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 East division.
BEDFORDSHIRE
STADIUM: Kenilworth Road, Luton (10,110).
PREDICTED FINISH: 6th.
Bedfordshire are your typical middle-of-the-road team who could potentially sneak into the play-offs. They have some impressive and pacey options at full-back but severely lack quality in other areas, particularly in midfield. That being said, this aggressive crop of players will most certainly be up for a scrap.
CAPTAIN: Ciaran Clark
Clark was born in London, started his career at Aston Villa and represents the Republic of Ireland, but he grew up in a small Bedfordshire market town. The Sandy star is a solid ball-playing defender by most accounts.
KEY PLAYER: Ben Chilwell
Despite having less than a year of senior football under his belt, Chilwell has made huge strides at Leicester. The teenage left-back is energetic while also showing maturity and composure beyond his years.
MANAGER: Garry Monk
Monk is a former Swansea captain who oversaw every stage of their rise from League Two obscurity to Premier League regulars. He now puts his defensive expertise and motivational skills to good use as an up-and-coming manager.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
STADIUM: Abax Stadium, Peterborough (14,084).
PREDICTED FINISH: 8th.
Cambridgeshire are perhaps strongest in defence, where they have some well-built stoppers and a couple of handy goalkeepers. Things don’t look quite so rosy in attack, with their biggest scoring threats having perhaps peaked. There are some exciting young talents in midfield and on the wings, though, so don’t discount them.
CAPTAIN: Alex Revell
Revell is a tall and physical centre-forward who loves to shoot with power. He has enjoyed a nomadic but prolific lower-league career, most notably scoring two vital goals for Rotherham against Leyton Orient in the 2014 League One Play-Off Final.
KEY PLAYER: John Ruddy
Ruddy was starting regularly for Cambridge while still a teenager, and he’s now back in his home county as he approaches 30. The one-cap England goalkeeper has great reflexes and is very spirited.
MANAGER: Simon Rusk
A former Boston midfielder whose career was cut short by injury, Rusk has since found his callling as a youth coach. After four years in a number of coaching roles at Brighton, it’ll be interesting to see how he handles the step up to senior football.
DERBYSHIRE
STADIUM: iPro Stadium, Derby (33,597).
PREDICTED FINISH: 4th.
Derbyshire can call upon a fair bit of experience and tactical nous in defence. Less fortunately, their midfield is largely reliant on one high-calibre but inconsistent player, and their strikers are barely out of short trousers. Though a capable team on paper, there are worrying imbalances in terms of squad depth.
CAPTAIN: Gary Cahill
Cahill has been an England international for six years, and a rock in Chelsea’s defence for the last four. The experienced stopper is an excellent tackler and reads the game very well, so don’t expect him to get caught out of position too often.
KEY PLAYER: Jordon Mutch
Mutch is primarily a deep-lying playmaker with a keen eye for a killer pass. His tendencies to run with the ball through the middle and shoot from distance add a further sense of unpredictability to his game.
MANAGER: Nigel Clough
Could Clough finally step out of the shadows of his legendary dad Brian, who won Derby a league title before enjoying even greater success in Nottingham? Nigel’s CV is rather more modest, but he too has an admiration for technique.
ESSEX
STADIUM: Roots Hall, Southend-on-Sea (12,163).
PREDICTED FINISH: 1st.
It appears the only way is up for Essex, who are favourites to win the East division and could go deep in the play-offs. They possess a widely respected manager, an imposing defence, and some real game-changers further upfield. Consistency – and composure under pressure – will likely determine their fate.
CAPTAIN: James Tomkins
Tomkins is a West Ham academy graduate who played in over 200 league matches for the Hammers. The brave and ambitious centre-half has also been capped by England at every level except senior.
KEY PLAYER: Andros Townsend
Townsend is an unpredictable jet-heeled winger who has great dribbling skills and is comfortable on either foot. If there was a Goal of the Month competition (there sadly isn’t), you’d expect this long-range specialist to feature regularly.
MANAGER: Chris Hughton
The last few years have seen Hughton lead the way for other black and minority ethnic managers through his work at Norwich and Brighton. A staunch socialist, he places a strong emphasis on man-management and creating a good training environment.
HERTFORDSHIRE
STADIUM: Vicarage Road, Watford (21,250).
