The 'toughness' of the Championship 2015-16 edition

Silverhatch · Jul 16, 2015

Think we'll be hard to beat and Hughton will have us very organised.

We do have more competition across the back 4 and with the keeper(s) - all good. We do have more competition in midfield (Crofts returning and Stephens with a full pre-season) and more quality with Kayal who looks like a real player.

Attacking third and heading has been bolstered by Israel's no.10 - but he's unproven and the rest of our forward players must reinvent themselves after a hopeless 2014/15.

Don't the experts say that 18 clubs set out with realistic ambitions of achieving success in this division? It is bloody tough but also very unpredictable.

Tom Hark Preston Park · Jul 16, 2015

Silverhatch said:
Think we'll be hard to beat and Hughton will have us very organised.

Maybe. But without a credible strike force we'll have a season of 1-0 defeats.

El Turi · Jul 16, 2015

We've got no chance of challenging for the top 6. At the moment, I'm more worried that I can't many teams we are capable of finishing ahead of. Maybe Rotherham?

Silverhatch · Jul 16, 2015

Tom Hark said:
Maybe. But without a credible strike force we'll have a season of 1-0 defeats.

Season of 0-0s

One Teddy Maybank · Jul 16, 2015

Icy Gull said:
It's not looking good for the Albion as things stand. Our bestest team may be able to compete a bit but once the injuries, suspensions and lack of form kick in the current squad is going to be making a beeline for the bottom of the division.

I suppose we have to "keep the faith" and hope that we do actually land some decent creative and pacey front men before the window closes. Get the impression we'll be left with the dregs and rather average loans again if we don't make our moves soon though

Very unlike you Icy Gull. You even remained positive when we were playing dire football under Oscar .

I think we might be surprised and we'll do okay.........

Machiavelli · Jul 16, 2015

Silverhatch said:
Think we'll be hard to beat and Hughton will have us very organised.

We do have more competition across the back 4 and with the keeper(s) - all good. We do have more competition in midfield (Crofts returning and Stephens with a full pre-season) and more quality with Kayal who looks like a real player.

Attacking third and heading has been bolstered by Israel's no.10 - but he's unproven and the rest of our forward players must reinvent themselves after a hopeless 2014/15.

Don't the experts say that 18 clubs set out with realistic ambitions of achieving success in this division? It is bloody tough but also very unpredictable.

Good post. I think our squad is not as bad as others make out, especially in defence (where we need another centre back to challenge Greer -- unless Rea is that man) and midfield. Where we're weak and we really need one or two shots of real quality is up-front, where we need pace, guile, vision and finishing.

Codner's Wallop · Jul 16, 2015

El Turi said:
We've got no chance of challenging for the top 6. At the moment, I'm more worried that I can't many teams we are capable of finishing ahead of. Maybe Rotherham?

Could you be more negative?! If I were you, I wouldn't even bother watching any games this season.

Hemed, Song, Rosenior, Stephens, Ince, Kayal, Baldock, Dunk, Crofts, March and hopefully two/three additional quality signings. I'd say that's the core of a very championship side.

Codner's Wallop · Jul 16, 2015

Sorry, I ommitted 'competitive' championship side....!

Biscuit · Jul 16, 2015

It'll be Middlesbrough's year, especially if they do get Downing.

I think we're looking at midtable this season - IF Hemend turns out to be a diamond we might harbour a slight play-off dream but we are desperately short up top.

Danny-Boy · Jul 16, 2015

Arrid said:
Not sure I agree with that. Each season has seemed much the same.

No it DOES get tougher, now that the Premiership is even more the Loadsamoolah League. The rewards of getting promotion, even for a season, are incredible compared to say 10 years ago.

El Turi · Jul 16, 2015

Codner's Wallop said:
Could you be more negative?! If I were you, I wouldn't even bother watching any games this season.

Hemed, Song, Rosenior, Stephens, Ince, Kayal, Baldock, Dunk, Crofts, March and hopefully two/three additional quality signings. I'd say that's the core of a very championship side.

Yes we have a lot of solid players and I'm sure we won't concede many goals (like last year) but we don't really have any exciting attacking options other than Lua Lua who never gets a consistent run in the team. Sign a couple of high quality creative players and my opinion will change but the club seem to be dragging their heals on that front.

Guinness Boy · Jul 16, 2015

Bozza said:
There seems to be a fair few clubs 'going for it' this year. Off the top of my head, and to varying degrees...

Derby
Middlesbrough
Sheffield Wednesday
Brentford
Leeds
Reading

Additionally, you'd have to expect Burnley, Hull, Forest, Wolves and Ipswich to all be having a tilt at the right end of the table, whilst Bristol City arrive with a lot of positive momentum.

It's going to be tough, isn't it?

Blimey, just imagine the traffic on NSC if we all flock to a wrist slitting thread and then, all of a sudden, we make a big name signing.

edna krabappel · Jul 16, 2015

Are Brentford spending "big" money? Genuine question, I've not paid too much attention.

The signings I've seen them make appear to have been more of the shrewd variety. Pricey, but not extravagantly so, and all likely to add value & quality to their squad.

Tom Hark Preston Park · Jul 16, 2015

Don't care about anybody else, our squad is looking seriously THREADBARE

Stat Brother · Jul 16, 2015

Tom Hark said:
Don't care about anybody else, our squad is looking seriously THREADBARE

I don't think that's fair.

We only look threadbare in the opposition half of the pitch.

Is that actually important?

Tom Hark Preston Park · Jul 16, 2015

Stat Brother said:
I don't think that's fair.

We only look threadbare in the opposition half of the pitch.

Is that actually important?

Good point, well made. Those thirty sideways tippy-tappy-timid passes to reach the halfway line will see us through :thumbsup:

Stat Brother · Jul 16, 2015

Tom Hark said:
Good point, well made. Those thirty sideways tippy-tappy-timid passes to reach the halfway line will see us through

It's worked brilliantly for the last 4 seasons, one more can't hurt, can it? :dunce:

Tom Hark Preston Park · Jul 16, 2015

Stat Brother said:
It's worked brilliantly for the last 4 seasons, one more can't hurt, can it?

Not any more than the past 4 seasons. :dunce:

Thunder Bolt · Jul 16, 2015

Teams in the Championship A-F
http://freshfootball.co.uk/skybet-championship-summer-transfer-window-round-up-a-f/

Teams in the Championship H-W
http://freshfootball.co.uk/skybet-championship-summer-transfer-window-round-up-h-w/

A rough guide to who's bought what, although not entirely accurate, as it doesn't mention our full list of OUTS.

Garry Nelson's Left Foot · Jul 16, 2015

People say this every season. It's rarely true. They said it last year too and it turned out that the 2014/15 Championship was choc full of mediocre toss. So, yes, some teams look to have bought well but that's no guarantee of success. Lets wait and see before getting our knickers in a twist about how fearfully tough the league will be.

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