Vital Lincoln City – League One Season Preview 2019-20 (Part Two)
INTRODUCTION
The information in this preview is complete to 5pm on Thursday 1 August 2019.
The latest transfers will be posted here and not below!
Managerial data is as accurate as I can make it: it is almost impossible to identify the exact dates managers joined or left minor non-league clubs 25 years ago, and detailed statistical information for minor leagues is not readily available. Online statistics databases have not been used due to the errors they can contain. As the figures are self-compiled, any errors, therefore, are my fault entirely. Firstly, sincere apologies to the subjects; secondly, any errors should be minor and not affect the overall impression; thirdly, it will be more accurate than Wikipedia.
An average points per game figure is given for each manager. In order to translate that into something more tangible, the table below shows how many points that figure equates to over the course of a 46-game season. Although other factors obviously come into play, it gives an indication of how likely that manager is to be involved in a relegation struggle (under 1.20 PPG), a play-off challenge (above 1.50 PPG needed) or an automatic promotion challenge (above 1.70 PPG needed).
As for the player sections, permanent transfers and longer-term loans in are included; all shorter-term loans and season-long loans out are not included. Players given their first professional contracts from academy status are not included as new signings. Remember that the transfer window does not close until 2 September, a month after the season has begun; later signings may be significant.
Only regular pre-season matches involving first teams are listed. Games scheduled for more or less than the standard 45/90 minutes are omitted, as are games played mainly as training exercises.
One new addition this year is the inclusion of the ‘chairman/owner’ title. Due to the proliferation of such people in League One and the often problematic paths trodden by their clubs, it is of interest to note where the chairman is also the sole or major shareholder. This includes de facto ownership through separate – but solely owned – limited companies. Bookmakers’ odds are for promotion.
Finally, a caveat regarding the prediction section. Before you consider using this preview as fuel for a gambling spree, do not forget that last season I tipped Notts County to be champions of League Two. This shows beyond doubt that such forecasts are essentially subjective, and also that you do not have to post photographs of your own genitalia on Twitter to make yourself look a bit silly.
Scotimp, 31/7/2019
LINCOLN CITY
Last season: Champions of League Two (promoted)
P46 W23 D16 L7 F73 A43 Pts85
Average attendance: 9,005
Chairman: Clive Nates, 61 (appointed June 2018)
Manager: Danny Cowley, 40 (appointed May 2016)
Danny Cowley’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (3):
Goalkeepers (1):
Matt Gilks, 37 (Fleetwood Town)
Defenders (1):
James Wilson, 30 (Ipswich Town)
Midfielders (0):
Forwards (1):
Matt Rhead, 35 (Billericay Town)
Players in (4):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (0):
Midfielders (4):
Jorge Grant, 24 (Nottingham Forest)
Jack Payne, 24 (Huddersfield Town)
Joe Morrell, 22 (Bristol City – season loan)
Alex Bradley, 20 (West Bromwich Albion)
Forwards (0):
Average age of players out: 34
Average age of players in: 22
Number of players in squad: 19
Player of the Season 2018-19: Michael Bostwick, 31 (centre half)
One to watch: Bruno Andrade, 25 (winger)
Season ticket sales: 6,500 SOLD OUT
Ground capacity: 10,300
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,000 (all seated – may be extended to 1,700 but under review)
Pre-season:
P6 W2 D1 L3 F12 A8
9/7 Leicester City U23 A 8-0
13/7 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY H 1-3
20/7 Reading N 1-0 (Played at Marbella Football Centre)
24/7 STOKE CITY H 1-2
27/7 Scunthorpe United A 0-2
29/7 NOTTINGHAM FOREST XI H 1-1
Commentary:
And so the Lincoln Loco continues to race powerfully through football’s countryside, and shows little sign of stopping for long at any station. The fantastic journey under Danny Cowley has carried Lincoln from the bottom half of the National League to League One via two divisional titles and a Wembley cup win in three short seasons. A little over two years ago, non-league Lincoln famously dumped Championship regulars Ipswich Town out of the FA Cup despite a gulf of three divisions between them; this season, they meet as equals.
Lincoln were utterly dominant in League Two last season, rising to the top at the end of August and slipping off top spot for only two games thereafter. Three of their seven defeats came in their last four games when promotion had already been secured, and Lincoln also had the distinction of being the first club in the EFL to win promotion and to win a title. Danny Cowley has a remarkable record over his twelve years in management, averaging a massive eighty-two points per season: that suggests that Lincoln can never be discounted. Reality says there are bigger clubs with bigger budgets to contend with, but Cowley has already stated that he is not interested in consolidation.
Lincoln will have one of the smaller squads in the division, with Cowley’s target being twenty-first team professionals. Three exciting midfielders have been added from higher division clubs in Jorge Grant, Joe Morrell and Jack Payne. Those signings alone suggest a stylistic change once again from Lincoln, whose game continues to evolve at a pace.
Their 6,500 season ticket holders have become used to winning and Cowley has a reputation for finding a way to do so. If little else, Lincoln will be welcomed to League One purely for financial reasons: not only was their average home attendance of 9,005 the highest in League Two, their average away following of 1,393 was also the highest in the bottom tier by far.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 9/2 (sixth favourites)
Prediction: Play-off challenge. Lincoln or MK Dons could take the final spot.
