ROVERS FANZ VIEW COLUMN
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"Division 3 Champions" - that was the banner which one Rovers prophet strapped to the scoreboard fifteen months ago, and as predictions go it was about as accurate as tipping St Johnstone for the Scottish Premier League. That is why this time we should be vigilant against the inevitable tide of over-enthusiasm that infects fans of most clubs in August, when the summer months starve the obsessive supporter into a crazed state of boundless optimism. Personally, from what I've seen in the warm-up games I think there are grounds for quiet confidence, but at the same time I'm not expecting a golden age of championships and LDV finals. Steady on. Ray Graydon has built a new defence, and at the other end there is a brand new strike-force to feast our eyes on. One dissenting Walsall fan I came into contact with claimed that Graydon would get rid of all the half-decent youngsters and bring in a load of veteran journeymen and foreigners. Perhaps he was just sucking on sour grapes after losing their best manager for years, but like the owner of that banner above, he could not have been further from the truth. Adam Barrett is the new captain at the age of 22, whilst his likely partner in central defence Anwar Uddin is only 20. The latter is built like a beast with legs as thick as tree trunks, so this pair should be a lot stronger than the bunch we had last year. At right-back Danny Boxall is another strong and pacy customer, while long-serving (that's about three years in this squad) Trevor Challis completes the back four. It's true that Trev occasionally dives in and takes the man and not the ball, but surely this is essentially better than man AND ball going past to the by-line. I'm sure 'Sir Ray' is well aware of Trevor's record, and the capture of left-footer Kevin Austin should plug the gaps while Challis is sat in the stand serving his suspensions! Not much surgery has been done on the midfield, with big anchor man Rob Quinn arriving from Oxford and Wayne Carlisle thankfully extending his short-term deal from the back end of last season. As we already had about fifteen midfielders on the books anyway, before Graydon wielded the axe in May, we still have a few left over in the shape of McKeever, Bryant, Hogg, Plummer, Shore and the enigmatic but sometimes sublime Astafjevs. Up front Grazioli and Tait have been touted as the obvious partnership, and they should start off the campaign with the shirts. But Dave Gilroy may finally break through, especially after the glimpes we have had of him in the friendlies. Justin Richards could be like a new signing for us, and Kevin Gall's pace and determination will always put him in the frame. Between the sticks Scott Howie has the safest hands we've seen for a while and back-up Ryan Clarke has matured over the last year. So who is going to win it? Hull City have again splashed the cash, but organisation is just as important in this league and both Hartlepool United and Rushden & Diamonds look well drilled as well as having experienced goalscorers in Gordon Watson and Onandi Lowe respectively. My dark horses are Wrexham, with two super strikers in Lee Trundle and Lee Jones, and Darren Ferguson supplying the ammunition. As for Rovers, I'll be happy with a top ten finish and a few more wins than last year!
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