By theimps.tk
August 5 2009

Morecambe are a side that have shown in recent years that they are more than capable of holding their own in this division, and now I feel that they can challenge for promotion. I predict them to finish 7th and make the Playoffs. If you were to base your prediction on Morecambe's two performances at Sincil Bank since coming into the League then you'd be hard placed to give them a single point, let alone survive, but those who have seen City at Morecambe know what the Shrimpers are capable of. Both our games at Christie Park have seen the home side dominate, coming close to a deserved victory before Paul Green's hit and hope effort.

You would have thought they were close to a quick return to the Conference last season as the won just once before the end of October, also suffering several heavy defeats in that time, including a 5-0 defeat at Gillingham. This run of form left them 20^th, with only Grimsby Town picking up fewer points than them at this point, but their form quickly picked up and they slowly started climbing the table.

Although they weren't winning on a blisteringly regularly basis but were starting to notch together a decent form and after a shock defeat at Accrington, they went on a run of 13 games within defefat, including victories over several sides that would end the season promoted. With just three games to go you could have easily been forgiven for thinking they might make the Playoffs. They sat three points off of the Playoffs with a game in hand, but failing to win in their final three League games brought to an end their hopes of the Playoffs.

The one problem that Morecambe have seriously lacked in recent years has been an regular goalscorer. Stuart Drummond scored every now and then last season but didn't once score in consecutive games, but now they've improved that with what could easily turn out to be the best buy of the summer in Phil Jevons. Jevons scored almost thirty goals for Yeovil the last time he was in this division, one of the highest totals for any striker in any division in recent season.

Adding him into a squad that also contains an excellent defence, I feel that Morecambe could easily make the Playoffs. Sammy McIlroy also knows how to get relatively small teams out of this division, winning promotion with Macclesfield in 1997/8. His record at Morecambe suggests he has a half decent formula as they have won more than 1/3 of their games under him, one of the best records of any manager at their current club.

I think Morecambe are one of those teams that will regularly continue to progress over the next few years. They might not be the best team, nor the most flamboyant, but consecutive eleventh placed finishes shows that they have the ability to be tremendously consistent and they have shown their potential in both games against the Imps in recent years.

7th : Morecambe flying high

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 05/08/2009 01:26

theimps.tk
05/08/2009 01:26

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net