The new season

[under the tin]

It's all very well having a "proven goalscorer" in the team, but he can't do it all by himself. Wayne Rooney, anyone?
In the world cup, the Germans showed us all that even fantastically gifted players like Messi can be kept quiet if they are denied space and service.

The championship is full of teams that try and stifle the opposition, and I believe that Reading have the personnel to emulate the German style of play, in terms of breaking quickly in numbers.
Whether or not we can be successful will, IMHO, hinge on how our quick flair players perform.
If Kebe, McAnuff, Siggurdsson can recapture the form of Spring 2010, then we will cause any team in the division problems.
True, someone has to stick it in the net, but personally, I have great hopes for Simon Church. He can sometimes be a bit Forster-ish in terms of getting caught offside, but in fairness his game is all about playing right on the shoulder of the last defender. He is still a young lad, but once he susses the spatial awareness and timing thing, he will be more than OK.
I think it is a big "ask" to expect Noel Hunt to hit the ground running after such a long lay off, and for this reason, I wouldn't get rid of Rasziak yet. At the very least, with him on the bench, we have a "plan B".
And the last point, take Brian Howard off free kick duties. That is all.

[Wycombe Royal]

I think that it is still too early to speculate.

I also think that signing Boyd is a massive coup for Middlesbrough, but still am yet to be convinced that they will be able to do any better than last year.

Don't forget that Boyd hascome from a league that has made Kyle Lafferty look like a decent striker.

[IcelandicStokie]

Gylfi Sigurdsson has kept himself in good shape after he trained with Icelandic club Vikingur during his summer holidays in Iceland. I expect him to hit the ground running from day one and will be better than last season.

[bigmike]

I think Boro will be on the up..

Also with the recent transfer embargo placed on Cardiff I think the best they can hope for is above the relegation zone after they get their main assets taken off them.

I think Reading will be in the top 6

[Barry the bird boggler]

I think that it is still too early to speculate.

I also think that signing Boyd is a massive coup for Middlesbrough, but still am yet to be convinced that they will be able to do any better than last year.

Don't forget that Boyd hascome from a league that has made Kyle Lafferty look like a decent striker.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Not sure how Reading will fare. I reckon somewhere in the top 8.

Middlesbrough's signings have been impressive, so if Strachan can get things together then they'll certainly be top 2. Forest will probably be the same, top 4 I reckon.

I don't think Cardiff will challenge this season, they'll feel a hangover from their play-off loss.

[Alan Partridge]

22 Watford
23 C Palace
24 Scunthorpe

1 MBoro
2 QPR
3 Norwich
4 Bristol City
5 N Forest
6 Sheff Utd

Hard to call. I really think for the first time in ages none of the relegated sides will be in the top 6, all 3 coming up will probably do better than them.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Joe Ledley's going to Celtic for all those people who think Cardiff will do well.

[UTDSTEVE]

1.Borough
2.Leicester
3.Forest
4.Palace
5.QPR
6.Cardiff

14.Reading

22.Millwall
23.Watford
24.Scunthorpe

[Urinal Mint]

1.Borough
2.Leicester
3.Forest
4.Palace
5.QPR
6.Cardiff

14.Reading

22.Millwall
23.Watford
24.Scunthorpe

can't see leicester doing that well to be honest. purse strings are a little tight there now, and all is not well in mandaric's wonder land. a play-off push yes. reading, we should push 8th but think we'll be some way short of the top 6. out of interest, where are burnley in your calculations?

[UTDSTEVE]

1.Borough
2.Leicester
3.Forest
4.Palace
5.QPR
6.Cardiff

14.Reading

22.Millwall
23.Watford
24.Scunthorpe

can't see leicester doing that well to be honest. purse strings are a little tight there now, and all is not well in mandaric's wonder land. a play-off push yes. reading, we should push 8th but think we'll be some way short of the top 6. out of interest, where are burnley in your calculations?

I think they need to get rid of Laws, If they stick with with him i imagine it'll be an average season.

I've gone for Borough purely based on the Boyd signing. The league is full of average squads and i'd include Borough in that. I just think Boyd will be the difference.

[Terminal Boardom]

Who are Borough? Peterborough were relegated last season. Or do you thickos mean Middlesbrough? Almost as bad as referring to Notts Forest!

[Silver Fox]

But still not as bad as beefing about it

[CMRoyal]

Who are Borough? Peterborough were relegated last season. Or do you thickos mean Middlesbrough? Almost as bad as referring to Notts Forest!

But Middlesbrough fans refer to themselves as Boro so all you are really complaining about is a few superfluous letters. Ugh.

[shoey]

1. READING
2. BURNLEY

3.CARDIFF
4.FOREST
5.HULL
6.SHEFF UTD

22.POMPEY
23.SCUNTHORPE
24.MILLWALL

Play like we did when Brian took over and no one shall stop us

URZ

[stl_royal]

as everyone else has already pointed out its too early to tell for sure, but i have to think that this team under McD will at least push for automatic promotion. even more so if long finally grows into the striker we were told he was going to be.

[loyalroyal4life]

as everyone else has already pointed out its too early to tell for sure, but i have to think that this team under McD will at least push for automatic promotion. even more so if long finally grows into the striker we were told he was going to be.

Thats why i predicted 2nd for us. Think we will do well.

[Handsome Man]

Middlesbrough seem to have made some shocking signings. Scottish Premier League players rarely make the step up to the championship and I can't see Boyd being any different.They will under-achieve.

Leeds have momentum with them, but the fans will still put them under intolerable pressure: a good start, but they'll blow up and miss the play-offs. Norwich also have some momentum and could cause a surprise.

Coventry and Bristol City have good managers and should do OK.

Portsmouth and Hull won't be as bad as people expect, and I hoped. They will both challenge and one of them will be the champions.

Reading will suffer a bit from Gylfi's second-season syndrome, and people working out how to defend against MacAnuff and Kebe, but one more of the youngsters will really kick on. How will we keep all the goalies happy?

[Terminal Boardom]

For Reading I predict a top 10 finish but just missing out on the play offs.

For promotion, I will stick my neck out and plump for Norwich City, QPR and, via the play-offs, Burnley. The other sides to reach the play offs will be Leeds, Middlesbrough and Doncaster Rovers.

For relegation, I will go with Palace, Coventry and Barnsley.

[mikey0406]

new season... hmmm

without a shaddow of a doubt Boro will perform much better this season. surprise package of the season will be donnie rovers. relegation will go to milwall, scunny and barnsley. Reading will push for playoffs with Cardiff, Donnie rovers, and forest. automatic will go to Boro and burnley.