Next Season's Championship

[warksclaret]

So pleased we are not inthe Championship next season-the financial need for promotion would have risen significantly. Particularly when you see Ipswich, Leicester and Saints go down who will all have intentions for a quick return. Of those three its conceivable Leicester will struggle-depending on how the manager/player/wages/ contracts is managed this Summer, plus they will have an inevitable points deduction based on recent reports. Ipswich have the basis of a team, even without Delap, to go straight back up, and it will be interesting to see if they lose any other players. I suspect they will be close however to breaking financial fair play rules rules. Saints with Still as their manager could restucture for an assault on promotion. Then you have clubs like Sheff Utd, Boro, Coventryall likely to be there, as well as Wrexham & Birmingham with the money they have to spend. Then as we always seem to find an unfancied club gets promoted. Examples include Ipswich, Luton,Notts Forest, Brentford in recent years, ourselves in 2014 when we were amongst favorites to go down to League 1. Going to throw my hat in and say Derby might just be a surprise. As I opened by saying -a really tough division to get out of

[ollieclarets8]

People tend to say this every season without fail. It's no stronger than this season. Had we stayed down there would have been no Sunderland or Leeds to contend with.

[Rileybobs]

I bet you won’t need 100 points to win the Championship next season.

[warksclaret]

I am sure you are right as there will be stronger competition for the top 6 places
I cannot for example see Bristol City being in the top 6 most of the season

[Rileybobs]

I am sure you are right as there will be stronger competition for the top 6 places
I cannot for example see Bristol City being in the top 6 most of the season

Possibly, but there is no Leeds United, who are a huge force at that level, or Burnley who have lost something like 5 games in 115 at that level. So I can’t see why the division would be any more difficult next season.

[CoolClaret]

People tend to say this every season without fail. It's no stronger than this season. Had we stayed down there would have been no Sunderland or Leeds to contend with.

They do, and for some reason some of our fans/posters on here almost undermine/belittle our achievements and then (constantly) overly worry about situations that may or may not occur.

I.e. being thankful for not being in next years Champ despite having 201 points in our last two seasons at this level and (some) posters basically writing next season off based on the fact 'we're losing JT, CJ and Brownhill'..... still here, aren't they?!?!

[Vegas Claret]

When you look at the size of some of the clubs below us it just underlines how good the last decade or so has been from us.

[agreenwood]

Southampton have taken a huge risk appointing Will Still. Once you look past that unbeaten run which brought him to everyone’s attention a few years ago, he hasn’t done much to warrant being given the keys to Southampton’s effort to get back in the PL at the first time of asking.

[Colburn_Claret]

Most seasons it's 2 out of 3 or 4 for the automatics.
Next season does promise to be a lot tougher than that. The football fan in me would relish that. The oap heart in my chest probably wouldn't stand the tension.

So much depends on the state the clubs are in financially when relegated. Any team that comes down with no pressure to pay off any debt, or isn't facing a points deduction for previous sins, should be capable of walking automatic promotion. It's such a big advantage, and getting bigger every year.

I don't know how close to the wind we sail financially, but we appear to have it about right. As much as I'd love to stay up, betting the ranch on it isn't the way to go. I'd rather get relegated knowing we have a great chance of bouncing back again, than sinking down the plughole like so many others before.

[Woodleyclaret]

Will who?
Sean Dyche would have been an ideal fit

[PremierLeagueClass]

I think the big difference next season is that you’ve got two teams coming up that will throw a lot of money at it and aim to be in the promotion picture.

[bodge]

I see that Liam Manning appears to be on the verge of joining Norwich, a strange one that for me.

[Colburn_Claret]

I see that Liam Manning appears to be on the verge of joining Norwich, a strange one that for me.

Bristol had looked good for most of the season, although the wheels really fell off the last 6 games and play offs.
His style would suit Norwich. Their problem is they score and concede goals for fun. Sean Dyche could get them promoted easy, he knows how to set a defence up.

[billyhamilton82]

I agree, I think the two coming up will pose more of a threat than last season, whilst the three relegated may struggle to turn it around quickly enough.

Birmingham could well do an Ipswich, whilst Disney FC (currently watching the new series ) are likely to throw even more money at it this time around.

Coventry, Sheffield, Brizzle, West Brom, Watford, Boro, Norwich, Millwall will also be in the hunt.

Relegation survivors Derby, Hull and Stoke could well be back in the promotion picture.

Rovers and PNE could struggle......hopefully.

Whatever happens it will without doubt be the most exciting league to watch again next season.

[jlup1980]

The momentum of Birmingham and Wrexham will be the most interesting to watch. They're both likely to really go for it, but Wrexham seem to be getting linked with loads of older PL players. You need a mix of youth and experience in the Championship so I'm not sure if adding the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Tom Cairney, Jamie Vardy, and Callum Wilson to their already older heads (Jay Rod amongst them) will work.

However, I wouldn't be too concerned about the clubs that have come down. Leicester and Southampton have been terrible this season, so a lot will fall on whether they pick the right managers. Will Still is a very risky appointment in my opinion, and will RVN be in the dugout at Leicester come August. Squads wise, they need investment. Their line ups yesterday were really poor, and wouldn't be close to us or Leeds this season.

Ipswich over-achieved when they got promoted last season, but I do rate McKenna. They could bounce back, but I fear they will lose a lot of their better players in the summer. They might have a rebuild similar to ours.

