| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester 00:43 - May 18 with 7287 views | quirkie |
Heck going to be tough getting into the top 6 next season. Going to be a fair full houses. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 01:52 - May 18 with 5084 views | SaigonTractor |
Don't think it will concern us anyway. We could obviously have a season like Sunderland, but frankly we should just be expecting to see some progress and a solid upper mid table finish. Top 6 if we're lucky. |  | | |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 07:41 - May 18 with 5009 views | StochesStotasBlewe |
Great isn’t it. Some big(er) clubs to pit our wits against. Good away followings, some higher profile players to watch, bring it on. |  |
| We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub. |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 07:45 - May 18 with 4991 views | N2_Blue |
But it’s the Championship so it’s always loaded with some big teams and in some seasons some very good teams. Ever since parachute payments you could always say it looks tough.
However I look at the teams you’ve listed and don’t think it’s especially strong. Each season you usually get a team like Burnley that’s head and shoulders above the rest but the rest of the league looks quite average compared to some past seasons.
I’m not saying we are going to finish top 6 but I don’t think there are any reasons to fear many sides and say we can’t compete with them. We toned Rotherham who stayed up and gave Burnley two very close games and they stormed the league.
Don’t see why we’d fear mboro and Sunderland, i thought they both looked pretty ineffective in their play off games and the relegated sides will always need time to adjust. Southampton are probably the ones that will be strongest because they’ve prepared for relegation for some time but a team like Leicester is likely to carve up its squad and could find life quite tough next season. Sides like Watford and WBA who were Prem regulars look like distinctly average champ sides now.
I fear more from sides like Swansea who played some excellent football at the end of the season and appear to have their house in order than the bigger clubs you’ve listed.
Lay season other than one team the league was poor. I don’t see anyone coming down to be a team to fear, Everton would probably be strong as they’d chuck money at it but think they’ll stay up. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 07:54 - May 18 with 4938 views | BondiBlue |
I remember thinking something similar in 2000 when i looked at spurs, newcastle and chelsea.
Finished above all of them. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 07:57 - May 18 with 4919 views | Bluesky |
Kompany said we were one of the toughest teams that Burnley had played. We will be better next season.. |  | | |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:01 - May 18 with 4899 views | Herbivore |
Hard to know how the squads of the clubs coming down will look come August but I don't really see a lot to fear at this point to be honest. Sunderland are going to lose Diallo who has been probably their best player and it won't be easy to find a like for like replacement, most of the rest of the squad is the same as it was in League 1 where they weren't all that impressive. Boro don't look anything special whenever I've seen them play.
There's no real pressure on us next season. A top half finish would be absolutely fine but there's no reason to think we can't do a lot better than that. I'd back this current squad to have a hell of a go at the top 6 and with a bit of quality added then it's very possible we can really push on. Our style of play won't be easy for any side to play against. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:08 - May 18 with 4827 views | ibbleobble |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:01 - May 18 by Herbivore |
Hard to know how the squads of the clubs coming down will look come August but I don't really see a lot to fear at this point to be honest. Sunderland are going to lose Diallo who has been probably their best player and it won't be easy to find a like for like replacement, most of the rest of the squad is the same as it was in League 1 where they weren't all that impressive. Boro don't look anything special whenever I've seen them play.
There's no real pressure on us next season. A top half finish would be absolutely fine but there's no reason to think we can't do a lot better than that. I'd back this current squad to have a hell of a go at the top 6 and with a bit of quality added then it's very possible we can really push on. Our style of play won't be easy for any side to play against. |
Burnley over two games was testament to that. I’d back us for a top 8 finish and likely higher. | | | |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:10 - May 18 with 4796 views | Metal_Hacker |
A lot can happen between now and then in terms of additions and losses for all clubs including ourselves
I think by name only it looks a bigger task when you see the likes of who you mention and where we are right at this very moment but again new players and subsequent losses to those clubs coming down will be a leveller to a degree
I'm quite optimistic and I think we'll surprise a few next season and depending where we are in Jan I suspect we'll give it a go
What I've seen of the Champ this season , football-wise I think we'll do fine , it's the physicality of it that concerns me - that's where the additions and style of play will show us more |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:14 - May 18 with 4738 views | Churchman |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 07:45 - May 18 by N2_Blue |
But it’s the Championship so it’s always loaded with some big teams and in some seasons some very good teams. Ever since parachute payments you could always say it looks tough.
