Tranmere Rovers
2008/09 Season Review by Opposition Fans – Part 1
By Mark Ridgway
June 2 2009
As an alternative look back at the 2008/09 season, Total Tranmere’s Mark Ridgway has been chatting to fans of all the other League One Clubs about the season just ended and their views on it. In this first part he speaks to fans of Swindon Town, Huddersfield, Cheltenham, Millwall and Leyton Orient…..
In the first of the series, we interviewed fans from the following Clubs, to get their views on the now ended 2008/09 season in League One......
Leyton Orient: John Brophy
Huddersfield Town: Luke Sipka
Swindon Town: Michael Baker
Millwall: Selina Morgan
Cheltenham Town: Sam
Are you Pleased with how this Season went for your Club?
Orient: To start with No, but it finished OK.
Huddersfield: Not really. Big expectations before it all started, fourth favourites to win the League with some Bookies and in November we were 19th. Stan Ternent got the sack and it improved from there, Lee Clark's done well so far and looks good for the future.
Swindon: Im glad we stayed up although a relegation battle wasn't expected. In general the season was a disaster and we were lucky to stay up.
Millwall: Yeah, getting to the play off final is a good achievement.
Cheltenham: No, relegation wasn't the aim so I'm disappointed.
What's the Main Aim for Next Season?
Orient: The main aim is to stay up again, but it would be nice to finish higher next season. Would be great to get into the play offs!
Huddersfield: To actually be involved in the top six instead of more mid-table! There's some good teams in it next year so automatic is a big ask, but play-offs is our minimum target.
Swindon: I think our expectations are play-offs, but an improvement on last season is definitely wanted!
Millwall: Hopefully play-offs again but this time win it!
Cheltenham: Promotion back to League One.
Whose was your Club's Player of the Season and Describe him..
Orient: Tam Mkandawire was probably the best player throughout the season however the impact that Jamie Jones and Scott McGleish had was huge. So my player of the year would be Scott McGleish as his attitude on the pitch was first class and he probably did more than anyone to turn the season around.
Huddersfield: Gary Roberts, signed for £250,000 from Ipswich in the summer, tricky winger who grabbed himself 12 goals last season, great left foot but the only problem is he can hardly work with his right at all.
Swindon: Simon Cox without a doubt. On his goals alone we stayed up but laso thanks to his Professionalism, Work Ethic and Work Rate. His determination was rewarded with our survival and his joint winning of the League's Golden Boot.
Millwall: Andy Frampton, he was a key player for us and helped us to finish as high as we did.
Cheltenham: David Bird. He is one of the best midfielders in League One and is possibly better than League One in my opinion.
What changes at your club do you want to see this summer?
Orient: Well we're going to get near enough a whole new team, so the only other change I would like to see is a more positive attitude. We seem to be far too happy coasting along doing just enough.
Huddersfield: getting rid of some of the deadwood (signed by Stan Ternent) to cut down the wage bill, stan gave ridiculously high wages to average players who next year would be pushing for a place on the bench only.
Other than that around 5 signings are needed, 2 strikers, a centre back, a right back and a centre midfield, but thankfully the centre midfield is done - Antony Kay!
Swindon: An improved defence because we conceded too many goals, an improved Coaching Staff with experience and a small squad with more quality is needed.
Millwall: Not a lot, just to keep the team together, ready to come again in August.
Cheltenham: I would love to have Kayode Odejayi back and some key players like Finnegan to stay.
What are your Thoughts on your Current Manager?
Orient: Williams has done a great job since he took over and I'm delighted now he's signed a new deal. He talks a lot of sense and says the right things, but we'll find out how good he really is when he completes his transfer deals this summer.
Huddersfield: Like I said he's done a good job so far and looks promising for the future. We were his first full Manager job after he was assistant at Norwich and with backroom staff including Terry McDermott and Derek Fazakerly he's getting the hang of it quite quickly, he's only 36 but is a great speaker.
Swindon: Danny Wilson is a great professional. He's connected well with the fans and his relationship with our Board and Supporters is good. He's determined, hard-working and down to earth. He has a personality that appeals to everyone at the Club.
Millwall: He's a legend! Wouldn't want anyone else.
Cheltenham: We could be worse off. Most fans don't have faith in him, but I'm in two minds about him to be honest.
What is the Worst Ground you Visited this Season?
