1-24 League One Competition

[leedsvaliant]

Good price, IMHO. Without any clear-cut favourites for promotion, the top six is far from unreachable for most sides this season.

I'd agree. Although I'd say even with a good season there's still probably 7-10 teams finishing above us due to budget or simply spending what they haven't got. Currently I don't think we'd get anywhere near the top 6. Would take a once in a lifetime season where everything went right.

 

[E10rifle]

I'd agree. Although I'd say even with a good season there's still probably 7-10 teams finishing above us due to budget or simply spending what they haven't got. Currently I don't think we'd get anywhere near the top 6. Would take a once in a lifetime season where everything went right.

Dunno about that. Took us a couple of years to establish ourselves last time we were here, but then finished 7th twice and 3rd once over the space of four seasons. That was when Forest, Leeds, Leicester, Southampton and Norwich were knocking about. Buggered if I’m going to be scared of a skint Derby, Wigan or fucking Reading.

 

[shoddycollins]

I've noticed over the last week or two an increase in the number of people predicting us to finish outside the bottom 4... interesting, I wonder if people are thinking we're doing good business in the window or if it's more other clubs having a bad window.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

A good start and home form is the key, Carlisle do both well and I see nonproblems.

As I said earlier in thread Carlisle has a weird one coming into this season as it’s still riding a wave of positivity it depends how long they ride it.

 

[bigfatron]

1 Portsmouth
2 Derby Co
3 Bolton W
4 Blackpool
5 Oxford U
6 Peterborough U
7 Charlton Ath
8 Wycombe W
9 Burton A
10 Barnsley
11 Bristol R
12 Lincoln C
13 Leyton Orient
14 Shrewsbury T
15 Wigan Ath
16 Cambridge U
17 Stevenage
18 Fleetwood T
19 Reading
20 Carlisle U
21 Port Vale
22 Northampton T
23 Exeter C
24 Cheltenham T

No disrespect to anyone intended....

 

[AmberRich]

1. Portsmouth
2. Derby
3. Bolton
4. Barnsley
5. Charlton
6. Bristol Rovers
7. Blackpool
8. Oxford
9. Peterborough
10. Leyton Orient
11. Lincoln
12. Wycombe
13. Port Vale
14. Reading
15. Wigan
16. Burton
17. Fleetwood
18. Exeter
19. Stevenage
20. Northampton
21. Cambridge
22. Cheltenham
23. Shrewsbury
24. Carlisle

I think there's honestly 15 clubs, who for whatever reason, wouldn't surprise me if they were involved in the relegation battle. I think our squad isn't yet complete, and also to me it almost feels like we are falling into the same trap we did last season with our squad which led to a very very close scrape with relegation. We've definitely added quality but they all come with a risk, hence the prediction of 21st. If everything clicks then we will be higher and fairly safe all season but how often does everything click?

 

[Bar Carousel]

1. Derby
2. Bolton
3. Blackpool
4. Oxford
5. Charlton
6. Pompey
7. Barnsley
8. Bristol Rovers
9. Stevenage
10. Burton
11. Lincoln
12. Wigan
13. Peterborough
14. Cambridge
15. Leyton Orient
16. Port Vale
17. Shrewsbury
18. Exeter
19. Wycombe
20. Northampton
21. Fleetwood
22. Cheltenham
23. Reading
24. Carlisle

 

[leedsvaliant]

Dunno about that. Took us a couple of years to establish ourselves last time we were here, but then finished 7th twice and 3rd once over the space of four seasons. That was when Forest, Leeds, Leicester, Southampton and Norwich were knocking about. Buggered if I’m going to be scared of a skint Derby, Wigan or fucking Reading.

Feels different to when we were last in the league. The quality is similar to league 2 but there's a few teams that are now willing to spend silly money on wages (whether they can afford it or not), which gives them the advantage of a couple of gifted players. Fair play seems to have gone out the window. There's a possibility of course if everything goes right and clicks but I don't see Orient, Vale or any other team of a similar nature troubling the top 6.

