Straight back up for Burnley, without any doubts.

[Wile E Coyote]

Probably one of those seasons when we will be able to enjoy the matches knowing promotion is guaranteed.
Scot Parker appears to be very relaxed, I just get that impression this will be a strong season for the club.
Preferable to the dark days last season in the Premier league.
Might even set a record for points this time .
No doubts about it in my mind.

[RVclaret]

Love the confidence and optimism. I share some of it but I do think it will be a tougher season than last time, simply because we’ve got stronger competitors in Leeds, Luton and Sheffield United. Also think Coventry look stronger and could be up there this season. Very much looking forward to it now.

[ClaretsPadiham]

I think Sheffield United might struggle.

[roperclaret]

I agree with some of that. I wasn’t down on Parker like some posters, but if we don’t go up this year then he will definitely have failed.

[ClaretTony]

I think Sheffield United might struggle.

They signed Kieffer Moore & Callum O’Hare last week. Those sort of signings will strengthen them and give them more experience. I’m not suggesting they are going to be right up there because I think the club is in a bit of a mess but they are making good signings.

[BurnleyFC]

I’m not as confident as you. Last season could very well be a long lasting hangover to get over.

Hopefully top 6 at the very least, though.

[ClaretsPadiham]

They signed Kieffer Moore & Callum O’Hare last week. Those sort of signings will strengthen them and give them more experience. I’m not suggesting they are going to be right up there because I think the club is in a bit of a mess but they are making good signings.

Bloody hell not bad signings them epically O Hare. Not been keeping up with transfers so didn’t realise. I know the club is in a mess.

[ClaretTony]

Bloody hell not bad signings them epically O Hare. Not been keeping up with transfers so didn’t realise. I know the club is in a mess.

Came in successive days. They are very good Championship signings I would think.

[beddie]

I’ll reply to this post at the end of January.

[ksrclaret]

For the first time in probably 9 or 10 months now, I'm looking forward to the football. I'll be content if Scott Parker can get a team of lads giving their all for each other and the club again.

[ClaretTony]

For the first time in probably 9 or 10 months now, I'm looking forward to the football. I'll be content if Scott Parker can get a team of lads giving their all for each other and the club again.

Similar. I know it will always be difficult for us in the Premier League but as someone said to me last season, it’s really not good when you are losing virtually every game. Thirteen home defeats and only two wins was soul destroying.

[GrahamBranchsPerm]

Same.

Can't wait for the season to start.

Football last season was miserable. VK ripped the heart out of a really decent team.

Squad is too big but better than being too small. Yes a few will go, and so they should.

Easily good enough for top 2 though, this squad, less a few.

I think the two new full backs will be very strong for us at this level, proper front foot players by the looks.

Don't see Cov or Sheff U being as good as us, over a season. Leeds and Luton the teams to fend off.

I think we will win it.

UTC

[Goody1975]

They signed Kieffer Moore & Callum O’Hare last week. Those sort of signings will strengthen them and give them more experience. I’m not suggesting they are going to be right up there because I think the club is in a bit of a mess but they are making good signings.

The manager is very important to them, if they have a good start then he has the experience to see them carrying their momentum for 46 games.

[Venkys4eva]

Really looking forward to this season and I fully expect top 2 BUT ive followed Burnley for a long time so not counting any chickens.

[claretskeith]

If we keep pretty much all of our best players, I'll be confident. As I think the squad has more depth in quality than 2 seasons ago.

[Buxtonclaret]

Similar. I know it will always be difficult for us in the Premier League but as someone said to me last season, it’s really not good when you are losing virtually every game. Thirteen home defeats and only two wins was soul destroying.

It was also the way we lost them.
We just became rudderless.

[mdd2]

Similar. I know it will always be difficult for us in the Premier League but as someone said to me last season, it’s really not good when you are losing virtually every game. Thirteen home defeats and only two wins was soul destroying.

And thank the Lord for the two red cards otherwise who knows if we would have won those two (guessing we would have beaten Sheff U but not Brentford)

[Jakubclaret]

Should go up or thereabouts. A more stable footing is to actually stay up after whether that can be achieved is another thing. It might continually be the case that we are too good for the championship but not good enough for the PL & contentment lies with you can't have it both ways.

[ClaretTony]

And thank the Lord for the two red cards otherwise who knows if we would have won those two (guessing we would have beaten Sheff U but not Brentford)

We were already 2-0 up and coasting against Sheffield United. I doubt that red card made any difference.

