The Championship - far too unpredictable?

[Crazy Diamond]

Lawrie said on Sky Sports News the other day that the Championship was the hardest league to get out of back when he was managing us - that was 40 odd years ago. It's probably harder today with the play-offs.

 

Looking at the fixture list has made me realise one thing - it's early days but I can't pick a winner or a dead certainty for relegation. Birmingham and West Ham may be the bookmaker's choice for automatic promotion but just because they're recently relegated from the Prem doesn't mean they'll necessarily do it.

 

Birmingham for example have a big rebuilding job on their hands. A lot of their best players are going or have gone (Seb Larsson is a decent player, he's off to Sunderland, Roger Johnson and Scott Dann their two defenders are jumping ship and their new striker isn't exactly encouraging - Marlon King). West Ham are going to lose even more, if they haven't already. Some talked about Scott Parker's valuation being £10 million plus, but the latest rumour is he's going to Spurs for just £4 million. Blackpool never had any decent players to lose to begin with in my view, so I reckon they'll either finish midtable or be in the play-offs.

 

But there are so many teams that at one stage have a shot at the play-offs - Leicester, Hull, Derby, the Skates, Watford and Millwall all fancied themselves to do it last time round. Add to that Ipswich and Middlesbrough will want to go for it after being so disappointing last time. There's only one team I think that will absolutely bomb this season and that's Coventry.

 

As I said on the fixture thread, I think I'll treat this upcoming season with caution. Looking at August's fixtures, I think at the moment I'd be happy with seven points off of Leeds, Barnsley, Ipswich, Millwall and Leicester. There are some games that for me will make or break a season - a trip to a place like Barnsley is one of them. Keith Hill is an arrogant tosser (I can safely say that having met the odious little man) but a decent manager, so that'll be a tough away game.

 

All in all, right now it's far too difficult to judge. As it stands I've no idea at all where we'll finish, I'm just hoping it's the top half. Who do you think will be promoted, get a play-off spot or be relegated?

[chocco boxo]

We need at least 4 good signings to hold our own in this league. West Ham with Big Sam milking the loan system towards the end of the season will make West Ham hard to beat.

I think mid table will be about us.

[Turkish]

That is why the championship is the best league, so much more of an even playing field. Probably about 15 clubs can make a good case as to why they can challenge for promotion.

[LGTL]

I just hope we aren't already pretty much out of the mix after the first 10 games.

[S-Clarke]

It's a very difficult call anyone's finishing positions at the mo.

 

At this stage last season I think many people had M'Boro down for a top 2 finish (top 6 at worst). They'd just spent £3m on Kris Boyd, 2.5m on Kevin Thompson....2 top class rangers players, and they also had a very handy manager at the helm in WGS.

 

But it didn't work and they spent most of the season in the bottom half of the league. The same could very much happen with WHU this year, or even Brum - who knows - but you'll also get your surprise package, like Norwich were last year.

 

It's such an intriguing league, probably one of the closet fought and most interesting in world football. I've never seen it as strong as it is at the moment (In terms of clubs and the quality of players)

[The Kraken]

That is why the championship is the best league, so much more of an even playing field. Probably about 15 clubs can make a good case as to why they can challenge for promotion.

 

Very much agree; its a hugely competitive league and anyone who thinks a top half finish is in the bag is deluded IMO. I think we need to strengthen in all areas; at least 5 new first team players needed until I would consider us capable for a shot at the top.

[Micky]

Without doubt the most interesting league if you are a nuetral. For me the premier league is now quite a boring affair, let's face it, the relegation battle is generally a lot more exciting than anything that is going on at the top of the league.

 

I don't know naff all about betting, but given the relative parity of teams in the championship, I would imagine it is a bookies nightmare.

[Crazy Diamond]

No one has any early opinions on who's for the drop then? It's a particularly interesting one - you can't rely on one of the three promoted teams from League One as a tip to go straight back down. I imagine Peterborough will have learnt from their experiences last time out and will spend a bit of cash, us and Brighton should be looking far beyond safety.

 

As I said before, Coventry look doomed to me. No money, Ray Ranson is leaving I think or he may have even already left, they can't attract any players and have a rookie manager. They'll either flirt with the relegation zone or go down if you ask me. But as I said earlier, other than them, no idea.

[Professor]

We need at least 4 good signings to hold our own in this league. West Ham with Big Sam milking the loan system towards the end of the season will make West Ham hard to beat.

I think mid table will be about us.

Agree about needing improvements to the team to hold our own. We have been told some signings will be made but how many and the quality is the deciding factor. If there is no improvement with at least 3 first choice players, I can see Saints being in the bottom quarter although if that happened I think the threat of relegation would result in some January signings. Hopefully it won't come to that because the team strengthening will begin soon............

[Window Cleaner]

No one has any early opinions on who's for the drop then? It's a particularly interesting one - you can't rely on one of the three promoted teams from League One as a tip to go straight back down. I imagine Peterborough will have learnt from their experiences last time out and will spend a bit of cash, us and Brighton should be looking far beyond safety.

 

As I said before, Coventry look doomed to me. No money, Ray Ranson is leaving I think or he may have even already left, they can't attract any players and have a rookie manager. They'll either flirt with the relegation zone or go down if you ask me. But as I said earlier, other than them, no idea.

 

Doncaster,Barnsley and either Coventry or Watford.(and I'd go for Watford)............simple.

[Thedelldays]

I have always thought that a top 10 finish would mean a good season...

 

And it will still not stop many having a right go at the club and Nigel

[Windmill Arm 2]

You can guarantee that if Saints spend the majority of the season in mid or lower half, most of the posters on this forum will be throwing their toys out of the pram, and calling for Adkins head. IMO this season is all about consolidating, ie retaining our NPC status, if we can do that we will have been a success, anything else is a bonus.

[S-Clarke]

No one has any early opinions on who's for the drop then? It's a particularly interesting one - you can't rely on one of the three promoted teams from League One as a tip to go straight back down. I imagine Peterborough will have learnt from their experiences last time out and will spend a bit of cash, us and Brighton should be looking far beyond safety.

 

As I said before, Coventry look doomed to me. No money, Ray Ranson is leaving I think or he may have even already left, they can't attract any players and have a rookie manager. They'll either flirt with the relegation zone or go down if you ask me. But as I said earlier, other than them, no idea.

 

I think Barnsley and Watford will really struggle, losing their best players and having new managers at the helm (with no money).

 

P'Boro will struggle too if they don't show a little more ambition with their targets - Danny green from daggers, Gleeson from MK Dons....they're average L1 players, so it doesn't look like they've learnt from last time.

[saint lard]

I'm interested to see how Adkins copes in this league,completely different expectations to when he was there last with Scunny.

It will show his true metal.

I will be happy with a top half finish to a certain degree.Although we should be pushing on a little from that with the posible resources to hand.

Finish above the skates as well please.

I think Coventry,the posh and Doncaster to go down.

Top 6........West Ham,Forest,Leeds,Liecester,Ipswich,Birmingham.

[Turkish]

I have always thought that a top 10 finish would mean a good season...

 

And it will still not stop many having a right go at the club and Nigel

 

And players, any new signing that isn't brilliant from the first kick will be for it. As will any current player, particularly last seasons favourite whipping boys, Hammond, Jaidi, Guly, Davis & Harding, non of which will be good enough for the championship after anything less than 8 out of 10 performances every week.

[Thedelldays]

And players, any new signing that isn't brilliant from the first kick will be for it. As will any current player, particularly last seasons favourite whipping boys, Hammond, Jaidi, Guly, Davis & Harding, non of which will be good enough for the championship after anything less than 8 out of 10 performances every week.

lard going to be giving it the big one all season.....for not destroying leeds away, or west ham....if we dont at least beat barnsley 5-0 at home then might as well give up

we have the best players out side of the prem..many are worth more than what spurs paid for modric and van der vaart....we are going to crush this league..

