Bradford City
Ground: Valley Parade
Capacity: 25,136
Manager: Phil Parkinson
League Cup finalists Bradford City are back in League 1 for the first time since 2007 under the stewardship of Phil Parkinson. Bradford are a team that have struggled financially in recent years since their relegation from the Premier League in 2000 but are on their way back! Nahki Wells is seen as their dangerman this season given his 18 goals in League 2 last term.
In’s Niall Heaton (Liverpool; second-year apprentice), Jason Kennedy (Rochdale; free), Mark Yeates (Watford; free).
Out’s Dean Overson, Adam Baker, Steve Williams, Zavon Hines, Matt Duke (Northampton Town; free), Will Atkinson (Southend United; free)
Vital Walsall Prediction – 8th
Fancy Bradford to be dark horses this season given they have a proven goalscorer and have signed Mark Yeates.
Brentford
Ground: Griffin Park
Capacity: 12,300
Manager: Uwe Rosler
Brentford are a team that suffered heart ache twice last season having missed a decisive penalty in injury time against Doncaster, preventing them from promotion and then losing to Yeovil in the play off final. We imagine that they will either gain experience from those heartaches or struggle to put them woes behind them. Given the signings though, including our own William Grigg then they should challenge once more.
In’s: Martin Fillo (FC Viktoria Plzen; loan), Javi Venta (Villarreal; free), Jack Bonham (Watford; free), George Savile (Chelsea; loan), Alan McCormack (Swindon Town; free), Will Grigg (Walsall; fee yet TBC), Jake Bidwell (Everton; Undisclosed fee)
Out’s: Antonio German (Gillingham; free), Harry Forrester (Doncaster Rovers; fee yet TBC)
Vital Walsall Prediction – 5th
This is a much tougher league this season and I honestly believe Grigg will struggle to hit twenty goals next season.
Bristol City
Ground: Ashton Gate
Capacity: 21,501
Manager: Sean O’Driscoll
We welcome Bristol City to League 1 for the first time since 2007 following their 24th placed finish in The Championship last season.
Bristol City have had a busy summer with alot of players leaving Ashton Gate following their relegation. They have signed some quality players in the summer and it just now remains to be seen how quickly they can gel. Their forward line seems a little light and could be the difference between going up at the first attempt or falling short.
In’s: Frank Fielding (Derby County; Undisclosed fee), Aden Flint (Swindon Town; around £300k), Derrick Williams (Aston Villa; free), Jordan Wynter (Arsenal; free), Scott Wagstaff (Charlton Athletic; free), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Ipswich Town; Player Swap Deal)
Out’s: Cole Skuse (Ipswich Town), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Jon Stead (Huddersfield Town), Lewin Nyatanga (Barnsley), Richard Foster (Glasgow Rangers + a friendly match), Paul Anderson (Ipswich Town; Player Swap Deal), Matthew Bates, Brian Howard, Dean Gerken (Ipswich Town), Mark Wilson, Lewis Carey
Vital Walsall Prediction – 3rd
Given the quality they have anything less than the play-offs will be a underachievement. I just feel there are two stronger sides in League 1 next term.
We focus on the C’s, G’s and L’s tomorrow….
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