Last season we finished just outside of the play-off places (by a point and 2 places) having spent most of the season in the top-6! There were many good moments for us …….. beating Blackburn (a) in the Carling Cup, outplaying Burnley in the FA Cup, a Steve Fletcher hat trick, creating a new Club record of 6 straight away wins towards the end of the season. But this is balanced with a simultaneous run of 5 straight home defeats, missing out on the play-offs on the final day of the season, injuries to most of the back 4 meaning that at least 2 or 3 were missing at a time!
2) How do you think you'll do this season? Hopes, final position.
With Wade Elliott and Garreth O’Connor moving to Burnley I don’t think we’ll be quite as good as we were last season, and I believe that mid-table will be our target as opposed to play-offs. With players opting not to sign for us because League Two Clubs can afford more in wages, I think it’s going to be difficult!
3) What's your squad like, new signings, etc?
The only new signing that we’ve made so far as been Stephen Cooke, who was released by Aston Villa. He’s played for us before (on loan), when he impressed. Hopefully he can prove himself next season.
4) Which youngster will make the biggest impression in your team this season?
Good question! I know that Clubs like us need to bring through younger players, but for some reason we’ve not done that too often in recent years. Of the younger players, the likes of Brian Stock and John Spicer will be the big influence in the midfield and I am sure will determine our season.
5) What's your manager like and will he still be there at the end of the season?
Sean O’Driscoll is a perfectly likable manager, but seems to blame the fans when things do not go right! I can guarantee that he will be around come the end of the season!
6) Are you happy with your Chairman/Backroom staff?
In a word - yes!
7) Which team do you want to beat the most and why?
Of the 23 other League One sides, I’d like us to beat Nottingham Forest, just in case they have an attitude of “we shouldn’t be in this division” attitude cos they’re a “big club”, and therefore keep them down for a season or two, as we did to Sheffield Wednesday! Other than that, to bet Yeovil Town – just in case they’re getting too big for their boots!
8) Predict your champions and runner up, the 4 Play-Off teams and the 4 to go down.
Tough one as I suspect that it will be a tight League One this season, but here goes: Champs – Nottingham Forest; Runners-Up – Huddersfield Town; Play-Offs – Hartlepool United, Bristol City, Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City; Relegation – Franchise FC (I hope), Southend United and Scunthorpe United.
Bournemouth Mad