09/10 season predictions: 1st 2nd 3rd.. and Reading?

[leww_rfc]

1. Newcastle United
2. West Brom
3. Anyone's guess.

8. Reading

ipswich prehaps could be there

at the moment i think a few signings in and next year could be a great season for us

ill give my predictions come start of the season, after the pre-season's

[SLAMMED]

1.Newcastle
2.Reading
3.Middlesbrough

2.Reading

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Boro
Reading

Cardiff (via playoffs)

and Barcodes to struggle and finish lower mid table.

[Darren Caskey's Dietician]

I am reasonably optimistic for us, and I would anticipate us being top 6, but I think the top 6 will be very close however it finishes.

The teams I would call out for automatic are Reading, Ipswich, Boro, WBA, Sheffield United. WBA I will ask questions about though, as I would expect them to lose a few players, and I suspect Mowbray to go. Rumour is Shearer is ready to walk out on Newcastle for WBA as Ashley is a muppett, and if that is true, I can't see WBA bouncing back. I think they will struggle to bounce straight back if Mowbray does go, as I don't see that many managers as good as him who would go to WBA.

Newcastle will need at least a season to sort out this mess. They need to cut a lot of players (assuming they will go) and with Ashley looking to sell, he won't invest in new players, and will instead horde as much of the profits as possible to minimise his loss on any sale. The result is they will be left with players who don't want to be there, disillusioned at life in the championship, who are happy to take the money and play shite (a bit like SHunt, but a whole team of them) or their second string, and quite probably the most unqualified manager in the championship, who has never played at that level, and won't know how to get his team to play effectively in the rough and tumble of this division.

I think Boro will be reasonably settled with their current squad, minus one or two players, and will be there or there abouts. As long as Blackwell doesnt walk, Sheffield United will be a strong side again this year. The one to watch is Ipswich. Keane has proven what he can do in this division, and Ipswich have the money and the frame of a threatening side, so this year could be the year they push back up.

The dark horses will be Forest. They survived last season, have a very good manager at this level, and are sounding out a lot of talented players at this level. Dependant upon how much money Davies gets, they could be the surprise.

I would suggest QPR as a threat, but as they can't keep a manager for more than a couple of months, I don't see them stepping up. Magilton will get the summer to build a team, and when he loses the first match of the season, he will be shown the door.

[andrew1957]

Last year was relatively predictable and of the top 6 that I picked 4 were actually in the top 6 at the end of the season and the other two were close.

Next time I think at least 15 teams are capable of top 6 - so it is impossible to call.

The favourites for top 6 for me are:

Middlesborough
Newcastle
Reading
Sheff United
Ipswich
West Brom

but almost anything could happen.

[Harry Carry]

Scunthorpe
Reading
Plymouth

but enough about the bottom three.

West Brom
Middlesbrough
Newcastle

[loyalroyal4life]

newcastle won't win it, you heard it here first

[URZZ]

1st Sheff U
2nd Newastle
3rd Ipswich

15th Reading

I have had a feeling about Ipshit too, Keane will do good things there.

Newcastle, with Shearer.. Although it sounds obvious they'll get promotion I, don't know. But likely they're there or there abouts.

West Brom also have a say in the Championship too, they always do very good. Sheff Utd will have a good year. Derby may wake up, Forest may wake up. Palace too.

Gonna be an entertaining year in the Championship, I can't see automatic at all, hope I'm wrong but play-offs sounds reasonable for Rodgers' first season in charge. Can see a low top half, top of bottom half finish though IMO.

[PistolPete]

1st Mddlesbrough - Will replace superstars like Alves, Downing and Tuncay with players good enough to steady the ship.
1st Reading FC - Rodgers to minimise the player losses and get the best out of his youngsters.

3rd West Brom - Do not need to sell and even if Mowbray goes, have been consistent enough to continue their good football.
4th Preston - Irvine to build on last seasons squad and make the play offs again.
5th Cardiff - Impossible to predict, if McCormack, Johnston, Ledley stay will they be as impressive? How will they fair in their new stadium? Needed to go up last season...
6th Ipswich - Average signings but impressive home form will see Keane sneak into play offs on last game of the season

7th Newcastle - A poor start to the season and abysmal away form will cost the geordie fans who still sell out St James' Park
8th Sheffield Utd - Naughton, Halford and Beatie to leave replaced by Surman and another - disappointing season.
9th Leicester City - Solid if not spectacular season which relies too heavily on the form of Matty Fryatt
10th QPR - Magilton to be sacked by February after another season which leaves the fans wondering what their billionairre owners real intentions are.

[Zammo]

We are more likely to go down rather than up.

Fortress Madejski......LOL.

[Ian Royal]

Newcastle would surprise me a lot if they finish higher than 5th.

When was the last time the 3 relegated sides finished as the top 3? Not going to happen. Boro are better set up for the Championship than Newcastle. As are West Brom. I don't think there are a clear couple of leaders so far. We'll wait and see what happens in the next month and half.

[Schards#2]

I can't see how anyone can give a reasoned opinion until they know who's playing for who.

This is even more the case with Reading as we have a new manager with minimal experience. Until we've seen them play 6-10 times, it's pure guesswork.

[Dirk Gently]

I can't see how anyone can give a reasoned opinion until they know who's playing for who.

This is even more the case with Reading as we have a new manager with minimal experience. Until we've seen them play 6-10 times, it's pure guesswork.

