Chris Sutton has made eight signings this summer

By Michael Hortin BBC Lincolnshire Sports Editor

If any league in English professional football is difficult to predict then it has to be League Two.

Unless one team has spent significantly more than all the others then picking a favourite at the start of the campaign is tricky.

As a result you won't find me making too many precise predictions about what the Imps will do this time around.

The only thing I am sure is that they will do better than last time out, but that shouldn't be too hard.

While manager Chris Sutton did a good job in rescuing City last season, he and the other managers were also helped by disastrous campaigns for Grimsby Town and Darlington.

In preparation for this campaign the Imps boss has tried to be clear about what he wants from his team.

Torquay signed Carayol from MK Dons in July 2008

He feels they need to be fitter, better organised, have more pace, physical strength and, when necessary, be a bit more streetwise.

Judging by the pre-season games that I have seen City do look a fitter side and the players appear to be better organised.

But, of course, the real test comes when the hurly burly of League Two begins.

As for pace Gavin McCallum, Albert Jarrett and Mustapha Carayol should be up there with the quickest in the league.

Of the three, based on pre-season alone, Carayol looks the one to watch.

Allied to his pace and power, the Gambia international appears to play with a real hunger and desire.

Another apparently useful addition for City is Josh O'Keefe, the former Walsall midfielder.

City do look a fitter side and the players do appear to be better organised, but the real test comes in the hurly burly of League Two. Michael Hortin

Goals from midfield has been a major problem for the Imps since Lee Frecklington left for Peterborough, but O'Keefe looks a capable replacement.

If there is a question mark on the Imps at the start of the campaign it is in defence.

Adam Watts, who will be key for the club, is still working his way back from injury while new goalkeeper Joe Anyon will need a bit of time to settle.

The other area Chris Sutton has addressed in his squad is experience.

While the recruitment of Jamie Clapham, Drewe Broughton and Delroy Facey may have not added to the numbers of fans buying season tickets they are, for me, an astute bit of business.

Last season Lincoln could be naive and at times overpowered, the recruitment of that trio should help.

Dorrian has been Lincoln vice-chairman since June 2009

In the coming months we will get to see if the players are up to the job.

So, having said I would avoid predictions, I will try finish it by being a little more precise about what City might achieve this campaign.

At this stage they look capable of a top-10 finish. Just how high up that list they get will depend on the usual mix of form and luck and perhaps recruitment from the loan market.

Finally though one of the keys this season will be for the Imps board and fans showing some patience.

As with every campaign there will be highs and lows, when the Imps are in a trough Chris Sutton will need support from everyone he has shown he can identify the problems he now needs time to put the solutions into effect.

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