 

[masi51]

Feels different to when we were last in the league. The quality is similar to league 2 but there's a few teams that are now willing to spend silly money on wages (whether they can afford it or not), which gives them the advantage of a couple of gifted players. Fair play seems to have gone out the window. There's a possibility of course if everything goes right and clicks but I don't see Orient, Vale or any other team of a similar nature troubling the top 6.

Dont see any team spending silly money this year apart from Fleetwood.....Reading another perhaps bar that i see mainly good investment by Ourselves, Portsmouth, Burton, You, Charlton. .....Derby Barnsley, Posh, Wigan are weaker than last season. Season starts in less than a week and i dont see a stand out team

 

[valefan16]

Dont see any team spending silly money this year apart from Fleetwood.....Reading another perhaps bar that i see mainly good investment by Ourselves, Portsmouth, Burton, You, Charlton. .....Derby Barnsley, Posh, Wigan are weaker than last season. Season starts in less than a week and i dont see a stand out team

Not so much this season in fairness, in fact the bigger money seems to be L2!

Last year though Ipswich spent what 3-4 million on transfer fees. Bonkers

 

[huddsmoose]

League one seems completely different this year to the last few. Much less quality up the top of the league but probably more quality down the bottom.

I'm struggling to pick a winner as all the big budget sides have flaws or question marks over them. It's also hard to make a case for which four will go down.

Should make for an exciting season with far fewer points gap between top and bottom. I reckon we'll also see a surprise in the top 6 and an unexpected relegation or two.

 

[denzel ecfc]

1 Bolton
2 Derby
3 Portsmouth
4 Peterborough
5 Wycombe
6 Barnsley
7 Charlton
8 Wigan
9 Blackpool
10 Reading
11 Oxford
12 Exeter
13 Rovers
14 Leyton Orient
15 Lincoln
16 Port Vale
17 Northampton
18 Shrewsbury
19 Stevenage
20 Fleetwood
21 Carlisle
22 Cheltenham
23 Burton
24 Cambridge

Just to keep Masi happy..

 

[Don Tonberry]

I'll post my prediction soon but for those who listen to the Not The Top 20 Podcast, this was their prediction:

1) Bolton
2) Derby
3) Oxford
4) Blackpool
5) Charlton
6) Portsmouth
7) Peterborough
8) Bristol Rovers
9) Lincoln
10) Wycombe
11) Port Vale
12) Barnsley
13) Burton
14) Wigan
15) Leyton Orient
16) Northampton
17) Shrewsbury
18) Stevenage
19) Carlisle
20) Fleetwood
21) Cheltenham
22) Exeter
23) Cambridge
24) Reading

 

[kieran_vale]

This is mine. It will be embarrassingly wrong as it always is. The entire bottom half you could literally put them in any order.

1) Charlton
2) Derby
3) Oxford
4) Bolton
5) Portsmouth
6) Blackpool
7) Barnsley
8) Burton
9) Wycombe
10) Peterborough
11) Lincoln
12) Shrewsbury
13) Bristol Rovers
14) Leyton Orient
15) Port Vale
16) Wigan
17) Fleetwood
18) Northampton
19) Stevenage
20) Cambridge
21) Carlisle
22) Reading
23) Cheltenham
24) Exeter

 

[LancashireTrotters]

Racing Post ‘Big Kick-Off’ also out today.

Five out of eight RP writers backing Bolton to win league. Other three backing Derby, Pompey and Charlton respectively.

NotTheTop20 backing Bolton. Didn’t agree with some of their predictions, having Oxford so high for example.

 

[Si Robin]

For completion - the PSF table predictions:

1. Bristol Rovers
2. Wycombe Wanderers

3. Bolton Wanderers
4. Derby County
5. Charlton Athletic
6. Carlisle United

7. Oxford United
8. Blackpool
9. Cheltenham Town
10. Stevenage
11. Cambridge United
12. Peterborough United
13. Wigan Athletic
14. Portsmouth
15. Exeter City
16. Lincoln City
17. Northampton Town
18. Fleetwood Town
19. Barnsley
20. Burton Albion

21. Leyton Orient
22. Port Vale
23. Shrewsbury Town
24. Reading

 

[denzel ecfc]

Racing Post ‘Big Kick-Off’ also out today.

