Thetownend.com

After a period of settling in I honestly believe we'll swiftlynmove up the gears and win the division.

How is everyone else feeling? Positions please...

Alot of opposition fans seem to think we are going to fail, however I have a good feeling we are going to cruise to a top 3 finish with this team

I honestly, honestly really don't know...... I still think we'll either be an unstoppable force or a complete train wreck - no middle ground.

I think I'll be in a better position to answer this question after 20mins of the Crewe game. I was full of optimism for Todd's first season - we had lots of new players, a great pre-season, but I knew after ten minutes of that first home game to Colchester that the season was going to be a disaster.

Whatever happens, its gonna be such a [horrid cliche] rollercoaster ride [/horrid cliche] -  I mean, c'mon, new smart card turnstiles for heaven sakes, so even before I get to my seat its gonna be pant wettingly exciting...

It'll be a fucking cakewalk.

(I don't think I've felt otherwise though, at any point, during pre-season, in the last decade or more. Therefore my opinion only shows that I'm not worth listening to.)

Somewhere between first and last (inclusive).

Di Canio talks a great game. I have absolutely no idea about the playing quality though, even after Supermarine.

I'm just hoping for a top half finish. I'm excited and can't wait to see the team in action, but theres a not so little voice in the back of my head shouting 'Calm down, you can't put together a team this quickly and expect it to do anything straight away'.

If we sign a big thug of a Centre Forward I might let my optimism run away with me though.

We've spent money, probably more than the other 22( bar Crawley) put together, the stuff coming out of the club about winning the league, means if it's not quite right in a couple of months there is more. It could all end up badly of course, but I doubt it, I'm confident we'll be top 3, and might even win it, if we get the confidence flying early doors.

1st, and i've put my money where my mouth is

I'm optimistic, but then I always am (similar to 'Bang On Barry'). That's my default setting. I do think there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic though.

Yes, there are a lot of unknowns, in terms of both players and management (no one's actually seen our club captain play - that's a pretty unusual situation to say the least!). It's a totally new squad with 12 new signings (if McCormack and Easyjet sign) with still more to come.

That said, we have players who are proven at L2/Conference level (for me, there's little or no difference between the top half of the Conference and L2) such as Devera, Connell and Smith. We also have players who we know can play at a higher level such as Ritchie and Caddis. As for the others, we will have to wait and see but I believe that Di Canio will prove to be a good judge of a player. Only time will tell of course.

In addition, I believe that passion, commitment, discipline and work rate get you a hell of a long way in this division and whatever the limitations of the players might be, I think this team is not going to be lacking in any of those qualities. Di Canio will not allow any those things to slip. It has been said that Di Canio has talked a good game so far and that is certainly true. He clearly believes every word he says and will put it all into practice in the months ahead. I can see him being a breath of fresh air not just for STFC but for English football (hmmmm....just read that back and even I can see I'm getting a bit ahead of myself there with that last bit but who knows?)

I do agree that signing a 'big thug' centre forward will make a hell of a difference to how the season pans out. It appears that type of player is Paolo's next/last target so that will be an interesting one.

At the end of the day, no one knows what the fuck will happen but I don't see any reason (or any point) in being pessimistic at this point.

OST's prediction (write it down) Top 7 (comfortably).

Always difficult at this time of year to form a definitive view. New players in who on the face of it sound decent, pre-season performances tend to be impressive when we wallop non-league opposition but then reality smacks you one when the season starts and we face our first league opponents in a competitive game.

Positives that I draw - new manager & support team who are keen to make an impression in their first managerial appointment, fitness levels are better than the last couple of seasons, non-tolerance of prima donnas or cliques in the club and a raft of new players who's credentials on paper sound impressive & who have performed well in the pre-season friendlies.

Doubts - several players are untried in English League Two and therefore remain unknown quantities, how they'll adapt to many very competitive games over a 46 game season especially on cold January or February midweek evening games, will some players who can't get into the first team want to leave, demand transfers especially without a reserve team league to play in & therefore reduced opportunities to showcase their talents, will there be opportunities for younger players who've come up through the youth team?

Ever the optimist though I hope for a top five finish as a minimum.  Main threats to come from Bristol Rovers have also spent freely, Gillingham , Northampton, Crawley, perhaps Shrewsbury & Ling's Torquay. I wouldn't discount our neighbours from the Kassam being in the mix either. Wilder is a good manager & he's also recruited some talent like Leven from Franchise - should add spice to the August game.

