CM 2008 > Guides > Club League Guides > English Championship > Preston North End

First Team: Andy Lonergan, Sean St. Ledger, Jason Jarrett, Neil Mellor

Reserve/Youth Team:

Consolidation is the name of the game for Preston board. This should be a realistic aspiration as they have a solid squad; one that should safely avoid relegation, but will find it hard to push on towards the play-offs.

Preston have two very good young goalkeepers with bags of potential in Lonergan and Henderson, Lonergan being the better of the two. Defensively they are also quite the strong. The likes of St. Ledger, Mawene, Davidson and Hill should be able to form a competent back line. However, defensive cover is in short supply, so ideally Preston could do with a new centre back.

Midfield could prove to be a problem area for any prospective Preston manager. They lack both width and any real quality, asides form the likes of Jarrett and Sedgwick. Ideally they could do with new wingers on either side of the pitch. However, with only 500k to spend on transfers, this could prove to be a problem. Extra funds can be obtained by selling poor players such as Neal and Nowland.

Up front, Preston have a very good Championship striker in Neil Mellor. He is ably assisted by the likes of Hawley and Ormerod. It will be up to the individual manager whether to tinker in this area, depending on their own ambitions for the squad. If a new striker is to be acquired, the loan market may be your best bet.

Preston look like a team heading for a season of mid table mediocrity. However, the right tactic and some prudent signings could see an unlikely push for the play-offs become a reality.