The Brentford one, maybe although we did go 1-0 up from the resulting penalty.

[Vegas Claret]

The manager is very important to them, if they have a good start then he has the experience to see them carrying their momentum for 46 games.

He ultimately failed at Sheff Utd in his first stint in the PL , failed at Boro, failed at Watford and failed at Sheff Utd last season.

Thank the lord he isn't our manager

[Buxtonclaret]

I’ll reply to this post at the end of January.

I'll post mine straight after yours, beddie.

[Clarets4me]

Really looking forward to this season and I fully expect top 2 BUT ive followed Burnley for a long time so not counting any chickens.

This ! In my experience, using the words " guaranteed promotion " seldom works out well ... Having seen a few winters, the only two times I've ever thought a side would be " guaranteed " promotion was Manchester United in 1974-75, when they played in the 2nd tier, and Rangers in 2012-13, when they were demoted to the Scottish 4th tier because of financial irregularities. In the end, United pipped Villa by 3 points for the title, ( 2pts for a win ) and Rangers had won the title by the end of March with 5 games to spare ( 36 game season ).

[warksclaret]

There always seems to be a bit of a dark horse team get promoted each year from the Championship-its been us twice when Coyle took us up, then with Dyche's first promotion. At the start of last season not many fancied Ipswich over Leeds. I think Luton have managed to stay together and I think they will be a strong team, alongside Leeds. Possibly Watford, Boro or QPR could be the surprise team

[Goody1975]

He ultimately failed at Sheff Utd in his first stint in the PL , failed at Boro, failed at Watford and failed at Sheff Utd last season.

Thank the lord he isn't our manager

I agree to some extent but saying he failed last season is stretching it somewhat. Houdini couldn't have got them out of that mess.

As for Watford, I think they'd sack Pep in less than a season.

The rest of his stats at the clubs he's been at are decent, his record prior to the relegation at Sheffield United was very good.

[equinox]

Luton will nosedive btw.

[bobinho]

I’d settle right now for top six, snap your hand off in fact. I think top ten would also be a good result for SP’s first season.

[Goody1975]

I’d settle right now for top six, snap your hand off in fact. I think top ten would also be a good result for SP’s first season.

Really?

Top four is the minimum requirement imo with the tools at his disposal.

If he doesn't gain automatic promotion then we have to be very close to the top two for it to be an acceptable season.

[ClaretTony]

He ultimately failed at Sheff Utd in his first stint in the PL , failed at Boro, failed at Watford and failed at Sheff Utd last season.

Thank the lord he isn't our manager

Went tits up at Sheffield United after he fell out with the owner - he was very much on the up prior to that at all the clubs he’d managed.

He was in the last three for the Burnley job two years ago.

[KRBFC]

They signed Kieffer Moore & Callum O’Hare last week. Those sort of signings will strengthen them and give them more experience. I’m not suggesting they are going to be right up there because I think the club is in a bit of a mess but they are making good signings.

They’ve lost 15 or so players though including Archer, Osborn, Bogle, Norwood, Egan, Mcburnie. Those two are good signings but they need a lot more.

[KRBFC]

I’d settle right now for top six, snap your hand off in fact. I think top ten would also be a good result for SP’s first season.

Amazed at that, we’ve got arguably the strongest squad the Championship has ever seen. As it stands the likes of Benson, Zaroury, Twine and Ekdal are going to be fighting for a spot on the bench.

[ClaretTony]

They’ve lost 15 or so players though including Archer, Osborn, Bogle, Norwood, Egan, Mcburnie. Those two are good signings but they need a lot more.

They’ve lost a lot of players and have a lot to do to build a squad. Jamie Hoyland is now heading the recruitment there.

[Elizabeth]

Probably one of those seasons when we will be able to enjoy the matches knowing promotion is guaranteed.
Scot Parker appears to be very relaxed, I just get that impression this will be a strong season for the club.
Preferable to the dark days last season in the Premier league.
Might even set a record for points this time .
No doubts about it in my mind.

Yeh, right , no doubt in your mind. It’s all about Scott Parker being relaxed. Good spot

[bumba]

They signed Kieffer Moore & Callum O’Hare last week. Those sort of signings will strengthen them and give them more experience. I’m not suggesting they are going to be right up there because I think the club is in a bit of a mess but they are making good signings.