+1. No valid predcitions can really be made until the start of August, or, even better, after 30th August when the transfer window closes.

All that I can really predict is that Reading will be at times breathtakingly good, at times frustraing - but above all inconsistent as the youngsters learn their trade and bed into the team.

[Ian Royal]

I think you can make reasonably informed guesstimates of the areas of the table a team will be competing in, based on known squad and general health of the club. But you're right it's subject to change and can only be a top /middle / bottom thing right now.

[Gordons Cumming]

I can't see how anyone can give a reasoned opinion until they know who's playing for who.

This is even more the case with Reading as we have a new manager with minimal experience. Until we've seen them play 6-10 times, it's pure guesswork.

Isn't that everyone is doing? Guessing?

[rhroyal]

Can't see Newcastle being up there. They simply can't afford to keep their players. People often post figures regarding wages and debt in the Premiership on this board, and every time Newcastle have the 5th or 6th highest wage bill in the Premiership, with a significant amount of debt. It's well known that there weren't relegation wage drop clauses for a large number of their players. They simply have to offload at least 90% of their better paid players or they could be looking at administration, even with over 50,000 fans every week. They'll have to start a team very much from scratch. Then if they're not top by October or so the fans will turn on whoever is manager, unless Shearer stays. They'll continue to act like Newcastle and shoot themselves in the foot. If that happens they won't build any stability and consistency, which is critical in winning promotion. I'm running through their squad in my head now:

Harper - Stay? High wages will cancel out transfer fees.

Bassong - Gone

Coloccini - Gone

S. Taylor - Gone

Butt - Gone. A good signing for any bottom half Premiership side.

R. Taylor - Gone

Duff - Claimed he will stay. Same consequences as Harper with regards to wages?

Viduka - Will people want him at his age? Probably gone

Martins - Gone

Owen - Gone

Nolan - Gone

Barton - Who will take him with his past conduct? He will really be a wage burden.

Then the likes of Beye, Gutierrez and multiple others. The ones who do stay will simply ensure that transfer revenue is spent on existing players and not new ones. It'll take an absolutely brilliant manager to take them back up. If our players began to freeze at the Mad Stad after January, how will Newcastle players cope with the expectation at St. James' Park which will dwarf the pressure we've had here?

As for the original question:

1) WBA
2) Cardiff
3) Sheff Utd.

I thoroughly expect us to be in the mix again, along with Boro, Forest (Davies is great at this level), Ipswich, Preston and probably a couple of surprise packages. Have to say last season showed that this league is becoming more predictable. The top 4 could have been predicted, Burnley sprung a surprise but I thought Preston would be around. Anyhow, don't really know why I put the top 3 up. Can see us finishing anywhere from 2nd - 8th or so. WBA will win the league.

[Binfield Royal]

Paddy Power have is 5th Favourites to get promoted with odds of 7-2


Newcastle 13/10
Cardiff 6/1
Nottm Forest 11/1
West Brom 2/1
Swansea 7/1
Sheff Wed 12/1
Middlesbrough 9/4
Derby 7/1
Coventry 14/1
Ipswich 10/3
Leicester 15/2
Doncaster 22/1
Reading 7/2
Crystal Palace 8/1
Blackpool 22/1
QPR 4/1
Bristol City 10/1
Barnsley 25/1
Sheff Utd 4/1
Watford 10/1
Plymouth 25/1
Preston 5/1
Peterborough 10/1

[andrew1957]

Not sure I would back Newcastle at 13/10 - don't look great odds to me. In fact the odds generally are a bit mean as so many teams are in contention. 8 teams are 5/1 or lower.

[Jeffers217]

1st Sheff U
2nd Newastle
3rd Ipswich

15th Reading

I have had a feeling about Ipshit too, Keane will do good things there.

Newcastle, with Shearer.. Although it sounds obvious they'll get promotion I, don't know. But likely they're there or there abouts.

West Brom also have a say in the Championship too, they always do very good. Sheff Utd will have a good year. Derby may wake up, Forest may wake up. Palace too.

Gonna be an entertaining year in the Championship, I can't see automatic at all, hope I'm wrong but play-offs sounds reasonable for Rodgers' first season in charge. Can see a low top half, top of bottom half finish though IMO.

Sheffield United top?!?! Are you having a laugh?! They played crap all season and now have lost their parachute payments and will lose their only credible players (the 2 young full backs). Derby and Palace?! And Reading in 15th?!


We will be a lot better this season, we have a manager with passion and a good enough team to win the league- a better team than last yr if Rodgers makes full use of the squad- plays Bikey, Doyle and Marek every game and puts the youth players (who were always better than some of the rubbish we played last yr anyway).

Morelike:

1- Reading
2- West Brom

PO- Boro

[Mike Hunt]

I think we are being rather optimistic to say that Reading will go up auto-pro.

We have a new coach, and probably a new, young team.

Im not saying that we wont be in the mix come May, but I think that a mid table finish is more to be expected.

Newcastle will not get promoted.

WBA to win the league, as they will probably only lose their coach and Brunt.

Ipswitch got the double on us last year, and with Keane at the helm - they may be a big force to go up. Especially if they have a botomless transfer kitty.

Boro should not lose many players, maybe Downing, Tuncay, Alves and Wheater. If the can keep Aliadiere - he will be awesome in the Championship.

1. WBA
2. Boro
3. Ipswitch