blades top 6 push next season, opponents part 1

[blade too long]

the teams relegated from the Prem

swansea
stoke city
west bromwich

will the teams with massive wage bills and parachute payments follow last seasons 3 relegated teams and not make it back
in my opinion , I see nothing that offers much hope of more than one of them chasing a play off spot, and that would be West Brom who get good backing from a good boad of investors and tend to yo yo

Think the other 2 need rebuilding a lot more
Stoke looked very disjointed last season, scoring goals was their downfall , well not scoring enough
a team that kept turning to 40 year old peter crouch are a team in trouble
Shaqiri is a stunning player but only in 8 games a season

Swansea played lovely football for a while , but last 2 seasons turned to dour repetiive tactics
Wolud not surprise me to see them struggle

They carry less of a threat to me than Preston and Millwall , who are well organised and savvy

 

[Davalon]

It's started.

Bet Crouchy's delighted with the added years too

 

[Rodley]

Stoke reportedly in for two defent strikers at the minute

#bitinpaper

 

[blade too long]

all 3 deserved to be relegated, they showed very little ambition as teams and had the look of a Adkins inspired blades team of 3 years ago

 

[dc_blade]

Shaqiri reportedly has a 12 million release clause and will be off to join former boss Sparky Hughes at Soton.

Swansea have made an interesting managerial appointment in Graham Potter. Don't know much about the bloke but he worked miracles in Scandinavia.

Main thing to say is that it's far too early to start thinking in these terms when very little transfer business has been done anywhere. Truncated window plus World Cup will make for a frantic July and we won't be able to judge much until August I reckon.

 

[stanneswhite]

PNE fan here, imo;

West Brom, Boro and Stoke to compete for top two
Sheffield United, Us, Brentford, Villa, Bristol City, Forest to push top 6
Bolton, Rotherham and QPR to go down.

 

[wizadry]

PNE fan here, imo;

West Brom, Boro and Stoke to compete for top two
Sheffield United, Us, Brentford, Villa, Bristol City, Forest to push top 6
Bolton, Rotherham and QPR to go down.

Heard anything up your end, Stan, regards Hugill?

 

[stanneswhite]

Heard anything up your end, Stan, regards Hugill?

Conscencus around here is that it is a bit of a myth regarding Hugill to SUFC, similar to PNE, you do not spend heavily on players and Hugill is on £30K a week. Loan Fee will be £1.5M which would probably rule you lot out unless there has been a change of transfer approach which I am unaware of.

Rumours around here are that he is likely to join Boro( where he is from and would fit Pulis mould) and also Forest.

 

[stanneswhite]

Conscencus around here is that it is a bit of a myth regarding Hugill to SUFC, similar to PNE, you do not spend heavily on players and Hugill is on £30K a week. Loan Fee will be £1.5M which would probably rule you lot out unless there has been a change of transfer approach which I am unaware of.

Rumours around here are that he is likely to join Boro( where he is from and would fit Pulis mould) and also Forest.

*or Forest.

 

[wizadry]

Conscencus around here is that it is a bit of a myth regarding Hugill to SUFC, similar to PNE, you do not spend heavily on players and Hugill is on £30K a week. Loan Fee will be £1.5M which would probably rule you lot out unless there has been a change of transfer approach which I am unaware of.

Rumours around here are that he is likely to join Boro( where he is from and would fit Pulis mould) and also Forest.

That’s sounds very plausible, thanks.

 

[FriethBlade]

Stan...30k a week...and I believe that...but shows how mad football wages are. Big.old.fashioned centre forward who had one half decent season at your place !

 

[stanneswhite]

Stan...30k a week...and I believe that...but shows how mad football wages are. Big.old.fashioned centre forward who had one half decent season at your place !

I know! If I’m being honest myself and many other Preston fans were happy to see him go for £9 million- when we had a replacement in Maguire who allowed us to play a different style of football and was/is better than him.

 

[Grappler]

I know! If I’m being honest myself and many other Preston fans were happy to see him go for £9 million- when we had a replacement in Maguire who allowed us to play a different style of football and was/is better than him.

Stan, you need to let me know some decent old boozers that serve good beer, usually Preston is fine for that, but last time we played you (apart from losing 1-0) I struggled to find a decent pint. Me and Mrs Grappler tend to stay over for the night, so a few ales will be on the cards.

Last time there I went in The Black Horse, Guild Ale House, Stanley Arms, Twelve Travellers and Grey Friar, thanks in advance!

 

[MMBUTB]

Middlesbrough and Villa top 2

This is only because they will be able to spend and they have Pulis and Bruce. If you finish above either one of these you will be in a very good position come the end of the season.

IMO.......

 

[super_pig]

Middlesbrough and Villa top 2

This is only because they will be able to spend and they have Pulis and Bruce. If you finish above either one of these you will be in a very good position come the end of the season.

IMO.......

didnt we all say the same this time last season?

