League Two Ante Post

[Footy Analyser]

IMO League Two could be dominated by the relegated crew of Milton Keynes, Hartlepool, Walsall and Swindon next year, leaving a title selection a difficult choice.

Therefore this section's value selection IMO could turn out to be Rochdale to be relegated @ 8/1 (Bet 365).

Manager Steve Parkin has claimed that the Rochdale player budget "is like feeding a family of five for a week on a tenner" bemoaning and admitting the fact that all his close season transfer targets have now eluded him. Of course there's several weeks left yet, but the Dale boss has only signed winger Adam Rundle so far and is being forced to rely on trialists to make up the numbers.

Rochdale are maybe stereotyped as potential strugglers, despite a top 10 finish two years back most of the last four seasons have seen them dabbling with the drop zone. A win in their 44th match propelled Dale to 14th last year which in truth masks a shocking run of 4 wins in 27 games stretching from late November.

With only two down from this division margins for betting success are tighter but I was surprised to see several more prominent teams rated less likely to stay up than Dale. Notts County have signed practically a new team, Torquay have the league's Houdini Ian Atkin's in charge, while Stockport showed good potential and committment by hauling themselves away from the brink last year.

Barnet 10/3 are maybe good rivals for the wooden spoon but at more than double the price, Rochdale's 8/1 is IMO a little bit too generous with Corals 9/2 maybe a more accurate assessment.

Recommendation

Rochdale to be relegated 8/1 (Bet 365)

FA

[aliando]

if i remember right, i think rochdale dropped like a stone after they lost Grant Holt to Bristol City (?) last season...

[kevshat]

Originally Posted by aliando

if i remember right, i think rochdale dropped like a stone after they lost Grant Holt to Bristol City (?) last season...

He's at Forest isn't he?

Glad this thread is up. I quite like the look of Peterborough at 16/1 in this division. They've recruited ex Lincoln manager Keith Alexander who I think is a good manager at this level and has taken Lincoln to the playoffs in the last 3 seasons. They've just sold Sean St Ledger to Preston receiving 225k up front and Barry Fry's given Alexander the whole lot. Alexander's on the verge of bringing Simon Yeo to London Rd from Lincoln too.

They flirted with the playoffs most of last season and I reckon Alexander could guide them beyond those this season.

At 16/1 they are one I'm considering.

[GazBlades]

I wouldn't touch Peterborough with anyones money. Too much going on there that looks very dodgy.

How can a club that is skint give a manager a 4 year contract, give a midfielder who was on £2,500 a week at Oldham a 3 year contract, and give one of Lincoln's top earners more money at Posh on a 2 year contract? There could be hell on there if things don't work out early.

Alexander's side are notoriously slow starters. Posh fans hate fat Bazza, and because of that many of them aren't even giving Alexander a chance. A bad start they'll all be on their backs, and the 3,000 gates will start. Bazza will crap his pants, start making cuts, and a flirt with relegation will be the only battle they have to look forward too.

If they have a good start, they'll be right up there. But the first 6 games is the key to their season.

[davidmphill]

Holt did go to Forest and yes Rochdale really did struggle after Xmas and if it wasnt for their great run before they'd of gone down for me.

[Football-Tipper]

We (Grimsby) have just signed Beagrie and Santos looks like signing b4 long also not flogging Reddy is a plus point so 16/1 EW on us looks a good price,

Football-Tipper

[Shipsupstreets]

Very good shout on Rochdale. If they get off to a poor start, they just don't have the resources to pull in the bodies. They are going to need more than Adam Rundle. 8/1 is a good price.

[garyfinny]

Good price on Rochdale. I thought they got £750,000 for Holt so it looks like that money disappeared rather quickly.

They do have Rickie Lambert who would command some money and Iyseden Christie is certainly capable, if not injury prone. A bad start could definately see them down there.

Another one I'm considering is Boston at 8/1. Haven't been impressed by their signings - old players like Farrell, Marriott and Ryan are well-known names for this division but not the most talented. Frannie Green is a good player but I doubt if Evans is the man to get the best from him.

I tipped the club for the title last season but it looks like the club have overspent and are paying the price. Player of the year Alan White has gone to Notts County and the squad looks thin, not much depth.

Steve Evans has a date with the High Court over payment irregularities later in the year. A bad result could land the club in big trouble.

[GazBlades]

Originally Posted by garyfinny

Steve Evans has a date with the High Court over payment irregularities later in the year. A bad result could land the club in big trouble.

It's not actually the club that could be in big trouble, its Evans and John Blackwell (General Manager/Secretary) that will be in trouble. It will cause major upheaval though.

Their main backer has left them and is now at Darlington. They (Boston) are another club who desperatly need sucess badly this season, otherwise they will be looking at a very grim future. I think the 8/1 for them is a very good price.

[davidmphill]

Darlington mean business this season having just had a £250,000 bid for Carlisle's Michael Bridges turned down.
It'll be interesting to see who they get in the coming weeks but they could be the side to beat this season after Chester of course!

[SecondSight]

Notts County - I did put a speculative 1pt bet at 40/1 in June see Anti post bets thread.

As said above by FA they have bought a whole new team and as said by GF they have bought Boston's player of the season in Alan White. Its a open division with anyone beating anyone, so 40/1 in a 22 horse race, must represent some value.

Cheers FA - for Rochdale 15pts@9.0 placed in relegation market.

[Bobbyhead]

Probably barking up the wrong tree,but promoted Conference sides tend to fare well in lg2.Carlisle last year,and Donny + Yeovil in recent years,have gone on to win div.Could a case be made for Accrington(or Hereford)? They pissed league with 91 pts to win Conference,so can they make step up? 11/2 fr them to be promoted(Sky and Sporting Odds) tempts a bit,with 4 places up for grabs.Any Accrington fans fancy their chances?

