EFL League Two Preview 2020/21- Scunthorpe United, Southend United, Stevenage and Tranmere Rovers

Scunthorpe United, Southend United, Stevenage and Tranmere Rovers are the next set of teams explored in the lead-up to the EFL League Two 2020/21 season.

Scunthorpe United

It was an all-round season to forget for Scunthorpe, who did not adapt to life in League Two particularly well. They finished the season in 20th (after PPG), and finished lower than any of the other teams relegated from League One the season before.

They did have the likes of Kevin Van Veen, whose 15 goals in all competitions steered Scunny away from any real league danger. The stats didn’t make their season look much better, they were the third-highest teams in regards to games lost, and goals conceded.

In the cups, they fell at the first hurdle, losing to Derby in the Carabao Cup, and Crawley in the FA Cup. Their only highlight in a pretty dark season was a cup run in the EFL Trophy, where they made it to the Quarter Finals, losing admirably to eventual finalists Portsmouth.
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Transfers

Scunthorpe released a fair few players over the summer, and a few fans would disagree with the club making changes. First-team players like Andy Butler and Rory McArdle struggled to keep up, and with both in their 30’s, it made sense to let them go.

The same can be said for James Perch who, at 34, has been let go, to freshen the squad. They have brought in younger players, that will add some energy to what was an aging team. Tyler Cordner and Frank Vincent have joined from Bournemouth on loan, after spells in non-league.

Lewis Spence has also joined the ranks after four seasons in the SPFL, and fans will be looking forward to him bolstering the midfield. They have also signed Emmanuel Onariase (23 from Dagenham and Redbridge), Aaron Jarvis (22 from Sutton United) and Kelsey Mooney (21, from FC Hereford). All three are younger players who have applied their trade-in non-league and will be keen to make themselves known in the EFL.

Targets

The team has been overhauled during the summer, out with the old, and in with the new, seems to have been their transfer activity from the Iron, and the club will be hoping that this new-look team will be able to push on to mid-table, and start to show the foundations of a team worthy of a push back into League One.

Fans can expect a younger team, that will be fighting tooth and nail, there will be mistakes, and spells where it doesn’t click, but the team looks like one that is built with the future in mind.

Key Player

Kevin Van Veen will once again be the player that Iron fans look to for goals this season, and for me, he is their key player. He is a player with goals in his game, and if he can find his form in front of goal, then Scunthorpe will be looking up the league, rather than down it.

Youth Prospect

John McAtee had a good breakthrough season last term. He scored three, and set-up two in 19 league appearances.

Prior to last season, he had made one EFL appearance. The season ahead will be key for him to show what he can do now he is adjusted to league football, he will continue to grow into a key player for the Irons.

Southend United

Southend had what will go down as their worst ever season. They picked up a lowly 19 points last time out, and only achieved a lower points haul in the 1939/40 season, which was called off after three games due to World War Two. They only managed four league wins, conceding a grand total of 85 goals, which was beaten only by Hull, who played 11 games more.

They were out in the first round of the FA Cup, and the EFL trophy, but managed to get into the Second Round of the Carabao Cup, after beating Stevenage in the First Round. In terms of top scorers? Charlie Kelman and Stephen Humphrys both scored five goals each, and the next highest, Stephen McLaughlin, who scored four goals, has left the club.

Why the bad season? Financial problems and off-field issues plagued the club throughout the season. Winding-up petitions, players requesting terminated contracts and wages not being paid all made Southend a very toxic place to play football. This showed, as they finished only five points ahead of Bolton, who had 12 points deducted, and started the season with a youth squad.
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Transfers

After a poor season, you would expect a high turnover of players, and indeed there has been, however, these have been players leaving, not coming in. They released, Luke Hyam, Sam Mantom, Mark Milligan and Theo Robinson, with Sam Barratt and Stephen McLaughlin rejecting deals after being invited in to discuss them. Simon Cox ended his contract by mutual consent. This followed the January exodus that saw Rob Kiernan and Liam Ridgewell leave too.

Coming in? Jordan Green from Barnsley, who, at 25, will be seen as a more senior player in what is going to be a very young team.

Targets

The target is very simple, avoid a double relegation. The squad is very young, and that is something that will worry Southend’s fans. 15 players are 23 and under, with six of those still being teenagers. That then leaves only eight players over 23. Fans are hoping that if they can avoid relegation, then the signs will be there for growth, with the younger players having game time in them. However, this is a big ask and avoiding the drop will be the one and only aim for the season. Most fans would take 22nd place now if it was offered to them.

Key Player

As the only player to opt to stay at the club after his contract was about to expire, 34-year old John White has over 400 appearances under his belt and although he will be key to aiding the youngsters, he may not play too much, as his age becomes a problem.

However, defensive midfielder Timothee Dieng will be vital in holding the midfield together and trying to take some of the pressure off of the defence. He will no doubt be in for a bigger role due to his experience. Every good team needs a solid central midfielder who can drive the team on by breaking up play and winning the ball back. Dieng will be the one tasked with it.

Youth Prospect

Well, with most of their team classed as a youth prospect, there will be a few candidates for young player of the season. However, as a joint top scorer last time out, the efforts of the 18-year-old Kelman will be key. He scored seven in 19 appearances in all competitions last season and if he can keep that sort of goals per game rate up, then he could be a big player for Southend.

