Football League and Conference Predictions

Conference

Who do you expect to be promoted?

LW: Forest Green Rovers (Champions) and Luton (Play-offs). DS: Luton fans rave about Jon Shaw (as do Gateshead fans), and John Still should be the kind of manager to make use of his physicality. I don’t think anyone’s spent as heavily this summer as Crawley, Fleetwood and Mansfield have in recent years, so I’ll go with Wrexham through the play-offs.DR: Luton have come close for the last few seasons, and with John Still’s experience, promotion is certainly possible. Barnet might be up there if Edgar Davids listens to anyone but himself, and Cambridge are due a good season.

Who do you expect to be relegated?DS: Salisbury have had two promotions in a row, and unlike Chester, are maybe above their natural level – it could be a challenge for Mikey Harris, the 28-year-old former assistant in his first season as a manager. I don’t expect Gateshead to underachieve like they did last year, and with Halifax and Chester two of the teams promoted, a few of the ‘smaller’ teams in the division could be dragged into the battle.LW: Hyde, Nuneaton, Welling and Salisbury.DR: Aldershot could struggle after their off-field problems, and I’m not convinced by Andy Scott as a manager. Salisbury, Hyde and Alfreton might struggle on the basis that I don’t know a lot about them.

Who do you expect to be top scorer?

DS: Jon Shaw, a typical old-fashioned English forward. So I’ve heard.LW: Forest Green seem to have an abundance of strikers. Unfortunately, I don’t know too much about them.DR: If Barnet can keep hold of the want away Jake Hyde, he could tear up the Conference. I’ve heard good things about Andy Mangan (Forest Green Rovers) and Michael Gash too.

Which team do you expect to exceed people’s expectations? LW:Barnet. I don’t think people are expecting much after their previous four seasons’ flirt with the drop-zone and final day scraps.DS: Given that they’ve won three promotions in a row and have a decent fanbase behind them, I can see Chester continuing that momentum and challenging for the play-offs.DR: Hereford have made some shrewd signings, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they challenged this year.Which player do you expect to be a surprise success?

LW: I think Luton Town’s Anthony Charles (who’s getting on a bit) has found his level. Not a surprise success but a solid defender who will be more suited to Conference football than League Two.

DR: Daniel Leadbitter – who’s just signed for Hereford after leaving Torquay – is a promising full-back and may find his level in the Conference.

Any other predictions that you think will make you look really insightful in nine months time?LW: Barnet to sign a former Dutch International (not Davids!)DR: Davids to leave Barnet under an orange cloud if the Bees fail to rip up the Conference. He’ll throw a paddy, launching his glasses to the floor before catching the first flight back to Holland, claiming that he’s “too cool for the Conference”.DS: Alfreton to win the FA Cup, defeating Chelsea after extra time in the final. You can laugh now, but think how smart I’ll look if it comes true.