| Second favourites for relegation 23:05 - Jul 18 with 16554 views | dalebolt |
According to Sky Bet we are second favourites for relegation after Barrow. We are 9/2 to go down. Forgive me for being overly optimistic but I thought we’d be top ten this season. Obviously Stockport are favourites to win the league. Other bookies have us struggling to stay up as well. |  | | |  |
| Second favourites for relegation on 09:25 - Jul 26 with 3465 views | AtThePeake |
| Second favourites for relegation on 20:12 - Jul 25 by HullDale |
I often wonder with some of these that are done for bookies (Gab Sutton with Bet Victor, for example) if they are slightly deliberately vague / random / provocative to drive bets into the business.
Bradford fans, for example, seem peeved he has them in mid table - but that lengthens their odds for promotion so are they more likely to lump on in the hope of a big win?
Just a theory. |
Bradford's odds for promotion haven't changed and won't change based on Gab Sutton's predictions.
Given the size of the fanbase, it'd be better for the bookies if Bradford fans were told they had a real chance of winning the league, particularly as they are always priced too short anyway for the exact reason that a flurry of pre-season bets by their own fans shorten their price in the first place. |  |
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| Second favourites for relegation on 09:31 - Jul 26 with 3432 views | NorthernDale |
Every season, we have been favourites to be relegated over the many decades I have been watching the Dale and we have in the main proved the experts wrong. So it is up to RS and the team to do it once more. |  | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 11:55 - Jul 26 with 3232 views | James1980 |
At least we are better prepared regards pre season than last. I didn't register we had only signed one player by the time the pre season friendlies were over and that was Graham the day before what turned out to be the last one. | |
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| Second favourites for relegation on 13:02 - Jul 26 with 3084 views | Cedar_Room |
Worth looking at Four Four Two's predictions from last season to see how well they did. They had Scunthorpe going down with Swindon. Fair enough they got Scunthorpe right but Swindon finished 6th. Their tips for promotion were Forest Green (who finished 1st) Newport (11th) and Bradford (14th). They had us finishing in 14th place so we did a bit worse than that but overall these predictions are utterly useless - you have better odds of guessing the lottery numbers than how 24 teams are going to finish.
I think its pretty lazy by all concerned to have us down as relegation favourites when we were nowhere near the bottom two come the end of the season and really the only reason we were anywhere around it was because we drew too many games and didn't score enough goals. We drew 17 which was more than anyone else. We certainly created plenty of chances just didn't convert enough. It would have only taken a handful of those draws becoming wins to have seen us finish comfortably mid table. This season I think we have strengthened up front - Hendo I think will bag us 10-15 goals. Sinclair looked decent in the game against Chester and Charman and Campbell will be more used to L2 and our team this season so if anything I think we are more likely to increase our points totals by scoring those goals that give us the wins instead of draws. I for one think we've recruited pretty well and would expect us to finish top half. |  | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 18:00 - Jul 28 with 2690 views | DaleiLama |
Rochdale 22/23 Predictions👇
@NTT20Pod - 24th
@GabSutton - 23rd
@TheSportsman - 23rd
@OffTheLineBlog - 21st
@FourFourTwo - 21st
@d3d4football - 20th
@LowerTiers - 19th
There's hope for us yet! [Post edited 28 Jul 2022 18:09]
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| Second favourites for relegation on 15:58 - Jul 29 with 2393 views | 442Dale |
Could you copy and paste the Dale part if possible? |  |
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| Second favourites for relegation on 16:08 - Jul 29 with 2367 views | IOMDale |
| Second favourites for relegation on 15:58 - Jul 29 by 442Dale |
Could you copy and paste the Dale part if possible? |
I'll go one better 442, here's the article:
League Two preview: Stockport may struggle to live up to the hype and Rochdale look doomed
The race for promotion to the third tier will be heavily influenced by Manchester United’s past
Angus Oliver, Willis Bennett
Friday July 29 2022, 2.30pm, The Times
A team who played in the National League last year are favourites for the title; the Premier League manager of the month for October 2007 is in charge of securing his latest club’s first promotion for nine years; and Manchester United’s Class of ’92 have a vested interest. Welcome to the 2022-23 Sky Bet League Two season.
