CREWE ALEXANDRA
Last season: 15th
P46 W17 D5 L24 F62 A75 Pts56
Average attendance: 3,876
Chairman: John Bowler MBE, 81 (appointed 1987)
Manager: David Artell, 37 (appointed January 2017)
David Artell’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (4):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (2):
Zoumana Bakayogo, 31 (Tranmere Rovers)
Ross Woodcock, 19 (Untraced)
Midfielders (0):
Forwards (2):
Chris Dagnall, 32 (Bury)
Daniel Udoh, 21 (AFC Telford United)
Players in (4):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (1):
Nicky Hunt, 34 (Notts County)
Midfielders (1):
Paul Green, 35 (Oldham Athletic)
Forwards (2):
Shaun Miller, 30 (Carlisle United)
Alex Nicholls, 30 (Barnet)
Average age of players out: 26
Average age of players in: 32
Number of players in squad: 26
One to watch: Jordan Bowery, 27 (striker)
Season ticket sales:
Pre-season:
P8 W4 D2 L2 F10 A6
7/7 Nantwich Town A 1-0
10/7 Colwyn Bay A 2-1
14/7 Barrow A 0-1
17/7 Bala Town A 0-1
17/7 Kidsgrove Athletic A 2-1
20/7 Altrincham A 3-0
26/7 Leek Town A 1-1
28/7 BLACKPOOL H 1-1
Commentary:
After struggling against relegation until the latter stages, Crewe ended last season in good form with twenty-three points coming from their final fourteen games. Whilst not exactly promotion form, it does suggest that the retention of the majority of last season’s squad could see Crewe as one of the surprise packages this season. Their notoriously leaky defence must be fixed first, with an uncomfortable eighty-nine goals conceded in all competitions; even during that fine run-in, they still managed to concede twenty.
Manager David Artell has largely kept faith with the players who finished the season, with just four out and four in. Summer signings have consisted of two of last season’s loanees (Paul Green and Shaun Miller) plus two other senior players – indeed, all four of Artell’s signings are thirty-something. As per last season, he may seek to boost his squad through a series of youthful loan signings from higher divisions. The dangerous Jordan Bowery remains, as does strike partner Chris Porter. The experienced Nicky Hunt joins from Notts County to help plug that defence, but conceding too many goals may well prove Crewe’s Achilles heel again.
Artell believes team spirit is worth twelve points a season, but that is no more than platitudinous. The vast majority of teams would claim to have a good team spirit, and that should be a given in this day and age. What is needed to set a team apart is a good set of players and a good manager who can elevate them above the rest, especially where financial considerations dominate. Do Crewe have that? Or is their great team spirit about to see them finish in the bottom half again?
At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 33/1
Prediction: Upper mid-table.
EXETER CITY
Last season: 4th (lost in the play-off final)
P46 W24 D8 L14 F64 A54 Pts80
Average attendance: 4,073
Chairman: Julian Tagg, 62 (appointed 2015)
Manager: Matt Taylor, 36 (appointed June 2018)
Matt Taylor’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (11):
Goalkeepers (1):
Lewis Williams, 19 (Untraced)
Defenders (4):
Danny Seaborne, 31 (Derry City)
Troy Archibald-Henville, 29 (Untraced)
Jordan Moore-Taylor, 24 (Milton Keynes Dons)
Jordan Storey, 20 (Preston North End)
Midfielders (3):
Ryan Harley, 33 (Milton Keynes Dons)
Lloyd James, 30 (Forest Green Rovers)
Alex Byrne, 21 (Untraced)
Forwards (3):
Robbie Simpson, 33 (Milton Keynes Dons)
Ryan Brunt, 25 (Bath City)
Liam McAlinden, 24 (Cheltenham Town)
Players in (6):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (2):
Aaron Martin, 28 (Oxford United)
Jimmy Oates, 27 (Hereford FC)
Midfielders (2):
Lee Martin, 31 (Gillingham)
Nicky Law, 30 (Bradford City)
Forwards (2):
Jonathan Forte, 32 (Notts County)
Tristan Abrahams, 19 (Norwich City – season loan)
Average age of players out: 26
Average age of players in: 28
Number of players in squad: 28
One to watch: Jayden Stockley, 24 (striker)
Season ticket sales: 1,470 (27/6/18)
Pre-season:
P5 W4 D1 L0 F15 A2
12/7 Truro City A 6-0
17/7 Bath City A 1-0
19/7 Weymouth A 2-0
27/7 Taunton Town A 2-2
28/7 Bristol Rovers A 4-0
Commentary:
Two successive play-off final defeats combined with Paul Tisdale’s departure after twelve exciting years left Exeter City at a turning point at the end of May. The club decided to maintain some form of continuity and immediately appointed from within: U23 manager and former player Matt Taylor stepped up to the manager’s job despite having no experience in management. He wisely appointed an experienced management team around him, and was fortunate enough to inherit a squad that is used to winning.
