My 2024/25 League Two Table Prediction

Everyone else seems to be having a crack at predicting League tables these days. It's good, as it creates talking points and gives people something to debate in the week leading up to the start of the season. What makes it almost a null and void exercise though is that a prediction that is released today might be out of date tomorrow when more signings are made or players are sold.

But, saying that I'm back to give my thoughts on League Two for the third season in a row. Here are my predictions for who's going down, who's going up and who's set to win the coveted mid-table mediocrity award in 2024-25:

Relegated

24th - Morecambe(15th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

They were widely predicted to finish in the bottom 2 last season and they didn't. And in Derek Adams, now back for his 3rd spell, they have a manager that knows how to get the best of whatever players this club puts out. He got them promoted from L2. He kept them in L1. And he had them in a solid mid-table spot last season before leaving for Ross County.

All he has to do is pin up everyone's 24th placed prediction for Morecambe on the dressing room wall and tell his players to go and prove everyone wrong. His team talks every week should be very simple. And the expectations should be low, with the fan base likely united behind him and the players. That goes a long way in football.

Reasons for Pessimism:

All that said, their squad looks dreadful. I'm sorry, but it does. Their strikers at the moment are Lee Angol, Hallam Hope and Charlie Brown. That does not scream goals. Paul Lewis, Luke Hendrie and Ross Millen have struggled at this level at other clubs.

Sure, there is a bit of quality in George Ray, Adam Lewis(when fit) and Jamie Stott amongst others, but it doesn't seem anywhere near enough. I don't see enough quality in any area to suggest anything other than a long, hard season.

Overall Verdict:

I didn't even go into their still unresolved ownership issue either. With the pending cloud of financial issues still lingering over them and the prospective new owners not looking the most above board, you can't help but fear for the Shrimps. Again, maybe they prove everyone wrong, just like they did last season, but at this stage, they look in serious trouble.

If Adams can keep this group up, then he should be the unanimous manager of the season.

23rd - Newport County(18th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

Newport have skewed much younger with most of their signings, with all bar 1 of their new additions being under 25. With that can come teething troubles, but it can also be refreshing and can lead to a more energetic side that can improve as the season goes on, not run out of steam as they did last season. That will likely be the hope anyway.

They also still have a few proven L2 performers in Aaron Wildig, Bryn Morris and James Clarke to provide leadership.

Reasons for Pessimism:

Their signings are young, but they are also mostly gambles. The vast majority of the new additions are either unproven or have injury issues. They've rolled the dice on lower league additions like Olly Greaves, Kai Whitmore and Cameron Evans and they'll be hoping for big seasons from Michael Spellman, Matt Baker and Cameron Antwi amongst others.

They've also lost 2 of their big performers from last season in Ryan Delaney and Scot Bennett and worst of all, top scorer Will Evans has been sold to Mansfield. His departure takes the only known double figures player they have and I don't think they have enough in the rest of the squad combined to replace his 21 goals from last season.

Oh and did I mention that they decided to part company with Graham Coghlan on June 20th, a couple of weeks before their pre-season started. They then took 26 days to find a replacement, only appointing managerial rookie Nelson Jardim on July 16th. His CV work isn't a long one, with coaching positions with Swansea and Birmingham his only notable roles before getting the Newport job. It's not hard to see his appointment going badly wrong.

Overall Verdict:

The late managerial change. The massive gambles in transfer policy. The loss of a number of experienced and quality players from last seasons squad. I think Newport are in deep trouble, especially after last seasons slide in March and April. Now, they could do what recently tipped to struggle sides do and surprise, but I'm not convinced. Yes, it's often a mistake to read into pre-season results, but Newport's summer results have been very poor as well.

Everything just seems to be adding up to a very poor season in store for the Exiles. Now, they like Morecambe might pin up people's predictions on the dressing room wall and aim to prove everyone wrong, but at this stage, it's hard to see them as anything other than a National League team in waiting.

Set to struggle

22nd - Harrogate Town(13th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

Simon Weaver is a manager that knows how get results in League Two. He's proven that for 4 seasons now. He still has his usual crop of experienced pros he knows he can count on in Jack Muldoon, George Thomson and Anthony O'Connor. If he can rustle up some gems in the loan market, then Harrogate can be safe for another year.

