GUIDE TO LEAGUE TWO: PART ONE
Posted on: Fri 04 Jul 2008
By Ross Jeavons
As the players gear for a return to pre-season training they join twenty three other teams in League Two preparing for a new, fascinating season in the fourth tier of English football.
There are guaranteed to be some unfamiliar faces at Adams Park, as Blues fans prepare to welcome six new sides to the division.
Gone are Mansfield, Wrexham, MK Dons, Peterborough, Hereford and Stockport and in come Gillingham, Luton, Port Vale, Bournemouth, Exeter and Aldershot.
With transfers flying around the division at a head-spinning speed the Wycombe support might find it hard to pinpoint the potential movers and shakers of the new campaign, and so wwfc.com has compiled a complete guide to League Two for the 2008/09 season.
Over the next week or two we will run you through the ins and outs of each side that are set to stand in the way of the Wanderers' quest promotion glory.
First up - Accrington Stanley.
The Stans finished their second season back in league football in 17th place, avoiding relegation by a comfortable margin of nine points.
It started so brightly for 'Accy' though, as Wycombe fans know all too well. A shock 1-0 win over the Wanderers on the opening day of the season was one of the highlights of the season for many Stanley fans.
Other than that, by their own admission there was little to cheer for John Coleman's side and they will be looking to push up the table and cement their status in the bottom division over the coming months.
Accy had the unfortunate claim to fame of hosting the worst defence in the division last year, as they shipped 83 goals in 46 league games.
Despite this Chief Executive Rob Heys has confessed that Coleman will once more have to work on a tight budget, a statement backed up with that fact that 32-year-old defender Colin Murdock is their only signing thus far, joining after his release from Shrewsbury Town.
More worryingly for the Accrington support fourteen players have departed the Fraser Eagle Stadium this summer, as the Lancashire based club face the prospect of beginning the campaign with a threadbare squad.
Stanley stalwart Paul Mullin top scored with 13 goals last season and his constant aerial threat will surely be a handful for defences once more this campaign.
Fans View - "Last year was a real disappointment with little to cheer. The home form was not good enough, tactically and physically we were too naive and the defence missed Scottish keeper Kenny Authur who was out injured for 4 months. Hopefully, John Coleman can find a better role for record signing Ian Craney in the team, and pick up some more physically capable defenders for the new season." - Accy supporter David Maher.
The newcomers - Aldershot Town.
It's a story that should give hope to all but the most pessimistic of fans, as Aldershot Town complete their phoenix like rise from the flames almost sixteen years after their town was left without a football club.
The Shots sadly followed in the footsteps of Accrington Stanley by folding back in 1992, but their painstaking wait for a return to the Football League was completed last year as they romped to success by topping the Blue Square Premier.
Just forty-four miles away from Adams Park the Recreation Ground will prove to be a most welcome new venue for the Wanderers support, though taking all three points won't necessarily be an easy task.
There is certainly a positive vibe amongst Gary Waddock's side, despite the fact that star winger Joel Grant has departed for Crewe - all be it for a sizeable fee of £130,000.
To help bolster the attacking options Marvin Morgan has joined from Woking, where he impressed with 12 goals for the Blue Square Premier side last season.
Defensive duo Dean Howell and Chris Blackburn have also joined the ranks, as the Shots look to tighten up their back four in time for August 9th.
It's always tough to predict how the previous years' non-league Titans will fair in the battleground of the Football League.
For every consecutive promotion achieved by the likes of Yeovil and, of course, the Wanderers there are those who have struggled to adjust - just ask Dagenham & Redbridge.
Only time will tell if the fairy tale of Aldershot Town will produce yet another heart-warming chapter in 2009.
Fan's view: "Lots of Shots fans believe we can 'do a Wycombe' and get promoted at the first time of asking but I'm a little more realistic and personally I'll be happy with a mid-table finish. Losing Joel Grant to Crewe was a big loss for us but hopefully the club can use the money wisely and give the manager the support to bring in some good players.
