Championship 2018-2019

[cdbearsfan]

I'd expect Swansea to be contenders, too. They were never outclassed in the Premier League so see no reason why they should struggle massively in the division below.

[Risso]

I'd expect Swansea to be contenders, too. They were never outclassed in the Premier League so see no reason why they should struggle massively in the division below.

I think they'll be "there or thereabouts".  They play decent football and seem to have an ongoing club ethos.

[Richard]

With Swansea and West Brom a lot depends on how their new managers get on - same with Derby but even more so as Lampard has never even coached I believe

[paul_e]

The problem for Swansea is their squad looks pretty light, with 2-3 players still being linked with moves away.

[mr underhill]

The Sky predictor league thing has us finishing 9th.

[Toronto Villa]

I'm sure other clubs looked at our squad when we came down and said "they have some decent players, they'll be fine". Only we knew the internal mess we were in. In the end relegated clubs have massive internal issues, especially within the squad of players who stopped giving a fuck a while ago. There is no guarantee that just because they have players we have all heard of they will be motivated to play to that potential in the Championship. All three relegated clubs last season struggled at various stages, Boro' improving post Pulis, all with a bucket load of parachute money at their disposal. What cannot be measured is togetherness which is critical to rebounding immediately.

[Mister E]

The Sky predictor league thing has us finishing 9th.

I'd say it's about right until something happens either on the managerial front or with a release of funds; or both.

[mr underhill]

maybe but I'm sure they predicted Brentford finishing third.

[Damo70]

With the business they have done in the close season Stoke should be right up there challenging. Swansea were far from the worst side who have ever been relegated so they stand a chance of challenging but I'm not totally convinced they will be around the top. I reckon that how much of a challenge Albion make will very much depend upon whether they can carry on the spirit they showed under Darren Moore in the last few games or if the fact they had such a nightmare season in general will still be effecting them.

[SoccerHQ]

I'd expect Swansea to be contenders, too. They were never outclassed in the Premier League so see no reason why they should struggle massively in the division below.

Aren't they selling most of their good players? Fabainski, Ayew (Andre), Mawson all gone and what's left is pretty mediocre.

Similar to Hull last year who had huge turnover and nearly got relegated.

[SoccerHQ]

maybe but I'm sure they predicted Brentford finishing third.

Wouldn't shock me if Brentford have a good start. Last two years they've had really slow starts and then hit great form after xmas but had too much ground to make up on top 6.

Think at least one of Brentford, Preston and Sheffield United will be in play offs. They all came close last season and division is weaker than last season I think.

[Ads]

We were 0-0 with Stoke yesterday in a behind closed doors friendly.

[Steve67]

We were 0-0 with Stoke yesterday in a behind closed doors friendly.

Do we know what the line ups were Ads?

[Matt Collins]

I can't find any record of the line ups

From the pics on the website, Bree, bjarnason, Gardner and jedinak played. And stoke were very much a reserve side. So perhaps mostly a chance for some players to get game time

In terms of the league, I think forest will be strong. I can't say I know these portuguese players they've brought in, but they all seem to be creative midfielders

If jack goes, we really do look weak on the creativity front. Gone are the days that all you needed was a good defence, hard working midfield and two good strikers

O'Hare isn't ready for me. Adomah has been out of form for a while. Hourihane is nowhere near as creative as some would have you believe and Lansbury has been a big disappointment

Time for mendes to send a couple of genuinely classy players our way. I'm just not sure there are many realistic candidates left

After the recent lift from the takeover I'm starting to feel quite pessimistic about this sesson. I think we'll be top 10 or so all season so a good chance of play offs. But way off premier league class still and I think we may have another slow start due to less than ideal preparation

[Matt Collins]

Just listened to the Notthetop20 podcast. They had us 9th, based on how ordinary we were before grealish came back into the side, especially in terms of creativity; plus the disruption of the summer

I found it hard to disagree, tho suspect incoming players would send us a bit higher than 9th

But I am increasingly reminded of how mediocre we were before Xmas, most of the time

Still think the most likely outcome is a fairly boring season, hopefully with the emergence of some youngsters, and then hopefully a more visionary manager for next season, with some more headroom for signings and some high quality loans

But I still think sacking Bruce a week ago would have been a big risk