Main competitors?

[robbiez666]

Early days yet, I know, and it will likely become clearer towards the end of the transfer window but who do we think the main challengers for promotion will be this year? It might not even be us, recruitment dependent, in fairness.

Personally:

I think both Norwich and Watford are likely to be up there. Both are yo-yo teams and have the consistency (Norwich) at this level and the players (Watford) to hurt a lot of teams. Indeed, if Watford can manage their squad well, then they could easy romp home. Dennis at this level would be deadly.

Of the play-off contenders, I can see Huddersfield being up there again. They've gradually improved over the last couple of years and have the players to get results. Luton I can see falling away.

I can see WBA being a much bigger threat this season. Swift is a great signing and some of the other players they've been linked with would make them very strong. QPR will depend on recruitment, but Coventry could build on the relative success of last season. Of the early transfer activity, I've been impressed with what Bristol City have been doing. Looks like shrewd business so far. I suspect Boro will be up there as well. If they get £20 million for Spence then that's a lot of transfer funds to play with.

I think Preston and Swansea might have decent seasons as well. Even Cardiff.

Of the teams coming up, I don't think any will trouble the top 6. Sunderland might be closest depending on how much they can spend.

The really fascinating factor is that a lot of teams are losing top players on frees or end of loans.

I think top two will be a struggle again but the play-offs are probably there for the taking with a bit of wise business.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Who have Bristol City signed?

 

[PurpleRain]

I expect Burnley to be among the favourites for promotion. Kompany should be able to get great loans from man city in and may even attract some loans from european top sides via his network, and I believe he has a great future as a manager.

 

[Original United]

Wednesday, new floodlights, bannan and 3000 to QPR - cannot see any reason how they will not piss this division.

EFL must have promoted them

From a Man City fan

 

[robbiez666]

I expect Burnley to be among the favourites for promotion. Kompany should be able to get great loans from man city in and may even attract some loans from european top sides via his network, and I believe he has a great future as a manager.

I think they'll have a similar season to that WBA had this year. Beat some good sides but lose to some poor ones. I think they'll crumble for a few years. They have an old team which was very much Dyche's

 

[robbiez666]

Who have Bristol City signed?

Naismith from Luton
League 2 player of the season Kane Wilson (RB)
24 yo Sykes (Midfielder from Oxford who scored 8 goals last season and who has just been called up to the Irish squad.

All free (with a bit of compo)

 

[MobileBlade]

I expect Burnley to be among the favourites for promotion. Kompany should be able to get great loans from man city in and may even attract some loans from european top sides via his network, and I believe he has a great future as a manager.

Think Burnley are in the shot financially. All parachute payments plus more already accounted for.

 

[PurpleRain]

Think Burnley are in the shot financially. All parachute payments plus more already accounted for.

I think they will go all in 1 season. All or nothing. Kompany had other options, he will not go there without a budget for enforcements.

 

[MobileBlade]

I think they will go all in 1 season. All or nothing. Kompany had other options, he will not go there without a budget for enforcements.

Think that's what we told Slav.

 

[Yogi]

West Brom and Boro look like strengthening significantly this summer

 

[Not_a_Cheat]

Naismith from Luton
League 2 player of the season Kane Wilson (RB)
24 yo Sykes (Midfielder from Oxford who scored 8 goals last season and who has just been called up to the Irish squad.

All free (with a bit of compo)

When you say Irish.. Do you mean NI? The football powerhouse that almost lost at home to Malta?

 

[robbiez666]

When you say Irish.. Do you mean NI? The football powerhouse that almost lost at home to Malta?

The team our midfielder used to play for, you mean?

He was called up for Northern Ireland but switched allegiances.

 

[S64 Blade]

Out of the 3 that have come down I'd say Watford are the strongest, however, they're a bit of a basket case club, so that could change following the inevitable sacking of whoever the hell their manager is nowadays.

Norwich will be up there, but they won't be as strong as they were last time without Buendia and Cantwell. I really don't rate Dean Smith either.

Burnley - as noted, now without Dyche, in a real financial mire and have/will lost a lot of their key players. I wouldn't be overly surprised if they are mid-lower end.