[The Kraken]

You can guarantee that if Saints spend the majority of the season in mid or lower half, most of the posters on this forum will be throwing their toys out of the pram, and calling for Adkins head. IMO this season is all about consolidating, ie retaining our NPC status, if we can do that we will have been a success, anything else is a bonus.

 

The problem you have with that is that the noises coming out of the club suggest they fully expect us to have a crack at it. And they're largely right; why target medocrity from the outset? "Consolidating" effectively means standing still, and I'm pretty sure the Chairman won't want that.

 

The problem is that Nicola's previous utterances on the subject and the whole plan to return to the Premier league have led to a level of expectation amongst supporters whereby mid-table will be deemed as a complete failure by many.

 

If we do, as has been suggested, go out and sign 4 or 5 top quality players then yes, I think the expectation can be justified. Until then, I think we could be in for a very difficult season.

[saints-cris]

I don't see Peterborough staying up. They will lose their 3 most important players for sure and whilst they'll have a bit of cash to spend after losing them they will not get anyone as good as what they'll lose.

Everyone else seems to think Coventry will struggle and I have to agree. Kings goals saved them a bit last season and he's gone now too. No money, and really not much going for them.

I also think that if Pompey lose Cotterill they'll be in big trouble. What with them having 9 players and all, he did a great job last season keeping them up.

 

As for going up, Ipswich seem to be making a go for it in pre-season, Middlesborough will be up there too I think as Mowbray is a very good manager. I think teams like Leeds and Cardiff won't be the same force as last season as a lot of their best players have either left or look highly likely to leave.

I will go for West Ham, Borough and Forest.

[saint lard]

lard going to be giving it the big one all season.....for not destroying leeds away, or west ham....if we dont at least beat barnsley 5-0 at home then might as well give up

we have the best players out side of the prem..many are worth more than what spurs paid for modric and van der vaart....we are going to crush this league..

do you think i will have good reason too?

Only if we are underperforming.

As long as we are seen to be competeing i will be happy.

Last season we had to be seen to be doing more than just competing as we had the strongest squad by far.

We got results...unfortunately that was rarely acompanied by consistancy in performance collectively.

Don't think i was being unrealistic by wanting the players to perform to their ability,they only did so sporadically.

We have no devine right to batter anyone,we will have to earn points.

They will all have to be at the top of their game,week in week out....or we will be punished by our oposition,unlike last season when we could afford to play below par.

None of the above is earth shattering,just what is required,this season.

Pretty realistic expectations.

Edited 19 June, 2011 by saint lard

[Thripp87]

I would be more than happy to finish top half and above the skates, which is more than achievable with the addition of 3 good championship players, (like danns an cork). I dont think Cortese will be too concerned with this either as we are aiming to be in the prem in 5 yrs from the outset of his tenure.

 

In terms of the teams to challenge at the top I would expect West Ham and Boro to be very strong alongside Leicester and the likes of Bham, Forest and Burnley.

 

Surprise package: Cardiff, genuine relegation candidates if u ask me alongside Coventry, Watford and Pboro

[The Kraken]

I would be more than happy to finish top half and above the skates, which is more than achievable with the addition of 3 good championship players, (like danns an cork). I dont think Cortese will be too concerned with this either as we are aiming to be in the prem in 5 yrs from the outset of his tenure.

 

In terms of the teams to challenge at the top I would expect West Ham and Boro to be very strong alongside Leicester and the likes of Bham, Forest and Burnley.

 

Surprise package: Cardiff, genuine relegation candidates if u ask me alongside Coventry, Watford and Pboro

 

It'll be interesting to see what happens with them. They supposedly are still in plenty of financial trouble, but most of all their success last year was built upon a significant number of loans. They've lost their entire strike force in Bellamy, Bothroyd and Chopra plus a number of others throughout the team. Mackay is a good manager, which could be the factor that saves them, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see them struggle.

[S-Clarke]

It'll be interesting to see what happens with them. They supposedly are still in plenty of financial trouble, but most of all their success last year was built upon a significant number of loans. They've lost their entire strike force in Bellamy, Bothroyd and Chopra plus a number of others throughout the team. Mackay is a good manager, which could be the factor that saves them, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see them struggle.

