We are 5000/1 to win the Premier League which if course is a realistic price and we are 11/10 joint favourites with Reading to go straight back down. I'm pretty confident hat with a couple of signings we won't finish in the bottom three! Anyone got any early fancies for next season. I fancy Stoke to go down. COYR!!
Martinez to join Liverpool and Wigan to collapse to the lowest ever points total after losing Diame, Rodallega and Moses, amongst others.
I reckon Swansea might struggle this year as teams will now know how to play them, may be a bit of a problem for us as well actually...if Martinez leaves then Wigan will finally go down as well.
All three sides promoted last season have stayed up and I can't see why this shouldn't/couldn't happen again next term. The massive gulf that used to exist, even between the bottom half of the Premier League and the top half of the Championship isn't there any more. The 'line' has shifted upwards and is now positioned at around 8th-10th in the Premier League; with those above it vying for Europe and the rest in a 10 team battle Royal to secure their Premier League status as their primary goal for the season. If I was a Saints fan and a betting man [I'm neither personally!] I'd put a wad of cash on Saints staying up. My early suggestions for the drop are QPR, Swansea and Wigan
I was thinking maybe QPR but I rate Mark Hughes as a manager and he should have money to spend, they will be down there though, no question.
All 3 promoted sides to stay up, but suspect at least one of promoted sides from last season to go down. Second season often tough...probably QPR.
Swansea , Wigan and Reading to go down next season. Swansea that troublesome second season , Wigan will lose Martinez and will go in free fall and Reading because of sour grapes about losing the title to them...nah only joking. But I do thinK the last spot will between the two of us but I am betting on the Don pulling a rabbit out of the bag in the Jan transfer window to save us! .God its going to be a great season I just cant wait!!!
With back to back promotion the squad will need a substanstial improvement. If that happens I can see us finishing above some/all of Norwich, Swansea, West Brom, Wigan, Reading, West Ham. Only with a brilliant season could I see us mixing with Fulham Sunderland type teams.
I think Reading will struggle next season. They relied on a quality goalkeeper and defence last season without being threatening up front. Most Premier League teams will get through their defence easily enough. They will need to make 6/7 signings if they want to get a decent position imo. Having seen West Ham over the last few weeks, I can see them grabbing a mid-table position irrelevant of how they played against Blackpool. I think Swansea, Reading and Wigan (if Martinez leaves) or Villa (they seriously need to make some changes). I imagine 13-17th for Saints.
At the moment i am hoping for us to finish 16th-17th,although i may get more confident when a few signings are made. I suspect Norwich and Swansea will both struggle next season,and like everyone says if Martinez goes then Wigan will to,but doesnt everyone tip them to get relegated every season,and they keep on surviving. QPR will probably splash enough cash to survive again next season,so Saints,Reading and West Ham could all survive,though i suspect one,most likely Reading, could drop back down. I will reserve making any bets until late July,and i have plenty of money in the accounts after Pompeys relegation, and an each way double of Saints and Sheff Wed came in. Oxford let me down last season in Div 2,and i wil be keeping a close eye on them ,as may go for them again next season,along with the losers of Sheff Utd and Huddersfield in Div 1 or maybe Carlisle. Championship hard to call at the moment,but will be keeping an eye on who Leeds bring in during the close season. On a side note,just looked at League 1 betting for next season, and Bournemouth,Swindon and Crawley amongst others are favoured in the betting compared to the Skates. How the mighty have fallen. Who the f*** is laughing now??
Not particularly relevant to this thread (sorry) but didn't want to make a thread about it. But we have now been promoted to the Premier League board on not606. Take a look and enjoy!!
I noticed that too. I tried to find Pompey in League 1,but being as i am banned from their board it doesnt show up in my list.
Currently I think Wigan, West Brom & Reading. Admit we're in the mix but can't tip ourselves. I have no doubt these three will change dramatically once the manager situation is resolved.
I agree with you that this is the best time for Southampton to be promoted as there is little difference between the top of the Championship and bottom of the Premiership at the moment. However, I think it is too early to say whether we will be safe or not. There are not outlying weak teams in the division anymore so it could be very close.
I completely agree with you about Reading. Towards the end of the season they had 40+ shots against and only conceded one goal. In the Premiership the strikers will be more clinical and they can't ride that sort of luck forever. Our squad is a lot younger too.
I really can't see us going straight back down...but at the same time I can see we've been given the odds that we have. Oh well it's our job to prove everyone wrong
