18/19 Table Predictions

[Six pints of STELLA]

1. West Brom - I think they've made some clever signings. Squad has some experienced performers, along with some Championship know how. Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez can supply the goals.
2. Aston Villa - Managed to keep the squad together. One more year for Brucie and I'll think he'll get it right after discovering his best team.
3. Leeds - Think they might lead the way under Bielsa, but could fall away after Christmas.
4. Derby - It could be some up and down results from Derby. Could flatter to deceive at points in the season.
5. Stoke - Squad has experience. I'm just unsure how much stomach they have for the Championship. Play-off semi losers.
6. Brentford - Great football and well run. Hope they stay injury free.
7. Nottingham Forest - Brought in some goalscorers. Hard to predict.
8. Middlesbrough - About to lose some players. Traore really opens up other teams despite not scoring many goals. Can't see Boro scoring enough under Pulis.
9. Norwich - I think the squad is underrated a tad. Get some balls into Rhodes and Oliviera and they will score.
10. Swansea City - Think it's a big transition for Swansea. I like Potter, but not sure he will be left with enough quality in the final third.
11. Bristol City - They have lost some players, but I don't think they'll be missed that much. I fancy Eisa to have a top season.
12. Preston - Solid team. A key will be whether Maguire can keep scoring.
13. Millwall - Will win enough home games to make middle table. Some good young players in the squad.
14. Sheffield United - I think Chris Wilder has done a great job. However, I think the squad is a tad overrated and the form in the second half of last season is good yardstick for the coming season.
15. Hull - They still have a few good players lurking around. A lot will depend on Bowen and if they can get another goalscorer through the door.
16. Sheffield Wednesday - Probably the most overrated squad in the league. There's a clear lack of pace throughout the team. Will any strikers i manage more than 12? I doubt it (unless Forestieri plays every week).
17. Blackburn - Can see Graham and Dack carrying on from last season. That will be enough to keep them safe.
18. Birmingham - A lot of uncertainty. A decent enough defence. I think it's a question of whether there is enough creativity in midfield (barring Jota).
19. Reading - Probably a better squad on paper than some on here think. However, big question marks around Clement.
20. Bolton - I think they've made some good signings. Only thing holding them back is Parkball.
21. Ipswich - Who knows? They could finish in the play-offs. Think the quality in the squad is poor and goalscoring will be a big problem.
22. Wigan - Champions again. Not sure the squad has great quality. Momentum from last season may keep them safe.
23. QPR - Reliant on a lot of kids. Can see them trying to play the right way and pick up a few shock results. Ultimately I think they may ship too many goals.
24. Rotherham - Quality not there unfortunately.

 

[TractorBoys]

It's been a running theme for the last 3-4 seasons that the majority of the public, likewise bookies, have us predicted to finish in the bottom 3, or close to it.. For what it's worth, I accept that with the change and the upheaval this season, despite the positive feeling around the club now, this season we are most at risk.

However, I genuinely think we could just as likely be inside the top 10 come May. We're a real unknown quantity this season with a large influx of lower league players signed (certainly will be true come Thursday), and the talent, relatively speaking, in midfield remains out injured (Bishop,Huws,Adeyami), and we have relative unknowns in the likes of Downes,Dozell and Nydam who seem likely to make it in the top tiers, but this season??? I'm not sure.

We don't have the guarantee of safety this season which most would accept came as a package with McCarthy managing a Championship side. I always had a quiet chuckle when somebody predicted a side managed by Mick to finish in the bottom 3 of the second tier, but I don't have that implicit belief this season.

I genuinely think at this stage, with one game played, the odds of us finishing 10th, or 21st, should be pretty much the same. And heck, if we're 10th come Janaury who knows?

I'm optimistic for the new era but not totally blinded through my support to suggest we aren't taking a risk. I'll take it over the stagnation, though, win lose or draw.

 

[Six pints of STELLA]

It's been a running theme for the last 3-4 seasons that the majority of the public, likewise bookies, have us predicted to finish in the bottom 3, or close to it.. For what it's worth, I accept that with the change and the upheaval this season, despite the positive feeling around the club now, this season we are most at risk.

However, I genuinely think we could just as likely be inside the top 10 come May. We're a real unknown quantity this season with a large influx of lower league players signed (certainly will be true come Thursday), and the talent, relatively speaking, in midfield remains out injured (Bishop,Huws,Adeyami), and we have relative unknowns in the likes of Downes,Dozell and Nydam who seem likely to make it in the top tiers, but this season??? I'm not sure.

We don't have the guarantee of safety this season which most would accept came as a package with McCarthy managing a Championship side. I always had a quiet chuckle when somebody predicted a side managed by Mick to finish in the bottom 3 of the third tier, but I don't have that implicit belief this season.

