Predictions 2008-9 - 3rd Lincoln City
Tuesday, 5th Aug 2008 20:54

It's automatic promotion time now, and we've gone for perhaps the bravest of our prediction. As if putting down a team you think is going to get promoted is "brave".

Lincoln City

last season at a glance

Lincoln only went and spoilt things last season didn't they. One of the golden rules of League Two, alongside our constant involvement in it, is that Lincoln must be one of the losing Play Off teams every single season. Last season disrupted that 17 year continued Play Off involvement when they never recovered from their bad start which even had them flirting with relegation for long periods. However, a succession of wins (sparked by January's victory at Spotland) saw them lift away from the bottom to finish comfortably mid table.

The gaffer - Peter Jackson

Much will be written about Peter Jackson this season, given his recent recovery from cancer, no doubt earning more coverage for the Imps that they would normally have received. However, Jackson's strengths as a manager aren't in need of the good will gestures and pleasantries from others. Jackson has always reminded me very much of Jim Gannon, and any side that he puts out will always be ready to battle in every game.

Jackson impressed me with his time at Huddersfield, and given the resources he seems to have at his disposal at Lincoln, he will be looking at continuing that good work. It's been a clever choice of club by Jackson. Lincoln have made some real progression as a club over the years, and last season could well just have been a small blip in an otherwise long term improvement. By coming in post-blip, he's got the basis of a decent squad already there, with funds to play with.

Furthermore, much like ourselves, Lincoln have gone for more of a management team with Iffy Onuora working alongside Jackson. It may have been pretty much enforced with Jackson's illness last season, but in bringing in Onuora, they have got themselves a highly intelligent and experienced number two to ensure that all bases are covered.

Reasons for a better season

The main reason for thinking they'll have a better season is pretty much every word that you've read under the management above. They started last season with the former Head Coach John Schofield in charge, and whilst he had bags of experience having practically done every single job that was available at Sincil Bank, becoming manager was a step too far, and it showed as they looked like sinking without trace.

The new management team has also brought in several new players with a mixture of experience and potential and will go a long way to improving what was already a decent squad. It's a great coup that Frecklington still remains at Lincoln, as does emerging talents like Ben Wright who grabbed fifteen goals last season whilst remaining under the radar.

Add to that the work which has been done off the field in recent years at Lincoln. We at Rochdale have always been impressed with the growth that Lincoln have made as a club in recent years. It hasn't been that long since their average attendance was less than ours, and whilst they had a disappointing season last time out, their average was still over a thousand bigger than ours. Linking that attendance with income, that could be the difference when it comes to resisting bids / strengthening in the January transfer window.

Reasons for a worse season

I'm being honest here, but I can't see a single reason why it could be a worse season for Lincoln. Certainly not a worse season than the one they've just had, as there's no way on earth that they'll finish so low down yet again.

There's reasons why it might not be as high as we reckon it could be. Graham could disappoint, and it could be a season too much for Frank Sinclair which seems an odd signing. The days of former Premier League players cutting at this level in their mid 30's are long gone.

The loss of Dodds and Forrester will take away a large number of their goals from last season, as the two of them grabbed twenty one goals between them.

Season depends on - David Graham

If ever there was a player in this division who needs his career kick starting again, then its David Graham. From his days at Torquay, he was a wonderful striker, and even though the Gulls never really did much on the pitch, Graham was the exception, and it was no surprise that there was a queue of clubs looking out for him.

If we're being honest, it was probably a step to far when Wigan came in for him, and his career has pretty much been on the slide since then, aside from a brief loan spell at Huddersfield where he showed glimpses of the old David Graham.

Even a return to his old stomping ground of Plainmoor failed to resurrect the goalscorer in him, and he was left on the footballing scrap heap at 29 when let go by Gillingham earlier this year.

Can Peter Jackson turn things around for David Graham? Well since the switch to Wigan, as we said its only been a loan spell at Huddersfield where he has performed, and his manager at the time was a certain Peter Jackson. Time will tell whether Jackson can resurrect Graham once again.

RochdaleAFC.com Prediction

3rd - Automatic Promotion

Reasons for our prediction

We appreciate that out of all of the predictions that we've done so far, this is probably the one where we stick our necks out the most. They had a bad season last year, the pundits aren't backing them and the bookies don't seem to think they stick much of a chance either. So why are we doing?

Well a great deal of it is down to the management team of Jackson and Onuora. They've both well respected in the game, and have got decent track records. Both of Jackson's dismissals from Huddersfield seemed a little on the harsh side, and Onuora has a good record in the game from spells at Swindon and Gillingham.

Their arrivals seem to have given Lincoln a bit of a kick up the backside after arguably complacency had set in. Don't forget, this was a Play Off qualifying squad just over a year ago, and one bad season shouldn't mask the quality within the squad.

The management have been busy little beavers over the Summer, with a number of quality signings arriving at Sincil Bank. Jackson has form for getting the best out of David Graham, whilst Onuora knows defensive signing Aaron Brown from his Gillingham and Swindon days.

There's no debate that the Lincoln squad will start the new season in better shape than it finished the last season. Of course, it may be a season too far for the likes of Frank Sinclair who joins from Huddersfield, but he's the token OAP in a squad which is otherwise at their physical peaks and that little bit of madness that Jackson will fetch with him will ensure that the squad are always kept on their toes.

Photo: Action Images

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