League One 2011-12 season preview

Stalwarts Huddersfield have proved over the last seven seasons that they are so close to joining the upwardly mobile

by John Ashdown 1 year ago

League One is perhaps the most open of the three divisions. Unlike the Championship and League Two, no side seem to have financial clout that sets them apart, no relegated club should be expected to dominate, while the promoted teams are likely to look for consolidation rather than a sprint through the divisions.

It could be a year, then, for one of the division's stalwarts. In the past seven years, Huddersfield Town have only once finished outside the top 10 in the third tier and last season they were so clearly the third best team in the division that their defeat in the play-off final was the sort of result that has some calling for the scrapping of the post-season period and a return to three automatic promotion spots. Seven miserable minutes against Peterborough United wrecked the season. Some of Town's talent has gone – Lee Peltier to Leicester City and Anthony Pilkington to Norwich City– but manager Lee Clark's recruitment has been strong and sensible. It could, maybe even should, be their year.

Charlton Athletic do not qualify for stalwart status yet but the Addicks are getting there. This will be the club's third season at this level but they look well-equipped to make it their last. Athletic have flexed a little financial muscle and taken Dale Stephens from Oldham Athletic, Danny Green from Dagenham and Redbridge, Matt Taylor from Exeter City and the Bournemouth pair of Danny Hollands and Rhoys Wiggins – all key players for their previous sides. If Chris Powell can gel his squad then a promotion push is likely.

The Sheffield sides, together in the third tier for the first time since 1979-80, are arguably the big beasts of the division, but neither team are in great shape. Wednesday won only six games after mid-December (although the bulk of those came as things began to click under Gary Megson in April and May), while United's post-relegation fire sale has not yet got enough high earners off the books at Bramall Lane. Both will do well to make the play-offs.

Preston North End, United's fellow relegatees, are in a similar boat and lost the influential Keith Treacy to Burnley this week, while Scunthorpe United may also need a season of rebuilding under Alan Knill. The League Two champions, Chesterfield, lost top scorer Craig Davies over the summer and will be satisfied if they steer clear of relegation, Wycombe Wanderers likewise having failed to establish themselves following their last promotion campaign in 2008-09. Stevenage and Bury are on similar ground, though, for all the promoted sides, the importance of momentum should not be understated.

League One is ripe for a shock, then, and of the other contenders Brentford and Leyton Orient may well be the likeliest lads. Niall McGinn and last season's League Two top scorer Clayton Donaldson are interesting additions at Griffin Park (although Uwe Rösler remains an unknown quantity in the dugout), while the Orient, who missed out on the play-offs by a point last year, have kept their squad together and their manager Russell Slade out of the clutches of others.