Automatic contenders
Northampton Town were desperately unlucky to be denied automatic promotion last season when Bristol Rovers won 7-0 on the final day of the season to steal third place on goals scored. Northampton went on to lose in the play-off semi-finals but that should not detract from how strong a season it was for Jon Brady’s side, who conceded the fewest goals in the league. Adding to their defensive nous this summer, they have brought in Ben Fox, who will form an energetic partnership with Shane McWilliams in midfield, an experienced finisher in Danny Hylton, and an exciting young striker in Kieron Bowie on loan from Fulham.
The bookmakers’ favourites to win League Two are Stockport County, however, last season’s National League champions. Dave Challinor’s side cruised to the title by winning 30 games last season while conceding the fewest goals in the division, but how will the club, who had their debt wiped in 2020 when local fan Mark Stott bought them out, manage the step up in quality that the Football League brings?
The appointment of Mark Hughes, who won the Premier League manager of the month award in 2007 with Blackburn Rovers, as the new Bradford City manager surprised many in the Football League in February, but the former Manchester City boss can now make his mark after overseeing a full pre-season and summer of recruitment. Bradford already had a big squad, but Hughes has added a Championship-level midfielder in Richard Smallwood from Hull City, and a proven target man in Vadaine Oliver from Gillingham. They have not had the greatest pre-season but should be up around the top come May.
After their play-off final loss to Port Vale last season Mansfield Town are another side set to be among the frontrunners this season. In Nigel Clough, the former Burton Albion, Derby County and Sheffield United boss, they have one of the best managers in the league and should take solace from the fact that they finished seventh last year despite a run of only five points from 12 games at one stage. They are unbeaten in pre-season and could well be promoted to League One for the first time.
The Class of ’92-owned Salford City fell short of the play-offs last term but their business in the off-season suggests that they can also challenge for automatic promotion. Neil Wood, who has been in charge of Manchester United Under-23 for the past three years, has been appointed as manager; Callum Hendry is a threat up top; and Stevie Mallan, who impressed as John McGinn’s replacement at Hibernian, can underpin a possession-based style of play alongside his fellow Scot Elliot Watt.
Hughes can now make his mark at Bradford after overseeing a full pre-season and summer of recruitment
Hughes can now make his mark at Bradford after overseeing a full pre-season and summer of recruitment
Play-off hopefuls
Doncaster Rovers, Gillingham Town and AFC Wimbledon had little to smile about as three of four sides relegated from League One last year so the play-offs may be their most likely means of bouncing back. Doncaster’s Gary McSheffrey is still in the infancy of his managerial career, but fans should be encouraged by the attacking additions of Luke Molyneux from Hartlepool, George Miller from Barnsley, and Lee Tomlin – if he can stay fit.
Gillingham meanwhile may be relying on some late transfer business to bolster an otherwise thin squad, but in Neil Harris, the former Millwall and Cardiff City manager, they have an excellent man at the helm. Wimbledon are on a run of 27 league games without a win but Johnnie Jackson has bolstered his frontline with the additions of Josh Davison and Huddersfield loanee Kyle Hudlin, the tallest player in the Football League at 6ft 9in.
Leyton Orient sat only four points above the relegation zone last season when Richie Wellens replaced Kenny Jackett as manager in March, but the east London side won more than half of their remaining games and finished 13th. Wellens implemented an attacking possession-based style but whether he can maintain harmony in the squad may hold the key to carrying last season’s success into making a play-off charge this time around.
Swindon Town, meanwhile, did well to make the play-offs last season given the financial turmoil at the club but they lost in the semi-finals on penalties to Port Vale, who were eventually promoted. This year they have lost their manager Ben Garner to Charlton Athletic, who has taken Mandela Egbo, Joe Wollacott and Jack Payne with him. Another play-off push will hinge upon how quickly Swindon can adapt under the new head coach, Scott Lindsey.
Tranmere Rovers may have finished ninth last season but they had the second tightest defence in the league, conceding only 40 goals. Several older players have now been replaced and with Kane Hemmings up front, the Merseyside club can push for the top seven.
It will also be interesting to see if Walsall can make a tilt at the play-offs under their new American consortium, and how Crawley Town fare under their new cryptocurrency-based ownership structure.