[davidmphill]

Not too sure Bobby if we have any Accy fans on here as I've yet to see any. I'll be off to watch their first game back as it's away to us.
Only Carlisle of late have performed well following promotion so it'll be interesting to see.

[Bobbyhead]

Originally Posted by davidmphill

Not too sure Bobby if we have any Accy fans on here as I've yet to see any. I'll be off to watch their first game back as it's away to us.
Only Carlisle of late have performed well following promotion so it'll be interesting to see.

May wait for your match report,before parting with my hard-earned dough!! I spent most of last season pulling my hair out with Posh to be promoted,so really don't want another season's worth of worry! I know last season,a couple of bookies updated their prom/rel odds weekly,so probably best to wait a couple of game's before placing? How do you see Chester faring? Play-offs look possible,to me.

[davidmphill]

Originally Posted by Bobbyhead

How do you see Chester faring? Play-offs look possible,to me.

Thats what I'll be hoping for too. We've made some promising signings pre-season butwe need a few more before I'll build my hopes up. We need a first choice goalkeeper and a right sided midfielder. Signs are promising but as ever we will probably flatter to decieve!

[Darlo Fan 1]

Darlington @ 16/1 Each Way

Best chance for us since the 1999/2000 season. We got a new chairman in the end of last season who has a 4 year plan to get us in the Championship. He has gave the manager a budget to work with to secure us promotion. Ive heard this before with a so called George Reynolds but this time were seeing changes in the team rather than a fancy stadium which almost ruined us.

So far we have signed Micheal Cummins from Port Vale. Attacking midfielder who got 11 goals in the league above us last season and was regarded by many Vale fans as there player of the year. Had offers from a Championship club but chose us as hes from the North East.

Weve signed Barry Conlon a striker who left us in 2003. More of a hold up man who will give freedom to a striker playing off him. Capable of scoring 12-15 goals a season.

Martin Smith from Northampton. Massive signing. Got promoted with Northampton last season and they were desperate to keep hold of him but being from the North East and matching his wage demands, we got his signature. Weve had one friendly already which I didnt see but I hear he was a class above. Plays as a winger mainly but can play striker. Will score goals.

Gaetano Giallanza a Swiss striker who has played in the Premier League with Bolton and Norwich. 31 year old I believe and has had injury problems but seems to have sorted that out. Averages about a goal every 2 games in the top Swiss league. Unknown to me (anyone remember the name?). Could got either way. Should be good at this level but see how he settles.

Other than that I believe its just trialists coming in which I am yet to see.
We have a Joey Hutchinson (quality defender) coming back from missing nearly all of last season. Looks like Shelton Martis will be staying even although he is being monitored by Championship clubs. Phil Stamp is also back from injury and is a rock in midfield.

We just need more strength in depth in what looks to be a very promising season for us. A couple of injurys to new/ key players could be a disaster but were still looking for new players.

Season Verdict - 3rd

PS. Had a third bid for Micheal Bridges turned down increasing on our original £250,000 bid. He wants to sign but Carlisle wont accept. Looks like he will go to someone like Preston.

[Jaded]

This may be my pessimistic side shining through, but Wrexham to be relegated at 16/1 (365) doesn't look too bad a bet to me... tempted to put it on to give me something to drown my sorrows with if it happens!

Midfield and defence look reasonable, but don't think either of the two keepers are up to it, and the forward line is a slight step down from last season - when it was bloody awful!! Lee McEvilly is apparently out until January, after we messed up on the chance to get rid of him since Bradford obviously realised he wasn't fully fit... Neil Roberts never impressed me first time around and can't see him being any better... Chris Llewellyn - see Neil Roberts! - and Juan Ugarte is apparently coming back as we don't have enough injury prone players already. Oh, and as far as I could tell from watching an hour of today's friendly with Liverpool we're considering the 4-5-1 formation that worked wonders for England at the World Cup!!

There's definitely worse teams than us in the division but not sure there's many - and the first stirrings of discontent with Geoff Moss and Nev Dickens, who are set to finally bring us out of admin at some point in the next 25 years, are already being heard. One or two more injuries to decent players and we'd be fooked.

[wxmsimon]

Bloody hell Jaded im going to jump off a cliff now, why wait any longer

Originally Posted by Jaded

This may be my pessimistic side shining through, but Wrexham to be relegated at 16/1 (365) doesn't look too bad a bet to me... tempted to put it on to give me something to drown my sorrows with if it happens!

Midfield and defence look reasonable, but don't think either of the two keepers are up to it, and the forward line is a slight step down from last season - when it was bloody awful!! Lee McEvilly is apparently out until January, after we messed up on the chance to get rid of him since Bradford obviously realised he wasn't fully fit... Neil Roberts never impressed me first time around and can't see him being any better... Chris Llewellyn - see Neil Roberts! - and Juan Ugarte is apparently coming back as we don't have enough injury prone players already. Oh, and as far as I could tell from watching an hour of today's friendly with Liverpool we're considering the 4-5-1 formation that worked wonders for England at the World Cup!!

There's definitely worse teams than us in the division but not sure there's many - and the first stirrings of discontent with Geoff Moss and Nev Dickens, who are set to finally bring us out of admin at some point in the next 25 years, are already being heard. One or two more injuries to decent players and we'd be fooked.

[Jaded]

Could be worse mate - my second team's Torquay!!

[aliando]

Originally Posted by Jaded

Could be worse mate - my second team's Torquay!!

you couldn't make swansea your 3rd side could you