I genuinely think at this stage, with one game played, the odds of us finishing 10th, or 21st, should be pretty much the same. And heck, if we're 10th come Janaury who knows?

I'm optimistic for the new era but not totally blinded through my support to suggest we aren't taking a risk. I'll take it over the stagnation, though, win lose or draw.

I've moved Ipswich to 21st. That's more to do with looking at Wigan's squad closely.

I probably will be completely wrong about Ipswich. Buying lower league players is probably the right way to go. I've praised Brentford, so that's a bit hypocritical.

I'm just a little bit ignorant that I don't know your new signings that well. I'm unsure whether any will be able to contribute significantly with goals? I have some doubts whether Waghorn can replicate last season.

 

[TractorBoys]

Waghorn is off to Derby tomorrow and must be replaced. Kayden Jackson seems the likely target, again, lower league and completely unproven at Championship level - is he good enough? Another big question mark which would impact our season significantly.

Just to be clear, I'm not disagreeing with your prediction at all; I don't think anyone can say whether it's going to go well or badly (both equally likely) because we are intrinsically taking a risk this season by evolving (hopefully for the better).

One note in terms of creative assets this season, I'm excited by the thought of Gwion Edwards (cracking debut on Saturday), Jon Nolan, and most importantly subject to injuries clearing up the likes of Huws, Bishop, Adeaymi, Dozzell, Downes etc. If we keep them all fit we really have wealth of options in the centre of the park.

You're absolutely right though, it doesn't matter how much creativity we have (which has been lacking until this season), if there's nobody there to put it away then we won't win many games. Big pressure is going to rest on the shoulders of Harrison, hopefully Jackson, and god help us if we have to rely on Ben Morris for goals this season (cracking academy prospect but nowhere near ready to feature regularly).

If we don't replace Waghorn, I'll revise my predictions weighting more liklihood on troubled season. Big few days for Hurst to bring in quality for the final third.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Top 6

Stoke
Middlesborough

Forest
Leeds
Brentford
Villa

Relegation

Hull
QPR
Rotherham

The rest meh.

 

[TTOCS]

I do hear on the grapevine (not an internet grapevine either) that Hurst isn't very well liked by certain important players at Ipswich. That could have an impact on the season.

 

[TractorBoys]

That couldn't be further away from the truth if you ask anyone close to the club. Apart from perhaps Garner (not an important player, he's off), who is moving on prior to Thursdays deadline, most likely to Bolton, and definitely because Hurst doesn't like players who spend half the match on their arse.

Team spirit this season will be our strength, certainly not our weakness.

 

[SMH]

I do hear on the grapevine (not an internet grapevine either) that Hurst isn't very well liked by certain important players at Ipswich. That could have an impact on the season.

Hurst likes a good clear out normally if I remember rightly. Those important players won’t be around by this time next summer.

 

[TractorBoys]

Come Saturday, our starting lineup will likely include 2 new defenders, 1 midfielder, 2 wingers, and potentially even 2 strikers. He's definitely stamped his mark on the team.

Now to see if it works.

 

[Doriva17]

Not being a dick but I've looked up our fixtures for as far as October and I think we can win every single game.

What's the record for most games won in a row from the opening game?

First time on this site for a while. The last time I was celebrating we had got rid of benladdie and now I catch up we have another Welsh ****.

 

[Abertawe]

First time on this site for a while. The last time I was celebrating we had got rid of benladdie and now I catch up we have another Welsh ****.

If stamp your skull through the pavement you gimp

 

[Chronic]

1. Stoke
2. West Brom
3. Leeds
4. Middlesbrough
5. Nottingham Forest
6. Brentford
7. Aston Villa
8. Swansea
9. Derby
10. Sheffield United
11. Preston
12. Millwall
13. Norwich
14. Blackburn
15. Sheffield Wednesday
16. Wigan
17. QPR
18. Birmingham
19. Ipswich
20. Bristol City
21. Reading
22. Bolton
23. Hull
24. Rotherham

 

[Abertawe]

What were people seeing in Stoke when tipping them for top?

 

[Brad-Owl]

I dare you to bet this site we don't go up automatically?

A lot of poor predictions, none worst than this one.

Norwich don't get a mention anywhere.

 

[SF_]

That couldn't be further away from the truth if you ask anyone close to the club. Apart from perhaps Garner (not an important player, he's off), who is moving on prior to Thursdays deadline, most likely to Bolton, and definitely because Hurst doesn't like players who spend half the match on their arse.

Team spirit this season will be our strength, certainly not our weakness.

Class.