MILTON KEYNES DONS
Last season: 3rd in League Two (promoted)
P46 W23 D10 L13 F71 A49 Pts79
Average attendance: 8,223
Chairman/owner: Pete Winkelman, 61 (appointed March 2004)
Manager: Paul Tisdale, 46 (appointed June 2018)
Paul Tisdale’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (11):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (4):
Mathieu Baudry, 31 (Swindon Town)
Mitch Hancox, 25 (Solihull Moors)
Oran Jackson, 20 (ÍBV – Iceland)
Finley Tapp, 19 (Oxford City)
Midfielders (4):
Ousseynou Cissé, 28 (Gillingham)
Lawson D’Ath, 26
Ryan Watson, 26 (Northampton Town)
Liam Sole, 19 (on trial with Bromley)
Forwards (3):
Robbie Simpson, 34
Chuks Aneke, 26 (Charlton Athletic)
Brandon Thomas-Asante, 20
Players in (7):
Goalkeepers (1):
Laurie Walker, 29 (Hemel Hempstead Town)
Defenders (1):
Regan Poole, 21 (Manchester United)
Midfielders (2):
Brennan Dickenson, 26 (Colchester United)
Hiram Boateng, 23 (Exeter City)
Forwards (3):
Jordan Bowery, 28 (Crewe Alexandra)
Joe Mason, 28 (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Rhys Healey, 24 (Cardiff City)
Average age of players out: 25
Average age of players in: 25
Number of players in squad: 27
Player of the Season 2018-19: Alex Gilbey, 24 (central midfielder)
One to watch: Baily Cargill, 24 (centre half)
Season ticket sales: Not disclosed
Ground capacity: 30,500
Visiting supporter capacity: 3,000 (all seated – may be extended to 8,000)
Pre-season:
P6 W4 D1 L1 F16 A5
12/7 Oxford City A 2-2
16/7 Brackley Town A 5-1
19/7 Welwyn Garden City A 1-0
23/7 Hemel Hempstead A 1-0
26/7 Northampton Town A 1-2
30/7 St Neots Town A 6-0
Commentary:
“No-one has had a bad game yet, no-one has been dropped, we haven’t lost, we’re all happy.”
MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale was philosophical when returning to work after the summer break, and perhaps the degree of pressure on his shoulders this time around is less than when he was appointed to the Stadium MK hot seat during the summer of 2018. The requirement a year ago was to take MK straight back up to League One, and despite the pressure, it was mission accomplished. A section of the MK support believes it was a far from satisfactory season for a number of reasons. It was a struggle that not many really anticipated, but they re-enter League One with a clean slate.
There has been a significant turnover of playing staff during the summer with the loss of Chuks Aneke the only real negative. His nineteen goals will need to be replaced, and more besides if they are to make a serious dent in League One. New signings have bizarrely come from either the Premier League or League Two with very little else in between. Rhys Healey returns from Cardiff on a permanent basis and should form a potent combination with Kieran Agard. Jordan Bowery and Hiram Boateng were certainly two of the better players in League Two, while Joe Mason returns to League One after eight seasons in the Championship and Premier League.
There were no home pre-season friendlies due to three concerts on the Stadium MK pitch, which owner Pete Winkelman said were necessary to restore the club’s finances after a number of unprofitable seasons. Furthermore, the pre-season games they did play were distinctly unchallenging. If your second most difficult pre-season opponent is Hemel Hempstead, it is possible you may not be fully prepared for the rigours of League One. That remains to be seen, although it may be some time before we find out: their opening game of the season against Bury has been suspended by the EFL.
Paul Tisdale is a clever manager who will be seeking to enhance his reputation by taking MK Dons back to the Championship as soon as possible. Tisdale took Exeter to two successive promotions a decade ago, although at a lower level. Despite the irregular start to the season, MK Dons look in decent shape for their return to League One and should be in the right half of the table.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 15/2
Prediction: Play-off challenge, could be another duel with Lincoln for the final berth.
OXFORD UNITED
Last season: 12th
P46 W15 D15 L16 F58 A64 Pts60
Average attendance: 7,315
Chairman/owner: Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth, 56 (appointed February 2018)
Manager: Karl Robinson, 38 (appointed March 2018)
Karl Robinson’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (9):
Goalkeepers (1):
Scott Shearer, 38 (retired)
Defenders (3):
Curtis Nelson, 26 (Cardiff City)
Charlie Raglan, 26 (Cheltenham Town)
Fiacre Kelleher, 23
Midfielders (3):
Gavin Whyte, 23 (Cardiff City)
Armani Little, 22 (Torquay United)
Tsun Dai, 20 (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Forwards (2):
Jonathan Obika, 28 (on trial with Stevenage)
Jonté Smith, 25 (on trial with Cheltenham Town)
Players in (8):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (3):
Elliott Moore, 22 (Leicester City)
Sam Allardyce, 18 (Bury)
Kevin Berkoe, 17 (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Midfielders (4):
Anthony Forde, 25 (Rotherham United)
Alex Rodríguez Gorrín, 25 (Motherwell)
Tariqe Fosu, 23 (Charlton Athletic)
Chris Cadden, 22 (Columbus Crew – season loan)
Forwards (1):
Ben Woodburn, 19 (Liverpool – season loan)
Average age of players out: 25
Average age of players in: 21
Number of players in squad: 21
Player of the Season 2018-19: Josh Ruffels, 25 (central midfielder)
One to watch: Ben Woodburn, 19 (striker)
Season ticket sales: 4,020
Ground capacity: 12,500
Visiting supporter capacity: up to 5,000
Pre-season:
P9 W3 D3 L3 F13 A17
7/7 Glasgow Rangers A 0-5
9/7 Oxford City A 5-3
10/7 Thame United A 2-0
11/7 Brackley Town A 2-1
13/7 Woking A 1-1
16/7 Eastleigh A 0-3
20/7 QUEENS PARK RANGERS H 1-2
23/7 FULHAM H 1-1
27/7 Solihull Moors A 1-1
Commentary:
It would be fair to say that 2018-19 was a tough season for Oxford United. Attention was all too often focused on off-field matters with a number of winding-up petitions brought against the club by the owners of the Kassam Stadium (former owner Firoz Kassam, through his company Firoka) for unpaid rent and service charges. A recurring problem since Kassam sold the club in 2006, the dispute was eventually settled at the end of May. The latest dispute revealed that Oxford are paying around £1 million per year to play there, an unequivocal warning to the dangers of not owning your own ground. There were also problems transferring money for March wages from the club’s owners in Thailand, with only the players paid on time.
Oxford had a difficult season against that backdrop, and were in the bottom four with ten games remaining before a very strong end to the season saw them finish in mid-table. Manager Karl Robinson has a previous promotion from League One to his name and will be hoping for a more stable platform for his second full season at the Kassam. Notable departures during the close season included the sale of captain Curtis Nelson and Northern Ireland international Gavin Whyte to Cardiff; the defence was further weakened by the loss of Everton loanee Luke Garbutt, leaving Robinson to source replacements at the back. Top scorer James Henry remains, although second top scorer Marcus Browne returned to West Ham at the end of his loan.
