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Vital Lincoln City – League Two Season Preview 2018-19 (Part Two)

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OLDHAM ATHLETIC:

Last season: 21st in League One (relegated)
P46 W11 D17 L18 F58 A75 Pts50

Average attendance: 4,442

Chairman: Abdallah Lemsagam, 41 (appointed January 2018)

Manager: Frankie Bunn, 55 (appointed June 2018)

Frankie Bunn’s managerial record:

League games only – playoffs and cup games not included.

Players out (13):

Goalkeepers (0):

Defenders (3):
Brian Wilson, 35 (Barrow)
Wilfried Moimbé, 29 (Untraced)
Ryan McLaughlin, 23 (Blackpool)

Midfielders (7):
Paul Green, 35 (Crewe Alexandra)
Tope Obadeyi, 28 (Untraced)
Abdelhakim Omrani, 27 (Royal Excelsior Virton – Luxembourg)
Ollie Banks, 25 (Tranmere Rovers)
Gyamfi Kyeremeh, 23 (Untraced)
Kallum Mantack, 20 (Untraced)
Mason Fawns, 19 (Curzon Ashton)

Forwards (3):
Craig Davies, 32 (Mansfield Town)
Aaron Amadi-Holloway, 25 (Shrewsbury Town)
Patrick McEleney, 25 (Dundalk)

Players in (9):

Goalkeepers (1):
Daniel Iversen, 21 (Leicester City – season loan)

Defenders (2):
Andy Taylor, 32 (Blackpool)
Sam Graham, 17 (Sheffield United – season loan)

Midfielders (4):
Giles Coke, 32 (Chesterfield)
Jose Baxter, 26 (Everton)
Christopher Missilou, 26 (Le Puy – France)
Johan Branger, 25 (FC Dieppe – France)

Forwards (2):
Chris O’Grady, 32 (Chesterfield)
Sam Surridge, 20 (AFC Bournemouth – season loan)

Average age of players out: 27
Average age of players in: 26

Number of players in squad: 27

One to watch: Jonathan Benteke, 23 (striker)

Season ticket sales: 2,874 (2,900 in 2017-18)

Pre-season:
P5 W3 D1 L1 F9 A6

10/7 Ashton United A 3-1
14/7 Curzon Ashton A 2-0
17/7 FC United of Manchester A 2-0
21/7 NOTTINGHAM FOREST H 2-2
28/7 PRESTON NORTH END H 0-3

Commentary:

Boardroom battles, removal of the chairman, a takeover by Moroccan businessman Abdallah Lemsagam, denials of blatant ongoing financial problems, a huge unpaid tax bill (£130,000 and counting), outstanding wage liabilities to staff and players, disputes with their bank, foreign players imported on big wages with no knowledge of English football, unpaid ticket money collected on behalf of other clubs, players not paid and told to stay away from the club, staff departures, dressing room disputes, agents telling their clients not to sign for the club, unpaid phone bills, players unable to afford to put petrol in their cars, threats of employment tribunals from disgruntled staff, player departures…we welcome Oldham Athletic from League One.

The article in the Daily Mail making the above allegations was not the most complimentary, and therefore we need to take some of it with a tiny amount of sodium chloride. To be fair to new owner Lemsagam, he has stated that ‘the mess was bigger than we expected’, but this is hardly the best of starts to life in football’s basement where the trapdoor to oblivion is only nine months away.

To compound matters, Oldham appointed their ninth manager in a little over three years after Richie Wellens was sacked in June. New manager and club legend Frankie Bunn has no experience of management to speak of – he managed Coventry for two games as caretaker in February 2008, drawing one and losing the other 5-0 at home. His knowledge of League Two will be practically nil.

The departure of Northern Ireland full-back Ryan McLaughlin came as a serious blow to Oldham’s hopes of bouncing back to League One, the defender rejecting a contract offer to join Blackpool. Influential midfielder Ousmane Fané will miss the first half of the season after suffering a broken leg and dislocated ankle during training in July. Added to which, Oldham have conjured up a rag-bag of signings from every corner of obscurity, not helped by a turbulent background that will not make it easy to sign players at the best of times. We have the interesting return of Jose Baxter from Everton, who called his move from a Premier League club to a League Two club in disarray ‘a no-brainer’. To top the lot, the less than lethal Chris O’Grady joins from a terrific season at Chesterfield. On the positive side, striker Jonathan Benteke has decided to re-sign for the club after originally leaving in May.