Reasons for Pessimism:

Maybe they feel that they only need to tinker around the edges, but no side overperformed their xG last season more than Harrogate and I feel they are in line for a massive regression given what seems to be cost cutting taking place. There has been a notable lack of pop in their signings and I'm not seeing enough quality in almost every area to avoid a bottom 8 season.

Overall Verdict:

They'll struggle. They should have done worse last season than what they eventually did, but as I said above, I think they are in line for some serious regression. The level of investment seems to have plummeted and that is a concern for the locals there who surely want to see their club extend the streak of EFL football.

I think they have enough quality on both the sidelines and in terms of their reliable performers to avoid relegation, but this could be the year that they slide into trouble.

21st - Accrington Stanley(17th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

Clubs proving people wrong in L2 have been around for a while. But for me, the OGs on this are Accrington. They'd be considered small at the level below and wouldn't even be a big team in tier 6. But at this level, they are tiny. It hasn't stopped them punching above their weight time and time again.

How they do this is with smart transfers. Their scouting department is well known for turning up gems year after year. If they can do so again, they'll be fine.

Reasons for Pessimism:

All the above aside, I think the loss of John Coleman could be the start of their slide back into the non-leagues. I genuinely think he was the glue that held it all together and him being forced out in a power struggle with owner Andy Holt could have long lasting repercussions. I don't think John Doolan is the guy to replace him, especially given they won 2 of his 8 games in charge at the back end of last season.

They've also lost a lot of quality from last season in Brad Hills, Tommy Leigh, Jack Nolan, Joe Pritchard and veteran Sean McConville. In fact, of the 62 goals they scored last season, only 14 of them have returned. That feels like way too much to properly replace in 1 summer.

Overall Verdict:

I think Accy are in for a very tough season. Andy Holt seems like he has good intentions, but his decisions over the last couple of seasons don't seem to have worked out very well. Overspending to stay in L1, sacking Coleman after an ugly public dispute and the appointment of Doolan don't seem like smart moves. It wouldn't surprise me to see them take another step back and whilst I'll stop short of saying they'll go down, I feel like they'll be close to the drop.

20th - Fleetwood Town(21st in League One, Relegated)

Reasons for Optimism:

They have one of the best midfield groups in the league. Brendan Wiredu, Ryan Broom and Danny Mayor are proven performers at this level and should give them decent levels of creativity. They've also signed pretty well in Elliott Bonds, Matty Virtue and Mark Helm. That gives them a strong looking unit to build around

Reasons for Pessimism:

They might be strong in midfield, but they look very weak in the other areas. They seem suspect in defence, with very few proven players signed by my count. Upfront, Coughlan, Graydon, Lonergan and Patterson have 8 league goals between them. That doesn't seem anywhere near enough, as there is no guarantee dropping down a level sees them suddenly knock in 30-40 between them.

And what about Charlie Adam? He's still a rookie at this level and is going into his first full season as a manager. He could easily flop and be out of the job by Christmas.

Overall Verdict:

Everyone is tipping them for a solid season, but I don't see it. I think their front and back lines just look very weak, lacking in quality and depth in my opinion. This is probably my bold shout as all the pundits think they'll be mid-table or less. But I think they'll struggle unless they find more proven sources of goals up front and more depth at the back.

19th - Bromley(3rd in National League, Promoted via Play-Offs)

Reasons for Optimism:

No side promoted from the National League has ever gone straight down. And I do think their style of play, which is very pragmatic, will translate to the EFL. I also think their players, who mostly come from the non-leagues, will want to prove they belong and will make up for their perceived lack of quality with an increased work rate and desire.

Reasons for Pessimism:

I just don't see enough EFL quality in their group. I don't trust their forward group to step up and score goals. There seems to be hope that Levi Amantchi will step up and score goals like he did in tier 6, but outside of Michael Cheek, I don't see enough firepower in their squad. Will the non-league journeymen in the group step up and how much juice do players like Byron Webster and Myles Weston have left in the tank?

Overall Verdict:

As I mentioned, I don't see enough quality in the group. How they adjust on grass pitches every week compared to mixing between artificial and real will be interesting to see. And Andy Woodman, who has clearly done a good job thus far, is stepping into L2 for the first time.