Relegation
After the hostile ownership dispute of last season Rochdale seem the side most likely to find themselves in the bottom two come May. They have lost the stand-out Corey O’Keefe, Conor Grant and Eoghan O’Connell to League One clubs and, other than the addition of the centre half Ethan Ebanks-Landell, have struggled to bring in replacements of equal quality. They won only six games after Christmas last season and are set for a real fight to stay up.
Colchester United are another club starting in a similarly tumultuous state after disgruntled supporters confronted owner Robbie Cowling over his governance of the club last season. Wayne Brown, the manager, kept them up after his appointment in January and the addition of the midfielder Alex Newby from Rochdale should provide encouragement, but it is a thin squad of ageing players at a club with a sour air about the place.
Harrogate Town began last season in excellent form, but only that kept them out of a relegation scrap as they went on to lose 20 of their last 35 league games. Simon Weaver’s side need to get out of that rut to stay up, but retaining players such as Luke Armstrong and Alex Pattison will help, while the signing of young Matty Daly, an England Under-17 and Under-18 forward, on loan from Huddersfield Town seems a shrewd piece of business.
The drop from League One to League Two is often the hardest of any relegation in the Football League and it seems that Crewe Alexandra may be in for a struggle this season. They won only seven of 46 games in League One last year and, although a decent pre-season offers hope for improved fortunes, the new manager, Alex Morris, has struggled to build strength in depth this summer.
Grimsby Town arrive in League Two from the National League after an extraordinary play-off run that included three extra-time victories and numerous late winners, culminating in their extra-time win over Solihull Moors at the London Stadium. That should not hide the fact that they finished sixth in the National League last year, a whole 17 points behind their fellow newly promoted side, Stockport.
Paul Hartley has an excellent pedigree in Scotland’s lower leagues but how will he cope as Hartlepool United’s new manager now that the talismanic Timi Odusina, Omar Bogle and Molyneux have all departed? Hartley has brought in plenty of players from north of the border and his side could make a push for mid-table, but it will depend on how quickly his new signings can gel.
It is Barrow, however, who are the bookies’ favourites to be relegated after finishing 22nd last year, but they are another side with a new manager who could be the difference in them staying afloat or not. Pete Wild has had success with Halifax Town and Oldham Athletic and is now in charge of a side with a top-half budget and excellent young players in Robbie Gotts and Jordan Stevens.
Don’t be surprised if . . .
Sutton United punch above their weight . . . again. Promoted to the National South in 2011, to the National League in 2016, and to League Two in 2021, Matt Gray’s side look in only one direction.
Last season, their maiden League Two campaign, they finished on 76 points, one point and one place shy of the play-offs. Not since 2007-08 (Wycombe Wanderers, 78 points) has eighth place accrued as many points. The bookies will give you 8-1 on their promotion.
They also made the Papa John’s Trophy final last season, losing 4-2 to Rotherham, but can they manage the losses of the winger David Ajiboye, 23, who has signed for Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee, and Isaac Olaofe, who spent two seasons on loan from Millwall at Borough Sports Ground, the first of which he finished as the club’s top scorer
. . . Broadfield Stadium is the place to go for goals. Crawley, who finished 12th last season despite conceding more goals than anyone in the top half and finishing with a goal difference of -10, have signed last season’s top goalscorer, Dom Telford, who hit 25 goals in 37 matches for Newport County. The 25-year-old has signed a three-year deal after his contract ran out at Rodney Parade.
. . . third spot goes to one of the new boys. In five of the past six League Two seasons one of the four sides relegated from League One has nabbed the last automatic promotion spot. Do not, therefore, be surprised to see one of Gillingham, Doncaster Rovers, AFC Wimbledon, Crewe Alexandra finish third. On eight occasions in the past ten seasons a relegated League One side has finished in the automatic promotion spots.
Ones to watch
Tyrese Shade Swindon
The 22-year-old forward was on loan last season from Leicester City at Walsall, playing 39 matches for the League Two club, often at right or left wing back.
Under Scott Lindsey, however, the right winger from St Kitts and Nevis looks set to play on the right wing. He had a good pre-season, completing 90 minutes three times including a goal against the Championship side Cardiff City on Saturday in a performance for which he was named man of the match.