PREDICTED FINISH: 2nd.
With one of the East divison’s strongest squads, and one of the best coaching set-ups in the whole competition, Hertfordshire are a fearsome outfit. For one thing, they are almost overflowing with defensive and attacking options in midfield. It just remains to be seen whether their strikers can provide the firepower they need.
CAPTAIN: Jason Shackell
Composed in the tackle and in his decision-making, Shackell is the type of central defender most managers would love to have. He is no stranger to leadership responsibilities either, having skippered four Championship clubs over his career.
KEY PLAYER: Jack Wilshere
Once hailed as “the next Paul Gascoigne”, injuries have constantly frustrated Wilshere’s progress with Arsenal and England. At 24, though, there’s still time for the flamboyant attacking midfield playmaker to fulfil his substantial potential.
MANAGER: Kenny Jackett
Jackett was a regular in Watford’s defence during their 1980s heyday. These days, he’s known as a disciplined manager whose basic but effective tactics have got Millwall and Wolves promoted from League One.
LEICESTERSHIRE
STADIUM: King Power Stadium, Leicester (32,312).
PREDICTED FINISH: 5th.
Leicestershire probably won’t match the Premier League exploits of the county’s biggest club earlier in 2016. Too many doubts hang over a defence which lacks real leadership, not to mention quality decision-makers. Nonetheless, their midfield should provide enough entertainment to satisfy the fans.
CAPTAIN: Liam Moore
Leicestershire have one of the championship’s youngest captains in Moore, who is an aggressive and strong centre-half. The 23-year-old also possesses a deadly long throw, which’ll give opponents something else to worry about.
KEY PLAYER: Oliver Burke
With incredible pace and balance, Burke poses a major threat out on the right wing. Though still very raw on the technical and mental side, he was capped by Scotland before his 19th birthday.
MANAGER: Ian Burchnall
Aged just 33, Burchnall is the most youthful of the Counties Championship’s managers. The Leicester native honed his coaching skills in Norway, working with Brian Deane at Sarpsborg before taking charge of Viking.
LINCOLNSHIRE
STADIUM: Gelder Group Sincil Bank Stadium, Lincoln (10,120).
PREDICTED FINISH: 10th.
Youth is the order of the day at Lincolnshire, but there’s a leadership void that will be incredibly difficult to compensate for. When even your best young defenders lack pace or fitness, you’re in trouble. A few substantial talents can be found further forward, but the rest of this team is likely to struggle.
CAPTAIN: Lee Frecklington
Frecklington has recently been a midfield regular for a Rotherham team who earned back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship. His simple but effective passing helps to keep his team ticking over.
KEY PLAYER: Sam Clucas
Clucas has had quite the rise from working as a Debenhams till operator to being a Premier League winger with Hull. That is testament to his work rate, not to mention his desire to take opponents on.
MANAGER: John Ward
Ward scored 100 league goals for Lincoln in the 1970s before embarking on a 25-year managerial career. A proponent of counter-attacking and man-marking, he’s one of only five men to have coached both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers.
NORFOLK
STADIUM: Carrow Road, Norwich (27,244).
PREDICTED FINISH: 9th.
The people of Norfolk have a certain (perhaps unfair) reputation, but this county team really is closely-knit. Norwich links flow throughout an energetic team which has a competitive starting XI but suffers from a lack of decent back-ups. Finishing in the top half might be the best they can aim for.
CAPTAIN: Chris Cohen
Cohen has been a popular figure at Nottingham Forest over the past nine seasons, even if injuries haven’t been kind to him of late. When fully fit, the central midfielder’s energy and consistency are invaluable to his team.
KEY PLAYER: Declan Rudd
Norfolk aren’t short of quality goalkeepers (Angus Gunn didn’t even make the squad!), but Rudd is arguably their best. The former Norwich shotstopper handles the ball well and shows a cool head in one-on-one situations.
MANAGER: Paul Warne
Warne is a fitness coaching expert who has been tipped for big things in management. As a midfielder, he made close to 300 appearances for Rotherham before joining the Millers’ coaching staff.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
STADIUM: Sixfields Stadium, Northampton (7,798).
PREDICTED FINISH: 11th.