 

This is what i don't get though - I see lots of people saying they're financially on the brink, then other articles say that that new Thai owner is going to give Mackay a 20mill transfer kitty! They're def. one of the more intriguing of teams for next year....

[Crazy Diamond]

Doncaster,Barnsley and either Coventry or Watford.(and I'd go for Watford)............simple.

 

Doncaster? Interesting. I think the only reason they struggled so badly last season was because of a horrific list of injuries. It's widely acknowledged they've played the best stuff in this league - hence why I said when Pardew went that I'd want Sean O'Driscoll as manager. I would agree they need to improve though.

 

As for Watford, they need to get this new managerial appointment bang on and immediately start strengthening. But people have been saying that for years. Last season was meant to be one long struggle but they had some very good early results and some said a play-off spot wasn't out of the question.

 

Barnsley will be one of those that go either way. Keith Hill has worked with worse, but then again that was League Two in a season when there was a hell of a lot of crap around them.

 

I have always thought that a top 10 finish would mean a good season...

 

And it will still not stop many having a right go at the club and Nigel

 

Would have to agree. Top ten and I'll be happy. I just wonder how much adjustment will be required.

 

I would be more than happy to finish top half and above the skates, which is more than achievable with the addition of 3 good championship players, (like danns an cork). I dont think Cortese will be too concerned with this either as we are aiming to be in the prem in 5 yrs from the outset of his tenure.

 

In terms of the teams to challenge at the top I would expect West Ham and Boro to be very strong alongside Leicester and the likes of Bham, Forest and Burnley.

 

Surprise package: Cardiff, genuine relegation candidates if u ask me alongside Coventry, Watford and Pboro

 

Cardiff are set for a season of adjustment, I think that's fair to say. Good shout.

[SaintBobby]

I'm interested to see how Adkins copes in this league,completely different expectations to when he was there last with Scunny.

It will show his true metal.

I will be happy with a top half finish to a certain degree.Although we should be pushing on a little from that with the posible resources to hand.

Finish above the skates as well please.

I think Coventry,the posh and Doncaster to go down.

Top 6........West Ham,Forest,Leeds,Liecester,Ipswich,Birmingham.

 

This I've got to see....silver? zinc? brass?

[Crazy Diamond]

As you said, it's too unpredictable to say.

 

Many teams could win the league or struggle.

 

We could sign no-one and win it, sign a few and struggle, basically anything could happen. Best to just take it a game at a time and not get too carried away. That doesn't just mean avoiding the over the top 'we're going up' each time we win a game. More importantly IMO we need to avoid the ridiculous 'we're screwed' every time we lose that was far too evident last season. No perspective, no thought, almost as if they'd never seen a full season of football before. Sadly these people remain the loudest in here too.

 

There were occasions where I was more frustrated than plain negative, I think defeats like Brentford at home and Rochdale away were completely self-inflicted. Brentford because we were just so insipid, though Andy Scott said that was the best he'd seen his team play, Rochdale because we tinkered and no one seemed to click. I'm expecting a few matches like that along the way this season, I just hope there's not too many. Put it this way, I'll start grumbling if we put in a performance like say... The 5 - 0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough a few seasons back. That was downright unacceptable.

[saints-cris]

I never get my accumalators right either.. Championship games always screw you over somehow

[CB Fry]

You can guarantee that if Saints spend the majority of the season in mid or lower half, most of the posters on this forum will be throwing their toys out of the pram, and calling for Adkins head. IMO this season is all about consolidating, ie retaining our NPC status, if we can do that we will have been a success, anything else is a bonus.

 

 

You can guarantee that if Saints spend the majority of the season in mid or lower half, Nicola Cortese will be throwing his toys out of the pram, and maybe even questioning Adkins future.

 

You can guarantee that if Saints spend the majortiy of the season in mid or lower half, Nigel Adkins will be throwing his toys out of the pram, and maybe even calling his own ability into question.

