FLC Predictions and Guide Part 2: Positions 13-18.

By: Martyn | August 4th, 2008

13. Watford
14. Coventry City
15. Norwich City
16. Bristol City
17. Sheffield Wednesday
18. Plymouth Argyle

(13). Watford – If Jose Mourinho is the Special One, then Adrian Boothroyd is the Chirpy One. And chirp as often and as freely as a bird Adie, for your system and managerial nous has well and truly been rumbled and your days as a higher-league ranking tactician could be limited. Watford might still have the talented assailing quintet of Tommy Smith, Lee Williamson, Jobi McAnuff, Damien Francis and Al Bangura, as well as up and coming striking sensations (excluding Will Hoskins, who has failed to impress me) such as Theo Robinson (who caught the eye during a spell at Hereford United last season). But if truth be told, it’s not enough to get most Championship defences anxious or wilting. How exactly does a team shorn of its three main forwards (Marlon King, Darius Henderson, and the potentially-good-but-never-quite-showed-it-in-Hertfordshire Nathan Ellington) challenge for a spot in the play-off’s?? Unless serious fire-powering additions are brought in its back to mid-table nothingness for the recent-Premier League incumbent Hornets methinks.
Main Man – Jay DeMerit. An excellent centre-half and a vital component of the backline. The US international supposedly clashed with the Chirpy One last year and the latter will have to ensure he gets the former onside or Watford could wind up in a dogfight down in the Championship dungeons.
Surprise Man – John-Joe O’Toole. What he lacks in tactical discipline he more than makes up for in tenacity. A dogged midfielder – reminiscent of Jimmy Bullard in terms of appearance and style of play – the young Irishman could have a gargantuan part to play in 08/09.
Adrian Boothroyd – 9th. Despite his heroics and adulation amongst Watford fans for the way he galvanised the entire club and catapulted them into the Premier League not so long ago, times do change. Last year’s spectacular collapse from a commanding hold on top spot to scraping a place in the play-off’s on the last day of the season (they were then humiliated in the Semi-Final’s by far, far slick and superior Hull City performances) irked many, had the boo’s ringing regularly around Vicarage Road come the referee’s final peep, and had some pondering whether Adie had taken the club as far as he can. Nevertheless, the seeds of faith can be sown once again as despite the fact that football is the most fickle and vacillating of all fields (modelling and politics aside, presumably), many still remember that season and place their faith in the league’s youngest manager.

(14). Coventry City - After the rollercoaster ride that almost climaxed in the guillotine last season and the will-he, won’t he sagas of Michael Misfud’s proposed moves this summer, Sky Blues fans will probably welcome a bit of quiet after the storms of recent seasons and summers! Business has so far been shrewd; the most notable acquisition being Freddie Eastwood who could prove a snip at a cool £1m. One thing you can expect from Cookie now he’s had a pre-season to work with the team is that the defence will further improve. Young talents such as Ben Turner and Scott Dann are geared for a big future in the game, and after last year’s hot potato in the position it’s good to see the goalkeeping slot finally resolved with the purchase of Carlisle United’s Kieren Westwood. With the coaching help of club legend Steve Ogrizovic, watch the young Republic of Ireland man thrive. However, goals (or a lack of ‘em) were the main setback last season. Michael Misfud must be less streaky in his netting, and prodigal talent Robbie Simpson will need to weigh in with a few more. Kevin Kyle is well, Kevin Kyle.
Main Man – Jay Tabb. Quite simple the most impressive opposition player I saw at Ninian Park last season. That’s no mean feat given some of the revered and ability-bestowed men who chose to run round in shorts on our sanctified lawn (not too many though, it must be said). The vertically-challenged former Brentford livewire tore Tony Capaldi to shreds and scored the game’s only goal in the game I refer to. I only saw him again on one other occasion last season, but if he can provide focal impetus throughout large parts of August-May in the manner he did at Ninian Park then Tabb could be the fundamental linchpin of the side.
Surprise Man – Scott Dann. A future England international for sure, the ex-Walsall prime bit of steak will have the Premier League dogs salivating.
Chris Coleman – 15th. Coleman will be granted time. I won’t deny his position would remain safe given a season of woe, but I can’t see him being first gone unless City have an absolute stinker of an August and September. Coincidentally, I believe the likelihood of that to be unequivocally implausible.

