League 1 - 2022/23 - Pre-season Thread

It would be nice not to be here next season but if we are who are the new boys?

Well, Exeter and Forest Green Rovers are already promoted to League 1

The other auto promotion place is to be decided from:
Northampton - already guaranteed a play-off place
Bristol R- already guaranteed a play-off place
Mansfield
P Vale and
Swindon

The play-offs are between those above who miss out on auto promotion plus:
Sutton and
Tranmere

Coming down from the Championship are:
Derby
Peterborough and
Barnsley

 

All three of the three coming down are either yoyo clubs or probably expected by most not to stay long, Forest Green are a bit unknown but obviously have some backing from somewhere given their rise from nowhere. I'm missing out yours and mine for this. Add to the above four you also will have either Sunderland, Sheff Wed or both. Also adding Portsmouth, Ipswich and a slightly rejuvenated Bolton. That's potentially nine clubs all of whom could be contenders without too much thought being given to it. I would like to think as you probably would that our own clubs might be added to the list which makes eleven. There is always a dark horse so that's half the league for three places. If anyone thought this season was tough well maybe that was nothing compared to what is to come. I'm preparing my white flag as I type......did I mention Charlton

 

I would be surprised if Derby are not short priced favourites to go straight back as they were only relegated due to their 21 points deduction

 

So were Sunderland they have been in league 1 three or four seasons now & in the play-offs as well. It's a bit like Oldham saying they are going to bounce back from the National League, it's taken 11 seasons for Stockport. Nothing is guarnteed in football.

 

Stockport not promoted yet still need 4 more points to be sure 3 should be enough

 

I appreciate that phil but Derby, despite all their problems, beat Bournemouth and Fulham who are both promoted to the Premiership. So they are obviously a good side and being well led and, unless things go wrong, a new owner. Sunderland's failures were mostly due to a crap manager. I will be very surprised if they don't go straight back, whatever their odds. Even with penalty points, I expect them to make the play offs on way to promotion.

 

I would think the play-offs would be the last place Derby would want to be, when all their problems started losing to Villa 2-1 in the play-off final. There record in the play-offs is awful since the 1991-92 season they have appeared in 8 play-offs being runners up 3 times & winners once. They just seem to be one of teams that don't do well in the play-offs.

 

So it's Port Vale who join Exeter, Forest Green Rovers and Bristol Rovers

And we lose Gills, Doncaster, Wombles and Crewe

 

3 pre-season friendlies arranged

Bracknell Town away Friday 8th July 7.30 ko

Aylesbury United on Friday, July 22 and Chesham United on Friday July 29.

Both matches will kick-off at 7.30pm, and they will both be played at Chesham's Meadow Stadium, which is ground shared by each outfit.

 

When you look at league 1 we have seven different teams in the league that is just over a 25% change in the teams.

 

Prediction for top 2 and play-off places

Top 2
Derby
MK Dons

Play-offs
From.(alphabetical order)
Bolton
Ipswich
Plymouth
Portsmouth
Sheff W
Wycombe

 

A Wycombe Wanderers team from the development squad will take on Worthing in a friendly after the 2022/23 league season will begin.

The Chairboys will travel down to West Sussex on Tuesday, August 2 with the match kicking off at 7.45pm.

The fixture will be Wanderers’ fourth friendly of the summer after they confirmed matches against Bracknell Town, Chesham United and Aylesbury United respectively.

 

Are you sure Ron or do you want to revise this as I wouldn't put any money on those 2 being in the top 2

 

I wouldn't put any money on Derby yet because the takeover has stalled. Kirchner claims the money left US last week but it hasn't arrived in UK (money laundering checks?) so I would be surprised if it didn't go through. If it doesn't and if Ashley is about to re-enter the bidding, it could take a while and there could be points deduction I suppose.

MK Dons was a very dubious selection, I admit. Maybe Sheff W, another team with a massive fan base

I think a lot will depend on who splashes out in the transfer market. Our only hope of promotion is if we get some really good players on loan from the Premiership as the best players will be attracted to those clubs with the biggest budgets and fan bases

 

Is this our squad for this season, so far?


* New signing

Goalkeepers
Tyla DICKINSON

Defenders
Chris FORINO-JOSEPH
Jack GRIMMER
Joe JACOBSON
Jason McCARTHY
Jordan OBITA
Ryan TAFAZOLLI
Jack WAKELY

Midfielders
Nick FREEMAN
Dominic GAPE
Daryl HORGAN
Garath McCLEARY
Anis MEHMETI
Connor PARSONS
Jasper PATTENDEN *
Josh SCOWEN
Curtis THOMPSON
David WHEELER
Lewis WING
Jack YOUNG

Forwards
Ali Ibrahim Karim AL HAMADI
Tjay DE BARR
Brandon HANLAN
Sully KAIKAI
Sam VOKES

 

That looks about right even though we do look bit overloaded with midfielders

 

Got my tickets for my first game of the season just across the Forest for me of to Brockenhurst on the 22nd July

 

And

 

Southampton B will host League One opposition in Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday 23rd July (3pm BST) at Staplewood Training Ground

 

Blimey that's even closer than Brockenhurst