Not Saints related but after our Championship adventure a couple of seasons ago I will always follow the Championship. And there are a few Saints related teams. Also good luck to Bournemouth, they have the makings of a good squad - Surman will do well I think. Maybe an outside chance of a play off spot. Also I hope Yeovil do well (they must have the smallest budget by miles in the league). Redknapp is under huge pressure to get QPR promoted - come on Harry, screw it up. And Nigel is looking for another promotion. it should be another good season but god knows how it is going to top the end of last season!
Will be keeping my eye out for Reading this year - now we are no longer in the same league they can be my 'second' team again. Not to mention the Nigel factor. My initial impression is that Reading will stroll this league. I think Wigan will make the play offs as well.
Don't know about "stroll" but I expect Reading to be promoted too. Have to be considered favourites. Hope my native Bournemouth can establish themselves too. Would be surreal to see them in the premier league someday.
Although the money league is a couple weeks off, today feels like a great warm up. Some massive games today, its going to be an exciting season in every league, but the Championship looks to be cracker-lacking! Hope 'Arry gets his arse kicked, but with the last couple of signings they have brought in, I think they'll do well.
Hope Nigel gets promotion with Reading and that Yeovil give teams a run for their money. Always loved the Championship. Come on Oxford as well.
Reading because they are a decent side and have our beloved Nigel. Bournemouth because they are local. Would like to support Brighton, but they still have a left over Poyet factor for me. Another year till I forgive I suppose
Just remembered Wigan have the Europa league, so think they will struggle a bit in the league. Mid-table probably.
These two weeks are good for the FL...get attention that you don't get when the PL starts. Two years ago we beat Leeds in opening game....happy, happy days.
A Pompey-supporting colleague pointed out to me in a kindly way that the Championship would be harder for us. A few games in, I was able to crow about what fun the league was
BURNLEY: Heaton; Trippier, Long, Shackell, Lafferty; Stanislas, Marney, Jones, Wallace; Vokes, Ings. BENCH: Cisak, Edgar, Treacy, O'Neill, Arfield, Noble, Stock.
BOLTON: Bogdan; Baptiste, Wheater, Knight, Tierney; Eagles, Pratley, Andrews, Kamara, Chung-Yong; Beckford. BENCH: Lonergan, Mears, Ream, Moritz, Hall, Davies, N'gog.
That Leeds game was amazing! My old seat was roughly level from where Delano struck it, only a few rows up! Remember it so clearly. I think that was one of my favourite ever games - I was so nervous as a good friend of mine is a Leeds fan and was giving me loads of stick; then we absolutely dominated them. Still brings a smile to my face now!
This has got to be the most exciting league in the world! Final games of the last season were just so entertaining to watch, some amazing turnarounds, late goals and pitch invasions, it was brilliant.
Their fans were the same on this forum as well, it was an incredibly satisfying day. I do miss the frequency of matches in the championship and league 1 I must admit.
I think these two will do well and I'm also thinking Ipswich will be tough to beat and could be in the promotion mix too. My top 8 in any order: Bolton Watford Forest Ipswich QPR (late run after sacking twitchy before Xmas) Reading Leicester Leeds