For me it's down to how long we hold on to Di Canio. I have a fear that if we are flying and West Ham are struggling we could well lose him. I'm not sure how many of his new recruits would still be happy here if that happens. That aside, if we keep him it's a top three finish for me.

I've decided, perhaps wrongly (we shall see), that as di Canio seems quite big on loyalty, respect and candour, I believe he will stay until the end of his contract - if he's wanted.

He's not a run of the mill bloke, therefore I don't think he'll act like it. I fully expect him to turn down any overtures from other teams, even WHU, until his job here is done. I firmly believe we'll have 2 of the best seasons we've had in a very long time.

Agree with that 100%

I think West Ham will be top 2. High stakes. If they are not promoted then they are in big trouble.

That's what I said about Sturrock ;) If PDC gets us promoted then fucks off its job done for me.

We will win the league at a canter. So much so i'm prepared to say there will be at least a 15 point gap between us and whoever comes second.

Moved from the prediction league forum.

Love Samdy x

Not sure what to think at the moment. We all thought we'd do well last season and how wrong were we all? For this reason it's firmly feet on the ground for me.

When you look at our squad though it's not bad. I actually think (assuming McCormack and Esajas sign) we have the best midfield in the league on paper. It looks very strong with players who have played a lot of games and also games at a higher level. The quality is there.

For me it's all about the defence and strikeforce. At the moment the strikeforce probably looks a little light so we'll need to defend pretty well to win games assuming we don't score many goals. The defence is a bit of a mixed bag. Caddis is a good RB, Comazzi is unknown in England, Devera has experience but can be mistake prone according to Barnet fans and Kennedy is not really the finished article yet. We don't have a lot of solid back up on that. Flint should do well at this level and probably Manks but again the Italian dude is unknown and Thompson is young and inexperienced.

A lot if going to depend on how well the team gels, how well it copes with the style of the division, how the foreign players settle in and adapt to the English game, how Paolo's tactics work or dont work, how much of influence and a good manager Paolo is. So for me with all that in mind it's anyones guess.

Interesting to see that 'Agent Darren' or whatever he calls himself now has claimed he's putting £100 on us this year. Whether taht's because he's in the know, or because he's got rose-tinted specs with regards to the players he's been involved with remains to be seen.

I do think that those writing us off already are incredibly premature, and probably a little naive. We have signed some decent players, some who could come good, and some who remain complete unknowns. Given that Di Canio seems very clear on what he wants in a player and he's got us playing effectively as a team, I'm fairly confident.

I still don't know if that means we'll be pushing for the title or fighting for a spot in the play-offs though.

I'm quietly confident this year. I really think we have the potential to win the league. It just depends on how we meet this potential.

Are midfield has to be the best in the league surely? Right now Ferry, who two years ago was a great player in league 1, is struggling to get into the team. Smith sounds like he'll be quite impressive and know the lower English leagues well. Risser is someone I'm truly excited about, never seen him play but how Gary Rose and PDC talk about him he sounds the business, and a right bruiser. Esajas has played in the championship and by most accounts was quite good there. We all know Ritchie is the shit. And you still have reliable squad players such as Atiku and Timlin.

Our defence and strikers are a bit more intresting. Italian left back doesn't seem to be blowing anyone out of the water but hopefully can be solid but then apparently Kennedy has has a good pre season and whenever i have seen him play before I thought he showed potential. Right back - Caddis is quality player and should do fine, he's kind of small but then Amankwhahahaha could also cover. As for our two centre backs Comazzi seems to have had a respectable career and s apparently a bit of a leader and Devera has played in the league already and was Barnets player of the season (for two years was it?) and sounds good again from pre season.

Upfront i think this Alan Connell looks good and scored for fun last year in a similar league. De vita has had a decent record in Scotland , not sure how that translates to L2 but can't be much worse. As for Keith (I'm calling the Algerian Keith) I have no idea what to expect, youtube looks promising but then If you edited and cleverly cut videos of me in bed i may look like a decent lover.

Overall I think our team is coming on nicely, I am truly excited for this season and think we're a player or two away from being contenders. Bring on the season :)

EDIT: Keepers - Smith is more than capable at the level and so if the new kid beats him in to the no 1 spot then that can only be good.....

Sorry for the long post :(

I've had a fiver each way at 10/1 for us to win the league.

Saying that, I also put a bet on us to win the league last season and Austin to be top scorer, so perhaps i've put the kiss of death on our season :)

I'm baffled that people know how good our squad is when loads of em we aint even seen play.
The truth is we aint got a clue if they are going to be any good or not.
I'm putting my faith in Di canio and in that alone.