I think they'll be in the bottom 8. They won't go down, but it could be a tough season for them.

18th - Cheltenham Town(21st in League One, Relegated)

Reason for Optimism:

Matty Taylor looks back to his Bristol Rovers goalscoring best, which can only be a good thing for the Robins. If he stays fit, he could knock in close to 20 goals for them. I like the pickup of Ryan Bowman as their target man alongside Taylor. Arkell Jude-Boyd seems to be drawing rave reviews in pre-season and in Scot Bennett, Luke Young and Liam Kinsella, they have some proven performers to build around.

Reason for Pessimism:

Michael Flynn. I just don't rate him. He was terrible at Walsall and Swindon. Why do we think it'll go any differently here? Not to mention the fact that this is an almost entirely new group, with almost everyone of note from last season now gone. That might help clear out the losing culture, but can Flynn integrate all the new signings into a coherent group quickly?

They seem suspect at keeper, they might lack goals behind Taylor and I'm not sure if there is enough creativity in the group. Oh and the fan unrest at the board's perceived lack of ambition is at an all time high. Things aren't rosy at Whaddon Road.

Overall Verdict:

A downgrade at manager. An almost entirely new starting XI. I think they are in for a tough season. I think they have enough goals and just about enough quality in midfield to avoid a big struggle, but I don't see enough top end talent to suggest they can even reach mid-table at this point.

17th - Salford City(20th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

Karl Robinson. He might be a loathsome individual, but he does get results out of his teams. Cole Stockton is a good pickup for L2 and should give them 15-20 goals next season. They still have some good players as well in Ryan Watson, Luke Garbutt and Matty Lund

Reasons for Pessimism:

Here is another club that seems to scaling back investment with the news that Gary Neville has taken over Peter Lim's stake in the club.

Matt Smith, Callum Hendry, Elliot Watt and Theo Vassell are all gone, meaning the team that made the play-offs in 22-23 is almost entirely dismantled. The signings they've made aren't terrible, but are they good enough to see Salford push back towards the top half of the table?

A lot of their attackers feel like big gambles. Hoping Jon Taylor will stay fit? Banking on Robbie Cleary adapting to English football. You can't help but feel they will need more quality in the loan market to boost them up, as they look badly short in all areas.

Overall Verdict:

It seems the Class of 92 are getting bored of their toy. Rarely do you see Neville post about his vanity project these days. The investment is clearly not what it was as they likely question the value of pumping in millions per season for little to no achievement. We could be seeing the beginning of the end for Salford City as we know them.

Robinson should get enough results to see them avoid a serious struggle, but aside from that, I don't see much cause for optimism.

Mid-Table Mediocrity

16th - Grimsby Town(21st in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

They showed signs of improvement under Dave Artell last season. They finished 4-1-1 at home under him and started to play some effective football. In Danny Rose, they also have a 10-15 goal scorer and they do possess quality in other areas in Doug Tharme, Keiran Green and Harvey Rodgers.

Reasons for Pessimism:

They've had a fair bit of turnover from last season. Selling solid players like Toby Mullarkey and seeing some of their more productive performers like Gavan Holohan and Abo Eisa leave means there is a big void for goals and creativity. Do they have enough firepower? Have they improved on last season with what they've signed so far?

You also worry about their approach to building a squad. They have a number of smaller, more technical players, but how will they cope in the rough and tumble of League Two?

Overall Verdict:

It's a big of a concerning time for Grimsby fans. Their pre-season hasn't been smooth and the fans don't seem united behind Artell right now. Their summer transfer business thus far has been underwhelming and it's not hard to see them struggle this season. If they do finish higher than 21st, will fans accept it as progress though? Or do they want quicker improvements and a promotion run?

15th - Swindon Town(19th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

I do like some of their signings. Harry Smith is a smart addition upfront, as are Ryan Delaney and Ollie Clarke. Between Smith, Clarke and carry overs from last season in Paul Glatzel and Aaron Drinan, I think they've got a decent amount of firepower, even accounting for the loss of Dan Kemp, Jake Young and Charlie Austin.

