blueblood88 Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 Now we pretty much know who we will be facing next season, how do you you see the season panning out? I think that out of the teams relegated from the Premier League, Birmingham will be the biggest threat. Their board have already backed Alex McLeish, who is a very good manager, I think you would all agree, also, they have some very good players for this level as i can't imagine a lot of them jumping ship. Then West Ham and Smackpool, i can see them both sticking around for a few years, maybe Blackpool even dropping straight through. Burnley, Leeds, Ourselves, Middlesborough, Swansea/Reading and Hull would be expected to be up there, while i feel Cardiff and Nottingham Forest's best chances of promotion have past, being that they either have a few players turning the wrong side of 30 and key players leaving, Bothroyd and Burke. And at the bottom should see the usual teams, Cov, Palace, Donny etc. As for dark horses, I have a sneaky feeling Derby may have a decent season as well as Southampton and brighton who will have the momentum having been promoted from League 1 a la Norwich, City, Leeds, Millwall.
shen Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 Don't see why Blackpool should drop straight through. They've been quite prudent and haven't overstretched. They should have room in the budget to get some decent quality players for this level. West Ham will probably face a few seasons of restructuring. I expect Forest and Leeds to be up there as well along with Birmingham.
Heart-Shaped Fox Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 I would take 6th place right now. Really difficult league, with some hard teams in there. Us, West Ham, Brum, Leeds, Hull, Southampton, Brighton, Swansea/Reading, Forest, Cardiff, and Boro are just some of the teams I'd expect to be up there. Then you have teams like Watford, Millwall, Ipswich, who probably wont challenge but will provide no easy game. There isnt a team like Scunthorpe who you can definitely say is going to go dwon this year, though hopefully that will be Posh! Think people have got too carried away saying we will definitely do well, I think it will be very tough.
Cal Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 I think Birmingham will be the only major force out of the three relegated teams. Blackpool will finish around 10th IMO. Cardiff's team will probably be alot weaker and struggle to mount a decent challenge, I reckon the same for Swansea should they fail to beat Reading. Definitely think Southampton will be sniffing around the play-offs and I would put money on Huddersfield being top half if they come up.
Guest Bilo Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 Coming down: West Ham - Money troubles and likely exodus of players will hurt them, A big name may equal a scalp to some of the smaller clubs in the league as well. Play-offs would be an achievement. Blackpool - Have the look of a mid-table Championship side that went on a run and the likely departures of Vaughan and Adam aren't going to help. Mid-table. Birmingham - Well-off club that knows this level well and a good manager in Alex McLeish. Europe however could be a distraction but if they go out early, they'll be a threat. Play-offs as a minimum. Coming up: Brighton - Play some fantastic football, have a talented squad with a bright young manager and a long awaited new stadium. Bit of investment and they could well hit the play-offs. Southampton - Plenty of money and ambition with a decent fanbase. Rickie Lambert could wreak havoc with his goalscoring record and they're likely to be a threat under Nigel Adkins. Huddersfield /Peterborough - The former squeaked through against an arguably weak Bournemouth side in poor form and the latter were woefully out of their depth under Darren Ferguson last time out at this level. Huddersfield more of a threat but neither especially likely to challenge for honours. This season's threats: Cardiff - Needed to go up this season and failure will hit them hard. Dave Jones may go, Bothroyd and Burke already have along with a host of loanees including Bellamy who may not return. Mid-table mediocrity. Nottm Forest - Thin squad but as good a starting XI as anyone at this level. Injuries hit hard though and the spending of 09/10 is unlikely to be repeated with Billy Davies growing impatient. Play-offs would be the target. Reading/Swansea - Reading have a tendency to think the season begins in March and regularly hit poor patches at either the beginning or middle of a season, Swansea's progress seems more sustainable. The latter would be more of a threat if they lost the play-off final. Leeds - Will need to bolster defence if they are to continue their progress.
LCFCMickey Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 I think West Ham will vanish, losing players and not buying up. I'd be more worried about Brum and the likes of Watford, Leeds and Hull. I dislike playing Cardiff and Forrest... but like Preston had a couple of pops and failed for promotion over a few years... hopefully these two will sink just like PNE.
Bert Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 With what's going to be happening top two is a must. These boys really want to go for it.
sdb Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 It's worth noting our current squad is very mediocre. Without the loan players we're looking at Weale Neilson Bamba Tunch Berner Abe Wellens King Gally Vassell Waghorn None of the top teams will be worried about that. Sure we're looking to strengthen big time but finding the right players at the right price wont be easy.
Brown Fox Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 I think Birmingham and West Han especially may suffer from the fact that every team that plays them will play it as a cup final and up their game. I still expect them both to be play offs minimum but West Ham could turn into a Boro.
Christoph Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 I think Birmingham will be looking at 1st or 2nd as I dont see many of their players leaving, as for West Ham, they could either do a newcastle and do well or do a charlton/southhampton/portsmouth and crash. Blackpool, tbh they only have a few good players which will probs be sold.