(15). Norwich City – It will be rather strange to welcome a Norwich City side without bearing witness to a strike force of Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby. Mind you, it was Ched Evans in the yellow shirt that proved the most decisive last year, two goals at Ninian Park universally whetting the appetites of Bluebird fans. And on the subject of frontmen, we touch immediately upon Norwich’s most detrimental flaw: Goals. This wasn’t a problem solely last season as the 06/07 season was drier than Jack Dee too. Are Jamie Cureton and Arturo Lupoli (who blew hot and cold at Derby County, and was subsequently frozen out at Fiorentina) the men to fire a team to glory? I severely doubt it. Infrastructure wise, Norwich have more than potential to be a mid-sized Premier League club. But of the mansion they own, they’ve only lived in a handful of rooms for the past of couple seasons: The extraordinarily recent days of Jeremy Goss and European Finals seem further back than they genuinely were. Roeder must be commended for tightening the defence – the captures of Mark Kennedy and Dejan Stefanovic will continue to bolster and banish brittleness – but it is in midfield where Norwich can take solace and burgeoning promise (Bell, Fotheringham, Chadwick, Croft, Clingan, Hoolahan, Lappin Russell and Pattison). It’s this indispensable area that will have them walking steadily on a solid surface high above the trapdoor.
Main Man – Wes Hoolahan. A vital signing. The ex-Livingston eye-catcher was pivotal for Blackpool in the season they waltzed through the League One play-off’s, and he was a bit hot last year too. The Canaries did well to snap him up, and his spark may ease the San Jose-shaped loss of talismanic, heroic Huckerby.
Surprise Man – Sammy Clingan. The chap from Northern Ireland did his bit in a successful season for a team beginning with N last year, the only catch being that it wasn’t in a Norfolk-based side, rather Nottingham. Expect him to earn rave reviews and recognition for some resplendent showings in the Canaries’ strong midfield.
Glenn Roeder – 17th. After the way he gripped the team and its decline down the league by the bollocks after the shambles of the Peter Grant era, Roeder has impressed Norfolk folk, board members and external voyeurs like myself no end. It would take a magnanimous catastrophe for Roeder to be first chopped.

(16). Bristol City – Ominously, Gary Johnson sold one of the club’s optimum players, Nick Carle, this summer. Although Johnson acknowledged his graft and guile in the Brizzle midfield, a lack of goals proved to be his supposed undoing. Compensating for the loss of a player so comfortable and astute on the ball is stiff at any level of the game, so there’s no doubt that should an injury/form crisis ensue the Robins will rue this rash decision. Last year’s surprise package left me scratching my head on the 7-odd occasions that I saw them play. Bristol City are undoubtedly a tidy footballing unit who make good use of the ball in keeping the round thing amongst themselves. However, there was a distinct lack of flair in the side: It was more trimming hedge than cutting edge, and even Lee ‘Trickbox’ Trundle seemed sacrilegiously subdued. The option mainly utilized was Michael McIndoe out wide. They had no chief weaknesses as such, but neither could I see any overwhelming and CCFLC position-vindicating strengths. Of course, City’s brief hold on top spot probably said more about last year’s very weak challengers than anything else. An average-aged and adequate ability-endowed squad who caught the wind in their sails will promptly revert to type this year with a comfortable sort of lower-mid table finish. Second season syndrome. To stave off the relegation flu, they must hope either Dr. Steve Brooker or Nurse Lee Trundle rediscover the goal-scoring remedies they had at Cheltenham Town and Swansea City respectively. After the play-off final defeat, expect a sluggish start.
Main Man – Marvin Elliot. Elliot can become the lighter fluid of the Bristol City barbecue in the absence of Aussie Carle. The Premier League vultures are circling, and it won’t be too long until the circling descends into a precisely-timed swoop for the former Milwall man.
Surprise Man – Jennison Myrie-Williams. After a promising stint at the least decorated and celebrated team in Merseyside, Myrie-Williams is back to torment Championship defenders. Watch out all those with the pace of Peter Reid.
Gary Johnson – 18th. The ex-Latvia coach has breathing room after a resounding fourth-placed finish last year. He’ll therefore survive being the first to receive the P45 cliches should a woeful 08/09 inauguration occur.

