4 Days to go: Who’ll be in the Top 8 of League 2?

With season just 4 days away, time to look at League 2 and predict who’ll will finish where. This article will look at the potential top 8 finishers.

1. Chesterfield. Close to the play offs last season, the squad has been strengthened with some good players. Notably The addition of Gary Roberts from Swindon Town. Manager Paul Cook has done well to keep Lee and Darikwa at the Proact Stadium. Good prospect for champions.
2. Bristol Rovers. Can they finally deliver? A slow start saw them fighting relegation, but a good second half the season saw them finish strongly. Can that momentum carry them forward in to this season? An injury crisis may hamper a good start, but John Ward will aim to blend the youngsters in with the experienced players to find winnings ways.
3. Cheltenham Town. Twice in the play offs and twice failed. Their aim will be for an automatic place. If Cureton,  Gornell Ashley Vincent can find the net regularly then a top 3 place will be possible. If the Robins get off to a slow start, don’t be surprised to see Mark Yates out of the door.
4. Oxford Utd. Chris Wilder has been ringing the changes at Oxford. A new squad fit for a promotion challenge, with changes throughout the team. If they can get Dave Kitson scoring regularly then a top 8 should be possible.
5. Burton Albion. Gary Rowett has had to replace the excellent Zola and Maghoma, and may have achieved this with long throw specialist Rory Delap and Torquay’s Rene Howe. A top 8 should be possible, but not enough in-depth talent may hamper any bid for an automatic place.
6. Exeter City. An abysmal end to the season saw City lose out on a play off place to a delighted Bradford City. Huge concerns that with Cureton gone, goals will be hard to come by. Sam Parkin may be the solution. Squad continuity will help and the gradual introduction of the youngsters could help build a promotion challenging squad. Tight finances are of a concern.
7. Plymouth Argyle. A huge turnaround for Argyle after the sacking of Carl Fletcher. John Sheridan should be able to take the upturn in performances at the end of last season, some good signings and good management tactics should see a challenge for Argyle at the top end of the season. After a number of seasons of failure this could be a season to remember for the Home Park faithful even if promotion isn’t the end result.
8. Fleetwood Town. Having been challenging for promotion in their first season of league football Town slipped badly to finish 13th. A new financial regime for manager Graham Alexander and second season syndrome may keep Town out of the final promotion spot, but expect them to be challenging during the season. The leadership of Mark Roberts (signed from Steveange) in defence will be important.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the battle for mid-table obscurity in League 2.