League Two Predictions 2007-8: 24th Place

Macclesfield Town

Last Season at a glance

22nd in League Two

Well I suppose by the end of the season, it was considered a successful season for the Silkies. At one stage, they looked dead and buried, until we did them a favour by succumbing to their first win of the season in December.

They stayed up on the final game of the season, when they drew with Notts County, but their survival was primarily down to a run of form which we kick started losing to their ten men. They won eight games out of ten over December and January. After that, they reverted to poor form, but they had done enough based on that momentum that Paul Ince handed them after that win against us.

They never thanked us though.

border="0" alt="" width="470" height="379" />
Brightwell is officially the Football League's newest manager (though that may well change by the time you read this). He was given the job in the Summer following Paul Ince's defection to the land of concrete cows.

He's been at the Moss Rose for about three years now, having previously been manager of the reserves, and a couple of spells as caretaker manager, and he seems well thought of at Macclesfield. He has appointed former Stockport manager Asa Hartford as his assistant in the same way that Ray Mathias helped out Paul Ince.

But other than that, there's obviously questions as to how Brightwell will fare as a manager, especially with such a big job ahead of him this season. Oh, as with any article that there has ever been about Ian Brightwell, he is the son of former Olympic runners Ann Packer and Robbie Brightwell.

Well for a start, the Paul Ince media myth has departed from the Moss Rose, and that can only be a good thing for the Silklot. Whilst he undoubtedly brought with him plenty of publicity for the club, which benefited them, I saw nothing from him to suggest that he's a decent manager. And we'll clearly put the boot into Ince when we come to previewing MK Dons' season.

And as was the case throughout his entire career, Paul Ince is concerned about Paul Ince only. At least with Brightwell, they will have someone who will actually give a toss about the club, and might even find it within himself to speak to the press after games. And would Brightwell bring himself on for the last five minutes of a crucial game, had he not played in the previous year? Can't see it.

Where do we start?

Just look at the quality of the signings that they have brought in. There isn't a single player amongst that lot that would offer any sort of encouragement at all.

The players coming in are the sort that just seem to have drifted from club to club throughout their career with precious little praise from those clubs that they have played for.

Husbands offers potential, but can you really talk about potential of a player who is 24? Especially one who has played for six clubs before joining Macc, yet has only got five league goals to his career total. There are keepers out there who have more goals than clubs to their name.

If Luke Dimech improves the Macc defence, then it will only be because their existing defence is so poor. Dimech has spent the past year playing in his native Maltese league having been rejected by the world and his son twelve months back.

Edgehill is proof that Brightwell is a nice fella. Let's face it, its not the sort of signing that you make if you want to improve your side. He was universally laughed out of Bradford at the end of last season, and had it not been for the old City connection, he'd have dropped into the non league abyss. Of course, we wouldn't suggest an old pals act.

And as for Terry Dunfield.... I honestly thought he'd retired from the game having not made it. Must be about five years since he disappeared into the "Where are they now?" file.

At least the players they had offered something. Martin Bullock always came across to me as being horribly inconsistent, and he always had a nightmare against us, but I knew enough about him to know that he could turn on the skills. I don't see that amongst any of the new players.

Same with John Murphy. He was always a massive handful to play against, almost like a Drewe Broughton with ability, and any opposition defender would know that they had been in a game if they'd been up against Murphy. He will be a big loss to the Silkies.

border="0" alt="" width="470" height="316" />
Well I hope for Macc fans' sake that Gritton doesn't look like that all the time. I've bought Big Issues from people who looked to have kept better care of themselves. It hardly screams the word "athlete" at you. Definitely more Keith Richards than Micah Richards.

Anyways, Gritton aint a bad 'un. It might not have worked out particularly well for him at either Grimsby or Lincoln, but his loan spell at Mansfield suggested he still has a bit of something about him having scored six goals in his time with the Stags.

He's an awkward character is Gritton and when he's on form, he can be a handful for any defence. He might not be a 20+ goals a season striker, but he can play his part in any forward partnership.

But he's got big shoes to fill in replacing John Murphy, and his career has tended to slump since leaving Torquay. If he can find some form, Macc will have a chance. If he goes into his shell, it'll be Goodnight Vienna.

Right, we don't doubt for the slightest moment that this page will be read by Macclesfield supporters. Now you have to believe me on this, I haven't tipped you for the drop as retaliation for last season's dummy spit over our programme article. It's not the "non league" thing either, as using the story index to your left you can check out past predictions where we've been more than complimentary about your chances in the past. We never take any pleasure in predicting any team for the drop (except for Notts County) and this is no exception. Anyway, enough of my needless explanation that this isn't a wind up. This is why we think that Macc are conference bound.

It's just last season. Least season, Macclesfield showed that after the initial Ince momentum, they were dreadful. Without doubt the worst side to visit Spotland last season, and looking at their squad, I am left with no doubt that they have a worse squad to pick from than they did at the end of 2006-7.

The likes of Green, Wiles, Gritton etc may be decent enough players, but can any Macclesfield supporter genuinely admit that Gritton is a better player than John Murphy? Is Francis Green likely to be a better player than Martin Bullocks? I can't see it myself, and they still have that defence which gave me the confidence that even at 33 I can still make it as a professional footballer.

And if any of that wasn't enough, the managerial issues over the Summer will not have helped matters at all. Ince himself won't be missed, though the timing of his departure was disastrous. Ray Mathias may be missed a lot more than Ince will.

And whilst there's no doubt that Ian Brightwell is probably a nice bloke (a fact which will be championed by his apologists when he's rooted to the foot of the table throughout the season), but given the blatant problems that Macc showed last season, and the turbulent close season they have had, would you really entrust the club's future in the Football League with a total rookie of a manager? Being nice doesn't get you any points.

So all in all, we can see nowt but a bleak season for the Silkmen and they'll match the achievements of Barnet who were relegated back to the Conference in their 10th anniversary season.