"Last season was beyond our wildest dreams and I definitely think the club's moving in the right direction. Gary Waddock's got the team playing some great football and I'm sure we'll stay well clear of relegation this year." - Shots fan Roger Stacey
Next up - Barnet.
Chairboys fans won't have too many fond memories of the Bees from the 2007/08 campaign. Despite only finishing 12th the Londoners managed to remain undefeated against the Wanderers, including a 2-1 victory back in October.
In fact Barnet remain undefeated against the Blues in the last five fixtures between the two sides, and Wycombe have never picked up a win at Underhill.
Like Aldershot Barnet have been forced to put up with the departure of one of their top midfielders, as Jason Puncheon moved on to Plymouth for a fee of £250,000.
For a while now manager Paul Fairclough has been forced to unearth the cheapest of gems in the transfer market, only to see them fly the nest after impressive opening spells in North London.
He will surely be on the lookout for more talent before this season commences, as solid left-back Nicky Nicolau also looks to be on his way after turning down a new deal at Underhill.
There have been no new arrivals as of yet but it can only be a matter of time until some of the spending money gained from the Puncheon sale is utilised to good effect.
The Bees can now feel well and truly settled in League Two, having consolidated well after promotion in 2005.
After a couple of years of struggle at the foot of the division their mid-table place in 2007/08 has proved that a playoff spot isn't too far off - and that will surely be the aim for the coming season.
Fan's View: "It's hard to say what we want from this season. After finishing in the top half last term you could say we over-achieved, especially as we were once again tipped to finish quite low down the table. However, our form was quite indifferent at times and we dropped a lot of points we shouldn't have - especially at home.
We obviously want to improve on last season and force a way into the playoffs. We could do with a few signings. Paul Fairclough said he was looking to strengthen the squad with 3 or 4 new players, especially now that Jason Puncheon is on his way. We could do with holding on to Albert Adomah as well, who proved to be a bit of a revelation last term. If we strengthen in the right areas there's no reason why we can't make an assault on the playoffs." - Barnet fan Mike Perkin.
Next time out: We take a look at new boys Bournemouth and potential challengers Bradford and Brentford.
As the players gear for a return to pre-season training they join twenty three other teams in League Two preparing for a new, fascinating season in the fourth tier of English football.
There are guaranteed to be some unfamiliar faces at Adams Park, as Blues fans prepare to welcome six new sides to the division.
Gone are Mansfield, Wrexham, MK Dons, Peterborough, Hereford and Stockport and in come Gillingham, Luton, Port Vale, Bournemouth, Exeter and Aldershot.
With transfers flying around the division at a head-spinning speed the Wycombe support might find it hard to pinpoint the potential movers and shakers of the new campaign, and so wwfc.com has compiled a complete guide to League Two for the 2008/09 season.
Over the next week or two we will run you through the ins and outs of each side that are set to stand in the way of the Wanderers' quest promotion glory.
First up - Accrington Stanley.
The Stans finished their second season back in league football in 17th place, avoiding relegation by a comfortable margin of nine points.
It started so brightly for 'Accy' though, as Wycombe fans know all too well. A shock 1-0 win over the Wanderers on the opening day of the season was one of the highlights of the season for many Stanley fans.
Other than that, by their own admission there was little to cheer for John Coleman's side and they will be looking to push up the table and cement their status in the bottom division over the coming months.
Accy had the unfortunate claim to fame of hosting the worst defence in the division last year, as they shipped 83 goals in 46 league games.
Despite this Chief Executive Rob Heys has confessed that Coleman will once more have to work on a tight budget, a statement backed up with that fact that 32-year-old defender Colin Murdock is their only signing thus far, joining after his release from Shrewsbury Town.
More worryingly for the Accrington support fourteen players have departed the Fraser Eagle Stadium this summer, as the Lancashire based club face the prospect of beginning the campaign with a threadbare squad.
Stanley stalwart Paul Mullin top scored with 13 goals last season and his constant aerial threat will surely be a handful for defences once more this campaign.
