The Championship Thread 2018/19

[Hereford Wolf]

It goes without saying how much we all enjoyed the championship last year, but even without the great matches that we were involved in, the whole competition was really exciting.

I'm looking forward to watching a load of championship games again next season - just look at some of the teams of interest.

Stoke, Villa, West Brom, Derby, Forest, Swansea etc.

Should be excellent viewing and, as always, impossible to call.

Live on Sky:-

3rd Aug Reading v Derby
4th Aug Sheff Utd v Swansea
5th Aug Leeds v Stoke
6th Aug Hull v Villa
7th Aug Forest v West Brom

I reckon I'll watch them all!

 

[Lycan]

Interested to see how Leeds do this season. Appointed Bielsa and then done nothing in the transfer market since then.

 

[Nando]

I wouldn't be surprised if he walked before they kick-off.

 

[AndyWolves]

Forest are the team i'll have my eye on, they've copied the wolves "model" - in terms of spending a load on Portuguese players.

Hopefully they've realised there is a bit more to it than that.

It's a brave strategy, lets see how it works out for them

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

They haven't yet worked out that it's preferable to have a manager who doesn't actively try to score either 0 or 1 goals per game.

 

[Johnny75]

I think Stoke will come straight back up under Rowett. Interested to see how Lampard gets on at Derby.

 

[Kenny]

Interested to see how Leeds do this season. Appointed Bielsa and then done nothing in the transfer market since then.

Signed a keeper from Chelsea on loan (he was at Sheff Utd last season)

 

[AndyWolves]

I think Stoke will come straight back up under Rowett.

I'd agree with that.

They look strong and have recruited well. If they keep Butland & Allen i can't really see anyone else challenging them for top spot

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I think Stoke will come straight back up under Rowett.

They should walk it, easily the best squad, good manager (although he does need to play a bit more expressively at times), supply Afobe and we know he'll get goals at that level, as I mentioned on the transfer thread yesterday Butland might end up staying by default. The only blot on their copybook is trying to sign James McClean.

 

[Langers]

Yeah I can't see past Stoke either.

I wonder if Boro might become firmly established with Pulisball and stink their way into contention as well?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He's been playing a proper mutant back four in pre-season. McNair-Shotton-Flint-Gibson. He's played Fry as a DM as well. Still got Ayala to come back.

 

[Langers]

McNair-Shotton-Flint-Gibson

 

[lemonjelly]

I'll wait to see where we have players going on loan. Then I may pay attention to those teams, not just via Sedgleys excellent thread.

 

[Tony Towner]

Butland has already said he won't leave for a mid table Prem club, so there's only really Chelsea open to him and that doesn't feel like a good fit. Hope he stays as Blues are desperate for that money, same goes for Gray at Leicester.

At the moment Stoke and Boro would be my choice now that the latter will have had a pre season to drill Pulisball into them properly.

 

[Lord Knows]

Swansea have retained high wage levels and have enough quality to be contenders.

 

[Lord Knows]

He's been playing a proper mutant back four in pre-season. McNair-Shotton-Flint-Gibson. He's played Fry as a DM as well. Still got Ayala to come back.

Pulis would take away your love for the game, you would think he would reach a stage in his coaching career when he might think about playing some football.

 

[YoungWolf]

He's been playing a proper mutant back four in pre-season. McNair-Shotton-Flint-Gibson. He's played Fry as a DM as well. Still got Ayala to come back.

Amazing. Shocked that Gibson is still there

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Stoke , Middlesbrough for me.Sheffield Utd as dark horses. Swansea and Derby Play offs with Leeds or Forest. Wigan and Blackburn may have surprise capability too.

Relegated
Birmingham, Rotherham , Reading

 

[Derby Wolf]

Thought Wednesday looked good at Molineux.

Played some good passing football, admittedly they had the penetration of Saunders mensa application against a team on the beach but think with a full pre season of the managers ideas and what not they could suprirse a few.

As long as Pulis fails I don't really care who comes up. Make or break for Rowetts reputation. Though me thinks. He's had mitigation at Blues and to a lesser extent at Derby so if he fails at Stoke it's got to be on him.

 

[Tony Towner]

Derby fans by and large weren't sad to see Rowett go, played unadventurous and on occasion cowardly football.