Blues boss Paul Jewell says next year’s Championship could be even tougher than ever with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton and Huddersfield winning promotion from League One. Town start their 2012/13 campaign on Saturday 18th August with a home game against Blackburn, a club which has moved in the opposite direction this summer.

Jewell told the club site: "It doesn't matter who you play on the first day of the season or the last in this division, you know it's going to be a hard game.

"There are plenty of big clubs in this division who will feel they have the stadium and facilities worthy of the Premier League and getting back to that level will be the aim.

"The Championship is one of the most competitive leagues in the game and I lost count how many times I said that anyone can beat anyone in this league last season.

"It will be just as tough next year, possibly even tougher. You've got Sheffield Wednesday coming up, who are a massive club. Huddersfield have shown their ambition and Charlton were playing in the Premier League not so long ago.

"They will all look to build on the momentum of last season and we have seen Norwich and Southampton benefit from that over the last two years. It's going to be a real battle, we know that, but it's one we're looking forward to taking on."

Photo: Action Images

DarkHorse added 09:46 - Jun 18 Getting his excuses in early I see...
0

MattinLondon added 09:51 - Jun 18 Cut-and-paste reply to the forthcoming championship season by most managers.
0

JimmyJazz added 09:56 - Jun 18 Cut and paste reply to the forthcoming season - EVERY SEASON. So what exactly is our plan for getting promotion this season? Or is that no longer a realistic aim?
0

walberswick added 09:58 - Jun 18 "They will all look to build on the momentum of last season" Thanks Paul, handicapped already.
0

RYITFC added 10:04 - Jun 18 We hear this crap every year, why is it going to be harder? Ok you have good teams come down and come up, but you do every year. This is the season for Jewell to stand up and to stop playing down our chances of mixing it with the top 6, he's a year and a half to build his team, the talking stops now.
0

NoCanariesAllowed added 10:09 - Jun 18 It rarely gets any easier in this division. Mid-table stagnation is only ever likely to push you down the table each year as sides with greater momentum overtake you. You cannot afford to stand still.
0

chopschipsallin added 10:11 - Jun 18 As if hes already getting excuses in....
0

walberswick added 10:12 - Jun 18 It's also easier to get relegated.
0

BillBlue added 10:17 - Jun 18 Yeah, well I think it seems harder each year we stay in this division so please, please, please Paul get us out of it. COYB
0

eaii added 10:18 - Jun 18 This division will look harder and harder because our squad is looking weaker/cheaper than ever and when reality sets in the outcome will be "this division is stronger than before".
0

oldbri added 10:19 - Jun 18 cut and paste relies from (supporters) on this forum.I just looked up the word support.It means hold up,assist,sustain.
0

oldbri added 10:21 - Jun 18 by the way,i took the p ,out of replies,on purpose.
0

jas0999 added 10:29 - Jun 18 I am looking forward to the season and agree with PJ - it will be tough. However, I fully expect us to be challenging for promotion this year and in order to do that we need to bring players in early so they can gel before 18 August. We all know we need to address the GK, CB and Striker positions and without stating the obvious this will be the key to success of failure. There is no point the PJ fans making excuses - he has been here a season and a half - has only a year left on his contract. If PJ had have done his job properly we would be in a position to hit the ground running this season - after building over the past 18 months. If we are not in and around the top 6 this season - then I fail to see why he should get a new contract.

0

Daleyitfc added 10:34 - Jun 18 Every year the same drivel ... so the quality of football at our level gets better every year then? I don't think so.
0

mark1969 added 10:42 - Jun 18 Hate to state the obvious , we need players what happened to get them in early ? I guess we have a month to get a goalie , centreback and striker, as a true supporter i hope PJ knows what he is doing and he has the support of Cleggy and Marcus.
0

Garv added 10:42 - Jun 18 That's the toughest list of teams I've seen for years. Can't see any teams that won't be expecting to make the top half, expect possibly Bristol City, a very poor team. Other than that, its quite daunting.
0

ArnieMsBigToe added 10:46 - Jun 18 I would prefer to reserve judgement on this. Let's wait and see if PJ can get another 4-5 young hungry players in. I think that the realists amongst us will have a better idea of how things are going to go when we look at our squad on the 1st August. The pessimists/slaggers will continue to spout the same Vitriol as before and the optimists will continue to view things through rose tinted spectacles!! Currently, I still live in hope. . .

0

StowTractorBoy added 10:48 - Jun 18 I agree with PJ the Championship does get tougher every season and will soon be Premiership 2 with Clubs coming down taking more and more parachute money. I am afraid it is no longer a level playing field and there are many Clubs in our division with the same status as us regarding size etc and they too will be expecting success. We can't all be winners and over the past couple of seasons at times I was personally worried we may get relegated. Of course I want us to be successful and be promoted and worry sick when we struggle but sometimes you have to be realistic and be grateful for what you have i.e. a very decent Championship Club. If we get the right players in and get plenty of luck there is no reason why we should not challenge but I believe some of our fans expect too much because of our past glories.

0

rgp1 added 10:49 - Jun 18 Jewell, just another manager riding the gravy train of mediocrity.
0

bluelady added 10:56 - Jun 18 well well well i see the happy pills are not working with our wonderful 'fanbase'. Jas you have turned a corner my friend, a lovely refreshing honest view and one i agree totally with. Lets judge him on how this season (till Christmas i say) not before a ball is kicked........ If he fails to deliver by Christmas then it is definately time for a change and wont cost a lot in sacking yet another manager. I am pleased to see we are looking at younger hungry players, lets just hope PJ gets a decent CB or two a GK, Striker and AM and gets a good pre season under his belt.

0

Marcus added 11:00 - Jun 18 @garv. You've cursed it. Bristol City will walk the division with no other team playing well.
0

roytheboy added 11:06 - Jun 18 All the more reason why we have to play a lot better Paul, incidentally don't forget that we need a decent goal keeper and a couple of centre backs will you ? we start the season with the same points as every other team so it's really up to you to get us playing well right from the start, that's what we all need to regain some optimism and positivity.
0

brittaniaman added 11:07 - Jun 18 It was tough last season Jewellio ?????? 15th for example ??????????
0

scumbuster added 11:17 - Jun 18 Its so good to read so many positive comments before the season has even started.......
0

Blue041273 added 11:19 - Jun 18 This, for me, is one of the most eagerly anticipated days of the year. It is a day when Saturday afternoons stretching into the winter can be planned. We can begin to anticipate the pleasures of a post match pint celebrating another 3 points and hope (just a little) for some success in the season ahead. At least until reality sets in in mid August we can perhaps dream a little. Anyway I didn't expect the wave of negativity on here so soon. Of course the tone has been set by PJ's comments which are decidedly downbeat even if you accept the truth in them. This already long cold summer threatens to be even longer and colder than ever. Thank you.

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls