Welcome back to the Counties Championship – a new blog series on Fuller FM. I’m using Football Manager 2017 to find out what would happen if the 48 English counties took part in a national competition using only the best footballers they have produced. You can read more about it right here.
Ahead of the first matches, I’ll be previewing every team, assessing their strengths and weaknesses to predict who has the best chance of claiming silverware. In this article, I will look at the 12 teams that make up the North division.
CHESHIRE
STADIUM: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington (14,206).
PREDICTED FINISH: 7th.
Cheshire’s squad is full of strong, intelligent defenders and mentally resilient characters. They also possess plenty of technical ability in midfield, though a slow frontline and a somewhat limited coaching staff could ultimately hamper them. In short, it’s very difficult to predict what will happen with this team.
CAPTAIN: Ryan Shawcross
Lauded for his work ethic and determination, Shawcross had been a rock in Stoke’s defence for close to a decade, though England recognition has been harder to come by. His aggressive tackling can break up attacks if executed well.
KEY PLAYER: Jesse Lingard
The last few years have seen Lingard steadily emerge as an attacking midfielder of real promise. What the Manchester United youth product lacks in height, he more than makes up for in technical ability.
MANAGER: Dave Challinor
During his playing days as a lower-league defender, Challinor once held the world record for the longest football throw. He’s since carved out a reputation at AFC Fylde, leading the part-timers through the leagues while focussing on youth development.
COUNTY DURHAM
STADIUM: Darlington Arena, Darlington (25,033).
PREDICTED FINISH: 9th.
County Durham possess a strong midfield which shows plenty of aggression and commitment, even if their technical ability is quite limited. Teamwork is another big strength, with several members of this team having come through the Middlesbrough academy. Alas, their defence is probably too suspect for them to contend.
CAPTAIN: Lee Cattermole
Defensive midfielders don’t get much more industrial than Cattermole. Robust and fearless in the tackle, this former Middlesbrough and Sunderland destroyer has a lengthy disciplinary record but is a great team player.
KEY PLAYER: James Morrison
Not to be confused with a certain singer-songwriter, Morrison came through the Boro academy at the same time as his county skipper. A veteran of 41 Scotland caps, he can cause problems from attacking midfield with his off-the-ball movement.
MANAGER: Kenny Lowe
Formerly a skilful midfielder who played for (and then managed) Barrow, Lowe later went ‘Down Under’ as his coaching reputation rose. After nine years at Perth Glory, the Teessider returns home to instill passion into his county team.
CUMBRIA
STADIUM: Brunton Park, Carlisle (16,683).
PREDICTED FINISH: 11th.
Possessing plenty of know-how in attack, Cumbria may not be short of goals if they can get the best out of a rather limited midfield. They will also need to keep their resolve at the back to have any chance of being competitive. With limited quality besides their number 1 goalkeeper and front two, though, that could be a struggle.
CAPTAIN: Grant Holt
Since starting out at Workington in 1999, Holt has steadily risen through the leagues, regularly scoring goals at every level. Though long past his Premier League peak, the ex-Norwich target man is still a fearsome presence up top.
KEY PLAYER: Glenn Murray
The skipper’s regular strike partner, Murray has also taken a rather scenic route to top-flight stardom. Anticipation and finishing are valuable assets to quite possibly the only active footballer who’s loved by Brighton and Crystal Palace fans.
MANAGER: Paul Simpson
Former winger Simpson has managed Preston, Shrewsbury and Stockport in the Football League since hanging up his boots. More recently, his work at Derby and Newcastle has attracted admiring glances from the FA.
EAST YORKSHIRE
STADIUM: KC Stadium, Hull (25,586).
PREDICTED FINISH: 10th.
More than half of East Yorkshire’s squad has played for Hull, so expect them to pull together if things get tough. With a severe lack of depth outside of a few quality players in defence in midfield, a difficult season surely beckons. Even so, it would be foolish to rule out a top-half finish in the North division.
CAPTAIN: Paul Robinson
After over 350 Premier League games, Robinson is a goalkeeper in the autumn of his career. Though one miskick against Croatia defined his England career, he’s generally comfortable with the ball at his feet – or in his safe hands.
KEY PLAYER: Luke Brattan
Brattan was born in Hull, but his family moved to Australia when he was very young. After turning out for the Socceroos’ Under-20s side and winning three A-League titles with Perth Glory, the playmaker was signed by Manchester City in 2015.
