QPR only four points behind us...

[FMBlade1]

.... not a knock on us, but shows how tight this league is and how things can change very quickly.

I remember watching our match against them and although Eze clearly looked a class apart we were comfortable and it was pretty certain that we would end up in different directions as the season went on.

Norwich also looked thoroughly mediocre when we played them yet they have recovered remarkably to be top.

It will be a hell of a battle, I just can't help wondering as effective and entertaining our approach has been especially against 'bigger' teams with bigger budgets and bigger names whether we are able to change?

There is no plan B with our playing style (no Washington does not count, that's just like going down to ten men), likewise there are no foreign players in the first team squad, and Wilder is somewhat unashamed about this and with some justification can be very proud of the results he's achieved so far.

McClaren and Farke have clearly altered things with great affect, if we lose momentum at which point should we consider doing the same to keep us moving forward?*

*(in the same way we did after the Millwall match in 2016)

 

[Harry's Game]

It’s a weak Championship, only hope we can take advantage.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

January business will be the defining factor. Right now you could throw a net over the promotion winners. Whoever is bold enough to bag the 'Mitrovic signing' will go up.

 

[BanbridgeBlade]

It’s a weak Championship, only hope we can take advantage.

Is it really a weak championship though?

The way I see it, the fact that it’s so unpredictable means there are a lot more strong teams rather than the usual 2 or 3

 

[Stretch]

QPR are a much better side than many give them credit for. I thought we were a bit lucky to get the win down there, not saying we didn't play well but the penalty was a tad dubious [would have been fuming if given against us] and they were all over us at times, first half especially.
That Eze lad is some player, along with everyone's favourite Luke Freeman and since playing us they have made two cracking signings in Wells and Hemed. Any one of those four players would make us stronger.
Add to that Mclaren has seriously tightened them up defensively, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they make the top 6.

 

[LJBlade]

They can’t be that good. I’ve been reliably informed that we don’t beat good teams away from home...

 

[Gannon's perm]

Is it really a weak championship though?

The way I see it, the fact that it’s so unpredictable means there are a lot more strong teams rather than the usual 2 or 3

I don't think the championship is weak and is full of some very decent outfits. Strong throughout. However none are consistent and this is often the key. Derby were flying and just got stuffed by Villa at home.

Wolves, Cardiff and Fulham of last year would be clear at the top. No one has kicked on to improve themselves to that level.
I doubt anyone will hit 2 points per game and 85-87 points could well win the league. No reason why we can't do it.

 

[Harry's Game]

Is it really a weak championship though?

The way I see it, the fact that it’s so unpredictable means there are a lot more strong teams rather than the usual 2 or 3

None of the current top six are The same quality of Wolves or Fulham from last season or Newcastle or Brighton from the season before.

(Cardiff were a complete aberration through the willpower of Adolf Warnock. It will flower briefly and die and Cardiff will be fighting to stay out of League one within four years.)

 

[Stretch]

It’s a weak Championship, only hope we can take advantage.

Is it really a weak championship though?

The way I see it, the fact that it’s so unpredictable means there are a lot more strong teams rather than the usual 2 or 3

I agree meathblade . I don't think this is a weak league at all this year, quite the opposite. Team for team the standard has got closer, rather than having 2 or 3 teams who are significantly better than everyone else. 7 points from 1st to 10th and nobody seems capable of keeping their noses out in front.

However this might change in January as several of the contenders are sailing close to the wind financially [Derby, Villa, Forest, Brum, QPR, Pigs - yes I know I said contenders but just couldn't help it] or they can't spend much anyway due to their budgets [Us & Norwich]. So I can only see a few clubs splashing out on real quality and maybe pulling away, namely Boro, Leeds and West Brom. I also expect Stoke and Swansea to finish quite strongly.

We just need to keep in the mix and hope that Wilder is given a decent ish wedge to spend in January. Bring in another AM and striking option and we'll be a threat right until the end.

 

[GrayBlade]

.... not a knock on us, but shows how tight this league is and how things can change very quickly.

I remember watching our match against them and although Eze clearly looked a class apart we were comfortable and it was pretty certain that we would end up in different directions as the season went on.

