EastStandBlue
Life President
With just two weeks until the big Kick Off, here's part 1 of my League One Preview, covering the first twelve teams. Part 2 will be up tomorrow.
Brentford
Last Season: 1st
Manager: Andy Scott
Key Player: Charlie MacDonald, Striker
Prediction: 18th
Manager and former O's scumbag Andy Scott has been nothing short of terrific for The Bee's in his tenure, taking them from the bottom of League Two to a title in 8 months. With a squad that isn't exactly overwhelming, Scott's meticulous planning and organisation make what is an average team into a well drilled unit, and this should see them safe in League One.
Brighton
Last Season: 16th
Manager: Russel Slade
Key Player: Dean Cox, Midfielder.
Prediction: 13th
A thoroughly disappointing season last term left the mincing queer boys in shock as they narrowly avoided relegation... Which surprised me as the sight of 11 men going down seems right up their street. They've responded by bringing in local millionaire and renowned ****** Tony Bloom, who injected £80m into the club. They've signed Liam Dickinson and James Tunnicliffe who should do well at this level and, disappointingly, help them achieve a good finish this term.
Bristol Rovers
Last Season: 11th
Manager: Paul Trollope
Key Player: Rickie Lambert, Striker.
Prediction: 16th
The one man team that is Rickie Lambert FC managed well last season in a hit and miss campaign, which saw them finish comfotably midtable. With no notable signings or, more importantly, departures, more of the same is to be expected. If they lose Lambert and fail to replace him, they could struggle for goals and become a run of the mill team.
Carlisle
Last Season: 20th
Manager: Greg Abbot
Key Player: Richard Keogh, Midfielder.
Prediction: 15th
Suffering a Play-Off hangover last season, the pretend-english-should be-scottish club stumbled over the safety line on the last day of the season. A decent squad should have performed much better, and I fully expect them to this season.
Charlton
Last Season: 24th
Manager: Phil Parkinson
Key Player: Nicky Bailey, Ginger B*stard.
Prediction: 3rd
Apart from being relegated, having a scumbag as a manager, having a ginger scumbag as their club captain, a grossly inflated wage bill, financial shortfallings and generally being a plastic club, Charlton don't have much to worry about. The squad they have shouldn't have been relegated from The Championship, so should be more than capable of a secure finish in League One. Bailey has been linked with his next dream move, Middlesborough and Sheffield United this time, and his departure teamed with further financial problems could haunt the club.
Colchester
Last Season: 12th
Manager: Paul Lambert
Key Player: Steven Gillespie, Striker
Prediction: 11th
The sorry, incestuous mob from up the road are another club who have benefitted from a wealthy backer and have spent some money again, bringing in Simon Hackney from Carlisle as well as others. With a good run, they could press further up the table, yet it remains to be seen whether or not they can consistently perform. They would also benefit from less cousin-shagging.
Exeter
Last Season: 2nd
Manager: Paul Tisdale
Key Player: Scott Golbourne, Full Back.
Prediction: 23rd
Paul Tisdale, the current flavour of the month in managerial circles, has taken the club from non-league to League One in two seasons and has worked wonders with the little he has, with the club owned and run by it's supporters trust. The loan signings they've made have been impressive, Troy Archibald-Henville is a competent defender at this level as well as having Footballs Greatest Name, but I feel they really will struggle.
Gillingham
Last Season: 5th
Manager: Mark Stimson
Key Player: Simeon Jackson, Striker.
Prediction: 22nd
I have this cousin who's a little bit too common, nobody actually enjoys their company and he's really only invited to family events because he has to as a formality. The same applies to Gillingham. They're here on merit, but nobody actually wants them here. Employing a Chelsea-style 4-5-1 3 pronged attack, Simeon Jackson will score goals at this level and they could survive if they can keep him at the club, but a naive defence will hinder them.
Hartlepool
Last Season: 19th
Manager: Chris Turner (caretaker)
Key Player: James Brown, Striker.
Prediction: 20th
Jeff Stelling's own club slightly struggled last term, and if it weren't for some poorer opponents they may have been relegated. Joel Porter has taken his enormous nose back to Australia, but the talented jazz man James Brown is capable of scoring enough goals... Their defence, however, leaves a lot to be desired.
Huddersfield
Last Season: 9th
Manager: Lee Clarke
Key Player: Anthony Pilkington, Winger
Prediction: 2nd
Many predicted Huddersfield to do well last season, and they were seen to have massively underachieved by finishing 9th. This season, however, could be a completely different story as they have splashed the cash and assembled an impressive squad. Peter Clarke will aim to shore up their defence, and hope to do a better job than he did at Southend, and Theo Robinson will add a definite goal threat.
Leeds
Last Season: 4th
Manager: Simon Grayson
Key Player: Jermaine Beckford, Striker.
Prediction: 1st
Ah. The fallen giants are now enjoying their third season in the third tier of English football and the locals are impatient. A lack of new additions hasn't exactly got them raving about their chances of promotion this season and the vultures are circling, with Fabian Delph and Jermaine Beckford rumoured to be off to better things. The squad they have, however, is capable of winning this league, and a whole season under Grayson will prove hugely beneficial.
Leyton Orient
Last Season: 14th
Manager: Geraint Williams
Key Player: Tamika Mkandawire, Defender.
Prediction: 14th
The Ooze have quietly gone about their rotten business this summer, sneakily assembling a more than capable squad with Ben Chorley and the almost-decrepid James Scowcroft signing on. The pikeys have got their act together and, courtesy of the annual Roots Hall point give-away, should have no problem staying up this season.