Reasons for Pessimism:

I'm not convinced by Mark Kennedy. His CV is underwhelming at best. On the pitch, their business as well seems incomplete. They looked to have replaced last seasons departing quality, but that quality only got them to 19th. Is there enough in the current group to push them higher than the bottom 8 once again?

Overall Verdict:

Swindon are coming off their worst ever league finish. So, the only place to go from there is up right? Maybe. Personally, I think it's set to be another tough season. The grumblings over Clem Morfuni's ownership continue to bubble away under the surface and on the pitch, it's hard to see them as much better than what they were last season. It's another season of struggle ahead for them I feel, but there is enough upfront to push them higher than 19th.

14th - Barrow(8th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

They kept some key performers from last season in the likes of Paul Farman, Kian Spence, Niall Canavan and Dean Campbell. David Worrall and Emile Acquah are decent players at this level as well. So they should retain a solid core to avoid them sliding too far down the table. I also like the signings of Conor Mahoney and Andrew Dallas to boost their front line.

Reasons for Pessimism:

How they cope with the surprise departure of Pete Wild will be interesting. I think it could well have a huge impact. They've lost quality in every area, from George Ray and James Chester in defence to Ben Whitfield in midfield and Cole Stockton up front. I also think they've massively downgraded at manager as well. It just feels like a lot of the optimism that existed under Wild has now gone, with surely even the most optimistic Barrow fans accepting that mid-table is probably the best they can achieve.

Overall Verdict:

After 2 strong finishes under Pete Wild where they faded badly to miss the top 7, what can Clemence do with them? Honestly, I think they're worse than last seasons' team. I like some of their signings, but giving unproven players like Kouyate a 3 year deal is a risk. And their commitment to asking the players to drive from Manchester to every home game I think will take it's toll later in the season, as it did last season. For that reason, I think they take a step back and finish in mid-table.

13th - Tranmere Rovers(16th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

Nigel Adkins was good when he came in permanently as manager. He went 9-2-4 at home once and won 14 of 30 games. They've also retained a number of their better players in Luke McGee, Jordan Turnbull, Tom Davies, Brad Walker, Regan Hendry and Connor Jennings. So they have a solid core and spine from last season. They've also added a couple of decent players in Sam Finley and Cam Norman, which boost their midfield and RB areas.

Reasons for Pessimism:

I don't see enough quality brought in up front. Josh Davison and Sol Solomon are gambles and they are hoping Luke Norris will stay fit. If these 3 don't work out, they're going to relying on Connor Jennings and not a lot else to score their goals. There is also a question over whether Adkins can build on his good job firefighting job from last season by improving on their 16th place finish to potentially mount a play-off charge.

Overall Verdict:

I think Tranmere have improved. They've let a lot of their flotsam go and have brought in a couple of decent players, plus they've kept a lot of their better performers from last season, with only Rob Apter as a loss. If Adkins can keep them going and build on last season, they could be a dark horse for the play-offs, but the lack of attacking quality is going to hold them back.

Potential Play-Off Challengers

12th - Carlisle United(24th in League One, Relegated)

Reasons for Optimism:

If they can keep Charlie Wyke fit, him alongside Luke Armstrong should give the Cumbrians a fair amount of firepower. Aaron Hayden, Terrell Thomas and Ethan Robson are all signings which should help solidify them. And in Paul Simpson they have a manager who's gotten them out of this division twice already.

Reasons for Pessimism:

The pre-season signs haven't been positive. Robson has picked up a long term injury which might see him not return until after the clocks have gone back. And their transfer business just doesn't scream top 7 material. Where's the quality in midfield or the depth in defence? Where's the creativity?

And can Simpson shake off the losing culture from last season? They picked up 30 points last season. The season before, FGR picked up 27 points and suffered a double relegation the following season, whilst Crewe in 21/22 got 30 and struggled for most of 22/23.

Now everyone is tipping Carlisle for an instant promotion push? Have you seen their transfer window. They look well off a top 7 side at this point.

Overall Verdict:

I like some of their signings, but there are questions marks. The biggest one is whether Simpson can cope with pressure for the first time since coming back as Carlisle's manager, with the expectations that he mount a promotion charge. I think they're short in several areas and I don't see them as a true promotion contender at this stage.

