Championship Next Season

[I should coco]

They mistake was trying to modernise the club and change us into a Brighton, Brentford type, too early

It wasn't so much too early, as it was piss poor execution, with no planning,

 

[LBA_Blade]

Next season if we are “starting football from ‘92” only Wrexham (but spending like they are), Bristol City, Preston and Lincoln City haven't yet played in the Premiership/ Premier League. With only 2 of them not competing in the old 1st division. It’s an exceptionally strong division which must be pretty unique

 

[Slug]

Next season if we are “starting football from ‘92” only Wrexham (but spending like they are), Bristol City, Preston and Lincoln City haven't yet played in the Premiership/ Premier League. With only 2 of them not competing in the old 1st division. It’s an exceptionally strong division which must be pretty unique

Millwall haven't played in the Prem either.

 

[LBA_Blade]

Millwall haven't played in the Prem either.

Well spotted, an old 1st division side too though even adding them into that non-Prem mix as a club that finished 3rd it will be interesting to see what they do next season

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I can't see beyond Spurs/West Ham and Burrrrrrnley for automatic promotion next time. The former will be just too strong at this level, and the latter just have the knowhow.

I can't make my mind up about Wolves, but you'd expect them to make the play-offs. Then there's the half-dozen or so who missed out this time who'll strengthen too. It's looking like a very difficult competition next season.

Not sure about Burrrrrrnley.
Now Parker has gone, they might find the new manager tries to (unsuccessfully) reinvent the team.

 

[Bell4]

Personally I still can’t miss any play offs as I always have the bonkers idea that if I miss it we will win. Same with FA Cup semis that we have been in. Personally I think we need to be a bit more realistic now, with the clubs in the Championship top 14 would be an achievement. Just let’s try and stay up first and see what happens from there

Sad state of affairs when we think top 14 will be an achievement .

Just shows how poorly led this club is following 3 years of Prem football plus associated parachute payments over only a 7 years of period - wow

 

[UddersBlade]

Sad state of affairs when we think top 14 will be an achievement .

Just shows how poorly led this club is following 3 years of Prem football plus associated parachute payments over only a 7 years of period - wow

Yep - apart from some work on the stadium - what is our long lasting legacy from the circa £500 million we received from our 3 seasons in the Premier League and 3 years of parachute payments? That is what is scary!

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

I'd enjoy knowing your reasoning why you're confident in the one call, yet don't believe that the side who finished 28 points (I looked it up) behind the team you're certain will be relegated, would also not be relegation certainties?

https://www.s24su.com/forum/threads/championship-predictions-2025-26.104337/page-4

#101

I do have form

 

[Inter_blade83]

VAR is put in the final because it’s the biggest prize in football so I suppose they want to make simile decisions are correctZ

Regards our disallowed goal Vini was offside and interferint with play running in front of the keeper but the goal was going in anyway, so it probably didn’t interfere with play.

Not sure what the rules says.

When the ball was struck he wasn't interfering and it was 2 defenders blocking the keepers view. If he stands still its a goal. He jogged across and that's what did it for us.

Still harsh though.

 

[LBA_Blade]

Sad state of affairs when we think top 14 will be an achievement .

Just shows how poorly led this club is following 3 years of Prem football plus associated parachute payments over only a 7 years of period - wow

It really is, but when you look at the teams coming down and the ones that have stayed down we only just managed that this season so we are competing in that middle group of clubs now rather than top 8, 8th would be a very good season next season. Wilder has nothing to lose as his contract is up next year so he can either jump ship or see the season out and move on and if we end up somehow being close to autos he will be signing a new deal and everyone will be saying how great he is etc etc

 

[Carlton Blade]

Parachute team
Parachute team
A slight surprise
Parachute team
Fuck knows x 20

 

[John Street West Terrace]

The 3 relegated sides will all be up there with Southampton & Norwich . In addition to those Brum & Wrexham will be in the mix just because the financial backing they have ..I don’t know why but I think Millwall will be one season & Boro will lose their better players to balance the books
Apart from ourselves there is local derbies galore in the division , our nearest games probably being Derby & Lincoln.
Im still very apprehensive about this summer & what or if our war chest will be so we’ll see how the summer pans out

 

[luffenhamblade]

This talk about competing in the mid group of clubs when nothing has been sorted transfer wise and start of season hopes should be there every year! Hull went up this year for goodness sake - I’d argue that we have underperformed for at least the last 2 years and if Wilder doesn’t get it right he won’t be with us long next season. This is not meant to be pro or anti Wilder just that surely we are at least starting the season with the intent of promotion?