Northamptonshire’s threat on the wings is obvious, with plenty of pace and technical ability to be had. Arguably just as clear is a real vulnerability in a feeble defence which is prone to making mistakes. Their manager will need to use all his know-how to avoid this rag-tag bunch from being repeatedly humbled.
CAPTAIN: Luke Chambers
Chambers is a veteran of over 500 Football League matches (for Northampton, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich), and an inspirational leader from the back. The passionate defensive stopper loves to celebrate with supporters after victories.
KEY PLAYER: Karl Darlow
Darlow is a commanding goalkeeper who came through the Forest academy before moving to Newcastle. He is the grandson of the late ex-Northampton striker Ken Leek, who was part of Wales’ 1958 World Cup squad (but didn’t play in Sweden).
MANAGER: Sean Dyche
Some fans may sneer at his direct tactics, but Dyche is very good at what he does, having led Burnley to Premier League promotion in 2014 and 2016. His teams have traditionally been structurally sound, disciplined and resilient.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
STADIUM: The City Ground, Nottingham (30,576).
PREDICTED FINISH: 3rd.
Nottinghamshire’s squad is generally tall, strong and experienced, with the potential to cause major damage. Fans will be salivating at the crossing, passing and shooting abilities their midfielders and wingers possess. If they can last the pace and not peak too early, you might be looking at the East champions.
CAPTAIN: Wes Morgan
32-year-old Morgan had a surprise renaissance last season, skippering Leicester to the most incredible Premier League title win. The Jamaica international defender is strong, fearless, uncompromising and a great man-marker.
KEY PLAYER: Tom Cairney
Not many Hull academy graduates make the grade, but Cairney has come on leaps and bounds since his formative years in Yorkshire. The skilful midfield playmaker has a magical left foot and a magnificent long shot in his locker.
MANAGER: Nigel Pearson
When not comparing journalists to ostriches, Pearson is an outspoken disciplinarian with a fine managerial record. In 2015, he kept Leicester in the Premier League against all odds, only to be sacked weeks later through no fault of his own.
RUTLAND
STADIUM: Main Road, Barleythorpe (1,000).
PREDICTED FINISH: 12th.
Poor little Rutland are on a hiding to nothing, having drawn their incredibly raw and youthful squad entirely from amateur clubs. There is some potential up front, but the rest of the team is so far behind the competition that it’s almost unfair. Honestly, even winning one match would be a cause for mass celebration.
CAPTAIN: Doug Bader
Rutland’s aptly-named skipper Bader has the leadership qualities and decision-making skills of a certain legendary RAF pilot. The midfielder isn’t bad on the ball either, though he perhaps lacks stamina.
KEY PLAYER: Roger Berisha
If the league’s underdogs are to cause any surprises this season, they’ll need Berisha to be firing on all cylinders. The teenage Anglo-Kosovan forward reads the game well and can be clinical in the box on his day.
MANAGER: Craig Dalrymple
Dalrymple grew up in nearby Melton Mowbray, and Rutland are now hoping the young long-ball merchant can inspire them to some degree of success. He had spent the past six years in Canada, overseeing Vancouver’s youth academy.
SUFFOLK
STADIUM: Portman Road, Ipswich (30,311).
PREDICTED FINISH: 7th.
Like some other teams in the East division, Suffolk have a few strong areas but generally struggle for depth. They are particularly impressive at the back, where their defenders are smart and brave if a tad slow. An enigmatic midfield could ultimately be the difference between them making the play-offs and missing out.
CAPTAIN: Michael Morrison
Morrison is a former England defender – at semi-pro level – who’s since become a Championship regular with the likes of Charlton and Birmingham. Several pundits have waxed lyrical about his man-marking and tackling capabilities.
KEY PLAYER: Chris Martin
Martin is a hot-headed pressing forward who scored 53 Championship goals for Derby in the previous three seasons. Suffolk fans are no doubt hoping he puts them in paradise, or there’ll be trouble for the men in yellow.
MANAGER: Lee Johnson
Johnson is one of English football’s most exciting young managers. The 35-year-old son of Yeovil legend Gary has already shown plenty of tactical flexibility, which could make Suffolk a surprise package in their division.
So, who do you fancy to be the stars of the East? Feel free to let me know below.
I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of the South division. Until then, thanks for reading.
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