The new season

[Barry the bird boggler]

So then how is 2010/2011 going to pan out.

Personally I reckon Middlesbrough and Cardiff are going to be providing the benchmark performances we have to match. Leicester, Forest and Sheff Utd are going to be thereabouts with Swansea possibly getting in on the act if they can find a goalscorer and also QPR and Ipswich if they launch some of their money into their respective bids. I'd also expect Burnley to challenge and certainly be the best of the three relegated sides (as for Portsmouth. I think their season depends on how much they get away with financially and Hull just seem to be in a bit of a state and need to shift players out).

As for Reading, well I am still not sure what to expect, I can see us struggling almost as much as I can see us challenging so the first few league games are really going to be interesting.

Thoughts?

[NR_Royal]

We can do it in this format:

Top performers: Middlesbrough, Forest

Challengers: Reading, Cardiff, Burnley, Leeds

Underperformers: QPR, Sheff Utd

Relegation: Watford, Scunthorpe, Derby

Reading: Playoff challengers

[Bucks Dave]

If you go to http://www.oddschecker.com/football/eng ... /promotion then the various bookies have us around fifth, a position I would be most happy with.

We now have a settled team which knows the way its manager wants it to play and is comfortable with, a manager who comes across as a great bloke who understands football at this level and an academy that seems capable of producing midfielders and attackers. We had a second half season that saw us achieve playoff form with players who now seem confident in this division.

So a relegation struggle then.

[RFCUK]

Top 8

Sheffield United
Reading
-----------------------
Bristol City
Notts Forest
Leeds
Leciester
-----------------------
Burnley
Cardiff

Bottom 5

Preston
Ipswich
-----------------------
Watford
Coventry City
Doncaster Rovers

[Isaac Hunt]

1. Forest
2. 'Boro
-----------------------
8. Reading

Bottom 3
-----------------------
Barnsley
Millwall
Scunny

[Urinal Mint]

little early to make these predictions isn't it? but in terms of our chances, top half but missing out on the top six.

[Ian Royal]

Think I'll wait until the end of the month when we know a little more about the respective squads.

Well ours anyway seeing as I'm unlikely to really pay that much attention to everyone else.

[skipper]

Us Top 8 - but I can't see why comments so far rate Middlesbrough?

Could be another exciting season for play off's lots of teams on an even keel.

[chandog]

I think we will defo be around the play offs if we can keep the current sqaud together.

Our defence is looking good with the additions of griffin and williams
Midfiled is very strong with perhaps too many options in the middle. cisse should be sold to help save this magical £4Million for mr mad as we can easily do without him
Maybe we need an extra striking option as i dont rate long or rasiak as players who will score the amount of goals needed in a promotion contending team.

[Mr Optimist]

I think Boro will be hoping to be up there and are splashing the cash with the signing of Kris Boyd. They know they have to get back this season or it could be a long wait and have decided to gamble heavily in doing so. If they don't succeed it could all end in tears!!

Will be interested to see quite how good Boyd is in the second tier of English football considering he scores goals for fun in the SPL.

Not sure I agree Cardiff will be up there because I reckon they will lose Ledley and Whittingham. Think we will be around the lower play off places without really threatening auto spots but I will be more than happy with that. Think the teams around us will be Leeds, Burnley, Forest, QPR and possibly Portsmouth if they come out of the financial car crash with a reasonable squad and resources.

Cov might be dark horses with Bothroyd; not pretty but organised.

[chilipepper91]

splashing the cash with the signing of Kris Boyd

free transfer, wages could be true tho, was offere £50k/week to go to Turkey but plumped for Boro

[Mr Optimist]

splashing the cash with the signing of Kris Boyd

free transfer, wages could be true tho, was offere £50k/week to go to Turkey but plumped for Boro

He won't come cheap as he turned down Brum last year who were widely reported to be offering him £30k plus a week. Not many clubs at this level could or would have a player on those sort of wages.

[loyalroyal4life]

I predict Boro will win it.

Apart from them can't see many outstanding teams so i will go with U Rsss in 2nd place (probably moreso cos I know we will fcuk it in the playoffs, so best to aim high )

[under the tin]

This is generally a "tight" league, and I see absolutlely no reason why this season will be any different.
I don't know why Leeds are being touted, and not Norwich. Carrow road is a football fortress, and I can't see many teams getting anything there. Leeds, on the other hand, blow hot and cold.
Boro have splashed a bit of cash, but we all know that guarantees nothing. Unless they start quick and strongly, the pressure will mount on Strachan and his players.
I genuinely believe that those who are challenging at the top end of the table will be those teams that can grind out results, week in week out, and Warnock is a specialist at that. I also think that RFC have as good a shot as anyone else, because the coming new age of fiscal austerity will make the playing field more level than ever.
I think that this year, it will go right down to the wire.

[Dirk Gently]

My predictions for financial turmoil this season include Leicester (just lost their manager because of financial uncertainties, and Mardaric may well go down when the tax-avoidance hearing comes to court) and Cardiff (I'm not sure their Malaysian is quite all they hope he is, and the sums involved there are also quite massive).

[Mr Angry]

Last season Forest spent vast sums in the hope that they would go up (the old "speculate to accumulate" football financial model much beloved on internet forums such as this....) and I suspect that they could struggle financially this season as a result.

As for who goes up/down; for me a promoted side always seems to do well, so Leeds AND Norwich may well be top 6 contenders for most of the season. Cardiff & Swansea will be there or thereabouts. Will QPR finally deliver on all their recent promises?? Not sure, but if Colin (and his bag of ex Palace/Sheff Utd players he is assembling in Shepards Bush) can't then no-one can, so I would have them up there, but THE club that has to deliver is Boro; Strachan has no excuses this season - he has the money, the pre-season and the support.

Boro
Cardiff
-------------------------------------
Swansea
Leeds
Norwich
QPR
-------------------------------------

As for us, I suspect we will be top 8 candidates, together with Sheff Utd, Burnley, Bristol City (who will be my hot tip for 20011/12 season) and a rejuvenated Pompey. Hull will be mid-table.

Relegation? Scunthorpe, Palace and Barnsley.

[Silver Fox]

Us - champions

Not really bothered about the rest

[strap]

1. Forest
2. 'Boro
-----------------------
8. Reading

Bottom 3
-----------------------
Barnsley
Millwall
Scunny

Far too early to make any kind of reasoned predictionb, but this isn't a bad shout with what we know at present. WOUld hope RFC can go a bit higher but generally not as far fetched as some on here.

[Petercccccc]

1. Forest
2. 'Boro
3. Reading

Bottom 3
-----------------------
Barnsley
Leeds
Scunny

[Isaac Hunt]

1. Forest
2. 'Boro
-----------------------
8. Reading

Bottom 3
-----------------------
Barnsley
Millwall
Scunny

Far too early to make any kind of reasoned predictionb, but this isn't a bad shout with what we know at present. WOUld hope RFC can go a bit higher but generally not as far fetched as some on here.

Yep, too early to really predict, but as things currently stand these are my feelings....and before the news on Boyd. I too hope for more from RFC...hopefully we can add 1 or 2 more that will give us a bit more of an edge.