Toughest and closest Championship yet?

[Sitch]

Looking at this season coming, I really do think it'll be the toughest and closest season yet. It really does look strong.

Promotion contenders - Wolves, Blackburn, Bolton, Blackpool, Leicester, Hull, Birmingham, Cardiff, Burnley, Middlesborough and maybe us.

Teams you won't expect to do as well as you thought- Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton, Huddersfield, Millwall, Watford and Nottingham Forest.



I don't know about anyone else but I reckon it'll be hard for us.

 

[terryberry1]

All depends on our signings, based on what we have right now it would be mid-table at best

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Looking at this season coming, I really do think it'll be the toughest and closest season yet. It really does look strong.

Promotion contenders - Wolves, Blackburn, Bolton, Blackpool, Leicester, Hull, Birmingham, Cardiff, Burnley, Middlesborough and maybe us.

Teams you won't expect to do as well as you thought- Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton, Huddersfield, Millwall, Watford and Nottingham Forest.



I don't know about anyone else but I reckon it'll be hard for us.

Yes, it is a tough division. We need a squad packed with Premier League experience or potential to challenge in the top 6. We need about 8 new players (bought or loans during the season).

The close season requires us to endlessly debate the above (or get on with some work...!).

 

[Sitch]

All depends on our signings, based on what we have right now it would be mid-table at best

I agree, I think a lot of people's expectations next season are the play offs, whereas I think we'll finish around the same as we did this season, we'd have to make a few sensational signings to finish in the top 6 looking at the teams in this league this season.

 

[kevtherev]

I don't think it will be as strong, the three that came down aren't as good as the three that came down the year before, I expect Bolton to be the best of the bunch. Blackpool & Birmingham will have too trim the wage bill as they will be in second year of their payments. I don't believe that any of the clubs that came up are capable of doing a Southampton. Leicester are my idea of possible champions, as for second place I think it's wide open. If someone is prepared to spend a few quid and gets it right with the signings, the prize is there to go for.

 

[RM-Taylor]

Burnley? They should be one of the favourites for relegation

 

[terryberry1]

Got a sneaky feeling Charlton will do a Southampton

 

[Sitch]

Burnley? They should be one of the favourites for relegation

They've got a delightful transfer budget after the sale of Rodriguez, as long as they spend wisely then I think they'll be up there.

 

[kevtherev]

They've got a delightful transfer budget after the sale of Rodriguez, as long as they spend wisely then I think they'll be up there.

Maybe they ain't got it to spend though. Have their parachute payments stopped yet?

 

[BensGrandad]

I think the teams with experienced managers in this division will do well like Blackpool, Leicester Sheff Wed possibly Charlton but there doesn't appear to be a team that will steam roller the division as in recent years.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

It's going to be hard, certainly not easier than last season - we have no right to expect to be in the play-off zone, but we don't know our squad yet, so we'll see - too early to tell.

 

[BHAryan]

We could also get relegated? it's not impossible.

 

[The Oldman]

I agree that even with an improved squad this is going to be a tough season. Can't wait for it to start though.

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

Don't Bolton and Blackburn both have huge debts? I think Wolves will be only one who may be dangerous.

 

[Rugrat]

Too early to predict and even if you wait till the day before a ball is kicked the likelihood of getting it right is slim. It's always a tight league. Obviously there are two objectives ... either get promoted or don't get relegated and I suspect there are 15 or 16 teams going for the former which always makes it unpredictable. No doubt though that anyone wanting to get up will need to spend but there will be big spenders that don't. Avoiding relegation could be Barnsley, Millwall, Watford, Huddersfield and Bristol City but I reckon all the rest will be planning somehow to have a crack at getting up ... the prize is too huge not to

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Teams you won't expect to do as well as you thought- .



.

How does that work?

 

[Sitch]

How does that work?

In other words a Dark horse...

 

[Crispy Ambulance]

Not sure about Hull & Birmingham due to their off the field problems.

 

[Acker79]

For reference:


(click to enlarge)

The final column is the total of the difference between 1st and 2nd place, 2nd and third, 6th and 7th, and 21st and 22nd. I'm not entirely sure what that shows, but at the time it felt like the best way of working out the closeness of the division. I now see flaws with that, but am posting this anyway.

If you add in the difference between 7th and 21st there's:

1995/96 - 27
1996/97 - 47
1997/98 - 30
1998/99 - 48
1999/00 - 34
2000/01 - 40
2001/02 - 42
2002/03 - 46
2003/04 - 37
2004/05 - 32
2005/06 - 58
2006/07 - 33
2007/08 - 24
2008/09 - 38
2009/10 - 46
2010/11 - 41
2011/12 - 38

Or in order:


Including the difference between 7th and 21st

2007/08 - 24
1995/96 - 27
1997/98 - 30
2004/05 - 32
2006/07 - 33
1999/00 - 34
2003/04 - 37
2008/09 - 38
2011/12 - 38
2000/01 - 40
2010/11 - 41
2001/02 - 42
2002/03 - 46
2009/10 - 46
1996/97 - 47
1998/99 - 48
2005/06 - 58





Not including the difference between 7th and 21st

1997/98 - 5
2007/08 - 7
2006/07 - 8
1999/00 - 9
1995/96 - 10
2004/05 - 12
2008/09 - 15
2011/12 - 16
2000/01 - 17
2001/02 - 17
2003/04 - 17
2010/11 - 17
1998/99 - 22
2002/03 - 26
2009/10 - 26
1996/97 - 27
2005/06 - 41

 

[severnside gull]

Wednesday will do well I think

We could easily end anywhere between 5th and 18th wih no more than 8 to 10 points difference between them.