Thetownend.com

This pre season seems to have flown by, it usually drags for me without the World Cup or Euros....

Let's have your predictions for the season then chaps.
Here's mine:

Top 7

1st - Luton
2nd - Coventry
3rd - Mansfield
-------------------
4th - Lincoln
5th - Carlisle
6th - Exeter
7th- Swindon

Play off winners - Swindon

Relegation

23rd - Barnet
24th - Newport

1st - Swindon
2nd - Swindon
3rd - Swindon
-------------------
4th - Swindon
5th - Swindon
6th - Swindon
7th- Swindon

Play off winners - Swindon

Relegation

23rd - Bristol
24th - Oxford

1st - Plymouth
2nd - Cambridge
3rd - Luton

4th - Lincoln
5th - Newport
6th - Colchester
7th - Chesterfield

Play Off winners - Lincoln

Relegated

Cheltenham and Acrrington

Luton
Coventry
Mansfield
------------------
Chesterfield
Swindon
Exeter
Lincoln

Swindon beat Chesterfield at Wembley this time around.

Morecambe and Newport for the drop.

Be surprised if Plymouth win League 2.

I have no faith in us winning at Wembley. Even if it was Swindon v Swindon!

Fair point. I think that would create a singularity.

 No idea. 

 One of the good things about Div 4, is that it's reasonably open... even the big hitters like Mansfield, FGR, Luton and Lincoln, aren't that big.

 Further, there's usually a couple of crisis clubs.

Back at season's end had Power persisted with the model operating in its haphazard way, then I think we'd be looking a Conference candidate. Happily, that's been binned... with a return to an old skool gaffer. However, the infrastructure of the club is still Div 4/ upper Conference level, so Flitcroft will be doing well to achieve anything other than respectablity with his collection of journeymen.

Top 7

1st - Luton
2nd - Swindon
3rd - Cambridge
-------------------
4th - Coventry
5th - Notts County
6th - Lincoln
7th-  Mansfield

Play off winners - Coventry

Relegation

23rd - Newport
24th - Morecambe

[/quote]

1. Lincoln
2. Luton
3. Mansfield
4. Chesterfield
5. Swindon
6. Exeter
7. Forest Green

Luton
Swindon
Cov
---
Cambridge
Notts County
FGR
Col U
---
---
---
Morecambe
Cheltenham

Serious question - what are people basing these predictions on, have you all been studying the form of the other teams in pre-season or picking through their signings?

Hell we have been signing players I have never heard of and any knowledge on their ability is gained via Wiki, I wouldn't have a clue how anyone elses summers are lining up.

Gut feeling - we should do OK?

Mansfield
Swindon
Lincoln
------------
Luton
Col U
Coventry
Exeter
-----------
Grimsby
Cheltenham

General knowledge of signings and budgets primarily.

I understand the signings bit, but as we have no clue what our own budget is how does any fan know what other teams budgets are?

It's just a bit of fun. New season about to start, if you can't get a bit of a buzz about it, probably time to do something else on a Saturday afternoon.

My buzz is only just about registering on the Richter Scale. Mainly, as I take your point about having no clue about any of our players, and next to none about the opposition. Finding out is where the fun lies.

Have no idea where we will end up in the league.

Would expect the team to be competitive in every game (physically and also technically & tactically, albeit based on seeing one performance so far) and also strong at home, maybe after a shaky start to begin with.
Then see where that takes us. If there is also defensive solidity and we become "difficult to beat" then it could turn out to be decent season.

Looking forward to it anyway.

My buzz has been diminished substantially by the two games I can actually get to comparatively easily (Morecambe and Carlisle) both being scheduled whilst I am on holiday!

1-8 somebody
9. Swindon
10 - whatever is left : somebody

I think we will fall short due to not having enough goals in us, as things stand. Don't really care about the rest.

Was going to go into a long rant about how I haven't a clue about anyone else and hope we just do well. Wobbly bob summed it up perfectly

Would expect to us to be around 6-10th

Not sure if this has been linked before but here it is again if it has.

