Reading the Early Runes

Taking a look at Leagues One, Two and the Conference (I am a bit of a luddite when it comes to the name Blue Square Premier) let's take a look at after three games as to who is doing as well as you might expect - and perhaps as significantly as badly.

League One:

On the up: Huddersfield Town - as they should be having spent heavily over the past eight or nine months. They have impressive squad depth and players who have a good feel for the division.

Finding times hard: Stockport County - administration, a fire sale of even more players over the summer (seemingly a tunnel exists between Stockport and Brighton) and no cash means the squad they have now is weaker than the one that won promotion. New manager Gary Ablett has his work cut out.

Unrealistic expectations: Norwich City - I didn't understand them being fancied to bounce straight back with a new side and rookie manager. Clearly the board didn't either.

League Two:

On the up: Bournemouth - a storming finish, the same squad pretty much kept together and even hints at off pitch stabilty suggest they can be contenders. Beating Rotherham also looks good as well.

Finding times hard: Darlington - see Stockport. Administration again and no time to build a squad in the off season means Colin Todd must be in for a long campaign.

Unrealistic expectations: Bradford City - budget cuts after failing to make the play-offs last season make a playoff challenge more difficult, despite the venerable legend that is Peter Thorne still going up front.

Blue Square Premier:

On the up: Mansfield Town - a re-assembled squad and fans actually returning after the disgrace that was Keith Haslam's time in charge bodes well for a challenge of some sort.

Finding times hard: Forest Green - plenty of clubs to choose from here but the abrupt departure of Jim Harvey just before the start of the season and stronger clubs coming up makes it difficult for everyone's favourite team on the hill.

Unrealistic expectations: not Oxford United for a change, who have been a given in this category ever since relegation. While there are no definite winners I am told Stevenage Borough have been pretty direct so far this season and perhaps they might struggle to make another play off run in a stronger looking division.

My next stop tomorrow is Millwall, so more League One impressions then in this journey through English Football Betting.