All my posts this summer have been to do with the iron. For the past couple of days, I’ve been looking at what our rivals have been doing over the close season and how my take matches that of the bookmakers and chat GP. At the end of my deliberations, I don’t think there is any one team in this league that will match the achievements of York or Rochdale. I think the league is more open and I suspect 97 points will be enough to win it probably with half a dozen defeats. 95 will secure 2nd place and 92 the third. Other play off spaces will go to teams in the high 80’s. Who are those teams? Well, I don’t think it’s Carlisle or Southend for the top spot. Money talked last year , and it will this year so Borehamwood and FGR have the owners with the cash do I’ll go for them as 1 and 2, but which way round, I don’t know. I can’t see Barrow or Harrogate challenging for the top spots , but they will challenge for a play off space. From those coming up Fylde’s points and goal scoring record in the NLN will stand them in good stead and they will challenge for a play off spot, Worthing may. Kiddy and Hornchurch will do well to stay out of the bottom 4. I see ourselves, Carlisle , Hartlepool, Halifax and Yeovil will be in the mix for 3rd place and the other play off places. Solihull or Tamworth may well be in that mix, depending who recruits the best loanees from their League neighbours. We may well find that the top 12 all have 75 points plus and the play off places only decided on the last day. The bottom 4( or perhaps 6) may well take some thumping this season and 46 points may well secure survival . We may well have a good idea where we might finish by the end of August, by the end of the first weekend of October we will have a very good idea, having played 8 of the forecast challengers in the first 12 matches!