Not sayin i know how good they are. I'm saying im excited and that i feel from what has been said throughout the pre season there seems to be quality in the squad. But in all fairness it could be hugely wrong

I share this opinion.

I would also like to add my agreement and would likewise like to do it without the single word "this".

Well frankly, I find that quite baffling  8)

I hate that actually ('this', I mean) I used it once. I wished i hadn't. I felt dirty afterwards.

 The logical view is a train crash of a season ahead....let's hope logic is turned on its head.

This  ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a5vaIsaxB8

Well put !

My opinion is that we will win the league. Although my only concern is trying to gell virtually a complete team.  I just want us to win the first few matches, even if we scrape through them, so the team can build on confidence then when we start to gel, we will dominate the league and secure promotion on 3rd March at Poxford then secure top spot on 31st Mark at home to Brizzle Rovers

This would be a dream come true. But people would still complain that we didn't win the league quick enough. Swindon supporters are a pessimistic bunch

Not being funny, but why would logic suggest this?

I don't care how we get promoted, as long as we do.

It's true i don't care how pretty it is.

This. By any means necessary!

As for where I think we'll finish, I have absolutely no idea. Heart says top three, head says we'll have to settle for play-offs.

My tips for the season are Northampton (dark horses, good signings and Johnson is a very capable manager), Rotherham (always seem to fall at the last hurdle, but Scott is a good appointment for them, Scum (pains me to say it but Leven is signing of the Summer for League Two), Crawley (cunts have bought and invested well upon promotion) and Gillingham (very good signings in Kedwell, Whelpdale and Lee). Also expect Rovers, Shrewsbury, Aldershot and, of course, ourselves to be up there. League Two is very hard to judge this year.

One mans logic is not another mans logic.
Logic is a very misunderstood word,my way of thinking logically is so much different to everyone else's so really logic is a very vague word to try and understand.

Something like Fuck it! is very easy to understand..........every human knows that you are pissed off or angry when shouting it.
As for our finish in the league i can see us winning the title fairly easily,some decent other teams but just got a feeling we will have a good season.

We'll win the League by Christmas.

Final of the League Cup, Semi Finalists of The FA Cup and get knocked out of the JPT in the first round.

That's my modest expectations.

That statement wasn't aimed at you so no offence intended. But yea i agree i can see us doing very well this year

Hmmm bit pessimistic but suppose it would be realistic to expect that as the bare minimum.  ;D

Just read that again "get knocked out of the JPT in the first round". Nice touch soapy tit wank

Success is usually obtained by steady building and strengthening, by a management structure which includes the chairman, making careful incremental steps.

We're starting from scratch with a squad of mostly unproved players at the level....with a management structure with no experience....if this model was instantly successful, it would be a major achievement.

We know that di Canio is a volatile character given to misjudgement....how will he react when the going gets tough?

Hmmm very good point actually. As i said I wasn't being funny just wondering. The team has been torn apart from top to bottom and no doubt they will need to "gel" but hopefully the intensive preseason may of helped this along. As for players being proven in English football, there are still a few names here who have played in this country, but you're right, not all in L2.

Still doesn't stop me from being excited and a optimistic fool :D

Its clear as mud really. Not like when we signed Greer (who we knew was quality) and Jonathon Douglas and we (well I) remmembered him battering our midfield for a 10 man Leeds side.

Like Reg said, it could depend on how Di Canio responds to defeat. I think our start is very tough, and Ive been panicking about the club getting some quality since the fixtures came out.

Losing to Brighton last season looked like a bad result at the time, but of course they went on to be runaway league winners. We could get something similar this season with Crewe who are unfancied but they are no mugs. Ignoring City, we then go to Cheltenham, a ground where we have never won and then straight into the Pox game, a game Di Canio is obviously hell bent on winning for the fans. We cant rely on the Pox being shite this time. Losing to the Pox would be a big problem, for the players and the fans, especially with the stupid matchday prices.

First.

Good point well made. This is much nicer than that horrible shouty Amy Winehouse thread 8)

Glad to be of assistance.

I'm even tempted to stick a twenty on us winning it, and I'm not really a gambling man

Top 3 (possibly winners) and final of the JPT

Well....this just killed all my optimism. Gunna be a lot harder than i imagined  :badmood:, Suppose i shouldn't expect less from my beloved STFC :D

Reckon it will be more difficult than most people think.

Home -I reckon we should be O.K. and the football will lead to a few wins.
Away - unknown. I guess early games we will see how we handle the big physical sides.

