MK Dons
Ground: Stadium MK
Capacity: 22,000
Manager: Karl Robinson
MK Dons have spent the majority of this summer keeping other clubs away from their demanded manager Karl Robinson. Robinson has MK Dons playing the right way and despite an under achieved season last term, many expect the Dons to be up there again this season. The loss of Chicksen and Mackenzie will be a big blow to the Dons but their signings havent been too bad this close season. Expect another positive year from the Dons that will just fall short again.
In’s:
Patrick Bamford (Chelsea; loan), Ben Reeves (Southampton; free), Jason Banton (Crystal Palace; loan), Lee Hodson (Watford; free)
Out’s:
Mason Spence (Colchester United; free), Ryan Lowe (Tranmere Rovers; free), Gary MacKenzie (Blackpool; Undisclosed fee), Adam Chicksen (Brighton & Hove Albion; Undisclosed fee), Mathias Doumbe, Charlie Burns)
Vital Walsall Prediction – 9th
Notts County
Ground: Meadow Lane
Capacity: 20,229
Manager: Chris Kiwomya
Notts County are in a similiar position to ourselves given they have had to replace their most prized asset with Alan Judge leaving for Blackburn this summer, however the Magpies have had one of the busiest summers of all League 1 sides with 10 new signings from last season. They could surprise a few and look towards the play offs but I feel they still lack a proven goalscorer and will end in mid table.
In’s:
Malcolm Melvin (Aston Villa; free), Andy Haworth (Rochdale; free), Mustapha Dumbuya (Crawley Town; free), Danny Haynes (Charlton Athletic; free), Kyle Dixon, Romello Nangle, Malachi Lavelle-Moore (all professional contracts), David Bell (Coventry City; free), Mark Fotheringham (Ross County; free)
Out’s:
Jeff Hughes (Fleetwood Town; free), Alan Judge (Blackburn Rovers; free), Neal Bishop, Julian Kelly, Hamza Bencherif, Liam Mitchell, Jake Wholey, Krystian Pearce (Torquay United; free)
Vital Walsall Prediction – 13th
Oldham
Ground: Boundary Park
Capacity: 10,638
Manager: Lee Johnson
Oldham are a side that have been in League 1 since 1997 and are yet to really challenge at the right end to get out of it. This is Lee Johnson’s first full season in charge and Oldham fans are quite optimistic about the new campaign and hope Lee can follow in his fathers footsteps and surprise the big boys of League 1 and gate crash the play-offs, however given their transfer signings this summer you would expect another mid table finish. The loss of target man Matt Smith will be a blow to them.
In’s: Jonson Clarke-Harris (Peterborough United; Undisclosed fee), James Dayton (Kilmarnock; free), Sidney Schmeltz (SC Veendam; free), Korey Smith (Norwich City; free), Mark Oxley (Hull City; loan), Charlie MacDonald (Leyton Orient; free), Anton Rodgers (Brighton & Hove Albion; free), Edijs Joksts (Unattached; free)
Out’s:
Connor Hughes (Hyde; free), Matt Smith (Leeds United; free), Alex Cisak (Burnley; free), Dean Furman (Doncaster Rovers; free), Jean-Yves M’voto (Barnsley; free), Robbie Simpson, Dean Bouzanis, Liam Jacob, Daniel Taylor
Vital Walsall Prediction – 16th
Peterborough
Ground: London Road
Capacity: 14,640
Manager:Darren Ferguson
We welcome back Peterborough to League 1, following a 2 year absence. Despite the loss of Dwight Gayle and George Boyd, Peterborough are a side that will be feared by most this season. The last time Darren Ferguson’s men were in League 1 they romped the scoring charts with 106 goals but conceeding 72 – so it wont be a boring season at London Road! They have still managed to hold onto key players like Grant McCann and I cant see anyone other that The Posh for the title.
In’s:
Jack Payne (Gillingham, Undisclosed fee), Charlie Horton (Unattached; free)
Out’s:
Jonson Clarke-Harris (Oldham Athletic; Undisclosed fee), George Boyd (Hull City; free), Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace; Undisclosed fee)
Vital Walsall Prediction – 1st
Port Vale
Ground: Vale Park
Capacity: 19,052
Manager: Mick Adams
Port Vale are back at this level for the first time since 2008. It is a real credit to Port Vale given the financial constraints they have been under for such a long period of time. Tom Pope is the name on everyones lips and it will be interesting to see how the highest English goalscorer plies his trade in League 1 this term. It is a matter of holding their own this season and building on it for next and will expect Port Vale to be around mid table this time around.
In’s:
Kaid Mohammed (Cheltenham Town; free), Chris Robertson (Preston North End; free), Gavin Tomlin (Southend United; free), Chris Lines (Sheffield Wednesday; free), Anthony Griffith (Leyton Orient; free), Carl Dickinson (Watford; free)
Out’s:
John McCombe (Mansfield Town; free), Sam Morsy (Chesterfield; Undisclosed fee), Darren Purse, Kingsley James, Calvin Andrew, Clayton McDonald (Grimsby Town; free), Ashley Vincent (Cheltenham Town; free)
Vital Walsall Prediction – 17th
Preston North End
Ground: Deepdale
Capacity: 23,408
Manager: Simon Grayson
Preston are a side that failed miserably last season, finishing in 14th place. Graham Westley was replaced by Simon Grayson and into his first full season as the Lilywhites manager, many will expect them to be challenging this season. The signing of Kevin Davies was a real coup for a League 1 side and it wont be suprising to see Preston finally return to the Championship.
In’s:
Tom Clarke (Huddersfield Town; free), Chris Humphrey (Motherwell; free), Declan Rudd (Norwich City; loan), Kevin Davies (Bolton Wanderers; free)
Out’s:Chris Robertson (Port Vale; free), Andy Proctor (Bury; free), Luke Foster, Ben Davies (York City; loan)
Vital Walsall Prediction – 2nd
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