Replacements were relatively low-key until two current full internationals materialised in late July. Scottish international winger Chris Cadden was a surprising addition on loan from Columbus Crew, but the best signing by far was the season-long loan of 19-year-old striker Ben Woodburn from Liverpool, who already has ten full caps for Wales to his name. One has to assume that springs from Robinson’s connections with the Liverpool Academy, but it could represent the signing of the season in League One. Winger Anthony Forde from Rotherham comes in to supply the ammunition. Pre-season results have been unconvincing against mixed opposition, but the nine games played will have driven plenty of minutes into the players. Oxford should not be remotely in trouble again this season, although a promotion push may have to wait another year.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 7/1
Prediction: Upper mid-table.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED
Last season: 7th
P46 W20 D12 L14 F71 A62 Pts72
Average attendance: 7,364
Chairman: Darragh MacAnthony, 43 (appointed September 2006)
Manager: Darren Ferguson, 47 (appointed January 2019)
Darren Ferguson’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (5):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (3):
Ryan Tafazolli, 27 (Hull City)
Darren Lyon, 24
Lewis Freestone, 19 (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Midfielders (0):
Forwards (2):
Matt Stevens, 21 (Forest Green Rovers)
Morgan Penfold, 20 (Barrow)
Players in (9):
Goalkeepers (1):
Christy Pym, 24 (Exeter City)
Defenders (5):
Mark Beevers, 29 (Bolton Wanderers)
Dan Butler, 24 (Newport County)
Frazer Blake-Tracy, 23 (King’s Lynn Town)
Frankie Kent, 23 (Colchester United)
Niall Mason, 22 (free agent)
Midfielders (2):
George Boyd, 33 (Sheffield Wednesday)
Serhat Tasdemir, 19 (AFC Fylde)
Forwards (1):
Mohamed Eisa, 25 (Bristol City)
Average age of players out: 22
Average age of players in: 25
Number of players in squad: 27
Player of the Season 2018-19: Marcus Maddison, 25 (attacking midfielder)
One to watch: Marcus Maddison, 25 (attacking midfielder)
Season ticket sales: Not disclosed
Ground capacity: 15,314
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,800 (all seated)
Pre-season:
P9 W7 D1 L1 F29 A8
6/7 St Mirren N 2-0 (played in La Manga)
10/7 Stamford A 6-0
13/7 Kettering Town A 2-1
16/7 Stevenage A 1-1
20/7 Barnet A 3-1
23/7 Bedford Town A 3-0
24/7 Reading A 2-4
27/7 Grimsby Town A 2-0
29/7 Deeping Rangers A 8-1
Commentary:
“He’s a genius this guy and we want to get in the Championship as much as anybody. We’ve got a hell of a chance with him, and little or no chance without him.” – Barry Fry on Marcus Maddison
Accurate or not, quite what the other Peterborough players made of Fry’s comments is anyone’s guess. The signing of striker Mohamed Eisa for a club-record £1.5 million suggests that Peterborough mean business in their search for Championship football, although he is completely untested at League One level. The size of the fee is eye-watering for a small League One club, although Posh will highlight some profitable dealings in the transfer market as justification for their particular strategy.
Darren Ferguson is back home for the third time, and has an outstanding record at Peterborough. He has already taken the club up to the Championship in each of his two previous spells, and it would take a brave soul to bet against him making it a hat-trick. Ferguson knows how to get out of League One and the new Canadian owners are backing their manager financially. Besides the signing of Eisa, George Boyd has returned for a second spell at the club, although he may not be a regular starter at 34. Teenage midfielder Serhat Tasdemir from AFC Fylde is a very interesting signing, albeit for a six-figure fee, while goalkeeper Christy Pym from Exeter conceded only a goal per game last season. If Fry is right and they can hang on to Maddison for a while longer, it looks set to be an exciting season at the newly-named Weston Homes Stadium.
Five days of warm-weather training in La Manga were followed by a relatively comfortable set of pre-season fixtures. The only game that offered any significant test was away to Championship Reading, but nine games were played and most of them won. Peterborough will certainly head into the new season full of confidence after strengthening the side in all areas and will be one of the teams to beat.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 10/3 (joint fourth favourites)
Prediction: Fry is right: at least a play-off place if they retain Maddison.
PORTSMOUTH
Last season: 4th (lost in play-off semi-final)
P46 W25 D13 L8 F83 A51 Pts88
Average attendance: 18,217
Chairman/owner: Michael Eisner, 77 (appointed August 2017)
Manager: Kenny Jackett, 57 (appointed June 2017)
Kenny Jackett’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (6):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (2):
Nathan Thompson, 28 (on trial with Bristol City)
Matt Clarke, 22 (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Midfielders (3):
Dion Donohue, 25 (Mansfield Town)
Jamal Lowe, 25 (Wigan Athletic)
Dan Smith, 19 (Bognor Regis Town)
Forwards (1):
Louis Dennis, 26 (Leyton Orient)
Players in (8):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (3):
Paul Downing, 27 (Blackburn Rovers)
Sean Raggett, 25 (Norwich City – season loan)
James Bolton, 24 (Shrewsbury Town)
Midfielders (3):
Ryan Williams, 25 (Rotherham United)
Marcus Harness, 23 (Burton Albion)
Ross McCrorie, 21 (Glasgow Rangers – season loan)
Forwards (2):
John Marquis, 27 (Doncaster Rovers)
Ellis Harrison, 25 (Ipswich Town)
Average age of players out: 23
Average age of players in: 24
Number of players in squad: 27
Player of the Season 2018-19: Matt Clarke, 22 (centre half)
One to watch: Jamal Lowe, 25 (winger)
Season ticket sales: 14,500 SOLD OUT
Ground capacity: 21,100
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,400 (all seated – may be extended to 2,800)
Pre-season:
P7 W6 D0 L1 F22 A9
10/7 UCD A 11-0
13/7 Havant & Waterlooville A 2-1
16/7 Bognor Regis Town A 2-1
20/7 Stevenage A 1-0
23/7 Aldershot Town A 0-4
27/7 Crawley Town A 2-1
30/7 Woking A 4-2
Commentary:
With two FA Cup Finals and a lengthy stay in the Premier League still fresh in recent memory, Portsmouth are a big club for the third tier and expectations will be high. But the same can be said of Ipswich, Sunderland and Coventry, and there are only three promotion places on offer. With ambitious smaller clubs like Rotherham, Peterborough and Lincoln in there too, there are no foregone conclusions for anyone in League One.
