Early doors but where do you think we'll finish?

It must be true, it's on the tinterweb!

 

Ok then I'll reinstate my Villa play off winners prediction!

 

I also think it may be worth a shilling or two on a wager for Villa to go the same way as what Wolves did. League 2 for them hopefully. Never liked them

 

Interesting with an almost 50/50 going up/going down split about Villa.

I'd also love to see them 'achieve' a double relegation.

Not sure where the confidence in them comes from. Serious question would we want any of their players?

 

Gestede?

 

But we have Gonzo, also 6 ft 3 ins Benin international.

 

I read the same BfB, had to laugh at the Vardy article, and if Bolleteri going to Hull and the related story is correct then im off to watch Tondu robins this season.

 

Maybe, but other than an ok 18 months for a very average Blackburn side he's still in the very rough diamond category. If we'd bought him as the 'striker to fire us to the PL' for x millions would you be happy?

There's a big job to be done at villa. If gestede is what's going to save them then we'll finish above them.

Tbh I haven't followed them closely enough to know what they've kept and lost squad wise. Just going on the past experience that if a side is nowhere near good enough for the PL it's normally not good enough for the championship either.

 

I can't see any better than 8th place for us. This will be a stronger division than last season. I think Newcastle, Norwich, Brighton, Derby, Sheff Wed, QPR and Villa will finish above us.
We've changed a few players but I don't think we have improved overall.
We seem to be hoping a new formation will catch teams out.

That's what my head says but obviously my heart says we will run away with the league and go up as champions.

 

It's really hard to tell pre season where we will finish but I'm optimistically hoping we will go a couple better than last year and sneak into the play offs. The new formation should offer more attacking options but the other teams will prepare for this. We had a good run with the players we have got under Slade so hopefully we can improve with Trollope at the helm. That said we will probably need to strengthen with a couple of new faces make the top six but I can't see us going up with the quality of teams in the league this year. Hope I'm wrong!

 

I didn't say I'd pay "x millions" for Gestede, just that he was a player at Villa who I'd consider when you asked who would we take off them. The fact that he would probably cost that sort of amount to buy probably rules him out in any case, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be better for us to have him rather than them.

On the broader points, when you think we got to 8th place last season under the God-awful tactical management of Slade, it wouldn't take a great improvement in that direction with basically the same squad of players to do better tablewise. The fly in the ointment is definitely going to be the 3 teams that have come down.

I accept they're going to be a huge factor (though some think Villa are going to blow up and I'm not at all sure about that), but with a few additions to our squad and a damn sight better approach tactically, we could easily finish top 6 if last season is anything to go by.

OK, so 3 teams have come down, but remember that 3 of the teams who finished above last season, Burnley, Middlebrough and Hull wont be here this year. I suppose it's a question of how much the others have improved (or gone backwards). We will have to match or better those other contenders mentioned and I don't think it should be regarded as an impossible task.

 

I know that wasn't what you were saying. Just suggesting that if he'd been a marquee signing we'd all be pretty underwhelmed IMO.
He's probably better than what we have but that's not saying a lot striker wise.

Only time will tell on how the relegated teams fair. We're all assuming Norwich and Newcastle will be a force but either could suffer the sort of relegation hangover that others have previously.

Ultimately for the vast majority of the season we'll be playing the sides we did last year and as you say, we weren't that far off last time. WOL are saying we look fitter and the system seems to suit the players. I'd like to think we will improve as Trollope and the players develop together.

I'm always excited at this time of year but this time around its another level. If I wasn't going on holiday Saturday i'd definitely be driving to Birmingham

 

My brother in law, a Cherries fan, reported yesterday we were given a good test at the back but did okay - could have been 2.0 but wasn't. Our strength was in midfield with good possession and movement. Ralls and Fabio, in particular caught the eye. Also Noone caused problems as an impact sub.

However as we fear we were pretty toothless upfront creating little in terms of clear chances. Okay we were up against a Prem side, albeit lower end and with their best strikers absent, and Championship sides will not be at the same level, but we definitely need more pace and an eye for goal.

Come on VT it's hands in the pocket time especially if we can off load the Three Amigos.

 

Some big teams in this league this season.

I've put us in the play offs, might be more in hope than conviction.

Newcastle must be favourites, won't be surprised to see Leeds in the play offs.

Villa in free fall IMO just above the bottom 4.

 

That's it in a nutshell really. No cutting edge, no proven goal scoring centre forward.

Seen the Bournemouth highlights. Declan John looked very good going forward.

 

Villa have just bid 12 million for Ross! Now we really know they've lost the plot!

 

It's going to be a really interesting championship this season. Despite their opening game stumble I can't see anyone stopping Newcastle. I think Norwich will do really well and get 2nd. Sheffield Wed are my choice at the surprise team and nicking the 3rd spot from Derby. 5th and 6th spots going to 2 from Brighton, Villa and Huddersfield. I think Cardiff will be around 8th to 10th

 

2 points dropped due to the inevitable missing goal poacher. Pilks & Fred missed sitters.

So until we get a decent marksman, it will be 8-12th position for us.

Oh & that darned Keeper again foiled us.

 

Higher end of mid-table. Signings are okay but nothing exceptional. Even if Villa got docked 9 points they will still make the playoffs. Newcastle will win this thing with a couple of weeks to go.

 

If we dont have a goalscorer, we will struggle like crazy. We cant rely on the midfield (Lex / Whitts) to get goals every game.