With the new season about to kick off for Brentford up at Port Vale, Smiffy decides to put down his burger flippers and give his thoughts on the ins and outs of what was described as the most exciting and tightest division in Europe last season – Division 1.
Season preview
“Brentford celebrate 2nd spot and promotion to the Championship” will be the headline on the 3rd May at Griffin Park according to the intense calculations of my super computer
Wolves will triumph, in League One, making an immediate return to the 2nd tier.
Preston, Bristol City, Sheffield United and Peterborough will all do battle in the play offs.
At the wrong end, it is prophesized that Oldham, Walsall, Stevenage and Crawley will go down.
Signings
Peterborough have made the biggest splash in the transfer market in League One, grabbing 20 year old Britt Assombalonga from Watford for a club record fee (£1m plus)
Kevin Davies’ arrival at Preston is also notable.
The Blades have taken young Liverpool and England Under 21 star Conor Coady on loan, Fabian Brandy and 23 year old Lyle Taylor who notched 24 times for Falkirk last season (Farid like)
Bradford have signed Mark Yeates from Watford, now 28 but still a threat.
Swindon have gained 4 loanees from Spurs and Ryan Harley from Brighton.
Ex-Bees on the move in League One include Charlie MacDonald to Oldham and Gavin Tomlin to Port Vale
Gillingham, meanwhile decided to offer terms to Adebayo Akinfenwa rather than Deon Burton. Mad Dog indeed.
Ex-Bees
There are 6 at Priestfield. 2 Allens, Nelson, Legge, Weston and a German.
4 at Crawley (Coppell, N Adams, Alexander and Clarke)
3 at Franchise FC aka MK Dons (Hodson, Bowditch and Damien Doyle)
3 also at Colchester (Bean, Morrison and Ryan Dickson)
In total, 13 clubs have a Brentford representation of some kind – or 14 if you include Brentford
Form
Orient are on relative fire, beating Welling, Chelmsford and New York Cosmos in recent games.
Bristol City are also tuning up nicely, wins against Forest Green, Reading and Weston Supermare.
Wolves are ticking along with wins against Chesterfield and Wrexham
Shrewsbury have managed impressive wins against Birmingham and Burton
Tranmere have not had a good pre-season. Losing to Wrexham and Burnley.
Preston too have struggled, drawing against Rochdale and Blackburn and losing 4-0 to Liverpool.
Bees first opponents Port vale have lost to Stafford Rangers but impressively beaten Alfreton and Harborough Town.
Ipswich have beaten 3 league one sides in pre-season (Colchester, Crawley and Gillingham) and drawn against Notts County.
UCD (Dublin) have secured 2, 2-2 draws against 2 L1 sides (MK Dons and Peterborough)
Curious Facts
Away fans visiting Crewe this season will be housed in the Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van Stand
Notts County will be the most diverse team in League One, with 12 different Nationalities in their 23 man squad
The New York Stadium, Rotherham, is just 800 metres from the old Millmoor ground
Tranmere have 3 double names in their squad this year. Bell Baggie, Akpa Akpro and Fon Williams
Both Ribena and Tarmac were invented in Bristol, but not together
Preston was home to the UK’s first KFC
The strangest facts in the division this season are that Alan Smith actually once won 19 England Caps (Nineteen)
Smiffy’s end of season table
Smiffy
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