However I look at the teams you’ve listed and don’t think it’s especially strong. Each season you usually get a team like Burnley that’s head and shoulders above the rest but the rest of the league looks quite average compared to some past seasons.
I’m not saying we are going to finish top 6 but I don’t think there are any reasons to fear many sides and say we can’t compete with them. We toned Rotherham who stayed up and gave Burnley two very close games and they stormed the league.
Don’t see why we’d fear mboro and Sunderland, i thought they both looked pretty ineffective in their play off games and the relegated sides will always need time to adjust. Southampton are probably the ones that will be strongest because they’ve prepared for relegation for some time but a team like Leicester is likely to carve up its squad and could find life quite tough next season. Sides like Watford and WBA who were Prem regulars look like distinctly average champ sides now.
I fear more from sides like Swansea who played some excellent football at the end of the season and appear to have their house in order than the bigger clubs you’ve listed.
Lay season other than one team the league was poor. I don’t see anyone coming down to be a team to fear, Everton would probably be strong as they’d chuck money at it but think they’ll stay up. |
This is pretty much where I’m at but have a different view on Southampton.
Southampton have been relegated with a whimper and will lose their best player(s). Leicester look a mix of old, journeymen and disinterested. A lot depends on who they have coming through and whether squirrel Smith uses them effectively. He didn’t do anything at Norwich. Leeds look lost at sea since losing Bielsa, but suspect they’ll be the strongest, assuming they fall.
Of the play off teams, Sunderland play nicely but look like binning Mowbray and the rest are physically tough sides. The rest of the division? Bang average.
It’s going to be very interesting. I think we will go well and should certainly aim for top six. |  | | |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:15 - May 18 with 4721 views | GeoffSentence |
The three coming down could go either way in my opinion. They aren't one season wonders like Nodge so will have extended parachute payments giving them the best of cushions, but they could equally find it difficult to adjust to life back in the Championship.
I reckon we are at least on a par with Sunderland and should be there or there abouts.
All in all next season has 100 points 100 goals written all over it for us. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:16 - May 18 with 4711 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
Boro and Southampton would be my very early picks for top 2. I agree, think its going to be very hard to get in to that top 6. Anything from 14th-8th would be my guess. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:19 - May 18 with 4684 views | ArnieM |
All I’ll say is, if these teams haven’t got the ball, they can’t score! But we will need better defenders IMHO. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:20 - May 18 with 4678 views | textbackup |
Based on watching football the last god knows how many years you can be sure atleast one of those fails to achieve anything, and a team or two punches above their weight.
Great to be playing against some proper teams again |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:30 - May 18 with 4517 views | Battersea_Blue |
I live in Asia now, but stayed up to watch the Luton v Sunderland 2nd leg.
If Luton don't go up, they'll be a nightmare to play against. Ugly football at its highest, but effective. Two big lumps up front, chasing and closing down like you wouldn't believe, rough and tough all through the team with hoofball up to the big lumps, who won everything in the air that night.
That's not the brand of football we excel against and we'd struggle.
Hopefully they're the only team in the Championship who adopt that style. | | | |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:35 - May 18 with 4463 views | noggin |
Beat Norwich and avoid relegation would be great. Having said that, I think Gamechanger have other ideas. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:54 - May 18 with 4346 views | itfctilidie |
Can't see Sunderland being a threat. They were poor last night and havent looked spectacular any time I have seen them play this season. They only got in the playoffs because other teams were poor - west brom, blackburn, millwall, scum - they all seemed to be desperately trying to not get into the playoffs by the end. |  | | |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:59 - May 18 with 4326 views | SomethingBlue |
It'll definitely be a stronger league than this year — you'd assume at least a couple of Norwich, Watford, WBA etc sort themselves out too and then there's a resurgent Swansea, decently-resourced clubs like Hull & Stoke, lots to get past. I think we can have a crack but I also think nobody should be dejected if we steadily improve and finish in, say, mid-table. We'll need a lot of fine margins to go our way, I think it's going to be a dogfight and an exciting one. | |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:59 - May 18 with 4310 views | GlasgowBlue |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:10 - May 18 by Metal_Hacker |
A lot can happen between now and then in terms of additions and losses for all clubs including ourselves
I think by name only it looks a bigger task when you see the likes of who you mention and where we are right at this very moment but again new players and subsequent losses to those clubs coming down will be a leveller to a degree
I'm quite optimistic and I think we'll surprise a few next season and depending where we are in Jan I suspect we'll give it a go
What I've seen of the Champ this season , football-wise I think we'll do fine , it's the physicality of it that concerns me - that's where the additions and style of play will show us more |
I find it quite daunting just looking at the names in the Championship. Which is a reflection of how playing in League one became the norm for us.
