BOROCHAT

Re: League 1 strength

By Chuds6/8 20:22Tue Aug 6 20:22:43 2024In response to Re: League 1 strength

Views: 974

My point was more that they are CONSIDERABLY stronger this year, not just stronger.

You normally get one side who should go well, one or two sides who tend to bounce between L1 and L2 every few seasons (see your Northampton, Swindon, Exeter types) and one who is smaller and unexpected (see us, Crawley etc.). This year there are two very strong sides coming up who could challenge promotion.

Had any of the four who went down stayed up at somebody else's expense I would have confidently backed us to finish above them all this year, even with them strengthening. Whereas I would only back us to finish above Crawley (we should finish above Mansfield, but I am not certain we will and think we may finish near to each other), but expect us to be a fair way below both Stockport and Wrexham.

Normally coming down you also get a club who is screwed off the pitch (either financially, points deduction, financial issues, fan ownership problem) and one who is smaller and was surprising to even reach the Championship. Whereas this year we have three big clubs with money, very good squads, and who are not in turmoil.

Then you look at those who were in turmoil but are now sorting themselves out and far stronger than last year, such as Charlton, Wigan and Reading.

Then there are other strong sides who usually challenge for promotion in Posh, Bolton, Blackpool and Barnsley (who I actually think will fall away quite a bit this season despite rating the manager).

The league is SO much better than last year that even with us doing great work in the transfer market I feel a host of clubs will be leapfrogging us.

Edited by Chuds at 20:31:53 on 6th August 2024