As always, picking three to go up from the championship is a difficult task. Nottingham Forest have started well but have a fairly small squad when injuries begin to kick in. Derby are much fancied and were unlucky not to go up last year. Watford have just replaced their manager so are an unknown quantity. Cardiff have some good players but lost a couple of key ones last year. Wigan improved a lot under Rosler but have they lost too much talent? Wolves are going well and appear to have momentum from last year. Have Fulham turned a corner or has their poor start scuppered them And then of course there's Norwich beyond this there are, as always, outsiders: Blackburn, Middlesbro, Bournemouth, perhaps even Charlton and Millwall as dark horses.
Some top of the table clashes this weekend: Norwich go to Cardiff and Nottingham forest host Derby. Unbeaten Charlton host Watford, Perhaps the biggest beneficiaries will be Wolves who travel to in turmoil Blackpool. It's still early days but by the end of the month we should have a better idea of how it's all shaping up.
Another interesting weekend. Norwich the main winners and are now clear favourites. The two east midlands teams look good enough to be challenging all season. Watford surprisingly drew a blank at surprise package Charlton. Although Wolves seem to have the best defence in the division, do they score enough goals? The only thing I am fairly certain of is that until Fulham get a manager in who knows this division, they are not getting anywhere near the playoffs. Still very early days though and as always in the championship you could make the case for at least 12 of the teams.
I honestly believe we could field two completely different teams this season that could comfortably finish in the top six. Our squad depth this season is unbelievably strong we've got potentially the best CB, CM and striker in the division - and they haven't kicked a ball between them yet! Ok, Bassong isn't interested and is unlikely to play for us again, but Howson and Hooper will be immense when they are match fit. This season is going to be brilliant!
I'm beginning to think our biggest problem will be managing those not getting a game. Lafferty has been decent so far, though very mixed, how will he cope when benched or even out of the squad? When Hooper n Howson return it's going to leave a couple of people pretty unhappy. A good problem on face value for any manager but definitely a challenge. Bah!
Couldn't agree more General and what a headache for a manger to have. I'm beginning to think that Lafferty may have 'blotted his copybook' after getting a needless yellow and NA replacing him with Jerome, only for Jerome to then put in an incredible performance.
There's certainly some players who'd be considered third choice who are going to struggle to get enough game time to be happy with. McGrandles, both Bennetts and Miquel for starters are likely to struggle for minutes. Unlike last season though, I think players have less reason to complain if things are going well despite them not playing. For people like Wes last season it must have driven them mad watching us suck on the pitch and not getting a chance.
With Johnson and Tettey's form plus Odjidja waiting in the wings and the depth of midfield talent we've got, I think Howson's got the toughest job to slot back into a starting position. Tough for a good player like Howson who'd probably walk into nearly every other teams' starting XI.
I think it will be a luxury playing Tetty and Johnson together except for matches against top opponents. Tetty in front of Howson, Ofoe, Redmond, Hoolahan, Grabban for instance. What a mouthwatering prospect, and this leaves Hooper, Jerome, Lafferty, Murphy, Johnson, O'Neill, Benno on the bench/in the wings. This is undoubtedly the strongest squad in depth we have ever had.
We have moved into pole position with the bookies. 7/4 for promotion,Forest and Derby next on 9/4.Not entirely sure how I feel about going back up.Scoring four in the second half or getting tanked week after week?
WOW - that has changed pretty quickly from the 'pre-season' odds then!!!! I tend to agree re promotion and whilst it's great to be in the PL, the way in which the fans and regulars on here were almost at 'each other's throats last season' was horrendous. I actually enjoy the 'harmony' on these boards nowadays. Reminds me, I haven't seem many posts from 'carrabuh' recently!!! Disclaimer - It could ALL have been so different had CH been sacked after our dismal home defeat by Fulham on Boxing Day and who knows, IF we do go back up and IF we do keep most of the current squad together (plus a few additions in the 2 transfer windows) and IF our manager is still NA; we could have a better chance of not being involved in the relegation battles each season.
I was going to make a similar point JR, I actually feel our squad is stronger now than when we got relegated, which must be a rarity. Should we go back up, with a few quality additions I think we should stand a decent chance in the Prem. It'd be nice if a couple of bigger teams ended up getting relegated this season though, the more dross in the Premier League for us to compete with, the better.
Best thing about this season so far, compared to last is that last year we had Cruyff's 'Relegation watch' thread up and running by now. This season we have 'Promotion watch' thread instead. Let the good times roll
Agreed and it shows how the 'big-name' players who were being 'courted' by PL clubs, Ruddy, Hooper, Tettey and Redmond MUST have been impressed by NA and his assistants to want to stay, as opposed to wanting to leave for 'the promised land' IMO, it shows that a. they want to play regularly and not just sit on the bench each week b. they want to repay the fans for their continued support, especially in the 2nd half of last season
Don't forget Olsson, who I feared would be the first one to leave for the bright lights - particularly as he was about the only player to have anything like a respectable season in 2013/4. He was linked with Wet Sham very soon after our relegation was confirmed, I seem to recall?
Well done Kent for starting this off. I agree about the depth of the squad, and that's without any actual 'squad players'. Game time is going to get even harder when Hooper and Howson get match fit again. The Bookies, like most of us, are beginning to believe in Adams and his assistants, which was probably our biggest question mark. The excellent transfer window has also helped, but it's certainly looking good now. As for the others, Forest and Watford are currently the biggest threat, but IMO, Wolves, Brentford and Charlton are having the 'early season promotion bounce'. I don't think they'll still be up there come Christmas. Blackburn, Derby, Cardiff, Reading and Wigan could get back into it, but most of them are currently losing ground. It's looking good so far.
Thanks Cromer - I'd forgotten him and he seems to have put his horror show on the opening day behind him!!!! <pk>
Hopefully Brucie's boys will give the Hammers a drubbing tonight.The bottom of the Premiership table is starting to take on the look that we suspected.'arry's -8 GD is looking tasty.