Will Collar and Fraser Horsfall Stockport
The 25-year-old central midfielder Collar, who made his debut for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018 in the Carabao Cup, joined Stockport in February 2021, when the Edgeley Park club were in the National League. The right-footer, on a two-year contract that expires at the end of this season, scored nine goals in 36 matches in Stockport’s title-winning season last year. Stockport host Barrow on Saturday and Collar will likely line up in midfield alongside Antoni Sarcevic and Ryan Croasdale, though new signing Callum Camps is also highly-rated.
Stockport’s manager, Dave Challinor, has labelled the centre back Fraser Horsfall a “massive coup”, adding: “He is very comfortable in possession of the football and we believe that he can develop into a Championship defender.” The 25-year-old joined on a free transfer from Northampton Town, where last season in League Two he made 45 appearances for the best defensive side in the division. He scored an impressive nine goals.
Neil Harris Gillingham manager
Harris is a successful Championship manager. In his first full season in charge of Millwall, in League One in 2015-16, he led them to the play-off final, which they lost to Barnsley 3-1. The next season he took them to Wembley again, this time going one step further: Millwall beat Bradford 1-0 to reach the Championship. That season they also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals after beating Bournemouth, Watford and Leicester City.
In November 2019, he was appointed manager of Championship side Cardiff. In his first season they finished fifth, losing in a play-off semi-final against Fulham.
You will have to wait to watch Harris on the touchline though. He will be in the stands against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday serving a one-match touchline ban for “abusive, insulting and improper” language against Portsmouth at the end of last season.
Predictions
Automatic promotion Northampton Town, Bradford City, Mansfield Town
Play-offs Salford City, AFC Wimbledon, Stockport County, Leyton Orient
Relegation Rochdale, Grimsby Town |  | | |
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| Second favourites for relegation on 16:11 - Jul 29 with 2358 views | 442Dale |
Thank you! | |
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| Second favourites for relegation on 16:18 - Jul 29 with 2339 views | EllDale |
If Newby is an encouraging signing for Colchester what has the rest of their recruitment been like? | | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 16:47 - Jul 29 with 2300 views | kel |
“The appointment of Mark Hughes, who won the Premier League manager of the month award in 2007 with Blackburn Rovers, as the new Bradford City manager”
Fairly recent achievement then? |  | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 17:19 - Jul 29 with 2214 views | upthedale |
| Second favourites for relegation on 16:18 - Jul 29 by EllDale |
If Newby is an encouraging signing for Colchester what has the rest of their recruitment been like? |
I thought that, and he's not listed as one of the important 3 players we've lost. So we had a rubbish season, Newby isn't classed as one of the top 3 players to have left that poor team....yet he's an encouraging signing. Doesn't quite add up! |  | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 17:25 - Jul 29 with 2180 views | 49thseason |
So basically we are getting relegated because of the off- field shenanigans and because 3 players left and only EEL is a worthwhile arrival! No mention of Henderson, Brierley, Rodney or Seriki. No mention that last seasons side was put together in a fortnight or that we drew 16 or 17 games. You wonder why they spend time even writing such rubbish. |  | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 17:26 - Jul 29 with 2164 views | TVOS1907 |
| Second favourites for relegation on 16:08 - Jul 29 by IOMDale |
I'll go one better 442, here's the article:
League Two preview: Stockport may struggle to live up to the hype and Rochdale look doomed
The race for promotion to the third tier will be heavily influenced by Manchester United’s past
Angus Oliver, Willis Bennett
Friday July 29 2022, 2.30pm, The Times
A team who played in the National League last year are favourites for the title; the Premier League manager of the month for October 2007 is in charge of securing his latest club’s first promotion for nine years; and Manchester United’s Class of ’92 have a vested interest. Welcome to the 2022-23 Sky Bet League Two season.
Automatic contenders
Northampton Town were desperately unlucky to be denied automatic promotion last season when Bristol Rovers won 7-0 on the final day of the season to steal third place on goals scored. Northampton went on to lose in the play-off semi-finals but that should not detract from how strong a season it was for Jon Brady’s side, who conceded the fewest goals in the league. Adding to their defensive nous this summer, they have brought in Ben Fox, who will form an energetic partnership with Shane McWilliams in midfield, an experienced finisher in Danny Hylton, and an exciting young striker in Kieron Bowie on loan from Fulham.
