The Media Prediction Thread

[Houso]

Sky have their preview up:

Manager: Kevin Blackwell. It has been another busy summer for the Blades boss, as he attempts to piece together a squad capable of pushing for promotion. The turnaround of players during Blackwell's time at Bramall Lane has hardly helped his cause, but United remain a force to be reckoned with.

Key man: Chris Morgan. A born leader, Morgan is the heartbeat of Blackwell's side. A local lad with well over 200 appearances for the club under his belt, the experienced centre-half guarantees 100 per cent commitment every time he takes to the field.

Position last season: 8th

Players in: Daniel Bogdanovic (free, Barnsley), Johannes Ertl (free, Crystal Palace), Simon Walton (loan, Plymouth Argyle), Rob Kozluk (unattached), Nyron Nosworthy (loan, Sunderland), Leon Britton (free, Swansea City), Steve Simonsen (free, Stoke City)

Players out: Gary Naysmith (free, Huddersfield Town), Paddy Kenny (£750k, Queens Park Rangers), Ian Bennett (free, Huddersfield Town), Jordon Stewart (undisclosed, Skoda Xanthi), Billy Sharp (£1.15m, Doncaster Rovers), Glen Little (free, Aldershot), Henri Camara, Jonathan Fortune, Derek Geary, Justin Haber, Liban Abdi (all released), Sam Wedgbury (free, Macclesfield Town), James Harper (free, Hull City), Kyel Reid (free, Charlton Athletic)

Our view:: Mid-table mediocrity.

Prediction: 11th

Sky Bet odds: 14/1

a-d - http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11689_6284465,00.html

e-n - http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11689_6284649,00.html

o-z - http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11689_6284773,00.html

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Sky's predictions are always bollocks. Can anyone find there opinions before last season I'm sure Wednesday were top 8.

 

[frechyblade]

Sky's predictions are always bollocks. Can anyone find there opinions before last season I'm sure Wednesday were top 8.

Here you are:
Sky 2009/10 predictions

Blackpool to be 20th and Newcastle 8th!

UTB

 

[LouTheBlade]

Some of those predictions raise a furrowed brow from me. United wont finish as low as 11th IMO, I expect about an 8th placed finish. If we're lucky we might squeeze the playoffs but I have my doubts.

Cardiff in 6th is a strange one. I think they'll finish similarly - about 9th/10th. Cant see them mounting a prolonged playoff challenge. The top three they have predicted is difficult to argue with. I think I said Boro, Forest, Burnley as well.

I think they have Leeds way too low! I would have them as playoff outsiders but similarly to what I think of United and Cardiff, they would fall just short by my reckoning.

 

[Houso]

I think Leeds will finish a bit higher, but their team is very poor. A good manager though.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I think mid-table for us sounds about right.
Middlesborough, Portsmouth, Hull, QPR, Reading and Norwich to be the top six (assuming Portsmouth and Hull aren't deducted points?)
I would have tipped QPR for automatic but they haven't spent any money apart from on Kenny. What happened to their alleged Billions?
Laws and Keane both to be sacked before Xmas.
Forest will be the surprise flops, even Davies says they are 3 or 4 players short.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Forest will be the surprise flops, even Davies says they are 3 or 4 players short.

I think every manager (apart from Wenger) always say they are 3 or 4 players short. I think its a LMA rule.

 

[Grecian2000]

"Key man: Chris Morgan. A born leader, Morgan is the heartbeat of Blackwell's side. A local lad with well over 200 appearances for the club"

Agree wholeheartedley, until we get to the term "local lad". Since when has being from Barnsley been local (unless it's used in a "League of Gentlemen" sort of way)?

 

[Balham]

"Key man: Chris Morgan. A born leader, Morgan is the heartbeat of Blackwell's side. A local lad with well over 200 appearances for the club"

Agree wholeheartedley, until we get to the term "local lad". Since when has being from Barnsley been local (unless it's used in a "League of Gentlemen" sort of way)?

It is local when you're a chump sitting at a computer at Sky's offices in London. They'd probably describe Nick Montgomery as local too.

 

[davidpinder]

Remember everything north of Watford would be local to these London Guys.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

At 14-1 we are definately worth a £10...

 

[Balham]

At 14-1 we are definately worth a £10...

Not to top the league we're not. I'd rather go for promotion at 13/2.

 

[Fiery Blade]

At 14-1 we are definately worth a £10...

If you are free and easy with money like this then perhaps you could help me out if I.m a bit short Dunc?

 

[Latters]

"Key man: Chris Morgan. A born leader, Morgan is the heartbeat of Blackwell's side. A local lad with well over 200 appearances for the club"

Agree wholeheartedley, until we get to the term "local lad". Since when has being from Barnsley been local (unless it's used in a "League of Gentlemen" sort of way)?

I'd class it as local. Coming from Chapeltown (of the Sheffield variety!) Barnsley was as close for me as Sheffield centre, as was Rotherham. I still lived in Sheffield though. Doesn't he live in Hoyland which is borderline Sheffield anyway? We're Sheffield United, not exclusively Sheffield 2 United.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

If you are free and easy with money like this then perhaps you could help me out if I.m a bit short Dunc?

I'm sorry to hear that but money wont do much for your height. Have you thought of wearing cuban heels..?

 

[davidpinder]

SKY'S PREDICTION TABLE

Middlesbrough
Nottingham Forest
Burnley
Hull City
Leicester
Cardiff
Reading
QPR
Bristol City
Swansea
Sheffield United
Portsmouth
Doncaster
Crystal Palace
Ipswich
Norwich
Derby
Coventry
Leeds
Preston
Millwall
Watford
Barnsley
Scunthorpe

 

[Bath Blade]

Don't disagree with much of that, but think Burnley and Swansea will be much lower, and Ipswich, Norwich and Barnsley much higher.

 

[The One]

Those predictions are rubbish. We are predicted 11th with odds of 14/1 but Swansea are predicted 10th with odds of 20/1.........what??