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/15447374.LEAGUE_TWO__Adver_Sport_s_guide_to_Colchester_through_to_Forest_Green/

I've not got my buzz on yet, maybe it will come on Saturday or maybe it will need to wait until our first home game and seeing how our new team lines up and plays to get a feel for the new players

One comment from Crawley did make me smile, how about lofty expectations after a few pre season wins vs lower league opposition.

FourFourTwo's season preview prediction for league 2:

1: Mansfield
2: Luton
3: Wycombe
4: Accrington
5: Stevenage
6: Carlisle
7: Exeter
8: Coventry
9: Colchester
10: Notts County
11: Lincoln
12: Cambridge
13: Swindon
14: Port Vale
15: Crewe
16: Chesterfield
17: Newport
18: Forest Green
19: Grimsby
20: Morecambe
21: Crawley
22: Barnet
23: Cheltenham
24: Yeovil

Bleak.

But at least it's not 23rd or 24th.

We have just endured what is regarded by many as our worst ever season....Flitcroft has assembled a bunch of journeymen who certainly give us a fighting chance of retaining our FL status, something which has been at huge risk for a couple of seasons now. Myself, I'd be happy with an upturn in home form and perhaps (living dangerously I know) even a couple of draws on the road....it is going to take some turnaround to see anything other than a fight to stay up  :(.

If Chang, Reg and FourFourTwo think we're not going to be challenging I'm more confident than ever.

Haha I was channelling my inner Reg (god he has spouted some shite this summer).

I'm expecting play offs minimum, and I am pleased to note Flitcroft has made it completely clear that promotion is the aim.

He still expects to add some quality, so our business is far from over, and we are not shaping up too badly considering the state we were in at the start of the summer.

I'm looking forward to it all starting again  COYR

Out of interest, did you go to public school?

Bollocks.

If we finish below Accrington, Stevenage, Wycombe and Carlisle (next to no business this summer, shite the back end of last year) then a) we've failed spectacularly and b) I'll eat my hat.

My thoughts exactly. With the caveat of having not seen us play yet, I am a little worried that a lack of goals will be what costs us. That said, there's another month to go, and a new style of play may mean we create and score chances that simply weren't being created last season.

As things satnd I'd say 6th-8th. With a decent attacking threat hopefully a top 3 finish to avoid the dreaded play-offs.

This is how I see is it panning out, even before most clubs have completed their signings...

1: Luton
2: Coventry
3: Swindon
-------------------
4: Lincoln
5: Mansfield
6: Chesterfield
7: Port Vale
-------------------
8: Carlisle
9: Notts County
10: Grimsby
11: Exeter
12: Colchester
13: Wycombe
14: Accrington
15: Stevenage
16: Cambridge
27: Barnet
18: Crewe
19: Forest Green
20: Cheltenham
21: Morecambe
22: Yeovil
--------------------
23: Crawley
24: Newport

I did  my usual trundle through the fixtures and ended up with us getting 61 points, not that it is a great pointer as I had us on 63 for last season! If we were to get that total would put us mid-table based upon last seasons Divvy 2.

Haven't really kept up to date with the business of what other teams have done.

However I totall trust Flitcroft given his record at level, he knows what he takes to be successful in league 2 so knows the type of players needed and he's brought those types in.

Got high hopes for the Harry Smith kid, he could be our 20 goal striker easily IMO

A lot of people tipping Lincoln to do well. Maybe they will, but I wonder if they're being given a bit much credit?

It's reasonably common for at least one of the Conference promoted sides to carry forward a bit of momentum. Further, their cup exploits last year gave them some media coverage.

Very good team last year and just fell short. Have kept nearly all the squad and added a 20 goal a season striker to partner another 20 goal a season striker. I actually fancy them to piss the league

Just fell short?

