Next season (2011/2012)

[loyalroyal4life]

Predictions for where we'll finish? I'll say 4th and go up via the playoffs

I think 14th is more realistic, though i think we will grab 9th!

We missed best chance that I think we will have to go up for many years to come!

I say this now, for us to go up this season (11/12) will be a better feat than getting 106 points!

[Jackson Corner]

Boro have a huge wage bill to cut, so can't see them featuring. Brighton and Southampton willl be top six. West Ham depends on who they bring in and who goes. Birmingham will struggle with Europa league games to fit in expect Mcliesh to be sacked by Xmas.
Leicester and Ipswich should also feature Cardiff will just miss the play offs. Bristol City will do well if Maynard stays.
We will be around 12th to 15th survive one more season before being relegated. Palace, Pompey Posh and Doncaster will be the relegation fighters.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Can see us top 6 most of the season, a steady season, like this just gone but a better start without the disruption caused by losing our best player. Long will be gone in summer.

[fester_royal]

Why all the negativity? With Coppell, we were millimetres from automatic promotion then just failed in the playoffs. The season before last, we had an absolutely dire first half but ended up a whisker away from the playoffs. Last season we had an ok first half and a superb second half. Why all the negativity about us being in the chasing pack/finishing mid table? We've been up there the last 3 seasons, why not this coming one?

I think most of the negativity is based on peoples expectations of when they next turn round sjm will have sold the family silver n kitchen sink to boot.

If we do lose one maybe two then it's manageable but with so many players being rumoured for moves it's unsettling.

I don't think anyone doubts the players or Brian anymore and justly so. I think people don't like waiting to see who's the next bit of cloth to be cut

[Friday's Legacy]

Why all the negativity? With Coppell, we were millimetres from automatic promotion then just failed in the playoffs. The season before last, we had an absolutely dire first half but ended up a whisker away from the playoffs. Last season we had an ok first half and a superb second half. Why all the negativity about us being in the chasing pack/finishing mid table? We've been up there the last 3 seasons, why not this coming one?

because at the moment we're staring at losing our two best players. until we see who their replacements are, if at all, of course people are going to be pessimistic. if we reinvest some of the income then that will bring some fizz and excitement back to the fans and with it optimism.

[leww_rfc]

Top 6 contenders

Ipswich, Reading, West Ham, Birmingham, Southampton, Brighton, Forest, Leicester

Mid-table wannabes

Millwall, Cardiff, Derby, Leeds, Hull, Burnley, Portsmouth, Blackpool

Relegation strugglers

Middlesbrough, Watford, Peterborough, Bristol City, Doncaster, Coventry, Palace, Barnsley

[Ian Royal]

Think that's a fairly good effort for now Leww.

[moo]

Derby will struggle.

[leww_rfc]

Derby will struggle.

I thought that but they've already added

Frank Fielding, the Under 21 english keeper with a lot of talent >> Bywater.
Craig Bryson, the ex killie skipper, young and pacy >> Robbie Savage.
Jamie Ward, the ex blades striker who does score goals at this level!

[loyalroyal4life]

Brum wont get top 6 now, think they will be dismantled with players leaving along with ECK

[Royalee]

Cardiff as possible relegation candidates given those they've lost...too difficult to say at this point though.

[leww_rfc]

Brum wont get top 6 now, think they will be dismantled with players leaving along with ECK

^ Just signed Marlon King, a proven goal scorer in this division and Chris Burke a very good winger imo

[loyalroyal4life]

Brum wont get top 6 now, think they will be dismantled with players leaving along with ECK

^ Just signed Marlon King, a proven goal scorer in this division and Chris Burke a very good winger imo

They need a decent manager to come in who can actually get them out of the championship though!

Can see jones or davies moving there

[URZZ]

It's so interesting hearing everyone predict, we're all different aye?

First thing's first... Providing we keep players, I fancy us for the dreaded Play-Off's, again.

I don't know how anyone can see Cardiff doing a lot, think they've had their 5 minutes. Losing a PO-Final, then a Semi in 2 consecutive years, and what with Jones going and them proceeding to go through this 'moving on' era that we similarly went through with Coppell (the difference being we actually had some wonder years before this ) along with some of their best players, Chopra, Bothroyd leaving and we're not even in July? Can't see them doing an awful lot.

Where are Forest in all of this too? I fancy them to do something next year, who knows what exactly but they will be there or there abouts, providing they keep their key lads.

Ipswich will almost DEFINITELY have a good year... looks like building is in process there, agree with Leicester too... although I'm not sure Leicester will hit automatic, depends on signings.

I half fancy West Ham and Brum to return straight away, providing the right signings are made. Although Wet Sham definitely have the upper hand, Europe may fcuk Birmingham over.

