Posted by Rick Fitzgerald

Hi all and welcome to the first of many, many blogs covering the Npower Championship, League 1, League 2 and some FA Trophy news.  When I found out I was going to be handling these divisions, I did what every good writer does - I consulted my Magic 8 ball to help me figure out the best way to cover so many teams, players and an endless amount of news.  After several hours and a lot of "maybe next time" answers, I tossed the ball aside and jumped over to the computer so I could get right on it.  Obviously there is a lot, and I mean A LOT going on in the world of football with the kick off of the 2011/2012 season less than a week away.  Rather than inundate you with every tidbit of news I can find (because, let's be honest, do you really have time to read 12 paragraphs of football news when there is so much to watch?  Ya, me either) I thought we could take a look at some matches that I think are going to be pretty tasty for this opening week.  

This season starts out with a match that I will be glued to:  Hull City v Blackpool.  With recent visits to and back out of the top flight, I can only imagine that both teams still have the taste of Prem life on their tongues.  Both sides are hard working, blue collar clubs that are going to grind and grind until they've worn the other side to shreds.  This match should be evenly paced and loaded with hard tackles and aggressive play.  For these reasons, Hull City v Blackpool is getting my Match of the Week vote.  I am not so sure this will be a 4-3 match but it should be filled with a lot of action.  I'll get at you after the match to see if it lived up to its billing!

Nottingham Forest yet again slipped out of a Prem spot last year by losing in the playoff round.  Two years running, the frustration has to be growing as that all elusive promotion seems to be so close, yet just out of reach.  Stevie will be looking to his experience this year to help them lift the cup.  That campaign starts with a home stand v middle of the tablers Barnsley.  Why is this a match to watch?  Nottingham need to crash out of the gate and make early statements.  With the addition of a much used George Boateng and team goal leader Lewis McGugan, Barnsley presents the perfect mat on which Forest can wipe their feet and let the other teams know that they have arrived.  Will they?  Well, if their preseason is any indicator, maybe not.  But at this point, this being the first match, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I would like to add West Ham to the list of hot matches this week but I am still a little shocked they got relegated!! 

Moving down to League One, the match that stands out to me the most is Leyton Orient v Walsall.  Last year Leyton missed the playoffs by a single point after mounting a very back-and-forth campaign 'til the end.  Conversely, Walsall managed to scrape their way out of the relegation to remain in League One by that same, all important single point.  Both teams have much to prove this year and starting the season with three points in the bag might be the best way to do it.

Not too much stands out in League Two.  Sure we have the recent drops of Bristol City and Plymouth but I wonder at this time if they are going to have it in them mount a serious comeback.  Notts Co. is a team that can produce, should produce, yet somehow doesn't seem to have the wheels to get the car moving in the right direction with any consistency.  So I'll keep a keen eye on this league to see just who the players and pretenders are.        

On a quick side note - I know there is football to watch and I'm almost done - on the heels of opening day comes the Carling Cup.  While interest in the Cup itself may be on the downslide, I do like the matches that, on paper anyway, seemed to be unbalanced.  West Ham v Aldershot?  Hull v Macclesfield?  You know coming out of this round there will be a few upsets and scorelines that will make you think - what the heck just happened??  As we have all learned, in football, there are no gimmies, and anyone can win on any day.  Who is your pick for Carling upset of the week?

So sit back this weekend and enjoy the kickoff of what will be a most interesting year.  How will it play out?  Who will rise and who will fall?  Only time will tell!  I'll be there right along with you, eyes glued to the matches and voice raw from screaming (because, well, watching football can be very emotional.)  You all take care and I'll be back in a few days.  As always, there will be LOTS to cover.

Be safe -  


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