Between Wyke, Kelly and Armstrong, they should have enough goals, but they're too weak everywhere else to finish higher than mid-table. I just don't see a top 7 calibre side at this point.

11th - Bradford City(9th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

Antoni Sarcevic is a really solid pick up. And they are building on some nice momentum built up from the end of last season. Graham Alexander is a decent manager at this level, his disaster at MK Dons aside. They also have some intriguing attacking options in support of Andy Cook in Sarcevic, Alex Pattison(if he stays fit), Calum Kavanagh and Jake Young, so should have enough goals in the team.

Reasons for Pessimism:

Everything else unfortunately. The issues with the lack of investment coming from owner Stefan Rupp and the general failures to add enough quality so far this summer. Signings like Callum Johnson, Aden Baldwin and Tyreik Wright don't do much for me.

They've also failed to remove some of the deadwood in players like Vadaine Oliver and Kevin McDonald, which has hindered their ability to add the quality they need. They still seem slow and one dimensional.

Overall Verdict:

I think it's going to be another season of frustration for Bradford fans. I don't think they've improved enough with most of their additions being middling ones. They'll be heavily relying on Cook for firepower, but if they can supplement him with the attacking options they've got, they'll be in with a shout at the top 7. But I don't think they have enough quality in defence, midfield or down their left hand side to push into the top 7 or even the top 10 at this point.

10th - Colchester United(22nd in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

The Cowleys. They did a solid job last season of turning defeats into draws. The next step now is for them to turn draws into wins. It's going to be a slow process, but I think they are going to be solid at the back and win a number of games by low scoring margins.

They've had a decent summer for signings, with Matt Macey, Rob Hunt, Jack Payne and Tom Flanagan all adding quality. I think they'll be harder to beat and will master the art of winning low scoring games.

Reasons for Pessimism:

Like a lot of teams, I question some of their business. How much gas in the tank does Lyle Taylor have? Can Harry Anderson stay fit? Is Alex Woodyard really able to step back into L2? How much quality will Josh Kymani-Gordon add upfront? I'm not sure I see enough goals or creativity from this group.

When you add in this into some big names departures in Noah Chilvers, Jay Mingi and Jayden Fevrier and I'm unsure how much they've improved overall.

Overall Verdict: 

Colchester are clearly moving away from the attractive football and young squad they've tried to roll out in past seasons and will be playing a more Cowley style of football. But after years of slowly sliding backwards, can the Cowleys arrest the slide and get Colchester moving in the right direction? I think they'll have a push for promotion, but will fall short due to a lack of goals.

9th - Walsall(11th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

I like the addition of Charlie Lakin. And Tommy Simkin looks a decent loan signing in goal, as is getting David Okagbue back permanently. Albert Adomah might be 36, but he's still a fun one to watch. I think they need more quality up front, but if they can find another source of goals or if Lakin and Jellis can boost their firepower, then there is no reason they can't push for the top 7.

Reasons for Pessimism:

The loss of Isaac Hutchinson will be a big one, although they'll hope Lakin and Jellis can replace him. But their other business is very meh. Josh Gordon's signing was met with a shrug. And I don't quite know how Mat Sadler will do in his 2nd season after signing a new contract late last season after some ups and downs. Where are the 60-70 goals coming from that you need to reach the top 7?

Overall Verdict:

I just don't think they've done enough to suggest they can make the top 7. However, despite their issues last season with scoring and consistency, they still finished 11th, just 5 points off the play-offs in their best league finish since 2016. The key now will be showing they can make more progress and crack the top 10, which I think they can do. But I think they still lack that little bit to get over the line and into the play-off spots.

8th - Crewe Alexandra(6th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

There is a strong core of promising young players and older heads which should see them avoid any big slides from last seasons' 6th placed finish. Mickey Demetriou, Conor Thomas, Jack Powell and Chris Long represent a strong leadership group, with more experience added in Kane Hemmings, Omar Bogle, Jack Lankester and Max Sanders. Get full seasons out of Lewis Billington, Joel Tabiner, Matus Holicek, Zac Williams and Callum Agius and they could be in business.