Some reason i thought you said luton

Based on seeing the team play in just one preseason game, away at Salisbury I think that we will,
a) be much more competitive this season compared to last. I am still haunted by the second half capitulation at Bramall Lane and the final seventy minutes at Spotland. I think Flitcroft won't stand for that.
b) Harry Smith to be a serious threat in the air and either score a few or make chances for others. If we do sign someone who'll get goals or Mullins steps up, then it could be a good season.
c) Brophy and Tom Smith to come good this season. If Brophy's crossing and final pass has improved he could be a key factor especially if he's introduced second half against a tired defender. He played well at Northampton away last year. I love Tom Smith's aggression in midfield and he can also use the ball well once he's won it so hoping that they both make significant contributions this season.
d) We are fortunate in having two very competent goalkeepers so that department shouldn't be a problem, injuries not withstanding.
e) Creativity in midfield might be an issue although Linganzi seemed more than just a ballwinner when I saw him play. Could Iandolo feature more prominently this term and will Goddard be more assured in his second season?
Beyond that, no real idea how we'll do. More signings by ourselves and others before the transfer window closure could change the prospects significantly but as ever the eternal optimist.

Forgot to mention McDermott! Like his in yer face attitude and in that regard reminds me of McCormack. I think he's a winner and he could make the difference in getting a point or losing in crucial games this season.

Hylton and Collins seems tasty, but can they play together  :hmmm:

I seen a bit of Hylton last year and he is actually a play off the target man type player. Hope i am wrong Reg but think it looks a decent pairing

Most bookmakers have us as 5th favourites, odds about 12/1

https://m.oddschecker.com/t/football/english/league-2/winner

Yay!

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10973999/sky-sports-league-two-predictor-swindon-town-tipped-to-finish-top

My 2 pounds predicts Harry Smith as league 2 top scorer.66/1

Just for fun Reg, I want to see your prediction for Swindon. :D  Don't worry about the rest of the table as only one club really matters.

I'm always certain of a playoff minimum in this league and I'm more confident we can get 3rd.

Hopefully we can start well until the further signings can be made up top

I predict I won't be able to listen to live commentary anymore!

As I said... no idea.  Don't know any of our players, apart from the few leftovers and yet to see them play or any training sessions.

fair comment, but I was expecting something like it will be between us and Newport to stay up......can't you be just a teeny little bit negative, Reg? ;)

PS  7th place for me.

Half a hat?

 ;)

turns out, goals against was also a problem. still...

Goals For wasn't really a problem, we were joint 5th highest scoring team in the division, tied with the lovely Mansfield and Cheltenham on 67. Only bettered by;

Luton Twn 94
Wycombe  79 (they conceded 60 only 5 less than us)
Accy Stan  76
Notts Co    71

Understandably the top three come out on top and then it's 5th placed Notts.

Funny you mention the Goals Against because that theme seemed to be a problem through the division.

The figures show that every team in L2 this season conceded at least 46 or more goals. Meaning a minimum GA = 1.00 per game. I haven't looked at the data for previous seasons but with that mindset you could quite easily extract that if you went into every game believing you needed to score two, to win then you would be more than likely get promoted. This is proven by Luton having just over GF = 2.04 per game. However achieving just over GF = 1.50 per game was probaly enough. Champions Accy only achieving GF = 1.71. We achieved GF = 1.46 but our ratio against was too similar at GA = 1.41. A slight nudge up in GF data (to 1.50) and a nudge down in the GA (to 1.30) and we might have just sneaked those play offs.

I know it's all hindsight but having this data should Town go with an attitude of "score two mentality" or will PB (if here) sure us up and insist on his "clean sheet mentality" for next season?

Interestingly, Wycombe finished 9th last season...finished 3rd this time. It won't take much to get promoted. I would fear Silkmen and potentially Tranmere coming up more than Shakers, Cobblers, Franchise FC, or Pine Villa coming down. Out of the PO lot I back Coventry. The remaining three Exeter are probably the strongest. Anyone that finished below us we have no reason to fear and should be confident of beating next season. One from the Conference always does well and one coming down will do ok too. I'm going to stick my neck out already and put us down for a top 3 finish. A top 7 could look something like this;

1st Town
2nd Tranmere (if promoted May 12th)
3th Notts County
==============
4th Pine Villa
5th Exeter
6th Mansfield
7th Franchise FC
==============
8th Silkmen


Yep, call me deluded, i'm happy with that.