The bookmakers’ favourites to win League Two are Stockport County, however, last season’s National League champions. Dave Challinor’s side cruised to the title by winning 30 games last season while conceding the fewest goals in the division, but how will the club, who had their debt wiped in 2020 when local fan Mark Stott bought them out, manage the step up in quality that the Football League brings?
The appointment of Mark Hughes, who won the Premier League manager of the month award in 2007 with Blackburn Rovers, as the new Bradford City manager surprised many in the Football League in February, but the former Manchester City boss can now make his mark after overseeing a full pre-season and summer of recruitment. Bradford already had a big squad, but Hughes has added a Championship-level midfielder in Richard Smallwood from Hull City, and a proven target man in Vadaine Oliver from Gillingham. They have not had the greatest pre-season but should be up around the top come May.
After their play-off final loss to Port Vale last season Mansfield Town are another side set to be among the frontrunners this season. In Nigel Clough, the former Burton Albion, Derby County and Sheffield United boss, they have one of the best managers in the league and should take solace from the fact that they finished seventh last year despite a run of only five points from 12 games at one stage. They are unbeaten in pre-season and could well be promoted to League One for the first time.
The Class of ’92-owned Salford City fell short of the play-offs last term but their business in the off-season suggests that they can also challenge for automatic promotion. Neil Wood, who has been in charge of Manchester United Under-23 for the past three years, has been appointed as manager; Callum Hendry is a threat up top; and Stevie Mallan, who impressed as John McGinn’s replacement at Hibernian, can underpin a possession-based style of play alongside his fellow Scot Elliot Watt.
Hughes can now make his mark at Bradford after overseeing a full pre-season and summer of recruitment
Hughes can now make his mark at Bradford after overseeing a full pre-season and summer of recruitment
Play-off hopefuls
Doncaster Rovers, Gillingham Town and AFC Wimbledon had little to smile about as three of four sides relegated from League One last year so the play-offs may be their most likely means of bouncing back. Doncaster’s Gary McSheffrey is still in the infancy of his managerial career, but fans should be encouraged by the attacking additions of Luke Molyneux from Hartlepool, George Miller from Barnsley, and Lee Tomlin – if he can stay fit.
Gillingham meanwhile may be relying on some late transfer business to bolster an otherwise thin squad, but in Neil Harris, the former Millwall and Cardiff City manager, they have an excellent man at the helm. Wimbledon are on a run of 27 league games without a win but Johnnie Jackson has bolstered his frontline with the additions of Josh Davison and Huddersfield loanee Kyle Hudlin, the tallest player in the Football League at 6ft 9in.
Leyton Orient sat only four points above the relegation zone last season when Richie Wellens replaced Kenny Jackett as manager in March, but the east London side won more than half of their remaining games and finished 13th. Wellens implemented an attacking possession-based style but whether he can maintain harmony in the squad may hold the key to carrying last season’s success into making a play-off charge this time around.
Swindon Town, meanwhile, did well to make the play-offs last season given the financial turmoil at the club but they lost in the semi-finals on penalties to Port Vale, who were eventually promoted. This year they have lost their manager Ben Garner to Charlton Athletic, who has taken Mandela Egbo, Joe Wollacott and Jack Payne with him. Another play-off push will hinge upon how quickly Swindon can adapt under the new head coach, Scott Lindsey.
Tranmere Rovers may have finished ninth last season but they had the second tightest defence in the league, conceding only 40 goals. Several older players have now been replaced and with Kane Hemmings up front, the Merseyside club can push for the top seven.
It will also be interesting to see if Walsall can make a tilt at the play-offs under their new American consortium, and how Crawley Town fare under their new cryptocurrency-based ownership structure.
Relegation
After the hostile ownership dispute of last season Rochdale seem the side most likely to find themselves in the bottom two come May. They have lost the stand-out Corey O’Keefe, Conor Grant and Eoghan O’Connell to League One clubs and, other than the addition of the centre half Ethan Ebanks-Landell, have struggled to bring in replacements of equal quality. They won only six games after Christmas last season and are set for a real fight to stay up.
