Time to be honest with this one... Regardless of what you WISH to happen, what do you think WILL happen, with regard to our nearest neighbours and promotion this season?
I think Brighton and Soton will do wel initially as I said before the season, but its a long road in the Championship, and the longer they stay in all competitions the harder it will become. They have both done a lot better than most of us thought, and watching their games deservedly so..........but lets see where we are all at come May! BP
Yes, it is a long hard road ahead. Most SFC fans are well-grounded, pragmatic with a healthy dose of realism. I have not seen enough of Brighton's game to comment although Poyet is an excellent manager. As for us stripey people, we are more than competing in our games, scoring goals by the bucketload, and we pass/move, compete very strongly even against the better teams. People talk of momentum carried over from last season but it goes beyond that. Essentially we have developed a culture based on creating and sustaining a winning mentality. We have a very talented squad and one of the best managers outside of the Prem. From what I have seen so far, teams like Saints, Boro, West Ham and Forest, and Leicester will be competing for top honours in the Championship. However, anything can happen in those long dark winter months ahead...
I reckon Saints will be in the mix all seaon. Credit where it's due, they've made a great start - they're playing football the way it should be played, entertaining, scoring goals and they're pulling in good crowds for the Championship. On this form they could go all the way but, as others have said, it's a long and tough season. They have yet to lose so let's see what happens when they do lose a couple and winter sets in.
PS - it hurts though, especially as we are not entetaining, not playing football the way it should be played and can't score goals.
I think Leicester and West Ham, will probably grind out the top two spots. They both could make the play offs, but so could another 8 teams realistically.
Agree that both Saints and Brighton are doing very well at the moment, but I fear that Middlesborough/West Ham/Leicester will be ahead of them come May. Think they will both make the play offs though. It's going to be close, that is for sure.
Agree with Wd Middlesborough/West Ham/Leicester are going to be tough nuts to crack over a long season. If Southampton and Brighton do make it or at least one then in my opinion that's Good for the South Coast