However, Taylor was given no time to settle in as a number of players, some of whom were still under contract, followed Tisdale out of the door. Three of them have since turned up at Tisdale’s new club MK Dons, much to the displeasure of the fans. The loss of some key players will be difficult to overcome, although Exeter do have one of the larger squads in League Two to compensate. On the positive side, influential midfielder Hiram Boateng remains despite attention from a number of clubs. Lee Martin looks the pick of the signings, while Jonathan Forte should deliver ten goals to support the efforts of main striker Jayden Stockley.
Further to substantial changes in playing staff and management, Exeter have also had the disruption of ground redevelopment to contend with. There is light at the end of that tunnel – completion of the two new stands is expected to raise capacity back to 8,500 by October.
Considering the extent of the upheaval over the summer, it is by no means certain that Exeter will be ready to mount a third consecutive promotion bid. The difference may be that man Stockley, assuming Exeter can hold on to him for the whole season. A host of Championship clubs are known to be circling already, and he is out of contract next summer. There is still plenty of quality in the squad, but is there enough to maintain the current momentum? Matt Taylor has already stated his intention to be his own man, but is he the right man? Those questions are about to be answered.
At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 20/1
Prediction: Unsuccessful play-off challenge.
FOREST GREEN ROVERS
Last season: 21st
P46 W13 D8 L25 F54 A77 Pts47
Average attendance: 2,771
Chairman: Dale Vince OBE, 56 (appointed October 2010)
Manager: Mark Cooper, 49 (appointed May 2016)
Mark Cooper’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (18):
Goalkeepers (3):
Sam Russell, 35 (Grimsby Town)
Cameron Belford, 29 (Chorley)
Harry Pickering, 20 (Untraced)
Defenders (7):
Mark Roberts, 34 ()
Dale Bennett, 28 (Sutton United)
Dan Wishart, 26 (Sutton United)
Alex Whittle, 25 (Untraced)
Manny Monthe, 23 (Tranmere Rovers)
Callum Evans, 22 (Macclesfield Town)
Jon Moran, 20 (Chester)
Midfielders (5):
Isaiah Osbourne, 30 (Untraced)
Keanu Marsh-Brown, 25 (Newport County)
Charlie Cooper, 21 (Newport County – season loan)
Tom Anderson, 19 (Cirencester Town)
Jordan Morris, 19 (Cirencester Town)
Forwards (3):
Omar Bugiel, 23 (Bromley)
Luke James, 23 (Hartlepool United)
Olly Mehew, 20 (Untraced)
Players in (12):
Goalkeepers (3):
James Montgomery, 24 (Gateshead)
Lewis Thomas, 20 (Swansea City)
Robert Sánchez, 20 (Brighton & Hove Albion – season loan)
Defenders (3):
Joseph Mills, 28 (Perth Glory – Australia)
Paul Digby, 23 (Mansfield Town)
Liam Shephard, 23 (Peterborough United)
Midfielders (4):
Lloyd James, 30 (Exeter City)
Carl Winchester, 25 (Cheltenham Town)
George Williams, 22 (Fulham) current Welsh international!
Theo Archibald, 20 (Brentford – season loan)
Forwards (2):
Tahvon Campbell, 21 (West Bromwich Albion)
Isaac Pearce, 19 (Fulham)
Average age of players out: 25
Average age of players in: 23
Number of players in squad: 26
One to watch: George Williams, 22 (attacking midfield)
Season ticket sales:
Pre-season:
P9 W6 D2 L1 F23 A14
6/7 Brimscombe & Thrupp A 2-0
10/7 Torquay United A 4-1
13/7 Weston-super-Mare A 6-6
17/7 LEEDS UNITED H 1-2
18/7 Swindon Supermarine A 2-2
21/7 BRISTOL ROVERS H 1-0
25/7 Hereford FC A 3-1
28/7 Wrexham A 3-2
30/7 Cirencester Town A 1-0
Commentary:
Interested observers would be forgiven for thinking that Forest Green have fitted a revolving door to the players’ entrance at the New Lawn. There has been a huge turnover of players since they won promotion to the Football League a year ago: there were nineteen transfers during the summer 2017 window (eight out/eleven in), seventeen in January 2018 (seven out/ten in), and an incredible THIRTY this summer (eighteen out/twelve in). That means that a staggering thirty-three players have left the club in little more than a year, with thirty-three coming in. Only in-demand striker Chris Doidge remains from the promotion squad, plus Fabien Robert who is now surplus and on the transfer list. Retaining their League status by a solitary point suggests that too many changes were made in too short a period, yet an even larger churn has taken place this summer. If too many poor signings were made last season, what chance is there that FGR have it right this time?