Owner and former Disney chief executive Michael Eisner is worth in excess of a billion dollars, suggesting Portsmouth may not linger in League One for much longer. However, fans have been critical of the perceived lack of investment in the playing side since he assumed control of the club two years ago, with many assuming Portsmouth would take League One on a wave of Eisner cash. Having won promotion as League Two champions in 2017, Portsmouth have improved steadily, rather than dramatically. The trajectory is undoubtedly upwards, with a play-off semi-final and the Checkatrade Trophy win dominating last season.
The majority of last season’s squad has been retained, the only real departure of note being Player of the Season Matt Clarke to Brighton. The squad has been strengthened by some excellent signings including highly-rated winger Marcus Harness from Burton, Ross McCrorie on loan from Rangers, and Lincoln hero Sean Raggett from Norwich. Completing a powerful line-up are strikers Ellis Harrison from Ipswich, who scored plenty of goals in League One for Bristol Rovers, and 26-goal John Marquis from Doncaster.
Kenny Jackett has a good record at this level with two previous promotions from League One, and Portsmouth have bought well during the summer. Support at Fratton Park will be as fervent as ever, with season tickets having sold out once again. All of that makes them one of the teams to beat this season: the only real question to be answered is whether it will be the play-offs or an automatic spot next May.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 2/1 (joint second favourites)
Prediction: Automatic promotion.
ROCHDALE
Last season: 16th
P46 W15 D9 L22 F54 A87 Pts54
Average attendance: 3,574
Chairman: Andrew Kilpatrick, 58 (appointed December 2018)
Manager: Brian Barry-Murphy, 41 (appointed March 2019 as caretaker, April 2019 permanently)
Brian Barry-Murphy’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (4):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (1):
Kgosi Ntlhe, 25 (Scunthorpe United)
Midfielders (3):
Brad Inman, 27 (Brisbane Roar – Australia)
Jordan Williams, 26 (AFC Fylde)
Daniel Adshead, 17 (Norwich City)
Forwards (0):
Players in (5):
Goalkeepers (1):
Robert Sánchez, 21 (Brighton & Hove Albion – season loan)
Defenders (2):
Eoghan O’Connell, 23 (Bury)
Rhys Norrington-Davies, 20 (Sheffield United – season loan)
Midfielders (1):
Jimmy Ryan, 30 (Blackpool)
Forwards (1):
Rekeil Pyke, 21 (Huddersfield Town – season loan)
Average age of players out: 24
Average age of players in: 23
Number of players in squad: 29
Player of the Season 2018-19: Ian Henderson, 34 (striker)
One to watch: Ian Henderson, 34 (striker)
Season ticket sales: 1,600
Ground capacity: 10,000
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,500 (all seated – may be extended to 3,650)
Pre-season:
P5 W2 D0 L3 F7 A11
6/7 Sporting Club Farense N 0-1 (played at Estádio Municipal de Albufeira)
17/7 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN H 1-3
20/7 Oldham Athletic A 3-2
24/7 Ramsbottom United A 3-2
30/7 Hyde United A 0-3
Commentary:
Rochdale go into the 2019-20 season as one of the bookmakers’ favourites for relegation, but that is a tag they have become used to. Fortunately, budgets do not always equate to points, and with neighbours Bury and Bolton starting with a twelve-point deficit, that prognosis may not be a foregone conclusion. Rochdale have punched above their weight for a long time and there is no reason to believe they cannot do so again.
Although an unknown quantity, rookie manager Brian Barry-Murphy did a great job last season, inspiring an immediate turnaround in the club’s fortunes after taking the reins at the start of March. Dale were five points adrift of safety with eleven games remaining at the time, but six wins and two draws ensured another season in League One. Barry-Murphy stated his intention to reduce the size of his squad dramatically in the belief that tight-knit squads produce better results, but there have been only four departures during the summer.
The main problem last season was obvious: Rochdale had the worst defence in League One, conceding an almost fatal 87 goals. The best defender at the club Kgosi Ntlhe declined a contract offer to sign for Scunthorpe, and he will need to be replaced. The budget should be boosted by the rumoured £300,000 received from Norwich for 17-year-old starlet Dan Adshead. Club legend Ian Henderson remains despite rumours of a move away during the summer, which could prove pivotal: Henderson scored 20 of Rochdale’s 54 league goals last season. On the downside, Dale’s pre-season preparations were badly affected by the cancellation of a game against Blackburn and the abandonment of the final match against Bradford.
Rochdale launched a billboard advertising campaign prior to the start of the season to drum up more support from the town. Entitled ‘A New Dawn Beckons’, it was certainly stylish if not dramatic. Let’s hope it does not prove as embarrassing a false dawn as the Jolley Revolution, for instance. Whilst last season’s average attendance of 3,574 may appear paltry to the majority of League One clubs, it actually constituted the highest average at Spotland for almost 50 years. If that does not emphasise the extent of Rochdale’s achievement in staying in League One for so long, nothing ever will.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 14/1
Prediction: Relegation.