 

[JJH]

Done my table predictions in a blog format for this season and wrote a bit about each club if you fancy having a read.... www.jjhuk.blogspot.com

Would be interested to see some of yours now the season's nearly upon us.

Some decent shouts, some shitters. Stoke to win the league....

 

[HertsWolf]

Interested to know what went wrong with Brentford, Forest and Stoke?

As we speak, the board, players, coaching staff, catering staff and groundsmen at Derby are all working round the clock to see how they can throw that last play-off spot away. The FL have warned Derby, apparently, that they will be fined if more than six of their team "do a Bamford".

Genuinely pleased to see Sheffield Utd go up for a season, and trying to predict who Wilder will be managing in December. Also feel for Leeds fans, especially if it all slips away Derby-style in the coming weeks.

I do miss this forum. Even El Guapo and SERNWA. I still think that the Championship is the most exciting, most entertaining, most passionate in the world. And this forum is a great place too.

 

[SF_]

This forum is gash, probably the most inactive on the site. L1 & 2 are miles busier.

 

[Bobbin']

This forum is gash, probably the most inactive on the site. L1 & 2 are miles busier.

Not now Luton are leaving L1, they were probably about 75% of the contributors.

 

[Abertawe]

A lot of poor predictions, none worst than this one.

Norwich don't get a mention anywhere.

Pre selling all our players tbf.

 

[JJH]

Pre selling all our players tbf.

Same again next season with VDH, Olsson, James, McBurnie and Routledge all off this summer. Undoing Potter’s good work.

 

[Abertawe]

Same again next season with VDH, Olsson, James, McBurnie and Routledge all off this summer. Undoing Potter’s good work.

If it does Potter should walk. With a bit of backing (or just not selling all his first team players) he'd easily get a club promoted out of this division.

 

[JJH]

If it does Potter should walk. With a bit of backing (or just not selling all his first team players) he'd easily get a club promoted out of this division.

Well James will definitely be off and the others are out of contract other than McBurnie so you think they’d have been renewed by now? I’d take the 3 OOC, particularly VDH and Olsson.

Done a good job though, it’s taken a while but you can start to see the players buying into what he wants to do and implementing it.

 

[blademan89]

Well James will definitely be off and the others are out of contract other than McBurnie so you think they’d have been renewed by now? I’d take the 3 OOC, particularly VDH and Olsson.

Done a good job though, it’s taken a while but you can start to see the players buying into what he wants to do and implementing it.

Fancy Swansea to at least be top 6 next season at this early stage.

 

[Bobbin']

Looks like JJH was bang on with James. Gone already.

 

[JJH]

Fancy Swansea to at least be top 6 next season at this early stage.

I don’t, they’ll lose most of their best players. Grimes has been linked with Everton, and as Bobbin said James seems to have signed for Man Utd.

At this early stage for the teams in this division that didn’t go up or down I think Wednesday are going to be right up there and you’ll be surprised to hear this but I also think we will as well. In past summers we’ve had standout players like Kodjia, Reid, Abraham etc that have all gone, this year we’re a team that are better than the sum of its parts and as long as we do the right things with the loanees we had here and recruit a bit of quality in CM and up top like you did in Norwood and McGoldrick we should be well set.

 

[blademan89]

I don’t, they’ll lose most of their best players. Grimes has been linked with Everton, and as Bobbin said James seems to have signed for Man Utd.

At this early stage for the teams in this division that didn’t go up or down I think Wednesday are going to be right up there and you’ll be surprised to hear this but I also think we will as well. In past summers we’ve had standout players like Kodjia, Reid, Abraham etc that have all gone, this year we’re a team that are better than the sum of its parts and as long as we do the right things with the loanees we had here and recruit a bit of quality in CM and up top like you did in Norwood and McGoldrick we should be well set.

I've no doubt you will. Still dont see Wednesday being up there as it stands, especially if they lose Westwood.

 

[BelizeHatter]

This forum is gash, probably the most inactive on the site. L1 & 2 are miles busier.

Oh shit .........L1 forum was horrific compared to L2. That was also really bad compared to non league....... Maybe theres an inververse what ever the fuck its called the higher you get......maybe people just have lives the more refined they are.....Is this forum really worse?

 

[SF_]

Oh shit .........L1 forum was horrific compared to L2. That was also really bad compared to non league....... Maybe theres an inververse what ever the fuck its called the higher you get......maybe people just have lives the more refined they are.....Is this forum really worse?

Nowhere near as active as it once was, I'd say 75% less active than a couple of seasons back

 

[TTOCS]

Seems like the relegation candidates were much easier to predict than the promotion/midtable battle.
Same again for next season imo, Charlton to finish highest out of the promoted 3 though.