I agree, Luton seem to making some very clever signings too.

[Goody1975]

They’ve lost a lot of players and have a lot to do to build a squad. Jamie Hoyland is now heading the recruitment there.

Plus starting the season on -2, means they'll need a good start to gain the momentum needed for a promotion push.

[ClaretTony]

Plus starting the season on -2, means they'll need a good start to gain the momentum needed for a promotion push.

I think a promotion push might be beyond them given how much they have to do.

[Swizzlestick]

I agree, Luton seem to making some very clever signings too.

Who have they signed? They’ve lost three of their better players in Barkley, Giles and Osho

[bumba]

Who have they signed? They’ve lost three of their better players in Barkley, Giles and Osho

Young lad called Walters from Arsenal and Shandon Baptiste from Brentford

[Swizzlestick]

Young lad called Walters from Arsenal and Shandon Baptiste from Brentford

Doesn’t set the pulses racing tbh. They’ll be solid and Edwards obviously knows what he’s doing in this league, but big players leaving.

[RVclaret]

Who have they signed? They’ve lost three of their better players in Barkley, Giles and Osho

Lokonga too.

[kentonclaret]

Probably one of those seasons when we will be able to enjoy the matches knowing promotion is guaranteed.
Scot Parker appears to be very relaxed, I just get that impression this will be a strong season for the club.
Preferable to the dark days last season in the Premier league.
Might even set a record for points this time .
No doubts about it in my mind.

If promotion is guaranteed you should be shovelling it on with Sky Bet who are offering odds of 5/2 against Burnley winning promotion.

[willsclarets]

All about our squad size and outgoings next few weeks for me. Whatever happens we'll have a competitive squad, but the numbers are big and he has a lot of options. Settling a best 11 and keeping fringe players happy at a lower level is going to be tough. Because we'll need those fringe players at some point to come in and do well

[Wile E Coyote]

Yeh, right , no doubt in your mind. It’s all about Scott Parker being relaxed. Good spot

well, that coupled to the fact I know my football.
That's where we differ and part company.

[bobinho]

Amazed at that, we’ve got arguably the strongest squad the Championship has ever seen. As it stands the likes of Benson, Zaroury, Twine and Ekdal are going to be fighting for a spot on the bench.

How did this squad get on last season? Fair enough it was a league higher, but if they really were THAT good, we wouldn’t have been embarrassed like we were.

Strong on paper means nowt at this stage of the season. Really, that’s all they are right now.

I hope SP can build them into a formidable unit, and hopefully he can instill some belief and develop them into a group of players who give everything for each other. If he can do that, we have a very good chance of being there or thereabouts. We may have a good idea what to expect by Xmas…. What I have seen in this thread so far is very premature high expectations, with nothing to base it on - I worry what noises are going to be made come November and we aren’t top two.

[bobinho]

Plus starting the season on -2, means they'll need a good start to gain the momentum needed for a promotion push.

If they win, it’ll be like a draw. Will anyone be written off if their first game is a draw?

[Ric_C]

Complacency and over confidence are our biggest adversaries this season

[bumba]

Lokonga too.

Giles spent last season out on loan, Lokonga was only a loan from Arsenal and Barkley was never going to drop to the championship.
Osho replaced by Walters
Barkley replaced by Baptiste.

Edwards is a very good championship manager

[Goody1975]

If they win, it’ll be like a draw. Will anyone be written off if their first game is a draw?

That's not what I'm saying.

If they started the first half a dozen games disappointingly, say six or seven points from the first six games then the two points deduction makes that look even worse.

To get in the play off places this season will be tough, Sheffield United with all the stuff behind the scenes don't want to be playing catch up.

[ElectroClaret]

Complacency and over confidence are our biggest adversaries this season

Spot on.
It's gonna be a lot tougher than some on here are
making out.

[Vegas Claret]

Went tits up at Sheffield United after he fell out with the owner - he was very much on the up prior to that at all the clubs he’d managed.

He was in the last three for the Burnley job two years ago.

so fell out with the owners at Sheff Utd, he fell out with Gibson at Boro, fell out with the owners at Watford - all 3 times complaining and it was everyone else's fault. I'm very pleased we didn't go for him

[JarrowClaret]

Complacency and over confidence are our biggest adversaries this season

When was the last time someone went unbeaten in a Championship season?