L1 Predictions.

Luton to finish top, and then there are around a dozen teams who could finish anywhere from 2nd to mid-table.

Liverpool to win the Premier League, MK Dons to win League 2, so it’s just the Championship where I can’t see a clear winner. Unless Birmingham go on another mad spending spree in the next week.

 

About 6 weeks ago I did an acca of Liverpool winning the prem and then Ipswich, Luton and MK Dons to all get promoted. Fiver returns £125 which isn’t great odds but I’m feeling quite confident with how the transfers have gone since I placed the bet. Although I had Luton to get promoted last season and we all know how that completely failed.

I think even without any more transfers (but they will do some more I reckon) Birmingham should be at least in and around the playoffs.

 

Some more predictions....

• Opta link
• NTT20 link

 

I've done mine. Gone for Stockport to win the league. They could have gone up automatically last season, and I still maintain they were a better side than Wrexham. I'd argue they've strengthened too, so I think it's hard to bet against them. Plymouth were on an amazing run at the back end of last season. Only the 2 automatically promoted sides gathered more points from February onwards I believe. They've not lost many key players, though they have gone through a managerial change. Luton still have quite a big squad, many of whom were there in the Premier League. I think there's still scope for them to trim their squad before the window shuts, and they have moved on a few big names.

As for us as it stands, I expect another mid-table season. I actually think that we don't look any weaker when everyone is fit, and I'm mildly impressed with the additions we've made to date. We don't have much experience in the squad though which could bite us when the injuries hit in. Obviously, this is based on the squad as it is now, a few bodies light, but still with the 4 most saleable assets.

1 Stockport

2 Plymouth

3 Luton

4 Huddersfield

5 Wycombe

6 Blackpool

7 Cardiff

8 Bolton

9 Leyton Orient

10 Reading

11 Wigan

12 Barnsley

13 Bradford

14 Lincoln

15 Port Vale

16 Burton Albion

17 Doncaster

18 Rotherham

19 Peterborough

20 Stevenage

21 Exeter

22 Mansfield

23 Wimbledon

24 Northampton

 

Cheers for that.

I certainly recognise the club he's talking about in his write up of us, and he's demonstrated a good understanding of the issues we face. I have a different opinion of some of the players he's highlighted, but I often have a different opinion about our players to contributors to this forum who watch us every week. The game, or the analysis of it, is all about opinions.

Midtable seems a fair enough prediction. I worry, with the defence we have, and the limited options in midfield to protect that defence, that things could be a lot worse, but I'm wrong as often as I am right. I suspect, despite his obvious knowledge and research, this guy is too. The unpredictability of the game is one of the things that makes us keep watching.

Anyway, thanks for posting, interesting read.

 

It's very depressing seeing so many people having us as mid table nobodies.

It seems a goodly percentage of the fan base is happy or resigned with that too.

We really do have to buck our ideas up, that's the Club and the fans. No defeatist attitudes this year, otherwise it will only get worse.

Oakwell last year was nothing short of an embarrassment. Deathly silent even before the inevitable poor display. But it's chicken and egg time on that one.

We've got to turn up at Oakwell and make as much noise as possible. And not grumble, moan or even boo when the first stray pass happens. It just breeds anxiety.

COYR

 

If the squad stays largely as is I'd have us 14th, finishing with a negative goal difference and our games having the highest total number of goals in the league.

We'll score a good amount, but we'll concede shedloads.

 

I think we'll be pleasantly surprised with the defence this year.

This for me hinges on us getting a proficient RB ASAP as MDG just isn't one, and never will be.

We've done away with the wingbacks which should stop us from being horrifically exposed down our flanks over and over again. It will also, or should also provide some cover for our CB's.

We also have Shepherd in the side now, who's come off the back of a cracking season with a promoted Bradford.

Not to continually bash the lad as I think his heart is in the right place and he's a tryer, but any BFC side with MDG featuring anywhere across the back line is in bother.

Get a RB in, Roberts and Shepherd in the middle, probably Earl on the left and I don't think that's too shabby for this Saturday coming.

