Preston North End – Season Preview 2019/20
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Preston haven’t featured in England’s top-flight since the early 60s, but under Alex Neil, the club seems to be moving in the right direction.
They have established themselves as a solid Championship side and will be looking to push on to the next level this year.
Can Preston improve on last season’s 14th place finish?
Last season
Preston found themselves bottom of the Championship after losing seven of their opening ten matches of the 2018/19 campaign.
An unbeaten run of twelve matches from January to March put the club in contention for a play-off place however the team’s form tailed off towards the end of the season and they eventually finished 14th.
Callum Robinson was the club’s top scorer with 13 goals to his name but after his move to Sheffield United, the team must find a way to cope without him.
Next season
How the team deals with the absence of Robinson will be key to their chances of challenging for the play-offs this season.
Not only did he score goals, but his energy and understanding of the game will also be sorely missed by his team mates.
The return of David Nugent has come at the perfect time following Robinson's departure.
The veteran striker – who left the club in 2007 – has scored goals consistently throughout his career and everyone at the club will be hoping that he can continue to find the back of the net this season.
Preston scored more goals than six teams above them in the division last season but also conceded more than five teams below them.
Alex Neil will need to tighten up his team at the back while maintaining the same healthy goal-scoring rate at the opposite end of the pitch.
Players in
- Tom Bayliss – €2.20m from Coventry City
- David Nugent – Free from Derby County
- Patrick Bauer – Free from Charlton Athletic
- Andre Green – Loan from Aston Villa
Players out
- Callum Robinson – €7.80m to Sheffield United
- Andy Boyle – Free to Dundalk
- Michael Howard – Free to Morecambe
- Marnick Vermijl – Free to MVV Maastricht
- Josh Earl – Loan to Bolton Wanderers
- Chris Maxwell – Loan to Hibernian
- Tommy Spurr – Released
- Ben Pringle – Released
- Tom Stead – Released
Predicted league finish
The predicted league finish for Preston North End is 16th. The team made an impressive late push for the play-offs last season but it’s difficult to make a case for them doing the same this term.
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