 

Nicola Cortese is going to expect us to at least be properly established in the second tier this season, solid mid table minimum. So is Nigel Adkins. It's called Ambition.

 

That giant of world football with their mega-resources Millwall finished ninth in their first season back in the second tier, so asking Saints to finish mid table is not some unreasonable pipedream. Leeds finished 7th, Norwich 2nd. Leicester hit the play offs in season one under Pearson the seaosn before.

 

Snivelling about in the bottom five is basically what Adkins achieved when he took Scunny up a couple of seasons ago, and Adkins took the Saints job to progress on from that. It's called ambition.

 

I think it's disgusting that Saints fans set their sights so pathetically low. Mid table, at least, is completely realistic and completely reasonable.

 

Thank god that Adkins and Cortese are far more ambitious than you are.

[Smirking_Saint]

I'm interested to see how Adkins copes in this league,completely different expectations to when he was there last with Scunny.

It will show his true metal.

I will be happy with a top half finish to a certain degree.Although we should be pushing on a little from that with the posible resources to hand.

Finish above the skates as well please.

I think Coventry,the posh and Doncaster to go down.

Top 6........West Ham,Forest,Leeds,Liecester,Ipswich,Birmingham.

 

Whatever Adkins does.....you won't be happy.

[Crazy Diamond]

It's quite interesting how much emphasis people are putting on new signings. No pressure then, scouting network...

[Doctoroncall]

It's really too early to tell what is likely to happen as said by the OP - it's too difficult to judge. Not only because the eveness of the teams throughout but with no outstanding team. Perhaps at the beginning of August when Birmingham, Cardiff and Watford have had their managers installed and the majority of transfers (in and out) have taken place it'll be easier to predict.

 

 

Currently my top six would be: West Ham, Reading, Forest, Ipswich, Leicester and Hull

and bottom six: Watford, Peterborough, Millwall, Coventry, Crystal Palace and Barnsley. (The skates will cheat again!)

[West End Saint]

This league has to be the most competative in the world I cant see anybody running away with & there 7 or 8 clubs that could win it & even more fighting for the play offs.

 

West Ham Brum Forest Leicester Leeds Cardiff Reading you could go on & on can't see any easy game I think we are going to have get off to a decent start & stay in the mix it is wide open this league confidence will have a huge part to play I am looking forward to it.

[ghq]

Is there a team that finished in the lower half or even mid table last season that can look forward to promotion this year? I would hope that Saints as a minimum

 

consolidate in the upper levels of the division. If not, I can see Mr Cortese being a not too happy little chairman. I think to do this is dependant on some good additions

 

to the squad. A little more farsighted than in January.

 

Adkins certainly took us up, but did so with what was largely Pardew's signings. So it's going to be interesting to see how things are handled.

 

I'm looking forward to a successful season by keeping on track for the 5 year plan.

[Puddings and Monkeys]

Is there a team that finished in the lower half or even mid table last season that can look forward to promotion this year? I would hope that Saints as a minimum

 

consolidate in the upper levels of the division. If not, I can see Mr Cortese being a not too happy little chairman. I think to do this is dependant on some good additions

 

to the squad. A little more farsighted than in January.

 

Adkins certainly took us up, but did so with what was largely Pardew's signings. So it's going to be interesting to see how things are handled.

 

I'm looking forward to a successful season by keeping on track for the 5 year plan.

 

I think he got January spot on; it's very difficult to get decent players in January and he beleived that the squad we had would get us promoted and he was right. Otherwise we could have ended up with 3-4 additions that were good at L1 level but not much beyond. A shrewd move I think, leaving more money to spend this time round when we will be able to attract better players.

[Doctoroncall]

At least Birmingham are trying to rule themselves out!

[Jones91]

As long as we're above pompey, I couldn't give a monkeys

[Charlie Wayman]

Lawrie said on Sky Sports News the other day that the Championship was the hardest league to get out of back when he was managing us - that was 40 odd years ago. It's probably harder today with the play-offs.

