The bookies have us at joint 5th to get promoted, shared with Blackburn (with Steve Keen's anti Midas touch) & Forrest and the magic millions. Here's are my thoughts on the season ahead. Leicester 15/8 Seem to be a club going backwards to me, old manager, old ideas. Best players to be sold? Bolton 9/4 Look a strong prospect before the season starts, no panic buys or sales just going about their business. Wolves 5/2 Without big Mick can they bounce back? Cardiff 10/3 New money, new colours, same team! Will Dave Jones return to haunt them? Blackburn 7/2 Should be better placed than this, will the manager come good, or how long will Steve Keen last? Leeds 7/2 Who knows? Will the off-field troubles cause us issues, or is it our year? Nottingham Forest 7/2 Will they get a manager? will it be Sven? will Chambers stay or go? Anything could happen here. Birmingham 4/1 Lee Clark has a chance to rebuild his career, good buys so far but will the wheels stay on? Brighton 9/2 Can Gus recreate the early season form them had last year? Will Ross by the catalyst? Blackpool 5/1 A long way down the odds for a team with proven ability at challenging for promotion! Middlesbrough 5/1 Good squad, experienced manager & a chairman who might spend in January if he can see the Premiership getting closer. Sheffield Wednesday 7/1 The dark horse this season, manager with a point to prove. Chairman that knows you need to spend and get promoted before asking for silly money fo sell up! Ipswich 7/1 Who knows, depends how many players they can get in, could be top 10 could be bottom 3. Charlton Athletic 7/1 Good team, no ego's and no pressure. Southampton mk2? Watford 8/1 Zola inherits a solid base to work on. Could be one to watch, especially if they sign a couple of very good loan players. Hull 10/1 No chance, relegation fodder... Burnley 10/1 Good manager, would not surprise me if they were in the play off running in March Derby 12/1 Slowly getting better year on year, young Clough might do it (if he doesn't leave for Forest) Huddersfield Town 12/1 No doubt take 6 points of Leeds and do nothing else all season. Expect Rhodes to go in January. Millwall 16/1 Time may well be up. Bristol City 16/1 Mid table is the best they can hope for. Barnsley 20/1 Going down.. Crystal Palace 25/1 Great odds for an outside promotion shout, could be time to shine. Peterborough 33/1 Lots of leavers, lets see what daddy can send in reinforcements.
Money, money, money Would like us to drop this favourites tag. Clear we're not good enough. Top 6 would be a good bet for us this season though. A couple of quality signings could put us into the automatic promotion bracket though, such is the nature of this league.
Pearson to be the first manager sacked in the Championship, closely followed by whoever takes over the shambles at Forest.
Nah, got to be Keane. Hasn't a clue about this division (hopefully!). The Venky's will not be patient if they're not leading from the front from day 1.
My sauces tell me that the Kuwait owners (one of whom looks remarkably like Sam Hammam) will appoint their iconic manager in the next few days and it will be.......Sean O'Driscoll, yes Sean O'Driscoll formerly of Doncaster Rovers.
That's doing the rounds on Twitter too. Must be true then! Btw, just read that there's more pressure on Keane ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18892288
I expect Wolves to get off to a flyer in their first game Those odds up to and including Boro are disgraceful and anyone who takes them is a mug, 15/8 crisp boys do me a favour
I reckon that it will be: Wolves Leeds --------------- Cardiff Bolton - Play off winners Blackpool Blackburn ---------------- Leicester Middlesborough Charlton First manager to be sacked will be Steve Kean, then Sean O'Driscoll, then either Nigel Pearson or Steve Bruce Relegated will look like: Huddersfield Millwall ---------------- Crystal Palace Barnsley Peterborough
Expect Huddersfield to do quite well. If anyone's going to do a Southampton it's them IMO. And Forest's owners are out for publicity and nothing else.
Hull are making some impressive signings and about to be topped up with Sone Aluko - Their defence last year was tight, add some bite and I wouldn't rule them out of the mix. I agree with Simon too, Huddersfield will be another in with a shout.
Nah disagree, I think if anyone is it'll be charlton. Despite being on a tight budget they'll do alright. Difference is this year the teams getting promoted from League aren't as strong as last couple seasons
i am going out on a limb here by predicting leeds will finish 14th. they are likely to come a cropper in the first round of the league cup. shrews are unbeaten this season already holding mighty evesham town away to a 0-0 draw. just make sure your pies are hot! i hear peter ridsdale has been spotted at elland road, oh dear, floreat salopia!
I am starting to think Hull will do better. I still don't rate Bruce though but he is starting to strengthen their squad quite well
