2011/12 Season Predictions

[PieEater]

Our season will depend on whether we keep Long, if not then we are weaker than last season and shouldn't expect to be anywhere other than mid table.

Leicester, West Ham, Ipswich and Blackpool (even without Adams) will be strong. I expect Brum to plummet.

Brighton and Southampton will also be strong and be there or there abouts, Posh after losing Makail-Smith will struggle.

Of the others, Hull might surprise us they looked strong season, Pompey will over spend and fluke some success, Burnley will struggle after losing Eagles and Mears.

Coventry, Posh and Watford/Palace for the drop.

[leww_rfc]

Blackpool (even without Adams) will be strong. .

Who?

[Isaac Hunt]

Our season will depend on whether we keep Long, if not then we are weaker than last season and shouldn't expect to be anywhere other than mid table.

Leicester, West Ham, Ipswich and Blackpool (even without Adams) will be strong. I expect Brum to plummet.

Brighton and Southampton will also be strong and be there or there abouts, Posh after losing Makail-Smith will struggle.

Of the others, Hull might surprise us they looked strong season, Pompey will over spend and fluke some success, Burnley will struggle after losing Eagles and Mears.

Coventry, Posh and Watford/Palace for the drop.

Agree with pretty much all of that. I'd add Cardiff to the sides that might be strong, maybe Forest too. Barnsley to be close to the drop too.

[RFCUK]

1. Leicester
2. Reading
-----------------
3. Hull
4. Leeds
5. Nottingham Forest
6. Southampton
-----------------
7. Birmingham
8. Cardiff City


20. Doncaster
21. Portsmouth
-----------------
22. Crystal Palace
23. Barnsley
24. Millwall

[paultheroyal]

Yeah I may as well explain it... It's reported that Chris Hughton is coming in, who would suit them very well, a very good manager!

IN

Chris Burke.. was very good for Cardiff and in this division in general.
Marlon King.. hate to say it, but he can score goals.
Steven Caldwell.. decent signing

I dunno, i've just got a feeling about them. I can't see anyone running away with it this year!

Leww your having a bit of a mare to be fair.

[paultheroyal]

1. Leicester
2. West Ham
-----------------
3. Notts Forest
4. Reading
5. Southampton
6. Brighton
--------------
7. Blackpool
8. Middlesbrough
9. Ipswich
10. Cardiff
11. Portsmouth
12. Leeds

-----------------
13. Birmingham
14. Bristol City
15. Hull
16. Derby
17. Coventry
18. Burnley
19. Crystal Palace
20. Watford
21. Millwall
-----------------
22. Barnsley
23. Doncaster
24. Peterborough

[Ian Royal]

1. Forest
2. Leicester
-----------------
3. Reading
4. Saints
5. West Ham
6. Leeds
--------------
7. Brighton
8. Burnley
9. Cardiff
10. Portsmouth
11. Ipswich
12. Birmingham
-----------------
13. Derby
14. Millwall
15. Middlesbrough
16. Hull
17. Bristol City
18. Blackpool
19. Crystal Palace
20. Barnsley
21. Watford
-----------------
22. Peterborough
23. Doncaster
24. Coventry

[floyd__streete]

A lot of people tipping Reading to finish higher that last season's 5th

[AthleticoSpizz]

A lot of people tipping Reading to finish higher that last season's 5th

possibly the same ones who foresaw mid-table mediocrity last season

[Ian Royal]

A lot of people tipping Reading to finish higher that last season's 5th

possibly the same ones who foresaw mid-table mediocrity last season

Not in my case.

I might revise it when Long actually goes. But in answer to Floyd's incredulity, I think we've got a better defence this season, our midfield is better than we started last season with and our strike force is also (currently) much better than we started last season with.

[SCIAG]

A lot of people tipping Reading to finish higher that last season's 5th

possibly the same ones who foresaw mid-table mediocrity last season

Not in my case.

I might revise it when Long actually goes. But in answer to Floyd's incredulity, I think we've got a better defence this season, our midfield is better than we started last season with and our strike force is also (currently) much better than we started last season with.

You really don't like Mills, do you?

I won't predict a position. I will predict that at least one of our less proven midfield or attacking players will step up a notch and become a sellable asset. I'm referring to any of our midfielders or attackers other than Legs, Howard, Tabb, Gunnarsson, McAnuff, Kebe, Hunt and Long.

Alex Pearce and Shaun Cummings will, at very least, improve their stock within the club, even if they do not get recognition outside of the club. Both will become fixtures in the side, barring injury.

A player we have high hopes for will be sent out on loan and not do as well as hoped. Possibly Antonio.

We will finish in the top half, and make a good stab at promotion, at the very least.

In terms of goals, Long will not do as well as last season. He will have a significant dry spell (possibly excluding penalties) sometime in the first half of the season that will lead to a significant number of Nobbers calling for him to be dropped. His form will improve sometime in the second half of the season.

Federici will make one major mistake. From then on, every tiny thing he does wrong will be met with howls of derision, with calls for McCarthy (if availible) or Andersen to take up the sticks.

[Ian Royal]

No, I didn't like him, and I didn't rate him very highly. I expect Khumalo to be better for us, maybe I'm being a bit exciteable about him though. I expect good things from Pearce too and after a worrying start to pre-season Morrison is sounding a much better prospect again.

Admittedly Harte and Griffin are a year older, but Cummings seems better placed to take over from Griff, and probably will before the season is out. The only worry is left back with Williams having been poor and Harte getting closer to his zimmer.

Are we stronger than the side we had that finished last season? Maybe, when factoring in ages. Are we better than the side that started last season? Hell yes.