Colchester United are another club starting in a similarly tumultuous state after disgruntled supporters confronted owner Robbie Cowling over his governance of the club last season. Wayne Brown, the manager, kept them up after his appointment in January and the addition of the midfielder Alex Newby from Rochdale should provide encouragement, but it is a thin squad of ageing players at a club with a sour air about the place.
Harrogate Town began last season in excellent form, but only that kept them out of a relegation scrap as they went on to lose 20 of their last 35 league games. Simon Weaver’s side need to get out of that rut to stay up, but retaining players such as Luke Armstrong and Alex Pattison will help, while the signing of young Matty Daly, an England Under-17 and Under-18 forward, on loan from Huddersfield Town seems a shrewd piece of business.
The drop from League One to League Two is often the hardest of any relegation in the Football League and it seems that Crewe Alexandra may be in for a struggle this season. They won only seven of 46 games in League One last year and, although a decent pre-season offers hope for improved fortunes, the new manager, Alex Morris, has struggled to build strength in depth this summer.
Grimsby Town arrive in League Two from the National League after an extraordinary play-off run that included three extra-time victories and numerous late winners, culminating in their extra-time win over Solihull Moors at the London Stadium. That should not hide the fact that they finished sixth in the National League last year, a whole 17 points behind their fellow newly promoted side, Stockport.
Paul Hartley has an excellent pedigree in Scotland’s lower leagues but how will he cope as Hartlepool United’s new manager now that the talismanic Timi Odusina, Omar Bogle and Molyneux have all departed? Hartley has brought in plenty of players from north of the border and his side could make a push for mid-table, but it will depend on how quickly his new signings can gel.
It is Barrow, however, who are the bookies’ favourites to be relegated after finishing 22nd last year, but they are another side with a new manager who could be the difference in them staying afloat or not. Pete Wild has had success with Halifax Town and Oldham Athletic and is now in charge of a side with a top-half budget and excellent young players in Robbie Gotts and Jordan Stevens.
Don’t be surprised if . . .
Sutton United punch above their weight . . . again. Promoted to the National South in 2011, to the National League in 2016, and to League Two in 2021, Matt Gray’s side look in only one direction.
Last season, their maiden League Two campaign, they finished on 76 points, one point and one place shy of the play-offs. Not since 2007-08 (Wycombe Wanderers, 78 points) has eighth place accrued as many points. The bookies will give you 8-1 on their promotion.
They also made the Papa John’s Trophy final last season, losing 4-2 to Rotherham, but can they manage the losses of the winger David Ajiboye, 23, who has signed for Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee, and Isaac Olaofe, who spent two seasons on loan from Millwall at Borough Sports Ground, the first of which he finished as the club’s top scorer
. . . Broadfield Stadium is the place to go for goals. Crawley, who finished 12th last season despite conceding more goals than anyone in the top half and finishing with a goal difference of -10, have signed last season’s top goalscorer, Dom Telford, who hit 25 goals in 37 matches for Newport County. The 25-year-old has signed a three-year deal after his contract ran out at Rodney Parade.
. . . third spot goes to one of the new boys. In five of the past six League Two seasons one of the four sides relegated from League One has nabbed the last automatic promotion spot. Do not, therefore, be surprised to see one of Gillingham, Doncaster Rovers, AFC Wimbledon, Crewe Alexandra finish third. On eight occasions in the past ten seasons a relegated League One side has finished in the automatic promotion spots.
Ones to watch
Tyrese Shade Swindon
The 22-year-old forward was on loan last season from Leicester City at Walsall, playing 39 matches for the League Two club, often at right or left wing back.
Under Scott Lindsey, however, the right winger from St Kitts and Nevis looks set to play on the right wing. He had a good pre-season, completing 90 minutes three times including a goal against the Championship side Cardiff City on Saturday in a performance for which he was named man of the match.
Will Collar and Fraser Horsfall Stockport
The 25-year-old central midfielder Collar, who made his debut for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018 in the Carabao Cup, joined Stockport in February 2021, when the Edgeley Park club were in the National League. The right-footer, on a two-year contract that expires at the end of this season, scored nine goals in 36 matches in Stockport’s title-winning season last year. Stockport host Barrow on Saturday and Collar will likely line up in midfield alongside Antoni Sarcevic and Ryan Croasdale, though new signing Callum Camps is also highly-rated.
