Portsmouth
It was an excellent
first season back in League 1 for Portsmouth. Paul Cook’s departure was a disappointment
but a season of consolidation under Kenny Jackett will no doubt have pleased
the Portsmouth fans. However, the ambition for this season changes with
promotion to the Championship high on the club’s agenda under Jackett and new
owner Michael Eisner. The club has a comfortable season last time out, but the
fans expect more this time around and Fratton Park will be rocking once again
this season as they hope to celebrate promotion at the end of the season. Kenny
Jackett built Portsmouth’s solid season on a strong defence with the likes of
Matt Clarke and Christian Burgess forming an excellent partnership at the back
and these two will once again be important for Portsmouth’s promotion push this
season. However, an issue for Portsmouth was goalscoring despite the brilliant
efforts of Brett Pitman but other strikers like Oliver Hawkins, Conor Chaplin
and Jamal Lowe all struggled to consistently score goals and they will all have
to up their game in the new season to give Pompey a chance at promotion. Kenny Jackett
has brought in new signings to further strengthen Portsmouth’s charge and these
include Ronan Curtis and David Wheeler. These two players will add pace and
creativity to the team and this will only boost Portsmouth’s whole squad. Also,
Jackett has brought back loanee Anton Walkes but on a permanent deal. He was
excellent for Portsmouth across various positions during the second half of
last season and Jackett will be delighted to have him permanently and again he
will no doubt play an important role in the new season. Portsmouth will want to
improve on last season with a top-half finish the minimum expectation I’m sure
however, the whole football club will believe they can finish in the play-offs
and get promoted which would represent a magnificent season for the club.
I really do fancy
Portsmouth to finish in the play-offs this season. Kenny Jackett consolidated
them last season, but he will want to push on this season and challenge for
Portsmouth and if everyone ticks throughout the whole season whose to say they
won’t be celebrating promotion in May.
My Predicted Finish:
5th
Rochdale
Its fair to say that
anyone associated with Rochdale will say the club underperformed last season
but the shear elation on the final day of the season where they escaped relegation
will no doubt ignite the determination to do better in the new season. The
elation on the final day was summed up by Joe Thompson who scored the vital
goal to keep them up. Thompson is adored by Rochdale following two battles with
cancer but its wonderful to see he is in remission once again and he is no doubt
a Rochdale legend. He will want the whole club to improve in the new season as
will charismatic manager Keith Hill who loves Rochdale as much the fans do. Keith
Hill will be under no illusion that Rochdale must improve across all areas of
the pitch and players including Callum Camps, Ian Henderson, Josh Lillis and
Calvin Andrew will all attempt they wasn’t at their best and improvement all
round would represent a good season for Dale. Keith Hill has added players
during this transfer window including experienced players like David Perkins
and Aaron Wilbraham. Both join the club with bags full of experience at this
level and Keith Hill will be relying on them to play important roles this
season. Hill has also brought back creative midfielder Brad Inman following a
successful loan spell last season and he will want to further showcase his
skills at a club that appreciates him. The overall expectation for the club
this season will certainly be improvement and a mid-table finish would represent
a good season for Rochdale.
I think Rochdale will
comfortably finish mid-table and there will definitely be improvements from
last season because the fans and Keith Hill will demand improvement, but
Rochdale always go under the radar and could mount a play-off charge because
they are always unfancied but do cause a surprise so don’t rule Rochdale out.
My Predicted Finish:
15th
Scunthorpe
It has been back to
back disappointment in the play-offs for Scunthorpe and I doubt the fans can
take much more of the pain the play-offs bring. Nick Daws will be desperate to
deliver promotion following his appointment on a permanent deal and he will be
expected to continue Scunthorpe’s push for promotion. However, the club has
lost a few key players from last season including Conor Townsend, Murray
Wallace, Hakeeb Adelakun and Duane Holmes. All 4 were excellent during the
season and all have moved on to the Championship without the Iron. Nick Daws
will have to do a small re-build but still has excellent players at his
disposal including Josh Morris, Lee Novak, Jordan Clarke and Matt Gilks. All
are proven players at this level and Daws will be looking for more of the same
from them throughout the season. Nick Daws has flexed his muscles during the
transfer window and has brought in 10 new faces as 11 depart and his new
signings including the pacey, creative pair of Ryan Colclough and George Thomas.
Colclough has been excellent at this level for various teams like Wigan and the
MK Dons but now with a permanent home, he will be confident of being the
creative force Scunthorpe need. Also, Thomas on loan from Leicester will also
be confident of making an impression. He excelled at first club Coventry but
has struggled for game time at Leicester and he cannot wait to get going I’m
sure for his new team. However, Daws has also signed players with points to
prove including non-league star Andy Dales and young loan signings Sam Humphrys
and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson. The hunger and desire from these players will no
doubt bring confidence to the team and the fans. The fans will be desperate for
automatic promotion following play-off heartache and Daws will certainly have
to deliver a top 6 finish as a bare minimum expectation for the season, but
promotion is the aim, and can they make it third time lucky.
I think Scunthorpe
will be competing for a place in the top 6 however, I feel they will just miss
out on this, but they will battle all the way because I expect the battle for a
play-off place to be extremely tight.
My Predicted Finish:
8th
Shrewsbury
It is fair to say
Shrewsbury has an absolutely sensational season last time out and were within
touching distance of the Championship after that defeat in the play-off final. Many
expected them to be starting possibly in League 2 this time last season, but
they are firmly a League 1 side. However, they are very much in transition
following a summer of complete change. Paul Hurst has departed for Ipswich
while many of last seasons stars including Toto Nsiala, Jon Nolan, Stefan
Payne, Abu Ogogo, Dean Henderson, Alex Rodman and Junior Brown have all
departed the club for new challenges. The club begins the new season with a new
manager in John Askey and new team which will be hoping to live up to their predecessors.
Askey comes to the club with an excellent record and a promotion on his CV
following his success at Macclesfield and Askey will want to prove himself at
this level. Askey has brought in a total of 15 players so far with many of the
players hoping to prove themselves in League 1 and these include Fejiri
Okenabirhie, Kieran Kennedy, Luke Waterfall, Josh Laurent, Charlie Colkett,
Oliver Norburn and Lee Angol. All these
players will be determined to show why they deserve to be playing in League 1.
However, Askey has also brought in experienced heads including Anthony Grant,
Steve Arnold and Doug Loft. Askey has completely brought in a squad that is
completely his and he will be determined to bring success to the club. However,
with all these changes it will certainly take time for the team to gel and Askey
will be desperate for the club to make a good start to the season. The club will
try to match last season but a mid-table finish and a push for the top-half would
represent another excellent season for Shrewsbury.
I think Shrewsbury
will be finishing in mid-table and they will be competitive, and Askey will be
determined to try and match last seasons’ success but they will be a stretch too
far but mid table is a good season for the club.
My Predicted Finish:
17th
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