Basic moments
- The Premier League has been unpredictable this season, with unpredictable teams nearing the top and top strikers risking losing points.
- Portsmouth are currently unbeaten and top of the table by 16 points, but it is still too early to say they are favorites for the title.
- Other teams such as Exeter, Port Vale and Stevenage could be hampered by a lack of depth, but Oxford United, Barnsley and Bolton Wanderers are promising contenders.
League One was uncompetitive last season with three clubs - Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday - losing out in the race for automatic promotion places.
However, at the start of the 2023/24 season, the third division is looking very unpredictable, with some surprise teams finding themselves at the top of the table and some big players dropping points, ending up at the bottom of the table.
The current leader is Portsmouth, under John Mousinho since January.
Mousinho, a former PFA president and keen defender at League One level for clubs such as Oxford United, moved to Fratton Park at the start of the year in his first attempt at coaching and was of course the reason for Pompey's sacking.
After eight games, Portsmouth have 16 points and remain unbeaten with four wins and four draws, although they still have some work to do as they have failed to pick up wins against the likes of Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham. Home games.
Former England midfielder Carlton Palmer believes eight games a season is not enough to determine whether Pompey are favorites to win the title, especially with the other two teams tied on points.
Palmer told Football League World: “Portsmouth are top of the table after a fantastic start to the season.”
“Before the season started, it was assumed that Portsmouth would be underdogs given the work of manager John Mousinho and the summer signings.
"They are 16 points unbeaten but it is too early to say they are favorites for the title." Exeter and Port Vale are on 16 points each and fall to 11th in the league, just four points behind back.
“I think they have a very good chance of promotion, but there is still a long way to go.”
Who is Portsmouth's biggest threat to promotion to League One?
Of the teams currently in the top six in the Third Division, one would certainly expect some sort of withdrawal from the likes of Exeter, Port Vale and Stevenage as they lack depth unlike some of the other Third Division teams. League.
And if the game gets going strong and fast, with back-to-back games on Saturday and Tuesday, teams with more money and more options will likely be able to combine the results to secure promotion.
Of course it doesn't always work out, and if football was all about reputation Portsmouth might be back in the Championship, but when it comes to advertising spend things are looking better than ever.
However, Liam Manning's Oxford United look promising and are recruiting well, particularly in attack, while Barnsley and Bolton Wanderers are expected to have squads that should be there or close to it in May.
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