Football Season Review 2009

Way back in August I submitted an article for my predictions for the forthcoming season. As we approach the finishing line I thought it might be interesting to see how my predictions are shaping up or not as the case might be.

In the Premiership it looks like Manchester United are going to win the title and not my prediction of Chelsea. Arsenal have disappointed me. Liverpool after a strong start have found their true form. I don’t expect their manager to be there at the start of next reason and not because he is falling out with the owners but because he is not going to win the title with his playing and selection decisions.

As predicted Aston Villa have made a serious threat to the top four but at Arsenals expense and not Liverpool’s. The fact that they kept Gareth Barry has been crucial in their development.

In the relegation places only Stoke are helping my predictions. There is still time for Hull City to join them as they are on a dreadful run. Hope springs internal. My prediction and reasons for Wigan going down are best left ignored as I have been made to look stupid on that one.

In the Championship my predictions for promotion have fallen a bit flat with Wolves and Reading doing much better than I thought they would. On a positive note Birmingham, Swansea & Sheffield United are all looking good but lets not talk about Nottingham Forest although they look like staying up now after a change in manager.

My prediction of all the other three Yorkshire clubs going down, i.e., Barnsley, Sheffield Weds & Doncaster was looking good at the start of the season but Doncaster have pulled well clear after a shocking start and Sheffield Wednesday have been really boring and stayed in mid-table for most of the season. Barnsley are my best bet for the drop as at time of writing they are forth from bottom.

In League One Leicester have stood out as one of my spot on predictions having been top for some months now and are looking really good for the title. Leeds are looking ok for the playoffs but the rest of my predictions are looking average at best.

In the relegation zone it is a completely differently story with Hereford, Leyton Orient & Cheltenham all in the relegation zone as they have for most of the season. My other Prediction of Crewe have only just this week climbed out of the zone due to a brilliant recent run. The weekend defeat of Hereford could prove vital come the end of the season.

My prediction of Bradford as champions is looking a bit out of reach for them but they are in a good position to go up automatically as are my other prediction Brentford. Shrewsbury are looking good to go up through the playoffs despite their appalling away form.

At the bottom I couldn’t really get it wrong with Luton to go down after their points deduction but my other tip in Dagenham is looking bad as they have had a much better season than their debut one in the football league.

I said Cambridge would go up as champions but that will almost certainly be Burton Albion despite Nigel Clough leaving half way through the season for Derby. His team are carrying on the good work he started. Cambridge are second though, so there is the chance of me getting both predictions right only in the wrong order. This leaves my other prediction of Torquay looking good for the playoffs but lets not mention Mansfield or York city. York especially who are having a dreadful season.

At the bottom all my tips of Grays, Lewes, Northwich and Altrincham are looking good, especially Lewes and Northwich who look doomed already.

Doug Martin

March 9^th 2009