Owner Lemsagam claims he can make a profit this season, but Oldham look in real trouble on and off the field. There are significant similarities to Leyton Orient, Chesterfield, and Port Vale, all of whom faced a dire struggle for Football League survival after relegation from League One. It looks to be a long road back for Oldham.

At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 20/1

Prediction: Bottom eight, could be the next Chesterfield if the disarray continues.

PORT VALE

Last season: 20th
P46 W11 D14 L21 F49 A67 Pts47

Average attendance: 4,582

Chairman: Tony Fradley, 68 (appointed May 2017)

Manager: Neil Aspin, 53 (appointed October 2017)

Neil Aspin’s managerial record:

League games only – playoffs and cup games not included.

Players out (11):

Goalkeepers (2):
Ryan Boot, 23 (Solihull Moors)
Joe Slinn, 19 (Untraced)

Defenders (5):
Kjell Knops, 31 (Returned to Holland)
Callum Howe, 24 (Harrogate Town)
Graham Kelly, 20 (Untraced)
Luke Dennis, 19 (Newcastle Town)
Charlie Walford, 19 (Untraced)

Midfielders (3):
Harry Middleton, 23 (Untraced)
Billy Reeves, 21 (Untraced)
Chris Regis, 21 (Untraced)

Forwards (1):
Anton Forrester, 24 (On trial at Sunderland)

Players in (12):

Goalkeepers (1):
Scott Brown, 33 (Wycombe Wanderers)

Defenders (3):
Leon Legge, 32 (Cambridge United)
Connell Rawlinson, 26 (The New Saints)
Theo Vassell, 21 (Gateshead)

Midfielders (4):
Louis Dodds, 31 (Chesterfield – season loan)
Luke Joyce, 31 (Carlisle United)
Manny Oyeleke, 25 (Aldershot Town)
Brendon Daniels, 24 (Alfreton Town)
Tom Conlon, 22 (Stevenage)

Forwards (3):
Ricky Miller, 29 (Peterborough United)
Scott Quigley, 25 (Blackpool – season loan)
Idris Kanu, 18 (Peterborough United – season loan)

Average age of players out: 22
Average age of players in: 26

Number of players in squad: 25

One to watch: Idris Kanu, 18 (striker)

Season ticket sales: 2,800

Pre-season:
P9 W1 D6 L2 F13 A15

6/7 Redditch United A 1-1
7/7 Kidsgrove Athletic A 1-1
14/7 BLACKBURN ROVERS H 1-1
17/7 FC Halifax Town A 3-2
18/7 Nuneaton Borough A 2-2
21/7 BLACKPOOL H 0-1
24/7 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI H 2-2
28/7 SHREWSBURY TOWN H 2-4
29/7 Newcastle Town A 1-1

Commentary:

Having been relegated to League Two in 2017, an apparently disorganised Port Vale were hardly expected to make a swift return to League One last season. However, no one could have foreseen the near-disaster that unfolded as Vale sank straight into the bottom two. In the end, they stayed in the Football League by a single point (safety confirmed with a win over Lincoln) and had earned the right to breathe again.

Things are seldom that simple, of course. The relationship between the club and its supporters has been strained in recent years, and it has been put up for sale. Many fans feel that a takeover cannot come soon enough, considering Port Vale’s astonishing swallow dive down the Football League. Incredibly, it is only a little over two years since they were challenging for the League One playoffs. Although every club desires promotion, Vale supporters might be forgiven for dreaming of a season of stability instead.