Regardless of whether we got the points or not, I’d look at the fixtures and say “Accrington 6 points, Forest Green 6 points, Morecambe 6 points etc etc.
Looking at the names of Championship teams, there isn’t one on that list that I can predict the same with any confidence. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 09:01 - May 18 with 4294 views | GeoffSentence |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:59 - May 18 by GlasgowBlue |
I find it quite daunting just looking at the names in the Championship. Which is a reflection of how playing in League one became the norm for us.
Regardless of whether we got the points or not, I’d look at the fixtures and say “Accrington 6 points, Forest Green 6 points, Morecambe 6 points etc etc.
Looking at the names of Championship teams, there isn’t one on that list that I can predict the same with any confidence. |
Except Nodge, surely. | |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 09:04 - May 18 with 4273 views | GlasgowBlue |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 09:01 - May 18 by GeoffSentence |
Except Nodge, surely. |
Goes without saying. | |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 09:04 - May 18 with 4275 views | Herbivore |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:35 - May 18 by noggin |
Beat Norwich and avoid relegation would be great. Having said that, I think Gamechanger have other ideas. |
Think we should be more ambitious than just avoiding relegation. Not sure I'd describe avoiding relegation as great, even if it comes with a derby win. | |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 09:07 - May 18 with 4257 views | Guthrum |
It's equally likely that one or two of those could be heading for League One this time next year. Not particularly rare that teams on the plunge end up dropping right through, with owners messing up management appointments in panic and cobbled-together squads who've lost their key men failing to gel. |  |
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| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 09:15 - May 18 with 4208 views | Exiled2Surrey |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:59 - May 18 by SomethingBlue |
It'll definitely be a stronger league than this year — you'd assume at least a couple of Norwich, Watford, WBA etc sort themselves out too and then there's a resurgent Swansea, decently-resourced clubs like Hull & Stoke, lots to get past. I think we can have a crack but I also think nobody should be dejected if we steadily improve and finish in, say, mid-table. We'll need a lot of fine margins to go our way, I think it's going to be a dogfight and an exciting one. |
But you look at some of the expert predictions from the beginning of this season - WBA, Watford, Blackburn, QPR, Norwich all tipped to be in the mix - and all those teams ended up behind Sunderland, Luton and Coventry - teams we might think that we are already at least on a level with. Some of the big teams will fall away, some of the small teams will outperform - can’t wait. | | | |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 09:19 - May 18 with 4176 views | Churchman |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 08:59 - May 18 by GlasgowBlue |
I find it quite daunting just looking at the names in the Championship. Which is a reflection of how playing in League one became the norm for us.
Regardless of whether we got the points or not, I’d look at the fixtures and say “Accrington 6 points, Forest Green 6 points, Morecambe 6 points etc etc.
Looking at the names of Championship teams, there isn’t one on that list that I can predict the same with any confidence. |
It is strange. You’d look at certain teams like say Derby Wednesday and Portsmouth and it’d feel ‘normal’. Accrington, Morecambe etc, it felt …..odd, wrong. It wasn’t. They’ve every right to be there but it’s how it felt to me.
The Championship - every fixture will feel a challenge at first, but we will soon get used to the new norm. I get the feeling, given the publicity McKenna and the club have been getting, that Championship sides will will be as nervous of us as we are them.
It’ll be nice for us to play at more of the better/larger grounds too. Let’s face it, we didn’t exactly collapse in awe playing at Hillsborough, Pride Park and the Reebok. It’s all good. | | | |
| M'boro, Sunderland, Soton, Leeds, Leicester on 09:22 - May 18 with 4125 views | Wallingford_Boy |
Luton probably thought that 12 months ago.. |  |
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