Predict the Championship 2017-18.

[Dave]

Bamford has the goal scoring record of Gabby the past two years

Yeah, coming off the bench at Norwich and Palace in the Premier League he's looked pretty ropey.

Any time he's played in the Championship he gets nearly a goal every other game.

[AVH87]

I'd rather have signed neither. There must be a decent goalscorer under the age of thirty who doesn't have knees made of balsa wood?

Anyway, I want Crouch and some fast bloke who can play as support striker or winger.

We could try gambling before they become the next big thing at this level. E.g Kodjia when Bristol signed him in 2015 cost 3m, they've now gone back to the same club they signed Kodjia from and signed a striker called Diedhiou for 5m who has scored 22 in 37 there. I'm not sure if Bruce is willing to take a gamble like that, so we keep overpaying on players like Hogan and McCormack.

[Ads]

Bamford has the goal scoring record of Gabby the past two years

Yeah, coming off the bench at Norwich and Palace in the Premier League he's looked pretty ropey.

Any time he's played in the Championship he gets nearly a goal every other game.

Its like Gabby though, although Bamford has never been anywhere near as good, when you've not done it in two years you question whether they still have it within them to offer something positive.

In our case, I actually think Gabby will play a fair bit this year, last year of his contract and all that. To be honest if we get the Gabby we saw against the Noses, then he will contribute.

[mr underhill]

he only does it against them, that's the problem.

[Dave]

Bamford has the goal scoring record of Gabby the past two years

Yeah, coming off the bench at Norwich and Palace in the Premier League he's looked pretty ropey.

Any time he's played in the Championship he gets nearly a goal every other game.

Its like Gabby though, although Bamford has never been anywhere near as good, when you've not done it in two years you question whether they still have it within them to offer something positive.

Bamford's 23 though. It's not completely impossible that he was finished by the age of 21, but I think the more likely explanation is nothing more than "it's easier to score for Middleborough against Preston than it is to score as a sub for Norwich in the last ten minutes of a match against Everton".

[mallo]

I think the big thing with Middlesbrough will be - can a new manager make all those new signings gel quickly? Karanka had them playing well and Monk was doing ok at Leeds, but this is not a given at all. A ropey start and we all know what can happen. Sunderland should finish mid-table for me, they are in a general malaise. That said I think our number of goals will eventually not be enough (for auto promotion) and see us into the play offs.

[Ads]

Leeds kept it very simple. They tried to run you off the park in midfield, relied heavily on a couple of good, dominating centre halves to make up for midfield short comings and had that ex-Albion lump up top sticking them in with early deliveries into him. It was nothing like Monk's Swansea side.

[SoccerHQ]

Boro have players from other areas who can score a decent amount, Grant Leadbitter scored 11 in 14/15 for them (he does take their penalties though).

Who was the last CM we had who even got close to 10 in a season, Milner?

It would make a huge difference if Hourihane or Lansbury could be given more freedom in the team and they could chip in with 6-7 before xmas.

[Damo70]

Mark Saggers on Talksport is about to discuss Villa, Small Heath and Wolves on Talksport.

[olaftab]

BBC predicted: (apologies if already here)
BBC Sport's predicted final table
Pos   Team   Average
1   Middlesbrough   2.68
2   Fulham   3.36
3   Aston Villa   3.96
4   Sheffield Wednesday   5.12
5   Derby County   5.68
6   Wolves   6.92
7   Reading   8.24
8   Norwich City   9.08
9   Hull City   9.12
10   Leeds United   9.56
11   Sunderland   11.16
12   Birmingham City   11.60
13   Cardiff City   12.56
14   Brentford   13.20
15   Nottingham Forest   15.56
16   Sheffield United   15.80
17   Preston North End   16.96
18   Queens Park Rangers   17.52
19   Bristol City   17.84
20   Ipswich Town   18.44
21   Barnsley   20.12
22   Bolton Wanderers   20.36
23   Millwall   22.28
24   Burton Albion

[olaftab]

My prediction;
http://bbc.in/2u5lYFu

[LukeJames]

Mark Saggers on Talksport is about to discuss Villa, Small Heath and Wolves on Talksport.

Which radio station mate?

[olaftab]

Haha very good Luke.

[ciggiesnbeer]

• Sunderland (despite their travails, and my bias, I think they'll be comfortably safe, depends which rats abandon the ship before the window closes)

I reckon you maybe too kind there. I think we were in better shape then them last season and we nearly got caught up in a relegation scrap.

The Championship was a massive shock to us. Its not a pub league and you dont just get to show up and win because you are a big club as we learnt the hard way. I think the Sunderland is going to struggle and if they dont get a good start I can see them going in to freefall.

I think there's too much utter shit in the 2nd flight. Bristol, Burton, Bolton, Forest and so on. You flirted with relegation spots early on, but once you got your ship pointing in the right direction, bar a wobble in Feb, you were fine.

I think Sunderland's season will mirror Preston's, Grayson's teams don't start well, but they're hard working. I'd expect them to sell 2 of Khazri, Kone and Lens and replace them with loan signings. They won't have a great season, but I can't see them being in any real danger of relegation.

Fair. I would take Lens off their hands. Decent player there.

[Gregorys Boy]

1. Middlesborough (retained most of last season's squad, great appointment in Monk, should be strong at home)
2. Sheffield Wednesday (been knocking on the door for awhile)
3. Fulham (expect them carry on the momentum from last season)
4. Derby (Well balanced squad, Rowett should be a solid hand there, just need to be a bit more consistent at home)
5.  Bristol City (My surrpise package of the season, bet you'd get good odds on them going on up)
6. The Villa! (Tis the least we can expect we our squad and with the manager having had time to settle in, would be nice to have day out at Wembly too, though of course I want top two! )
7. Reading (should be there or there abouts)
8. Norwich City (could go either way with a gamble in the hot seat, but think a bit of their spark has been lost)
9. Leeds Utd (see Norwich, but last season's late fade does seem a missed opportunity)
10. Hull City (another strange manageral appointment, the squad need a bit of freshening up, think they will need a season to adjust back at this level)
11. Preston (a very solid Championship, losing Grayson will be a blow though)
12. Cardiff City (Warnock will make them hard to beat again, should have one of the best home records in the division, outside bet for the P/O)
13. Sheffield (With the manager, a decent board and strong support I don't see many first season back issues)
14. Birmingham (Hate it as we might Arry can only steady the ship from last term's trainwreck)
15. Sunderland (too many on and off field issues.  Grayson's a good appointment but he'll need time to turn things around)
16. QPR (Still a powdercake ready to explode any minute)
17. Bolton (They will be happy with this their first season back)
18. Ipswich Town (still say Mick has done solid job on his budget, but they show little signs of progress and I expect them to struggle)
19. Brentford (Should have just enough to stay up)
20. Burton (see Brentford, though I'm less sure in this case)
21. Wolves (total mess of a club, no direction, very avenge squad, fan unrest etc..)
22. Nottingham Forest (just have a feeling about this one, have been sliding for awhile, and have a feeling Warburton won't see out the season)
23. Millwall (think the step up will prove a bit too much)
24. Barnsley (very thin on the ground, another one I just have a feeling about)