1. Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!

The Championship Thread - 2025/26

Discussion in 'Southampton' started by - Doing The Lambert Walk, May 13, 2025.

  1. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2011
    Messages:
    22,993
    Likes Received:
    17,024
    Looks pretty tight this year I think. Few outsiders from the norm. Probably 3 or 4 who should be in the auto hunt then another 5 or so in the playoffs mix. Probably be a team I’m not even considering in there as well.
     
    #481
  2. Libby

    Libby Derby County, we're coming for you

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2011
    Messages:
    84,604
    Likes Received:
    89,173
    Yeah going to be very competitive this season for sure. Don't forsee a huge gap between the top 3/4 and the rest of the play offs like the last two seasons.
     
    #482
  3. tomw24

    tomw24 Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2011
    Messages:
    68,530
    Likes Received:
    37,485
    Hmm, think that could happen again TBH. There may be a team, like Ipswich last time which takes everyone by surprise, has a great start and rides the momentum wave all the way to promotion (Birmingham would be my guess for that) but money talks at the end of the day. Birmingham have the money to compete at the top end and I can see Wrexham making a play off push but I still think there will be a significant gap between the top few and the rest.
     
    #483
  4. Le Tissier's Laces

    Le Tissier's Laces Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2011
    Messages:
    43,175
    Likes Received:
    49,183
    What’s more annoying is that I do think the PL is weaker this time around, so there’s a chance a promoted team could stay up. Not that that would have made a difference last year, with the berks we had managing us, but annoying in the sense of the PL being able to pretend it’s still fair.
     
    #484
  5. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2011
    Messages:
    22,993
    Likes Received:
    17,024
    I think Ipswich and Leicester could have similar seasons to last time they were in the division. Leicester closer to the rest than last time due to the points deduction, but can see them storming the league in terms of how many wins they get. Birmingham potentially in the mix with the squad/momentum they’ve got, possibly Wrexham as well for the same reasons. Sheff Utd should be there or there abouts again and think they are being over looked by a lot of the people I’ve seen doing predictions etc

    As you mentioned Millwall have a decent side and manager and Norwich I think have recruited well and have a manager who knows the league and got a **** team into the playoffs last year.

    Still a month of the window for that to change
     
    #485
  6. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2011
    Messages:
    22,993
    Likes Received:
    17,024
    Brentford the obvious candidates but as it stands I don’t see any of the promoted teams really laying a glove on the PL sides over the course of a season. Might not be as bad as the three last season but still see them all going down pretty comfortably right now. Again still a month to go of the window for more deals to happen to close the gap. Think the gap could widen though as Brentford will spend some cash to replace players they’ve lost
     
    #486
  7. Le Tissier's Laces

    Le Tissier's Laces Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2011
    Messages:
    43,175
    Likes Received:
    49,183
    Bournemouth and Everton need reinforcements as well as Brentford.
     
    #487
    Ian Thumwood likes this.
  8. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2011
    Messages:
    22,993
    Likes Received:
    17,024
    True but I’d expect them all to spend. They are at a stronger starting point than all the promoted sides even with the players lost and will likely all drop £100m+ in new signings when all said and done.

    My Everton mate thinks they’ll be pushing Europe this season fwiw
     
    #488
  9. Libby

    Libby Derby County, we're coming for you

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2011
    Messages:
    84,604
    Likes Received:
    89,173
    I'm not buying into the Wrexham hype personally. Midtable without ever seriously troubling the play offs imo.
     
    #489
  10. Che’s Godlike Thighs

    Che’s Godlike Thighs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2012
    Messages:
    14,456
    Likes Received:
    23,999
    Just saw they are showing interest in Ainsley Maitland-Niles <laugh>
     
    #490
    Le Tissier's Laces likes this.

  11. tomw24

    tomw24 Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2011
    Messages:
    68,530
    Likes Received:
    37,485
    Which their fans would snatch your hand off for TBF. Reading their forum, they seem very down to earth and grouded despite their famous owners and rapid rise.
     
    #491
    thereisonlyoneno7 likes this.
  12. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2011
    Messages:
    22,993
    Likes Received:
    17,024
    another one who falls upwards after leaving. Think it’s just us tbh. Tom has cursed us all
     
    #492
  13. RSS

    RSS Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
    Messages:
    11,210
    Likes Received:
    9,444
    I've no idea about incomings, but Wolves have obviously sold Cunha and Ait Nouri too as another lower half PL club that has the potential to actually be in the relegation fight with the promoted clubs.
     
    #493
  14. thereisonlyoneno7

    thereisonlyoneno7 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2011
    Messages:
    21,055
    Likes Received:
    32,292
    I was worried for a moment as I thought Tom wrote that.
     
    #494
    SaintMarv likes this.
  15. SteveO 74

    SteveO 74 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2024
    Messages:
    548
    Likes Received:
    548
    Ipswich are the ones for me to beat this season. Finish above them and you’re winning the league.
    They’re about to spend £20 million on the lad from boro, and will also depend on the type of striker they bring in to replace Delap, which they will do.
    Lost a bit of experience in midfield, but not a lot of change at their club, which will help.
     
    #495
    Libby likes this.
  16. thereisonlyoneno7

    thereisonlyoneno7 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2011
    Messages:
    21,055
    Likes Received:
    32,292
    Yeah, I have watched all the Welcome to Wrexham seasons and TBF they do seem like a normal level headed bunch. Happy to be on the ride that their famous owners are giving them. Also, they do seem pretty good owners, they do spend, but wisely and have totally rejuvenated the town.
     
    #496
  17. Libby

    Libby Derby County, we're coming for you

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2011
    Messages:
    84,604
    Likes Received:
    89,173
    Yeah clear favourites for me.
     
    #497
  18. tomw24

    tomw24 Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2011
    Messages:
    68,530
    Likes Received:
    37,485
    Christ almighty Wrexham are charging fans £9 for their tickets for the Saints game to be posted. How on earth can they justify that?
     
    #498
  19. Libby

    Libby Derby County, we're coming for you

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2011
    Messages:
    84,604
    Likes Received:
    89,173
    Probably cos they've waited until 10 days before the game to start selling them.
     
    #499
  20. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2011
    Messages:
    22,993
    Likes Received:
    17,024
    Shipping to the US is expensive
     
    #500

Share This Page