 

Personally and its just my opinion and you can call me Mr negativity if you wish, but, I think we will struggle, big time this season.
Hopefully those that go ballistic and have a melt down because they don't agree with my opinion prove me wrong, come the end of season along with the club ( I wont be finding another club to support bye the way, before you start lol)
I believe
We will allow teams to bully us in most games, be that home and away, due to the amount of inexpeienced youngsters in the team /squad
we lack a hard tackling midfield enforcer, who's presence alone speaks volumes
Two games a week plus cup games will tell on us re fitness both physically and mentally
( heads dropped more than once last season when going behind) due to players not up for it.
Teams will sit back absorb pressure and then counter with the ball over the top, which will split our defence wide open and show its failings once again due to the lack of pace in it
( something which we all know and have pointed out far too often, yet it hasnt been adressed)
It's obvious what will happen the moment the oppositions manger sees how we set up
Besides a sweeper keeper we should be playing with at least a pacy centre half which we haven't got.
Yes there will be wins, but sadly not enough of them, some nice patterns of play at times but not consistent enough to create positive results in our favour
Fancy football doesn't get you out of this pub league
So for me, and has much as it pains me to say , I see us at times flirting in the bottom 4 with a league finish of 18th and calls for Conors head starting as early as November, if not sooner.
Remember what we fans see has being successful those in charge have a different agenda of what success is.
Enjoy folks. Its certainly a roller coaster ride being a Barnsley supporter

 

Think finishing mid table is about right although I could see Bradford and Lincoln being above us , the football landscape has changed even in league one and teams who I’d say are much smaller than us have not just caught us up but they have left us standing I’m afraid. For me reaching the playoffs will be a over achievement for us this season but we have done it before so fingers crossed we can do it again but we are still so short of having a top six squad at the minute.

 

Racing Post season preview predicts a 12th place finish for us.

Their headline tip for the League are Huddersfield.

 

I'm going for a top two finish for us.

 

I think the consensus amongst Lincoln fans is that they've lost a few good players this summer and might not have adequately replaced them.

It's difficult to judge Bradford because they weren't comfortably a class above like other previously promoted League 2 sides have been (Wrexham, Stockport, Orient, Stevenage etc) but they have signed some good experienced players for the level.

As it stands, I think all 3 of us will be similarly matched around mid-table.

 

You said it first and I'll go with you.Us people of a certain age have to back each other.

 

Others can post what they like. It doesn't bother me in the slightest (it did a while back, though). I've been posting on the BBS for over a couple of decades and every close season is the same.

 

Well, for the last 5 seasons in a row the finishing position has got progressively lower, and there's been nothing in the ownership structure or transfer market to suggest that will be different this season - if anything I expect the strong trend to accelerate. This current board have been absolutely consistent in making us worse - it's what they do.

19th.

 

1. Luton
2. Cardiff
——-
3. Huddersfield
4. Bolton
5. Plymouth
6. Orient
——-
7. Wycombe
8. Reading
9. Wigan
10. Blackpool
11. Stockport
12. Barnsley
13. Port Vale
14. Rotherham
15. Peterborough
16. Stevenage
17. Burton
18. Exeter
19. Donny
20. Bradford
——-
21. Lincoln
22. Mansfield
23. Northampton
24. Wimbledon

 

The season is nearly upon us, and I’m feeling more optimistic than I was this time last year. I think we’ve had a decent window so far, though there’s still work to do. We need to strengthen in a few key positions and continue to trim some of the excess from the squad, but I’m hopeful that will happen before the window closes.

Compared to last season:

• Conor is an upgrade on Clarke.
• The new goalkeeper is a step up from last season.
• We start with a more seasoned, physically imposing left-back.
• Shepherd looks like he’ll be an upgrade on Earl.
• We’ve kept all our midfielders, with Bland and Yoganathan continuing to develop quickly.
• Crucially, DKD — our star player — is still here.
• McGoldrick brings invaluable experience and hold-up play.
• We finally have pace in the forward areas with Vickers and Cleary.

On top of that, I think we’ll be a better collective unit, pressing and defending from the front more than in previous seasons. That should help protect a defence that’s been too exposed in the past.

I don’t expect us to be challenging at the very top just yet, but I do feel we’re turning a corner. The trajectory is upwards — maybe not dramatically at first, but I think we’ll grow stronger as the season progresses. At least, that’s the hope.

Eighth.

 

Barnsley, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Rotherham, Bradford. all battling it out at the top, i've backed Barnsley, Wigan, enjoy the season.