MANAGER: Nick Barmby
Fans of a certain age might remember Barmby’s controversial transfer from Everton to Liverpool in 2000. The winger has stayed largely out of football since a short-lived spell as manager of hometown club Hull… until now.
GREATER MANCHESTER
STADIUM: Old Trafford, Manchester (75,635).
PREDICTED FINISH: 1st.
Greater Manchester are one of the County Championship’s firm favourites, possessing a squad full of Premier League or Championship players. They are particularly fearsome in defence, though they also have plenty of creative and smart players on the wing and up front. The question is: can they put old club rivalries aside for their county?
CAPTAIN: Phil Jagielka
Despite being quite short for a centre-back (and part-time goalkeeper), Jagielka made over 250 league appearances for Everton and was also an England regular. Even as his career winds down, he remains a resolute presence in defence.
KEY PLAYER: Michael Keane
Also bringing plenty of steel to this Mancunian backline is Keane – a pacey and skilful ball-playing defender who’ll surely be capped by the Three Lions soon. He is joined in the squad by his twin brother Will, who is a capable striker.
MANAGER: Gary Neville
Neville won everything over 19 legendary years at Manchester United, but now a fresh challenge awaits. Despite failing spectacularly as Valencia manager, he rejected a return to TV punditry and will instead coach his county team alongside younger brother Phil.
LANCASHIRE
STADIUM: Ewood Park, Blackburn (31,154).
PREDICTED FINISH: 4th.
Lancashire are a physical and determined team whose defence will likely prove a tough nut to crack. On the less positive side, their attackers are somewhat inconsistent and might not convert enough scoring opportunities. It’ll be interesting to see if they can hold their nerve and launch a substantial championship challenge.
CAPTAIN: Kyle Bartley
Bartley was a surprising choice to captain Lancashire, having only made 18 appearances for Swansea in the past two seasons. At any rate, his physicality and positional awareness should make this defence tough to break through…
KEY PLAYER: Phil Jones
…especially as he’ll be joined by a current England international in Jones. Although maligned by Manchester United fans, the stocky Prestonian is a solid jack-of-all-trades – and his facial expressions always deliver much entertainment.
MANAGER: Phil Parkinson
Former Reading midfield icon Parkinson is a manager who favours direct, back-to-basic tactics that get results come what may. The highlight of his career so far was taking League Two side Bradford to the League Cup Final in 2013.
MERSEYSIDE
STADIUM: Anfield, Liverpool (54,074).
PREDICTED FINISH: 2nd.
Merseyside’s squad contains a healthy mix of battle-hardened experience and vibrant youth. They are ahead of so many other teams in the North division technically and mentally – particularly in the middle of the park. Goalkeeper is probably their one big weakness, but otherwise, they look like bona-fide contenders.
CAPTAIN: Scott Dann
Formerly of Crystal Palace, Dann is a no-nonsense central defender who marks opponents very tightly and is a strong leader. Mind you, eyebrows were no doubt raised when he was given the Merseyside captaincy ahead of a certain someone…
KEY PLAYER: Wayne Rooney
Arguably the greatest English footballer of his generation, Rooney is the Three Lions’ all-time top scorer. While not quite the same powerhouse who netted nearly 250 goals for Manchester United, he’s reinvented himself as a shadow striker.
MANAGER: Karl Robinson
Though only 35, Robinson already has six years of managerial experience with Milton Keynes and Charlton under his belt. An advocate of youth development, he expects his teams to play attractive passing football at all times.
NORTH YORKSHIRE
STADIUM: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough (34,746).
PREDICTED FINISH: 8th.
North Yorkshire might have one of the tallest and heaviest squads, but their players are also amongst the fittest. Their no-frills football may also prove effective at countering technically better but complacent opposition. The defence is worryingly error-prone, mind, and too many mistakes may ultimately deny them a play-off berth.
CAPTAIN: Michael Dawson
In spite of Dawson’s creaking legs, the erstwhile England and Tottenham centre-back is still going strong as he enters his mid-30s. You likely won’t find anyone in this North Yorkshire team who works harder or is more selfless.
KEY PLAYER: Richard Smallwood
Growing up with a surname like Smallwood, you have to be pretty strong-willed and thick-skinned. This energetic former Rotherham ball-winner certainly is whenever he breaks up opposition attacks.
MANAGER: Steve McClaren
To some, McClaren is a shrewd operator who took Middlesbrough to a European final and won an Eredivisie title with FC Twente. To others, he’s an outdated coach whose catastrophic England reign ended in ignominy under an umbrella.
