League 1 preview

Last season was dominated by Leeds United’s fortunes in trying to overcome their 15-point deduction and there miraculous finish in 5th. There loss to Doncaster in the play-off final showed that they weren’t quiet ready for promotion but with no points deduction on there back they should have no problems guiding their way back to the Championship this season.

In Jermaine Beckford they have the leagues best striker and a player that is destined for greater things. Don’t expect things to be plan sailing for them however but even so anything less than promotion will be put down as a failure.

Carlisle United will also be looking to make amends for last season after totally outplaying Leeds at Elland Road in that first leg of the play off semi final. They could only come away with a 2-1 win a score that wasn’t enough to see them through in the return leg. There front pairing of Danny Graham and Joe Garner are a scary combination and expect them to blow away all teams in their path this season. These two sides should at least finish in the top 6 like last season and for both to be promoted wouldn’t be a surprise.

Something that I think all Division’s possess this season is the potential for the promoted sides to do well. None more so than Peterborough United. Darren Ferguson has got the resources and the fan base to make a push for a second successive promotion and believe me he won’t be thinking of anything different. Stealing Sergio Torres from league 2 could turn out to be a great singing and with Aaron Mclean up front you have a striker full of confidence and the ability to put even the meanest defences in tatters. They are a real good shout for promotion to the Champiopnship.

I would be saying the same about MK Dons as well, but the loss of manager Paul Ince is going to be to big a loss to make up for. Again resources are readily available but with untested manager Roberto Di Matteo at the helm it’s a recipe for disaster. Why Ince would want to move to a level he clearly isn’t ready for is a huge mistake. But bringing in a cult hero from Chelsea to mastermind a season in League 1 is an even bigger one. If Di Matteo got the job on the strength of his CV I would love top have seen the other contenders, it’s a laughable decision. I think the squad is to good to go down but it isn’t going to be an easy season.

I haven’t mentioned one the more high profile clubs to join league 1 this season and that’s Leicester City. The club definitely deserved to be relegated last season they were a really poor outfit and the saga surrounding Milan Madnaric and Ian Holloway was a joke. The club really need to wake up and sort things out. The appointment of Nigel Pearson I think is an inspired choice. He masterminded Southampton’s escape from relegation from last season to relegate Leicester. Now lets see if he can get the former Premiership club back into the second tier. If Pearson can replicate the sort of stability he gave Southampton in there last 6 games for Leicester’s the season they are a sure-fire promotion candidates.

Without even trying I have mentioned 5 teams with a good shout to get promoted. To compete with them Millwall, Huddersfield Town and Colchester United will all be a threat. Especially Colchester, who were a joke last season really need to bounce straight back. How raising ticket prices is suppose to do that I’m not quiet sure, it’s certainly not the way to get the fans back onside after a truly awful season.

John Sheridan’s Oldham could also be ready to fight for honours. The signing of Keiran Lee from Manchester United is what some people are saying the missing piece of Oldham’s puzzle but I think it will take more than a right back to change there fortunes. It will be interesting to see if Lee Hughes can replicate some of the form he showed last term, before injuries ended his season.

At the other end of the table it really is all up for grabs just as many teams who are gagging for promotion are striving to stay in the division. I really worry about Yeovil Town this season. They were helped out by point deductions last season of both Bournemouth and Luton. There will be none of those to come to there rescue this time around. From play-off final heartbreak to possible relegation in two years shows a huge downturn in form, but for me it looks pretty likely.

Promoted Stockport County and Hereford United will also be looking over their shoulder and hoping there stay in league 1 isn’t only a one-season affair. I think both sides will survive but it will be more about mid table consolidation than looking any higher into the playoffs.

There are a few sides I do worry about including Northampton Town, whose superb home record kept them afloat last season and Leyton Orient, who if they repeat there form they encountered in the second half of last season will be doomed. Walsall and Swindon Town went into freefall as well near the end of last season and as I said earlier with no point deductions for any clubs in this division it will be interesting to see who can beat the drop.

Crewe Alexandra are a lot of people’s tip to drop but I’m struggling to thing why. Yes the loss of Nicky Maynard is a huge loss but they survived just without him last year. Calvin Zola is a fine signing and as he isn’t a direct replacement in terms of talent he will provide goals that’s for sure. If his hat-trick against Hull City on his debut is anything to go by then it could be a fine season for him. Joel Grant could well be a gamble for Crewe but with a bit of firepower you never know.

Champions: Leeds United
Promoted: Carlisle United
Play off winners: Peterborough United
Play offs: Leicester City, Peterborough United, Oldham Athletic, Southend United
Relegated: Swindon Town, Leyton Orient, Yeovil Town, Cheltenham Town