There is no doubt at all that Port Vale are in a better place than twelve months ago. Many of the failed signings made by previous managers Bruno Ribeiro and Michael Brown have gone, replaced by players with at least some knowledge of League Two. Eleven players departed Vale Park during the summer, and there were no surprises at all among them. Plenty of experience has been brought in, with four signings over the age of thirty. The arrival of Ricky Miller is the headline-maker, although his record in the Football League is extremely poor. At almost thirty, Miller is surely in last-chance saloon as he tries one more time to ignite a career that has been as inconsistent as his off-field behaviour. If he can silence the critics and replicate the form that made him the National League’s top scorer fifteen months ago, Port Vale could have a good season ahead. Much will depend on how readily Miller forms a working relationship with experienced Tom Pope, while Louis Dodds has been brought in to boost the supply line. The best signing of all could prove to be eighteen-year-old Idris Kanu, who was outstanding for Aldershot Town in 2016-17.

Port Vale legend Neil Aspin returned to the club last season in his first job as a Football League manager, and could not have had a more challenging baptism of fire. So far he has worked wonders with very little to work with, but although the squad looks far better than at the start of last season, it still appears short of a possible promotion challenge. Aspin will not mind that especially, given Vale’s narrow escape from relegation and his own relative inexperience as a Football League manager. This could well be a season of consolidation, and a mid-table finish would represent a fine recovery from the shambles of the past two years.

At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 25/1

Prediction: Upper mid-table.

STEVENAGE

Last season: 16th
P46 W14 D13 L19 F60 A65 Pts55

Average attendance: 2,610

Chairman: Phil Wallace, 68 (appointed June 1999)

Manager: Dino Maamria, 47 (appointed March 2018)

Dino Maamria’s managerial record:

League games only – playoffs and cup games not included.

Players out (11):

Goalkeepers (1):
Chris Day, 43 (Untraced)

Defenders (3):
Fraser Franks, 27 (Newport County)
Kevin Lokko, 22 (Dover Athletic)
Ben Wilmot, 18 (Watford)

Midfielders (4):
Jack King, 32 (Ebbsfleet United)
Chris Whelpdale, 31 (Untraced)
Tom Conlon, 22 (Port Vale)
Dale Gorman, 22 (Leyton Orient)

Forwards (3):
Matt Godden, 27 (Peterborough United)
Alex Samuel, 22 (Untraced)
Jamie Gray, 20 (Untraced)

Players in (13):

Goalkeepers (1):
Paul Farman, 29 (Lincoln City)

Defenders (4):
Scott Cuthbert, 31 (Luton Town)
Johnny Hunt, 27 (Mansfield Town)
Ben Nugent, 25 (Gillingham)
Luther Wildin, 20 (Nuneaton Borough)

Midfielders (6):
Jamal Campbell-Ryce, 35 (Carlisle United)
Michael Timlin, 33 (Southend United)
Joel Byrom, 31 (Mansfield Town)
James Ball, 22 (Stockport County)
Emmanuel Sonupé, 22 (Kidderminster Harriers)
Donovan Makoma, 19 (Barrow)

Forwards (2):
Kurtis Guthrie, 25 (Colchester United)
Alex Reid, 22 (Fleetwood Town)

Average age of players out: 26
Average age of players in: 26

Number of players in squad: 24

One to watch: Danny Newton, 27 (striker)

Season ticket sales:

Pre-season:
P6 W4 D0 L2 F12 A6

10/7 St Albans City A 3-1
14/7 PORTSMOUTH H 3-2
17/7 St Neots Town A 3-0
21/7 COVENTRY CITY H 2-0
24/7 CRYSTAL PALACE XI H 1-2
27/7 WATFORD XI H 0-1

Commentary:

The good news for Stevenage supporters is that work on the new 1,248-seater North Stand started in May after £600,000 was raised through a bond scheme. The bad news for Stevenage supporters is that work on the new stand was halted in June by a problem with an adjacent electricity substation, delaying the intended opening date of November. At the time of writing, work has yet to recommence.