Div 2 football is not pretty. At least we look fit and ready and look more of a "team."
However these lads are untried in Div 2.

Top 6 I reckon but difficult to call.
With us : Crawley, Rovers, Gills, Pox.

Looking forward to it now especially ther Pox game that should be a good crowd.

Very excited about the coming season and very optomistic that Di Canio knows what he is doing. This season is shit or bust for us and the minimum must be play offs, which I think we should do reasonably easily. Ice on cake will be automatic promotion which has to be possible given the effort on signing players. The crowds should be good for the first few games in anticipation of seeing what`s going on under Di Canio. Beat Crewe, draw at Cheltenham, sets up Oxford nicely....beat these and we are off............

Can`t wait, most excited I have been for ages, feels like we`ve been promoted :hmmm:

I'm not too sure what to expect in the league but got this feeling we are going to win the JPT.The managment havn't taken it seriously in recent years but just think this year will be different.

I really don't care about the JPT.

Like most here I'm excited but uncertain about what the season will bring in the league.
We appear to have invested in building a squad that will get us back up at the first time of asking but there is so much unknown about them that its difficult to make any realistic predictions.
I think that not getting promoted would be viewed as a failure and I don't really want to think about what could then happen in the following years.

The league is by far and away the standout priority. For me a distant second would be the JPT. The League Cup and FAC competitions are just showgames for us now, no importance at all.

Agree they are not of importance as such just get the impression that dicanio will view that differently.

The shame of it was we were nearly there 18 months ago in terms of getting to a level where you can make a real go of the major Cup competitions. If Charlie Austin had been able to play against Fulham instead of that useless twat Ben Hutchinson I think we could well have taken Fulham to a replay, we just had no threat up front that day. Then after that game we had blistering form for the next 3 months that could have put us on the national sports agenda.

Now we are back down here they have no relevance again. If Di Canio doesnt know it then he will when he see's our first home attendances for the FAC.

Thought we had a bye in the JPT ?

We have. I still expect us to be knocked out though.

I've put money on us to finish 1st, even tho I dont think we will!  12-1 just had to be taken.

I think we'll rprobably end up between the play offs and mid-table.  Too many things have changed at the club and it will prob take 4-5 months 4 things to settle down.

Deffo excited tho!

What are the odds on us to the win the league now? Fancy a bet.

I got 10/1 yesterday in William Hill

I rekon 7th, just scraping into the Play offs.

No idea at all.

Fancy a few local teams to do well though. Sadly I think Bristol Rovers and Oxford will be up there. Peter Leven will be a great player at this level unfortunately.

If we're competing with Rovers and O*ford for promotion, which i think we will be, this has all the ingredients for an epic season...

Based on the fact that last year I placed a that we'd win the league...I've placed a bet that we'll come bottom this year...

A blindfold, a dart and a dartboard...best tools available at the moment for working out where we'll finish this year.  In time, I expect that a number of factors (support base, financial stability etc.) will tell, but there's a big question mark over how quickly we'll get out of the blocks with the wholesale changes to management and playing squad.  Already, I'm expecting a stronger second half to the season than the first.  That's about the only prediction I'd like to make.


Can you imagine a play off final against one of those two?  Shudder.

O*ford are one of a tiny handful of eligible clubs, who've never managed to get to the FL PO's let alone, final in their 24 year history. In that time we've managed 6...and 4 finals. 

I think we'll finish 8th... agonisingly close to playoffs. Then we'll have a fun pre-season wondering where our manager will go!

i've said it from the moment we got relegated and will continue to say it. we will be promoted come the start of May 2012.

I'm even more sure now that PDC and the new signings have arrived.

We're giving too much credit to the standard of League 2 football. We'll finish in the top 3.

I'm actually going to to put my neck on the line and say we're going to win the league with 95 points. I'm that confident.

(waits for May, when we're nowhere near the shake up for this thread to be bought up)  :D

Quoted, just for fun.

i'm assuming you've put money where your mouth is?

18th. Which would be our worst ever league position.

Down with positivity

I haven't as of yet. I'm right on it though!  ;D

best odds i found yesterday to be promoted was 12/5. not great. i should have put some money on when i saw us at 9's

Just found out I still had some money in my bet365 account from Simon Cox being top scorer !!

Put £25 on Town to win the title at 10-1
and £15 to get promoted, to more than cover the £25 if we dont win it !!

I'd like to think that guarantees some return.............. but with Town you never know !!!

I'm going to bet on us to win the league. I normally do a crazy summer bet and haven't done one yet. I'm feeling this.

