2022/23 Final League Position Prediction (with Poll)

I reckon we'll finish third this season. That's the highest I've expected in this our fourth successive season in the basement division. I think we've done some good business during the transfer window and the incomers seem to be performing well in the friendly games.

From the Poll at the top of the page, at the time of writing 93.3% are expecting us to gain promotion either automatically or through the play-offs, so I'm not alone in expressing optimism for this season.

Whilst half the league seem to have strengthened their squads with decent signings, they don't always gel and improve the team (take us, from the recent past, with Doyle and Vaughan for example). Nevertheless League 2 will be very competitive again this year, and I don't expect there to be much between the best and the worst in the league. What sets us apart this season, I think, is the volume of good business, the cover that we have achieved across all positions, the improvement in pace that we have injected throughout the side, and a good mix of youth and experience. Add to this a manager respected throughout the game who has a plan, and is implementing that plan in a methodical manner.

I can't think that there can be more than a couple of sides who are going to be better than us this season hence I have gone for third. But who knows, with just a little bit of luck this could well be our season.

 

I got it at 10/1 bet about 5 week ago! also put a bet on Oliver being top goal scorer in the division too...

 

Hopefully 10s will be an absolute steal, I was happy with 8. Don’t feel confident about going for a scorer - wonder how much rotation we’ll see. I’d go for Harratt, but there’s the risk of Town recalling him. Good luck to you.

 

Do you really think, on the budgets they were, that the boards at Stoke, Blackburn and QPR were expecting MH to win the Premier or European Cup places? Possibly a good cup run or two and maybe a League or FA Cup, but that is so down to the luck of the draw. At pretty much every club (and country in Wales) he's managed, MH has improved them and pushed them further forward. If that's L2 promo for us, Hughes gets my Bounty bar.

 

Do you really think, on the budgets they were, that the boards at Stoke, Blackburn and QPR were expecting MH to win the Premier or European Cup places? Possibly a good cup run or two and maybe a League or FA Cup, but that is so down to the luck of the draw. At pretty much every club (and country in Wales) he's managed, MH has improved them and pushed them further forward. If that's L2 promo for us, Hughes gets my Bounty bar.

Think like you that Harratt - and Young - will be real surprise goalscoring packages this season. But for me, it's your man Oliver who'll be bashing them in big time. He's a bloody monster but also has great close control and match smarts.

 

Well of course nobody knows, nobody on the planet actually knows the final standings of League 2 for the forthcoming season. That's why it's called a prediction.

It's blind faith but given the apparent quality of signings, the stronger depth of the squad, the improvement in tactics and quality of football under Hughes I'm going to be ultra optimistic and predict we'll finish as champions.

There are a number of other clubs who could justifiable predict a title winning season for themselves and I firmly believe Bradford City are one of them.

 

MH him no fool. The new five subs rule will give us a massive advantage over so many clubs thanks to the strength in depth and quality we've signed. With Hughes undoubted tactical smarts we'll have the option of totally transforming second halves of games if needs be, by bringing on five strong players in whatever system he might want to change or strengthen.

 

As you point out Sparkie has done his home work and realised the new rule would favour clubs who have bigger squads.

 

Hi Dave, good to hear from you! Think the big difference is it's not just about bigger squads - it's about the sheer strength in depth and I now think we have that in spades.

 

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/supercomputer-predicts-how-league-two-promotion-race-will-unfold-for-bradford-city-doncaster-rovers-mansfield-town-salford-city-swindon-town-and-tranmere-rovers-ahead-of-opening-day-3780124

 

Racing Post pre season supplement today...

 

That's a load of rubbish.

 

They picked out Osadebe as a potential star player?

I'm not even convinced he'll start half the games this season...

 

I don’t think that computer was all that “super”.

 

That's more like it, but I think Northampton will suffer from their failure at the end last season and struggle to be in the play offs, and Mansfield will struggle without Longstaff & Co.

 

I think Mansfield will go well. If you take out the horrible start they got last season, they were probably the best team in the league. They've signed Boateng too, who played a lot of games for MK Dons at the top end of League 1.

 

Well the ‘super’ computer has Crawley twice

 

Not the top 20 podcast dropped last night. Extensive research on all clubs in the 72. city seen as second fav by them in League 2 behind Northampton. Their podcast is Worth a listen if you’ve some spare time. They’re tipping the Dog botherers to struggle this time albeit not relegated.

 

For what it's worth, my final league table prediction:

1 Mansfield Town
2 Stockport County
3 Salford City
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Northampton Town
5 Bradford City
6 Newport County
7 Doncaster Rovers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 Tranmere Rovers
9 Leyton Orient
10 Crawley Town
11 Swindon Town
12 Sutton United
13 Gillingham FC
14 Stevenage
15 Walsall
16 AFC Wimbledon
17 Grimsby Town
18 Crewe Alexandra
19 Carlisle United
20 Colchester United
21 Hartlepool United
22 Barrow
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
23 Rochdale
24 Harrogate Town

I think there are still some question marks over our defense and we might concede too many to finish in the top three, but I think we'll have a good season. As for the rest, there are always teams tipped to do badly who end up doing well and vice versa so who knows.