Fans View - "Last year was a real disappointment with little to cheer. The home form was not good enough, tactically and physically we were too naive and the defence missed Scottish keeper Kenny Authur who was out injured for 4 months. Hopefully, John Coleman can find a better role for record signing Ian Craney in the team, and pick up some more physically capable defenders for the new season." - Accy supporter David Maher.
The newcomers - Aldershot Town.
It's a story that should give hope to all but the most pessimistic of fans, as Aldershot Town complete their phoenix like rise from the flames almost sixteen years after their town was left without a football club.
The Shots sadly followed in the footsteps of Accrington Stanley by folding back in 1992, but their painstaking wait for a return to the Football League was completed last year as they romped to success by topping the Blue Square Premier.
Just forty-four miles away from Adams Park the Recreation Ground will prove to be a most welcome new venue for the Wanderers support, though taking all three points won't necessarily be an easy task.
There is certainly a positive vibe amongst Gary Waddock's side, despite the fact that star winger Joel Grant has departed for Crewe - all be it for a sizeable fee of £130,000.
To help bolster the attacking options Marvin Morgan has joined from Woking, where he impressed with 12 goals for the Blue Square Premier side last season.
Defensive duo Dean Howell and Chris Blackburn have also joined the ranks, as the Shots look to tighten up their back four in time for August 9th.
It's always tough to predict how the previous years' non-league Titans will fair in the battleground of the Football League.
For every consecutive promotion achieved by the likes of Yeovil and, of course, the Wanderers there are those who have struggled to adjust - just ask Dagenham & Redbridge.
Only time will tell if the fairy tale of Aldershot Town will produce yet another heart-warming chapter in 2009.
Fan's view: "Lots of Shots fans believe we can 'do a Wycombe' and get promoted at the first time of asking but I'm a little more realistic and personally I'll be happy with a mid-table finish. Losing Joel Grant to Crewe was a big loss for us but hopefully the club can use the money wisely and give the manager the support to bring in some good players.
"Last season was beyond our wildest dreams and I definitely think the club's moving in the right direction. Gary Waddock's got the team playing some great football and I'm sure we'll stay well clear of relegation this year." - Shots fan Roger Stacey
Next up - Barnet.
Chairboys fans won't have too many fond memories of the Bees from the 2007/08 campaign. Despite only finishing 12th the Londoners managed to remain undefeated against the Wanderers, including a 2-1 victory back in October.
In fact Barnet remain undefeated against the Blues in the last five fixtures between the two sides, and Wycombe have never picked up a win at Underhill.
Like Aldershot Barnet have been forced to put up with the departure of one of their top midfielders, as Jason Puncheon moved on to Plymouth for a fee of £250,000.
For a while now manager Paul Fairclough has been forced to unearth the cheapest of gems in the transfer market, only to see them fly the nest after impressive opening spells in North London.
He will surely be on the lookout for more talent before this season commences, as solid left-back Nicky Nicolau also looks to be on his way after turning down a new deal at Underhill.
There have been no new arrivals as of yet but it can only be a matter of time until some of the spending money gained from the Puncheon sale is utilised to good effect.
The Bees can now feel well and truly settled in League Two, having consolidated well after promotion in 2005.
After a couple of years of struggle at the foot of the division their mid-table place in 2007/08 has proved that a playoff spot isn't too far off - and that will surely be the aim for the coming season.
Fan's View: "It's hard to say what we want from this season. After finishing in the top half last term you could say we over-achieved, especially as we were once again tipped to finish quite low down the table. However, our form was quite indifferent at times and we dropped a lot of points we shouldn't have - especially at home.
We obviously want to improve on last season and force a way into the playoffs. We could do with a few signings. Paul Fairclough said he was looking to strengthen the squad with 3 or 4 new players, especially now that Jason Puncheon is on his way. We could do with holding on to Albert Adomah as well, who proved to be a bit of a revelation last term. If we strengthen in the right areas there's no reason why we can't make an assault on the playoffs." - Barnet fan Mike Perkin.
Next time out: We take a look at new boys Bournemouth and potential challengers Bradford and Brentford.
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