I managed to get all bases covered (hopfeully). www.quidco.com are giving £25 cashback and a free £10 bet for new members betting £10. I bet £10 on promotion, and used my 'free' £10 bet to bet on us being champions, so ended up with the following results (theoretically at least)...

Don't get promoted:  +£15
Get Promoted:          +£47.50
Champions:              +£147.50

Now those are odds I like!! :P

Now we've had a look at the lads versus decent opposition, I believe we've seen enough in terms of fitness, tactics and ability to suggest we're in a good place. Obviously Forest last year still reminds me not to look too much ino pre-season performances but I've got a very good feeling. It's all about the change in the squads attitude for me.

like the odds but I truly hope you don't win £15

Having watched all of the pre season games in England i still have no idea where we finish this season. my most serious doubts over the lack of pace at the back i thought we defended very deep against the non league teams, didnt notice this as much yesterday but then comazzi wasnt playing. Midfield looks solid and only concern would be keeping hold of ritchie as i think he will be pure class in this league and will have clubs in higher divisions after him. Then we come to our attacking options, as we all know we are very lightweight up top think de vita looks lively as does connell not seen enough of the algerian bloke yet so would not like to comment on him but still not convinced we will score enough goals to be right up there at the moment. yesterday we looked ok and we were good on the counter attack however in this league we will need to take the games to the oppisition especially at home and at the moment i think we will struggle to do that, yet then i think i may have over estimated the quality of oppostion in this league or is that just me??

Bobby, you talk a lot of sense.

Nobody knows yet, that's true. Up front (goals) and keeping Ritchie are my biggest worries too.

i'm not worried about a lack of pace at the back, Devera says one of his biggest assets is his pace, he'll know how fast he is compared to L2 forwards so that's ok for me.  i wouldn't say caddis or kennedy are slow, not rapid either but not sluggish and to me flint looked more than quick enough yesterday.  big kev aint slow and neither is thompson.

comazzi may be slower than the rest but i doubt there'll be any teams with significantly quicker defences than ours

i am still a little worried about up front myself though, think we need someon a little more athletic, which may be kerrouche, to me connell and de vita seem to be an either or, not a partnership but as i've said somewhere before i expect a good 15 goals from ritchie so if we can squeeze 15 a piece out of two strikers we'll be ok, especially if smith, macormack and risser can get a few each, not forgetting esejas too

Think back few years and you'll recall a Barnet team that looked very, very poor. 42 year old Hessenthaler in midfield and 39 year old Paul Warhurst struggling to run any more than four strides. Still gave a poor Town side the run around but that was more our fault than the 'quality' of a typical L2 side. We've nothing to fear but complacency itself... And Intrust Paolo to let than be anything but complacent.

If we looked at it from the outside we'd be hooting with laughter at deluded fans who had seen their side get relegated, release most of their players, appoint an untried manager and bring in a seemingly random bunch of foreigners and who then expected their team to cakewalk the league.

I'd be genuinely surprised if we went back up to be honest though Ritchie should do well.  Flame me as you wish and do bring this post back to mock me if we piss this tinpot league.

When the board talk about more players being released or sent out on loan including possible senior players one of them unfortunately I think will be Ferry. I know McCormack needed game time v Reading but surely Ferry did too. So many changes were made second half but Si still had to wait to the last few minutes to get on. To me that says why use him if he isn't going to be around for much longer. Hope I'm wrong !

but from the inside...

we've signed Devera, very experienced at this level, J. Smith, very good at the level below us last year, as with Connell, De Vita who has been up in Scotland, previously Blackburn, hardly Lake Como.  Kennedy is home grown and 1st choice, Caddis and Ferry from Scotland and 1 and 2 seasons respectively in the lower leagues of England.  Risser from lower league Germany?  MacCormack from L1.  Ritchie will be player of the year in L2 if he plays like he can...

That leaves what, Comazzi from a country with God knows how many ski resorts in - i bet no-one on here of the top of their heads could name me the 'ski resort' in England.  Then there's Kerrouche who has played everywhere.

There are of course others but all this 'cold wet Tuesday' stuff is really starting to piss me off - I live in the same climate as the Italians do for the winter seaon and can tell you we have it much better over here.

I'm not proffesing us to walk the league but we're not signing fucking south americans here, we're actually signing players who have been playing in slightly worse climates than the UK so so when people say our players can't cope with wet wednesdays up north they need to actually make a note of where we have actually signed them from!

