Final Position Saturday 27th April 2024

I feel the change in formation will bring a more goals from set pieces.
Long throw ins potentially with the ability to push players like Taylor and Kelly into the box.
A stronger more physical team with better attacking options from midfield.
We played the first half of last season with no Walker or Osadebe.
Whatever you think of them, they carry the ball forwards and look to create.
Add Pattison to this then our options, if all stay injury free will add the extra 6 points we didn't get last season to the way we play.
Players like Gilliead, Macdonald, Chapman, Smith are better players to bring on when needed than Pereira, Eisa, Costelloe and Young.
Lots of reasons to be positive.

 

Not sure Taylor can be in the box AND taking the long throw in, but it certainly gives us another option and could be worth a good handful of goals this season. Also not sure Smith is going to be a player that's brought on, if we are going 2 up top, he's going to be a starter most games.

 

If we can add another pacey forward (e.g. another Banks or Wright esc player) then I’d say automatics is achievable. Without that I still worry that we’ll have the same issue as last season and struggle to score the goals needed to kill games off and will end up in the playoffs.

 

To start with - Given the fact that we've a) only achieved 1 promotion this millennium; b) spent the entire past 2 decades in the 3rd & 4th divisions - it's natural to be pessimistic about the prospect of forward progress.

Secondly, Harry Lewis was in most fans eyes in the top 2 players for us last season. There is strong interest in him and the likelihood is that someone will bid enough for us to accept which leaves us scrambling for a new first choice goalkeeper less than 3 weeks before the season starts. On the balance of probability they won't be as good as Lewis.

The other player in that top 2, Andy Cook, has just penned a new 3-year deal and there's no guarantee he will be as motivated or as hungry as last season knowing he has 3 more years in the bank. Hopefully he is, but again, there's no guarantee and it wouldn't be a huge surprise were he to only hit 15-18 goals as opposed to 30+.

Looking at the manager, he is stubborn with his negative tactics, substitutions, style of play etc. That isn't going to change. Playing like that without a consistently firing Cook or a solid pair of hands to save our ars*s week after week and we don't make the play-offs. After a couple of months fans will get annoyed, the pressure will ramp up, and he could be out of the door by Christmas. Especially if the likes of Wrexham, Stockport, Salford, Notts, Gillingham etc are flying and we're languishing.

I see the optimism at the start of every season from fans. It's admirable but some of it is often delusional, as our successes in this millennia have proven.

10th - 13th for me.

Absolutely hope i'm wrong though.

 

I think we will play a 3-4-3
3 CBS
2 wbs
2 cm
Cook supported by Pattison and Walker

 

I always find it interesting to read other people's opinions on how a team is likely to perform. It is quite varied and often based on some merit - although to varying degrees in my mind.

I acknowledge there is a need for caution and to reflect without letting preseason optimism consume your thoughts. There were deficiencies in the side last season, that was evident. However, it was still a very strong and competitive team for League 2 and was not as simple as - we had a good keeper and a striker who was having the season of his career to date. Yes, they were clearly integral to the teams form, but I find that conclusion very limited and ignorant to the rest of the team and their influence on general play.

We were a strong and well drilled unit last season, making us extremely hard to beat. It laid the foundation for us to attack and invariably get our noses in front. When we did, we often didn't lose. I expect that to stay the same for this upcoming season, but with improvements.

Last season we were the 6th best team in League 2, and unlike in other campaigns when a side fails at the final hurdle, there has been no mass exodus of key players. The foundation of what is already proven to be a very strong League 2 team remains intact and allows for continuity. However, an area of weakness was probably midfield. Although they often controlled possession, it lacked vision and attacking threat. This seasons midfield looks far more dynamic, with better vision (McDonald) and more depth and quality to the attack (Pattison). They are strong additions which go some way to address areas of weakness.

Height and muscle in the side has improved, and with Ash Taylor's long throw we have a new threat from throw-ins at the final 3rd. It will be interesting to see how this may increase our 'goals for' column. Something we didn't have last season.

Finally, we also look better suited to different systems and Tyler Smith could be a great foil for Cook and Oliver. His pace was something we lacked at the very top of the pitch so will play on the shoulder and stretch defences - although I expect a fair few off-side calls! Playing with wing backs is also something which has proven to be successful for teams like Leyton Orient and looks to be a system which Hughes is wanting to adopt looking at the transfer activity.

Certainly we need improvements out wide and it will be interesting to see who else comes in through the loan market, but I've gone with a season of progress and a top 3 finish.

Yes, the division looks tougher than last season. However, I don't fear any of them and welcome the challenge and attention they will draw to the League. For me, Stockport have probably made the most impressive signings to date, closely followed by Notts County. But we have enough ourselves to have confidence in the season ahead.

 

Far too early to guess this out, especially with 6 or 7 weeks of the window left to run. I've gone top 3, just because our recruitment seems good so far but our key players are still here from the season before.

I think Notts County will be up there too, Wrexham should be too although they need to lose a fair few players at the minute, their squad is huge so that might upset the balance somewhat. Stockport have said they are wanting to go younger and have let a few older faces go with Madden and Sarcevic open to offer too, they might take some time to get going? Salford need a few positions still and if Bolton goes, they will need more out wide than they currently have. I think Gillingham will be up there with the money they've spent and if Raggett and Ojo join as expected, that squad should be a sure challenger for the title.

Mansfield should mount a challenge for the play offs too. Of the teams coming down only really MK Dons look like they'll have a squad to challenge and they've started the window pretty well. I think it will be 3 out of us, County, Wrexham, Stockport and Gillingham to go up automatically.

 

Andy Cook's wonder season and the worry that we could sign Zidane but Gilliead would still get in the team ahead of him.

 

I hope you are right, but will still live by the mantra of under promise and over deliver. That way if we finish 10th my hopes aren't dashed, but if we finish 3rd I'll be delierious.

 

Kelly can throw the ball as far as Taylor,have you seen the size of his arms?.

 

I'd rather have Gilliead than 51 year old Zidane these days General

 

We've a decent first 11, however a couple of key injuries and the weak under belly will show.
Finish 13th, Hughes will be gone in January ...Young will get a reprieve under new manager and will become a firm favourite

 

We can't be having Taylor launching attacking long throws into the area. Smallwood will outrank him and take them himself to try and keep his assists stats up.

 

Injuries are my worry especially the forwards

 

Not sure about that we played almost a different team second half on Saturday and both did alright

 

The main worry for me is the mindset of MH. He is saying in recent press releases he is developing a more attacking attitude to play in L2. Let's hope he has, otherwise Pattison and others will know they have been sold a pup want out by the end of October, or before. Try telling this type of player to not look beyond the centre circle and pass (p*ss) about in our own half.

 

I still think we are a forward short of improvement. Even if Oliver was fit, I dont seem him and Cook gelling well as a partnership, just not enough mobility. Smith looks lively so far, but he's never started more than 4 games in a row since he was in non-league with Barrow 5 or 6 years back. Derbyshire probably doesn't have the legs for 90 minutes anymore, especially when it gets to Sat-Tues-Sat runs of games. Feels like we are one quality body short up top, especially with another Oliver injury, and we are hoping Smith can play all season long.