Orient: Hereford's Edgar Street
Huddersfield: Brighton, no doubt about it. no roof, no atmosphere, no where near the pitch! Was gutted they didn't go down; it's a heck of a long journey when you're going to something like that.
Swindon: I went to Huish Park In Yeovil... Awful location In middle of an Industrial Park, a tiny capacity and a bad atmosphere.
Millwall: I didn't get to go to many away games last season due to other commitments so can't comment.
Cheltenham: Hereford, most definitely.
What is the Best Ground you Visited this Season?
Orient: I didn't get to see any of the big games so I'd have to say Swindon due to the reason that it was the day we got the points to make ourselves mathematically safe on a sunny Bank Holiday Monday.
Huddersfield: Leicester - the place is built for a higher division and at times it reminded me of going to Chelsea in the FA Cup. A Good atmosphere and a good view, typical that they went up and we're left with ones like Brighton.
Swindon: Stadium:MK. Great new Stadium, very modern and very atmospheric. Comfortable and well situated.
Millwall: Wembley Playoff Final - 24th May.
Cheltenham: Leeds was a nice ground, but I loved the day out at Swindon.
What League one team impressed you most?
Orient: Wasn't able to see all the teams this year but out of all of them I did see none of them stood out, it seemed to be a fairly average league.
Huddersfield: Peterborough thought they'd be mid-table at best this season, but in the end their promotion was pretty comfortable. Darren Ferguson's done brilliant there so far, just what I'd like lee Clark to replicate!
Swindon: Peterborough. Newly Promoted, Weren't Expected To Do So Well.
Millwall: Mk dons, they were new to this league but finished 3rd and were unlucky not to gain automatic promotion.
Cheltenham: Peterborough, gaining successive promotions.
What League One Player Impressed you Most?
Orient: Matt Done had a great game against us down at Hereford and Antony McNamee was another handful for us at Swindon.
Huddersfield: Simon Cox of Swindon. Don't know the exact figure but he got over 30 goals last season in a poor team. I've heard from their fans that he got no service and a number of his goals came out of the blue.
Swindon: Simon Cox. To score 32 goals in a relegation threatened team that provided him with barely any assistance is nothing short of miraculous.
Millwall: Aaron McLean - he's a fantastic player.
Cheltenham: Fabian Delph of Leeds is very impressive.
What were your Thoughts on Tranmere when you Played us?
Orient: A good solid team, mind you when we played you at Tranmere we didn't give you much chance to shine, we killed the game as we were desperate for points.
Huddersfield: Deservedly beat us both times, down to both us being poor and you playing pretty well. 5-2 on aggregate and it really should've been more; we couldn't cope with your attacks most of the time.
After you beat us 3-1 in March I was sure you'd get into the play offs, so two minutes away says it all really.
Swindon: A hard-working team, strong In defence and midfield, lacking In attack.
Millwall: You were a good side with a decent squad that battled well.
Cheltenham: At our place you seemed a good side although you lost 1-0 to us but you only lost by a single goal which was an amazing one at that.
What Tranmere Player Impressed you Most?
Orient: Ryan Shotton.
Huddersfield: Well it may surprise a few but probably Bas Savage. We couldn't deal with his strength and the second goal in the 3-1 win was a beauty, beat about four men and curled it into the corner, he's a tricky fella.
Swindon: Anthony Kay - very versatile and good all-round player.
Millwall: Good old Bas Savage.
Cheltenham: THE ONE WITH BLUE HAIR, I loved him!
What's your General Opinion of Tranmere?
Orient: A good team, good supporters and a friendly ground to visit.
Huddersfield: Very, very unlucky to get into the top six from what I've seen. But it's no real surprise I'm saying that after Tranmere did the double over us, and we did the double over Scunthorpe!
Thrilled we've got Antony Kay from you, will have to see how you deal without him but I can see another play off push (and hopefully I'll see us win at your place for the first time ever!)
Swindon: Northern side, historic and cultural team with coveted history. Play a good style of football, patriotic team.
Millwall: There a good side and will do fine next season.
Cheltenham: A good side, Good Luck next season.
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02/06/2009 17:02
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I look forward to part two and thanks Mark!!
i have a teacher at school lined up to represent Oldham but if you could send us a few emails of some more representatives it would be apprecaited, thanks
Unfortunately I recently lost my 1GB Memory Stick which had my list of Fanfile Contacts on it but I may have a back-up saved somewhere on my PC.
