https://www.freebets.com/news/gab-suttons-efl-league-two-1-24-season-predictions-2025-26/Gab Sutton 'EFL Expert' has predicted a 17th place finish. Bit harsh if you ask me
17. Swindon TownHad Swindon’s season began when Ian Holloway was appointed, on 25th October, they would’ve finished two points off the Play-Offs.
The Wiltshire outfit scored a whopping 57 goals in that 33-game period, the most in the division, and optimists will argue that Holloway’s new three-year contract puts the club in a great position to challenge for promotion this season.
The more pessisistic view, however, recognises that the Bristolian boss has managed for less than a combined two years since leaving QPR in 2018, and one year has been spent at Grimsby, where most hold him responsible for their relegation in 2020-21.
And, without idly assuming too much based on stereotypes, ‘Ollie at 62 doesn’t carry the impression, at least, of a manager constantly absorbing super technical ideas.
He can do a bit of that, of course, but for him it may be more about galvanizing a group, getting into people, and motivating them to live each day like it’s their last.
That approach to management translates nicely to a strong in-season impact, especially off the back of somebody who didn’t do that side quite as well, but possibly less nicely to sustainable progress over the course of a full campaign.
The problem is that it can be quite repetitive for players, after a certain point. There have been examples, at this level, in recent seasons of experienced managers with similar skillsets to Holloway who lifted the players initially through sheer force of positivity, but then in their second year, they kept saying the same thing and the players stopped listening.
There may be an outside possibility of that happening at Swindon, if Holloway doesn’t have the level of technical detail to his work to back up his natural aura, passion and charisma.
Plus, while Clem Morfuni remains owner of Swindon, and Anthony Hall, chief executive, it feels as if the club could implode at any minute, for all sorts of reasons.
From those perspectives, it’s difficult to place too much faith in Town, but they do have a good squad, despite the loss of Tunmise Sobowale to St Mirren.
Progressive centre-back Will Wright, high-potential wing-back Joel McGregor, playmaker Gavin Kilkenny, creative forwards Paul Glatzel and Tom Nichols plus target man Harry Smith all have serious capabilities at this level, while seasoned forward Billy Bodin is set to sign.
Meanwhile, talented midfielder Joe Snowdon, from Leeds, and defender Finley Munroe, on loan from Aston Villa, both look exciting additions.
With that in mind, it might seem foolhardy to predict a season midway through the bottom half for Swindon, who you could also argue have a best XI not far off top seven standard.
So, there’s a high variance for Town, like Crewe mentioned above, yet even with a playing squad that looks compelling in certain areas, they remain a very difficult club to trust.