Five out of eight RP writers backing Bolton to win league. Other three backing Derby, Pompey and Charlton respectively.

NotTheTop20 backing Bolton. Didn’t agree with some of their predictions, having Oxford so high for example.

Isn't George an Oxford fan?

 

[Don Tonberry]

Isn't George an Oxford fan?

He is indeed, so there might be some bias there but you can still see the logic behind the prediction. Like most, I still think it's a bit too high.

 

[folletto]

Charlton have made some decent signings but we've lost our best player. I'd expect 7/11 on Saturday to be from the side that struggled last season and expect us to be shaky at the back. It's nice to see people predicting us to have a decent season but I think this current squads ceiling is 5th or 6th

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

I’ll be happy if I’m wrong…

1)Derby
2)Bolton

3)Charlton
4)Pompey
5)Blackpool
6)Bristol Rovers

7)Posh
8)Oxford
9)Barnsley
10) Reading
11)Lincoln
12)Shrews
13)Wigan
14) Northampton
15) Stevenage
16) Orient
17) Fleetwood
18) Burton
19) Wycombe
20) Vale
21) Carlisle
22) Cambridge
23) Exeter
24) Cheltenham

Yet to sign a striker , I think we may carry our poor form into next season, not convinced by the ‘in house’ Crosby appointment, my lot are going struggle next year.
Exeter and Cambridge don’t look strong, and Cheltenham have lost their talisman ( unless he goes back on loan in January )
I love the bickering Carlisle fans, but I think they’ll drop.
In a classic tabloid style I’ve just gone for the bigger clubs to go up, Pompey in the play offs.
There’s lots of clubs that ooze midtableness, it’s a bit of a crap shoot!
Anyway , hope I’m wrong about vale and Crosby is ace, and Conlon and Benning aren’t shit, but I won’t hold my breath

 

[valefan16]

I’ll be happy if I’m wrong…

1)Derby
2)Bolton

3)Charlton
4)Pompey
5)Blackpool
6)Bristol Rovers

7)Posh
8)Oxford
9)Barnsley
10) Reading
11)Lincoln
12)Shrews
13)Wigan
14) Northampton
15) Stevenage
16) Orient
17) Fleetwood
18) Burton
19) Wycombe
20) Vale
21) Carlisle
22) Cambridge
23) Exeter
24) Cheltenham

Yet to sign a striker , I think we may carry our poor form into next season, not convinced by the ‘in house’ Crosby appointment, my lot are going struggle next year.
Exeter and Cambridge don’t look strong, and Cheltenham have lost their talisman ( unless he goes back on loan in January )
I love the bickering Carlisle fans, but I think they’ll drop.
In a classic tabloid style I’ve just gone for the bigger clubs to go up, Pompey in the play offs.
There’s lots of clubs that ooze midtableness, it’s a bit of a crap shoot!
Anyway , hope I’m wrong about vale and Crosby is ace, and Conlon and Benning aren’t shit, but I won’t hold my breath

Do you see Conlon playing for us again?

 

[Sydney Posse]

I see lots of people fancy us for relegation. They must have forgotten about the 8 we put past Mousehole FC a few weeks ago. People have short memories

 

[Si Robin]

Exeter and Cambridge don’t look strong, and Cheltenham have lost their talisman ( unless he goes back on loan in January )
I love the bickering Carlisle fans, but I think they’ll drop.

This seems to be the big reason for people having us in the bottom 4, and on the surface it's hard to argue against it.

However, I firmly believe we have replaced Alfie already in Aidan Keena (who was looking better as last season ended) and I think losing that reliance on one player will actually benefit us.

I'm not naive, anyone would miss a player who's scored 43 goals in the past two seasons, but we became a better footballing team when we lost Ben Tozer's long throw. The same could (note that word, could) happen again now we've lost Alfie.

He definitely won't be back on loan in January either.

 

[valefan16]

This seems to be the big reason for people having us in the bottom 4, and on the surface it's hard to argue against it.

However, I firmly believe we have replaced Alfie already in Aidan Keena (who was looking better as last season ended) and I think losing that reliance on one player will actually benefit us.

