With just seven days to go until the start of the season, who do people see as our main rivals for promotion this season? First of all, it is hard to tell as many teams could have a very different team by the end of September compared to the beginning of August, as we did last season. We are in a very privileged position of having most of our key transfer business done a couple of weeks before the start of the season. Unlike some of our rivals we haven't got much threat of losing our key players after a few games into the season, so things could change. But from what I've seen so far in terms of the transfer market, two teams we played last season to look for are Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers. Forest ended the season strongly, and have really improved their defence over the summer with the signings of Hobbs and Lichaj. They are backed financially, so I wouldnt be surprised if they carry on adding to their squad. Bolton's squad still looks pretty strong, in terms of how they still have a number of players with Premier League experience. The one area of weakness I see is in the strikers, can realistically the likes of Sordell or Beckford be expected to fire them to promotion? Some teams, despite having a lot of money, seemed to have moved sideways having not really signed anyone year e.g.Leicester and Leeds. Other teams like Ipswich, Blackburn and Birmingham seemed to have bought quite a lot of average players and can't see being much of a threat. Of the teams coming down from the Premier League it's hard to tell. On paper QPR look far too strong when you consider they have players like Park Ji-Sung and Loic Remy in their ranks, but how up the fight will these players be given how they folded so badly last year? Chances are these will be one of the teams whose squad will look radically different by mid-September. Its not a surprise to see the core of Reading's squad still together, settled and with a year of Premier League experience behind them, so they will be a big threat. Wigan have bought very smartly, players like Rogne, Holt and Fortune will be strong in the Championship, but will they be able to cope with having to play in Europe as well? I wouldnt be surprised if they left Europe early and had a good year Any dark horses for you? I'm going to go left-field and say that Millwall could be a surprise team to go up. They had a strong defence last season, and have since kept their best player in Liam Trotter over the summer, and in signing the likes of Richard Chaplow, Lee Martin, Scott Macdonald and Steve Morison they will create and score chances up front. So to go up? I'm going for Watford, Wigan and Millwall. Looking forward to your views...
As you much depends on what happens in the remainder of the transfer window and the loans window. I fancy Reading, they have made some decent signings and have a manager who knows what it takes to get out of the championship. QPR I'm sure will lose Remy and Cesar. Mackie has already left and missed out on Hooper. Think they will be up there in the top six but not automatic. As for us I would like to see more of what Acuna can do before making predictions. We have lots of attacking players but few predators if Vydra does not return.
Judging by opinion on another board - we are not even considered to be in the hunt. Main tips are Wigan, QPR, Forest, Brighton, Bolton and Reading. I suspect/hope that we'll tip one of those out of the top six - possibly Brighton.
I'm not going to back us for fear of jinxing it. The team i really fancy is reading and have had a bet on them accordingly.
Actually quite tempted, odds probably similar to Hull, Cardiff and Crystal Palace going up last year. One team will go up this year who's not in the top 8 favorites, guranteed
It's the championship so...... Barnsley, Birmingham,Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Bournemouth, Brighton, Burnley, Charlton, Derby, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Nottm Forest, QPR, Reading, Sheff Wed, Wigan, Yeovil and not to forget the BBC, the Daily Mail and the suits at the football league itself....
Aberdeen makes an extremely valid point about the unpredictability of this division. I think the side out of the 3 who've come up that will do best is Doncaster. They're better than that shambles of money-grabbers put together by Willie McKay (makes the mouthing-off by Vydra's agent look tame) which were relegated in 2011/2012.
Not really bothered if other teams don't think we'll be there or there abouts - just goes to show what they know. The likes of Leicester have already shown their cards on this site recently and clearly they are very bitter - too bitter to recognise what a really good chance we have. I'll predict before a ball is kicked that we'll go up - probably as champions but if not as runner up. I'll also predict that neither QPR or Wigan will make a return. If you want an outsider go for Middlesboro or Ipswich
Maybe the people making the predictions on the other boards are right. The bookies have QPR, Reading, Leicester, Bolton above us and Forrest the same. To be honest, I'm happy us being the underdogs, you don't have everyone trying to bring you down a peg or two. I'm also happy as my 13-1 odds of winning the title could bring me in a very nice return . What is interesting though is that "Paddy Power" had Watford at 14-1 a week ago and are now only offering 11-1. Must have taken a fair few bets to drop that steep before a ball has been kicked. COYH
Whoever makes the strongest start...confidence counts for a lot. We know everyone will go through at least one bad patch over 46 games and I expect the main barriers to promotion are injury and fatigue as much as other teams.
I am surprised at how negative the QPR board is but how low the odds are for QPR getting promotion. I always assumed that bookies had some idea of what was going on in clubs
Very good! Just basing it on your likely struggle to live up to the tag of favourites and your managers inability to handle a transfer. Good luck anyway.
It's going to be us and Wigan at the top ...i wouldn't be surprised to see Leeds there or thereabouts, they have an excellent manager now...though if they don't spend, they're stuffed. Reading may do well, but i have a feeling Nottingham Forest will be up there too.