Stockport’s manager, Dave Challinor, has labelled the centre back Fraser Horsfall a “massive coup”, adding: “He is very comfortable in possession of the football and we believe that he can develop into a Championship defender.” The 25-year-old joined on a free transfer from Northampton Town, where last season in League Two he made 45 appearances for the best defensive side in the division. He scored an impressive nine goals.
Neil Harris Gillingham manager
Harris is a successful Championship manager. In his first full season in charge of Millwall, in League One in 2015-16, he led them to the play-off final, which they lost to Barnsley 3-1. The next season he took them to Wembley again, this time going one step further: Millwall beat Bradford 1-0 to reach the Championship. That season they also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals after beating Bournemouth, Watford and Leicester City.
In November 2019, he was appointed manager of Championship side Cardiff. In his first season they finished fifth, losing in a play-off semi-final against Fulham.
You will have to wait to watch Harris on the touchline though. He will be in the stands against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday serving a one-match touchline ban for “abusive, insulting and improper” language against Portsmouth at the end of last season.
Predictions
Automatic promotion Northampton Town, Bradford City, Mansfield Town
Play-offs Salford City, AFC Wimbledon, Stockport County, Leyton Orient
Relegation Rochdale, Grimsby Town |
Another one, like "Gab", who's missed us signing Henderson. |  |
| When I was your age, I used to enjoy the odd game of tennis. Or was it golf? |
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| Second favourites for relegation on 18:25 - Jul 29 with 2091 views | Plattyswrinklynuts |
| Second favourites for relegation on 17:26 - Jul 29 by TVOS1907 |
Another one, like "Gab", who's missed us signing Henderson. |
Mike Minay predicts a top half finish on BBC sport website… |  | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 19:07 - Jul 29 with 1994 views | dannyuk |
https://betting.betfair.com/football/english-football-league/efl-league-two-prev
Dead last from Betfair,
24. Rochdale
Last Season: 18th in League Two
Rochdale only won six league games after Christmas. Their six most used players from last season have moved on, as well as key men Morley and Beesley in January. Likely to play an attacking style of play, they have to be sturdier at the back, more clinical up front and sort out a horrendous set piece record. Reasons for relegation fear at Spotland. |  | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 19:08 - Jul 29 with 1992 views | kel |
| Second favourites for relegation on 18:25 - Jul 29 by Plattyswrinklynuts |
Mike Minay predicts a top half finish on BBC sport website… |
Minay kisses the arse of whichever manager gives him an interview that week. Next door’s cat knows more about football. | | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 10:32 - Jul 30 with 1635 views | Cedar_Room |
| Second favourites for relegation on 19:07 - Jul 29 by dannyuk |
https://betting.betfair.com/football/english-football-league/efl-league-two-prev
Dead last from Betfair,
24. Rochdale
Last Season: 18th in League Two
Rochdale only won six league games after Christmas. Their six most used players from last season have moved on, as well as key men Morley and Beesley in January. Likely to play an attacking style of play, they have to be sturdier at the back, more clinical up front and sort out a horrendous set piece record. Reasons for relegation fear at Spotland. |
Betfairs predictions from last season
1st Bradford
2nd Exeter
3rd Mansfield
21st Rochdale
22nd Swindon
23rd Hartlepool
24th Scunthorpe
So once again - these predictions are always all over the place | | | |
| Second favourites for relegation on 10:42 - Jul 30 with 1618 views | dale1968 |
Personally could not care one little bit what these idiot Journalists say.
Personally think we will have a much better season than last and may certainly silence these idiots.
UTDNFS |  |
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| Second favourites for relegation on 10:56 - Jul 30 with 1554 views | kel |
Most of these ‘experts’ just read forums like the League Two one and glean their information off those. Then you have the Twitter ones who ask questions like ‘wHo Do U tHiNk Is Ur BeStEsT sIGnInG?’ effectively getting supporters to do their job for them. Why people fall for it I’ll never know. | | | |
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