Keech the Bookie has completed his season preview below now all teams are in. It is based on past history (last 10 years performance in brackets with the latest first) and only looks at your original team selected this time around if you are newcomer. If your transfers and picks are imaginative and inspirational, clearly Keech the bookie cannot predict that. Hope you take it as it is, a little bit of fun and the challenge is for you to either prove me right or completely wrong !!!
Only get concerned if I predict you to win !
Latest season first:
1st Graham Jeffries (2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 31st, 1st, 1st, 14th
Probably the most consistent player in thw whole league. An impressive record of 2 wins, 2 runners up and a 3rd place in 6 years and as he has been knocking on the door is cursed with the predicted top spot. Sorry Graham.
2nd William Frost (5th)
Very impressive debut for this young man. He can only get better and will wanting that title in his 2nd season. Excellentchances.
3rd Andrew Highton (15th, 2nd, 5th, 11th, 19th, 17th)
After two excellent years Andrew fell away a little last season. Hard working manager with good knowledge so probably a blip.
4th David Graham (10th)
An excellent debut season and I see no reason why season 2 should not bring more success. My dark horse for the title but could be restricted timewise by the new addition to the family.
5th Tim Owen (Returner)
What a pleasure to have our supreme champion back. If he relaxes, takes it all in his stride he will be knocking on the door. Top 10 of course, an absolute certainty but surely a steop to far to come back and win it.
6th Ishtiaq Beg (6th, 6th, 4th, 6th, 18th, 33rd, 20th, 23rd)
6th 3 times in 4 years, guess what 6th place again!
7th Rob Bushell (3rd, 5th, 3rd, 10th, 16th, 6th, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 12th, 7th)
3 excellent seasons but just falls short these days, will probably do again but a dead cert for top 5.
8th Ian Cowburn (7th, 1st, 6th, 4th, 20th, 3rd, 5th, 15th, 12th, 31st, 18th)
After a successful season two years ago Ian proved it is really difficult to defend the trophy. He will there or thereabouts again.
9th Matt Wakeman (1st)
Everything that could go right last season did, surely these boys have used up all their luck for this season
10th Andrea Howard (4th, 7th)
What a fabulous couple of seasons for Andrea. She will do well to match the heights of these but will give it a damn good go. I know she wants a touch more luck in the monthly competitions and probably will be content with a top ten finish and winning a month along the way.
11th Owen Griffiths (12th, 27th, 1st, 8th, 34th, 31st)
Champion from 3 years ago who faltered the season after. Improvement shown last time around but still away from where he wants to be. Will aim for top 10 but probably not enough to challenge.
12th David Gwilliam (16th)
Highly promising debut. Can he reach top 10, possibly.
13th Simon Baldwin (8th, 25th, 13th, 26th, 5th, 10th, 27th, 26th, 17th, 13th, 2nd)
8th could be classed as a good campaign for Mr B. He will be aiming for something on a par at least in the new season.
14th Tony Barrett (14th, 21st)
Steady if unspectacular improvement last season. Will continue on the same trajectory.
15th Dan Owen (17th)
Dan and Matt I feel will be be extremely closely matched this time around (top half only I reckon). It could go either way. In terms of the return of Tim he will show these young whippersnappers the way to manage your team.
16th Matt Owen (34th)
Matt will not have been happy with his final position on his return last season. With dad back this will add some additional spice to proceedings in the Owen household and he will improve as result. Not sure he can break into the top 10 though.
17th Graham Highton (9th, 19th, 7th, 24th, 24th, 14th, 30th, 17th, 16th, 14th, 31st)
Two decent attempts in the last 3 years will give renewed enthusiasm, will do ok but son Andrew will probably beat him again.
18th Rob Nott (11th, 22nd, 12th)
After achieving his best position last season (just) he will want a place in the top ten this time around. Not sure he can do it though.
19th Simon Barrett (27th, 4th, 20th, 5th, 30th, 37th)
A yo-yo career in MLW so far for Simon. Based on previous form this time around should be a decent one.
20th Jordan Watkiss (7/1) (22nd, 12th)
Went safe mid table last around, will probably end up top half but no more.
