League One 2019/20 Predictions

After a long summer and the heroics of May 4th, football is finally back. In this post I’ll be making my predictions for the League and Southend’s personal success.

League One Winners

Portsmouth

Perhaps an obvious choice but I think it will be Pompey who win the league this year. Managed by Kenny Jackett, the club will be hoping for promotion after bowing out of the Playoff Semi Finals last year. In Jackett, they have a manager who knows how to win. Promotion with Swansea, Millwall and Wolves gives him the perfect experience to lead the South Coast Club to the Championship.

The Signing of John Marquis will add goals whilst the loan signing of Sean Raggett will boost the defensive partnership of Jack Whatmough and Christian Burguess.

Promotion

Sunderland & Peterborough

The other sides I think will get promoted are Sunderland and Peterborough. Jack Ross’ Sunderland will be annoyed at spending another season in League One and will no doubt be looking to go up automatically. The signing of George Dobson from Walsall will definitely be one to look out for. Sunderland fans will be itching for promotion after losing twice at Wembley last year and pressure will definitely be on the Tyneside team to go up.

Peterborough are another team I think will do well this season. Darren Ferguson’s third stint at the club will see shrewd leadership after the well run club has made some extraordinary signings that will no doubt fill what last season was missing. A club record signing in Mo Eisa will definitely benefit the club in addition to the 10 other signings made by Peterborough. Mark Beevers signs from Bolton who will bring a wealth of experience alongside young Colchester defender Frankie Kent. Peterborough always start well, it will just be a question as if to can they finish strong too. Club Captain Alex Woodyard will be looking to impress whilst Posh will also be trying to keep hold of star man Marcus Maddison.

Dark Horses

Apart from Lincoln, who under the Cowleys have done immensely well the past few seasons I think it will be Shrewsbury who will surprise a few. The Shrews are a well run club and chairman Roland Wycherley is not one known to be rash. Sam Ricketts is at just his second club as manager after losing just 3 of his 24 games in charge at Wrexham. After losing what seems to be a lot of dead wood, Shrewsbury have strengthened all over the pitch. Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Aaron Pierre are superb signings at centre half whilst experienced Steve Morrison, well known by Southend fans, will surely add goals. Whalley and Okenabirhie are both two players who will no doubt do well again and are another reason I think Shrewsbury will be League One’s surprise package.

Bottom of the Pack

Not much of a surprise this one, and under unfortunate circumstances, it is Bury who I think will go down. Starting with -12 points, the Mancunian club are at an immediate disadvantage. It usually takes 50 points to stay up so for the mathematicians out there, it’ll take 62 points for Bury to stay up, something that over the last 10 seasons would see them finish 11th. After promotion from League Two, many fans would’ve been hoping for a more optimistic season but after an exodus of departures, Bury’s Promotion Squad has ceased to appear and the PFA has had to step in to help pay the players who haven’t left. The EFL are refusing to let Bury play their games until owner Steve Dale can prove his ability to finance the club meaning a long season awaits for the shakers.

Relegation

Similar to Bury, Bolton are another club in crisis which their loyal fans do not deserve. With just seven first team players at the club, it will be a miracle if the once premier league club can survive. Erhan Oztumer can be the light at the end of the tunnel, back in League One after leaving Walsall for the Wanderers in 2018. If either of the two clubs do survive however, it is Bolton I think who will have the stronger chance. A new owner seems to be on the horizon along with a multitude of trialists including former Southend defender and Northern Ireland international Adam Thompson.

Joining the two teams for me are AFC Wimbledon and Rochdale. AFC Wimbledon have slowly fallen down the table since promotion finishing 15th, 18th and 20th respectively. Former Southend hero Joe Pigott scored 15 goals last season and helped the club pick up points at the likes of Kenilworth Road amongst others. However, amid Championship interest it will be interesting to see if Pigott can continue to score the goals to keep Wimbledon up.

Rochdale are the final team I think will drop into League Two. Rochdale are also another club who have been toying with relegation for the past few seasons, surviving on Matchday 45 last season and 46 the season before. No club wants to rely on a single player and I fear Rochdale’s heavy reliance on goalscorer Ian Henderson may cause problems.

Southend

If you asked me two weeks ago about my thoughts for the season, I would’ve put us in the relegation zone. There seemed to be a lack of depth and creativity which would no doubt cause trouble for the season. Unlike other years however, Kevin Bond has opted not to release details to media and has not gone for any “has beens”. The signing of Socceroos’ Captain Mark Milligan is an immense signings at this level and will no doubt have a massive impact on the structure of our midfield. Nathan Ralph looks set to be a good signing also after impressing in pre season.

Joe Shaughnessy and Liam Ridgewell add much needed depth at the back after the departures of Michael Turner and Taylor Moore whilst Andre Blackman is also another option down the left hand side of defence. Southend look set to announce the signing of midfielder Olly Lee who’s creativity could be the perfect fit for a midfield which seems so lacklustre. Unfortunately, Dru Yearwood also looks set to be off to Championship side Brentford and I wish him all the best after a strong pre season.

Kevin Bond has marked his philosophy on the side, making us play out from the back rather than route one football which is a much need change from the Phil Brown and Chris Powell era. Once the mistakes are ironed out I’m sure it will be a welcome style of football that will both entertain and excite the Southend faithful.

Final Verict: 15th

Southend Top Goalscorer: Stephen Humphrys

If true, Stephen Humphrys will be just the second different player to be top goalscorer for the blues in the past 4 seasons, after Simon Cox finished on top for the past 3 years. Coxy is a great player and has carried our team throughout his stay at the club- he is also the reason we are still a League One club with his 20 G+A last season. Humphrys however may give Cox a break from his goalscoring duties and may seem him play a more creative role instead. Humphrys has been quality since joining from Fulham in January and had the best debut I have witnessed live at Bradford. A strong attacker with an eye for goal, Humphrys could get the goals we need, as shown from his heroics v Sunderland.

Signing of the Season: Mark Milligan

It’s not often a league one club signs a World Cup Captain and that’s just what Southend done with the unexpected announcement of Mark Milligan. A great bit of business by Bond and Ron Martin will see Mark get a coaching role when he retires. A great passer of the ball it is his off the ball work that stands out most to me, commanding his team mates where to be and educating them all as they get used to the new system set out by Bond.

Player of the Season: Simon Cox

Need I say more? The Republic of Ireland Man is perhaps the best signing of Phil Brown’s reign and has been brilliant since his debut. His Freekick Vs Walsall, his 100th career goal V Rochdale, his hat trick Vs Portsmouth live on Sky are all examples of where he stepped up on the big stage and delivered for us. I’m expecting him to do the same this season.

Young Player of the Season: Isaac Hutchinson

Hutchinson signed for us at the start of the 2018/19 season and made an immediate impact on his debut scoring inside a minute. After 12 appearances last season I was most impressed most away at Accrington with his forward thinking and creative passes. He had a great pre season for us and showed many fans what he is capable of. If Bond plays Isaac alongside Mark Milligan the youngster can prove many doubters wrong and that he is more than capable of being a regular first team player. I’m tipping him to have a great season.

If you liked what you read be sure to follow me on Twitter (@rylee_doe) and Instagram (@rylee.doe/@ryleedoe.efl) There will be regular posts throughout the season. UTB