Reasons for Pessimism:

They've lost a lot of firepower and creativity in Elliott Nevitt, Courtney Baker-Richardson, Joe White, Aaron Rowe etc. And there are question marks over whether last season was a fluke and how much their dismal end of season run will carry over into this campaign. Mounting back to back promotion charges is notoriously tricky as well. How well have they replaced the likes of Offord, Adebisi and Nevitt, who were all key performers for them last season?

Overall Verdict:

I've been low on my Crewe predictions the last 2 seasons, so hopefully this will extend to a 3rd season. I think they'll take a step back due to the loss of said key players, but I'm bullish on who they've brought in and where they sit as a squad to say a top 10 finish should be more than possible. They are desperately praying to avoid any long term and widespread injury issues in order to achieve this though.

In the Play-Offs

7th - Notts County(14th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

They've worked hard to address their weaknesses from last season. They signed Alex Bass in goal, who was solid for Wimbledon on loan. They've also completely remade their defence, signing Robbie Cundy, Jacob Bedeau, Matty Platt and Rod McDonald. Other areas have been seemingly bolstered, with Curtis Edwards in midfield and Nick Tsaroulla and Kellan Gordon out wide.

Reasons for Pessimism:

The loss of Macaulay Langstaff. His 28 goals will be almost impossible to replace, although they are hoping Alassana Jatta can take some of the burden. Do they have enough between what they have internally and can they find a replacement on the market for Langstaff. Also, a lot is resting on Stuart Maynard to show he can handle the step up after struggling at times last season.

Overall Verdict:

I don't think they'll be the same side they were last season. Their all attack, no defence strategy didn't work out so well, so I expect both of their scored and conceded totals to come down. I think they've improved enough on their weaker areas and have enough top end L2 quality in Jones, Jatta and McGoldrick to see them mount a more consistent play-off push. Their improvement in midfield from getting a fit again Palmer, Scott Robertson and Curtis Edwards in looks to have strengthened an area they were badly lacking in.

There are concerns over some of the things the fans have seen in pre-season, so they could flop again and Maynard could be out of the job by December. But for the moment, I think they've got enough quality throughout the team to just about sneak into a top 7 spot.

6th - AFC Wimbledon(10th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

They should have made the play-offs last season. They had a +13 goal difference, which was the 5th best in the county and they were 5th in the xG table as well. It's not hard to see them taking a step and getting into the top 7.

Add into that the fact that they've signed some real quality in Joe Pigott, Mathew Stevens and Ali Smith and add them to a solid core of players in Omar Bugiel, James Tilley and Jake Reeves and they look well placed to improve.

Reasons for Pessimism:

Not all of their business has been good. John-Joe O'Toole, Miles Hippolyte and Callum Maycock are questionable. They've also lost a fair bit of quality in Jack Currie, Armani Little and Ronan Curtis to other clubs this summer. And is Jackson the right man to guide them to success? I'm not so sure.

Overall Verdict:

Despite my misgivings about a few incomings, I think they've signed quite nicely. Stevens, Pigott and Smith, if they all hit, should give the Dons a big boost in firepower. Their underlying numbers from last season were impressive and their home form improved after a slow start, going from 1-3-3 in their first 7 to 10-3-3 in the final 16. Keep that momentum going and they should have no issue making up the 5-10 points and 3 places they finished short last season.

5th - Doncaster Rovers(5th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

They've had a good window. Billy Sharp is a great option off the bench or as an emergency starter. Jordan Gibson can be productive and Joe Sbarra is a decent pick up from the non-leagues. And they come into this season carrying all the momentum from last season's crazy end to the season. Grant McCann slowly seems to be getting together the squad he wants.

Reasons for Pessimism:

Have they replaced some of their departures from last season? Matty Craig, Tim Lo Tutala and Hakeeb Adelakun are big losses and I also wonder how Gibson settles in after a tricky spell at Carlisle. Ephraim Yeboah being a contributor at 17 feels like a big gamble.

Overall Verdict:

If they can avoid such a dramatic trough and then peak like last season, then they'll feel very confident they can mount another top 7 push. If Sharp can help supplement Joe Ironside and they can get some creativity out of Gibson and Sbarra alongside Luke Molyneux, then they'll be well positioned to finish in the play-offs once again.

