Following on from part one earlier in the week, here we take a look at the fortunes of the 2nd half of the division in 2009/10. This time we look at Grimsby to Torquay as we compare performances to our pre-season predictions.
Grimsby Town
Predicted: 18th, Finished: 23rd
We had predicted the Mariners would be slightly less rubbish this season, and technically we were right. Despite amassing 44 points, 3 more than the previous season, they were consigned to the Conference as others around them disgracefully avoided points deductions. They spent the entire season down the wrong end of the table, and just fell short in their attempts to overhaul Barnet at the death.
Hereford United
Predicted: 20th, Finished: 16th
The Bulls were always going to be a bottom-half side after a summer of uninspiring transfer activity upon their relegation from League One. They picked up a bit towards the end of the season to finish safe in 16th, as they once again went loan-crazy with an incredible 11 loan signings through the course of the season. Most of these players actually played very few games, which makes you wonder why they bother. The main success was irritating little scrote Marc Pugh, who unfortunately will be playing against us again next season, this time for Bournemouth.
Lincoln City
Predicted: 15th, Finished: 20th
A poor start was inevitable for the Imps after they were robbed of their best players in the close-season. They acted fast to sack Peter Jackson in September, the club reportedly unhappy with his other work as a film director. Former England B lump Chris Sutton took over the reigns, keeping the club ticking over until the transfer window re-opened. A number of loan signings came into the side, the most successful being Davide Somma who hit 9 goals in 14 games to keep them well out of harm’s way.
Macclesfield Town
Predicted: 24th, Finished: 19th
This season will always be remembered for events off the pitch than those on it. On 3rd March 2010, Silkmen manager Keith Alexander tragically died aged just 53. On the pitch, the club battled hard against the drop and managed to stay well clear despite their small budget. Gary Simpson did a very good job as caretaker but has been unfairly penalised for his success by being handed the job on a full-time basis. Next season will be yet another struggle.
Morecambe
Predicted: 6th, Finished: 4th
We turned out to be pretty much bang on with our predictions for Morecambe’s season, but early on it seemed as if that faith was misplaced. Fourteen games in and with just one win registered, it seemed like the Shrimps could be shock candidates for the drop. However, if the season had started at that point, Morecambe would have been automatically promoted such was their superb form. A playoff place was just reward for their efforts, although everybody knows what happened next at the hands of the Daggers. With a touch more defensive steel (even Barnet in 21st conceded less), they could be challengers next time around.
Northampton Town
Predicted: 4th, Finished: 11th
The only relegated side we placed anywhere near the promotion picture, the Cobblers were indeed the closest but fell just short in a 5-way scramble for the final playoff spot. Manager Ian Sampson had them playing some decent stuff despite having roly-poly striker Akinfenwa to aim at should they have wished, and indeed they were one of the few sides to dispatch the Daggers twice. Big Bayo has left now, taking 17 goals with him, but exciting young forward Billy McKay could fire them into League One next season. They will need to keep the pies away from Dean Beckwith though.
Notts County
Predicted: 3rd, Finished: 1st
Despite the circus that surrounded County, including the arrival and departure of Sol and Sven, they managed to secure the title when Steve Cotterill’s arrival as manager signalled a prolific run of form. After we had written they were a couple of players short of winning the title, they went and signed Kasper Schmeichel, Johnnie Jackson and Matt Ritchie. Job done. When it transpired that Munto Finance was all smoke and mirrors, it was left to new chairmen Peter Trembling and then Ray Trew to bail them out financially. It seems unlikely the club can actually afford the outlay it has made to purchase promotion and, to top it off, one of our most hated men Jim Rodwell is also involved behind the scenes.
Port Vale
Predicted: 16th, Finished: 10th
Vale defied expectations to mount a serious playoff push, and it was in no small part down to Marc Richards’ most prolific season to date. 20 league goals was easily enough to make him one of the most feared strikers in the division, and not just because he looks like a brute. At the other end the defence was as tight as a nun’s one, meaning they were beaten only 12 times all season, the second-lowest in the division.
Rochdale
Predicted: 5th, Finished: 3rd
It will still wrankle with most Daggers fans that Dale’s win over ourselves in November saw them leapfrog us into top spot and sent us spiralling down the table. Thankfully, we recovered suitably and although Rochdale then went on a run crushing all in their path, they ultimately faltered. At one point around March they were 12 points clear (albeit having played more games), and ended up a whopping 11 points off the top. Automatic promotion was still the end result, but it was a quite spectacular implosion. Still, Keith Hill has them playing attractive, attacking football at their best and they played most sides off the pitch in the middle part of the season. Sadly they are already losing their good young players and with a small budget like ourselves, we could again be battling each other next year.
Rotherham United
Predicted: 1st, Finished: 5th
The Millers did indeed replace striker Reuben Reid – with £100,000, 27-goal hitman Adam Le Fondre. It wasn’t enough – despite a Rolls Royce side on paper, they couldn’t get into the automatic promotion slots and failed in the playoffs. Some key players such as Ellison and Mills had slight dips and they weren’t helped by the absolute cabbage patch they play on in a stadium which swallows the atmosphere. In the end home form let them down with nobody other than the exotically named one scoring any goals.
Shrewsbury Town
Predicted: 8th, Finished: 12th
Mind-bogglingly average. That is the one way to describe a season where home record mirrored away record, and their goal difference was +1. Slapped right in the middle of the table, there isn’t really a lot else to say. Oh, Paul Simpson lost his job.
Torquay United
Predicted: 14th, Finished: 17th
The Gulls took a while to adjust to League Two and spent the first few months of the season flirting with relegation, the saucy minx. Once they’d stopped cocking around, they spent December onwards in top-half form and settled safely in 17th. Substantial financial (ooh, a rhyme!) losses in recent seasons may eventually catch up with them, but for now they look a decent bet to push for the playoffs next time.
Even if I do say so myself, most of these predictions weren’t bad!
