Never thought about the fact the next 4 teams have had advantage of some coaching in the SESL Cup qualifier to boost their top 11 SL’s!

Stirling (Top 11 Ave SL 22.0)

Long-term manager Alfonso looks to have a battle on his hands to remain in the division this season. Stirling’s squad has some decent defenders, but the attacking options look pretty limited. If Stirling are to stay up this season it is the strikeforce that requires major surgery!


Raith (Top 11 Ave SL 21.0)

James Tucker’s squad looks better then their average SL of the top 11 suggests, they have some good youngsters breaking through also. However a shortage of TP to coach up these youngsters, suggests perhaps a sale of one or two starlets in exchange for a higher SL player to boost his top 11 would be a worthwhile move. If the youngsters cannot be trained up, then Raith may suffer in the bottom half of the table.


Arbroath (Top 11 Ave SL 20.3)

Despite Les pre-season moving and shaking, I think Arbroath have a tough battle ahead of them this season. They lack a bit in coaching resources, and do not have the firepower currently to stay up.

I am sure Les will now be going full pelt to prove me wrong!!


St Mirren (Top 11 Ave SL 20.2)
Mr Dewar has good cover in the goalkeeping area at Love Street.

And that’s it…………

My mother always told me if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all, so I couldn’t possibly comment on the rest of Mr Dewar’s Division 3 bound squad. No offence intended!


Good luck to everybody in the new season, except when you play Gretna!

Predictions for coming season.

TOP6;
PARTICK look the obvious choice as they already have 2x 30sl players plus a strong MF puts them in a good position. Look to plan ahead with 7 x age 1 players, but with only 33 TP some will have to go without.

GRETNA look good for a top 4 place, sound GK and solid at the back and can muster
a good attack when using Longball.Gabbi will be a threat all season.

HEARTS have a sound team but lack BIG FW at present, but with TP could become a force by mid-season.

HUNTLEY Need early points on the Board as MSA will hit FW line, but with some good young players coming up Kevin will push this team to a top 6 place.

FALKIRK Dark Horse, will probably be a bit hit and miss but I really expect them to do well this season.

ELGIN Really not sure about this team as they look a bit iffy in GK & DF. Solid
in MF and will probably end up with one of the best attacks in the league. Need to score more than they let in.

MIDDLE 4:

DUNDEE Jury is out on this team, as they do have plenty of CP/TP, but I think mid-table is where they will finish.

ROSS Good team, not ready for top 6 due to lack of 2nd GK, but by MSA will have
strong FW line but possibly weak DF. Big bank account may change this situation and ROS could push for a top 6 place.

ALLOA Should do well in early part of the season, expect to see them in top 6, but second half will fade away.

STIRLING Unless they get early points on the "Doors" they will slip into the bottom
5 as MSA will hit what big players they have.

LIVINGSTON Don't think this team is that great, but the manager is, which will probably carry them through this season. With some money in the bank and plenty of CP/TP they should avoid the drop.

BOTTOM 5:

MOTHERWELL A team full of OLD players, I think they may struggle unless LEN uses the money in the bank to bring in some fresh players.

COWDENBEATH Will probably struggle most of the season, certainly in the second half as MSA will take out their SW & FW and leave the team lacking.

ARBROATH Unfortunately the STATS say Relegation, unless the manager can perform miracles then they are down.

RAITH Again the Stats are against them and the need to TP young GK Lee may cost them some games.

ST.MIRREN Yet another relegation battle for this team with the weakest top11 & 17, but the manager has gambled on a youth policy which if it does not save them this season will see them straight back up next.

Yes Gabbi your MUM taught you well , it is nice to meet a manager with manners.

PS. Next time you moon remember to wipe your arse

With the first league games just about to start heres the first COW prediction for the rest of the teams.

Arbroath - With a top 11 of 20.3 they may find it tough. The defence will struggle and the midfield has a decent strength in depth but without any real star players. Up front the pressure will be on Jay Stein to produce the goods. Verdict: relegation.

Ross County - A decent goalkeeper but little in reserve. When Patterson doesn't play they may struggle. Reasonably sound in defence, midfield lacks numbers with the wingers almost redundant through low SL. Attack is average. Verdict: relegation/play off

Motherwell - Look a bit imbalanced with lots of options in attack, midfield is adequate with a defence that may struggle. Verdict: May get sucked into trouble, play off?

Falkirk - Adequate throughout but probably lack that little wee bit to challenge for promotion. Should be safe from relegation worries. Verdict: mid-table, either playoff a possibility.

Livingston - Very strong forward line with adequate midfield and defence. Verdict: Promotion candidates.

Partick Thistle - Only a bad Partick performance coupled with another Gretna special will see PT miss out on the title. Verdict: Champions

Stirling - Not sure they have the punch to make any sort of impact. Reasonable throughout but may lack the ability to kill teams off without any real star player. Verdict: Play off

Gretna - Very solid in defence, midfield and attack is impressive enough. Squad numbers maybe not as high as possible but with experience at the helm they will more than flourish as the GRE squad management is the benchmark for the rest of us. Verdict: Promotion

Next installment we'll review the remaining teams

COW boss said Division 2 is where its at. He was correct. A tremendous season, and with 6 league games to go, there could be more twists and turns yet.

An update on my top 4:

Gretna - "defo top 4" I said, but lost their way a little since losing Gabberilli as manager. currently 3rd in table

Huntly - "if resources used well the the HUNs can sneak a promotion place" currently 6th in table

Livingston - "will be slow starters, challenge if a couple of MF are recruited". currently 9th in table

Dundee - "if manager is clever and varies tactics then top 4 possible" currently 4th in table

"Alloa & Partick are sure to get a play-off place at the very least also."
currently 2nd and 1st in the table

We Can Beat The Drop
We Can Beat The Drop
We Can Beat The Drop
We Can Beat The Drop
We Can Beat The Drop
We Can Beat The Drop
We Can Beat The Drop
We Can Beat The Drop
We Can Beat The Drop
We Can Beat The Drop

Well done Partick Thistle.

A few teams predicted PT would win Div 2, including COW boss predicting it

(others prob predicted it too, but you can go read back this thread yourselves, you lazy lot you!)

How good am I?

Not only did we correctly get the promoted teams in the right order... (after adding Alloa after all the hard work in the opening month before the league campaign started!)

..we managed to defy EVERYONE'S predictions and stay up after our terrific promotion last season... check out the whole thread 2nd bottom was the best anyone gave us!

...not only that we even avoided the play offs...

...and reached the CECIL Cup Final, only losing on penalties to the mighty GERS...

...beating 4 1st Division teams on the way...

...including Champions Celtic in the semis!

Not bad for the worst team in the 2nd Division when the season started - Manager of the Season - probably not, this always goes to the "winners" but surely the boards of the big teams must look at this achievement and wonder if they should try and lure a manager like me to steer their team to fullfilling their ambitions

...and there endeth our pitch for your vote as manager of the season

Auction 1: 5/24 DF Jamie Bishop ARB
Auction 2: 5/25 WG Keith Gillespie ARB
Auction 5: 4/21 FW Ben Bendi-Bennett ARB

And Arbroath still a decent amount of cash left.

Les will be in my short list for manager of the season for Division 2.

(Edit - I hadn't seen Les's post when I was typing this up)

I join this ARB love in!!