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| This season's Championship |
NottinghamWhite
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Posts: 1961
Joined: 11 November 2009
Location: Nottingham
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Jul 17, 2010 11:14
Well this years race for the title would appear to be the most open Championship for some time. What with all 3 relegated teams from The Premiership allegedly in financial problems and no team appearing to spend any real money it really does look like it could be a hotly disputed league.
For me Boro will win the league but who else will be up there is anyone's guess at the moment.
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18longleeds
Posts: 3480
Joined: 24 October 2008
Location: Keighley
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Jul 17, 2010 12:25
will it be closer than league one last year ?
i reckon Middlesborough, QPR, Burnley, will be up near top and watford, palace, derby will be down the bottom end , other than that cant call it.
leeds top 6 also 
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sheepy
Posts: 4241
Joined: 08 October 2008
Location: Leeds
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Jul 17, 2010 13:05
I honestly don't know who will be up there. Middlesbrough have been very active this summer but I dont think Strachan is a good enough manager to take them. I hope he does, because its Strachs and he did great things for our club... just not sure if he has it in him..
Its going to be a very open race I think, I can't seen any of the relegated teams doing much nor those who came close last season. Although I'm biased, I think we have a good chance of going up, we are certainly good enough for a top 6 finish I think. This season could well be the best chance of going up because the teams that have dropped from the Prem in my opinion are quite poor (due to circumstances mainly) than the usual relegation fodder from the Prem.
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megadan777
Posts: 141
Joined: 01 March 2010
Location: Wollongong, nsw
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Jul 17, 2010 15:35
i reckon notts forest will be up there
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NottinghamWhite
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Posts: 1961
Joined: 11 November 2009
Location: Nottingham
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Jul 18, 2010 20:50
megadan777
i reckon notts forest will be up there
Locals reckon as no money has been spent then they will struggle to get in the play off's. Their words not mine
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Stockport White
Posts: 965
Joined: 06 December 2009
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Jul 18, 2010 21:02
NottinghamWhite
megadan777
i reckon notts forest will be up there
Locals reckon as no money has been spent then they will struggle to get in the play off's. Their words not mine
Sounds familiar 
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RamseyWhite
Posts: 2265
Joined: 08 December 2008
Location: Ramsey, Cambridgeshire
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Jul 18, 2010 21:56
I honestly can’t envisage a season like we had last time when NU & WBA ran away with it.
I expect Burnley, Hull, Sheff U, QPR & Boro to be up there & we will perhaps consolidate a mid table position.
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Deebo
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Posts: 869
Joined: 17 October 2008
Location: Sydney
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Jul 19, 2010 06:02
It really is a tough league. I reckon one of the most competative in the world. There are no easy games in the Championship.
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bloody_joke
Posts: 120
Joined: 29 October 2008
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Jul 19, 2010 06:56
Deebo
It really is a tough league. I reckon one of the most competative in the world. There are no easy games in the Championship.
Check out the Championship division of the LUFC Challenge League and you might change your mind!
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NottinghamWhite
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Posts: 1961
Joined: 11 November 2009
Location: Nottingham
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Jul 19, 2010 09:59
RamseyWhite
we will perhaps consolidate a mid table position.
Does that not show negativity by Bates as we all agree there are no stand out teams this season in the league thus making it the best chance in years to get promoted. A few million spent and we could be back in The Premiership and that amount will just be chicken feed with the riches that are on offer.
Simon Grayson states that we are not here to make up the numbers, well with the squad we have that's exactly what we are here for.
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onenorthernsoul
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Jul 19, 2010 10:59
I don't agree there'll be no stand out teams NW, not that my opinion is any more relevant than any others but I think there will be some surprises. Personally I think we'll do very well to be pushing for play off places. When we got the Schmeichel signing I did think Bates was showing ambition and would back Grayson in whatever he chose to do/spend... I don't think that now, but that's not to say I know what's going on back scene or why the cash hasn't really been flashed. There are some good teams in that division and it's going to be tough. Boro COULD be favourites but I think Sheepy's got it right about them, and there are strong teams and good managers there, we've got it all to do. Off t'top of my head I think QPR, Palace, Blunts, Reading, Swansea/Cardiff, Leicester, Hull and even Pompey will have strong says in the poromotion stakes, as well as Boro. A couple of teams might be surprising flops too... As long as we play to our potential, I think we'll be okay, and I'm banking on a better work/team ethic this coming season, with very few egos or cup distractions to unsettle the club.
I still expect a couple of signings too, but maybe that's me being superstitious again 
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NottinghamWhite
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Posts: 1961
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Location: Nottingham
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Jul 19, 2010 11:37
To answer your post ONS, again only my humble opinion.
QPR, Palace, Blunts, Reading, Swansea/Cardiff, Leicester, Hull and even Pompey
QPR always flatter to deceive but with Warnock at the helm maybe this season they will show more fighting ambition and continuity, time will tell. Palace I think their finances will be too much and they will struggle. Blunts are an unknown quantity to me, has Blackwell got what it takes to get them there ? Swansea have lost their manager and again is Brendan Rodgers the right man not done a great deal in his career. Cardiff are they still in the financial mire ? Leicester another team that have lost their manager, Souza has a decent record and could do well. Hull and Pompey see Cardiff. Reading however should they ontinue last season’s 2nd half will go up automatically.
with very few egos
I’m in the camp that think’s Beckford’s ego last season was disruptive and agree we should see a better work ethic this season from the team.
