Division Two

What's going on?

Only One Reds Player

Team of the season:

Goalkeeper: Roger Freestone (Swansea): After the success of the year before, Swansea really struggled at a higher level. The Swans' defence found it extremely difficult and RF must have felt like he was playing on his own at times. He also earned a Wales call-up along the way.

RB: Jamie Bates (Wycombe): Wanderers' defence is extremely stubborn and it looked at one point as though they were heading for the play-offs, but the cup run halted that. The defence was the main reason they looked like they were heading for the play-offs and also the main reason behind their incredible cup run. JB operates equally as well on the right of a back-three. Wycombe's defence will keep them up.

LB: Arjan De Zeeuw (Wigan): Like Bates DZ can also operate at centre-back. Wigan conceded very few goals, especially at the JJB, and DZ was the main factor behind this.

CB: Gavin Mahon (Brentford): On his day he is capable of winning absolutely everything both on the deck and in the air. He reads the game well, is reasonably quick, and has a good leap. Will often hold the Bees' together.

CB: Paul McCarthy (Wycombe): Just pips teammate Jason Cousins and is in the team for exactly the same reason as Bates.

RW: Dave Savage (Northampton): A good attacking wide midfield player. Signed from Millwall a few years back Dave has now passed the 100-game mark for Northampton. He had a big influence last season and scored a few goals to boot. He says he'll be leaving the Cobblers this summer - take note managers!

CM: Darren Caskey (Reading): As well as scoring more goals than some Division 2 strikers, he was also invaluable in the incredible number of goals that Cureton and Butler grabbed between them. Another one who could still play at a higher level.

CM: Dave Brammer (Port Vale): The ex-Wrexham man came under some unfair criticism last season when the two teams met. Dave was a good player when he was with us and both times he's played against us he proved he's still capable of running the show from the middle of the park. Defends and attacks in equal measures equally well. Influential in Port Vale's turnaround.

LW: Dave Farrell (Peterborough): A player with a lot of flair, skill and creativity with a useful shot as well. Can play on the right or left wing and is comfortable with either foot. For those who went to both Posh
clashes he was the one that ran us ragged twice! Apparently, he is also having trouble negotiating a new contract, so for anyone interested…

CF: Martin Butler and Jamie Cureton (Reading): I didn't really want to pick two strikers from the same team but their goals alone speak volumes. People often say similar forwards can't work upfront together but MB and JC are living proof they can. Cureton does have the knack of scoring slightly better goals than Butler, but the way Butler puts away loose balls in the area is amazing at times. Butler certainly doesn't care how he scores his goals, hence the classic saying 'they all count'. Cureton was without doubt buy of the season at just £250,000. An indication of his influence is the contrast in the fortunes of Reading and Bristol Rovers since his move. 

Subs:

GK: Martin Taylor (Wycombe): Proved what he's capable of in the FA Cup run, especially in the semi-final against Liverpool. After all he's been through, it was good to see that he bounced back so well.

CB: Mark McGregor (Wrexham): Having played all his career to date as a right-back, Mark moved into his original central role and proved he hasn't lost it, earning Wrexham's Player of the Season as a bonus.

CM: Tom Bennett (Walsall): A mobile player who possesses bite in the challenge and a ferocious shot. He scores some superb goals and has experience at a higher level - what Walsall are aiming for!

CM: Tim Cahill (Millwall): Still only young, Tim has a very bright future ahead of him. In a young team he has an old head and is the pivot that any team needs in the middle of the park to be successful.

CF: Neil Harris (Millwall): Possesses all the skills in the book and knows how to score a goal or two as well. He should be able to pull it off in the 1st Division just as John Macken has with Preston. 

Daniel Jennings
(Daniel continues his review in RP31)