Vital Lincoln City – League One Season Preview 2019-20 (Part Two):https://t.co/WGb2JXUUoj#MKDons #PUFC #Pompey
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) August 2, 2019
ROTHERHAM UNITED
Last season: 22nd in the Championship (relegated)
P46 W8 D16 L22 F52 A83 Pts40
Average attendance: 9,880
Chairman: Tony Stewart OBE, 73 (appointed May 2008)
Manager: Paul Warne, 46 (appointed November 2016 as caretaker, April 2017 permanently)
Paul Warne’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (12):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (4):
Semi Ajayi, 25 (West Bromwich Albion)
Dominic Ball, 23 (Queens Park Rangers)
Ben Purrington, 23 (Charlton Athletic)
Emmanuel Onariase, 22 (Dagenham & Redbridge)
Midfielders (7):
Darren Potter, 34 (Tranmere Rovers)
Jon Taylor, 27
Joe Newell, 26 (Hibernian)
Anthony Forde, 25 (Oxford United)
Ryan Williams, 25 (Portsmouth)
Will Vaulks, 25 (Cardiff City)
Alex Bray, 24 (Hereford)
Forwards (1):
David Ball, 29 (Wellington Phoenix – New Zealand)
Players in (9):
Goalkeepers (1):
Daniel Iverson, 22 (Leicester City – season loan)
Defenders (2):
Trevor Clarke, 21 (Shamrock Rovers)
Matthew Olosunde, 21 (Manchester United)
Midfielders (4):
Shaun MacDonald, 31 (Wigan Athletic)
Jamie Lindsay, 23 (Ross County)
Dan Barlaser, 22 (Newcastle United – season loan)
Julien Lamy, 19 (Stade Plabennécois – France)
Forwards (2):
Freddie Ladapo, 26 (Plymouth Argyle)
Carlton Morris, 23 (Norwich City – season loan)
Average age of players out: 26
Average age of players in: 23
Number of players in squad: 22
Player of the Season 2018-19: Michael Smith, 27 (striker)
One to watch: Freddie Ladapo, 26 (striker)
Season ticket sales: 5,800
Ground capacity: 12,021
Visiting supporter capacity: 2,500 (all seated)
Pre-season:
P7 W3 D3 L1 F20 A9
6/7 Parkgate A 7-0
10/7 Werder Bremen II N 2-2 (played in Barsinghausen)
14/7 1. FC Magdeburg N 1-2 (played at Elmstadion, Schöningen)
17/7 Bradford Park Avenue A 5-1
20/7 Chesterfield A 2-1
23/7 WEST BROMWICH ALBION H 1-1
27/7 LEICESTER CITY H 2-2
Commentary:
Paul Warne has an interesting record as Rotherham manager, with two relegations and a promotion in his three seasons to date. Warne took Rotherham straight back up to the Championship in 2018 but was unable to prevent immediate relegation back to the third tier in May. That promotion suggests he has the ability and knowledge of League One to mount a serious challenge again this year.
Warne is another League One manager looking to work with a first-team squad of twenty plus a handful of loans to ensure cover in every position. There has been quite a turnover on the playing side – only eight players remain from the squad that won promotion to the Championship in 2018. His task was made significantly harder during the summer as a wave of key players rejected contract offers to move elsewhere. Wingers Joe Newell, Jon Taylor and Anthony Forde all departed, while Richie Towell returned to his parent club Brighton at the end of his loan. David Ball headed to New Zealand after a season out on loan, and Will Vaulks was sold to Cardiff for good money, believed to be a Rotherham club record. Ryan Williams also departed for Portsmouth, leaving Warne with the task of having to essentially rebuild his midfield.
One reason why Rotherham were relegated was the lack of an effective striker – they scored only 52 goals last season. To make matters worse, defender-cum-midfielder Semi Ajayi finished joint top scorer with just eight, and he has also been sold. More goals will certainly be required, and the money received for Will Vaulks was immediately reinvested in the team with the club-record signing of striker Freddie Ladapo from relegated Plymouth. USA international right-back Matthew Olosunde from Manchester United could prove an astute signing, while the new midfield will be built around the experienced Shaun MacDonald, holder of a record number of caps for Wales U21.
Rotherham headed to a pre-season training camp in Germany in July and played a couple of notable friendlies against quality opposition. Back home, Warne’s attention to detail extended to the cancellation of a pre-season friendly at Farsley because he felt the poor state of the pitch could potentially injure the players. Season ticket prices were held for the seventh season in a row which has ensured sales of around 6,000 despite relegation. Rotherham bounced straight back to the Championship after relegation two seasons ago and will be confident of a repeat, although those summer departures could prove the difference between success and failure.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 10/3 (joint fourth favourites)
Prediction: Unsuccessful play-off bid.
SHREWSBURY TOWN
Last season: 18th
P46 W12 D16 L18 F51 A59 Pts52
Average attendance: 6,407
Chairman: Roland Wycherley, 68 (appointed July 1996)
Manager: Sam Ricketts, 37 (appointed December 2018)
Sam Ricketts’ managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (13):
Goalkeepers (2):
Steve Arnold, 29 (Northampton Town)
Reice Charles-Cook, 25
Defenders (4):
Mat Sadler, 34 (Walsall)
James Bolton, 24 (Portsmouth)
Ryan Haynes, 23 (Newport County)
Christos Shelis, 19 (APOEL Nicosia – Cyprus)
Midfielders (4):
Doug Loft, 32 (Billericay Town)
Sam Jones, 27 (Harrogate Town)
Alex Gilliead, 23 (Scunthorpe United)
George Hughes, 20 (Airbus UK Broughton)
Forwards (3):
Aaron Amadi-Holloway, 26 (Brisbane Roar – Australia)
Lee Angol, 24 (Leyton Orient)
John McAtee, 20 (Scunthorpe United)
Players in (9):
Goalkeepers (2):
Joe Murphy, 37 (Bury)
Max O’Leary, 22 (Bristol City – season loan)
Defenders (4):
Ethan Ebanks-Landell, 26 (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Aaron Pierre, 26 (Northampton Town)
Donald Love, 24 (Sunderland)
Ryan Giles, 19 (Wolverhampton Wanderers – season loan)
Midfielders (1):
Luke McCormick, 20 (Chelsea – season loan)
Forwards (2):
Steve Morison, 35 (Millwall – season loan)
Daniel Udoh, 22 (AFC Telford United)
Average age of players out: 25
Average age of players in: 26
Number of players in squad: 31
Player of the Season 2018-19: Greg Docherty, 22 (central midfield – on loan from Glasgow Rangers)
One to watch: Ethan Ebanks-Landell, 26 (centre half)
Season ticket sales: 3,200
Ground capacity: 9,875
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,796 (all seated)
Pre-season:
P5 W1 D1 L3 F4 A7
9/7 Sheffield Wednesday N 0-2 (played at Estádio da Nora, Ferreiras)
17/7 Newport County N 0-1 (played at Ludlow FC)
21/7 ASTON VILLA H 0-1
23/7 Cheltenham Town A 2-2
27/7 DUNDEE UNITED H 2-1
Commentary:
After a Checkatrade Trophy final and a play-off final in 2017-18, last season proved a huge anticlimax for Shrewsbury. With manager Paul Hurst away to an ill-fated spell in charge at Ipswich, the anticipated promotion push did not materialise under his replacement John Askey, who lasted less than six months. At the end of a fine career as a player, Welsh international Sam Ricketts came in and just about kept the Shrews in League One. Ricketts now goes into his first full season as an EFL manager with something of a rebuilding job on his hands.
