Our best chance in years

[Christoph]

It could be a tough season for us if West Ham, Blackburn and B'ham all go down as you'd expect all three to probably bump back up

[ajthefox]

Don't, you're getting me bloody excited now!

Forest and Cardiff, will one day have their moment. Its gonna come sooner or later.

Pompey were in meltdown when they got relegated, no-one gave them a chance. Its a little different for West Ham this season. The only team (s) I'd be happy about coming down (or staying down for that matter) to improve our own chances are; Wigan and Reading.

edit and Blackpool. They're punching above their weight and Adam will be off I reckon

I got myself a little excited too, sorry

I agree with regards to Pompey so I suppose thats one team added for this season that we will be competing with, but I think the amount of realistic contenders is always pretty similar. I may have been a little ignorant as to their situation but I didn't think QPR would be getting promotion after the way their season fizzled out last time round and even though Norwich surprised everyone, I'd bet against any promoted teams doing that well, even Southampton because they've been in league 1 a few seasons more than Norwich were and I don't imagine them having quite the same impact.

Wigan have done well to stay where they are since they got promoted but I think relegation would hit them hard. They aren't an inherently 'big' club and it's not as if they have a big following to keep them going. If they lose a few thousand fans who were only bothered about the premiership factor they could struggle. I can't see Reading doing so well again. They hit some form and deserved to be where they are but unlike forest and cardiff I don't feel there's much longevity too it. I think part of the reason they got to where they did was because of how many points teams like us, Leeds, Forest and Burnley dropped in the last weeks.

I can see a few others fancying their chances as well though. Boro finished strongly under Mowbray who did brilliantly with West Brom at this level whereas Strachan -in my opinion of course- was a muppet and was never getting boro promoted. Hull will probably be in a stronger position this season as they don't have to consolidate their losses from relgation and the same with Burnley, who finished strongly under Howe.

So no doubt there will be a few surprises along the way, but I'm inclined to be more pessimistic about this kind of thing and I'm still really looking forward to what could be a massive season for us. I'm trying to keep as grounded as possible so as to avoid the serious and realistic notion that we may be back in the premier league in a years time, but stepping back and trying to be as objective and as fair as possible, we have a very good chance. Arguably the most financial backing in the division, and Sven at the helm. This really could be what we've been waiting for.

[ajthefox]

It could be a tough season for us if West Ham, Blackburn and B'ham all go down as you'd expect all three to probably bump back up

I could well be wrong, but I've a feeling you're looking back a long time to find the last time that actually occurred.

West Brom bounced straight back up with Newcastle IIRC, but I don't think all 3 relegated teams have got promoted again for a while.

[KFS]

If Sven plays teams according to their weaknesses, then we will do just fine. But if we constantly play the same flowing, pretty football, we will be caught out, matched and beaten. A lot of teams knew how to beat us at the end of the season just gone, and we saw what happened. I think variety in the squad may help. Get players like Waghorn to run around when we play defensively away, but quality players like Yakubu to stroke it around and finesse at home, where we dominate and have the pitch to do so.

[ajthefox]

If Sven plays teams according to their weaknesses, then we will do just fine. But if we constantly play the same flowing, pretty football, we will be caught out, matched and beaten. A lot of teams knew how to beat us at the end of the season just gone, and we saw what happened. I think variety in the squad may help. Get players like Waghorn to run around when we play defensively away, but quality players like Yakubu to stroke it around and finesse at home, where we dominate and have the pitch to do so.

Very good point made there. Sometimes we tried too hard to pass the ball around but it's not always going to work, especially if you're playing a team who are physical and less inclined to attack.

[m00nie]

depends on who we get, how they gel, and what plan b sven can conjure up when needed...

[Number 6]

I'd certainly say it's our best chace for a while. Think we'll start the season with the strongest squad we've had for years. Lots of teams will think they have a chance, but it feels like there's an expectation and a buzz about next season for us. League's gonna be full of decent teams, hopefully that means less stick 11 men behind the ball!!

[Nick]

It's only a good chance if the players sign - if we end up without our transfer targets 'making do' in the market, it won't be a good chance.

[Zingari]

It could be a tough season for us if West Ham, Blackburn and B'ham all go down as you'd expect all three to probably bump back up

i agree with this , and wigan ,wolves and blackpool would be formidable opponents too

i think it will be tough to even make the playoffs , but hope to be proven wrong ( it's not unusual )

[Guest MattP]

There's no reason why we can't go up if we spend like our owners say we'll do, in fact i'd expect us to go up if they spend big. Our problem in past years is having to find cheap players on cheap wages. We can get pay money for players and pay bigger wages. The difference in the championship comes down to how much you spend.

This is the biggest myth going and why so many teams fail at this level.

QPR and Norwich didnt spend big, they hardly spent but spent wisely. They are now up.

Cardiff and Middlesboro spent big and didnt get anywhere, it isnt what you spend its how you spend it, I dont know how many times we have to finish below the Blackpool's, Burnley's, Swansea's and Norwich's of this division before a lot of our fans realise that you have to build a team to get out of this division, you can;t just throw money at individuals you think are great players who dont really give a toss about this club and expect them to come together and beat anyone.