The new stand – when it eventually materialises – is not the only change at the Lamex Stadium this summer. In addition to new manager Dino Maamria settling fully into his role, there has been significant movement on the playing side. Long-serving goalkeeper and former Imp Chris Day departed after not being offered a playing contract, while highly-rated defender Fraser Franks took the slightly odd decision to leave for Newport. Teen starlet Ben Wilmot was sold to Watford for a club record fee (undisclosed of course, but believed to be in the region of £1 million) and Matt Godden has joined the Peterborough cavalcade for an undisclosed six-figure fee (believed to be £400,000). That gives Stevenage plenty of money to reinvest in the team, assuming it is not required elsewhere. Arrivals so far range from the experienced Scott Cuthbert and Paul Farman to up-and-coming stars from the non-league game. James Ball from Stockport will relish his opportunity in League football, and there is a good age range also. Some may say that three signings from National League North represents a big step up in standard, although fans will point to the success enjoyed by former Tamworth striker Danny Newton last season.

Stevenage finished much closer to relegation than the playoffs last season, and it is hard to see them making a convincing challenge just yet. However, Dino Maamria has a good name in non-league circles and will be testing his skills in the Football League for the first time in earnest. With an interesting mix of players and an unknown quantity in the manager’s chair, Stevenage could just surprise a few people this season.

At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 28/1

Prediction: Mid-table.

SWINDON TOWN

Last season: 9th
P46 W20 D8 L18 F67 A65 Pts68

Average attendance: 6,436

Chairman: Lee Power, 46 (appointed December 2013)

Manager: Phil Brown, 59 (appointed March 2018)

Phil Brown’s managerial record:

League games only – playoffs and cup games not included.

Players out (11):

Goalkeepers (2):
Reice Charles-Cook, 24 (On trial at Aldershot Town)
Stuart Moore, 23 (Untraced)

Defenders (3):
Ben Purkiss, 34 (Untraced)
Ryan McGivern, 28 (Linfield)
Matt Preston, 23 (Mansfield Town)

Midfielders (4):
Amine Linganzi, 28 (Untraced)
Donal McDermott, 28 (Untraced)
Tom Smith, 20 (Cheltenham Town)
Tom Ouldridge, 19 (Hungerford Town)

Forwards (2):
Luke Norris, 25 (Colchester United)
Paul Mullin, 23 (Tranmere Rovers)

Players in (8):

Goalkeepers (1):
Luke McCormick, 34 (Plymouth Argyle)

Defenders (0):

Midfielders (6):
Toumani Diagouraga, 31 (Fleetwood Town)
Jermaine McGlashan, 30 (Southend United)
Michael Doughty, 25 (Peterborough United)
Jak McCourt, 23 (Chesterfield)
Martin Smith, 22 (Coleraine)
Steven Alzate, 19 (Brighton & Hove Albion – season loan)

Forwards (1):
Elijah Adebayo, 20 (Fulham – season loan)

Average age of players out: 25
Average age of players in: 26

Number of players in squad: 25

One to watch: Toumani Diagouraga, 31 (defensive midfield)

Season ticket sales:

Pre-season:
P6 W3 D0 L3 F13 A11

4/7 Cirencester Town A 3-1
7/7 Melksham Town A 5-2
14/7 WEST BROMWICH ALBION H 1-3
17/7 Chippenham Town A 0-2
21/7 PORTSMOUTH H 0-2
27/7 Swindon Supermarine A 4-1

Commentary:

After making a promising start to life back in the basement, Swindon fell away towards the end of last season to finish outside the play-off places. Chairman Lee Power is not famous for patience and would have been expecting a sustained promotion challenge. With the appointment of the experienced Phil Brown to the manager’s chair on a permanent basis in May, it is clear what the expectation will be this time around. Brown immediately added more League Two experience to his team with the appointment of former Lincoln assistant manager Neil McDonald as his assistant.

Much will be expected of Swindon therefore, but a good budget and an experienced manager does not necessarily guarantee success. Paris Saint-Germain prodigy Toumani Diagouraga looks the best of the signings, returning to Swindon after a short loan spell twelve years ago. Midfielder Michael Doughty also enjoyed time on loan at Swindon a couple of years ago, and this time returns to the club on a permanent basis. The gains are evened out by the losses, with Matt Preston and Paul Mullin leaving for pastures new. Swindon suffered a significant setback when experienced striker Marc Richards incurred shoulder ligament damage during the pre-season friendly win at Melksham. Richards is expected to miss the first month or two of the season.