The close season went far from smoothly as a number of players declined contract offers and others were sold in mid-contract. Thirteen players have gone, while midfielder Anthony Grant has been banished to train with the youth team this season ‘for in-house reasons’. All of that is by no means a bad thing, as Ricketts now has an opportunity to build his own squad with his own methodology. Shrewsbury were another side who failed to trouble the scorers very often last season, totalling just 51. Ricketts has added experienced striker Steve Morison on loan from Millwall, although he may not be a regular starter at 36. Former Crewe striker Daniel Udoh returns to the EFL after scoring 26 goals for AFC Telford United in National League North last season, but three divisions is a huge step up. At the back, Ethan Ebanks-Landell will be hoping to revive his career after spending the last two seasons out on loan from Wolves, and former Scotland U21 right back Donald Love will be hoping for something similar after making only four appearances for Sunderland last season.
Ricketts has stated his intention to change the style of play this season and used his pre-season schedule to work on options. The budget was boosted by an attendance of over 9,000 for the pre-season defeat to Aston Villa, although the pre-season campaign did not go exactly to plan. Further to failing to score in the first three games, midfielder Oliver Norburn and new goalkeeper Joe Murphy both picked up injuries which will see them miss the opening month or so of the season. On the positive side, Ricketts has room in his squad for additions, so expect to see further changes with a month of the transfer window remaining.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 14/1
Prediction: Lower mid-table.
SOUTHEND UNITED
Last season: 19th
P46 W14 D8 L24 F55 A68 Pts50
Average attendance: 6,992
Chairman/owner: Ron Martin, 66 (appointed July 2000)
Manager: Kevin Bond, 62 (appointed April 2019 as caretaker, May 2019 permanently)
Kevin Bond’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included. Includes two spells as manager of Hong Kong Pegasus between 2016 and 2017.
Players out (11):
Goalkeepers (2):
Ted Smith, 23 (on trial with Tottenham Hotspur)
Josh Bexon, 21
Defenders (5):
Michael Turner, 35
Ben Coker, 30 (on trial with Lincoln City)
Stephen Hendrie, 24
Joe Mackenzie, 20
Dan Humphreys, 19 (Canvey Island)
Midfielders (2):
Renei Batlokwa, 21
Sewa Marah, 19
Forwards (2):
Amadou Ba, 21
Norman Wabo, 21 (on trial at Dartford)
Players in (3):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (1):
Nathan Ralph, 26 (Dundee)
Midfielders (1):
Mark Milligan, 33 (Hibernian)
Forwards (1):
Brandon Goodship, 24 (Weymouth)
Average age of players out: 23
Average age of players in: 28
Number of players in squad: 26
Player of the Season 2018-19: Simon Cox, 32 (striker)
One to watch: Mark Milligan, 33 (defensive midfielder)
Season ticket sales: 3,400
Ground capacity: 12,392
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,200 (all seated – may be extended up to 2,000)
Pre-season:
P7 W2 D3 L2 F10 A11
6/7 Reading A 0-2
9/7 Billericay Town A 3-2
12/7 Weymouth A 2-2
17/7 Exeter City A 1-2
20/7 Dagenham & Redbridge A 1-1
24/7 MILLWALL H 2-1
26/7 Gillingham A 1-1
Commentary:
Southend United owe their presence in this season’s League One to the narrowest of narrow squeaks: a goal four minutes from time against promotion-chasing Sunderland on the final day was enough to keep them up on goal difference. Harry Redknapp’s right-hand man Kevin Bond, who was initially appointed from 2 April to the end of the season, has been given the job on a permanent basis after winning two of the last three games to survive.
He could breathe again, but not for long. Bond has a big job on his hands to sort through one of the larger squads in League One, and a good number have gone already. A dozen players left Roots Hall during the summer including injured left-back Ben Coker, who has been linked with Lincoln on his own Twitter account. Replacements have been slow to arrive, with Australia captain Mark Milligan the best of the lot so far. Despite having 79 caps to his name, Milligan has never played in England before at the age of almost 34 and will captain the side this season. Striker Brandon Goodship joins after scoring 77 goals in 97 games for Weymouth including five hat-tricks, and could prove the bargain of the season if he can make the four-division step-up from the Southern League Premier. Lincoln FA Cup hero Theo Robinson remains at Southend after rumours of a move away during the summer and scored twice against Championship Millwall in pre-season.
Southend bucked the modern trend of overseas warm-weather training camps with a five-day trip to Dorset in July. It will be interesting to see how vastly experienced coach and assistant manager Kevin Bond gets on in his own right. His only real attempt at management so far was against an impossible backdrop of financial restrictions and points deductions at Bournemouth more than a decade ago, and he will be very keen to make his mark as his own man. It remains to be seen how much he knows about League One after years in the Premier League, but it all makes for an interesting season at Roots Hall.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 16/1 (joint third favourites for relegation)
Prediction: Relegation unless Bond adds some more quality to his squad.
