STEEL CITY PRIDE AT STAKE

OWLS AND BLADES RENEW HOSTILITIES IN THIRD TIER

As the media circus gathers momentum, we head into the 125^th Steel City derby with the formbook definitely pointing towards the team in blue and white.

Gary Megson’s men are in the middle of a four-match winning streak and have been unstoppable at fortress Hillsborough this season with an unblemished 100% record.

In stark contrast, the Blades, under the stewardship of ex-Owls player and manager Danny Wilson (a fact that those of a blue and white persuasion will be eager to point out more so this week, than any other), have wilted recently since their early season spurt.

They head into the clash on the back of a tight win against local rivals Rotherham, which followed defeats to Charlton, Wycombe and Huddersfield in recent weeks. Those setbacks combined with Wednesday’s fantastic form lately will tempt many to punt on an away win this coming Sunday.

However, as the old cliché goes “you can throw the formbook out the window in derbies”.

The game will be unpredictable, as most derbies are, but with the added spice of both teams being serious promotion contenders and Wilson’s personal history this promises to be one of the most explosive steel city derbies in recent years.

With a capacity crowd expected at Bramall Lane on Sunday, and around 10,000 flocking to S6 for a beam-back of the game, there is no shortage of interest in this match, which has all the ingredients to be an explosive encounter.

KEY BATTLES

Madine v Collins

Madine has been prolific this season with 10 goals under his belt so far, and will take some stopping by the experienced Collins.

Ironically, Collins made his Blades debut in this fixture during an initial loan spell five years ago, before making the switch permanent this season.

Marshall v Williams

It will be an intriguing battle between the two loan stars on Sunday. Speed merchant Marshall likes to expose full-backs but will come up against a tough challenge in Williams, who is no slouch.

Marshall has already bagged two goals this season but will have to get the better of the Reading loanee in order to make that three.

Quinn v Semedo

The Portuguese lynchpin will be given the unenviable task of marshalling the livewire Quinn.

Semedo has put in some impressive performances so far, with the ability to break up play and protect the defence, but on Sunday he will come up against arguably one of the best players in the division.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Blades

Simonsen - Lowton, Maguire, Collins, Williams - Doyle or Flynn, Quinn, Montgomery, McDonald, Porter, Evans

Owls

Bywater, Bennet or R Johnson, Batth, R Jones, Buxton, Semedo, Lines, O'Connor, Marshall, Madine, McGoldrick or O'Grady

LAST MEETING

SHEFF WED 1-1 SHEFF UTD – April 2010

The two sides last met 18 months ago in a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough.

Darren Potter volleyed the Owls in front before half-time but Lee Williamson’s free-kick levelled proceedings in a result which ultimately relegated the Owls.

The Blades followed suit 12 months later, joining their neighbours in the third tier.

DID YOU KNOW?

Of the Sheffield Wednesday 18-man squad which took part in that 1-1 draw back in April 2010, only four are still on the club’s books.

MILLER: “WE’RE THERE TO BE SHOT AT”

Tommy Miller insists that Huddersfield Town’s amazing unbeaten run has made them one of the big scalps in League One this year.

Town are currently on a sensational 34-game unbeaten league run (at the time of print), stretching all the way back to December 2010.

Midfielder Miller, who joined the Terriers from Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, says that the further the run stretches, the more Lee Clark’s men become targets.

He said: “It’s remarkable (the unbeaten run). But we’re there to be shot at, and obviously a lot of clubs want to be the first ones to end the run.

“The lads did ever so well last season and should have been promoted really. The play-offs are a lottery and they failed them, but league-wise, it’s a run that they’ve continued this season and all credit to them and also the new lads who have come in and helped along the way.

“There’s great belief in the lads and the whole squad throughout, so we’ve just got to keep that going now.”

Whilst speaking at Town’s Galpharm Stadium, Miller also revealed that he shunned other teams, including one higher division club, in order to rubber-stamp a move to Town and he cites the team’s playing style as the catalyst:

“It’s a fantastic club and everything’s set up here. They play football the way that I like to play and the manager’s ideas all added up so it was all perfect and I was delighted to come.

“I also know a couple of the coaches: Steve Watson from Sheffield Wednesday and Paul Stephenson who I played with at Hartlepool back in the day.”

Miller also revealed that a new deal was initially promised at Wednesday, before a surprise change of heart paved the way for a move to West Yorkshire. The former Sunderland and Ipswich man concedes he was disappointed not to be kept on the books at Hillsborough, but believes the future is bright for both himself and Town.

He added: “I’m enjoying it here and hopefully we can be up there come the end of the season. It’s a big squad and I’ve got to bide my time but at the moment I feel fit, injury-free and hopefully this season I can kick on, stay in the team and get a few goals aswell maybe.

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITIES

When it comes to the transfer window, opinion is very much split.

Some believe it should be scrapped as it promotes rushed deals with over-inflated fees for players, whilst others are fans of its ability to cease trading for a fixed period.

However, one thing that most football followers will agree on, and that the media thrives on, is that deadline Day is very much unique and undoubtedly entertaining.

The latest offering, last Wednesday, may not have included any stand-out deals such as the ones in previous years, but it did provide the base for a number of top-flight clubs to get rid of the deadwood within their squads.

The best example of this was Tottenham, who throughout the window brought in the experienced trio of Brad Friedel, Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor whilst at the same time moving on the likes of Crouch, Hutton, Jenas, Bentley and Palacios.

Shrewd moves as ever by Harry Redknapp who recouped far more from those departures than was initially spent on the aforementioned trio.

Similar movement went on at Anfield, where Kenny Dalglish sprang a surprise by re-signing Craig Bellamy. As the temperamental Welshman swooped into Merseyside, Dalglish was busy moving on the likes of Poulsen, Kyrgiakos, N’Gog, Cole and Meireles.

Both Liverpool and Spurs now have the look of lean, quality-laden squads with potential for a top-four finish, thanks to their business in the window.

As far as other Premier League sides were concerned, the window, and Deadline day in particular, brought a mixed bag. QPR must be pleased with their business having acquired experienced players such as Young, Barton, Ferdinand and Wright-Philips, whilst Everton fans are understandably disgruntled after the departures of Arteta, Beckford and Yakubu and the arrival of just two loanees.

Elsewhere, Arsene Wenger frantically supplemented his squad with Arteta, Mertesacker and Benayoun to make up for a recent torrid time (on and off the pitch), City did their business relatively early, meaning a surprisingly quiet deadline day for them and Alex Ferguson was watching the madness unfold safe in the knowledge that his business had been done long before August 31, with his new recruits already settled.


WINDOW ASSESSMENT

GOOD WINDOW FOR …. LIVERPOOL: completely reshaped the squad, with Dalglish getting rid of deadwood and bringing in quality such as Adam, Enrique and Downing. A top four finish now looks more achievable with the revamped team.


BAD WINDOW FOR …. EVERTON: Another window, and again Everton fail to spend a penny. The sale of star man Mikel Arteta is worrying and others to have left Goodison include Beckford and Yakubu, who despite not being regulars, also chipped in with their fair share of goals. Their replacement by an unproven Argentine forward (on loan) has not gone down well with Toffee supporters and for the first time in his reign, Moyes’ future may come into question.

SIGNING OF THE WINDOW…. Take your pick from AGUERO, PARKER or CROUCH: Granted those three may all be very different players, but for their respective clubs they could prove priceless. AGUERO cost a fortune but already has shown the qualities needed to be a big hit at City, PARKER could prove to be an astute signing and the reigning player of the year will slot perfectly into the Spurs team, whilst CROUCH may come as a surprise to many to be in this category, but Stoke’s unique style should suit him perfectly and he may prosper from being a first-team regular again.

LEEDS HIT RIGHT TOON AGAINST SLOPPY NEWCASTLE

Leeds United put forward a case for their promotion credentials for the upcoming season, with a 3-2 victory against a strong Newcastle side on Sunday.

Goals from Patrick Kisnorbo, Lloyd Sam and Billy Paynter secured the win for Simon Grayson’s side, with Steven Taylor and Haris Vuckic netting for the visitors in a highly entertaining friendly match at Elland Road.

With both teams fielding strong line-ups, it was evident that this was not going to be any ordinary pre-season tussle, and that proved to be the case when after just 3 minutes Australian defender Kisnorbo tapped in a gift of a goal, after Toon keeper Fraser Forster fumbled an elementary free-kick.

Alan Pardew’s men looked shell-shocked and constant darting runs from the impressive wing duo of Snodgrass and Gradel threatened the Magpies backline on numerous occasions in the ensuing period.

After soaking up much Leeds pressure, Newcastle equalised from a corner, when Steven Taylor popped up at the back post to slot past debutant Andy Lonergan. It was just reward after impressive build-play previous to the goal, most notably from Joey Barton and the stand-out Yohan Cabaye.

As the second half wore on, Grayson tinkered by making a flurry of changes, and one of those introduced, Lloyd Sam, was to restore the lead for the home side. Sam picked up the ball on the left flank and jinked his way into the area before squeezing a timid shot past Forster at the near post.

Once again though, Newcastle levelled proceedings this time through one of their substitutes. Vuckic, the Slovenian attacker, rifled a shot past Lonergan in front of the 5,000 following Geordies behind the goal.

With both teams looking completely different from the ones that started the match (Leeds alone made seven changes), a game that was looking to peter out into a draw ended in barnstorming fashion when Paynter nodded in at the back post just five minutes from time.

Newcastle went close in the dyeing embers of the game, most notably when Sammy Ameobi wasted two gilt-edged chances, but they were unable to restore parity for a third time giving the Yorkshiremen a morale-boosting win heading into the curtain-raiser at Southampton next Saturday.

Pardew’s men, missing the likes of Ben Arfa, Collocini and Tiote, host Italian side Fiorentina on the same day, in anticipation of their opener against Arsenal the following week.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Yohan CABAYE – ran the show for the Geordies and looks a quality bit of business by Pardew.

NPOWER LEAGUE ONE 2011-12 PREVIEW

An overview of all 24 teams in the division, featuring last season’s achievements, key players and predicted outcomes.


AFC BOURNEMOUTH

Last season: 6th – Play-off semi finalists

Bournemouth were the fairytale story of last season. Financial troubles and point deductions of recent years were cast aside by the Cherries as they reached the play-offs after coming straight up from League Two.

A turbulent but successful season saw manager Eddie Howe depart for Burnley halfway through the season but despite that huge blow, they still managed to reach the end of season lottery, where a thrilling semi-final against Huddersfield ended in an agonising shoot-out defeat on penalties.

One to watch: Danny INGS. In his first full season he chipped in with 8 goals: a respectable tally for a young forward with a seemingly bright future.

Prediction: they will struggle to match last season’s heroics. A lot will depend on being able to keep players such as Robinson, Feeney and Ings.



BRENTFORD

Last season: 11th

The highlight of the Bees season was reaching the final of the JP Trophy. Unfortunately they were beaten 1-0 by Carlisle in the Wembley showpiece, under the stewardship of Nicky Forster, who had taken over from ex-manager Andy Scott.

All in all, it was a decent season for the London side, who also had an extended run in the Carling Cup, only to be knocked out by eventual winners Birmingham in the last 16. Former Man City player Uwe Rosler is the new manager at Griffin Park.

One to watch: Clayton DONALDSON. The striker’s impressive goal ratio at both York and Crewe has earned him a move up the football pyramid, and he will be looking to continue that at League One level.

Prediction: mid-table obscurity is once again likely to be in store for the Bees



BURY
Last season: 2nd in League Two - Promoted

The Shakers crowned promotion to the third tier after a solid season at the top of League Two.

Manager Alan Knill departed towards the bookend of the campaign, and was replaced by Richie Barker, who won his first six games. Barker has since taken up the reins on a permanent basis as the Shakers embark on a third division campaign for the first time since 2002.

One to watch: Ryan LOWE. The striker was a key part to the Shakers success last season, scoring 28 goals. Recently subject of a bid by non-league Stockport, but will almost certainly stay in the third tier with Bury.

Prediction: survival is the word for Bury, and if Lowe can keep up his scoring form, they may just achieve it.


CARLISLE

Last Season: 12th

Despite mid-table obscurity, it was still a season to remember for the Cumbrians, as they prospered in the JP Trophy final.

A 1-0 win over Brentford at Wembley secured their second Football League Trophy.

One to watch: Jon-Paul McGOVERN. The Scottish winger joined up with fellow ex-owls Frank Simek and Graham Kavanagh in the North-west, and is more than familiar with this division having previously played for Swindon, MK Dons and the Owls.

Prediction: after JP success last season, there is no reason why Carlisle cannot push for a top-ten finish.


CHARLTON

Last Season: 13th

Similar to the Owls, Charlton also suffered huge underachievement last time out and certainly have ambitions to better a 13th placed finish this season.

Chris Powell has already brought in the likes of Michael Morrison, Danny Green and Mikel Alonso as the Addicks target promotion.

One to watch: Danny GREEN. Impressed with Dagenham in this division last year, scoring 11 goals, and now given a chance to do the same at Charlton. Linked with the Owls, Green is a typical flashy winger, with a keen eye for goal.

Prediction: given their transfer activity, they will certainly be challenging for promotion. Play-offs a minimum.



CHESTERFIELD

Last Season: 1st in League Two - Promoted

The Spireites cruised towards promotion last season, as John Sheridan’s side won the league on 86 points scoring 85 goals in the process.


One to watch: Tommy LEE. The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper has impressed during his stay in Derbyshire, and is expected to earn more plaudits once he makes the step-up to League One.

Prediction: although many say survival is the priority for newly-promoted sides, Chesterfield appear to have enough in their locker to target a mid-table to top-half finish.



COLCHESTER

Last Season: 10th

One of those sides that is hard to follow, unless you support them, Colchester finished a respectable tenth last season. Manager John Ward did a decent job leading the side to within a close shave of the play-offs.

One to watch: Ian HENDERSON. Got into double figures last season, and will look to reach a similar target this time round.

Prediction: mid-table is the best they can hope for, play-offs a distant dream at this stage.



EXETER CITY

Last Season: 8th

Along with Bournemouth, the Grecians massively overachieved last season, finishing only a point off the play-off places.

Manager Paul Tisdale assembled a small, tight-knit squad that more than punched above its weight, and will look for the same this season.

One to watch: Liam SERCOMBE. After losing the 28-goal partnership of Ryan Harley and Jamie Cureton, Exeter will look to highly-rated Sercombe to chip in with his fair share of goals.

Prediction: unlikely to replicate last season’s heroics – mid-table finish.


HARTLEPOOL

Last Season: 16th

It was a decent first season for Mick Wadsworth, who was handed the managerial reins on a permanent basis as the campaign progressed.

Pools were, at one stage, challenging for the top six, but predictably faltered, before finishing in the mid-regions of the division, but importantly, well clear of the bottom four.

One to watch: Nolberto SOLANO. Undoubtedly the marquee signing of the summer for Pools, the Peruvian veteran still has an eye for a goal, and with a mean free-kick in his locker, Solano could be set to enjoy his swansong in style.

Prediction: despite a number of promising players on the books, Pools will struggle to get out of the bottom half. Lower to mid-table finish.



HUDDERSFIELD

Last Season: 3rd – Play-off Finalists

The Terriers amazing 27-match unbeaten run came to a crushing halt in the Play-off final, when they were edged out 3-0 by Peterborough. The run, which stretched from December to May, broke all sorts of records as Lee Clark’s men came within a whisker of promotion.

After a season of promise, it was a sour ending for the Yorkshire club, who are the bookmaker’s favourites to gain revenge and get promotion this time around.

One to watch: Danny WARD. The combative winger/striker signed on at the Galpharm permanently this summer after a loan stint last season: in seven games at the tail end of last season, he grabbed three goals.


Prediction: Bookies aren’t often wrong, and with a few tweaks to the squad, expect Clark’s men to be in the top two come May.



LEYTON ORIENT

Last Season: 7th

The O’s impressive season saw them miss out on the play-offs by just a single point. An extended FA Cup run also saw the club generate much-needed revenue, whilst manager Russell Slade steadied the ship towards the season’s climax, only for Bournemouth to pip them to Sixth Place.


One to watch: Jamie CURETON. Snapped up on a free from Exeter, the 35-year old could turn out to be one of the bargains of the season, especially if he can replicate his statistic of 17 goals in just 30 games for the Grecians.

Prediction: Could be in contention again this year, but a top-ten finish may be their best hope.


MK DONS

Last Season: 5th – Play-off semi-finalists

The Dons had a solid season, and were always in and around the upper echelons of the division, eventually finishing in fifth.

In the Play-offs, a thrilling first leg with Peterborough ensued, with the Dons prevailing 3-2. However, in the second leg the Posh ran out 2-0 winners to seal a Final date, before their eventual promotion. This time around, Karl Robinson will aim to get one better.

One to watch: Sam BALDOCK. The striker scored 12 last season, finishing as Dons top scorer. Ironically, Baldock was recently the subject of a £1million-plus bid from Peterborough, only for the player to pledge his future to Karl Robinson’s side.

