division two

What's going on?

Division One awaits

Following on from last month, I am now going to take a look at the right end of the table and, I must stress, the end that Wrexham are not at!

Preston - Probably the best team in the division, but I can’t understand why they persist in playing Gunlaugsson (the bald chap upfront). I really don’t rate him! However, the other players they have, and their style of play, create that many chances that even a striker like Steve Anthrobus could score! Predicted finish: 1st

Bristol Rovers - After expressing my dislike of Gunlaugsson, I would like to add that you can’t possibly go wrong with Roberts and Cureton upfront. Both are completely different players and both are capable of creating something special out of nothing - and they don’t need many chances. Their defence might well let them down. Predicted finish: 5th and Play-Off finalists.

Millwall - Really aren’t that good. I don’t know what it is with me and bald guys, but Paul Shaw is one of the few strikers in this division who can’t outpace Brian Carey (I’d be going too far if I said Dean Spink as well). Their defence looks strong enough to sustain their challenge. Predicted finish: 6th

Wigan - The Latics aren’t scoring as many goals as they were earlier in the season. Obviously the answer was to go out and buy another Second Division striker whose reputation is anything but that of a finisher. Luckily for Wigan perhaps, that certain player is out injured, but I think they’ll still have to wait another season to reach Division One. Predicted finish: 4th

Burnley - Ian Wright, Wright, Wright is finally off the mark and after not leaving it as long as the legend known as Rush, he should add a bag-full come the end of the season. He’ll get plenty of service from an attacking-minded midfield run by Micky Mellon and you can’t go wrong with Steve Davis at the back - he’ll score a few more this season as well. Predicted finish: 3rd and Play-Off winners.

Gillingham - People feel that the Cup run could backfire - but I don’t. They’re certainly not missing Taylor and not many teams would cope without such a goalscorer. No great individuals - they just play as a team. A good run-in and they’ll be the surprise package. Can we stop them on May 6th? I doubt it! Predicted finish: 2nd

Notts County - They are easily the worst team I have seen this season. They have Darren Ward to thank for the position they find themselves because he is, almost single-handedly, Notts County. Their defence has got a hole straight down the middle, their midfield should be playing for the Nags Head on a Sunday morning and, you’ve probably guessed it, Duane Darby is just BALD! One of this season’s mysteries is how we lost to them twice - but then I remind myself who was playing centre-back! Predicted finish: 8th

Stoke - Very inconsistent. Kyle Lightbourne’s switch to the wing has won my vote for ‘Managerial Stroke of Genius, Season 1999-00’ (closely followed in fact by Flynn’s decision to play two wingers AND two centre-forwards at Bury). A strengthened defence will see a stronger push next season. Predicted finish: 7th

Daniel Jennings