I think you’ll be alright mate. Wednesday look finished before they’re even started. No idea what Hull’s manager is like but wouldn’t fancy their chances of staying up either and then I’ll go for Blackburn. They massively overachieved last year. I don’t think it’ll be good to watch but I fancy Jones to get you enough points. Mainly at The Valley.
Yeah, I rate Nathan Jones and I think Charlton have done alright business. I don't think they'll drop. But who the **** knows in this league. Someone like Coventry can end up going down if they have an injury crisis and their strikers end up doing an Adebayo, who pretty much relegated Luton himself with his missed chances.
I think last season was the bigger challenge for Davies. 17 new players, massive change in team culture and expectation after a decade of stagnation, first ever year as a gaffer and massively in the spotlight immediately, etc. To get the points total we did, with how few goals we scored, and how few matches we lost was remarkable IMO. Say what you want about the expenditure but it all still needs gelling and actually going out there and doing it. Setting worldwide points records is some going and has flown under the radar much more than I expected it to. This season could arguably be less pressured for him. He'll have a gelled squad nucleus most of whom have already played at this level or higher rather than the unknown quantity that was League One, a good few improvements in some positions coming in, and a set style and culture.
My two-part Championship predictions piece. Please subscribe if you enjoy! Championship predictions: 1st-12th - by Jacob Powley Championship predictions: 13th-24th - by Jacob Powley
Well these guys haven’t predicted us to be bottom this time ! Mid table seems fair . Although our owner will expect more.. https://x.com/NTT20Pod/status/1951303680818348081
I think it's incredibly difficult to predict this year near the top. I still fancy Ipswich to win it relatively comfortably but below that there's a fair few teams who'll fancy their chance's and I don't think there'll be a high points gap between them.
The three relegated teams will piss it based on their current squads. Saints still have Fernandes and Dibling; Leicester have got Mavididi, Fatawu, El Khanouss etc. and Ipswich have Jack Clarke, Leif Davis, Smodicz etc. They are miles and miles ahead of everyone else and Leicester could well finish top two even with a 10 point deduction.
Fernamdes and Dibling will both go in fairness so we'll need decent replacements, especially for the former. Should get big money though. Fernamdes wasn't in the squad for our last friendly yesterday due to 'illness'.
Ipswich Southampton Birmingham Leicester Coventry Millwall Sheffield Utd Norwich Watford Derby Bristol City West Brom Swansea Middlesbrough Portsmouth Stoke QPR Wrexham Charlton Preston Oxford Blackburn Hull Sheffield Wednesday
Don't normally go in for this sort of thing because: 1. I cant be arsed. 2. Usually miles off it. But why not ... 1. Ipswich 2. Leciester --------------------- 3. Sheffield United 4. Southampton 5. Coventry 6. Norwich --------------------- 7. Birmingham 8. Millwall 9. Watford 10. West Brom 11. Bristol City 12. Derby 13. Middlesbrough 14. Swansea 15. QPR 16. Portsmouth 17. Stoke 18. Charlton 19. Wrexham 20. Preston 21. Blackburn --------------------- 22. Oxford 23. Hull 24. Sheffield Wednesday
Is that actually happening? Seems to have gone quiet. If they get the deduction, I'd still expect them to finish in the top 6 so I wouldn't change my prediction too much.
Yeah, unfortunately Leicester will get top 6 (probably 3rd even after points deduction). They are 5/1 to be the best midlands side. That's great value but I don't think I can bring myself to bet on it though.
Yeah, if the deduction is 9 points as was rumoured, I just don’t see that making any real dent in their total.
Revised prediction. With all 24 teams Ipswich Sheffield United Southampton Millwall Norwich Birmingham Bristol City Coventry Leicester Swansea West Brom Blackburn Boro QPR Watford Preston Wrexham Oxford Stoke City Charlton Hull City Derby Portsmouth Sheffield Wednesday
Fancy us Rams to finish above Boro this season, also fancy Boro to sack there manager by Christmas, awful appointment in my eyes. To be honest with you I can see all the Yorkshire sides having a tough time of it this year.
6-7 weeks later and honestly don't think it's that bad. Obviously I'd bump Wednesday down 1. I'd also bring Derby, Watford and West Brom up a couple.
