Deeg67

Talent-wise (and maybe manager-wise) Leicester and Leeds seem the clear elite. Hull is built like a classic Championship contender and well-coached, and I suspect they'll be top six in the end. Ipswich looks somewhat dangerous, and who's to say Preston can't keep this up? The mystery team is Southampton, who have plenty of talent to finish top 3 but a manager who may drag them down the table if the players quit on him.

It doesn't help them, but even without him they were still able to bring Anthony off the bench (he scored), and Bamford is basically back. Hell, Farke even has James playing well. I think Spence was a bigger loss, because while Byram is a terrific Championship fullback he's a human injury report, historically. Shackleton has been a real surprise but the more they have to depend on Ayling the worse off they are at the back.

Once a footballer, always a footballer.

Their manager won this league the last two seasons he was in it. I doubt he gives a flip about what happened before Bielsa.

Agreed. Both look much better than Southampton (better managers too) and I don’t see anybody else who has the horses to keep up, no disrespect to Preston. Enzo has us calmly in control against lesser opposition (which is most of the league, happily). Leeds, meanwhile, seems to have settled their defense and their attacking talent is the best in the division. Looking at Rutter’s highlights from today he was an absolute monster.

Kind of surprising he hasn't gotten more of a sniff with the national team, as he seems like the sort of player Southgate loves.

Leeds has so much talent in attack. If their defense holds up they're very dangerous.