Predict the Championship 2017-18.

[Chris Smith]

Our defence wasn't really a problem last year... even despite the early season calamities we still had one of the best defences in the league. We struggle to score goals. We've done next to nothing to address this.

Last season's defence always looked capable for concediing goals. 'udders away: we dominated and then conceded. Even in our last away game - at Blackburn - we conceded a horrible goal because of defensive frailties.
As said by others, a stronger defensive line will move the focus of our game 10 metres further up the pitch.

We had  a strong defensive line last season. Any team is going to make the odd fuck up, but we were fourth best overall. Terry likes to play deep so I see little evidence that we will be moving ten metres further up the pitch. Taking into account Grealish's injury, we haven't improved our creative ability at all.

We need to win at least 26-27 games for automatic promotion. I've no doubt we will be able to grind out the odd win, but you can't win that many games one-nil. We need explosive attacking options and we are desperately lacking.

That is too simplistic. We had a good defensive record but much of that was due to setting up the midfield to protect them to the detriment of our attacking options. By improving the back 4 we give ourselves more licence to be push on from midfield. Even without Grealish for a couple of months we have options to be more productive in the final third, It is up to the players now to deliver on their undoubted ability.

[oldhill_avfc]

If we'd been banging in the goals pre-season you might have a point.

From what I see the lack of creativity as so many have said is the major issue.

[cdbearsfan]

I don't think it's "simplistic". You think that telling everyone to stand ten yards further forward will suddenly turn a team that scored fewer goals than 90% of the division into a team that scores enough to get automatic promotion. I would call that massively optimistic.

Thing is I do think that we could go up if we add two quality attacking players. Failure to do so would be a dereliction of duty and the worst mistake the club had made since appointing McLeish.

[cheltenhamlion]

I don't want Gabby playing so we need a left winger and a lump up front for the ball to stick to. That will allow the midfield to push on, to play with either a 2 or 3 in central midfield. The improvement in distribution from Terry and Whelan will help. And if we can get De Laet fit he has a throw in like a First World War Railway gun.

[oldhill_avfc]

I'm not sure it's as simple as that even.

We have no pace to counter attack away from home
We don't have much creativity in midfield
We don't have any midfielders who 'hit the box'

Hopefully I'm wrong, but we need to sort out a forward partnership which may rest on a very brave decision of what to do about Kodija, and we also have to spend again in midfield.

[oldhill_avfc]

I don't want Gabby playing so we need a left winger and a lump up front for the ball to stick to. That will allow the midfield to push on, to play with either a 2 or 3 in central midfield. The improvement in distribution from Terry and Whelan will help. And if we can get De Laet fit he has a throw in like a First World War Railway gun.

You'll get shot at for saying things like that round here.

[The Fish]

Just for a bit of fun, where will the 24 teams finish?

• Boro (defensively impressive last season, bought a load of attacking options and Gary Monk is a decent manager for this level)
• Aston Villa (best squad in the league imo, but think Boro will pip you)
• Wolves (should be quality in attack, will falter at the play offs and miss out to Norwich)
• Norwich (expect to see a hard pressing, hard working side)
• Sheff Wed (Good side, and Boyd and Rhodes could be good additions, but promotion is beyond them I reckon)
• Fulham (play some quality stuff, kept Cairney, but ultimately too often lack ruthlessness)
• Reading 
• Leeds (Will do well early doors, but then choke and miss out on the Play Offs)
• PNE
• Hull
• Derby 
• Sunderland (despite their travails, and my bias, I think they'll be comfortably safe, depends which rats abandon the ship before the window closes)
• Brentford
• Cardiff
• Birmingham ('Arry will make them a better team than last year, but they're still a bit shit.)
• Barnsley (Not replaced Hourihane but should be ok.)
• QPR
• Sheffield United (Momentum is vital for them)
• Ipswich
• Bristol City (haven't replaced Tamm Abraham well and will struggle)
• Burton
• Forest (were honestly terrible and without the three points Steve Martin gifted them against us, would have gone down)
• Bolton
• Millwall

[Drummond]

We've strengthened defence and the ability to play from defence. We've improved midfield and the ability to distribute from midfield.

Now it's up to the forwards to score the bloody goals they're capable of; In Kodija and Hogan we've players with undoubted talent and ability. In McCOrmack we've someone who has scored before. In Agbonlahor we've someone who appears to be trying, perhaps he won't be the busted flush he's evidence for half a decade.

Or we'll just be shit.

[in exile]

Boro (defensively impressive last season, bought a load of attacking options and Gary Monk is a decent manager for this level)

Don't forget they have Gestede and Adama too

[cheltenhamlion]

Boro (defensively impressive last season, bought a load of attacking options and Gary Monk is a decent manager for this level)

Don't forget they have Gestede and Adama too

Not so sure Just Head and the fat lad from Forest are going to be a great combination but we shall see.

[dekko]

1: Boro
2: Fulham

3-6: Norwich, Wolves, Brentford, Villa (just)

This is me being optimistic.  We won't score enough goals.

[Damo70]

Just for a bit of fun, where will the 24 teams finish?

• Boro (defensively impressive last season, bought a load of attacking options and Gary Monk is a decent manager for this level)
• Aston Villa (best squad in the league imo, but think Boro will pip you)
• Wolves (should be quality in attack, will falter at the play offs and miss out to Norwich)
• Norwich (expect to see a hard pressing, hard working side)
• Sheff Wed (Good side, and Boyd and Rhodes could be good additions, but promotion is beyond them I reckon)
• Fulham (play some quality stuff, kept Cairney, but ultimately too often lack ruthlessness)
• Reading
• Leeds (Will do well early doors, but then choke and miss out on the Play Offs)
• PNE
• Hull
• Derby
• Sunderland (despite their travails, and my bias, I think they'll be comfortably safe, depends which rats abandon the ship before the window closes)
• Brentford
• Cardiff
• Birmingham ('Arry will make them a better team than last year, but they're still a bit shit.)
• Barnsley (Not replaced Hourihane but should be ok.)
• QPR
• Sheffield United (Momentum is vital for them)
• Ipswich
• Bristol City (haven't replaced Tamm Abraham well and will struggle)
• Burton
• Forest (were honestly terrible and without the three points Steve Martin gifted them against us, would have gone down)
• Bolton
• Millwall

Sheff U and Sheff Wed to do well, not sure about Norwich or Wolves but generally speaking I agree with you.

[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.

[Matt Collins]

Add some creativity and I do think two is doable, but probably not without doing so

[Ads]

We won't score enough goals. But Boro, who had a gap larger than the continental United States between their midfield and forwards last year, will score enough goals to win the league.

But they can change! The Lamp Post, the Fat lad who likes a lie down for a 3rd of a season...