I can honestly say I haven't looked forward to a season so much for many years. This is the start of my 16th season for BBC Three Counties (and Radio Bedfordshire) and with Luton and Watford in the same division - and with the increased stature of the Championship - it's a season that promises much. Of course we have to wait until January the 2nd for the first Luton v Watford derby, but there's plenty to enjoy or maybe endure until then! Luton are starting a season at this level for the first time since 1995. I was working at the club then, and it was the start of Terry Westley's time in charge. There was plenty of investment in the team, the sort Mike Newell can only dream about, but the season ended in relegaton and only now are the Hatters back at this level. It's a tough start for Newell's team with Palace, Southampton and Leeds in the first week, but these are the sort of fixtures Town fans have been waiting for. It certainly beats last season's opening trio of Oldham, Swindon and Barnsley. I think Luton can make a good start, despite the fixture list, because the momentum they built up last season will still count for a lot. Those players are used to winning, and the fact that the squad has stayed together should hold them in good stead. I saw it last season with Plymouth, but it doesn't last forever, and Plymouth ending up flirting with relegation before pulling clear.
 | | Can Steve Howard cope with new defences? |
It will be interesting to see how Steve Howard copes with better defences, and Curtis Davies and Chris Coyne with better strikers, and then of course if Davies, Kevin Foley and Sol Davis continue to shine will Luton be able to keep them? Likewise the manager! Kevin Nicholls will be a key figure. He, along with Coyne inparticular, will feel this is the division where he belongs. It was the scenario sold to them by Joe Kinnear when he signed them to lift the Hatters up from the bottom division. So in short, it will be hard, but I think Luton can stay up. In all honesty their first priority is staying up, and to that end you start to look around to see who you can finish above. There are a number of candidates, with last season's Championship strugglers Brighton, Crewe, Cardiff and Watford again among the bookies favourites to go down. Brighton continue to be dogged by relocation problems; Crewe sold Dean Ashton and were within one game of going down last time; Cardiff have money troubles, but an astute manager in Dave Jones; and Watford have lost their leading scorer over the summer. Which brings me to the Hornets. Interesting, very interesting. I mentioned Terry Westley earlier, and his appointment was a gamble. Likewise Adrian Boothroyd at Watford.
 | | Marlon hoping to be the King of Watford |
But Boothroyd can draw on the achievement of keeping Watford up at the end of last season. Those wins ground out at Rotherham and Stoke did the job, and more of the same will be needed this time around. That said of course the match winner in both those games - Heidar Helguson - has gone. There have been plenty of comings and goings at Vicarage Road both on and off the field, and Watford need to make a good start because there are some dissenting voices who remain unhappy at Helguson's sale; the release of several other players; and of course the departure of Nigel Gibbs. It has been encouraging to see new faces come in. Martin Devaney will be anxious to impress at a higher level; Marlon King and Jordan Stewart are being given a fresh start; and on top form Junior can be a handful. But until the season starts, Watford are an unknown quantity. Like Luton, Watford have off field issues as well. Luton still pursue the junction 10 development, whilst Watford need to redevelop Vicarage Road. Supporters have been promised much, and sooner rather than later the clubs need to deliver.
 | | Pete 'Can do' Winkleman |
Meanwhile, up the M1, there is a new stadium being built in Milton Keynes. Criticism is water off a duck's back to Pete Winkelman, who is second only to Jose Mourinho in delivering promises. Just as Mourinho promised Chelsea the title, so Winkelman promised Milton Keynes a team. When he says he will do something he does it, and I fancy we will be watching football in the new Denbigh Stadium long before Luton leave Kenilworth Road, or Watford rebuild the East Stand. I felt football came of age in MK on that last day of the 2004/5 season. Danny Wilson is arguably the best manager outside the top two divisions, and I don't think they will struggle this time around. Whether they can make a promotion challenge remains to be seen. One team who certainly can are Wycombe, where Steve Hayes' investment should pay dividends. Again they have another good manager in John Gorman, and the Nathan Tyson/Tommy Mooney strike partnership should certainly get goals. They need to improve on last season's home form, but a play-off place is the least Wanderers fans can expect. So roll on August 6th. Don't forget there's full commentary on every Luton and Watford match on BBC Three Counties Radio, with reports from every Milton Keynes and Wycombe match. Simon and the team will be taking your calls, e-mails and texts, so please join in. It's not the winning or losing, it's the taking part that counts - well almost! | 
