Here we go, the 2022/23 season is fast approaching and whilst every pundit across the land is predicting their final League 2 table we thought we would join in and give our predictions to how we think the League 2 table will look at the end of the season.
24. Barrow
The last two seasons Barrow have finished in 20th and 22nd. They do have plenty of reinforcements in midfield but again lack any real quality in the final third. The only saving grace for Barrow would be their manager Peter Wild. He had two stints at Oldham who were financially crippled and then led Halifax to play-offs last season.
23. Colchester United
Colchester have a squad that goes from one extreme to the other. They have experience in Chambers, Skuse and Sears but then too much inexperience in other departments. Manager Wayne Brown delivered some great results after taking in charge but performances weren’t great and you wonder where the goals will come from.
22. Harrogate Town
Harrogate season fell off the edge of a cliff last season, losing twenty out their last thirty league games. We cannot see with their incomings how they are going to be much different this time around. The only hope for Harrogate is there are two worst teams than them this season and we believe Colchester and Barrow will be.
21. Hartlepool United
Hartlepool seem to be doing all their shopping north of the border and whilst it might be a master stroke I cant help but think of all the players we brought to the club from Scotland that turned out to be woeful at best. Losing Odusina and Molyneux were massive blows for Hartlepool and you cant see where they have replaced them. Expect some cracking results but they will inevitably fall short.
20. Crewe Alexandra
One thing you don’t do when you get relegated from League 1 with a whimper is expect to go into the new season with 80% of last seasons squad and expect it to change. Crewe were one of the most exciting sides to watch last time they were in League 2 but their very small squad and growing list of injuries will only hinder their chance to return to League 1.
19. Grimsby Town
I liked watching Grimsby last season. They weren’t always pleasing on the eye but they had grit and determination that will stand them in good stead in League 2. Signings of former Walsall attacking midfielder Otis Khan and loanee Brendan Kiernan will give them some knowhow in League 2 but a lower half finish would surely be a positive for Grimsby.
18. Carlisle United
Whilst Paul Simpson turned the club around last season you cant help think that low budgets and low recruitment will come back to hurt them. Many years of no investment will catch them up in the end. Simpson is branded the messiah but only he can do so much.
17. Sutton United
Last season Sutton were unknown. No one expected them to have a season that they did however with a year in League 2 behind them and a few key departures you would think many sides will know what to expect. The second year is always the toughest in League 2 and with many clubs spending bigger budgets you cant help but feel Sutton will get left behind.
16. Gillingham
Neil Harris should not be managing in League 2. He has a much better pedigree than that. However he was unable to stop the rot last season and said most of the squad would not be there the following year. Gillingham transfer business has been somewhat “meh” and not many signings stand out. Gillingham also have one of the smallest squads in League 2, with the seven substitution rule you would hope there will be more reinforcements other wise a long winter and many injuries could scupper their chances.
15. Rochdale
We like the business Rochdale have done this summer. O’Donnell, Ebanks-Landell, Henderson and even Rodney are decent acquisitions. They played attractive possession based football last season with very rarely threatening however with the signings of Henderson and Rodney they will be hoping to find the back of the net more times this season.
14. Stevenage
Always seen as the go to for relegation favourites however you sense Steve Evans and the squad he has built will turn Stevenage from relegation fodder to mid-table stability. With Steve Evans you never know what you are going to get but you feel they have too much quality to be in a scrap this time around.
13. Swindon Town
They have much the Walsall 2017/18 feel about them. Failure to win promotion saw Swindon lose some of their best players, their manager and most of his backroom. They replaced the outgoing Ben Garner with his understudy in Scott Lindsey. The signing of experienced defender Angus McDonald was shrewd business but you get the feeling they have replaced so many players with raw youth. They don’t want to be relying on Shade and Devine as full backs too much. You feel it will be a season of rebuild.
12. Newport County
Since Michael Flynn left the club James Rowberry has gone under the radar and not many people identify Newport as a force of old. However with former Saddlers Cameron Norman/James Clarke and experience of Mickey Demtriou and Matty Dolan, you know they have the experience to be a top half League 2 side.
They may have lost last seasons top scorer in Dominic Telford but you feel Zimba, Zanzala and Bogle will replace that loss.
