Way back in August, we gave our predictions and expectations for all of League 2′s twenty-four clubs. Instead of attempting to brush our awful predictions under the carpet, it is time to look back and see how we did, with our first part covering Accrington to Darlington. Part two to follow later this week.
Accrington Stanley
Predicted: 22nd, Finished: 15th
The only danger Stanley faced this season was from the tax man, as they twice paid off huge tax bills with moments to spare before they were wound up. A £308,000 bill in November and a £78,000 bill in February shows just how much little Accy have managed to overstretch themselves and serves as a warning to all clubs. On the pitch, Symes and Scunthorpe-bound teenage sensation Bobby Grant knocked the goals in to lead them to a comfortable mid-table placing.
Aldershot Town
Predicted: 17th, Finished: 6th
Despite losing manager Gary Waddock mid-season, who stupidly jumped ship to doomed Wycombe, the Shots had an unexpectedly excellent season to make the playoffs. Kevin Dillon continued the good work with Ben Herd making an immediate impact in his first season with the club, and the excellent Marvin Morgan finding his goalscoring touch. Without too much difference from the previous campaign, it seems everything just clicked this time around.
Barnet
Predicted: 11th, Finished: 21st
Bees fans were very optimistic that this would be a good season for them. Adding good players to a seemingly decent squad should’ve meant they were a top-half team. Indeed, at the end of October they were as high as 6th, before descending faster than the slope on their Underhell pitch. O’Flynn continued to score goals but age finally caught up with Furlong who went from last season’s class act to this season’s carthorse. Ian Hendon’s managerial inexperience didn’t help, and neither did Gary Breen’s injury problems, but it didn’t stop them from turning us over 2-0 on their own patch. Bastards.
Bournemouth
Predicted: 13th, Finished: 2nd
We were a whopping 11 places out with our predictions for this one. Perhaps it is because the Cherries have never looked anything other than average in games against us – we took 4 points off them this campaign and last time around they twice beat us by a single goal without ever looking particularly dangerous. Brett Pitman scored 26 league goals in between mincing around the pitch like he’s just shit himself (seriously, watch the way he jogs), they remained solid at the back, and without being able to make any signings you have to say Eddie Howe did a wonderful job.
Bradford City
Predicted: 9th, Finished: 14th
This is a season everybody at Valley Parade will want to forget. As predicted, Stuart McCall couldn’t turn the Bantams into challengers and he was eventually relieved of his duties in February. 22-year-old James Hanson was the bright light in his debut season as a professional, netting 12 league goals, but new manager Peter Taylor has quite a job on his hands to meet expectations next time around.
Burton Albion
Predicted: 23rd, Finished: 13th
After falling over the winning line in the Conference it seemed menswear chain Burton would be in for a season of struggle, but they performed admirably in their first season as a League club. Luckily for the Brewers, rookie manager Paul Peschisolido took to the job like a WAG to bling, and Shaun Harrad’s excellent season along with sensible loan signings such as Cleveland Taylor and Artur Krysiak meant their status was never in doubt. Plus, they found it in their hearts to donate 6 points to our cause, bless ‘em.
Bury
Predicted: 2nd, Finished: 9th
The Shakers spent almost the whole season in the promotion places – until it really mattered. In 2008/09 they couldn’t quite get into the automatic places and lost in the playoffs, and this time they stumbled from 2nd in February to out of the picture in May. It was perhaps a case of one season too far for an ageing defence, and with only Lowe hitting double figures, there wasn’t quite enough in the tank this time around. It seems Alan Knill will have a rebuilding job to do this summer.
Cheltenham Town
Predicted: 19th, Finished: 22nd
We were pretty much on the money with this one. Despite only being relegated to this division the previous season there was never any danger of seeing any bouncebackability and, with Mad Dog Martin Allen being placed on gardening leave for an alledged nightclub altercation, it wasn’t ideal off the pitch either. Justin Richards contributed 15 goals but the weary legs of Hayles and Alsop only netted 11 times between them. New manager Mark Yates kept them hovering just above the relegation zone and has already released 8 as he begins the mammoth task of turning around the Robins’ fortunes.
Chesterfield
Predicted: 10th, Finished: 8th
Ooh two close ones in a row, we’re getting good at this. The Spireites had a similar season to ourselves in hanging around the promotion picture, but ultimately fell agonisingly short. Top scorer Lester’s injury-hit season yielded a paltry 11 goals and with the likes of Rob Page exhibiting the art of static defending, it was a case of being marginally short at both ends of the pitch. It seems, like many managers in the division, John Sheridan will be overseeing a large turnover of players this summer as he leads them into a new era in their purpose-built 10,000 capacity stadium.
Crewe Alexandra
Predicted: 7th, Finished: 18th
An opening day defeat at our hands immediately put a downer on Crewe’s season and, try as they might, they couldn’t break into the top half. Whenever they got close, another defeat beckoned and their season effectively finished in March. They will be disappointed to have drifted down as far as they did, the main contributing factor being the concession of far too many bad goals. Finishing with the third-worst goals against column of any side in the division, they’ve already lost key defender Brayford this summer so Dario Gradi will be up against it again next time. Former Chelsea striker Zola got 15 goals this time around and will be key to any hopes.
Dagenham & Redbridge
Predicted: 12th, Finished: 7th
We’ve covered our own fortunes in much detail throughout the season, and will produce an overall review separately. For now, let’s just say this season was absolutely brilliant.
Darlington
Predicted: 21st, Finished: 24th
Everybody knew Darlo were poised to have a terrible season, but this probably exceeded all expectations. Rock bottom and 18 points adrift, the Quakers will spend next season in the Conference under new manager Simon Davey. Steve Staunton managed only 4 wins from 23 matches before his inevitable sacking, and he didn’t help himself by playing the likes of an overweight Noel Whelan in their visit to Victoria Road. Things look brighter for next season with some decent signings already and, they will hope, an increase in attendances which have decreased by 1,000 in each of the last 2 seasons.