In June Swindon announced plans to build a £6 million training centre on the former Twelve Oaks Golf Club at Highworth comprising eight grass pitches and other facilities for joint-community use. Funding that should be interesting, but never let it be said that Swindon lack ambition.

Phil Brown has great experience in the game including an astonishing nine play-off campaigns to his credit as a player and coach. He has very recent experience of success in League Two, having won the playoffs with Southend three years ago, and that makes Swindon very plausible contenders this season. Notts County, Lincoln, MK Dons and Mansfield may appear to have slightly better squads, but Brown has been in that position many times before. Place your bets now.

At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 12/1 (joint fifth favourites)

Prediction: Playoffs.

TRANMERE ROVERS

Last season: 2nd in the National League (promoted via the playoffs)
P46 W24 D10 L12 F78 A46 Pts82

Average attendance: 5,293

Chairman: Mark Palios, 65 (appointed August 2014)

Manager: Micky Mellon, 46 (appointed October 2016)

Micky Mellon’s managerial record:

League games only – playoffs and cup games not included.

Players out (13):

Goalkeepers (0):

Defenders (3):
Jay McEveley, 33 (Warrington Town)
Mitch Duggan, 21 (Untraced)
Eddie Clarke, 19 (Fleetwood Town)

Midfielders (5):
Jeff Hughes, 33 (Larne)
Drissa Traoré, 26 (Untraced)
James Wallace, 26 (Fleetwood Town)
Jake Kirby, 24 (Stockport County)
Devarn Green, 21 (Southport)

Forwards (5):
Andy Mangan, 31 (Bala Town)
Andy Cook, 27 (Walsall)
James Alabi, 23 (Leyton Orient)
Jack Dunn, 23 (Untraced)
Elliot Rokka, 22 (Untraced)

Players in (9):

Goalkeepers (1):
Shamal George, 20 (Liverpool – loan until January)

Defenders (4):
Zoumana Bakayogo, 31 (Crewe Alexandra)
Mark Ellis, 29 (Carlisle United)
Jake Caprice, 25 (Leyton Orient)
Manny Monthe, 23 (Forest Green Rovers)

Midfielders (3):
Ollie Banks, 25 (Oldham Athletic)
Jonny Smith, 21 (Bristol City – season loan)
Harvey Gilmour, 19 (Sheffield United – loan until January)

Forwards (1):
Paul Mullin, 23 (Swindon Town)

Average age of players out: 25
Average age of players in: 24

Number of players in squad: 25

One to watch: Scott Davies, 31 (goalkeeper)

Season ticket sales: 3,100

Pre-season:
P7 W3 D0 L4 F11 A10

7/7 Dunfermline Athletic A 4-0
10/7 LIVERPOOL H 2-3
14/7 WIGAN ATHLETIC H 1-2
17/7 Warrington Town A 2-0
21/7 FLEETWOOD TOWN H 0-2
24/7 Chorley A 1-0
28/7 ROCHDALE H 1-3

Commentary:

Manager Micky Mellon has had something of a rebuilding job to do at League newcomers Tranmere this summer. In particular, the loss of striker Andy Cook to Walsall came as an unexpected setback. Cook’s twenty-eight goals last season leaves a big hole to fill, especially with the added impact of the significant step-up to League Two. Ironically, Tranmere won promotion last season having achieved a massive thirteen points fewer than they did the previous season, possibly indicating a side on the wane. A dozen of the promotion-winning squad have gone, replaced with a mix of players with Football League and non-league experience. Therefore, a complete overhaul of the playing side ahead of the new season was by no means a bad thing.

Further unexpected losses were to follow in the shape of Eddie Clarke and James Wallace to Fleetwood Town. Paul Mullin has been brought in from Swindon and should do well, although Tranmere still look short of attacking options. Mark Ellis from Carlisle adds some useful experience at the back, but one has to wonder how the ageing Steve McNulty – retained on a further one-year contract – will fare against the faster, more skilful strikers in League Two.

