Predictions 2008-9 - 12th Aldershot Town
Sunday, 3rd Aug 2008 22:17

It's time to start looking up now as we focus on the top half of the table, and in doing so, we welcome one of the new boys to the Rochdale Division table. Hello to Aldershot Town.

Aldershot Town

last season at a glance

Not a bad season for the Shots. They completed the non league double of winning the conference and winning something called the Setanta Shield. The title win of the Conference was a fantastic achievement, as they raced to the top accumulating over a hundred points in the process winning almost two thirds of their games. We've never heard of the Setanta Shield but we're sure its very prestigious and is probably the renamed version of the FA Vase or something along those lines.

The gaffer - Gary Waddock

You can imagine it when Waddock turned up for his interview at Aldershot back in the Summer of 2007.

Aldershot Chairman: "So Gary how will you be able to benefit Aldershot Town if we were to give you the job?"

Gary Waddock: "Well I full expect to be able to win the title in my very first season in charge, finishing fifteen points clear of our nearest challengers"

Aldershot Chairman: "Blimey, anything else? Your cv just has you down as being a sacked manager of QPR."

Gary Waddock: "Forget that. CV's are just a stupid French car, and I was only caretaker at QPR. I'll be Blue Square Manager of the Year by the end of this season, even thought its my first real managerial job."

Aldershot Chairman: "It's not quite enough am afraid. We're still not convinced"

Gary Waddock: "I tell you what, I'll win that Setanta Shield thing, even tho like that tosser from Rochdale, I've never heard of it either."

Aldershot Chairman: "When can you start?"

And the rest is history.

Reasons for a better season

Like we said with Exeter, how can it get any better than that Conference and SS double? The question is probably what would be considered to be a better season than that one.

The bulk of the squad has been retained. Mostly, those leaving are doing so at the insistence of Aldershot Town, and there's been a few tweaks here and there to ensure that their squad is a better one than the squad which secured the Conference title.

Reasons for a worse season

Bizarre as it may well sound, but they might find things a bit difficult this season what with it being a step up, and based on last season, they're not used to that sort of thing. The Conference last year was a walk in the park for them, and they didn't particular have to exert themselves to achieve that goal. It could be a different kettle of fish when they find themselves taking on similar quality sides.

The squad looks to be made up almost entirely of Conference players. There's some good ones, such as the bearded wonder that is Chris Blackburn, but they have a squad which includes Dean Howell who many, many moons had a dodgy spell on loan at Dale, before spending the next decade jumping from one Conference club to another. That's not to say they're bad players, far from it - they've proved themselves last year, but will they manage the step up?

One player not to make the step up, at least not with the Shots is Joel Gray, who has since been sold to Crewe Alex for the sum of £130,000.

Season depends on - Marvin Morgan

Now we appreciate that the photograph above doesn't do Marvin Morgan much justice, but its about the best that we can get our hands upon at this moment in time. Anyway, Morgan comes to Aldershot having joined from Woking Town in the Summer. A look at his stats suggest that he's not that great a signing with just ten goals from his forty two appearances for Woking last season but on delving deeper, he sounds a lot more useful than that.

He's singled out by the award winning Aldershot manager Gary Waddock as one of the toughest opponents that they came up against last year, and he's been tipped to cause similar problems in League Two this time round.

Whilst it is a step up for him, all of his boxes are ticked. He has height, strength, a bit of pace, and he knows where the back of the net is. He might not at 25 turn into a twenty goal a season man, and he'll no doubt miss plenty of chances over the season, but he'll get goals.

RochdaleAFC.com Prediction

12th - Mid table

Reasons for our prediction

It's arguable that we've been a little bit critical on Aldershot in only having them down as only finishing in 12th place. With the division being as open as its likely to be this next season, they have just as good a chance of doing a Yeovil and coming from out of nowhere and securing promotion to the division above at the first attempt.

But we're just a bit concerned that they've had it all a bit too much their own way over the past year and the step up could see them forced to play a different style of football than they've been used. The win, win, win approach will see them come unstuck on numerous occasions as they come up against better defenders, and strikers who will score from their one opportunity. I don't doubt Aldershot fans will come away from games this year scratching their heads how they've not won after dominating for 90 minutes, only to fall for that 94th minute sucker punch. An "Atko" as it's commonly known as in the trade.

There's much to praise Aldershot for, and that much heralded momentum should go a long way for them next season, but when that runs out, it just seems that the cupboard looks a bit on the bare side.

But this should not viewed as negative as I know its coming across. We've probably tipped Aldershot to finish higher than any previous promoted side from the Conference, and its a sign of respect towards them that we're talking down their chances of a Play Off push rather than trying to talk up their chances of staying in the Football League.

But when you've got a manager who's got the Setanta Shield as one of his honours, then there's nothing to worry about. Champions League, here they come!

Photo: Action Images

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