CHRIS DOWSETT

@ chrisdowsett17

Last season was an unmitigated disaster. After eight seasons of trying to return to the Championship, it was a limp attempt to stay in it.

The big talking point is recruitment. Last season’s was really poor and it needs to be better if Posh are to return at the first time of asking. Signing Ben Thompson from Gillingham is a start. This season will be different because we should be one of the stronger sides in the division, with the knowhow of how to approach it.

Our key player will be Jack Marriott [ above]. If he can stay fit, he’ll be one of the division’s leading marksmen.

I won’t be happy unless we have a decent tilt at promotion. That, and take six points off Cambridge. Our most underrated player is

Harrison Burrows [ below], if we can keep hold of him. He was played out of position for most of last term at wing- back, but is very talented for his age and there’s lots more to come.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Lincoln forward Chris Maguire – a player with plenty to say, but not much to back it up.

Fans think our ground is charming but outdated. A new stadium still looks a long way off, though.

The active player I’d love to have

back is Ivan Toney. He’d be handy. And we do have a history of bringing back our former players...

Fans think our owner is God- like if you ask some fans. Others? Less so.

Look out for 19- year- old full- back Benjamin Mensah, who is tipped to make a breakthrough if he can remain injury- free. Premier League big boys have been taking a look – Tottenham apparently made an offer in January. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is mixed. Grant Mccann failed in his first spell at Posh but he’s a better manager now. A League One title win with Hull, then keeping their head above water, provides some grounds for optimism. If he left, he should be replaced by

Darren Ferguson… but only on a deal to get us out of League One.

The pantomime villain will be Karl Robinson at Oxford. He never gets a good reception. We’ll finish somewhere in the top six.

FFT VERDICT

5TH

Since Mccann’s first stint managing Posh, he’s taken Doncaster into the League One play- offs on a modest budget and won the title with Hull. Peterborough should be in the mix this season: a fit Ben Thompson will rock this league and the squad should have plenty of goals in it.