So Saturday 6th August marks the new football league season and Wycombe Wanderers will be starting their league one campaign at home to recently relegated side S****horpe United. S****horpe endured a torrid time in the Championship last season finishing rock bottom in 24th place ending with a total tally of 42 points; 6 points from safety. Winning 12, drawing 6 and losing 28 of their 46 league games. On the 16th March S****horpe parted with their manager Ian Baraclough after losing 3-0 to Preston North End; one of the two sides that were also relegated with S****horpe. They then appointed Bury manager Alan Knill as their new manager on Friday 1st April; who ironically had Bury 4th in league two a point behind third placed Shrewsbury; with Wycombe sitting second. Knill explained: "I'm really looking forward to the challenge. "It's an opportunity to manage for at least eight games in the Championship to help S****horpe try and retain that status at that level. "Even if they come down they will be a strong side in League One. "It was a very difficult decision to leave Bury. "I am really close with the players at Bury and had a great relationship with the board. "It was a tough decision to leave and one that I haven't taken lightly." S****horpe have released seven players this summer, with Goalkeeper Joe Murphy & Defender David Mirfin leaving after not being offered a new contract. During the summer transfer window they have signed some decent players: Jordan Robertson (Striker), Ryan Taylor (Striker), Jimmy Ryan (Midfielder) & Andy Barchman (Winger) S****horpe's pre-season form has not been too bad, winning four, with 1 draw & two losses, most notably their last friendly against Barnsley where they lost 5-0. Pre Season Results: Bottesfield Town 0 - 7 S****horpe United (W) Winterton Rangers 1 - 3 S****horpe United (W) FC Halifax Town 1 - 0 S****horpe United (L) Gainsborough Trinity 0 - 1 S****horpe United (W) Lincoln City 1 - 1 S****horpe United (D) Rotherham United 0 - 2 S****horpe United (W) S****horpe United 0 - 5 Barnsley (L) Team News > Midfielder Mark Duffy & Winger Andy Barcham are hoped to be fit for the clash against Wycombe. With striker Chris Dagnall returning to training after missing S****horpe's last pre-season friendly against Barnsley for personal reasons. On the other side of the coin Wycombe Wanderers have had totally different fortunes, a relegation from league one (2009/2010) and then promotion at the first attempt under the guidance of Gary Waddock (2010/2011), the good times seem to be back at Adams Park (Touch Wood). Wycombe finished in 3rd place last season, with 80 points, meaning they were automatically promoted along with 2nd place Bury (81 points) & 1st placed Chesterfield (86 points). The main talking point towards the end of the season being Gareth Ainsworth's non-goal that was given, which Shrewsbury fans seem to think cost them promotion? (What about all the other games Shrewsbury) Again it has been a busy summer at Adams Park with Wycombe's chief signing a new three year deal & most of the promotion winning squad retained. Wycombe released eight players at the end of the season; the talked about departures being John-Paul Pittman & Lewis Montrose. Although the replacements seem more than sufficient and Gary Waddock has kept to what he knows & retained team spirit, as the backbone of Wycombe's squad this year. During the summer transfer window Wycombe have signed: Joel Grant (Winger), Ben Harding (Midfielder), John Halls (Midfielder), Scott Donnelly (Midfielder), Elliot Benyon (Striker) & James Tunnicliffe (Defender) Wycombe's pre-season form however has not been good, only winning one game against non-league opposition , with three draws and two losses completing pre-season. Although 0-0 draws with Championship opposition (West Ham & Crystal Palace respectively) can not be frowned upon. Pre-Season Results: Staines Town 0 - 5 Wycombe Wanderers (W) Braintree 2 - 1 Wycombe Wanderers (L) Wycombe Wanderers 0 - 0 Crystal Palace (D) Wycombe Wanderers 0 - 0 West Ham (D) Wealdstone 1 - 1 Wycombe Wanderers (D) Northampton Town 2 - 1 Wycombe Wanderers (L) Team News > Stuart Lewis & Matt Bloomfield are ruled out through injury. Elliot Benyon is recovering from a broken hand. Danny Foster, Dave Winfield & Leon Johnson all face a race against time to be fit for a chance of featuring against S****horpe after recovering from their respected injuries. My Prediction: 1-1 (Taylor, Ainsworth) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone, I hope this is okay, please bare in mind this is my first proper match thread and I'm 16 so still learning! All the best! Cheers Luke Harris
Well done Luke, excellent thread. I dont get to many games now so its always great when someone like you does a detailed preview/review - good man! I reckon itll be 1-1. Wycombe notoriously start slow Itll be interesting to see how Scunny go this season - they have punched above their weight for a few years now so I wouldnt be suprised if they struggled again this year.
Yeh good job, still going for 0-0 because against good teams its the done thing according to pre-season.
Did you know? This is the eighth time in nine seasons Wanderers have started off with a home game The last opening day win was 2010 2-0 home against Morecambe (Rendell, Pitman) The last opeining day win in the third tier of English football was in 2003 1-0 at home to Stockport The last opening day defeat 2009 2-3 at Charlton (Zebroski 2) The last opening day draw 2008 1-1 home to Morecambe (Spence) The last time they opened the season on 6 August they drew 1-1 at home to Carlisle in 2005 (Mooney)
Excellent thread Luke!! It is worthy of a pint, but given your age that would have to be Lemonade. I expect plenty of goals and a "Desmond" draw.
Rocky, if you can find me in the Vere Suite after the game I shall buy you a pint!! Your challenge is to find me...................