Brentford
Last Season: 1st
Manager: Andy Scott
Key Player: Charlie MacDonald, Striker
Prediction: 18th
Manager and former O's scumbag Andy Scott has been nothing short of terrific for The Bee's in his tenure, taking them from the bottom of League Two to a title in 8 months. With a squad that isn't exactly overwhelming, Scott's meticulous planning and organisation make what is an average team into a well drilled unit, and this should see them safe in League One.
Brighton
Last Season: 16th
Manager: Russel Slade
Key Player: Dean Cox, Midfielder.
Prediction: 13th
A thoroughly disappointing season last term left the mincing queer boys in shock as they narrowly avoided relegation... Which surprised me as the sight of 11 men going down seems right up their street. They've responded by bringing in local millionaire and renowned ****** Tony Bloom, who injected £80m into the club. They've signed Liam Dickinson and James Tunnicliffe who should do well at this level and, disappointingly, help them achieve a good finish this term.
Bristol Rovers
Last Season: 11th
Manager: Paul Trollope
Key Player: Rickie Lambert, Striker.
Prediction: 16th
The one man team that is Rickie Lambert FC managed well last season in a hit and miss campaign, which saw them finish comfotably midtable. With no notable signings or, more importantly, departures, more of the same is to be expected. If they lose Lambert and fail to replace him, they could struggle for goals and become a run of the mill team.
Carlisle
Last Season: 20th
Manager: Greg Abbot
Key Player: Richard Keogh, Midfielder.
Prediction: 15th
Suffering a Play-Off hangover last season, the pretend-english-should be-scottish club stumbled over the safety line on the last day of the season. A decent squad should have performed much better, and I fully expect them to this season.
Charlton
Last Season: 24th
Manager: Phil Parkinson
Key Player: Nicky Bailey, Ginger B*stard.
Prediction: 3rd
Apart from being relegated, having a scumbag as a manager, having a ginger scumbag as their club captain, a grossly inflated wage bill, financial shortfallings and generally being a plastic club, Charlton don't have much to worry about. The squad they have shouldn't have been relegated from The Championship, so should be more than capable of a secure finish in League One. Bailey has been linked with his next dream move, Middlesborough and Sheffield United this time, and his departure teamed with further financial problems could haunt the club.
Colchester
Last Season: 12th
Manager: Paul Lambert
Key Player: Steven Gillespie, Striker
Prediction: 11th
The sorry, incestuous mob from up the road are another club who have benefitted from a wealthy backer and have spent some money again, bringing in Simon Hackney from Carlisle as well as others. With a good run, they could press further up the table, yet it remains to be seen whether or not they can consistently perform. They would also benefit from less cousin-shagging.
Exeter
Last Season: 2nd
Manager: Paul Tisdale
Key Player: Scott Golbourne, Full Back.
Prediction: 23rd
Paul Tisdale, the current flavour of the month in managerial circles, has taken the club from non-league to League One in two seasons and has worked wonders with the little he has, with the club owned and run by it's supporters trust. The loan signings they've made have been impressive, Troy Archibald-Henville is a competent defender at this level as well as having Footballs Greatest Name, but I feel they really will struggle.
Gillingham
Last Season: 5th
Manager: Mark Stimson
Key Player: Simeon Jackson, Striker.
Prediction: 22nd
I have this cousin who's a little bit too common, nobody actually enjoys their company and he's really only invited to family events because he has to as a formality. The same applies to Gillingham. They're here on merit, but nobody actually wants them here. Employing a Chelsea-style 4-5-1 3 pronged attack, Simeon Jackson will score goals at this level and they could survive if they can keep him at the club, but a naive defence will hinder them.
Hartlepool
Last Season: 19th
Manager: Chris Turner (caretaker)
Key Player: James Brown, Striker.
Prediction: 20th
Jeff Stelling's own club slightly struggled last term, and if it weren't for some poorer opponents they may have been relegated. Joel Porter has taken his enormous nose back to Australia, but the talented jazz man James Brown is capable of scoring enough goals... Their defence, however, leaves a lot to be desired.
Huddersfield
Last Season: 9th
Manager: Lee Clarke
Key Player: Anthony Pilkington, Winger
Prediction: 2nd
Many predicted Huddersfield to do well last season, and they were seen to have massively underachieved by finishing 9th. This season, however, could be a completely different story as they have splashed the cash and assembled an impressive squad. Peter Clarke will aim to shore up their defence, and hope to do a better job than he did at Southend, and Theo Robinson will add a definite goal threat.
Leeds
Last Season: 4th
Manager: Simon Grayson
Key Player: Jermaine Beckford, Striker.
Prediction: 1st
Ah. The fallen giants are now enjoying their third season in the third tier of English football and the locals are impatient. A lack of new additions hasn't exactly got them raving about their chances of promotion this season and the vultures are circling, with Fabian Delph and Jermaine Beckford rumoured to be off to better things. The squad they have, however, is capable of winning this league, and a whole season under Grayson will prove hugely beneficial.
Leyton Orient
Last Season: 14th
Manager: Geraint Williams
Key Player: Tamika Mkandawire, Defender.
Prediction: 14th
The Ooze have quietly gone about their rotten business this summer, sneakily assembling a more than capable squad with Ben Chorley and the almost-decrepid James Scowcroft signing on. The pikeys have got their act together and, courtesy of the annual Roots Hall point give-away, should have no problem staying up this season.
Last edited: