At clubgowi , in our football or soccer (if you must) previews, we focus almost exclusively on asian handicap betting, but at the start of each English Football League season we give predictions for each division, highlighting what we feel are the best value outright advices or tips.Today ,you can read one of our League 2 previews, York are not our number one advice to win the fourth tier, but we think they will go close and offer good value for money. We tend to focus on one or two teams only in each division and have done incredibly well historically with these and indeed almost all of our long term predictions.

 

 

York City  (notes written July 21st)

 

 

I am pleasantly surprised by the odds on York City, they performed incredibly well in the second half of last season something we touched upon ahead of their playoff semi final with Fleetwood Town .....

 

We were right to stick with the Cod Army, they edged through a very tough hard fought two games and then got the job done at Wembley. I think it might have been a different story if that first match had gone ahead, but with the postponement, a lot of the air went out of the City sails, but we will never know for sure. What we do know, is that they were on absolute fire from New Year's Day onwards, collecting an amazing 49 points over the second half of the season. To put that into context, the 98 points that equates to over a full campaign, would have won the title by a whopping 14 points !

 

Only a different class MK Dons team in 2007-08 has come close to that tally and that season aside, winners over the last decade have averaged 87 points.

 

Credit to the board for sticking with boss Nigel Worthington with only 22 points on board to see out the old year, but having made a quality appointment, it was the right thing to do to give his team time to develop. He joined at the end of the previous campaign and saved the Minstermen from relegation, brought a large number of players into the squad and lost one or two to bigger clubs, so it was always going to take a little time.

 

It was very similar story at his only other major club appointment, he saved Norwich City from relegation took them into the playoffs the next season and up to the top flight with a record points total within two seasons. I think he can do similar with City, but of course, they will need to start the season a little quicker this time round and also erase the disappointment of missing out in the post season. Worthington has had another busy pre season and has brought eight players into the squad, he lost two key members of his backline to higher level clubs, but this time all the dealing was done early and his squad have had a "bonding" and very tough pre season to get to know each other. They were monitored through the off season, which is kind of the norm at even many lower league clubs now (good luck with that in the old days !), came back reasonably fit, but have been worked incredibly hard with double sessions most days. They were very "leggy" in a pre season derby game with Sheffield Wednesday, but restricted the Owls to just a few chances and performed well in two games in Scotland, beating Championship side Raith 4-0 and outplaying, but drawing 0-0 with a below strength SPL St Johnstone. Both teams were impressed by City and the new players look to have gelled quickly and the increased fitness levels will help their high pressing game this season. Not a lot wrong with them defensively, just 10 goals conceded in those last 23 regular season games, just one in the playoffs and back to back clean sheets in pre season.

 

They could do with a few more goals, but Michale Coulson, Anthony Straker and Jake Hyde have shown a great understanding together with their pace and movement. Hyde (pictured) scored a lot of goals for Barnet in their relegation season and again in few appearances (he was injured) in the Conference last season, he was desperate for a return to the Football League and could be a really good and "hungry" signing. Straker and fellow winger Lindon Meikle have great pace and that can terrorise defenders at this level.Keith Lowe, Russell Penn and Luke Summerfield were all part of a good Cheltenham Town team who should have been promoted in 2011-12, Lowe and Penn were here last season and are delighted that Summerfield has joined, central defender Lowe called the other two "the best midfield pairing in League 2".

 

All in all they look strong and will get even better once the treatment room clears a little and Worthington also seems set to make the most of his contacts in the game in the loan market, something he did well last season and he has long association with two of the biggest clubs in Yorkshire, which he can hopefully use. Summerfield picked up a minor knock last week and might miss the opening game, but it is only minor, this is a small squad, but I think it has been kept intentionally so, to give the manager room to manoeuvre in the loan market, once he is 100% certain who is available, both in the marketplace and in terms of injuries, he has 2-3 senior players set to return to full training.

 

I really like the odds for City and will suggest .....

 

 

 

Good Luck.