09/10 season predictions: 1st 2nd 3rd.. and Reading?

[Skin]

1st Sheff U
2nd Newastle
3rd Ipswich

15th Reading

[Row Z Royal]

Playoffs.




Or layoffs.

[cmonurz]

Much too early. I'll respond at the end of July.

[seahawk10]

Auto.

[Deathy]

1. Newcastle United
2. West Brom
3. Anyone's guess.

8. Reading

[Royal With Cheese]

Much too early. I'll respond at the end of July.

'greed. We need to see what Rodgers does in the transfer market befroe I make a prediction.

I would, however, say that the play-offs should be the target with the correct purchases.

[Snowball]

Q Last season we were fourth and many individual players under-performed.

A Rodgers is all about raising the performance of individuals and making them play better


Q Last season we lacked passion

A Rodgers is all about passion


Q Last season and the relegation season we played too much long ball. When we played a passing game we were much better.

A Rodgers wants to play the passing game



Q Last season we had a tired "been there" manager on has way out, with tired staff

A Rodgers is fresh, ambitious with a lot to prove.


Q Last season (arguably) we had a prima-donna issue

A Rodgers has dealt with a lot worse and done well


Either SHunt will go (most likely because he's expensive) or Rodgers will make him a great player again.

Either Kebe will go or Rodgers will get him to double his good moments and halve the bad. Then he will be fantastic

Bikey will go or Rodgers will sort him out and he'll become a top third Premiership player but still at RFC

Doyle was burnt out having to do too much work... a passing game might make him better

I think the future is looking brilliant. Even if some players go I see players coming in to match. If we don't go up (I think we will) it will be because Rodgers is trying to develop a side which has a few years in it, and that will be a young team, which might often be pretty but can't grind out results.

I have a feeling though, that this will be a fabulous season

[Soul Man]

I have a feeling though, that this will be a fabulous season

Agree with all your comments, and I too feel really excited about next season...

[Handsome Man]

1st Newcastle
2nd Sheffield Utd
3rd Middlesbrough

12th Reading but happy becuase we passed the ball well and two or three of the young players look good prospects.

[Snowball]

Newcastle might well not make it back. It could get worse and they could drift towards the bottom.

Shearer or whoever has to cut the wage bill by 30 Million and that is going to hurt.

I read an analysis somewhere that listed a load of their players on stupid money,
long contracts, no relegation clause, who would not want to leave because they aren't that good

And Shearer looked a bit lost as a coach.

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Sheffield United have/had a good squad but all their talk is off breaking it up and starting over
If they do, I'd say they be 5th-9th this year and probably win the league next year

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Swansea have lost Martinez. They will do incredibly well to challenge next season. Can't see it.

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Cardiff are possibles, but they look likely to lose players and they don't have much money.
They have the new stadium, changed atmosphere. I think top third now.

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QPR and Ipswich have money and Keane showed what he can do with a bottomless pit, so Ipswich probably
QPR will be interesting, again there's money there. If Magilton can keep the board away from the team...

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WBA played some nice stuff but it didn't work. Can they do it again? A bit of a yo-yo side and I'd
be surprised if they are not top six.

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Haven't a clue about Boro...

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I would have fancied Watford to challenge had Rodgers been there. They were my dark horses along with Coventry and maybe Forest

and there again, are Derby gonna start their comeback next year?

If I was laying a book on most-likely (not Geordies banging down their money) I'd have Ipswich favourites

Ipswich

Reading/QPR/WBA

Sheffield Utd/Coventry/Forest and maybe Palace/Derby

BORO and Newcastle

But it looks INCREDIBLY tight. I doubt if there will be big differences between the top dozen
and it could come down to luck, a bit of a run, a few injuries

[Snowball]

Ipswich must be the best current bet at 11-1 and ~I wouldn't mind Reading to win the league if I could get 20's rather than their current 16

They have money, a manager who has done it already (when he took Sunderland on they were bottom and he won the championship)

Surprised QPR are out there at 17-1

Newcastle's odds (9/2) are ridiculous

[chilipepper91]

1. Sheff Utd
2. Reading
3. West Brom
4. Newcastle
5. Ipswich
6. Cardiff

[Ian Royal]

I think this will be a very exciting season. I also think anyone thinking at this stage that we'll better or eqial last season is being overly optimistic and is ignoring the quite big weaknesses in our current squad. With a couple of the right signings we could go a long way. But I think this is likely to be a reasonably successful transitional season.

Currently I'd guess at somewhere between 5th and 15th for us.

How anyone can put a position to Newcastle before seeing whether there is a massive exodus is beyond me.

[Super Kevin Bremner!]

1. Sheff Utd
2. Reading
3. West Brom
4. Newcastle
5. Ipswich
6. Cardiff

Best shout so far for me.

[Super Kevin Bremner!]

1. Sheff Utd
2. Reading
3. West Brom
4. Newcastle
5. Ipswich
6. Cardiff

Best shout so far for me.

[Super Kevin Bremner!]

1. Sheff Utd
2. Reading
3. West Brom
4. Newcastle
5. Ipswich
6. Cardiff

Best shout so far for me.

[Royalee]

I predict promotion.

[Snowball]

I think this will be a very exciting season. I also think anyone thinking at this stage that we'll better or eqial last season is being overly optimistic and is ignoring the quite big weaknesses in our current squad. With a couple of the right signings we could go a long way. But I think this is likely to be a reasonably successful transitional season.

Currently I'd guess at somewhere between 5th and 15th for us.

How anyone can put a position to Newcastle before seeing whether there is a massive exodus is beyond me.

Well Newcastle have stated there will be a big clear-out. They have to cut 30,000,000 from their wage-bill. I think any manager who can bring them straight back up is a genius (not Shearer)

But exactly WHY should we not at least equal this season? Even without any changes (in and out) I would expect top-six. Why not? As I said earlier, either SHunt is brought back to form (that would be a new signing) or he goes and we have money available.. so that is win-win.

I think better use will be made of Doyle (or if he goes we get a replacement to work Rodgers' way)

Rodgers will improve Kebe and we have a string of youngsters who will improve rapidly.

For me, unless we think next year's teams will be noticeably better, then logic says we should finish above fourth.

Now add in a manager who is positive and forward-looking (and not thinking of a year off) and has great coaching credentials
some excellent connections and appears to be full of passion, top three seems very reasonable

[Snowball]

In terms of best bets I'd go

Ipswich
Reading
QPR
WBA
Sheffield Utd
Coventry

Forest
Palace
Derby
BORO
Newcastle

Of course it's too early to make realistic predictions. We might sign Tommy Smith from Watford and get a 20 year old reserve from Milan, and two from Chelsea.. OTOH we might lose Doyle and Bikey

But I really think this guy will be the business and barring a disaster we will be top six and chalenging the top spot

[Franchise FC]

All the stuff about Newcastle is very interesting.

They had the fifth highest wage bill in the PL last season. The turmoil behind the scenes is likely to have a major impact on their ability to pick up new signings, and I wouldn;t be surprised if they really struggle to adjust.

Their saving grace might just be that they could expect crowds of 40k+. (MAYBE !!) If they do, it'll give then some financial muscle - if the crowds dip into the 25-30k, they may find it almost impossible to make an immediate return.