4rd - Gillingham(12th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

They've moved quickly to address their firepower issues. They've added 4 players who put up 39 goals and 21 assists last season. That goes some way towards fixing their major weakness and builds on a squad that for all its flaws was still in and around the playoffs for most of last season. They've also retained a strong defensive core around Shad Ogie, Connor Masterton and Max Clark.

Reasons for Pessimism:

I think they need more. Nolan and Nevitt help, but I still feel they are a winger and striker short of having enough quality. I also wonder if they have enough in midfield, even with Armani Little's arrival, to hang with the best teams, especially seeing how their best midfielder from last season, Dom Jeffries, has departed for L1. Do we expect Marcus Wylie to step up from tier 7 at 25? It doesn't happen very often. Jake Wakeling, if he hits his early Swindon form, should help, but if he doesn't, then what?

Overall Verdict:

Gillingham continue their spending spree by chucking even more money at promotion. But after a strong start to their transfer window, they've petered out a little bit. They will be hoping Nolan and Nevitt match their output from last season and they aren't one season wonders far away from home.

But I'm confident they'll be better than last season and will improve on their mid-table finish to make the top 7.

Title Contenders

3rd - Port Vale(23rd in L1, Relegated)

Reasons for Optimism:

They've had a great window. Ryan Croasdale, Ruari Paton, Laurent Tolaj, Jayden Stockley, George Byers, Ben Heneghan, Ronan Curtis and Connor Hall are some very strong pick ups. They really shouldn't struggle for goals and quality, with most of those players proven at higher levels. In Darren Moore, they are also hoping they have one of the best managers in the lower leagues.

Reasons for Pessimism:

The concerns are real. Can they handle the pressure of being a division favourite? Do they still have too many of the poor players left over from last season? Can they keep the likes of Croasdale, Curtis and Byers fit and how do they find spots for their 3 main forwards?

Overall Verdict:

It pains me to say it, but they seem on course for a very good season so long as they avoid injuries and the pressures of being a contender. If they aren't in the mix for the top 3 and finish there, then something will have seriously gone wrong. I think they go up automatically. Let's hope that now jinxes them.

2nd - Chesterfield(1st in the National League, Promoted)

Reasons for Optimism:

Their incredibly strong core from last season mostly remains. Grigg, Dobra, Naylor, Colclough, Banks, Quigley. And now they've added Paddy Madden and Chey Dunkley to the mix. Oh and they have one of the best bosses in the league in Paul Cook. There is no reason why they shouldn't be fully in the mix for a top 3 spot.

Reasons for Pessimism:

Their defence was a major issue last season and whilst I think the signing of Dunkley will help in that regard, it could, like Notts County showed, prove to be thing that sinks their season. Another worry is how they've picked up some early injuries to the likes of Paddy Madden and Ryheem Sheckleford.

Overall Verdict:

The concerns are minimal and reasons for positivity are high. The manager, the firepower, the quality. If they aren't finishing in the top 3, I would like to know what has gone wrong and who is, because I can't see it at this stage. They could very well follow Wrexham's lead and be in for back to back promotions barring any disasters.

1st - MK Dons(4th in League Two)

Reasons for Optimism:

They, like Port Vale, have had an incredible transfer window. Luke Offord, Tommy Leigh, Sam Sherring, Tom Carroll, Liam Kelly and Callum Hendry are top end League Two performers at worst. Most of them could probably play in L1 right now if asked.

And those are just the headline additions. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Tom Carroll, Joe Pritchard and Laurence Maguire aren't bad signings either. It's ridiculous the quality they've brought in. Add those signings into the momentum they took from last seasons' near brush with the top 3 and them taking a step seems almost inevitable.

Reasons for Pessimism:

The loss of Max Dean is going to really sting. Can Hendry, Matt Dennis, Ellis Harrison and a previously surplus Jonathan Leko be enough firepower? And have they solved the woeful defence and goalkeeping that scuppered them in the play-offs last season?

Overall Verdict:

Port Vale are pushing them for the best crop of signings this summer, but I think the Dons come out on top. Their midfield options are just ridiculous and I do think they've fixed their leaky defence with the additions of Sherring, Offord and Maguire. It's for that reason I think they're the title favourites at this stage.