I still expect a couple of signings too
Agreed a battling/ball winning midfielder and a proven goal scorer at this level are required but I can not see Bates putting the necessary cash up, so unless they come in the form of loan players then we will just have to keep on expecting.
When we got the Schmeichel signing
Once again agree, in Schmeichel we have a player who will keep many clean sheets and thus be worth x number of points next season but the other signing do not inspire me too much. Paynter is an unknown quantity at this level and I’d have rather of seen us sign his ex partner Charlie Austin.
For what it’s worth I see the automatic places going to Boro and Reading the play off places been fought between Burnley, Cardiff ( if the get their finances in order) and Swansea (if the new manager clicks) and the surprise package been Doncaster Rovers. Us with the squad as it is possibly top half of the table.
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18longleeds
Posts: 3480
Joined: 24 October 2008
Location: Keighley
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Jul 19, 2010 12:10
i said id rather have seen austin than paynter , but who knows we might have got a striker who will get us 25-30 goals. you can hope
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sheepy
Posts: 4241
Joined: 08 October 2008
Location: Leeds
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Jul 21, 2010 04:36
As for teams that may surprise a few people, I can see Doncaster perhaps have a good season, they play good football and have a good manager. As long as they can hold onto him I think Donny will progress further. Im not saying they will go up, but I can see them featuring in the top half more than the bottom in 2010/11
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Smoggy_Dave
Posts: 3
Joined: 21 July 2010
Location: Middlesbrough
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Jul 21, 2010 15:09
You can certainly, atleast, I can see the usual ones challenging, such as, Forest, Leicester, though, depends on them because of Pearson going to Hull. I know we're bookies favourite to win the title and because its not every season we will be in that position then its easy to jump on the bandwagon. But eh, i'm keeping my feet firmly on the ground.
There again, I can't help but look at our midfield. For me, its one of the toughest in the division. Plus, compared to recent seasons, they have goals in them which is something we've desperately lacked, especially, the soft under belly midfield partnership of Arca and Rochemback. But, i mean, Willo Flood, Barry Robson, Kevin Thomson and Nicky Bailey really strikes me as a promotion challenging midfield.
You look at Newcastle last season who got away with murder. They had nutters and players who would kick their own granny in Nolan, Smith and even Joey Barton when he played. Guthrie, as well, you may add.
The thing that doesn't change about this division is that Championship centre forwards are gash. They need 50 billion chances to score and thats why Newcastle got away with it last season. There was times when they w
should of conceded a lot more goals, however, they were getting away with the poor quality of centre forwards and going up to the other end and scoring.
Defensively, with Stephen McManus and David Wheater, we have an automatic strong defensive partnership there. Wheater's performances depend on who he plays with and he's at his best when he's playing alongside a Robert Huth and, like at the end of last season, Stephen McManus.
I honestly think that if we can get the service to Kris Boyd and Scott McDonald then we can smash this league. That's not being arrogant, I just feel its going to be a good season this campaign.
Everything Gordon Strachan is doing within the club i'm impressed. I look at the training perspective, especially, in pre-season. Two weeks after the season ended, he flown the lads out to La Manga were they were put through hard draft, brought in a soldier who talked to them etc. When Gordon said it was no longer a summer camp and that it would be boot camp he, obviously, wasn't kidding anyone.
Lee Miller, aside, his signings, for me, get me excited. I would like to see right back come in, personally. For some reason, Gordon prefers Justin Hoyte, though, to be fair, I understand he's tried to bring in Kyle Naughton on a season long loan deal.
But, for me, things are looking up.
As for Leeds, I would like to see your lot up there, however, I dunno, to be honest. I honestly see, maybe, goalscoring being a big problem for you. Heard a rumour, though, about a week ago you were in for Leroy Lita. Thats a lazy so and so who, to be fair with him, has been a victim of the change of management. He was, practically, Gareth Southgate's last big permanent signing. Personally, i'd like to see him as a squad player and to come off the bench, however, I doubt he would want that and its obvious Scott McDonald/Kris Boyd is our main partnership.
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onenorthernsoul
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Jul 21, 2010 15:41
Welcome Dave. Don't take this personally but I'd rather read about our club than yours
Strachan's a great fella who did so much for Leeds, but I have doubts about his management abilities. Hope for your sake he does well, and the amount of money you've spent already, you should walk the division. should!
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18longleeds
Posts: 3480
Joined: 24 October 2008
Location: Keighley
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Jul 21, 2010 23:35
yeah welcome dave , LEEEDSSSSSS
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sheepy
Posts: 4241
Joined: 08 October 2008
Location: Leeds
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Jul 21, 2010 23:36
There are so many teams in the Championship that are capable of beating each other I think you could throw a dart to pick who will go up.
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Jarv
Posts: 425
Joined: 17 October 2008
Location: Cornwall
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Jul 27, 2010 20:46
sheepy
As for teams that may surprise a few people, I can see Doncaster perhaps have a good season, they play good football and have a good manager.
I agree. This seasons Blackpool. Also think Forest and Boro.
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