SUNDERLAND
Last season: 5th (lost in play-off final)
P46 W22 D19 L5 F80 A47 Pts85
Average attendance: 32,157 (highest in League One)
Chairman/owner: Stewart Donald, 44 (appointed May 2018)
Manager: Jack Ross, 43 (appointed May 2018)
Jack Ross’ managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (10):
Goalkeepers (2):
Robbin Ruiter, 32 (PSV Eindhoven – Holland)
Max Stryjek, 23 (Eastleigh)
Defenders (6):
Lamine Koné, 30 (RC Strasbourg Alsace – France)
Bryan Oviedo, 29 (FC Copenhagen – Denmark)
Adam Matthews, 27
Reece James, 25 (Doncaster Rovers)
Donald Love, 24 (Shrewsbury Town)
Jacob Young, 19 (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – Germany)
Midfielders (2):
Lee Cattermole, 31
Luke Molyneux, 21 (Hartlepool United)
Forwards (0):
Players in (5):
Goalkeepers (1):
Lee Burge, 26 (Coventry City)
Defenders (2):
Conor McLaughlin, 28 (Millwall)
Jordan Willis, 24 (Coventry City)
Midfielders (1):
George Dobson, 21 (Walsall)
Forwards (1):
Marc McNulty, 26 (Reading – season loan)
Average age of players out: 26
Average age of players in: 25
Number of players in squad: 25
Player of the Season 2018-19: Aiden McGeady, 33 (winger)
One to watch: Will Grigg, 28 (striker)
Season ticket sales: 23,800
Ground capacity: 49,000
Visiting supporter capacity: 3,000
Pre-season:
P4 W1 D1 L2 F2 A2
11/7 South Shields A 2-0
18/7 Benfica B N 0-0 (played at Estádio Municipal de Albufeira)
20/7 Belenenses N 0-1 (played at Estádio Municipal de Albufeira)
27/7 SC HEERENVEEN H 0-1
Commentary:
A little over two years ago, Lincoln City and Tranmere Rovers were locked in a battle to get out of the National League while Sunderland were trying desperately not to be relegated from the golden goose that is the Premier League; that was a gap of four divisions, yet this season they will all meet as equals. If that does not bring the changing face of football fortune into sharp focus, nothing ever will.
Sunderland lost just nine of their sixty-one games last season, yet find themselves confined to the third tier for a second year. Furthermore, their total of 85 points was a ridiculous number only to finish fifth, and was actually equivalent to that of League Two champions Lincoln. Their season came to be defined by two trips to Wembley in fifty-seven days with defeats in both the Checkatrade Trophy final and the play-off final. Support continued to be excellent with an increase of 16% despite relegation, and a better season could even see the Stadium of Light close to selling out.
Manager Jack Ross was given a very public vote of confidence by owner Stewart Donald at the end of May, although on a couple of occasions Donald has also referred to a target of a hundred points this season. That is a very tall order for any manager at any club, but is indicative of the desire and perhaps the necessity of taking the club back to the Championship as soon as possible. The majority of the Premier League legacy players have now gone, with six more departing during the summer. Only George Honeyman, Lynden Gooch, Aiden McGeady and Duncan Watmore remain from the 2016-17 relegation squad.
Sunderland followed a unique pre-season schedule, facing three European sides and only one from England. Only two goals were scored in those four games, both of which came against Northern Premier League side South Shields. Two of the games were held during their warm-weather training camp in Portugal, although they were both open to the public. Supporters could even accompany the team to Portugal for three days for the price of £1,750 for a bed in a twin-room or an eye-watering £2,500 for a Billy-no-mates single. That confirms that Sunderland are from a different world to the one inhabited by most clubs in League One, and possibly why they are unlikely to still be there in twelve months’ time.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 11/8 (Favourites)
Prediction: Champions
TRANMERE ROVERS
Last season: 6th in League Two (promoted via the play-offs)
P46 W20 D13 L13 F63 A50 Pts73
Average attendance: 6,667
Chairman: Mark Palios, 66 (appointed August 2014)
Manager: Micky Mellon, 47 (appointed October 2016)
Micky Mellon’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (10):
Goalkeepers (1):
Paddy Wharton, 19 (FC United of Manchester)
Defenders (3):
Steve McNulty, 35 (York City)
Zoumana Bakayogo, 32 (Notts County)
Adam Buxton, 27 (Morecambe)
Midfielders (3):
Jay Harris, 32 (Macclesfield Town)
Ben Tollitt, 24 (Blackpool)
James Devine, 20
Forwards (3):
Chris Dagnall, 33 (on trial with Bury)
James Norwood, 28 (Ipswich Town)
Cole Stockton, 25 (Morecambe)
Players in (8):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (3):
Calum Woods, 32 (Bradford City)
George Ray, 25 (Crewe Alexandra)
Sid Nelson, 23 (Millwall)
Midfielders (3):
Darren Potter, 34 (Rotherham United)
Kieron Morris, 25 (Walsall)
Corey Blackett-Taylor, 21 (Aston Villa)
Forwards (2):
Stefan Payne, 27 (Bristol Rovers)
Jordan Ponticelli, 20 (Coventry City – six-month loan)
Average age of players out: 27
Average age of players in: 26
Number of players in squad: 25
Player of the Season 2018-19: James Norwood, 28 (centre forward)
One to watch: Scott Davies, 32 (goalkeeper)
Season ticket sales: 4,300
Ground capacity: 16,587
Visiting supporter capacity: 2,500 (all seated)
Pre-season:
P5 W0 D1 L4 F1 A13
6/7 Livingston N 1-2 (played at St Andrews, Fife)
11/7 LIVERPOOL H 0-6
20/7 STOKE CITY H 0-2
23/7 Carlisle United A 0-3
27/7 WALSALL H 0-0
Commentary:
Two promotions via the play-offs in successive seasons sees Tranmere back in League One. Reality now bites, and whether the second promotion has come too early is the big question. It is entirely possible to win promotion too soon, and an immediate relegation can kill any momentum stone dead. Whilst a second successive promotion was a fine achievement, Tranmere’s record against the other top-six sides in League Two last season was mediocre with just eleven points taken from twelve games, and that rings a few alarm bells for the higher level. The fact that they were far from impressive in the play-offs also suggested a major overhaul of the squad would be required during the summer.
