Four Four Two: Imps' Preview

2nd August 2006

This month's edition of "Four Four Two" magazine includes a pullout supplement featuring previews for all of the Premiership and Football League teams.

As part of the preview, The Forgotten Imp was asked to contribute. Hence for those who are too mean to buy a copy but more especially for those who have, here is the unedited version of our preview:

1.What is the best that can happen this season?

The best thing that can happen is for us to win League Two, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football Members' Cup - it would be better still if I could remember the new sponsor's name for the latter competition but that really is entering the realms of fantasy!

Alternatively, Lincoln City's supporters will settle for promotion.

2. What is the worst that can happen this season?

The worst thing that can happen to any League Two club is relegation from the Football League. Lincoln's supporters experienced that feeling nearly twenty years ago. Life in the Conference is even harder now, as I am sure that Oxford United will find out.

3. Young player to watch?

Jeff Hughes is a star in the making. Still only twenty years old, he has already won two full international caps for Northern Ireland. He is a very skilful left-sided player, who we are looking forward to seeing more of, especially as we have been promised "total football" by our new manager John Schofield.

4. Most important player?

That is a difficult question because two of our most important players - Jamie McCombe and Gareth McAuley - left the club at the end of the season.

Goalkeeper Alan Marriott is the first on the team sheet and his consistency over the past seven years therefore now makes him our most important player.

It is worth noting that Lincoln City's philosophy means that everyone works equally hard for the team, so everyone is just as important to the team.

5. Player you would most like to get rid of?

An unfair question but thankfully, in all honesty, there is not one player at Sincil Bank who fits that category. Maybe this is because a couple of players who frustrated The Imps' faithful last season, were released in May. TFI is too nice to mention their names!

6. Have you got the right manager?

That is very difficult to assess because Head Coach John Schofield and Director of Football John Deehan have just taken over the reigns. Schofield has no experience, which is a major worry. However, he has overseen our youth development programme in recent years, which is now the strongest that it has been in years.

Lincoln's fans have debated in-depth over the Schofield-Deehan appointments but in truth, it will be several months before we know the answer to this question.

7. What advice would you give him?

To play a different formation to former Imps' manager Keith Alexander if Schofield wants to win the fans' instant gratitude. Schofield has mentioned that he would like to play the Dutch way via "total football". It should be interesting to see whether we achieve this via a 4-4-2 or whether we continue with the criticised 5-2-3 formation.

8. Which team do you most want to beat this season?

That has to be Boston United but Grimsby Town are also a Lincolnshire Derby, so four wins from these fixtures would leave City's fans gloating.

9. Which opposition player will get the most stick?

Boston United's Franny Green is likely to be most berated following his switch from Lincoln City. Ben Futcher at Grimsby Town will also come in for a torrid time at Sincil Bank, as some of Lincoln's fans have yet to forgive Futcher for switching to Boston United at the end of 2004/05 season.

10. Where will you finish this season?

Hopefully first, but second or third will do! Again, it is impossible to predict because much depends on the new signings that Schofield and Deehan make. The 2006/07 season is going to prove interesting, that is for sure.