When 72 clubs look on the bright side
After a surprisingly enjoyable World Cup we are quickly back to the bread and butter of league football in England. Although the Premier League doesn’t kick off for another seven days, for many the real English football season starts this weekend when the other 72 clubs get down to business.
Although most fans have probably adopted a Premier League club, their gut feeling remains with their home town teams they have supported since they were kids. These are the fans that enjoy their football unembellished, minus the tinsel trimmings and irritating affectations of the overpaid stars. That’s why the supporters of Crewe Alexandra, Rochdale and Exeter City are very much as passionate about their clubs as the high fliers in the Premier League.
Every season these smaller clubs begin with the belief that this might just be their season, although it usually doesn’t take long for reality to set in. But there is nothing wrong with looking on the bright side. This is probably the only weekend of the entire season when the prospect of relegation is not mentioned by any club. But all it takes is a couple of early defeats and it won’t be long before the ugly ‘R’ word surfaces amongst the fans.
At least a relegation battle offers the prospect of a bit of excitement, although it is not good for the blood pressure. Also it means you have to put up with the taunts of opposing fans chanting “Can We Play You Every Week?”
The Championship has a big following. It invariably offers the prospect of a real scrap and it should be no different this season as teams battle for the Holy Grail of reaching the top flight. This year it is even more unpredictable than usual, with no clear favourites.
The three teams recently relegated from the Premier League are usually regarded as having a chance to immediately bounce back. Stoke City, Swansea and West Bromwich Albion should all be in the hunt and bookmakers have made the Potters the preseason favourites. Stoke will be hoping to get straight back after their 10-year stint in the top flight came to an abrupt end. West Brom have kept their faith in manager Darren Moore and it will be interesting to see if he can maintain the momentum he achieved with the club at the end of last season.
Middlesbrough, who under Tony Pulis will be very tough to beat, are also expected to be strong challengers and rank second favourites.
The bookies have their eyes on Nottingham Forest, who like Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, have been splashing the cash and looking to Portugal to lift them back into the top flight for the first time in nearly 20 years. They have been busy on the transfer market highlighted by the signing of Benfica stars Joao Carvalho and Diogo Goncalves.
There is also renewed optimism at Leeds United under experienced Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa. Like Forest, Leeds have been out of the top flight far too long and perhaps this could be their year. However, one fan commented in the Guardian, “If he can get Leeds promotion with the players we have, then he will qualify for sainthood and canonisation.”
Aston Villa are still getting over the disappointment of missing out last season. If they don’t get off to a good start, manager Steve Bruce’s days at the club could be numbered.
There is huge interest in how Frank Lampard gets on in charge of Derby County who have been in the play-offs on a regular basis. A fine player, Lampard is new to the coaching business and might find it a lot more stressful than playing. The Rams kicked off their season last night at Reading, a team that struggled badly last season and which, along with Rotherham and Bolton are pre-season relegation favourites.
Down in League One there are some former “big” teams desperate for a return to past glories. Despite their successive relegations, Sunderland are tipped by the bookmakers to secure promotion from League One. There have been much-needed changes at Sunderland, starting with the departure of owner Doug Ellis, for whom Sunderland fans shed few tears. The ambitious new owner, Stuart Donald (chairman of Eastleigh FC), has brought in the highly rated St Mirren manager Jack Ross who hopes to succeed where Chris Coleman failed last season. There has been a total overhaul of players and there is renewed optimism on Wearside.
Portsmouth are another big club who have fallen on hard times since being relegated from the Premier League in 2010. After four years in the bottom league, in recent seasons they have shown signs of recovery and could be among the League One promotion hopefuls. Another former notable club, Coventry City, hauled themselves out of League Two last season and will be hoping they can maintain the momentum.
It will be interesting to see how Accrington Stanley, the surprise League Two champions, adapt to their first time in the third tier since 1958. Staying in the division will be a feat in itself. It will also be intriguing how Joey Barton, with his sometimes fragile temperament, shapes up as manager of Fleetwood Town. It could be a lively season on and off the pitch for the Cod Army.
Forest Green Rovers, the smallest club in the football league, did well to survive their first season in League Two, although it was a close-run thing. Hopefully they can establish themselves in the coming season. Who knows? They might even fancy their chances of promotion. There’s nothing wrong in dreaming. That’s what being a football fan is all about.