 

[derfblade.3]

West Ham may not be the nailed on certainties that many are predicting.
They will have to lose many top earners due to ridiculous wages paid to average players. Summerville, Bowen, Wilson,Soucek,Wan-Bissaka,El Hadji Malck Diouf and others will be off like a shot. What's left are bang average and if they get off to a bad start the natives will cause havoc.

 

[Aston max]

Honestly as things stand without significant movement in player recruitment, coaching staff, possible good DOF and dore getting started with some serious movement.
I fear this next season could be worse than the one just finished.

 

[gordoncharles]

https://www.s24su.com/forum/threads/championship-predictions-2025-26.104337/page-4

#101

I do have form

Congratuations.

I was just asking whether there was any method being employed here, other than choosing what appears to be the 'smallest' club in the division and assuming their relegation as a result?

Why not Bolton?

 

[djbaldken]

I’ll predict early as a starter for 10 - Top 8
1. Wolves - P
2. West Ham - P
3. Norwich
4.Burnley
5. Derby
6. Southampton
7. Wrexham
8. Sheff Utd - P - yep finally against all the odds to win the play offs.!!!

I think you are not far wrong with this.
Though I'm not sure we'll make top 8!
Birmingham will splash more cash again.
Add in Millwall who made top four.

Depending on our transfer business this summer I feel it will be mid table mediocrity again.
I could be wrong. I usually am.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Congratuations.

I was just asking whether there was any method being employed here, other than choosing what appears to be the 'smallest' club in the division and assuming their relegation as a result?

Why not Bolton?

Can't divulge my methods.

 

[The Fox]

My prediction for the championship is that it'll be unpredictable and competitive.

Even 1 or 2 the parachute teams could make a mess of it , teams like boro and saints could fall of a cliff some team from nowhere could make a run to the top .

Its the championship after all .

And all the better for it.

 

[FriethBlade]

Yep - apart from some work on the stadium - what is our long lasting legacy from the circa £500 million we received from our 3 seasons in the Premier League and 3 years of parachute payments? That is what is scary!

Udders i will tell you what else is scary is that there is one man who has overseen this debacle from start to finish and he is still here and appears untouchable. In any other industry any company whose CEO had sanctioned the complete waste of investment in assets that he has and seen revenue fall by a much as it has would have resigned out of embarrassment or been sacked.

 

[1066blade]

I'm not worried at all. After all, we gave Chris £55m and he secured our future with Brewster, McBurnie and last but not least, Cannon. Why worry? The man's golden.

 

[KMC-1889]

West Ham may not be the nailed on certainties that many are predicting.
They will have to lose many top earners due to ridiculous wages paid to average players. Summerville, Bowen, Wilson,Soucek,Wan-Bissaka,El Hadji Malck Diouf and others will be off like a shot. What's left are bang average and if they get off to a bad start the natives will cause havoc.

Papers reporting that they need £170m of sales to keep their heads above water. Think they’re more likely to ‘do a Leicester’ than bounce back. A lot depends on the manager situation.

 

[silver blade]

That is one hell of a strong league, lots of parachute payment teams along with strong sides like Boro, Millwall, Norwich, Disney FC & Brum all of which will splash the cash. Will expect Derby & WBA to be in the mix and maybe a league one promotion side giving it a real go. We need to get this summer bang on to even consider a top eight finish.

Bookies are predicting that we make the play offs

 

[1066blade]

Bookies are predicting that we make the play offs

Play offs, shmay offs means f all to this club whose players just freeze whenever they get to breathing distance of a PO final.

 

[metalblade]

Another season of looking over our shoulders, no early signings and the usual panic on the last day of the window when all the good players are long gone.

 

[mattbianco1]

Bolton haven’t been in the premier league for 14 years… far more recently been in league 2.

But their owners are minted and have been backing them loads in L1

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/25606467.bolton-wanderers-chairman-reveals-60m-investment-club/

 

[Ned the Donkey]

As far as I can tell the Championship is the highest level of actual, real football (not VARball) in the world.

I get that players and staff want "promotion", but from a purely selfish point of view I'd happily watch us finish outside the top two (though not too far outside) till the cows come home.

It's the only way I would get to see my team playing actual, real football.

 

[JayGreen17]

We need to move early and steel a match in the league early on, look at Coventry… BUT WE WONT.. which pisses me off

 

[I should coco]

I'm not worried at all. After all, we gave Chris £55m and he secured our future with Brewster, McBurnie and last but not least, Cannon. Why worry? The man's golden.

It's getting very tedious, but I'll bite.

McBurnie helped keep us up for another season, and another £120m.

You seem to have missed Clarke, Egan, George, Fleck, Norwood, O'Connel, Didzy, Duffy and Enda, out of your unbiased comprehensive and objective list.

 

[1066blade]

I was obviously referring to Wilders big money flops, which in my eyes no one can defend