SCUNTHORPE UNITED

LAST SEASON

LEAGUE ONE 23rd FA CUP Second Round

LEAGUE CUP First Round TOP SCORER Lee Novak (13)

FANFILE MATT BLANCHARD @ironbru_net

This season will be different because last season was seen by many as the worst in living memory. It stemmed from a really poor summer: our tour of Austria was a disaster and we had to cancel a friendly as we didn’t have the players. The new manager, Paul Hurst, builds sides on a foundation of fitness, so we should be fit if nothing else! The player I’d happily drive to another club is our captain, Rory Mcardle, closely followed by James Perch and Cameron Burgess. A lot of last season’s underperforming players are still under contract. Mcardle was a complete donkey, to the point that I actually felt sorry for him.

The best away ground is Leyton Orient’s. The fantastic Birkbeck Tavern is a real favourite with Iron fans.

Our most underrated player is Lee Novak [below]. He divides opinion, but his goal return for a side who created next to nothing in the final third last season was pretty remarkable. Our key player will be Ryan Colclough [above]. He missed much of 2018-19 with a really nasty injury, but when he gets up to speed he should run rings around most League Two defences. Look out for Jordan Hallam. He joined us from Sheffield United in January and I think we have a real player on our hands. Also, Tom Pugh recently scored on his Wales Under-21 debut. The one recommendation for away fans is to try the Honest Lawyer’s real ales and good atmosphere in the town centre before the match. Save the date for Grimsby [away on December 21]. It’s been 15 long years since we last met in the league, and we owe them one for dumping us out of the FA Cup a few years ago. I’m sure Humberside Police won’t be as keen. Did you know that our nickname used to be the Knuts.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that Hurst needs to be backed and allowed to shape the squad, which might take a few windows to get right. He certainly talks a good game. We’ll finish 3rd, says my heart, but my head says 5th. Anything short of the play-offs would be disappointing.