In recent years, League One has become the EFL’s ultimate test of character. Plymouth Argyle missed out on the play-offs with as many as 80 points in 2021-22, but bounced back emphatically to win the title last term, combining with Ipswich to deny Sheffield Wednesday a top-two berth, even though the Owls finished on 96. Brutal.
Instead of going up comfortably, the Owls had to overturn the biggest first-leg deficit in play-off semi-final history, before Josh Windass’ 123rd-minute winner at Wembley completed the mission.
It shows the path to the Championship is gruelling and unforgiving – so who can stay the course?
Having gone very close last year, Bolton look as well equipped as any: the Trotters made early signals of their intent to spend this summer, to add to an already healthy squad, and they’ve retained manager Ian Evatt, who only knows success.
No such luck for Barnsley, who lost gaffer Michael Duff, but if they keep squad turnover to a minimum, they can challenge after play-off final heartbreak.
Also beaten in last term’s coda were Peterborough, for whom Darren Ferguson stays on, targeting an astonishing fifth promotion with one club. The Posh, though, have lost star midfielder Jack Taylor to Ipswich, plus reliable right-sider Joe Ward to Derby – the Rams missed out on the top six last season, but can prepare more smoothly this time around, without the takeover uncertainty of 12 months ago.
Portsmouth have one of the EFL’s top sporting directors in Richard Hughes. He’ll hope boss John Mousinho can repay a show of faith to poach the rookie from his role as player-coach at Oxford in January. The Yellows, themselves, have a revamped recruitment strategy, and with the exciting addition of Ruben Rodrigues should improve drastically on last season’s disappointing 19th-place finish.
Expectations are more guarded for two of the teams coming down, as Wigan and Reading require huge rebuilds. Blackpool have more hope after reappointing their 2020-21 promotion-winning boss, Neil Critchley.
Coming up are Leyton Orient, where Richie Wellens won his second League Two title. Following the O’s are Steve Evans’ solid Stevenage, along with Carlisle and Northampton, where respective bosses Paul Simpson and Jon Brady guided their sides up through chronic injury crises. Those three could be in the dogfight with Cambridge, who needed five wins from the final nine games to stay up last season, so club legend Mark Bonner must get this rebuild right.
It’s been a turbulent summer for Fleetwood and a turbulent decade for Charlton, where boss Dean Holden needs the space to do the job, after last term’s 10th-placed finish. Burton and Cheltenham were delighted with lower mid-table outcomes, as were newly promoted Exeter and Bristol Rovers: with key men departing all four, more savvy recruitment is essential to avoiding a season in the mire.
If they need inspiration, look no further than Lincoln and Shrewsbury, now established in League One. Yet the Shrews’ fate this campaign will depend on how former Walsall manager Matt Taylor replaces Steve Cotterill at New Meadow.
It could be a tough year for Port Vale, who may rue last season’s call to part company with the revered Darrell Clarke. Another club legend was replaced at Wycombe – Gareth Ainsworth left in February – so it’s down to Matt Bloomfield to write the next chapter at Adams Park. Could it be as thrilling as the last?
Bloomfield and his counterparts know that League One can be relentlessly unforgiving, but while Argyle and Wednesday were hard done by at times, both now have their prize, and therein lies the lesson. This season’s third tier might not be as fearsome, but it is almost designed to knock clubs and coaches off course. Those who stay measured throughout this test of character will eventually get their A*.
PREDICTION
1 Bolton
2 Derby
3 Barnsley
4 Portsmouth
5 Blackpool
6 Peterborough
7 Oxford
8 Charlton
9 Lincoln
10 Wycombe
11 Reading
12 Bristol Rovers
13 Wigan
14 Exeter
15 Burton
16 Leyton Orient
17 Fleetwood
18 Shrewsbury
19 Stevenage
20 Northampton
21 Port Vale
22 Cheltenham
23 Cambridge
24 Carlisle
WHO WILL WIN THE LEAGUE?
THE ULTIMATE QUIZ
GET INVOLVED TWEET US USING THE HASHTAG #FFTPREVIEW
01 Which club recorded the joint-best League One win last season, 6-0 against Shrewsbury, and suffered the joint-worst loss, 6-0 against Ipswich?
02 Which African country does Reading captain Andy Yiadom (below) represent internationally: Ghana, Senegal or Ivory Coast?
03 Which is the most easterly club in the league this season?
04 Which League One club are nicknamed ‘The Grecians’?
05 Which is the smallest stadium currently in the third tier?
06 Which Spice Girl filed a counter-claim with the UK Patent Office against Peterborough United?
07 Who was the only player to score two League One hat-tricks last season?
08 Wigan start the season on minus eight points: they are the only relegated top-flight team to do what in the same season?
09 Oxford suffered last term’s longest winless run, failing to win how many games in a row?
10 Which fictional club did Gillingham ‘beat’ 2-0 in a 2004 TV episode: AFC Richmond, Earls Park or Harchester United?
1. Charlton Athletic 2. Ghana 3. Cambridge United 4. Exeter City 5. Highbury Stadium (Fleetwood Town) 6. Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) 7. David McGoldrick 8. Win the FA Cup 9. 17 10. Harchester United
BARN SLEY
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 4th FA CUP Third Round LEAGUE CUP Second Round TOP SCORER (ALL COMPS) Devante Cole (16)
FAN FILE
CARLO VAN DE WATERING
@RedsReport_
Last season was a very memorable one. The appointment of Michael Duff, combined with some welcomed board changes, resulted in a style of football that was excellent to watch, got us to Wembley and brought the club and fans closer together.
The big talking point is that terrific season resulting in Swansea paying the release fee to take Duff to Wales.
This season will be different because we’ll have yet another manager. The last head coach to be in charge for two full campaigns at Barnsley was Simon Davey, and he left in 2009.
I won’t be happy unless we continue with the style that brought us success under Daniel Stendel, Valerien Ismael and Duff. The young age of our team suits the high-pressing game.
Look out for Fabio Jalo [below], who’s done incredibly well for the under-18s. His recent call-up for Portugal’s youth team is a sign that we could well have a gifted player on our hands.
Our key player will be Luca Connell, our midfield dynamo. He possesses every quality to play in a higher league.
Our most underrated player is Liam Kitching, because he’s often been in the shadow of fellow central defender Mads Andersen, who’s gone to Luton.
our own James Norwood, master of the dark arts. He knows how to grind down the opposition, physically or verbally.