I'm not naive, anyone would miss a player who's scored 43 goals in the past two seasons, but we became a better footballing team when we lost Ben Tozer's long throw. The same could (note that word, could) happen again now we've lost Alfie.

He definitely won't be back on loan in January either.

You never know how it will go, we were put by a lot for the drop in 12/13 after losing Marc Richards who was hitting 20 plus a season, we only really had Tom Pope who'd scored a handful in the previous few seasons so the argument was "where will the goals come from"... Popey got 33, we went up automatically and outscored the other 91 clubs in the top 4 leagues so players taking on more central roles then get the chance to shine.

 

[shoddycollins]

Racing Post ‘Big Kick-Off’ also out today.

Five out of eight RP writers backing Bolton to win league. Other three backing Derby, Pompey and Charlton respectively.

NotTheTop20 backing Bolton. Didn’t agree with some of their predictions, having Oxford so high for example.

one of them is an Oxford fan so that could be a factor

 

[shoddycollins]

You never know how it will go, we were put by a lot for the drop in 12/13 after losing Marc Richards who was hitting 20 plus a season, we only really had Tom Pope who'd scored a handful in the previous few seasons so the argument was "where will the goals come from"... Popey got 33, we went up automatically and outscored the other 91 clubs in the top 4 leagues so players taking on more central roles then get the chance to shine.

yeah same. We were predicted by most last year to drop out of the league altogether. I'm not surprised we're among the favourites for the drop again and it's a whole division higher now but I'm hoping we can upset the odds again.

Here's my 1-24

Mostly based on the vibe I'm getting from fans on here with a few of my own hunches thrown in (Shrews will come to rue their backroom setup, Northampton haven't done a lot to convince me this won't be a repeat of last time they were up here, Posh are a nearly club, Steve Evans will shithouse a decent finish, Carlisle will surprise a few.

1 - Derby
2 - Blackpool
------------------
3 - Charlton
4 - Bolton
5 - Portsmouth
6 - Barnsley
------------------
7 - Reading
8 - Bristol R
9 - Peterborough
10 - Oxford
11 - Wycombe
12 - Orient
13 - Lincoln
14 - Vale
15 - Stevenage
16 - Carlisle
17 - Wigan
18 - Cambridge
19 - Exeter
20 - Cheltenham
-------------------
21 - Shrewsbury
22 - Northampton
23 - Burton
24 - Fleetwood

 

[Tom_CUFC]

1. Bolton Wanderers
2. Derby County
3. Portsmouth
4. Blackpool
5. Charlton Athletic
6. Bristol Rovers
7. Barnsley
8. Wycombe Wanderers
9. Oxford United
10. Lincoln City
11. Leyton Orient
12. Burton Albion
13. Peterborough United
14. Stevenage
15. Fleetwood Town
16. Reading
17. Shrewsbury Town
18. Wigan Athletic
19. Carlisle United
20. Port Vale
21. Exeter City
22. Northampton Town
23. Cambridge United
24. Cheltenham Town

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

1. Derby County
2. Bolton Wanderers
3. Charlton Athletic
4. Barnsley
5. Portsmouth
6. Lincoln City
7. Oxford United
8. Bristol Rovers
9. Blackpool
10. Peterborough United
11. Burton Albion
12. Leyton Orient
13. Northampton Town
14. Wigan Athletic
15. Wycombe Wanderers
16. Stevenage
17. Fleetwood Town
18. Carlisle United
19. Port Vale
20. Reading
21. Exeter City
22. Shrewsbury Town
23. Cheltenham Town
24. Cambridge United

 

[shoddycollins]

What's the crack with Burton? I've put them down for relegation, mostly based on them always seeming to scrape survival... they expected to do better this season? have a decent squad?

 

[LancashireTrotters]

What's the crack with Burton? I've put them down for relegation, mostly based on them always seeming to scrape survival... they expected to do better this season? have a decent squad?

Not quite sure why some outlets are hyping them up either.

Some seem to be putting their eggs in the basket of Cole Stockton, but personally I think they’re in for a shock if they’re expecting 15+ goals from him this season.