The competition
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:24 pm
So what does everyone think of the likely opposition this year?
R&D have made a lot of very good signings and will be very strong.
Stevenage have made a lot of mediocre signings and won't be a force.
Torquay also look strong but I imagine finances must be very tight for them this year.
Cambridge had their chance last season and will be nowhere this year.
Wrexham ought to be on a par with us resource wise, but I reckon they'll still be suffernig the league dropout hangover so they might make the play offs.
Mansfield don't look to be signing anyone of quality and I think they could find themselves in this division for a long time.
Burton will make the play offs again. I think they had their splash the cash season last year, but I've got a lot of time for Nigel Clough and his squad building and playing style.
Histon probably had their chance last year and bailed.
Alty will struggle again.
Barrow will be mid-table as they have kept their promotion squad together.
Crawley look an outside bet for play offs without the points deduction to overcome.
Forest Green will be much reduced following Fleetwood's departure.
Eastbourne will struggle.
Ebbsfleet mid-table.
Lewes will struggle.
The rest (apart form us) will be also rans.
I do think Patto has taken a pretty good approach to his squad building, (despite Lenagan allegedly having withdrawn funding of losses and thus reduced the playing budget). I can really see us making a serious push for the title this year, but my main concern is the limited squad size, and it is now very late in the day to be able to find anyone of quality to add. If we have a largely injury free season, we should be in with a good shout. (Not sure how much of that came from the head and how much from the heart!).
R&D have made a lot of very good signings and will be very strong.
Stevenage have made a lot of mediocre signings and won't be a force.
Torquay also look strong but I imagine finances must be very tight for them this year.
Cambridge had their chance last season and will be nowhere this year.
Wrexham ought to be on a par with us resource wise, but I reckon they'll still be suffernig the league dropout hangover so they might make the play offs.
Mansfield don't look to be signing anyone of quality and I think they could find themselves in this division for a long time.
Burton will make the play offs again. I think they had their splash the cash season last year, but I've got a lot of time for Nigel Clough and his squad building and playing style.
Histon probably had their chance last year and bailed.
Alty will struggle again.
Barrow will be mid-table as they have kept their promotion squad together.
Crawley look an outside bet for play offs without the points deduction to overcome.
Forest Green will be much reduced following Fleetwood's departure.
Eastbourne will struggle.
Ebbsfleet mid-table.
Lewes will struggle.
The rest (apart form us) will be also rans.
I do think Patto has taken a pretty good approach to his squad building, (despite Lenagan allegedly having withdrawn funding of losses and thus reduced the playing budget). I can really see us making a serious push for the title this year, but my main concern is the limited squad size, and it is now very late in the day to be able to find anyone of quality to add. If we have a largely injury free season, we should be in with a good shout. (Not sure how much of that came from the head and how much from the heart!).
