Many of the teams previously relegated from the premiership who were considered promotion candidates failed miserably so there is no reason to expect Birmingham, Blackpool or West Ham to do any better. Looking at teams on paper means nothing it is obviously how they perform on the pitch that counts. There are too many imponderables to say who is or is not a better team. I believe NP will make the right decisions on purchasing players and choosing the team he considers will be right for each game.
no mate, Charles is genuine, he described his first game in 1947, has uploaded photos of the 1940s teams and talked about things which TWF/Percy wouldn't have known about (unless he put in a lot of research)
not sure about the expected to struggle comment either. Bookies have us at 14/1 for the title, something like 8/9 favourite, and thats with no signings that would have caught the attention of anyone really outside the club. As it stands Leeds dont like like being anywhere near, and there is always a team who loses in the play-offs that is either relegated or lower bottom half the next season. That could be Cardiff and Reading this year.
Agreed with Southampton, With Nigel Adkins at the helm, its going to be a very posative season for them(even if they are bottom, Mr Adkins will still be in a posative frame of mind!) IMO I think Birmingham with the problems off the pitch could struggle, and who knows they could even get a points deduction. If we sort our home form out, continue with our away form(Bristol was just a one off, I hope!) stay free from injury and click as a team, i think we could be up there, as IMO there is no other team that makes me worry!
Southampton have the squad to be in the top six, it's the lack of experience Adkins has that would worry me. But as you say, nothing seems to worry him We will never go on a run away from home like last season again. That's a one off. However, confidence away comes naturally now, so if we can make a solid start at the KC we could be right up there. But the home form last season does concern me going into this campaign