FGR have clearly spent a lot of money this summer, with a very young average age of signings. There are some good ones in there, the most notable being the capture of current Welsh international George Williams from Fulham. Carl Winchester has been lured away from neighbours Cheltenham Town, and Lloyd James is one of the more experienced players to depart Exeter City. Striker Tahvon Campbell returns on a permanent basis, but there is a noticeable lack of experience in the squad. Everything appears to hinge on Christian Doidge: his retention may mean a surprisingly good season, but his loss would certainly prove problematic.
With a £23 million loss at Ecotricity and redundancies causing animosity in the area, will Dale Vince continue to underpin his football club folly to the tune of £2.5 million every year? Could the FGR gravy train be about to hit the buffers? Summer transfer business suggests not, but those subsidies keep on rising. The question is: has all of that money been used well this time?
At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 40/1
Prediction: Lower mid-table with Doidge, relegation battle without him.
GRIMSBY TOWN
Last season: 18th
P46 W13 D12 L21 F42 A66 Pts51
Average attendance: 4,657
Chairman: John Fenty, 56 (appointed July 2004)
Manager: Michael Jolley, 41 (appointed March 2018)
Michael Jolley’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (15):
Goalkeepers (1):
Ben Killip, 22 (Braintree Town)
Defenders (5):
Ben Davies, 37 (Untraced)
Nathan Clarke, 34 (Untraced)
Karleigh Osborne, 30 (Aldershot Town)
Zak Mills, 26 (Morecambe)
Jack Keeble, 19 (St Neots Town)
Midfielders (6):
Sean McAllister, 30 (Untraced)
Luke Summerfield, 30 (Wrexham)
James Berrett, 29 (Untraced)
Chris Clements, 28 (Untraced)
Sam Kelly, 24 (Hamilton Academical)
Tom Sawyer, 19 (Grantham Town)
Forwards (3):
Gary McSheffrey, 35 (Untraced)
Scott Vernon, 34 (Cleethorpes Town)
Siriki Dembélé, 21 (Peterborough United)
Players in (10):
Goalkeepers (1):
Sam Russell, 35 (Forest Green Rovers)
Defenders (3):
Harry Davis, 26 (St Mirren)
Alex Whitmore, 22 (Chesterfield)
Akin Famewo, 19 (Luton Town – season loan)
Midfielders (3):
John Welsh, 34 (Preston North End)
Jake Hessenthaler, 24 (Gillingham)
Elliott Whitehouse, 24 (Lincoln City)
Forwards (3):
Jordan Cook, 28 (Luton Town)
Louis Robles, 21 (San Roque de Lepe – Spain)
Charles Vernam, 21 (Derby County)
Average age of players out: 28
Average age of players in: 25
Number of players in squad: 22
One to watch: James McKeown, 29 (goalkeeper)
Season ticket sales: 2900 (2983 in 2017-18)
Pre-season:
P5 W2 D0 L3 F10 A8
7/7 Cleethorpes Town A 3-4
17/7 SUNDERLAND H 0-1
18/7 Cleethorpes Town A 2-3 (Lincolnshire Senior Cup quarter-final)
24/7 DONCASTER ROVERS H 1-0
28/7 Gainsborough Trinity A 4-0
Commentary:
So, the amusingly-named Jolley Revolution is underway. Back on Planet Earth, Grimsby Town are facing a far more mundane reality: can rookie manager Michael Jolley somehow turn last season’s great escape into regular form this time around?
That is the challenge that faces all saviour-managers, and history shows that generating similar momentum the following season is extremely difficult. It is hardly an auspicious outlook at Blundell Park despite the artificially-generated vitality. The appointment of a very inexperienced management team to support a very inexperienced manager looks a strange move, and there has been a huge turnover on the playing side. The vast majority of Russell Slade’s poor squad has quite rightly been jettisoned, but too many of the replacements look unconvincing, perhaps the natural result of manager Jolley’s irregular coaching history and a limited budget.
