Football League: Discussion

As the Football League kicks off tomorrow, I thought it would be a good idea to set up this thread for fans of Championship and League 1/2 teams.

In the Championship, Middlesbrough are the ante-post favourites, rightly so IMO. The players that Strachan has brought in from Celtic and Rangers should do well at this level. Reading should do better than last season, Forest will be up there again, and I can see QPR doing better now they've stopped sacking managers every five games (but please stop nicking our players Neil).

The league should be quite open this time round as I don't see any of the three relegated teams making that much of an impression. Portsmouth and Hull are in financial trouble and Burnley, well, they've still got Brian Laws as manager. In fact Norwich and Leeds, who came up from League 1, have a better chance of doing well, as they have the confidence from winning. Bristol City would be my outside tip, partly because of signing David James, but mainly because of Steve Coppell.

As for my own team, Crystal Palace, after the trials of last season I'm just glad to have a team to support. For the time being, I'd be happy if we a) stay up and b) finish above Millwall!

(06-08-2010 07:19 )eagle_si Wrote:  Portsmouth and Hull are in financial trouble

I think that's something of an understatement, in the case of Portsmouth anyway. But at least we still exist, after our victory yesterday (which was almost certainly our most important fixture of the season).

forest should be up there (i hope) Middlesbrough and hull should do well as well. as long at derby are shit as usual!

(06-08-2010 07:27 )aaron Wrote:  

(06-08-2010 07:19 )eagle_si Wrote:  Portsmouth and Hull are in financial trouble

I think that's something of an understatement, in the case of Portsmouth anyway. But at least we still exist, after our victory yesterday (which was almost certainly our most important fixture of the season).

Yes, it was very good news. We were very close to going out of business ourselves a couple of months ago, but were saved at the last minute. I would not want to see any football club disappear, with the possible exception of the franchise in Milton Keynes.

Championship promotion chasers.
Middlesbrough, Leicester.

Playoff chasers.
Sheff Utd, Reading, Donny Rovers, Norwich, Leeds, QPR.... Well you could put half the league in the playoff race as the Championship is without doubt the most competitive league in Europe where 3/5 points can separate 8/9 clubs.

I think Middlesbrough are the favourites & Doncaster Rovers will do well now they have a goal scorer Watford aren't world beaters but could have some consistency, Scunny & Barnsley will struggle, not sure Cardiff will be that great.

How about Wycombe for league 2? We're 3rd favourites with Paddy Power and SkyBet, behind Bradford and Gillingham.

For me

Championship

Hull
Burnley
Forrest

League one

Charlton
Southampton
Huddlescum

League two

Dunno

In the Championship I think Ipswich and QPR may go up automatically with Coventry surprising a few and winning the play offs.

My Predictions:

Championship -
Burnley
Middlesbrough
Ipswich

League 1 -
Southampton
Huddersfield
Swindon

League 2 -
Wycombe
Morecambe
Rotheram

My promotion candidates for league 2 are Rotherham, Bradford, Wycombe & Gillingham.

We (Oxford) play our first home league game in 4 years against Bury today. Even though we demolished Bristol Rovers 6-1 in the Carling Cup earlier this week, they were truly awful and today's game will be much more difficult. If we apply ourselves like we did Tuesday night, hopefully we'll get a result.