Norwich also looked thoroughly mediocre when we played them yet they have recovered remarkably to be top.

It will be a hell of a battle, I just can't help wondering as effective and entertaining our approach has been especially against 'bigger' teams with bigger budgets and bigger names whether we are able to change?

There is no plan B with our playing style (no Washington does not count, that's just like going down to ten men), likewise there are no foreign players in the first team squad, and Wilder is somewhat unashamed about this and with some justification can be very proud of the results he's achieved so far.

McClaren and Farke have clearly altered things with great affect, if we lose momentum at which point should we consider doing the same to keep us moving forward?*

*(in the same way we did after the Millwall match in 2016)

So are Blackburn and we were so much better than them on the day it was untrue.

Let’s just take one week at a time and see where it takes us. On our day we are as good or better than any team in this division and if we get a couple of decent players in the world could be our lobster.

 

[SwissBlade]

This division is bloody tight! Everyone is beating everyone and when we’ve slipped up, it seems everyone around us has done as well. It’s meant that teams like Boro and West Brom have been able to claw back, no idea where Norwich have come from as they were a poor side when we played them.

Consistency then is key. As is winning games. Norwich top because they’ve not drawn many, like ourselves. They’ve also won the most games.

I think our next three games are all winnable, even Leeds looked vulnerable last night. West Brom looked quality though...

 

[Bladepicker]

.... not a knock on us, but shows how tight this league is and how things can change very quickly.

I remember watching our match against them and although Eze clearly looked a class apart we were comfortable and it was pretty certain that we would end up in different directions as the season went on.

Norwich also looked thoroughly mediocre when we played them yet they have recovered remarkably to be top.

It will be a hell of a battle, I just can't help wondering as effective and entertaining our approach has been especially against 'bigger' teams with bigger budgets and bigger names whether we are able to change?

There is no plan B with our playing style (no Washington does not count, that's just like going down to ten men), likewise there are no foreign players in the first team squad, and Wilder is somewhat unashamed about this and with some justification can be very proud of the results he's achieved so far.

McClaren and Farke have clearly altered things with great affect, if we lose momentum at which point should we consider doing the same to keep us moving forward?*

*(in the same way we did after the Millwall match in 2016)

I'd get Ched back in January.

 

[diplomat]

QPR are a much better side than many give them credit for. I thought we were a bit lucky to get the win down there, not saying we didn't play well but the penalty was a tad dubious [would have been fuming if given against us] and they were all over us at times, first half especially.
That Eze lad is some player, along with everyone's favourite Luke Freeman and since playing us they have made two cracking signings in Wells and Hemed. Any one of those four players would make us stronger.
Add to that Mclaren has seriously tightened them up defensively, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they make the top 6.

Apparently they were told they were about to have a transfer embargo and then signed Hemed and Wells the day before it was due to be announced. Two fingers up to the powers that be.

 

[beatific blade]

no idea where Norwich have come from as they were a poor side when we played them

To be fair Swiss I bet Boro thought the same about us when we hit top of the league...

 

[SE1Blade]

QPR are a much better side than many give them credit for. I thought we were a bit lucky to get the win down there, not saying we didn't play well but the penalty was a tad dubious [would have been fuming if given against us] .

I was stood right in front of it and it was a stonewall penalty. Clear cut. If it had been given against us we could have no complaints whatsoever. Bloody stupid by their defender I’ll give you that, but a definite pen.

 

[wavy-blade]

Got to give it to Steve McClaren , since we went there and thrashed em he has really turned that club around

 

[1889]

Got to give it to Steve McClaren , since we went there and thrashed em he has really turned that club around

 

[Cerberus Blade]

A division gets called “weak” when there are no obvious “strong” teams in there, usually “big name” clubs, who are dominating it.

That doesn’t mean it’s “weak” to me. It means it’s harder to win it actually because there’s more teams with a realistic chance of doing so. So instead of your team being one of half a dozen teams that could make the promotion spots you’re one of 12 or more!

