggest what represents a good
season for Carlisle because certainly mid-table is a good season and a play-off
finish would represent an excellent season. The Carlisle fans will want a play-off
push and with a good manager like John Sheridan they can easily be the surprise
packages for a play-off spot.
I think Carlisle will
push for a spot in the top 7 but will just come up short this season but will comfortably
finish in the top half.
My Predicted Finish:
10th
Cheltenham
Consistency has been
key to Cheltenham’ successes in recent season. Gary Johnson took them down and brought
them straight back up and has stabilised them as an established League 2 side
even when the club had poor runs of form. Gary Johnson has done a wonderful job
at Cheltenham and mid-table once again would represent an excellent season for
the club. The club once again has gone through a large transition of players
with 12 departures and 14 new arrivals. Arguably the biggest departure is that
of Mohamed Eisa. The striker was sensational for the club in his first ever
season in the football league so much, so he became Cheltenham’s first ever million-pound
player following his move to Championship Bristol City. However, his goals will
be hard to replace this season and Johnson will know he must find a new source
of goals quickly. Johnson will hope new recruits Kevin Kalala, Manny Duku and
Liam McAlinden are the men to provide the goals this season along with Brian
Graham. Both Kalala and Duku are gearing up for their first ever football league
seasons and will be wanting to impress and will certainly use Eisa’s season as inspiration.
Gary Johnson has been active in the transfer window and has brought in the
likes of Johnny Mullins, Ben Tozer, Conor Thomas, Chris Hussey and Sean Long.
All join with proven experience at this level and will be crucial if Cheltenham
are to avoid the relegation battle. The Cheltenham fans I’m sure will be
delighted with another mid-table finish once again with relegation avoidance
their prime target and Gary Johnson will want them to push on from there.
I think Cheltenham
will comfortably survive relegation and finish in the bottom half. They will
try to push for a top half finish but will just come up short this time around.
My Predicted Finish:
17th
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