[bassavage]

I'm going to go for:

1. Leicester
2. West Ham
3. Birmingham
4. Burnley
5. Hull
6. Southampton
7. Nottingham Forest
8. Leeds
9. Cardiff
10. Reading
11. Portsmouth
12. Ipswich
13. Derby
14. Middlesborough
15. Brighton
16. Blackpool
17. Bristol City
18. Millwall
19. Crystal Palace
20. Barnsley
21. Watford
22. Doncaster
23. Coventry
24. Peterborough

It's a funny one this year, I just can't see us making the top 6, I can't see us being as strong as we were last season. Yet I look at the teams in our division and apart from West Ham, Leicester and probably Birmingham none of the other sides I would say are better than us. We have a decent team, but it's just decent. I disagree with Ian Royal, I think our defence is a lot weaker this season and I hope to be proven wrong but I'm not particularly filled with confidence looking at it. It's going to be hard for Long to match his season last year, never mind anybody else stepping up and doing that. I can see a season very similar to last year up until February. Let's hope we face some Merseyside opposition in the FA Cup this year to kickstart us!

[Libertine]

1. West Ham
2. Leicester
-----------------
3. Leeds
4. Reading
5. Southampton
6. Nottingham Forest
-----------------
7. Birmingham
8. Cardiff
9. Portsmouth
10. Ipswich
11. Burnley
12. Blackpool
13. Hull
14. Derby
15. Bristol City
16. Brighton
17. Millwall
18. Watford
19. Middlesborough
20. Peterborough
21. Coventry
-----------------
22. Crystal Palace
23. Barnsley
24. Doncaster

I am optimistic of a top 6 based on Khumalo and Pearce pairing at CB, I consider that to be an upgrade over last year. And with the hopefully continued development of Cummings in addition to Harte and Griff with their experience I am not that worried about the backline. Leigertwood is the key to the midfield. He and Jem were a great pairing last season and we don't lose much when it's with Tabb instead of Jem. Up front I like what I see with Jobi, Kebe, Obita and HRK on the wings. HRK is really developing and might end up playing a lot of time as a striker. And Obita has looked good in preseason and I am sure will get his chances during the season. The strikers of Long, Hunt, Manset and Church is VERY solid also. We all know the year Shane had the previous one but even if he goes we still have players who appear they can score. Plus like I said just above HRK might end up becoming a striker especially if Long goes. Manset has really got himself into shape and I feel he will be a factor. Hunt will get his 10-12. And hopefully one of these years Church will figure it out because he has the talent to do better than he has when given a chance. Even if Long goes, instead of having one striker account for most of the goals I see it being more spread around in terms of scoring. The keeping is fine. I would feel equally comfortable with either Feds or Alex in goal. And with Hamer as a 3rd right now goal keeping is probably the strongest area of the organization. Right now I see a team which is very similar to last year's squad...if not a bit stronger if the young players continue to develop. So I am cautiously optimistic that we can at least repeat what was done last year, and hopefully better it.

[Avon Royal]

If we replace Long, we will probably make the playoffs. If we don't, we almost certainly won't.

Let's see how much the club cares.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

No real reason to feel we will not at least make the top 6, and be pushing for it all season, what we need is a decent start, and just keep going really. BMc seems to be able to just push along and get a run going. A tight squad with a regular team is the best way, that means at times playing favourites even if out of form a bit, we have the players to go one up front if we need to and we have a couple of decent, if aging guys that can cover more than one position.

Would I put money on promotion, well yes, not the title but promotion would be worth a punt.

I do not see Leicester and WHU doing as well as people think, Brum are the title winners for me, slightly more settled than WHU, who could suffer from billy big bollox syndrome, thinking they will walk away with it.

[Still Hate Futcher!]

Leicester and West Ham have made some good signings and I can see why they're favourites given the cash they're throwing around. Still, with so many new faces at both clubs there is hope that they just might not come together as a team. There'll also be a huge amount of pressure on both clubs and the fans/Chairmen won't be patient. I'm also clinging to the hope West Ham still have that losing mentality.

The key for us will be (a) whether we have a play-off hangover (b) how our new centre back pairing does and (c) how Hunt, Manset and Church do, if Long goes as expected. I am confident with the quality at our disposal in midfield. Leigerwood and Karacan could potentialy be a great centre midfield pairing and in Kebe, McAnuff, Robson-Kanu and hopefully Obita we could have the best wingers in the league.

Other contenders for me, Brighton, Soton, Forest, Blackpool and Ipswich.

Donny, Posh and Cov to go down.

[The Prisoner]

1) West Ham
2) Southampton
3) Forest
4) Leicester
5) Brighton
6) Blackpool
7) Reading
8 ) Middlesborough
9) Birmingham
10) Cardiff
11) Hull
12) Burnley
13) Portsmouth
14) Leeds
15) Bristol City
16) Ipswich
17) Derby
18) Doncaster
19) Peterborough
20) Barnsley
21) Palace
22) Watford
23) Coventry
24) Millwall

West Ham will either win it or miss out entirely. I think Big Sam is a solid manager tho and should galvanise them
Leicester won't gel at first. Sure they'll get some results, but big egos don't do well in this league if/when things go wrong
Southampton will get auto. If they don't then swap their position for Brighton (see Norwich this season)
Everyone has written off Blackpool, but they have kept their most important asset - the manager
Birmingham - too much turmoil off the field, no cash and don't rule out administration
Boro improving, Cardiff rebuilding
We will do better if we don't have a poor first half of the season again, but if/when we lose Long it will throw us off stride for a few months a la Gylfi last season

[No Hoops]

Leicester
West Ham

Ipswich to go up in playoffs

Can't dis' this.

Brighton to be the surprise package. (Maybe not such a surprise after Norwich)

[Silver Fox]

1. Reading
2-24. the other 23 teams, in no particular order