All I know is we play some of the best football, CONSISTENTLY week in, week out. We haven’t got the best individual players, but we’ve got a strong team and a strong squad. We lack a cutting edge at times and if we can fix that and turn that possession into more attempts on goal then we will be a serious contender for autos.

 

[FMBlade1]

Got to give it to Steve McClaren , since we went there and thrashed em he has really turned that club around

They got Hemed and Wells after that game, we got Washington

No wonder the gap has closed!

 

[Bladesman]

After a bit of a purple patch the McClaren effect will soon arrive to derail them. They are relying on the loan signings they have made to keep their form going and if they don't go up this season they are back to square one.

I do wish we had snatched Freeman off QPR though.

 

[NotFallowfieldBlade]

They got Hemed and Wells after that game, we got Washington

No wonder the gap has closed!

True we sign qprs fifth choice striker

 

[NotFallowfieldBlade]

Definitely gonna be the lowest points total go get automatics this year in a long time , there’s literally 10-12 teams who are all good enough on there day look at villa and stoke who aren’t far off and they’ve not got goin yet.
Let’s hope we haven’t peaked yet like last year

 

[Roygbiv]

I actually think we were lucky to beat QPR but both sides have improved since. At the time both sides were on zero points and it was a good time to play them because they are usually good at home.

 

[oldblade]

Is it really a weak championship though?

The way I see it, the fact that it’s so unpredictable means there are a lot more strong teams rather than the usual 2 or 3

People have been saying it's a weak championship every season since it was first called the championship.

And it must be fake news that Norwich are top and QPR are only a few points behind us, because after all we never beat anyone that's any good...…………..

 

[oldblade]

Definitely gonna be the lowest points total go get automatics this year in a long time , there’s literally 10-12 teams who are all good enough on there day look at villa and stoke who aren’t far off and they’ve not got goin yet.
Let’s hope we haven’t peaked yet like last year

I disagree. Looking at the points per game achieved by the leading clubs so far, I think the points required for an automatic place will be at least 85.

The lowest number of points to clinch an automatic spot that I can remember was 79 in 2007-8 when Stoke went up in second place with that total.

 

[Silent Blade]

I disagree. Looking at the points per game achieved by the leading clubs so far, I think the points required for an automatic place will be at least 85.

The lowest number of points to clinch an automatic spot that I can remember was 79 in 2007-8 when Stoke went up in second place with that total.

And Derby too with 79 in 1995-96, only 27 points ahead of Millwall who went down. Also Hull went up with 79 in 2012-13, only 25 points ahead of Peterborough who went down.

 

[GymClassHero]

I disagree. Looking at the points per game achieved by the leading clubs so far, I think the points required for an automatic place will be at least 85.

The lowest number of points to clinch an automatic spot that I can remember was 79 in 2007-8 when Stoke went up in second place with that total.

Agreed.

 

[Mumbo]

It’s a weak Championship, only hope we can take advantage.

Lots of teams beating each other with no runaway leaders,does that make it weak? or is it just that it’s evenly matched?

 

[Sheffsteel]

January business will be the defining factor. Right now you could throw a net over the promotion winners. Whoever is bold enough to bag the 'Mitrovic signing' will go up.

Nothing bold about irresponsible gambling. The problem is what if 5 clubs decide to be “bold”, that means for some of those bold clubs it’s going to end in tears. Win the gamble it’s great, lose the gamble and someone will need to pay.

It needs to be a sensibly ambitious gambling, not paying 70K a week wages or paying a 20 million transfer fee.

The problem with sensible gambling paying out 8 to 10 million is that I predict some of our fans will be very underwhelmed and ungrateful. Probably say we’ve wasted 10 million. January is often a difficult time to bring in players because prices are inflated.

 

[BushBlade]

Lots of teams beating each other with no runaway leaders,does that make it weak? or is it just that it’s evenly matched?

It’s alwayd difficult to tell but I’d say with the number of quality players still in the league, it’s as strong as last season but without a dominant leader. Swansea, Stoke and West Brom have kept a lot of their players, decent bottom end of the PL types like Rodrigues, Naughton etc and they haven’t looked like worldbeaters.