Nice little season preview of all the league 1 teams from their resident bloggers on the guardian site.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2011/aug/01/league-two-2011-12-preview-bloggers

I see you've still to come to terms with relegation.  :cry:

Alot comes down to bringing in a big striker for me.  We HAVE to get someone physical upfront to hold the ball up, and to let the other strikers work off them.  Wasnt impressed with the front 2 on saturday thou think all of the strikers we have would want to play off a big guy.  On sat i think Flint is by far the best centre back we have and should start V crewe.  Im not keen on wingers playing on the wrong side.  Id have Ritchie on the left and Caddis on the right with Amankwaah coming in at right back.  A big guy up front changes us big time.  We hold it up.  The ball doesnt come straight back at us.  And when we stick crosses in there is someone with a chance of causing problems.  If we get a decent big guy up front then top 3.  If we dont im not sure.

Team on sat for me if all fit.

Lanzano
Amankwaah
Kennedy
Flint
Devera
Caddis
Smith
Risser
Ritchie
Connell  ( Kerrouche when fit )
De Vita ( thou wish big new striker )

I think there's a French striker free/available called Vincent something or other who fits that bill who's played a number of games in league 1 over the last couple of years!?

Shame he's shit though hey?  :sherlock:

Haha, It still hurts to click on the league 2 link on the beeb site!

In today's "Times" they predict we will finish twelth  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: ...Load of cobblers, top three, at least..

Decent article about Di Canio in there today too.

That's what we said last year :)

I seem to remember Reg predicting 15th or thereabouts at the start of last season, and he was scorned for it.  He then revised it to 24th sometime in the New Year and he got scorned again.  I'm actually quite concerned that he thinks we're going to struggle this year.

I think this season is going to be alot harder than most people think. Last year this wasn't the strongest of leagues in my opinion, but in terms of teams now in this league and the signings made by some I think its going to be a tough league to get out of.

I can certainly see the likes of Crawley, Northampton and Bristol Rovers being hard to beat. While clubs like Shrewsbury are always hovering around the play offs year after year.

Last year Wycombe grabbed 3rd on 80 points losing 10 games in the process, thats the kind of points total we need to beat. Our away form is the key as I can see the CG being a fortess this year.

I would bet on a play off place but im not convinced on a top 3 finish yet, of course by 5pm Saturday I hope to have changed my tune on that.

My opinion is that we have as good a chance as most of success, and as good a chance of failure too. I've not seen anything in the players to make me think we'll  ease to promotion. But I haven't seen enough of them yet.

In other words, I've not got a clue (in so many ways).

Article in the Times today on the review for the season has predicted us to finish 13th.

Did you see the article on PDC in the Sunday Times yesterday? It's telling the rest of the football world that there is something special brewing in north Wiltshire. Having seen all five of Town's friendlies in the flesh this season, I think we are on for a top five finish. I think Crewe will be a stern test to start with. If we beat them then great, but no worries if we don't. Four points minimum from the two away games at Chelt and D&R regardless of the Crewe result will put us on the way to a good season.

WSC has us 4th behind Shrews,Creepy and Gas

I tip Rotherham to have a storming season.

I think there are 7 or 8 sides whose supporters will be thinking that promotion is more than realistic and there'll a couple more outsiders too.

It's going to be tough.

Don't agree....think there is only 2or 3 sides that will have a sniff of winning the league,ourselfs,Bristol Rovers and maybe one of the bigger fish like Bradford or Plymouth.

Only two or three in a division where four teams to go up?

I disagree. I'm not writing about winning the league, I'm writing about promotion.

Swindon, Crawley, Rovers, Northampton, Gillingham, Oxford, Bradford and Rotherham have squads that can compete. I wouldn't write off Southend, Wimbledon or Shrewsbury either.

RE: Plymouth. It's hard to say where they'll end up. They are putting a brave face on things but it will take a bit of genius from Peter Reid to keep that squad going. They are threadbare.

Good evening everyone, after months of reading this forum I've finally decided to join in.

In all honesty I have no idea where we will finish, and I can't imagine anyone can give an accurate prediction on our final league position. With all the foreigners and couple of non league players signing, you just can't predict how they will cope. Although saying that all seemed pretty comfortable In the reading game. I'd like to say we will get promoted but just can't at the moment. I know I ain't going to make any friends making a comment like this, but if I was putting Money on the champions I'd have to say rovers. They've signed a lot of good experienced players And their strike force with kuffour, zebroski, mcgleish and anyinsah at league 2 level they could be lethal. But I hope I'm wrong.

Anyway with all that said it is going to be an absolutely cracking season, and hopefully we can go straight back up.