The rest will continue in the current vein without significant changes. Watford have already sacked Cleverly so any continuity is gone. WBA and Boro flattered to deceive. Coventry are an interesting one. They could push on, but the loss of one of two players (particularly Rudoni) will see them fall back. It'll be like every other Championship season, but I don't see two clubs running away with it like us and Leeds have done this season.

[billyhamilton82]

"Ipswich over-achieved when they got promoted last season, but I do rate McKenna. They could bounce back, but I fear they will lose a lot of their better players in the summer. They might have a rebuild similar to ours."

Will be interesting to see what happens to Muric and O'Shea.

[jlup1980]

"Ipswich over-achieved when they got promoted last season, but I do rate McKenna. They could bounce back, but I fear they will lose a lot of their better players in the summer. They might have a rebuild similar to ours."

Will be interesting to see what happens to Muric and O'Shea.

O'Shea could get another move to the PL. He's a good age, and played 35 games for Ipswich this season (on top of 33 for us last season and 28 for WBA previously). He's got good PL experience now and is someone I think could do a job for a bottom half club, mainly because he has that little bit of pace. I can see West Ham, Everton, or Wolves taking a punt on him.

Since being the Championship Team of the Season, it's safe to say Muric hasn't kicked on! Ousted by Trafford before a ball was kicked, then only given half a season before being dropped by Ipswich. He's proved he's not PL level, but I actually hope he's given another go in the Championship, as he proved with us that he's more than capable.

[ecc]

Southampton have taken a huge risk appointing Will Still. Once you look past that unbeaten run which brought him to everyone’s attention a few years ago, he hasn’t done much to warrant being given the keys to Southampton’s effort to get back in the PL at the first time of asking.

[Flixtonclaret1]

Some great nostalgia match ups.

Charlton v Millwall
Southampton v Portsmouth
Bar stewards v Wrexham.

[turfmoore]

Some great nostalgia match ups.

….
Bar stewards v Wrexham.

Bollywood v Hollywood?

[Ric_C]

Three relegations on the trot when playing in the Prem now, for Mr "I'm too good for the championship" O'Shea

[Dyched]

Depends how you define “stronger”.
The top 2 next year ain’t getting 100. Basically the other 22 needed a 101 points to have any chance of promotion bar the play offs. That takes ridiculous levels of consistency.

But it could be stronger in terms of points more evenly spread throughout the league. Closer gap between automatic/playoffs/mid table.

[Goliath]

Three relegations on the trot when playing in the Prem now, for Mr "I'm too good for the championship" O'Shea

Ipswich player of the season apparently.

[Big Vinny K]

Ipswich player of the season apparently.

Really ?
Ahead of Delap ?

How could a defender get their player of the season when they conceded 82 goals ?

Fair play to him if he has got the player of the season. Hopefully he remembers to take the trophy with him when he demands to leave as he orchestrates his move to Sunderland

[ClaretOfMancunia]

Quite looking forward to Wrexham getting tonked to be honest. Seen some ridiculous claims from their American fans who only started watching in the past couple of years. Best I saw was a serious discussion about how they should sign Victor Lindelhof.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Gonna be fun to watch as a neutral

[ŽižkovClaret]

Three relegations on the trot when playing in the Prem now, for Mr "I'm too good for the championship" O'Shea

Is there a defender version of the Huckerby Vortex?

[Selby Claret]

I see that Liam Manning appears to be on the verge of joining Norwich, a strange one that for me.

Its his hometown club

[theboydonegood]

Think both Rover and North End could struggle to stay up. If there is value when the odds are made that could be my bet it isnt normal to have 2 well off clubs come up.

[kentonclaret]

I think the big difference next season is that you’ve got two teams coming up that will throw a lot of money at it and aim to be in the promotion picture.

Ipswich were runners up in League 1 with 98 points and the following season were runners up in the Championship with 96 points.
With the proper investment it will be interesting to see how Birmingham fare next season having won the League One title with a record 111 points!

[No Ney Never]

Birmingham will be the challengers for a top 6 place, Wrexham likely mid table. All the others mentioned above really depends on who's managing them. Any decent club appointing Dyche is going to be heavily backed.

[martin_p]

The most consistent team in the Championship over the last decade won’t be there so it’ll be weaker.

[warksclaret]

Word down here is that RVN is leaving Leicester and Russell Martin installed. Think this change will make Leicester stronger in the Championship than with RVN who has no experience of it and not popular with the fans.

As the OP to this thread, I am pleased there is relief from other Burnley fans as well as myself that we are not in the Championship next season, and being anxious no way belittles our club. As someone has shrewdly written on this thread, the points in the top sector should be more evenly distributed than the past two seasons. The Championship is almost certainly going to be great fun to watch again(from the sides)

[kentonclaret]

With Leicester City under investigation for financial irregularities they could face a points deduction next season. This probably explains why they seem to be friendless in the betting market.

[Vegas Claret]

Depends how you define “stronger”.
The top 2 next year ain’t getting 100. Basically the other 22 needed a 101 points to have any chance of promotion bar the play offs. That takes ridiculous levels of consistency.

But it could be stronger in terms of points more evenly spread throughout the league. Closer gap between automatic/playoffs/mid table.

Last time Ipswich got 96 points with half a team of League one players, they've since hoovered up lots of the best Championship players, the manager has more experience and they have parachute payments plus the 30 they will get for Delap - Unless something goes massively wrong I expect them to win the league and get over 100 points