As for "Soton and Brighton to be top 6", I fear this is only being said because of last season's successful League 1 arrivals Norwich going up via 2nd, Leeds missing out on Play-Off's and Millwall doing reasonably well! It doesn't mean to promise it will happen again. I'm not suggesting they'll struggle but I don't think this time around all 3 of them will surprise us as much. That said, I do think Soton may hit the top 6... P'boro and Brighton - na, but I hope I'm wrong and they excite the league as the previous 3 did last season.

Here goes:

C. Forest
P. West Ham
------------------------
Leicester
Ipswich
Birmingham <
Southampton <
------------------------
I agree Ipswich and Leicester will be in the PO's, but I think the other 2 places will potentially be up for grabs.
------------------------
Reading ^
Portsmouth ^
Burnley ^
Bristol City^
Blackpool
Leeds
Hull
Cardiff
Brighton
Derby
------------------------
Peterborough
Watford
Millwall
Crystal Palace
Middlesborough
------------------------
R. Coventry
R. Doncaster
R. Barnsley

[loyalroyal4life]

It's so interesting hearing everyone predict, we're all different aye?

First thing's first... Providing we keep players, I fancy us for the dreaded Play-Off's, again.

I don't know how anyone can see Cardiff doing a lot, think they've had their 5 minutes. Losing a PO-Final, then a Semi in 2 consecutive years, and what with Jones going and them proceeding to go through this 'moving on' era that we similarly went through with Coppell (the difference being we actually had some wonder years before this ) along with some of their best players, Chopra, Bothroyd leaving and we're not even in July? Can't see them doing an awful lot.

Where are Forest in all of this too? I fancy them to do something next year, who knows what exactly but they will be there or there abouts, providing they keep their key lads.

Ipswich will almost DEFINITELY have a good year... looks like building is in process there, agree with Leicester too... although I'm not sure Leicester will hit automatic, depends on signings.

I half fancy West Ham and Brum to return straight away, providing the right signings are made. Although Wet Sham definitely have the upper hand, Europe may fcuk Birmingham over.

As for "Soton and Brighton to be top 6", I fear this is only being said because of last season's successful League 1 arrivals Norwich going up via 2nd, Leeds missing out on Play-Off's and Millwall doing reasonably well! It doesn't mean to promise it will happen again. I'm not suggesting they'll struggle but I don't think this time around all 3 of them will surprise us as much. That said, I do think Soton may hit the top 6... P'boro and Brighton - na, but I hope I'm wrong and they excite the league as the previous 3 did last season.

Here goes:

C. Forest
P. West Ham
------------------------
Leicester
Ipswich
Birmingham <
Southampton <
------------------------
I agree Ipswich and Leicester will be in the PO's, but I think the other 2 places will potentially be up for grabs.
------------------------
Reading ^
Portsmouth ^
Burnley ^
Bristol City^
Blackpool
Leeds
Hull
Cardiff
Brighton
Derby
------------------------
Peterborough
Watford
Millwall
Crystal Palace
Middlesborough
------------------------
R. Coventry
R. Doncaster
R. Barnsley

Forest as champions? Suppose stranger things have happened

[Snowball]

New Managers come in and want "their team" (usually)

Rodgers at Reading v Rodgers at Swansea?

The changes at Birmingham, West Ham, Forest, and Cardiff will be interesting.

Some of them may be expected to bounce back. Some might be briefed to turn the club around
and set it up for SUSTAINED success. Who knows?

[URZZ]

Forest as champions? Suppose stranger things have happened

Yep, like little Reading losing their opening game, then killing the league.

Why can't Forest do it? The Championship is always open, but this year, who can guess?

[urz13]

Birmingham 6/1
West ham 13/2
Leicester 7/1
Reading 11/1
Cardiff 11/1
Middlesborough 12/1
Nottingham Forest 12/1
Leeds United 14/1
Southampton 14/1
Blackpool 16/1
Brighton 16/1
Burnley 16/1
Hull City 16/1
Ipswich Town 20/1
Millwall 33/1
Bristol City 40/1
Peterborough 40/1
Portsmouth 40/1
Watford 40/1
Derby County 50/1
Coventry City 66/1
Barnsley 100/1
Crystal Palace 100/1
Doncaster 100/1
Reading priced at 10/3 to win promotion

[Ian Royal]

Forest as champions? Suppose stranger things have happened

Yep, like little Reading losing their opening game, then killing the league.

Why can't Forest do it? The Championship is always open, but this year, who can guess?

Forest's biggest problem for me is they've bottled it a lot recently and I've not been particularly impressed with the strikers they've had. Saying that, I reckon Davies was possibly to blame for bottle jobs so maybe a new man will take them to the next step. They've certainly been good enough in extended patches for automatics...

[leww_rfc]

Derby will struggle.

I thought that but they've already added

Frank Fielding, the Under 21 english keeper with a lot of talent >> Bywater.
Craig Bryson, the ex killie skipper, young and pacy >> Robbie Savage.
Jamie Ward, the ex blades striker who does score goals at this level!

add Nathan Tyson to that!