SeattleShane Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 Don't see why Blackpool should drop straight through. They've been quite prudent and haven't overstretched. They should have room in the budget to get some decent quality players for this level. West Ham will probably face a few seasons of restructuring. I expect Forest and Leeds to be up there as well along with Birmingham. I can see Blackpool struggling. They will lose Adams at least. Also their chairman doesnt seem to like spending any money.
shen Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 I can see Blackpool struggling. They will lose Adams at least. Also their chairman doesnt seem to like spending any money. Losing Adam will be a big blow, but they should still have enough about them to be a top-half Champ team.
Legend_in_blue Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 So far the aftermath of Sunday has provided a very clear message - Blackpool fans are deluded if they think they will mount any sort of challenge next season. As for the other two, Birmingham have the players who are most likely to stick around compared to those at West Ham, who I can see jumping ship. So of these three, it's clearly Birmingham for me that are the biggest threat. People can say what they like about the Championship, it's tough this and it's tough that. It doesn't matter what people think. We have the financial backing to walk this league next season. We'll need to do that to make any sort of impression the season after that. If we're going up there's little point in scrimping and scraping up there via the playoffs to only find ourselves heading back down again a year on. We need to go up with style. It's been done before, granted not often, but we should have the financial clout to make it happen. There's no hiding next season for underachievers, it literally is a case of you make it happen and if you don't, you're out.
Donut Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 In my opinion:- Potential Strong Teams Birmingham- Mcleish is a good manager and has got them up before. Should be able to keep the majority of their players and can see them being the ideal 'solid' and 'structured' championship side Middlesbrough- Excellent crop of youth coming through and in Mowbray a manager who is really inspiring his squad. Steve Gibson gives his managers backing and time and i can see them being a threat West Ham- Bound to lose the Parker's and Cole's but should still have a team capable of bouncing back, providing Sullivan and Gold get the right man in. Leeds- Suffered a dip in form at the wrong time but a side full of goals and should be a threat next season Leicester- Pressure on, but with money to spend and a pre season to build, Sven and the Thai's will be eyeing the playoffs at least. Hull- Pearson is slowly starting to get it right. Prudent parachute spending could get them into the top 6. Swansea/Reading- Could see swansea losing players, but both are attractive sides and should feature next season. Teams Who Should Be Worried Crystal Palace- Scraping their championship survival by the skin of their teeth two seasons running, very little money and would be surprised if they could hang on to their talented youngsters. Coventry- Woeful fanbase, burdened with an only recently lifted transfer embargo, a squad never threatening the playoffs, and only spared by some late results under their caretaker boss. In real danger. Derby- Need to strengthen all over the pitch. No goals in the side and their good home form is starting to run out too Watford- Bound to lose Graham, and another team relying on a crop of youngsters. Emulating their comfortable position this season will be a real effort Barnsley- Robbins was unbelieveable for them. Now he's gone, theyll struggle. Need to use the loan market well.
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 No point in being sensible and logical about predictions, it'll never work out like that in the Championship.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Losing Adam will be a big blow, but they should still have enough about them to be a top-half Champ team. Would be interested to see how much they can get for Adam. Certaintly wouldn't be underestimating them many did in the Prem and last time out in the Championship.
Guest Col city fan Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Bilo's got it spot on imo. I agree.. Just have a sneaky feelin that the hammers will keep some of their better players ( although Parker and green are going) and will be very strong at home. For me, they are going to be a tough side to beat at upton park. It's still massively hard to predict as we don't know what the squads are gonna look like but we will do very well to finish in the top two
Kenners Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 No point in being sensible and logical about predictions, it'll never work out like that in the Championship. Exactly what im thinking. Although I would bet on one of Brighton or Southampton to be in the top 6 next season.
Filbert_Ross Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 That woefull tipster Tot in the Sun today has tipped us for the title. No chance of that happening now.
Jakemoore Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Am I crazy in saying that I'd take nothing but a top two finish? I just feel that with our huge funds and the endless list of players we're being linked with tied in with the Sven factor automatic promotion has to be the only goal.
Guest Bilo Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 At the other end of the table I'm going to say Coventry are more or less certs, Barnsley will regret losing Mark Robins and if Peterborough come up they'll go down quicker than Katie Price. If Huddersfield come up, it might end up being Palace.
cairnsy Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 If the owners are for real with transfers and making losses to get into the prem league and Sven spends wisely I don't see any reason for us not to be top 2
Guest ttfn Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 It's worth noting our current squad is very mediocre. Without the loan players we're looking at Weale Neilson Bamba Tunch Berner Abe Wellens King Gally Vassell Waghorn None of the top teams will be worried about that. Sure we're looking to strengthen big time but finding the right players at the right price wont be easy. It's hardly an awful team is it? But I agree. Our season will hinge almost entirely on the quality we are able to bring in this summer. No point even discussing the impact we could make on the division until at least the middle of July.
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