Peterborough United Season Preview: can Miller step up?

This will be Peterborough United’s fifth straight season in League One after three midtable finishes. If we were to compare that with where the club has generally been historically, floating between the third and fourth tier, that position looks a stable one. Comparing it to the preceding Championship exploits however, results look more underwhelming. What are the expectations at Posh? The Football Lab spoke to supporter Alex Batt ahead of the new season.

The club’s position is a stable one, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good one. We are dangerously becoming a bang average League One side, and that’s not what the fans want, nor is it what Darragh McAnthony wants. However, given the players we have at our disposal, our mid-table status doesn’t come as a surprise. Long gone are the days of George Boyd, Lee Tomlin, Dwight Gayle, and Britt Assombalonga.

Your first two signings have been the top scorers in non-league divisions, Ricky Miller and Danny Lloyd. 86 goals combined is a good return – but can they step up two/three levels?

That’s the million dollar question. A question no one has the answers to. Of course we hope that both Miller and Lloyd will step up, much like Boyd, Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith did, but with every promising non-league player we’ve signed, there has been a flop too. Fingers crossed it’s the former.

With Luke McGee going back to Tottenham, you’ve added two new goalkeepers. What are your thoughts on the signings of Jordan Tibbetts and Jonathan Bond?

It was always going to be a disappointing summer if we couldn’t land Luke McGree again. Sadly, he’s gone to Portsmouth now, which begs the question, how did we miss out on him? As for Tibbetts and Bond, only time will tell if they are good enough for Posh and if they are better than McGee from last season.

There were concerns that midfielder Chris Forrester lost his touch in the second half of last season. Did the captaincy burden him?

Captaincy at Peterborough United has burdened a lot of players, Forrester included. No idea why it changes the player’s mentality so much, but it’s happened way too many times at London Road. Like Grant McCann says, Forrester just needs to get back to focusing on his game and nothing else. Then he’ll (hopefully) be back to his best.

The new captain has been named as Jack Baldwin, who has signed a two-year deal. When fit, do you expect him to be partnered at centre-back by Michael Bostwick?

It will be Baldwin and Ryan Tafazolli at the back as it’s likely Michael Bostwick will be leaving the club.

Michael Smith and Hayden White have left this summer. Can Liam Shephard step up from League Two, or is right-back an area you need to strengthen?

It seems management are happy with Shephard to come in and replace Michael Smith, so I don’t see us bringing in another right-back. However, we all know things can change in football. Big task to replace Smith.

17-year-old Lewis Freestone had a run of games at the end of last season. Could his emergence push Liam Hughes on another level?

A lot of buzz surrounding Freestone, and rightfully so, he performed well at the back end of last season. Is he good enough for a regular first-team spot? Not just yet, but who knows with time.

Leo Da Silva Lopes has shown early potential, new boy Michael Doughty has a good left foot and Marcus Maddison hasn’t left yet. Is there quality to be found in that midfield?

Our midfield has always been a strong point in my opinion. Lopes is a good player on his day, but way too many times during a season he goes missing. Having depth in that midfield is vital, especially given how long the seasons are in the Football League.

What are your thoughts ahead of the League One season as a whole? Any potential dark horses for you?

As always, very excited for football to return. I reckon League One gets stronger and stronger with each passing year, and this year is no different. No dark horse for me as of yet in my opinion, I can only see the big teams dominating the league. Maybe Portsmouth will be one to watch?

Where will you finish? We were both four places out with our predictions last time…

Posh’s final position? 10th.

The Football Lab’s Verdict

Though Peterborough have so far retained Maddison, it is hard to say that their squad has improved. Their chances of progression rest on Baldwin’s fitness and the speed at which new forwards adjust to a higher league. 13th