West From and Boro are probably the safest bets of being up there, otherwise. ]

Not sure on Huddersfield - could their manager go? What about key players? Similar with Luton, I can't see them being in the top 6 again.

Outside of that it's probably much of a muchness. They'll be a surprise package like always. Millwall always flirt with the play-offs. I can't see any of the promoted sides being near the play-offs. Sunderland are the obvious choice, but I thought they looked shit in the play-offs.

For top 6 I'd probably go with:

1. Watford
2. Boro
3. Norwich
4. United
5. Surprise package
6. West Brom

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Kompany will have a good team on paper, however, I presume his style of play will be completely different to what they’ve experienced under Sean Dyche. Like our players under Slav sometimes it’s not the right match.

Could be wrong though, I doubt they’ll sell too many players there’s no many that other team would want.

 

[Snowflake]

Kompany will have a good team on paper, however, I presume his style of play will be completely different to what they’ve experienced under Sean Dyche. Like our players under Slav sometimes it’s not the right match.

Could be wrong though, I doubt they’ll sell too many players there’s no many that other team would want.

The good ones have already gone !

 

[brownblade]

I expect Burnley to be among the favourites for promotion. Kompany should be able to get great loans from man city in and may even attract some loans from european top sides via his network, and I believe he has a great future as a manager.

But have you ever been to Burnley mate?! Attracting good players isn't something they could even do much despite being mid table in the prem.

 

[brownblade]

Kompany will have a good team on paper, however, I presume his style of play will be completely different to what they’ve experienced under Sean Dyche. Like our players under Slav sometimes it’s not the right match.

Could be wrong though, I doubt they’ll sell too many players there’s no many that other team would want.

Kompany feels a bizarre appointment tbh. Could be wrong but I think they'll struggle to compete.

 

[PurpleRain]

But have you ever been to Burnley mate?! Attracting good players isn't something they could even do much despite being mid table in the prem.

Funny enough, I have been to Burnley. In my student years I regularly did ground hopping trips to the uk. Burnley were in the 3rd tier back then and met some people there that took me to Burnley’ midweek fa cup tie at Liverpool. Took 7,000 to Liverpool, I was quite impressed at the time. Was one of the bigger away crowds I had witnessed. But the town indeed is quite shabby. Everything was closed at 11 pm in the weekend.

 

[brownblade]

Top 3 next season, in no particular order... Huddersfield, Blades, Boro.

Positions 4-6 in no particular order... Norwich, Watford, Luton

 

[brownblade]

Funny enough, I have been to Burnley. In my student years I regularly did ground hopping trips to the uk. Burnley were in the 3rd tier back then and met some people there that took me to Burnley’ midweek fa cup tie at Liverpool. Took 7,000 to Liverpool, I was quite impressed at the time. Was one of the bigger away crowds I had witnessed. But the town indeed is quite shabby. Everything was closed at 11 pm in the weekend.

Haha good on you. More time than I've spent there! In all seriousness though they've lost a chunk of their best players and will lose the others. They'll need to spend well, but may rely on good loans like you've said.

But also a massive gamble on the manager choice i think.

 

[adiosmiamigo]

Out of the 3 that have come down I'd say Watford are the strongest, however, they're a bit of a basket case club, so that could change following the inevitable sacking of whoever the hell their manager is nowadays.

Norwich will be up there, but they won't be as strong as they were last time without Buendia and Cantwell. I really don't rate Dean Smith either.

Burnley - as noted, now without Dyche, in a real financial mire and have/will lost a lot of their key players. I wouldn't be overly surprised if they are mid-lower end.

West From and Boro are probably the safest bets of being up there, otherwise. ]

Not sure on Huddersfield - could their manager go? What about key players? Similar with Luton, I can't see them being in the top 6 again.

Outside of that it's probably much of a muchness. They'll be a surprise package like always. Millwall always flirt with the play-offs. I can't see any of the promoted sides being near the play-offs. Sunderland are the obvious choice, but I thought they looked shit in the play-offs.

