Predict the Championship 2017-18.

[Ads]

They were battered by St Johnstone and now Celtic. Next Friday is huge for them.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Aye. Celtic's rotated squad as well.

Apparently they had some goalkeeper Ruiter who tried out for them a few games pre season and looked good. They then ummed and ahhed and now the cheap good keeper is considering an offer from Burnley.

In the meantime they signed the expensive but apparently terrible Steele as number 1.

Pretty important for Sunderland to get a good start I think. They are very much like we were last season, confidence in the club totally shot from top to bottom after years of circling relegation.

I can see them "doing a Wolves" and dropping straight though. It could have happened to us last season and they are in far worse shape squad wise and money wise.

[KevinGage]

Grabban is a good signing for Sunderland, the type of player we should have been looking at.

[wittonwarrior]

Hard to look past Middlesbrough, sheff wed, Fulham and Norwich I still think we get right amongst them though as long as we find the all important ingredient goals where from eludes me right now but you have to believe

[SoccerHQ]

Depends how motivated he is given he's had some big moves in the last 3 years. Only 3 goals in 16 games for Reading last season.

Edit: He also thinks he's signed for Newcastle so wouldn't be too long until the Mackems get onto him.

[brontebilly]

Boro to win the league, Fulham to chase them home. Derby, Blues, Sheff Wed and us (after dispensing with Bruce around Xmas) for the playoffs.

[saunders_heroes]

I think we'll go up automatic.

[PeterWithesShin]

5th-10th unless we find a way to score regularly that doesn't involve Kod doing it on his own. Which remains my big concern.

[IFWaters]

Funny how virtually all of us thinking the same thing. We are one player (McCormack replacement) off being a very good squad capable of automatic promotion. Without that likely to draw too many and end up around the playoffs squeaky bum slots.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

5th-10th unless we find a way to score regularly that doesn't involve Kod doing it on his own. Which remains my big concern.

A concern shared, Brother Shin. We need to go up all guns blazing. Right now I see us going through the season unbeaten but without a win.. or a goal to our name.

[cdward]

Top 6, us, Fulham, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Derby.
Wolves could be a surprise as well.
I think Boro are the strongest of the 3 relegated teams and will be in the mix.
Hull nearly but not quite.
Sunderland will struggle like we did.
Norwich need stability, might finish strongly.
Blues will be 11th with Leeds 12th

[Pete3206]

We may scrape into the play offs, but I doubt it.

[mr underhill]

top ten but no promotion

[Chris Smith]

With Terry we have a stronger defence. With Whelan we have improved the midfield. With Elmohamady we have added to our attacking options. There is still a month to go of the transfer window. I just do not see the logic behind anyone suggesting little improvement on last season.

[cdbearsfan]

It's because we desperately lack goals and creativity and have added no goalscorers and only one creative player. With one creative player now set for a long time out injured, we have no more attacking threat than last season.

I'm fairly confident our defence will be among the best, if not the best, in the league. I don't think that will be enough to get us up on its own, though.