 

Looking at the fixture list has made me realise one thing - it's early days but I can't pick a winner or a dead certainty for relegation. Birmingham and West Ham may be the bookmaker's choice for automatic promotion but just because they're recently relegated from the Prem doesn't mean they'll necessarily do it.

 

Birmingham for example have a big rebuilding job on their hands. A lot of their best players are going or have gone (Seb Larsson is a decent player, he's off to Sunderland, Roger Johnson and Scott Dann their two defenders are jumping ship and their new striker isn't exactly encouraging - Marlon King). West Ham are going to lose even more, if they haven't already. Some talked about Scott Parker's valuation being £10 million plus, but the latest rumour is he's going to Spurs for just £4 million. Blackpool never had any decent players to lose to begin with in my view, so I reckon they'll either finish midtable or be in the play-offs.

 

But there are so many teams that at one stage have a shot at the play-offs - Leicester, Hull, Derby, the Skates, Watford and Millwall all fancied themselves to do it last time round. Add to that Ipswich and Middlesbrough will want to go for it after being so disappointing last time. There's only one team I think that will absolutely bomb this season and that's Coventry.

 

As I said on the fixture thread, I think I'll treat this upcoming season with caution. Looking at August's fixtures, I think at the moment I'd be happy with seven points off of Leeds, Barnsley, Ipswich, Millwall and Leicester. There are some games that for me will make or break a season - a trip to a place like Barnsley is one of them. Keith Hill is an arrogant tosser (I can safely say that having met the odious little man) but a decent manager, so that'll be a tough away game.

 

All in all, right now it's far too difficult to judge. As it stands I've no idea at all where we'll finish, I'm just hoping it's the top half. Who do you think will be promoted, get a play-off spot or be relegated?

 

It is but we've been away only two seasons and until the political and financial implosions at SMS were well able to hold our own and usually nudging the play-offs, so mid-table should be a reasonable expectation for the early months of the season. Even in Div 3 we did well against Ipswich, Bolton , Birmingham, Blackpool and Manure in the various cup competitions.

 

What you have to remember is that other clubs will remember us for our history and former glories rather than the recent slip-up - like Leeds, nobody thinks of them as anything other than a PL team clawing it's way back to where it belongs - so opponents are wary of them, don't know what to expect. It'll be the same for us. Don't forget too that Leeds and Millwall were in our league only last year so at least 4 clubs in the NPC are very familiar to us. It is not quite the great unknown that some fear.

 

Had we been down 7 or 8 years as happened back in the fifties then the challenge to stay up would have been immeasurably higher. Time for stout hearts and strong voices.

[Crazy Diamond]

It is but we've been away only two seasons and until the political and financial implosions at SMS were well able to hold our own and usually nudging the play-offs, so mid-table should be a reasonable expectation for the early months of the season. Even in Div 3 we did well against Ipswich, Bolton , Birmingham, Blackpool and Manure in the various cup competitions.

 

What you have to remember is that other clubs will remember us for our history and former glories rather than the recent slip-up - like Leeds, nobody thinks of them as anything other than a PL team clawing it's way back to where it belongs - so opponents are wary of them, don't know what to expect. It'll be the same for us. Don't forget too that Leeds and Millwall were in our league only last year so at least 4 clubs in the NPC are very familiar to us. It is not quite the great unknown that some fear.

 

Had we been down 7 or 8 years as happened back in the fifties then the challenge to stay up would have been immeasurably higher. Time for stout hearts and strong voices.

 

In that two seasons a lot has changed elsewhere though. Cardiff and Leicester have got huge investment for example.

[ghq]

I think he got January spot on; it's very difficult to get decent players in January and he beleived that the squad we had would get us promoted and he was right. Otherwise we could have ended up with 3-4 additions that were good at L1 level but not much beyond. A shrewd move I think, leaving more money to spend this time round when we will be able to attract better players.

 

Yes, I have to agree there, but that was L1 mid season, this is where the pressure goes up another notch. I sincerely hope another winning season occurs and that

 

Adkins and Cortese turn out to be the best combination in football.