Matters were not improved when 21-year-old Ivorian striker Siriki Dembélé, one of the few bright lights last season, submitted a transfer request and departed in June. On the positive side, the average age of the squad has been brought down significantly. Their best signing appeared to be the energetic Elliott Whitehouse, but he will miss most of the season with a knee injury suffered during a pre-season friendly. Former England U21 midfielder John Welsh has been brought in and appointed captain, but at nearly thirty-five and with a history of injuries, he may have limited impact in the rough and tumble of League Two. Jordan Cook has arrived from Luton, but he has only nineteen goals to his name in nine years. Louis Robles has been playing regional football in Spain, while the more promising Charles Vernam has arrived from Derby U23 on a permanent basis. Grimsby only scored 42 goals last season, and that remains their main problem: it is hard to see them being as bad again, but it is also very difficult to see how that will change with limited creativity in midfield and unproven strikers up front.
The Jolley Revolution started pre-season with a summer camp in Warwick before limping into a haphazard pre-season schedule which did not go well. Gates at Blundell Park fell by eleven percent last season and season ticket sales this summer suggest the lost fans will be hard to lure back. With continuing animosity between owner and supporter clouding the horizon further, it could be some time before things improve in Cleethorpes. The question is: will there be two teams worse than Grimsby this season?
At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 33/1
Prediction: Bottom four. There should be enough poor sides for Grimsby to survive.
LINCOLN CITY
Last season: 7th (lost in play-off semi-final)
P46 W20 D15 L11 F64 A48 Pts75
Average attendance: 8,812
Chairman: Clive Nates, 60 (appointed June 2018)
Manager: Danny Cowley, 39 (appointed May 2016)
Danny Cowley’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (9):
Goalkeepers (2):
Paul Farman, 29 (Stevenage)
Richard Walton, 20 (Matlock Town)
Defenders (1):
Sean Long, 23 (Cheltenham Town)
Midfielders (5):
Nathan Arnold, 31 (Boston United)
Cameron Stewart, 27 (Untraced)
Billy Knott, 25 (Concord Rangers)
Alex Woodyard, 25 (Peterborough United)
Elliott Whitehouse, 24 (Grimsby Town)
Forwards (1):
Ollie Palmer, 26 (Crawley Town)
Players in (7):
Goalkeepers (1):
Grant Smith, 24 (Boreham Wood)
Defenders (2):
Harry Toffolo, 22 (Millwall)
Scott Wharton, 20 (Blackburn Rovers – season loan)
Midfielders (1):
Michael O’Connor, 30 (Notts County)
Forwards (3):
John Akinde, 29 (Barnet)
Bruno Andrade, 24 (Boreham Wood)
Shay McCartan, 24 (Bradford City – season loan)
Average age of players out: 26
Average age of players in: 25
Number of players in squad: 19
One to watch: Bruno Andrade, 24 (striker)
Season ticket sales: 6,300 SOLD OUT
Pre-season:
P6 W3 D0 L3 F8 A6
10/7 NORWICH CITY H 1-3
13/7 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY H 0-1
22/7 BLACKBURN ROVERS H 0-1
24/7 Boston United A 4-1
28/7 Scunthorpe United A 1-0
31/7 DERBY COUNTY U23 H 2-0
Commentary:
Having signed a new four-year contract in May, Lincoln manager Danny Cowley stated that the only way to top last season’s Checkatrade Trophy win and play-off semi-final would be to win promotion this time around. EFL figures revealed that Lincoln over-performed last season on only the fourteenth largest budget in League Two. Despite the financial disadvantage, a new £1.3 million state of the art training ground is under construction at Scampton, and every available season ticket has sold out. The elevation of popular director Clive Nates to club chairman during the summer completes a very positive picture at Sincil Bank, and expectation is high in the old city.
The close season has not all been plain sailing. City suffered the high-profile departure of Alex Woodyard to Peterborough, although many supporters felt the need for a more offensive outlook in midfield. The rest of the players leaving the club were certainly surplus to requirements, with the majority of supporters believing more quality would be needed for a sustained promotion challenge. That is exactly what the summer transfer market has delivered to LN5, with the notable signing of John Akinde for a club record fee a clear sign of intent. City lacked a genuine goalscorer last season, and have taken very positive steps to correct that. Highly-rated Bruno Andrade from Boreham Wood can only reinforce Lincoln’s strike options, while attacking left back Harry Toffolo will do likewise in addition to his defensive duties. Outstanding young defender Scott Wharton returns on a season loan from Blackburn, and the dangerous Shay McCartan makes a similar move from Bradford. With attacking right back and club Player of the Season Neal Eardley signing a new two-year contract in May, expect Lincoln to score plenty of goals.
