Throughout this week our writers reveal their hopes and expectations for Swindon Town in League One during 2012/13. Next up, Brendan Hobbs…

Hopes and expectations for the season: I’ve been told many times that I’m like a dull, miserable Hippo who likes nothing more than to wallow and thrash about in a muddy pond of negativity. So I’ve decided to be different this year and have a more positive outlook on the coming season.

On thinking about my hopes and expectations I’ve realised for the first time that the two are currently cuddling up together in the same bed – so you’ll not get the typical ‘like us to be in the playoffs but will settle for a season of consolidation’ mantra from me – I hope for promotion and this season I’m honestly expecting it.

Signing of the summer & who will be the key player? (Combined as it’s the same player): Tough, we’ve made some good signings, all of which improve an already solid group of players. But I have made a shortlist of three, each provide some particularly sticky polyfiller to plug the less obvious gaps in the squad –

Tommy Miller gives us the steady, experienced midfield head that we’ve been craving for a while, he can act as head-boy/bully if you will, keeping the errant tearaway Simon Ferry in line.

Andy Williams provides top quality crooning and monster pace up front – if his short, devastating sprints against Palace are anything to go by (leaving a series of bewildered defenders hacking and fouling in his wake.) Pace is something we chronically lacked last year – Connell, Kerrouche and let’s not forget Magera were all pretty much one-paced. As always, Benson is exempt from criticism.

But I’m plumping for Gary Roberts, I’ve always liked him as an opposition player, tricky, passionate and scored an absolute thumping volley in front of the Town End a few years back – which always sticks in my memory.

Funnily enough I was watching the league one play-off final this year and when Roberts entered the field of play, I said to myself, now he’s a player I’d love us to sign, within minutes of that the commentator said that he’d just been selected in the League One team of the year, so no chance of that happening I thought!

Like Luke Skywalker, he will bring balance to the universe, but unlike Luke Skywalker it’ll be with his left peg and not a lightsaber, which is a shame. Last year, despite the best efforts of De Vita and Rooney we were far too lopsided, most chances were generated from the right. You only need to you look at the Washbag’s goal of the season t-shirts for evidence of this – nearly every strike originated from the right side of the pitch.

This season I honestly believe the new McEverley/Roberts ‘axis of evil’ will be just as devastating as the more established threat offered on the opposite flank – as soon as our central defenders remember to start looking to the left as well as the right when distributing the ball from the back!

STFC Predicted Final Position Finishing position: 2nd

League One Promoted: Coventry, Swindon, and if Danny Wilson can buck his second year management hoodoo (and stop key players committing serious sexual assaults) I’m plumping for Sheff Utd in the Playoffs.

League Two Relegated: Walsall, Portsmouth, Leyton Orient and if Danny Wilson can’t buck his second year management hoodoo (and key players continue committing serious sexual assaults) I’m plumping for Sheff Utd to occupy the 4th relegation place.

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