Wednesday 14th October

Hi all, this is my League 1 blog. I hope you like it and come back to read it every week!

Well, League 1 is certainly looking more glamorous this season. It's not been unusual for one, or perhaps two fallen giants to occupy a place at this level in recent campaigns but this year the division seems jam-packed with big names such as Leeds, Charlton, Southampton and Norwich. It's unfamiliar to see them all plying their trade in League 1 but for the rest of the clubs it's definitely a new, exciting challenge to overcome them.

A pattern seems to be emerging and with a quarter of the season gone already (where has the time gone since August?!) that's to be expected I guess. The smart money is probably on Leeds United and Charlton to dominate proceedings and I wouldn't argue with that. Both clubs have been solid and consistent, winning matches when they haven't played well and that's normally a good indication of a side's prospects.

I've seen a lot of Leeds and they are a team completely revitalised and rejuvenated under Simon Grayson. They are virtually unrecognisable from the team he inherited; strong in defence, confident going forward and throughout the side they seem to have far more belief. They have the stickability factor.

The same applies to Charlton, who did well to hang on to most of their better players despite relegation. They have a quality squad and one that looks equipped to handle most of what League 1 will throw at it!

My dark horses to mount a challenge for promotion outside of the likes of Norwich and Colchester (who are both flying under new managers now) are my former club Huddersfield Town. Their new chairman Dean Hoyle has pumped a massive amount of cash into the club and most clubs that have loads of money tend to succeed! They have a large squad of players and could field two different first XI's and still compete. They have stuttered a bit but Lee Clark's boys will be in the end of season shake-up in my opinion.

The lad up front, Jordan Rhodes is a terrific prospect and the most eye catching player in the division I've seen all season. He's just 19 but has 11 goals to his name already. He is highly talented and a natural goalscorer with a knack for being in the right place at the right time and that's priceless. The boy has a very bright career ahead of him.

On a sadder note, I'd like to send my commiserations to John Barnes and Peter Taylor who both lost their jobs in recent days. I feel for both of them.

Tranmere's fans seemed to have a huge say in Barnes' dismissal and although it's important they have their say, I do believe that fan power can have too much impact. . I'd like to have seen the club show more backbone by backing their man a bit longer .

Peter Taylor is unlucky too and I know how he feels. Just like Peter did last season, I took Barnsley up into the next division only to be relieved of my duties the following season when it became a struggle. . It's a real shame as he is one of the best managers and nicest blokes I know in the game.

Still, there are so many positive things to discuss in League 1 these days and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you on them throughout the course of the season.

It's going to be a good'un.

>>Send in your comments on Andy's blog by clicking here

COMMENTS

1. From Paul, Milton Keynes:

"Leeds & Charlton might have had a good start, but the season isn't over yet..."

2. From Mary:

"How do you rate Millwall's chance of promotion this year?"

3. From Jeff Peters, Huddersfield:

"Andy - disappointing to see your debut marked by joining the sad chorus of ex pros and managers criticising Peter Johnson for having the courage to act on the realisation that he was wrong to appoint John Barnes while there is still time retrieve a so far disastrous season. Barnes seems a nice enough person but he has demonstrated no aptitude for management. His signings, selections and tactics were variously baffling and inappropriate and it was clear from his demeanour in the technical area that he had little empathy with the players - for example, not even acknowledging substituted players. Thank you Peter Johnson for acting sooner rather than later."

4. From Paddy Browne, an exiled Saint - Newport:

"Andy, I'm so pleased that you failed to mention Southampton. Sure, our first task was to clear the League-imposed ten-point penalty, but that's done and we now need concentrate on gaining enough points to escape the dreaded drop zone. However, despite almost missing the transfer window, (we very nearly didn't have a club), coach Alan Pardew has put together a strong side which not only has stopped leaking goals but can now boast of good goal difference. We don't kid ourselves, we know have a long, long ways to go, but we Saints like being the underdog! So best not discount us entirely.

Great blog, by the way!"

5. From Brian Lingard:

"Great comments from the Huddersfield fan. As a Tranmere fan I can say that hand on heart Digger and Trigger are not cut out for Management. I kept making excuses for performances, We never get anything at Yeovil, Leeds were outstanding, Charlton will get promotion, we didn't take our chances against MK Dons, but then we played teams that I would think we should have been competative against, Carlisle, Walsall, Exeter, Bury. There was very little or no progression in those 6 matches. Their signings were baffling. I had got to the stage where I was actually embarrassed going in to the office on a Monday morning, and I've never had to say that in the 12 years I've been going to Prenton Park. When the news broke last Friday, it was like a new dawn, our Season was about to start. Mondays loss to Stockport was disappointing, but there was a definite improvement in the effort of the players and the brightness of the crowd. We have a hard season ahead and even now we need 3 or 4 wins in a row to get back in the mid table pack, but we need a Manager with experience at this level to keep us up. We lost 7 first team players in the Summer, so I think Ronnie Moore would have struggled to equal last seasons performance, but I think his signings would have been more in keeping with League 1 level just because he knows the lower leagues so well. The new man will have a hard job, but with 3/4 of the season to go we can still make an impact."