It doesnt work like that, it never has and it never will.

[Haydos]

There's no reason why we can't go up if we spend like our owners say we'll do, in fact i'd expect us to go up if they spend big. Our problem in past years is having to find cheap players on cheap wages. We can get pay money for players and pay bigger wages. The difference in the championship comes down to how much you spend.

Although it's always a possibility, historically this is the complete opposite of of what's important in the Championship.

[Zingari]

This is the biggest myth going and why so many teams fail at this level.

QPR and Norwich didnt spend big, they hardly spent but spent wisely. They are now up.

Cardiff and Middlesboro spent big and didnt get anywhere, it isnt what you spend its how you spend it, I dont know how many times we have to finish below the Blackpool's, Burnley's, Swansea's and Norwich's of this division before a lot of our fans realise that you have to build a team to get out of this division, you can;t just throw money at individuals you think are great players who dont really give a toss about this club and expect them to come together and beat anyone.

It doesnt work like that, it never has and it never will.

yes indeedy

[topharry123]

This is the biggest myth going and why so many teams fail at this level.

QPR and Norwich didnt spend big, they hardly spent but spent wisely. They are now up.

Cardiff and Middlesboro spent big and didnt get anywhere, it isnt what you spend its how you spend it, I dont know how many times we have to finish below the Blackpool's, Burnley's, Swansea's and Norwich's of this division before a lot of our fans realise that you have to build a team to get out of this division, you can;t just throw money at individuals you think are great players who dont really give a toss about this club and expect them to come together and beat anyone.

It doesnt work like that, it never has and it never will.

To a point yes you're right, but the teams you mentioned did not spend big like the money we're talking about. Our owners sound like they are going to put up a lot of money, and while I agree that buying individuals for a lot of money won't always guarantee top spot, it should be enough for this division. Look at Man City and Chelsea. To start with they bought a lot of individuals. Chelsea won the premier league a few times, and now Man City are right up there challenging higher than they have in years even though it took their teams time to gel. In this league, if we can spend the amount of money we're talking about we should be hitting top spot and while other teams who spend nothing will always challenge right up there, money should make a difference. You're spot on about us building a team, I think we need to keep a decent amount of our players for next season. It would be great if we could buy some players that might normally be too good for the championship with the lure of Sven and the cash that we throw at them. We've spent years looking for bargains, i'm quite excited about us throwing some money around for once and seeing what we can do with a decent transfer budget.

[Houdini Logic]

What is Promation?

You shouldn't shoot a man own for taking regional dialect into consideration...

[The Year Of The Fox]

This is the biggest myth going and why so many teams fail at this level.

QPR and Norwich didnt spend big, they hardly spent but spent wisely. They are now up.

Cardiff and Middlesboro spent big and didnt get anywhere, it isnt what you spend its how you spend it, I dont know how many times we have to finish below the Blackpool's, Burnley's, Swansea's and Norwich's of this division before a lot of our fans realise that you have to build a team to get out of this division, you can;t just throw money at individuals you think are great players who dont really give a toss about this club and expect them to come together and beat anyone.

It doesnt work like that, it never has and it never will.

Finally, someones who's head is screwed on

[somebum]

Delusion.

[Haydos]

Delusion.

Cheer up mate. You doing ok?

[Guest Col city fan]

Cheer up mate. You doing ok?

What with the parachute payments now lasting over four seasons it will be tougher this season to do well. You gotta fancy west ham and Brum to bounce straight back up again. Not sure about Blackpool... Heard this am that dj Campbell has a clause in his contract that will release him for 1.25 mill so he'll be off. I fancy us for play offs

[darko2k7]

I don't think its our best chance to go up next year in the sense of the strengh of the league is mybe stronger than ever . But i do belive the club is better placed than for a long time to mount a serious challenge.

I don't see west ham doing as well as some people think they will for many reasons

1. New manager needed, getting the wrong one can be a disaster as we all know from last year .

2. I have heard a few people on SSN now saying about their debts coupled with relegation and a new stadium will see them really struggle next year .

3 . Can not see many if any of their big names staying regardless of money offered for the simple fact it's Euro 2012 next year so they will want to be at the highest level to get noticed and therefore get the best chance of being picked.

4. Noticed they played 5 youth players yesterday which is a sign of wot they are maybe aiming for next year .

There just seems like the is so much wrong at that club atm and alot more than most teams that needs to go right for them to bounce straight back up

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Its not our best chance in years no.

That was last season.

This season theres Forest Cardiff Leeds and either Swansea or Reading, whom I'd consider easily as favourites for promotion as we are. Then theres West Ham, and any two of Birmingham, Blackpool, Wolves Wigan and another team who I can't remember

Forest are a pretty average side, in fairness, same with Cardiff (who I honestly think will finish mid table next season - really don't rate the squad there).

I wouldn't expect Leeds to keep hold of Snodgrass, and he's key for them.