Picking the top 10

I dragged myself into the eve of the new season by looking through the League One teams and tried to assess their individual chances and from that picked 10 teams that I believe will challenge for promotion.

The bookies have done what they always do and picked the certs or the obvious names but outside of the Premier League there will always be surprise packages and unknown players who come out of the shadows to have standout seasons.

Saying that it is hard to look beyond Southampton, but we know Alan Pardew’s weaknesses more than most. He has a huge squad, which is his want, and he won’t be able to resist swapping players in and out and no doubt will add further signings and loans in January. The points deduction last season alleviated a lot of expectation and pressure, that will not be true this time around and in fact rumours are constantly doing the rounds of the Solent that Pardew is on thin ice. Also will Ricky Lambert maintain his goalscoring consistency? He hasn’t always been so prolific, which explains why he plays in the third tier at 28.

Sheffield Wednesday are classic big name pick, but behind the history and huge old stadium lies a lot of financial strife and a manager that never endeared himself to home fans. Irvine has signed a lot of experienced players though and I’ve always liked Paul Heffernan.

Peterborough have had a lot of turnover but have lost a couple of their better players but can still rely on the firepower of George Boyd, Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith, all more than decent at this level. Posh’s biggest plus though is their manager, Garry Johnson, who if things were different I would welcome with open arms at The Valley.

Lee Clark’s Huddersfield weren’t quite good enough last year, especially away from home but Clark has kept his best players and added to them. Naysmith came from Sheffield United, good passer but bit of a journeyman Joey Gudjonsson signed from Burnley and once big prospect Joe Garner is on loan from Forest. Huddersfield are my second favourites behind Southampton.

Gus Poyet denied he is using Brighton as a stepping stone and signed a new contract in the summer. Poyet has spent money as the Seagulls play their last season at the Withdean. Falmer or the American Express Community Stadium as it is officially called is looking good and I think Brighton will mount a good challenge after years of underachievement.

It will be interested to see how Nicky Forster does at Brentford, but under Andy Scott I think the Bees can be more consistent this season and again be a thorn in a lot people’s side. What goes on at Notts County is a bit confusing but County legend Craig Short should be able to mould the Magpies into a promotion chasing side. Nonetheless Kasper Schmeichel moving on shows that the days under the spotlight are gone but jailbird Lee Hughes failed to escape Meadow Lane.

I picked Leyton Orient last season as an outside bet so for that reason alone, I’ll go with them again. Russell Slade is talking a good game down at the snooker stadium and he has redesigned the O’s team that now includes Matt Spring. Swindon impressed me and a lot of others last season with their quick counter-attacking football but they will miss Billy Paynter, Gordon Greer and their two on-loan stars Danny Ward and Alan Sheehan. I think last season was their greatest chance to win promotion but Charlie Austin remains and Danny Wilson is no slouch.

That is nine. Oh go on then I’ll add those rip-roaring, goal-scoring Addicks as well.