(17). Sheffield Wednesday – Looking at their squad, you feel like loudly evaluating to the entire board, “Is that all you got guys?” But tarnishing the Book of Good Reasoning (yes, that well known title. Ask your librarian), I tip the Owls to stay out of trouble because of the pragmatic tactics of Brian Laws, coupled with a pinch of good old fashioned jamminess. You know that one team that’s just plain-awful but somehow manages to wangle surviving the season? Yup, that’ll be Wednesday (again). Having some of the biggest League gates roaring you on helps the cause one would assume. There is some promise personnel-wise in the shape of players who have come through the ranks. In particular, midfielder Sean McAllister managed to break into the first team towards the end of last season, and has made the position his own. Fellow young guns Etienne Esajas and Leon Clarke must follow suite and show more of their seemingly hidden or injury-ravaged ability. Experience wise, Steve Watson will have to continue using his brain and knowledge as his legs continue to cease, and Francis Jeffers and Deon Burton will have to stay off the treatment table and form a potent partnership. Thankfully for fans of Tuesday and Thursday’s middle brother, it’ll be celebratory Owls rather than commiserating howls.
Main Man – Richard Wood. The towering Yorkshire-born centre half has been a revelation at the back for the Owls and has all the making and hallmarks of a future star. Watch Wood grow in stature and confidence – and mature even further – rallying the blue and white troops as only the best defenders and leaders do.
Surprise Man – Francis Jeffers. The season the ex-Arsenal flop finally re-finds the goal trail? It’s been long enough in coming, and boy could Wednesday do with someone who scores more regularly than Sergio Ramos.
Brian Laws – 3rd. After a season of nothingness (preceded by one of relative hope), the knives will be out instantaneously for Laws should the season begin to look skew-whiff.

(18). Plymouth Argyle – The blooming Argyle loaf went a bit mouldy last season, and alas, no one’s bothered to throw it out this summer either. After the mid-season departures of key man-manager Ian Holloway, and decisive players such as Barry Hayles, David Norris, Sylvain Ebanks Blake and (superstar-in-waiting) Dan Gosling, this summer has continued to host the seemingly never ending show of Carry On Leaving Argyle! Vamoosed most recently are playmaker Peter Halmosi (albeit for a soothing £2m), Paul Wotton, Paul Connolly, and soon to be incarcerated Luke McCormack. Midfield-wise, things look flakier than a famed Ginster’s pasty and you wonder how much protection the defence will be offered. Likewise, you wonder how attractive a proposition Plymouth is to potential purchases. Lower than low mind; they are on the verge of breaking their transfer record to sign Simon Walton. Walton happens to be one of the worst players I have ever seen down Ninian Park. When he wasn’t getting sent off, committing cynical fouls or passing the ball to the opposition, he was busy posting on social networking websites boasting of how he couldn’t be arsed motivating himself to play for a small club like ours. What a bloke! Ability-wise, I’m not even exaggerating; he’s worse than the Credit Crunch, World War, famine and sparkling mineral water combined. Nevertheless, Argyle have strength in the goalkeeping position with Romain Larrieu and Championship perennial bench-warmer Graham Stack, are strong in the centre-back positions, and whilst the likes of Jermaine Easter, Jamie Mackie, Steve MacLean (who can be God-awful, as us City fans can testify), and Rory Fallon will never create a blaze tearing up the top-scorer charts, if they combine to rattle in 20 – 30 goals between them then that’ll go some way to preserving the Championship status of the Pilgrims. Sturrock teams aren’t the most unattractive to watch, flowing as much as a side possibly can in the 4-4-2 formation. But like a decorated army general getting stripped of all his prized medals, the outfit is looking less impressive as time goes on.
Main Man – Krisztián Timár. A rock from the Eastern bloc. Last year’s player of the season, the Hungarian captain is close enough to fulfilling the seriously misguided cliché of someone being the first name on the team-sheet. Presumably less temperamental than equally gifted defender but dummy-tosser Marcel Seip, if Plymouth end up selling defensive stalwarts like Timár, then it really will be curtains.
Surprise Man – Jason Puncheon. Poached from League Two’s Barnet, Jason Puncheon played a fundamental role in guiding the lowly Bees to the shelter of lower-mid table. Seeing the young Londoner rampaging down either flank is a common sight so don’t be surprised if his momentum allows him to carry on exactly where he left off. A potential bargain and one whose name will adorn the shoulder blades of replica kits four-stands across.
Paul Sturrock – 13th. Messiah or misfire? Returned ‘home’ from SwindON, but thus far it’s been more like PlymOFF (I admit it – that was awful!). Sturrock needs to stop the rot and must do so by working with moderate-to-limited resources. If he was first sacked, it would unceremoniously be a bold step by the Plymouth board given the fact they’ve had four different managers in their time in the Championship (if you count Sturrock twice), and stability should be the key lexeme this year.