Gavin Puszczalowskyi looks ahead to the start of the football league, in particular League 2, and picks his contenders for automatic promotion.
For anybody who plays Football Manager, you have to love the wheeling and dealing that goes on away from the lights and glare of the Premier League. Morecambe, 8 players out, 14 players in, zero transfer fees involved. Cheltenham, 14 players in, 12 players out. Port Vale 10 players in. Notts County, 9 in, 10 out. Including Macauley Longstaff who heads many miles south and 2 divisions up to Millwall.
Some of these teams will have brand new teams heading into the new season. Which makes it all hugely unpredictable and there is the fun.
For the 3 automatic places, I’m looking at a team who came down from League 1, one who came up from the National League and one who were in League 2 last season.
Spireites return to the football league
Let’s start with Chesterfield. Paul Cook back where he is loved and has success before. It wasn’t too many years ago they were a play off win or two away from being promoted to the Championship. They have the momentum from last season, like Stockport and Wrexham before them, after storming to the title in the National League.
The Spireites have signed Paddy Madden who scored 17 goals for League 2 Champions, Stockport County, last season. Add Will Grigg, who was on fire last season, 24 goals in 38 appearances and Chey Dunkley at the back, and the exciting Dobra in midfield. I fancy them to do well on their return to the football league. 7/1 to be Champions, 15/8 at Hills to be promoted.
Vale to return to League 1?
Port Vale are the team who have dropped from the league above that I am also tipping to do well. They have had a complete overhaul of players with Darren Moore tasked with an immediate return to League 1. Jayden Stockley can score goals at this level. Ronan Curtis has joined after leaving Portsmouth. He was on loan at Wimbledon last year, 5 goals and 2 assists in 17 appearances.
Rauri Paton is an intriguing signing. He has been prolific in Scotland for Queen of the South and Queens Park, and they have signed George Byers after his contract expired at Sheffield Wednesday, where he played under Darren Moore. I think this could be a terrific signing. 14/1 to win League 2 at LiveScoreBet is a big price. 7/2 at LiveScore to be promoted is also a play.
Doncaster Rovers looking sharp
And finally I’m tipping Doncaster Rovers to gain automatic promotion. They missed out in the play-offs last season. It was an amazing turn of form for Doncaster. They were looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone in January. They then won 13 of their last 18 games to make it to the play-offs, and many tipped them to win the play-offs but they suffered a surprise home defeat to Crewe.
They have signed Joe Sbarra who has an eye for goal from midfield and they have signed Billy Sharp. Even if he doesn’t feature as a regular starter, he is 38 going on 28, so there is no reason why not, as an impact sub, if you can bring on Billy Sharp to make an impact that is a huge asset to have for Grant McCann. Doncaster are 10/1 at Unibet to be crowned Champions and are 9/4 at Bet365 to be promoted.
So I am tipping Chesterfield, Port Vale, and Doncaster Rovers to be automatically promoted from League 2 this season. Whatever your bets are, please gamble responsibly.