City gave themselves a tough pre-season schedule deliberately to maximise fitness returns from games against higher class opposition. Even after two years of unprecedented success, nearly 6,500 season ticket holders believe something special is about to happen again at Lincoln. With last season’s Checkatrade Trophy and play-off semi-final squad boosted by some very good signings, there is no reason to believe that they will not be one of the teams to beat this season.
At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 15/2 (third favourites)
Prediction: Automatic promotion.
MACCLESFIELD TOWN
Last season: 1st in the National League (promoted)
P46 W27 D11 L8 F67 A46 Pts92
Average attendance: 1,838
Chairman: Mark Blower, 49 (appointed May 2013)
Manager: Mark Yates, 48 (appointed June 2018)
Mark Yates’ managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (9):
Goalkeepers (2):
Shwan Jalal, 34 (Chesterfield)
Sam Ramsbottom, 22 (Untraced)
Defenders (3):
George Pilkington, 36 (Retired)
Mitch Hancox, 24 (Milton Keynes Dons)
Kieran Kennedy, 24 (Shrewsbury Town)
Midfielders (3):
Courtney Richards, 24 (Untraced)
Danny Whitehead, 24 (Salford City)
Noe Baba, 21 (Waterford)
Forwards (1):
Diego De Girolamo, 22 (Buxton)
Players in (11):
Goalkeepers (1):
Rhys Taylor, 28 (AFC Fylde)
Defenders (6):
Michael Rose, 36 (Morecambe)
Jamie Grimes, 27 (Cheltenham Town)
James Pearson, 25 (Kidderminster Harriers)
Callum Evans, 22 (Forest Green Rovers)
Fiacre Kelleher, 22 (Oxford United – season loan)
Miles Welch-Hayes, 21 (Bath City)
Midfielders (1):
Callum Maycock, 20 (Coventry City – loan until January)
Forwards (3):
Nathan Blissett, 28 (Plymouth Argyle)
Harry Smith, 23 (Millwall)
Ben Stephens, 20 (Stratford Town)
Average age of players out: 26
Average age of players in: 25
Number of players in squad: 24
One to watch: Ben Stephens, 20 (striker)
Season ticket sales:
Pre-season:
P5 W1 D2 L2 F7 A6
14/7 Ashton United A 5-1
17/7 Altrincham A 0-1
20/7 BURNLEY H 0-2
24/7 WREXHAM H 1-1
28/7 Stockport County A 1-1
Commentary:
The loss of manager John Askey to Shrewsbury will be unsettling for the National League champions, but perhaps an indication that he had taken the club beyond where he thought possible. Maidstone boss Jay Saunders was offered the job but turned it down. Former City midfielder Mark Yates got the job after rescuing Solihull Moors from relegation last season. The experienced Yates looks a good appointment, having enjoyed periods of success at clubs of a similar size. He has a decent record in League Two with two play-off campaigns to his name at Cheltenham, but there is a host of reasons why he may find it much harder this time.
With a naturally restricted budget and an average attendance of around 1,800 last season, Macclesfield appear to have few opportunities to generate the income necessary to compete in the League. Furthermore, Macc only scored 67 goals in winning the National League, which presents a real challenge against the significantly superior defences and goalkeepers in League Two. On the basis that promoted teams on average score twenty-three goals fewer in their first season in League Two than in the National League, Macclesfield appear to have a serious problem. By means of a comparison, Forest Green scored 88 in gaining promotion in 2017 and stayed up by a single point. Macc appear to be relying on former Lincoln loanee Nathan Blissett to score the missing goals, which does not bode well for them if his past record is anything to go by. Ben Stephens from Stratford Town was courted by Birmingham and Ipswich last season, but League Two will be a big step up at the age of 20.
The majority of Lincoln supporters would wish all the best to Macclesfield. Further to our mutual affection for Mssrs Alexander and Butcher, Macc have a habit of following City up and down the leagues. Unfortunately, it is very hard to be optimistic. Promoted sides Forest Green, Grimsby and Cheltenham have all struggled badly in the last two seasons, and Macclesfield can expect the same. No club has been relegated straight back to the Conference a year after promotion, but Macclesfield look ill-prepared for life in the League.
At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 66/1 (joint-favourites for relegation)
Prediction: With regret, relegation.
Vital Lincoln City – @SkyBetLeagueTwo Season Preview 2018-19 (Part One):https://t.co/cVzk6OOMBm#CamUTD #ColU #GTFC
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) August 2, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/1792193520816885
