Who do we think will be challenging for the playoffs next season?
If you look at the table since Frank's been in charge we sit 4th, behind the 2 confirmed and the playoff faves. I think we all hope and expect we'll be sniffing round the playoffs again.
Playoff Loser
If Sunderland then their young squad with another year of experience will be a serious contender.
If Sheff Utd they look a class apart to 4th and below so have to be up there again, I think this changes if they lose Gus and Vini Souza but they'll have the funds to rebuild.
The Usual Suspects
I can only pull Middlesbrough currently. They still have cash from Latte Lah going so have the funds to reinvest. I expect Carrick's time has come to an end after 3 years of missing out. Of the other current champ clubs I don't think any have a real chance in next season league.
West Brom and Bristol City won't be close.
Relegated
Ipswich have to be the big faves for the league this season, still got most of the squad that went up 2 years ago with some quality added. Expect they lose Delap but for a substantial fee that will allow them to replace. Mckenna back to being the best manager in this division. They also have to look at Luton as a warning of what can happen if they don't properly recruit for a championship season.
Southampton again have a lot of quality ,for the champ, but they have been abysmal. I think they'll lose more players than Ipswich but have always recruited well to get out of the division.
I have a lot of friends who are Leicester season ticket holders. They will not do well as well as the last time they were in the champ. The quality of there squad is miles away from 2 years ago and the atmosphere around the club is so toxic it's closer to us under Sisu than it is to us currently. They have a lot of decent youngsters though so if they can add a goal scorer, they have enough experience at the back to copy Burnley's approach this year.
The Ipswich Imitator(s)
Birmingham really worry me, more so than Wrexham. They have the blueprint and sustainability to become a serious force. Wrexham will always struggle to fill more than 25k seats but Birmingham are a different level of club. They have a lower mid table champ team currently and serious backing to add quality to that. Ipswich showed that you can throw money at the window between the champ and league one to great success and face no penalties. It's high risk, high reward but both Wrexham and Birmingham have done it to great success (off the top of my head I can't think of a side that has done this and hasn't been promoted yet).
Wrexham don't have the quality that Birmingham have so they will need serious recruitment if they want to compete.
TL;DR
Cov
Middlesborough
Ipswich
Southampton
Leicester
Birmingham
Loser of the Playoffs
If you look at the table since Frank's been in charge we sit 4th, behind the 2 confirmed and the playoff faves. I think we all hope and expect we'll be sniffing round the playoffs again.
Playoff Loser
If Sunderland then their young squad with another year of experience will be a serious contender.
If Sheff Utd they look a class apart to 4th and below so have to be up there again, I think this changes if they lose Gus and Vini Souza but they'll have the funds to rebuild.
The Usual Suspects
I can only pull Middlesbrough currently. They still have cash from Latte Lah going so have the funds to reinvest. I expect Carrick's time has come to an end after 3 years of missing out. Of the other current champ clubs I don't think any have a real chance in next season league.
West Brom and Bristol City won't be close.
Relegated
Ipswich have to be the big faves for the league this season, still got most of the squad that went up 2 years ago with some quality added. Expect they lose Delap but for a substantial fee that will allow them to replace. Mckenna back to being the best manager in this division. They also have to look at Luton as a warning of what can happen if they don't properly recruit for a championship season.
Southampton again have a lot of quality ,for the champ, but they have been abysmal. I think they'll lose more players than Ipswich but have always recruited well to get out of the division.
I have a lot of friends who are Leicester season ticket holders. They will not do well as well as the last time they were in the champ. The quality of there squad is miles away from 2 years ago and the atmosphere around the club is so toxic it's closer to us under Sisu than it is to us currently. They have a lot of decent youngsters though so if they can add a goal scorer, they have enough experience at the back to copy Burnley's approach this year.
The Ipswich Imitator(s)
Birmingham really worry me, more so than Wrexham. They have the blueprint and sustainability to become a serious force. Wrexham will always struggle to fill more than 25k seats but Birmingham are a different level of club. They have a lower mid table champ team currently and serious backing to add quality to that. Ipswich showed that you can throw money at the window between the champ and league one to great success and face no penalties. It's high risk, high reward but both Wrexham and Birmingham have done it to great success (off the top of my head I can't think of a side that has done this and hasn't been promoted yet).
Wrexham don't have the quality that Birmingham have so they will need serious recruitment if they want to compete.
TL;DR
Cov
Middlesborough
Ipswich
Southampton
Leicester
Birmingham
Loser of the Playoffs