A six-day training camp in Scotland at the start of July preceded a challenging set of pre-season matches against good quality opposition. There was an excellent 4-0 win at Dunfermline followed by a second-half comeback in the annual game with Liverpool. Fans are a little concerned that all four home games were lost, but Mellon will probably be less concerned by that than he will at the problems he has encountered in building his squad. By his own admission, Tranmere do not have a budget to match the best in League Two and he has asked supporters to be realistic.

Mellon has previous experience of promotion from League Two, having taken Shrewsbury up in 2015. To expect a promotion challenge at the first attempt looks a step too far, but his previous experience should ensure that Tranmere have few problems readjusting to life in the League.

At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 22/1

Prediction: Bottom eight, consolidation.

YEOVIL TOWN

Last season: 19th
P46 W12 D12 L22 F59 A75 Pts48

Average attendance: 2,941

Chairman: John Fry, 77 (appointed 1996)

Manager: Darren Way, 37 (appointed December 2015)

Darren Way’s managerial record:

League games only – playoffs and cup games not included.

Players out (8):

Goalkeepers (2):
Artur Krysiak, 28 (Untraced)
Jonny Maddison, 23 (Darlington)

Defenders (3):
Ryan Dickson, 31 (Torquay United)
Nathan Smith, 31 (Untraced)
Daniel Alfei, 26 (Untraced)

Midfielders (3):
Oscar Gobern, 27 (Eastleigh)
Connor Smith, 25 (Boreham Wood)
Otis Khan, 22 (Mansfield Town)

Forwards (0):

Players in (7):

Goalkeepers (1):
Nathan Baxter, 19 (Chelsea – season loan)

Defenders (2):
Gary Warren, 33 (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)
Carl Dickinson, 31 (Notts County)

Midfielders (3):
Sessi D’Almeida, 22 (Blackpool)
Reece Cole, 20 (Brentford – season loan)
Diallang Jaiyesimi, 20 (Norwich City – season loan)

Forwards (1):
Korrey Henry, 18 (West Ham United)

Average age of players out: 27
Average age of players in: 23

Number of players in squad: 20

One to watch: Jordan Green, 23 (attacking midfield)

Season ticket sales:

Pre-season:
P5 W3 D1 L1 F12 A4

10/7 SWANSEA CITY H 1-2
17/7 BRISTOL ROVERS H 1-1
21/7 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE H 5-1
24/7 Dorchester Town A 2-0
28/7 Corby Town A 3-0

Commentary:

Last season delivered yet another very close shave for Yeovil Town, retaining their League status by just two points. Survival was only confirmed after a very convenient 0-0 draw with Forest Green on 24 April kept both clubs in League Two. In spite of that poor league form, Yeovil enjoyed good runs in two of the cups, reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup and the semi-final of the Checkatrade Trophy. Attendances reached almost to the 3,000-mark, which is impressive in a town of 45,000 people. Unfortunately, it also means that income streams will always be limited relative to the bigger clubs in League Two. All of that makes their run to the Championship all the more impressive, but those days are behind them now.

With that naturally restricted budget, manager Darren Way will need to use the loan market very well again. The signing of Chelsea U23 goalkeeper Nathan Baxter is positive evidence of that, but summer departures mean that much more will be required. Yeovil have one of the smallest squads in League Two, with a high proportion of loans. The loss of two of the club’s better players in Oscar Gobern and Otis Khan will undoubtedly have an impact. Striker François Zoko and clever wide man Jordan Green remain, while defensive experience has been added with the signings of veteran duo Carl Dickinson and Gary Warren. Zoko managed to score fifteen goals last season despite missing ten games through four separate suspensions. That defensive area was certainly in need of attention, having conceded 89 goals in all competitions last season. If they can shore up the defence, the fact that they scored an impressive 79 in return should mean a climb away from the foot of the table where they have been for the last three years: Yeovil have finished nineteenth, twentieth and nineteenth under Darren Way’s management.

However, success this season may once again be survival. New signing Gary Warren said he had joined Yeovil to win things, but that looks very unlikely as things stand.

At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 66/1 (joint-favourites for relegation)

Prediction: Another relegation battle, will stay up by the skin of their teeth. Again.

end

Writer: Scotimp

Posted by Vital Lincoln City on Thursday, 2 August 2018

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