Prediction: look a decent bet for a play-off place at least. Good set-up, good young manager, and a decent playing squad.


NOTTS COUNTY

Last Season: 19th

A farcical season off the field, County had a change of ownership as they came to terms with the aftermath of the “Sven and Sol” days. On the field, Craig Short, Paul Ince and Martin Allen all took the managerial hot seat throughout the season

A rollercoaster campaign eventually saw Allen secure County’s status as a League One club, before being offered an extended contract.

One to watch: Lee HUGHES. The controversial forward may divide opinion; however one thing that cannot be questioned is his goal scoring form for County. Recently offered a contract extension, Hughes has bagged double figures the last two seasons.

Prediction: Could have a survival scrap on their hands again, unless Allen can pick out some gems in the transfer Market: season of struggle ahead.


OLDHAM

Last Season: 17th

What started as a season of hope, soon turned into mid-table obscurity in Paul Dickov’s first managerial job. The Latics struggled for consistency, and the loss of young play-maker Dale Stephens, first on loan, and then permanently to Charlton, didn’t help.

Continued confusion around the stadium situation (Oldham hope to move away from the dilapidated Boundary Park) also hindered morale and form.

One to watch: Chris TAYLOR. The midfielder bagged 11 goals last season as Oldham slipped down the table after an impressive start. Linked with Championship clubs, it could be a big season for the 24-year old.

Prediction: a season of struggle ahead, with Dickov’s team likely to be scrapping to stay out of the trapdoor.



PRESTON

Last Season: 22nd in Championship – Relegated

A dismal campaign for North End saw them change manager halfway through the season. Phil Brown came in to replace Darren Ferguson, and despite an initial struggle, there were small signs that survival may be secured.

However, Brown’s men simply couldn’t keep their heads above water, and were relegated with three games to go. With the new season less than a month away, PNE have yet to make a summer signing, whilst Sean St Ledger and Paul Hayes are just two faces to have left the club.


One to watch: Iain HUME. The former Barnsley man grabbed 12 goals despite Preston’s relegation, and has the ability to deliver prolifically at this tier, having once scored 16 goals in a season for Tranmere.

Prediction: a wafer-thin squad needs bulking up if a promotion push is to be mounted. With Phil Brown in charge, fully expect Preston to be in and around the top-six.


ROCHDALE

Last Season: 9th

Dale were another of the overachievers last season, finishing a highly respectable 9th in their first season out of the fourth tier in 41 years.

Keith Hill, now at Barnsley, moulded the small Lancashire team into a formidable force, and laid the foundations for a solid season this time around.

One to watch: Gary JONES. The likeable Scouser was Dale’s top scorer last season, despite being a central midfielder. He is closing in on 300 appearances for the Spotland outfit, and will once again be the key man in the middle of the park.

Prediction: mid-table looks a safe bet, although the small squad may struggle to cope with injuries/suspensions.



SCUNTHORPE

Last Season: 24th in Championship – Relegated

An awful season for the Iron resulted in a drop to League One. However, it is hardly surprising, given that they went through three managers with Nigel Adkins starting the season, only to leave for Southampton in September 2010.

Adkins was replaced by former player Ian Baraclough, who failed to stop the rot before being axed in March this year. Ex-player Alan Knill agreed to pick up the buck but failed to save Scunny from demotion, after a forgettable campaign.

One to watch: Garry THOMPSON. The 30-year old winger is recently back from a long-term injury, but with an ability to pick out front men, and an eye for goal, Thompson will be integral to the Iron’s hopes of promotion.

Prediction: looking for a third recent promotion from this division, United look well-equipped. If Knill can raid the transfer market wisely, there’s no reason why they can’t achieve a top-six finish.


SHEFFIELD UNITED

Last Season: 23rd in Championship – Relegated

It was a season to forget for the Blades, but one to savour for Owls fans. The team in red and white went through no fewer than four managers in a turbulent campaign that delivered a paltry 11 victories.

Star players were sold, with an over-reliance on loan players ultimately proving their downfall. So far this summer only Mark Yeates and Darius Henderson have fled the sinking ship with the likes of Montgomery, Evans and Quinn likely to follow in due course.

One to watch: Jordan SLEW. The youngster showed promising signs last season and was recently the subject of a bid from Fulham. But, with the club showing a tendency to flog their best assets, Slew may not even be around come August 6, leaving a gaping hole in their attack.