21st Adrian Franklin (26th, 13th, 15th, 12th, 25th)
A dip last season which will have disappointed our player from Jersey. Hard to see him breaking into the top 10
22nd Wayne Moody (13th, 31st (Last), 26th, 23rd, 7th, 7th, 7th, 32nd, 5th, no entry, no entry)
Salvaged some respectability last time around after his last position 2 years ago. Probably stay put to be honest.
23rd Jack Birchall (New)
With Andrew Highton around to push him he may do ok first time around but honestly difficult with no form to go on.
24th Andy Peaden (41st, 9th, 29th, 7th, 27th)
An extemely disappointing effort last time around. Has something proved.
25th Stewart Arbuthnot (30th)
An average first campaign that will surely be bettered this time around. Can't see anything better than mid table.
26th Shaun Moody (23rd)
Shaun will want to improve on his mid table position from last time around. Hard to know whether he will or not
27th Paul Keech (37th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 19th, 9th, 11th, 22nd, 1st, 12th)
What an appalling effort last time around. Trend will probably continue.
28th Craig Frost (20th, 18th, 8th, 2nd, 11th, 20th, 3rd, 4th, 37th, 30th, 17th)
Craig is now proving its a young mans game as son William takes over as top dog in the Frost household. I can only see this continuing.
29th Jeff Miller (31st, 10th, 17th, 16th, 38th, 22nd, 36th, 27th, 23rd, 17th, 21st)
After finally gaining some consistency Jeff faltered back to the form from a few years ago. Hard to see that changing.
30th Paul Leech (28th, 8th, 19th, 15th, 37th, 25th, 38th, 10th, 11th, 5th, 6th)
Hard to know what to say here. Paul tends to start well and fall away. A safe bet is bottom half.
31st Barry Tomlinson (18th, 24th, 30th, 29th)
At least Barry broke the top 20 for the first in his 4 years in MLW. It is a slow process but at least he is moving the right direction
32nd Andy Bourke (Newcomer)
Hard to judge. First season, little knowledge of what he knows. Safest it says to say first season average 32nd
33rd Alan Keech (25th, 23rd, 32nd, 18th, 12th, 35th, 34th, 29th, 35th, 28th, 23rd)
Usual position bottom half, cant see him changing that.
34th Paul Gerrard (45th, 28th, 24th, 1st, 3rd, 9th, 24th, 21st, 18th, 26th, 16th)
A spectacular decline in recent years after his victory 4 seasons ago. How can he pull himself back to contention, only he will know.
35th Peter Gerrard (33rd)
Very simliar performance for the Gerrard brothers. Surely one of the Gerrards will challenge the leaders this time around. If so I am not sure which one.
36th Chris Gerrard (36th)
Very simliar performance for the Gerrard brothers. Surely one of the Gerrards will challenge the leaders this time around. If so I am not sure which one.
37th Russ Farnham (19th, 16th, 11th, 20th, 36th, 12th, 17th, 9th, 14th, 6th, 3rd)
More rugby than football these days as shown in his final positions recently. According to Ish Russ is 'Defo' past it, I tend to agree!
38th Matt Hall (32nd, 20th, 31st, 9th, 39th, 13th, 31st, 35th, 15th, 27th, 10th)
Bottom half pretty much guaranteed after only troubling the top 10 once in 9 campaigns.
39th Chris Lyons (35th, 26th, 33rd, 27th, 45th, 4th, 35th)
Chris is really struggling to get any sort of consistency in MLW. How can I predict any thing other than a long hard season.
40th Royce Frankin (39th, 29th, 27th, 14th, 13th, 8th, 10th, 33rd, 8th, 15th, no entry)
Royce has declined steadily in the last 6 seasons, the last 3 pretty close to the bottom so some would say a predictable estimate again.
41st Chris Wilson (Newcomer)
Thrown in at the deep end. Enthusiastic but to relint on Man U players and needs to build knowledge of the lower leagues.
42nd Richard Smith (46th, 30th, 25th, 38th, 44th, 34th, 37th, 34th)
Last place last season, it doesn't bother him in the slightest so no insult to say he repeat the feat.
Paul