Last season we started on fire, but injuries to key players took their toll with Steve Davies out from October until the end of April, Chris Shuker picking up knocks here and there all through the season and Chris Greenacre, our main striker, never really getting in to form after an injury sustained in October. After those injuries, plus suspensions to key players, we drifted away from the promotion battle and never really sustained ourselves.
A push in January-February got us back up there but we couldn't keep in there. For me the best result was winning 2-0 away at Leeds. To go to such a big club and win with such a big away following was fantastic! The worst moment though was losing 2-1 away at Bournemouth on Easter Monday, as for me that really signalled the end of our promotion battle, although I still kept heart.
How do you think you'll do this season?
It's tough to say how we'll do this year. We've made a few new signings but plenty have gone out and I really don't want to make judgement until we've seen how the squad beds in over pre-season. Personally though, I'd be quite happy for us to finish mid-table if it meant giving some of our promising youngsters a run in the team from where on we can push for promotion in 2009/10.
What's your squad like?
As previously mentioned, we've released or lost a fair amount of players. Steve Davies has gone to Derby which was a big loss while I was surprised Robbie Stockdale was released and dissapointed in Paul McLaren's departure to Bradford. Calvin Zola has also joined Crewe for £200,000. Saying that though, we appear to have brought in a few good players. Bas Savage has signed as a much needed target man up front while we have also signed George O'Callaghan from Cork City, Gareth Edds from MK Dons and perhaps most excitingly Endrissa Sonko from Walsall, who looks like a really exciting winger. We've also got a few great youngsters coming through, such as Danny Holmes, Aaron Cresswell and Terry Gornell who are on professional contracts, while Craig Curran and Paul Henry have showed good promise for the first team already. I'd say we have a reasonable team for this division. We're not far away from a promotion battle but one or two injuries/suspensions and we could really struggle, so if we don't get a couple more players in we'd be in trouble I think.
Which youngster will make the biggest impression in your team this season?
Hopefully, Terry Gornell will get a chance for the first team this year. Having watched the reserves for the last two-years, Terry has really stood out to me. He is a centre-forward who will score goals from both in and outside the box, has an excellent first touch, skill and strength for somebody who only turns 18 in August. I think he deserves a chance!
What's your manager like and will he still be there at the end of the season?
I like Ronnie Moore, but if some fans had their way he wouldn't even have signed a new contract in June! On that basis, should we struggle I don't think it will be too long before his head is called for again, hopefully the board will resist. He's a decent manager. He has a proven track record at Rotherham, and has tried to get Tranmere playing the "right" way, with two wingers feeding the strikers to go with a strong back-line and good enough midfield. At times though, with injuries and all, this has not been possible and we've had to play more direct, which is what some fans don't like.
Are you happy with your chairman/backroom staff?
I'm sure there are better out there than current chairperson Lorraine Rogers, but she's not doing that bad a job. She has somehow managed to keep a team that makes a huge opperating loss per year afloat, and until somebody throws some money at the club that's going to be how it continues. So yes, at the moment I'm pretty happy with the board, although if they spoke to the fans a bit more at times it might help.
Which team do you want to beat the most and why?
I guess many fans will say Leeds United, just because of their history, who they are etc. However, the team I currently want us to beat most, in League One, is Leyton Orient, because they have the liar and cheat that is Sean Thornton in their side. He used to be on our books but completely decieved the club in the process of leaving, and we have never let him forget that. I guess we also love beating Oldham but it doesn't happen much!
Predict your champions and runners-up, the play-off teams and the four to go down
Champions: Leicester City
Runners-up: Peterborough
Play-offs: Leeds United, MK Dons, Carlisle United, Huddersfield Town Relegated: Stockport County, Cheltenham Town, Yeovil Town, Northampton
Anything to add?
I have to say I was delighted that we are playing you away on the final day of the season, as having been to Scunthorpe twice I can say it's one of my favourite away days. Good luck for the season