 

[stanneswhite]

Stan, you need to let me know some decent old boozers that serve good beer, usually Preston is fine for that, but last time we played you (apart from losing 1-0) I struggled to find a decent pint. Me and Mrs Grappler tend to stay over for the night, so a few ales will be on the cards.

Last time there I went in The Black Horse, Guild Ale House, Stanley Arms, Twelve Travellers and Grey Friar, thanks in advance!

I personally like the Moorbrook, which is 5 minutes from Deepdale. Also the Sumners (although in Fulwood) usually has cheap decent pints. I don’t actually mind the Guild Ale House but other Preston fans too aren’t too keen. The Anderton not too bad either. Depends what your personal preference is in all honesty.

 

[Grappler]

I personally like the Moorbrook, which is 5 minutes from Deepdale. Also the Sumners (although in Fulwood) usually has cheap decent pints. I don’t actually mind the Guild Ale House but other Preston fans too aren’t too keen. The Anderton not too bad either. Depends what your personal preference is in all honesty.

Cheers pal, tend to drink more cask ales than keg, as Keg can be a bit fizzy for me

 

[Harry's Game]

Middlesbrough and Villa top 2

This is only because they will be able to spend and they have Pulis and Bruce. If you finish above either one of these you will be in a very good position come the end of the season.

IMO.......

Villa? Spend?

 

[norfolkblade88]

PNE fan here, imo;

West Brom, Boro and Stoke to compete for top two
Sheffield United, Us, Brentford, Villa, Bristol City, Forest to push top 6
Bolton, Rotherham and QPR to go down.

Agree with most of that although I reckon Reading or Ipswich may drop instead of QPR.

 

[MMBUTB]

didnt we all say the same this time last season?

This is true.

If you finished above Villa this year though you would of finished 3rd or above so most people were correct. As for Boro they have Pulis now which imo makes them a more formidable outfit.

 

[nopigfansintown]

This is true.

If you finished above Villa this year though you would of finished 3rd or above so most people were correct. As for Boro they have Pulis now which imo makes them a more formidable outfit.

Pulis was a massive failure last season, and Boro's parachute payments will take a drop this season.There's big rumours that Gibson is on his bike to cover the short fall.If they don't get out this season they'll be in all kinds of trouble due to the huge drop in parachute payments next season (their third season).Villa are a basket case and need a complete restructure.Both managers are under extreme pressure to be around the top two come January,or they'll both be relieved of their duties imo.I wouldn't be so sure...

 

[Bladezz]

Cannot see Boro doing well next season. Pulls will defend for 90 minutes a game with 1 up front and try and snatch a win. When in essence it should be Boro playing attacking football like us.

Think the 3 relegated teams although have gone down has very talented players and most are changing there manager.

 

[Rob86]

Too early to predict for all teams really, but I’d expect Stoke and WBA to be up there. Not sure about Boro and Villa, think the parachute payments have finished so we’ll not see them splashing the cash and Boro in particular looked average.

The top 6 looks like it’ll be quite open this year, but with our current squad we will be lower mid table. It all depends on our recruitment, but it is definitely a more attainable top 6 this season for a number of clubs, which in itself makes it difficult !!

 

[8lade]

Can't see beyond the 3 relegated teams and possibly Villa depending on the effect of their troubles. United first half of last season, as good as any, second half, it'll be a struggle.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Can't see beyond the 3 relegated teams and possibly Villa depending on the effect of their troubles. United first half of last season, as good as any, second half, it'll be a struggle.

One, possibly two of the relegated teams will struggle. No particular reason why, it's usually the case that's all. The league will be wide open as usual with teams up there who you wouldn't normally expect. I think Birmingham are going to be the big dark horse this coming season.

 

[Ricky]

Only 3 teams seem at all convincing contenders. Stoke, West Brom and Boro. And even they aren't that convincing. Stoke seem the best shout because of their money and Gary Rowett.

It's open for someone like us to have a crack at the top 2, and the play off race will be wide open.

Big chance for us next season if we recruit adequately.

 

[Lmaobob]

Im glad West Brom, Swansea and Stoke got relegated. Made match of the day proper wank for years. "any football on today? Oh just West Brom v Swansea"

Rather watch chess

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

At least we'll be able to find out if our lads can do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke.

 

[blade too long]

Sunderland showed last season coming the prem doesnt automatically mean you will compete
Last seasons relegated trio struggled big time. The championship has 10 12 teams that can compete or be better on the day than the relegated clubs as they have been building for this assault
of the last 6 relegated from the prem only Newcastle have gone up so why everyone thinks they are shoe ins to be up there is based purely on parchute payments as obviously all got relegated because they werent very good on the grass

 

[8lade]

Sunderland showed last season coming the prem doesnt automatically mean you will compete

But Sunderland and Hull were proper crap. I don't see it this year with the relegated 3; WBA smack in their comfort zone doing what they always do, Swansea could easily have got out of relegation and have some top quality forwards and Stoke, weakest of the 3 (imo) have quality (although aging) all over the pitch.