Fortunately, manager Micky Mellon has been promoted to League One before and has made significant changes. A number of the National League squad have been released including Ben Tollitt, Jay Harris, Adam Buxton and the ageing Steve McNulty, while the one player Mellon wished to keep in the form of striker James Norwood has left for Ipswich. Tranmere were very dependent on Norwood last season, scoring 29 of Tranmere’s 63 league goals; that is almost impossible to replace. Stefan Payne from Bristol Rovers has been brought in, but his record is vastly inferior to Norwood with only sixteen goals to his name in the Football League.
As for the other signings, the versatile Calum Woods will be an asset if he can stay fit, but he has played just 26 games since suffering an anterior and medial ligament injury in July 2016. The experienced Darren Potter has come from Rotherham after missing almost the whole of last season with an Achilles injury. Defender Sid Nelson has signed on a permanent basis from Millwall after a loan period last year, while Crewe captain George Ray completes a new-looking defence. League One stalwart Kieron Morris has arrived from Walsall to cover midfield.
A fourth consecutive pre-season friendly against European champions Liverpool certainly helped to boost the budget, but the 6-0 defeat to a Liverpool second-string would have done little for their confidence. Their entire pre-season schedule did not go well for that matter, scoring only one goal and conceding thirteen. On the surface of it, it is very difficult to see what Tranmere have to keep them in League One, in particular, who is going to score the goals. On the positive side, Micky Mellon has a great record, although not above the fourth tier so far. And there is always the ultimate League One fallback this season: points deductions elsewhere may yet come to their rescue.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 16/1
Prediction: Relegation.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
Last season: 17th
P46 W14 D11 L21 F55 A67 Pts53
Average attendance: 5,388
Chairman: Trevor Stroud, 64 (appointed May 2017)
Manager: Gareth Ainsworth, 46 (appointed September 2012 as caretaker, November 2012 permanently)
Gareth Ainsworth’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (8):
Goalkeepers (1):
Yves Ma-Kalambay, 33
Defenders (4):
Marcus Bean, 34 (retired)
Darius Charles, 31
Michael Harriman, 26 (on trial with Lincoln City and Cambridge United)
Jason McCarthy, 23 (Millwall)
Midfielders (1):
Ben Frempah, 24
Forwards (2):
Nathan Tyson, 37 (on trial with Notts County)
Paris Cowan-Hall, 28 (Colchester United)
Players in (9):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (3):
Jack Grimmer, 25 (Coventry City)
Jamie Mascoll, 22 (Charlton Athletic)
Giles Phillips, 22 (Queens Park Rangers – season loan)
Midfielders (3):
David Wheeler, 28 (Queens Park Rangers)
Jacob Gardiner-Smith, 22 (St Albans City)
Alex Pattison, 21 (Middlesbrough)
Forwards (3):
Josh Parker, 28 (Charlton Athletic)
Fred Onyedinma, 22 (Millwall)
Paul Smyth, 21 (Queens Park Rangers – season loan)
Average age of players out: 29
Average age of players in: 23
Number of players in squad: 23
Player of the Season 2018-19: Jason McCarthy, 23 (centre half)
One to watch: Fred Onyedinma, 22 (striker)
Season ticket sales: Not disclosed
Ground capacity: 10,137
Visiting supporter capacity: 2,000 (all seated – may be extended to 2,350)
Pre-season:
P5 W2 D3 L0 F7 A5
13/7 Barnet A 1-1
16/7 Woking A 3-2
20/7 BRENTFORD H 2-2
23/7 Wealdstone A 1-0
26/7 Maidenhead United A 0-0
Commentary:
“I hope that the fans can appreciate the reality of our situation and that we must cut our cloth accordingly. There are too many stories across the country where clubs are finding themselves in real trouble due to the financial pressures and it’s imperative that we avoid falling into the same situations.”
Those were the words of Wycombe chairman Trevor Stroud on announcing a greatly reduced budget for 2019-20. Hopes of additional investment had not been realised, leading to the release of a tranche of experienced players in May. The fans rallied round to raise over £60,000 for the playing budget through their ‘500 club’, part of which was used to sign midfielder Alex Pattison. Manager Gareth Ainsworth confirmed that he had not expected to make any permanent signings at all, but then the situation changed in July with the addition of American investor Rob Couhig to the club’s management structure. There will be no Abramovich-style bonanza, though. Far from enjoying a deluge of additional investment, Wycombe have simply restored the budget from last season, which at least gives them a fighting chance of staying in League One.
Summer recruitment seemed to come in two phases due to that financial uncertainty. Virtually a whole team of trialists played in the pre-season draw with Barnet, some of whom were quickly signed on permanent deals. Once the budget was restored, Wycombe managed to make some decent signings in late July. David Wheeler looks the pick of the bunch, while young striker Fred Onyedinma returns from Millwall and could prove very effective this season. The QPR connection through manager Ainsworth was clear – three signings came from Loftus Road. Outgoings include Player of the Season Jason McCarthy, who has departed for Millwall as part of the deal for Onyedinma. On the positive side, the average age of the squad has come down significantly. On the negative side, the pre-season schedule was undemanding at best and produced some unconvincing results against mediocre opposition, not helped by the late recruitment.
Gareth Ainsworth claims to have won promotion in 2018 with a mid-table League Two budget and kept Wycombe up in 2019 with a bottom-two League One budget, and it would appear that this season will be little different. Whilst laudable, Wycombe’s approach is far from reflective of the general attitude to finances in the game. This season they will be competing against a number of clubs notorious for financial profligacy, so have Wycombe signed their own relegation warrant within that context?
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 16/1 (joint third favourites for relegation)
Prediction: Relegation battle, should be safe.
end
Vital Lincoln City – League One Season Preview 2019-20 (Part Two):https://t.co/WGb2JXUUoj#MKDons #PUFC #Pompey
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) August 2, 2019