11. Crawley
NFT FC. So many gimmicks with Crawley Town this summer. I mean what club asks its fans what position their next signing should be, by running a poll on Twitter? You feel if Crawley fail to achieve much in the next couple of years their owners will get bored very quickly and leave them in the mire. The signing of Dominic Telford surprised many but you do get the feeling he could have been a one season wonder. Expect them to flirt with play-offs but just miss out.
10. AFC Wimbledon
Wimbledon like Crewe have kept the nucleus of last seasons squad however Josh Davison, Alex Pearce and Chris Gunter will give the side much needed experience and more in game management that they severely lacked last season. Whilst I don’t see them as promotion material I don’t see them being as bad as Crewe.
9. Tranmere
Tranmere have been fairly quiet in the transfer market but already had a strong side with Lee O’Connor, Kane Hemmings, Kieron Morris (we miss his mums Facebook rants) and Josh Hawkes are more than capable in League 2. They have decided to ditch some old timers and attempted to go down a more youthful route. Still think Tranmere will finish in the top ten but very rarely threaten the leading pack.
8. Salford
The basket case that is Salford. How many more managers and millions of pounds are they going to waste before they realise they cant just spend their way out the division? It is always a case of when will Salford’s season implode. This time however they have kept the chore of their side and added smartly without splashing too much money. Maybe they have learned? Still we are always due an imploding few months which derails their season and with a small squad based on quality rather than quantity you feel the winter will be challenging for Salford. We have them just to miss out on the top 7.
7. Leyton Orient
Whilst he isn’t like by many and questions are raised about how fit his sides are, the way Wellen gets his teams to play is quite pleasing on the eye. The signing of George Moncur was a master stroke and whilst their pre-season has been quite poor, you cant help but feel they will carry on from last season and finally challenge the top 7.
6. Doncaster Rovers
They have a rookie as manager but a man who understands Doncaster. George Miller will also score goals in League 2 (he has scored six in pre-season already), many Walsall fans were glad to see the back of him but I feel another season in the basement of the Football League, you will start to see the Miller that had Championship clubs after him.
5. Stockport County
The Wrexham of League 2. Finally a club that will challenge Salford in the market. Fraser Horsfall will be the best defender in League 2 this season and will score many goals from set pieces. Paddy Madden, Scott Quigley, Kyle Wooton and Antoni Sarcevic would walk into 99% of League 2 sides and if all of them are on song then Stockport may just be too strong.
4. Mansfield
They either have a stinker of a season or always just miss out. Under Clough and with Boateng in midfield you feel they will have another successful season. They have kept the nucleus of the side which made the play-offs last term and with a couple of quality additions you feel Mansfield will be just as strong this season.
3. Walsall
We couldn’t run a Walsall fan account and not put us in the promotion places could we? Most pundits have us between 8th and 12th which on the face of it would be an improvement on the last two years however we just feel our squad depth will be the difference compared to so many in this division. Come Christmas we will welcome back Conor Wilkinson, Joss Labadie and Liam Gordon – all three would walk into most League 2 starting XI.
With the backing of new owners Trivela and the experience of Michael Flynn you cannot help thinking things have turned the corner. Looking down our squad we don’t have to name youngsters on the bench just because “they’re one of our own” – Ronan Maher will be on that bench based on merit rather than just filling gaps.
For too long (as long as Rory Holden’s injury) we have missed that creative spark between midfield and the striker, with Isaac Hutchinson (who we think will be one of the best signings this summer) and Maher we don’t have to worry about that no more. The signings of Andy Williams and Danny Johnson are clever and they have proved their worth in League 2 before now. Only thing stopping us from finishing higher is the potentially the lack of goals, keep it tight at the back and Williams/DJ find their shooting boots then a special season could be in store!
2. Northampton Town
We are still scratching our heads on how the Cobblers managed to throw away their spot in League 1 last season! They have however replaced the outgoing Liam Roberts with a wise head and reinforced their side with some real quality. Jon Brady is a manager on the up and cant help feel that they will be stronger for what happened at the end of last season.
1. Bradford City
Mark Hughes and the signings he has made this summer are nothing short of phenomenal. Whilst many expect the Bradford of old to implode like many seasons before you cant help feel this year is different. They have added much needed experience to the spine of their team and seem to have attacking threats galore. Valley Parade is always a tough place to go but with the feel good factor and potential success behind them, many smaller clubs in the league may crumble. I expect their home form alone will guide them to a fairly easy League 2 title.