Prediction: despite the expected promotion assault, the Blades may find themselves sifting through another selection of managers, especially if Wilson’s men go on a bad run. Top 10 finish, just missing out on play-offs.



SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Last Season: 15th

A season to put to bed for the Owls, as they sunk to mid-table obscurity despite initial high hopes at the start of last August.

Alan Irvine was replaced halfway through the season by Gary Megson, who helped to steady the ship as the Owls avoided a relegation scrap for the second season in a row.

There were however some positives from the year, such as Nicky Weaver, who established himself as the undisputed number 1, Neil Mellor reaching 20 goals in all competitions and the purchase of the club by Milan Mandaric, helping secure the club’s future.

One to watch: Julian BENNETT. Brought in to replace Tommy Spurr, Bennett’s last foray into this division was with Nottingham Forest, when he was part of the promotion-winning side. That season he also got into the League One team of the year, and could be a vital component as the Owls look to tighten the backline this season.

Prediction: Gary Megson has been thorough in his search for new blood, and has not been afraid to get rid of the “deadwood”. With 2/3 more signings the Owls can be confident of achieving a top six finish at the very least.


STEVENAGE

Last Season: 6th in League Two – Play-off Winners, Promoted

Stevenage achieved back-to-back promotions after a surprise season ended in them facing Torquay in the Wembley showpiece.

In the game, John Mousinho scored the winner to put Graham Westley’s men into the third tier for the first time in their history, and complete a memorable campaign, which also included the small matter of an FA Cup victory over Premier League giants Newcastle United.

One to watch: Jon ASHTON. The stocky defender was crowned player of the year last time out and looks to be the rock at the back for Boro. A former Leicester player, he has appeared at Premier League level early in his career.

Prediction: with a number of experienced heads in the camp, and a wily manager in Westley, do not rule out a top-10 finish for Boro.


TRANMERE

Last Season: 17th

An avoidance of a late-season relegation scrap was welcomed at Prenton Park, but they could be in for such a battle this year, having recently agreed to the sale of highly-rated youngster Dale Jennings to German giants Bayern Munich.

Jennings departure may swell the coffers, but the club is unlikely to be able to do anything other than face a battle for survival, given the threadbare facilities at the disposal of manager Les Parry.

One to watch: Owain Fon WILLIAMS. Snapped up on a free, Williams could be one of the signings of the season in this division. A few years ago, he was highly rated but has since lost his way. A rediscovery of his form may see Rovers picking up a decent fee for him in the future.

Prediction: Relegation looks to be unavoidable, especially considering the squad at the moment. It will take a monumental effort for Tranmere to survive.


WALSALL

Last Season: 20th

The Saddlers survived relegation by the skin of their teeth thanks to a miraculous recovery aided by ex-Owl Dean Smith, who took over managerial duties in January.

Smith delivered 7 wins from 25 games, resulting in Walsall surviving by a single point on the final day, and seeing Dagenham exit the league in their place. A similar battle looks likely this year, as the budget is cut and attendances drop.

One to watch: Kevan HURST. Always a decent performer, Hurst was snapped up on a free transfer, and along with fellow new recruits, Lee Beevers and Ryan Jarvis, looks a safe bet for this division.

Prediction: it is hard to predict anything other than a season of struggle for the Midlanders. They will do well to stay up again this year.


WYCOMBE

Last Season: 3rd in League Two – Promoted

In his first full season as manager, Gary Waddock delivered an immediate return to League One for the Chairboys, despite a frantic title fight at the top of League Two.

Wanderers scraped automatic promotion by a single point over closest rivals Shrewsbury, and this season they will aim to put an end to the recent switching of divisions, and consolidate themselves in the third tier of English football.

One to watch: Scott RENDELL. The journeyman striker, aged 24, scored 19 goals last season as Wycombe bagged promotion. That kind of strike-rate will go some way to keeping them in this league.

Prediction: Wanderers have a struggle on their hands, and could be saying hello again, to League Two come next May.


YEOVIL

Last Season: 14th

It was a respectable finish of 14th for the Glovers last season. Their top scorer was Dean Bowditch, who grabbed 15 goals as the Somerset outfit finished 12 points clear of relegation and 12 adrift of the top six.