Ryan

Agree with you Ryan, Rovers do look strong. They've made a couple of odd signings but on the whole they've brought in a decent set of players.

Whether we're as good or better remains to be seen - I certainly wouldn't write us off as quickly as some are though

I don't think people are writing us off just don't want to make predictions after a lot of fans (including myself) tipped us for automatic last year  :-[ I think we will get a good reading of where we will end up after about 10 games. Just hope if di canio has us top of the league Sam allardyce is doing the same for west ham. If they sack him and Paolo's doing well then I fear they'll snap him up straight away.

I think we will finish top 3.

I don't want to go over the top but I think Di Canio has a bit of 'Jose Mourinho' about him. Huge personality but comands respect. Expects the best out of his players and won't accept anything less.

I think Paolo Di Canio is a winner.

that is the most positive thing I think I've ever seen you post!

Easy to say when you're not gonna go though! ;)

It's more fans of other clubs than people on here. Crewe seem to think they've got the 3 points in the bag.

That's an interesting point. I've never really thought about the other sides opinion of us and specific games. It would be interesting to see what they think about saturdays game. Like everyone else I hope we get off to a flyer but won't be too disappointed if we don't win as long as there are signs it's coming together.

I still have no idea about us, having only seen us play twice. So other fans aren't going to know any more without having seen us play!

I do think had another club brought in PDC and lots of foreign players we'd be saying exactly the same thing about them.

But all that matters is what happens on the pitch.

Sky Sports have us predicted at 9th.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,12040_7066325,0.html

Remember ridiculing their prediction for us this time last year so no comment.

Please tell me Sky haven't put Crawley at the top... (Looks...) They have. I'm not saying Crawley can't go up this year, but it really wouldn't surprise me to see them finish outside the play-offs.

As for the bit on Swindon, I had to laugh:

As much as it pains me to say it, I reckon they're rightfully bookmakers' favourites. Very impressed with their transfer activity and their squad looks lower-league one standard at the very least.

Port Vale above us is the one I can't get my head around.

Think it's based on the fact that Micky Adams had them fllying up until the end of December, when he fucked off. They fell away badly, but still only finished 3 outside the PO's....I guess the assumption is that he'll be able to get them back flying. Who knows.

12/1 now on offer in Ladbrokes West Swindon Centre - Thoughtfully named 'West Swindon Special'

1. Swindon (At a canter)
2. Torquay
3. Crawley

Gas up in the play offs, O*****d relegated with Barnet

Sky can fuck off, Leon Knights the bunch of them

I'm gonna be cautious this year after predicting an automatic promotion place for us last year!

I'd be happy just to get into the playoffs - I'll be well chuffed if we got promoted via that random free for all,  I can't see us getting automatic for some reason, but it'll be a brilliant achievement if we did.

Anything else would be a colossal failure IMHO

Good to see some one of the nations leading broadsheets doesn't realise 3 teams go up automatically from league 2. God I hope Crawley fall flat on their face.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/league-two/8678817/League-Two-season-preview-guide-Paolo-Di-Canio-brings-glamour-but-can-Crawley-prosper.html

Haha good spot. That article does have one of the better predictions for this season I've seen though:


On a serious note, one of the reasons for hiring di Canio is already bearing fruit as we have had heavy coverage in most of the season previews I've seen so far. The extra media interest in the club can only be good, and imagine if we are going well in the league we'll end up with two or three games on Sky this season as well.

Interesting analysis on this blog

Were predicted to finish top  ;D

http://www.the-football-blog.co.uk/league-two-preview-20112012

Better than this blog (http://t.co/h3ijiwS)

Below mid table, pah!

Disliked and envied in equal measure by fans of the other clubs in League Two, Crawley Town and their controversial manager Steve Evans are widely being tipped for more success this season  :smugfu:
Following their march to the Conference title in the last campaign, the Red Devils, dubbed the ‘Manchester City of the lower leagues’ have signed players with the talent capable of elevating the club to even greater heights :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

He's called Crawley a dark horse when they're extremely short priced favourites. What?

Bradford.

Shithole.

(Look at the camera and say bluuuuugh)

You won't do very well relative to the expectations on here.

Wouldn't be a first.

Expectations are bound to be relative, for example we finished 3rd in Div 4 05/06, the Council offered the club an open top bus tour of the town, which was turned down on the basis that finishing 3rd in Div 4 although welcome, wasn't really that exciting....whereas I believe your lot had an open top bus for finishing 3rd in the Conference.

