1898/99 Division One Predictions/Preview
1st: Bootle
When it comes to predicting who will become Football League champions it is hard to look past the 3x Champions from Merseyside, as Bootle once again look to have one of the strongest squads in the league despite their choking of a potential title last season.
2nd: Sheffield United
Over the course of the off season, the Blades have continued their growth as one of the best sides in the Football League currently. Despite their good squad however it is hard to back them for the title when they have yet to launch a proper title charge of any sort.
3rd: Aston Villa
Inarguably the most successful side in Football League history so far, Villa have yet to ever fall out of the top 5 spots and are pretty much always a lock for a top 3 spot. Their squad looks strong again this year and it is hard to predict them falling outside the top spots.
4th: Darwen
The surprise winner of last season, it is hard to see Darwen dropping too far off the pace this season, however their squad just do not look to have the same strength as those sides above them.
5th: Liverpool
Liverpool have made quite the splash in the top flight following their promotion from Division 2 and they look to have the quality to stay well within the top half of the table, although probably not good enough to start launching a title charge.
6th: Blackburn Rovers
A fairly consistent part of the upper-table these days, Blackburn Rovers' squad still looks quite good, however much like Liverpool above them the chance to compete to win their second title seems like it would be too much to expect of their current squad
7th: West Bromwich Albion
A team that looks to have stepped up in quality during the off-season, West Brom are obviously looking to lose their title of being the only side to have competed in every first division season without winning the title as they look to put themselves within the mix of the best teams rather than fighting for safety.
8th: The Wednesday
Constantly a decent side in the league, Wednesday look to continue this trend by being good enough to avoid relegation, while also not looking to have that quality to push too far up the table.
9th: Walsall
A side that have started to settle into the midtable a bit, Walsall look set to continue this trend as the squad does not look to have really made improvements that will take them up the table significantly, but also look unlikely to fall down it.
10th: Derby County
Another side that will likely be taking the spot of just being their for this upcoming season is Derby County, who similar to Walsall have made solid moves to keep their squad of the similar quality to last season.
11th: Sunderland Albion
If just being their was a team, it would be Sunderland Albion. Never a side bad enough to fall into the playoffs spots, but also have not been anywhere near good enough to challenge for the title, Albion are just existing in the league for the past few years and this trend seems set to continue.
12th: Woolwich Arsenal
Despite them finishing in the top half of the division for the first time in their history, it is hard to see Arsenal staying that high in the table with their current squad. I expect a bit of the drop off for the side, but they should be safe from relegation.
13th: Crewe Alexandra
A side who can probably count their luck stars no teams got promoted in the playoffs, Crewe could easily have been pushed into the relegation battle if they were not carefully as they continue to struggle to field a team deserving of being in the top flight. The do look better than the 3 sides below them however.
14th: Middlesbrough Ironopolis
You would think a side like Ironopolis would be looking to improve their squad having almost being relegated, Stockton joining the second Division and Middlesbrough knocking on the door too. However, Ironopolis do not appear to have improved their squad at all and could be a potential candidate for relegation.
15th: Preston North End
There are no play-offs to save Preston any more, so if they finish in the bottom 2 spots for a third season running, they will be dropped from the division. The original champions of the league and 2 time champions look a shell of their former selves and it is hard to see them surviving another season in the First Division.
16th: Newton Heath
It feels like Newton Heath have been flirting with danger for a few seasons now and I believe this could be the year in which the side finally finds themselves being dropped from the division. The side however do have a tendency to avoid the danger zone despite not looking good for years.
- DinoKea