During the close season, Yeovil lost Bowditch, who departed to MK Dons, along with a host of other players, leading manager Terry Skiverton to use the unique method of social networking site Twitter, to get suggestions from fans on who to sign.

One to watch: Bondz N’GALA. The former West Ham defender could be a key asset in the Yeovil backline, having joined on a free from Plymouth. He possesses great strength and played 26 times in this division for Argyle last season.

Prediction: a season of struggle is likely to ensue for Yeovil. They lack depth and quality, and are understandably one of the favourites to go down.

WHY WICKHAM MUST BUCK THE BIG-BUCKS TREND

The decision by Sunderland to splash out over £8 million (plus future add-ons) on Connor Wickham could be seen as a huge gamble.

The Black Cats’ willingness to enter a bidding war with clubs such as Liverpool could effectively prove to bite them back, if the youngster does not deliver the goods.

There is no doubting that Wickham has potential; he has featured in 65 Championship games, with a respectable tally of 13 goals. He has also worked his way up the international ladder, turning out for every England youth side and starring in the team that won the European u-17 championships in 2010.

But the question remains, is he really worth the astonishing transfer fee that Sunderland forked out?

A big money move to a Premier League team can sometimes be hugely detrimental to a player’s development. Just ask Fabian Delph and John Bostock.

Delph was aged 19 when he joined Vila for £8m from Leeds United in 2009. He was seen as a key part of the midfield, with Villa fending off Manchester United to secure his services. But since his move, he has made just 10 appearances for the club and his career has undoubtedly been halted.

Bostock was aged just sixteen when he joined Tottenham from Crystal Palace in 2008. His move was amid controversy due to the amount Spurs paid for him, and the player certainly has yet to make an impact, with just three European appearances to his name. He is now aged 19, but has played a measly 29 career games, showing that moves to higher up the food chain do not always deliver regular football.

Of course, there are deals which do pay off, most notably Theo Walcott, who has gone on to become an Arsenal and England regular, yet these kind of occurrences are few and far between.

Returning to the subject of Wickham, he will have to prove the sceptics wrong, and the only way he can go about that is by justifying his price tag. That means gaining regular first-team football, and given the cut-throat nature of the Premier League, a decent scoring record will also be required.

It is an incredible amount of pressure lodged on such young shoulders, but Steve Bruce and Niall Quinn certainly feel that the 18-year old can handle it.

It is now up to Wickham to buck the recent trend, and show he is worth the risk.

Man pity - hopes of "Oldest v Richest" game are dashed

Non-league minnows Sheffield FC have missed out on hosting the richest team in world football.

Manchester City, who were purchased by a super-rich Abu-Dhabi group in 2008 and have since spent hundreds of millions of pounds in a bid to fast-track their pursuit of global success, were due to visit the modest Dronfield ground as part of the upcoming pre-season.

However, after a clash of fixtures in their pre-season schedule, City have now pulled out of the game, which was originally set for July 30.

Like many lower-league clubs, Sheffield FC are struggling for revenue and plans to move to Olive Grove had to be re-assessed when potential World Cup funding disappeared.

In April, the club announced that they were to auction the original ‘Rules of Football’ which dated back from 1858 - something that has not gone down well with some of their supporters.

The Rules will be sold by Sothebys on July 14.

Parting with the original document was a ‘tough but ‘necessary’ step, according to the chairman of Sheffield FC, Richard Tims, who still aims to develop the club’s facilities and secure its future as the home of world football.

The Qatari Royal Family are said to be determined to secure the historical document.

While times are hard, Sheffield club secretary Stephen Hall believes that a future money-spinning meeting with City may still be on the cards.

“It’s disappointing that they’ve had to cancel,” he said.

“However they have said that they’ll try and send the development squad later on in the season if we can find a suitable date.”

Had the fixture gone ahead, it would have been a lucrative pay day for the world’s oldest club, with spectators hopeful of seeing a couple of Premier League aristocrats among a team of skilled, young hopefuls.

Sheffield open their pre-season with a clash against Sheffield United’s first team on Saturday, July 9, before hosting fellow Yorkshire clubs Huddersfield on July 14 and Sheffield Wednesday 10 days later.

The game against United will be Danny Wilson’s first in charge of the Blades and it is expected to draw a crowd of around 2,000.

Hall added: “Obviously it’s Danny’s first game in charge and we are expecting a healthy crowd. I can definitely see it being close to a full house.”