David Artell / David Artell / 30 July 2009 / Leave a comment

With no teams starting with points deductions, betting on League Two will be a lot harder this season. But Morecambe defender David Artell believe there are still some must have bets...

"Crewe look excellent value to win the league outright at [18.0]."

Picking a League Two winner won't be easy this season. The [6.6] available on Notts County will attract plenty of backers but for me the smart money will be on Rotherham United at [9.0].

My old club were the best side in the league last year and comfortably finished mid-table despite their 17 point deduction. One potential spanner in the works may be Reuben Reid's potential move to Blackpool. If they can keep hold of him then that's where my money would go. If he does depart then they will need to replace him with someone who will get the goals any promotion hopefuls need.

You can't overlook Notts County as they are in the process of being transformed. They have signed some quality players like Ben Davies, Lee Hughes and Luke Rodgers but their most significant signing has to be Sven Goran Eriksson. Speaking to Sun Jihai when doing my coaching badge over the summer, he said that Eriksson was by far the best manager he's ever had. With experienced internationals are saying that he's had a big impact on them I'm sure he is going to have a massive influence on a League Two side. But even though they beat city rivals Forest last weekend I don't think they warrant the favourites tag as they haven't got a completely new team and they were no better than ordinary last season. I suppose it all depends on how much involvement Eriksson will have day to day and how quickly he and Tord Grip can identify the players they need.

One team that I would definitely lay for promotion is Dagenham and Red bridge [8.0]. They have lost some of their most influential players in Ben Strevens, Sam Saunders and Danny Foster all to Brentford. Even though they finished one place outside the play-offs I cant see them pushing on further this season and breaking into the top seven.

Of the relegated clubs, Crewe look excellent value to win the league outright (18). A frontline of Calvin Zola and Anthony Elding will score plenty of goals which might just take them all the way to the Championship. Northampton [3.4] may have a good season but, like Cheltenham [5.9] and Hereford [6.2], they may find it difficult to pick themselves up after a relegation season. Their early season form will be crucial to banish those thoughts and betting on them to get promoted might be the most sensible option.

Shrewsbury would also have been mentioned in the promotion shake up until this week but they have sold Grant Holt to Norwich. With the managing director also leaving there might just have been a bit of a power struggle with the manager and more to it than meets the eye. One things for sure, they will need to replace Holt's goals and while they are at it bring someone in to replace Ben Davies.

The relegation picture looks a lot more clear cut with only a small handful of teams looking likely to go down. Accrington Stanley [4.1] might be the favourites but I think Burton should have that tag. When they came under pressure in the final stages of last season they had to rely on their massive points lead to get them over the line. When they come under the same pressure to get results this season, which they undoubtedly will, I'm not sure they will have enough to survive. Unlike Torquay, the other promoted side, they cant fall back on their geographical position. Torquay is a fair trek from most league two clubs and if their home form is good I can't see them struggling. Torquay will also have seen what their 'neighbours' Exeter achieved last season and realise that there is nothing to fear.

Along with Accrington, I think the other contenders have to be the perennial strugglers of Barnet (5.2), Macclesfield (4.9) and Aldershot (5.3). Out of those three I believe that Macclesfield and Barnet are most in danger of the drop although I don't want to say too much more in case they use this as inspiration against Morecambe!

Tags: Aldershot town, Crewe Alexander, David Artell, League Two football betting, League Two promotion betting, League Two relegation betting, Morecambe Town, Notts County, Rotherham United