NORTHUMBERLAND
STADIUM: Croft Park, Blyth (4,435).
PREDICTED FINISH: 12th.
Northumberland is England’s most northerly county, but things could go south for them quickly. Not only are three of their best players goalkeepers, but they also have huge deficiencies at full-back and in midfield. Take way their crop of Football League forwards, and they’re little more than inadequate part-timers.
CAPTAIN: Dan Burn
Standing tall at 6ft 7in, Burn is an imposing centre-half who is nigh on unbeatable in the air. Opposition strikers can expect to get burnt if the cool-headed Northumberland skipper can get a grip on them.
KEY PLAYER: Fraser Forster
Forster is another Northumbrian giant – and a deceptively agile one at that. The goalkeeper won three Scottish league titles back-to-back at Celtic, and his exemplary attitude is a shining example to all in his team.
MANAGER: Tony Humes
Humes was born in Blyth, but he was made in East Anglia, playing 120 league games for Ipswich before managing Colchester’s youth academy and later first-team. One of his coaches is Ashes-winning former England cricketer Steve Harmison.
SOUTH YORKSHIRE
STADIUM: Hillsborough, Sheffield (39,812).
PREDICTED FINISH: 6th.
South Yorkshire are pacey out wide and up front, and they also have plenty of technical prowess further infield. If their midfield options had more quality about them, they would be serious dark horses. As it is, their most influential players perhaps lack the leadership and resilience to deliver the goods.
CAPTAIN: John Stones
Stones has been lauded as the ball-playing defender England needs in an era where technique has become more important. Composed on the ball and strong in the tackle, he has now been trusted to captain his county at the tender age of 22.
KEY PLAYER: Danny L Rose
Rose is a pacey and aggressive left-back who has only recently become an England regular after making steady progress at Tottenham. He uses his middle initial to avoid confusion with another South Yorkshire player named Danny Rose – a striker.
MANAGER: Mick McCarthy
Unapologetically blunt and old-school, McCarthy is a Barnsley boy with Irish blood in his veins. He led the Republic of Ireland at the 2002 World Cup before having somewhat moderate success with Sunderland and Wolves.
TYNE & WEAR
STADIUM: St James’ Park, Newcastle (52,404).
PREDICTED FINISH: 5th.
Tyne & Wear have brought Geordies and Mackems together to build a typically industrial and physical team. Though only three players are aged 30+, they are tactically astute and will cause issues with their direct attacks. In order to truly contend, though, they may need to be more spontaneous and less predictable.
CAPTAIN: Jordan Henderson
He may not be as flashy as some other midfielders, but many coaches would love to have a Henderson in their team. The man who succeeded Steven Gerrard as Liverpool skipper is athletic, hardworking and has great passing range.
KEY PLAYER: Andy Carroll
On his day, Carroll is a dangerous target man with great aerial ability and a poacher’s instinct. Unfortunately, frequent injuries mean that those days don’t come very often for the former Newcastle favourite and Liverpool flop.
MANAGER: Steve Bruce
An enthusiastic man-manager and versatile tactician, Bruce certainly has a knack for playing his cards right. He’s now abandoned his quest to coach every Premier League team from past and present in search of county glory.
WEST YORKSHIRE
STADIUM: Elland Road, Leeds (37,890).
PREDICTED FINISH: 3rd.
If the North division was decided through sheer work ethic and endurance, West Yorkshire would be the likely champions. They will certainly be full of beans in a technically proficient midfield. Questions will be asked of their defenders and attackers, whose records in top-flight matches are patchy to say the least.
CAPTAIN: Fabian Delph
Delph is a brave and hard-working midfielder by trade, though he’s happy to play wherever his services are most needed. West Yorkshire fans must hope, though, that their captain shows more loyalty to them than he did to Aston Villa in 2015.
KEY PLAYER: James Milner
Milner – like Delph – is a former Villa and Manchester City workhorse who has plenty of strings to his bow. This tenacious son of Leeds recently ended a 61-cap England career to focus on his new county duties.
MANAGER: Stuart McCall
McCall is inextricably linked with Bradford, having had two spells at Valley Parade as a midfielder and another two as manager. If he enjoys success at county level, expect the ex-Scotland international’s celebrations to be… exuberant.
So, who do you fancy to be the pride of the North? Feel free to let me know below.
I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of the East division. Until then, thanks for reading.
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