Yes. We've had a pretty good run at Wembley recently. We got lucky though....the pitch was apparently in better nick than when you last visited.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v34Ixf80TtM

I've compared the run of the turf and the it was rather unfortunate in your case  :cry:

You'll notice in the video above thousands of people who consider themselves advocates of fine turf ahead of football. You'll see their reaction to the true run of the ball is almost instant.

The grass was nicer here i thought

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzqX8MuFNPw

hopefully after the 21st all these poxford fans will fuck off with their tails between their legs.

Wowsers  - I guess football "banter" isn't your cup of tea.  Lighten up.

Oh i do hope not Arriba, they're all such comics. We'll never be able to compete with their humour.

Agreed. It gets lots of sun at that end because we built the stadium very uniquely and used garden fencing to allow the fresh blades to flourish. Oddly though, as you'll see if you watch the following footage....it's better at the other end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hce7oyZ7__E

Well done you have done the right thing and taken that statement as fact and not banter.

It came across as though the chap was a little angry. I may have misread it.

Was that nearly a decade ago? You must be looking forward to your next 'cup final'.

You don't quite get it do you?  Look back at some of the work of Oxford_fan....that'll show you how it's done

Im sorry im still settling in. Im just a bit tense as sometimes it feels on these forums like Oxford fans arent really that welcome, but Oxford_fan told me otherwise so i just stumbled on over all unprepared.

I'll start again....

I think Swindon will walk this league.

Watch out - some of your brethrin may start a thread about you fraternising with the enemy.

Au contraire O*ford fans are welcome if they add something worthwhile....sadly you don't. 

I won't fraternise. That's a silly business with your rivals. I'll just trundle about aimlessly poking my blunt little wooden stick at things and seeing if they're ok with that.

ps Thanks Reg. Conversely I've been rather enthralled by some of your posts. You are of course quick to judge given my very limited number of posts, hence making your judgment almost look like a pre-conceived shot and contrary to your opining.

Are you really from O*ford? you're very well spoken....are you from Faringdon instead?

I asked Oxford_fan which words to use and he emails me them. I've ex-family in South Wiltshire but obviously we had to give them up.

I now live in London and send my pay packet back to the (Oxford) shire to continue making it so bloody beautiful.

You're not very good at sarcasm either. A bit obvious. Not clever enough.

Please feel free to post some more of your Conference games whenever you like. Your playoff defeat to Exeter is, I believe, a classic of its genre.

Heart says we'll finish 3rd, head says a disappointing 9th.  Having said that I could see us walking the title, but if it all goes tits up, I can see us preparing for the non-league this time next year.

So, in summary...

1st
3rd
9th
23rd-24th.

So's the live tv defeat against world club champions barrow

Yes, but does that one feature grown men crying and a man being interviewed in the aftermath of the tradegy shouting about his club "fucking bottling it again"??

I must admit, it is quite an emotional scene, well it brings a tear to my eye every time I see it anyway.

Are Tonbridge Angels really a football team?

Top 2. Not so sure we'll get off to a flyer like last time down here, but I'm 100% sure we'll go up.

I reckon we'll either get promoted... or we won't. It'll be one of those two! ;-)

Actually, I'm changing my answer to "At Bradford".

You missed a youtube clip of banjo's to accompany this.

If "we" relates to Swindon, then we will be top of the league. 

Otherise if "we" relates to us as individuals, then I will finish in the County Ground pub.

First impressions are often the best way to go...

Is this you?

[url width=420 height=284]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/Reg__Smeeton/scummer.jpg[/url]

That photo never fails to make me smile.

Leon knight wishes us well

"RT @tanswell1983: @LeonKnight82 looking forward to the new season leon? i know swindon fans are, especially as we didnt sign you, you fat cunt #dicaniod < all the best fella ur gonna need it"

Your obsession with Leon Knight is unhealthy.

Yeah your right.

Hes so easy to wind up though

I love the hashtag "dicaniod" though.

3rd, will start bright we'll all get carried away, the wheels will come off at Christmas and we'll get it together at the end of the season.   

I can also smell a good cup run on the cards.

Fucking hell the bloke at the back is well fucked - Scum, ginger and a few minutes away from his ugly "friend" fucking him.

Top 6 is a must IMO and i think we will get it, think pox and gas will do well as well unfortunately  :cry:

After last season top half of the table will be a vast improvement  :cry:. However I have high hopes of a top 3 finish and automatic promotion.  :pint:

As I reckon you might be, after I chuck your drunken brother off the train at 100mph tomorrow ;)

Anything less that Top 1 will be failure

Less than 3rd will be a disaster.

Go for it, not worried about that cunt