For top 6 I'd probably go with:

1. Watford
2. Boro
3. Norwich
4. United
5. Surprise package
6. West Brom

Until we get some pace in midfield and strikers who can score 10-15 goals apiece can't see top six for us but you never know

 

[adiosmiamigo]

Top 3 next season, in no particular order... Huddersfield, Blades, Boro.

Positions 4-6 in no particular order... Norwich, Watford, Luton

I like your confidence.

 

[bertieblade]

Kompany could be the Burnley David Weir

 

[mattbianco1]

Early days yet, I know, and it will likely become clearer towards the end of the transfer window but who do we think the main challengers for promotion will be this year? It might not even be us, recruitment dependent, in fairness.

Personally:

I think both Norwich and Watford are likely to be up there. Both are yo-yo teams and have the consistency (Norwich) at this level and the players (Watford) to hurt a lot of teams. Indeed, if Watford can manage their squad well, then they could easy romp home. Dennis at this level would be deadly.

Of the play-off contenders, I can see Huddersfield being up there again. They've gradually improved over the last couple of years and have the players to get results. Luton I can see falling away.

I can see WBA being a much bigger threat this season. Swift is a great signing and some of the other players they've been linked with would make them very strong. QPR will depend on recruitment, but Coventry could build on the relative success of last season. Of the early transfer activity, I've been impressed with what Bristol City have been doing. Looks like shrewd business so far. I suspect Boro will be up there as well. If they get £20 million for Spence then that's a lot of transfer funds to play with.

I think Preston and Swansea might have decent seasons as well. Even Cardiff.

Of the teams coming up, I don't think any will trouble the top 6. Sunderland might be closest depending on how much they can spend.

The really fascinating factor is that a lot of teams are losing top players on frees or end of loans.

I think top two will be a struggle again but the play-offs are probably there for the taking with a bit of wise business.

Including United, you've named over half the division

Too early to call at the minute before all signings have been made etc.

If all squads stayed as they are NOW, i'd say the top 6, in any order will be:

1. United
2. Norwich
3. Watford
4. Burnley
5. WBA
6. Boro

 

[JayGreen17]

Including United, you've named over half the division

Too early to call at the minute before all signings have been made etc.

If all squads stayed as they are NOW, i'd say the top 6, in any order will be:

1. United
2. Norwich
3. Watford
4. Burnley
5. WBA
6. Boro

But they’re not we’ve lost MGW, and he ain’t coming back.

 

[PurpleRain]

Vincent Kompany wordt best betaalde coach in Engelse tweede klasse

Het was een zware bevalling, maar Burnley stelt eerstdaags Vincent Kompany (36) voor als coach. Hij wordt met zo’n 2,9 miljoen euro per jaar de best betaalde trainer in The Championship – de Engelse tweede klasse – en moet Burnley weer naar de Premier League loodsen. In Kompany’s staf en kern...

m.nieuwsblad.be

Burnley is paying 2.9 million to Kompany. Some enforcements from the Belgian league expected there.

 

[mattbianco1]

But they’re not we’ve lost MGW, and he ain’t coming back.

I said as they are now

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Vincent Kompany wordt best betaalde coach in Engelse tweede klasse

Het was een zware bevalling, maar Burnley stelt eerstdaags Vincent Kompany (36) voor als coach. Hij wordt met zo’n 2,9 miljoen euro per jaar de best betaalde trainer in The Championship – de Engelse tweede klasse – en moet Burnley weer naar de Premier League loodsen. In Kompany’s staf en kern...

m.nieuwsblad.be

Burnley is paying 2.9 million to Kompany. Some enforcements from the Belgian league expected there.

Can anyone read Belgianese?

 

[Balham]

Can anyone read Belgianese?

Google translate is your friend. Rough gist is that Burnley may not have a pot to piss in but Kompany will be the best paid manager in the Championship at £50k/week plus bonuses and he is after young players from Belgium (Makhtar Gueye, Josh Cullen & Mandela Keita) and Man City (Taylor Harwood-Bellis).

 

[derfblade.3]

Watford are dreadful. Think they will struggle. Next season wont have runaway winners. All much of a muchness.