Stevenage

Stevenage had what can only be described as a season to forget, however, one that will always be remembered, for many reasons. One stat that won’t be looked on fondly, is that the club had more managers than league wins (if you include Mark Sampson’s 14 games as interim manager). They didn’t score a league goal until the 31st August, in their sixth game of the season (ironically against Macclesfield) and they only registered their first win on the 13th attempt.

They used a lot of players, 42 to be precise, which shows the tactic was ‘if we aren’t winning, change the players’. They did survive after Macclesfield were deducted further points for failing to pay player wages. It was a controversial topic, however one that is now fully settled and decided. Stevenage know that they need to do to survive, the question now is, are they up to the task.
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Transfers

There has been a big clear-out, which is understandable. 23 players that have either been released or moved on free transfers. Coming in? 12 players into the club. The transfer policy has a clear theme, talented players plucked out of non-league, or experienced heads that are tried and tested at this level.

The balance looks better this time around, with solid centre-back Luke Prosser, solid centre-midfielder Romain Vincelot and proven left-back Ben Coker looking to provide this team with some experience, and calmness. There is talent littered throughout. Jamie Cumming has come in on loan from Chelsea and looks like a shrewd signing, and Elliot Osbourne has also come in after a good season in the National League, scoring nine in 38 games, from an attacking midfield role.

Targets

Stevenage will be wanting to remain in the division and show those that felt they should have been relegated, why they deserve to still be here. Fans will want a few more draws and wins than last time out and to see the team fighting.

The pressure seems to be off for Boro this season, no-one is expecting them to be anywhere other than a relegation scrap. While no fan will say they are expecting relegation, there is a feeling that the fans want Alex Revell to be given time to shape his team and that will not be done for another couple of transfer markets. They want the manager to be able to get this brand new team playing his style of football and not to be axed if things start badly.

Key Player

After captaining Colchester to the play-offs, Luke Prosser will be seen as the staple in the Stevenage defence. It was a surprise to see Prosser released and many League Two clubs will have been vying for his signature, so for Stevenage to be the ones to seal the deal, will have been a sign of major improvement to the fans.

He is vastly experienced in League Two, as he enters his 13th season in the league. He is the type of character you want in the dressing room, a player that youngsters can learn from and a model professional.

Youth Prospect

Normally you can look at which younger players were breaking into the squad last season and see who adapted to first-team life well, however, many players were put into the squad last time out.

One that fans are excited to see develop is defender Luis Fernandez. He played a handful of games last season and handled himself as well as he could have done. With the likes of Prosser and Coker there to guide youngsters, some fans are hoping that Fernandez will be given another chance this season, as they liked the look of the lad when he played.

Tranmere Rovers

As controversial as the circumstances of Stevenage staying up were, Tranmere fans will claim that their relegation was just as controversial. Out of the three teams relegated into League Two, only Tranmere had a hope of staying up.

Three points behind safety with a game hand and an improved end of the season left fans angry at the decision that led to them being relegated. They struggled to adapt to League One life after back to back promotions from the National League and through League Two.

They know what it takes to leave this league, both by going up and down. However, the team that got promoted before and manager Micky Mellon are no longer here and it will take more of an effort this time around. They only scored 36 league goals and shipped 60, which was the third-highest in the league below Bolton and Southend. Their top scorer? Morgan Ferrier who scored five goals.
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Transfers

A total of 15 players have left, with seven coming in. Tranmere have released many household names for fans of lower league football, Ismael Miller, Neil Danns, and Darren Potter all have left. However, they aren’t exactly getting younger, with all being mid-30s or older. Other players like Connor Jennings and Jake Caprice have moved on, in what feels like a chance to bring in fresh players.

Although some of the elder statesmen have left, Tranmere have made signings to replace the outgoing experience. James Vaughan has signed permanently and Jay Spearing also comes in, to add to the experienced players. Although he is only 24, Otis Khan has played nearly 150 league appearances and will add some energy, and know-how, after his release from Mansfield. Full-backs Lee O’Connor (Celtic), and Calum McDonald (Blackpool) have been brought in on loan, to add some pace, and youthful flair to a team that doesn’t have too many younger players.

Targets

Any team getting relegated would be looking to bounce straight back, especially considering the way that Tranmere went down with it being a close-run thing. However, with Mellon leaving, along with a lot of the players that got Tranmere up to League One previously, it may be a season where they will be competing, but not make it back at the first attempt. The aim and noises out the club will be that they want to be a League One club, so fans can expect the team to be doing their best to get back there.

Key Player

Despite an injury seeing him miss a lot of the season, midfielder Ollie Banks will have a big part to play this time out. He was the heartbeat of the team when they were promoted out of League Two, and when fit, he is an important player for the squad. A central midfielder who likes to be involved with either scoring or assisting goals, he will be expected to be at his best if Tranmere are to push for the playoffs or more.

Youth Prospect

With only two players aged under-21 in the squad, it is not a tough choice. Defender Lee O’Connor has joined on loan from Celtic, after rising through the ranks at Manchester United. He has played for United in their Premier League 2, UEFA Youth Leagues, and U-18 youth leagues.

He hasn’t however, had a real run at men’s professional football and he will no doubt be hoping his spell at Rovers will be able to change that. He has a good energy about him and has represented Ireland up to the full squad, making his debut last year.

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