The Championship can be pretty much all over the place with regard to form, which goes to show how close most teams are in terms of ability. However, with the right leadership, attitude and support, it is possible to be consistent and pull away from the pack. This coming season will be very difficult, and promotion is going to be a genuine contest. Here's what I think: Wigan - automatic a possibilty if they keep the nucleus of their team, should be in playoffs Reading - playoffs as a minimum, super manager and don't need to sell their players QPR - well, are they going to hold a firesale? Harry is a factor if he gets the squad he wants, then again he may get sacked any second, so who knows with their unpredictable owners? Another relegation would be funny. Contenders - Forest (Billy Davies factor), Brighton (if Poyet stays), Leicester, Leeds (McD), Bolton Outsiders - Watford (won't have loophole available), Derby (Clough building a good unit), Blackburn, Boro Relegation Battle - Yeovil, Huddersfield, Barnsley, Wednesday, Millwall The rest will be safe but not promoted. Going to be another incident packed season no doubt!
Swap Millwall and Leeds and I make you about right - add Doncaster and Bournemouth to the relelgation battle and the way Boro capitulated after Xmas they could be there too - so all the Yorkshire teams couls be battling it out for the wooden spoon
TC I feel Donny and Bournemouth both have teams capable of competing in Champs, and they have good momentum. Millwall are in serious danger this time around unfortunately, agree on Boro, but still feel if they get it right they can be devastating. How do you honestly rate Millwall for the coming season? Are you feeling comfortable?
Depends on who they appoint as the new manager and the resources they allow him - until then its anybody's guess. Rumours are that Steve Lomas is on his way from St Johnstone and we are giving him a £4M transfer pot!!
Wow, I think it is so hard to call at this time. I might do a similar thread but only after the transfer window closes or at least the opening day
I think Wigan will get the top spot and with Martinez going to Everton they'll be able to find a decent manager. Reading a good shout for 2nd and I think a lot of players will want to play under Adkins. With the right investment they might pip Wigan to the top spot. QPR I can't see them doing anything this coming season. They're going too loose half of the players not because they can't afford them but because they won't want to play in the Championship. I wouldn't be suprised if Redknapp goes before Xmas. Play offs could be intresting. I wouldn't count out Bolton I think they could be a dark horse. Poyet won't be at Brighton next season from what I understand they're canceling Poyet's contract and looking for a new manager. I don't think Brighton will make the play offs. As for the relegation battle Huddersfield is a good shout but I think they're might be a couple of shockers in the mix Blackburn I think will be down there along with Blackpool. Barnsley I think might surprise people my mate who's a Barnsley fan raves about Flitcroft and said that Hill talked the players in to a defeat. As for Donny I think they'll do well this season all they need to do is built on the momentum of the end of last season and they be high and dry so to speak
Blackburn have actually already recruited well and doing business early. I do think if they continue that sort of recruitment and try to stay patient with their manager for once they will do well and may take one of the auto spots but then saying that they may sack the manager after 10 games if they get bored
The chicken people know nothing about football and its effecting the club. If it aint kosha in the board room it effects things on the pitch look at Pompey. Supposdly thinhs are a mess and a joke at Ewood Park. I really think this season will be a continuation of the last 3 years.
I would be very happy if we scraped the play offs to be honest, again I think its way too early to call !!, there will be the usual suspects there or there abouts with probably one team pulling away, if you look at the start of last season how many would have predicted wolves demise !!, I think posh were unlucky to go down and had there been a couple of games left the wall would have gone back to their standard of football , I for one will have a better idea around twenty games in, I usually say ten but the way the championship has been for the last few seasons I would not like to predict anything that soon. When all said and done I can't wait for the new season to begin , unless of course the usual **** that happens at Leeds happens and we sign ****e !!!.
I enjoy reading all the speculation about promotion etc during the close season. Until we see what the intentions are of the various "owners" of the clubs and how much they are going to support the manager then we are all in the dark. Even with full cash support eg Leicester last year then it is no guarantee of anything. Throw in the relegated teams and their "parachute" cash and even more confusion is added. Do the bookies know ? These are the teams, in betting order, for next season !!! QPR Leicester Bolton Reading Nottingham Forest Wigan Watford Brighton Leeds I think its a case of keeping your money in your pocket until you see some firm intentions on the transfer market. Do all teams need to buy in ?? Still. it all adds to the speculation and comment from fans during this boring period. I look froward to some interesting entries in next seasons Top Six Points Challenge game where you are all invited to name the top six and the points they will get by end of season. Last years efforts from 69 entries were pretty useless and the worst since I started the game 6 years ago. My own early shout is for last years reasonably successful clubs will go a bit closer, Leicester, Forest and Bolton with Leeds a bit closer than last year. The relegated clubs will find the division a bit of a struggle with a fair number of their own players leaving. I think QPR will be the best of the drop teams with 'arry doing his "deals" For some years the Championship is by far the most interesting division every year and next season will be no different.
Well, with the nonsense starting to appear in our boardroom, Leeds may well struggle again and finish in mid table.
TC's predictions can't have any credibility after the shocking predictions he made last Season. Here's a few: 1) Leeds will get relegated 2) Millwall will finish in the Play-offs 3) Hull City won't get Promoted 4) Chris Wood will come back to Millwall (because he liked Kenny Jackett apparently)
Also said Leicester would not go up, Wolves would get relegated, Wigan would win the FA Cup, Bayern would win the Champions League, Lomas would get the Millwall manager job, Charlie was a 13 year old
I think it's fair to say theis season will be even more unpredictable than the last. A whole bunch of mediocre teams and will only require a few clever signings by some team and an astute manager to make the difference maybe
Ok without knowing who is signing for who, I will say, Promoted in no paticular order, Wigan,Reading,Notts forest, Relagated, Millwall ,Yeovil,Huddersfield.
