Part Two of Vital Posh`s look at all the teams competing in League One. Part two looks at teams from Gillingham to Preston North End.
| Gillingham |
Last seasons League Two champions Gillingham, along with manager “Mad Dog” Martin Allen, will hope to kick-on from winning the League and make head-way into League One.
Allen has a variety of attacking force but many people will question the signing of the “Beast” Adebayo Akinfenwa from Northampton. The large frontman could find that he needs to be a lot fitter than he is to become a hit with his new club.
The Gills boast two former Posh players in Chris Whelpdale and Charlie Lee. Whelpdale has been a bigger hit at the club having been a virtual ever present in the two years he`s been at the club. Lee has played over 30 games in each of the last two seasons for the Gills but has been surplus to requirements this year. Southend are keen on Lee and have offered him a contract while Gillingham have offered him a package to cancel his contract which would allow him to sign for the League Two side. Lee has turned both offers down though so he could face his former employers later in the year.
Despite having the Beast in their striking array, the Gills do have a good assortment of strikers who will cause many League One defences problems. However, will their midfield and defence be up to the task?
Verdict: Mid-table
Current Odds: 33/1
| Leyton Orient |
The O`s are yet another team to see a large number of players depart. Nine players have left the club since the end of last season while just three have arrived. One of those new arrivals is former Posh-man Shaun Batt! Batt had a successful loan at the Matchroom Stadium last season and made the move permanent over the summer. Another player familiar to Posh is Frenchman Yohann Lasimant. Lasimant had a short trial with Posh and played in one match but he failed to impress the management or fans.
Finishing one place and three points outside of the play-offs last season, Russell Slade will be hoping his side can go that one step further and sneak a place in the play-offs.
With a decent League One squad including the goal threat of Kevin Lisbie, David Mooney and Dean Cox, the O`s should be there or there-abouts come the end of the season. The deciding factor could be whether they are consistent enough to finish higher than last season.
Verdict: Chasing the Play-Offs (or mid-table as my Vital Posh colleague believes)
Current Odds: 33/1
| Milton Keynes Dons |
The Dons have lost talented trio Ryan Lowe, Gary MacKenzie and Adam Chickson while one-time Posh target Stephen Gleeson looks to be unsettled and may want to move away from Asda.
Karl Robinson who continues to flop at League One level has put his faith in two loan players, one from Chelsea and one from Crystal Palace, while bringing in two other players on permanent deals.
Finishing in 8th place last season, surely this may be Robinsons last chance to get the Dons into the Championship? Celebrity chairman Pete Winkleman is desperate to move up a division after ploughing so much money into the club so how longer is he prepared to wait? Surely he wants to finish building his stadium sooner rather than later and there are no plans on doing that why they languish in League One obscurity?
It doesn`t look as if Winklemans dream will be realised this season so it will be interesting to see how the owner deals with it.
Verdict: Mid-table
Current Odds: 14/1
| Notts County |
Manager Chris Kiwomya has seen six players leave and five arrive as he looks for the magic ingredient that will transform last seasons mid-table side into place-off chasers.
It certainly looks like his squad are coming together well after a number of good results in pre-season including a narrow defeat to Turkish champions Galatasaray! Two late goals, including a Wesley Sneijder 25-yard screamer, saw the visitors snatch a 2-1 victory. Galatasaray fielded a strong team which included the likes of Didier Drogba.
County have been boosted by some high profile signings in Danny Haynes from Charlton and David Bell from Coventry. Both add quality to their side going forward which also includes former Posh man Andre Boucard.
Could the Magpies be the surprise package in League One this season? Early signs are that they could be chasing the play-offs.
Verdict: Chasing the play-offs
Current Odds: 33/1
| Oldham Athletic |
A total of seventeen players have either entered or exited Boundary Park since the end of last season. Jonson Clarke-Harris the first newcomer to the club following a small fee was agreed with Posh.
The Latics finished just outside the relegation places last season after Lee Johnson, son of former Posh boss Gary Johnson, took over from Paul Dickov mid-way through the season when they were languishing in the relegation places.
Johnson steadied the ship last season and will be looking to move upwards this season and with rookie forward Clarke-Harris in their line-up, they should be aiming for mid-table at least.
Verdict: Mid-table
Current Odds: 66/1
| Peterborough United |
Posh have lost the likes of George Boyd and star striker Dwight Gayle, who will both be plying their trade in the Premiership this season, but are confident they have enough to make another good challenge for promotion back to the Championship.
Midfielder Jack Payne has been brought in from Gillingham following a successful trial last season but question marks surround the forward department. Posh have been blessed with many good forwards over the last six years and despite still chasing a striker, they could start the season with a front pairing that are currently on the transfer list!
Defensively, they look much stronger than they have for many a year while they have a decent array of midfield talent. This should make many matches a close affair but can Posh find that killer touch needed to make it to the automatic promotion places?
Verdict: Play-Offs although my Vital Posh colleague believes it will be automatic promotion
Current Odds: 9/1
 Port Vale |
The Valiants were promoted from League Two last season after finishing in third place. They have a lethal striker in Tom Pope who struck 33 goals last season and they will be heavily reliant on him to provide the ammunition needed to keep them safely away from the relegation dog-fight.
They`ve so far played an incredible ten pre-season matches with the majority of them against very sub-standard non-league teams which has at least given them a confidence boost. When they`ve come up against a decent strength side they`ve drawn with the likes of Kidderminster Harriers while going down 5-3 to Derby County and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Leicester City.
Despite the confidence gained from their pre-season games, it`s hard to see them making much head-way into League One, especially if many teams can shackle the goal threat of Pope.
Verdict: Just outside the relegation places. My Vital Posh colleague doesn`t think they will struggle as bad though and will finish mid-table
Current Odds: 50/1
| Preston North End |
The Lilywhites haven`t recovered from their relegation from the Championship and will no doubt have a “warm” reception ready for Darren Ferguson when he returns with his Posh side this season. It was Fergie that was the chief architect of their downfall but they have now got a manager that has been there, done it and got the t-shirt. Simon Grayson succeeded at Huddersfield Town where the monotonous Lee Clark failed on many occasion although he wasn`t given the time in the Championship with the Terriers.
Although Preston finished a disappointing 14th last season, the Lancashire side should enjoy a much happier season. Some good League One standard players have been brought in while they`ve also captured former England international Kevin Davies from their near neighbours Bolton Wanderers.
Verdict: Play-Offs
Current Odds: 14/1
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