The Championship is a Three Horse Race ?

[The Shire Claret]

Sheff U, Leeds and Us

There are other good teams but I don't think they have the depth and the money to invest in January

Anyone see anyone else being in the mix now we've more or less played everyone ?

UTC

[Dyched]

Sunderland???

[hoosier-daddy]

Too early to tell I think. By the end of January when the window is closed it'll be clearer.

[jrgbfc]

I'd agree, think Sunderland will fall away.

[bobinho]

I also think Sunderland will fall away.

I don’t think boro will. Good side them.

[Silkyskills1]

Sheff U, Leeds and Us

There are other good teams but I don't think they have the depth and the money to invest in January

Anyone see anyone else being in the mix now we've more or less played everyone ?

UTC

That's a very bold statement and one I can't necessarily agree with. Approaching the half way stage and not one team has dominated so far. The three teams mentioned have all held top spot along with a few others. Teams scoring freely have gained points but so too have those with good defensive records. Mate of mine last night was bemoaning Blackburn's poor showing in attack but they've managed to gain nine points out of nine in their last three games with a blatantly offside goal, a penalty and an own goal. Very open league.

[Lip]

Don't count out West Brom either.

[LeadBelly]

Bookies have it as Leeds very strong favourites. Blades clear 2nd favourites then not a lot between us, Boro, Makems (in that order)

Odds for promotion.......
Leeds 1/9
Sheff U 8/11
Us 6/5
Boro 5/4
Sunland 15/8
WBA 4/1
Rovers 11/1

Could change a fair bit after Leeds v Boro tomorrow, let alone all the fixtures over Christmas/ New Year.

[The Shire Claret]

Sunderland???

Just don't think they can sustain a run

[Bordeauxclaret]

I was surprised to see West Brom have won just one of their previous thirteen games.

[Volvoclaret]

If it's a 3 horse race then Blagburn must be favourite

[mdd2]

It is anything but a 3 horse race. Boro Sunderalnd to name just another 2

[claretburns]

Bookies have it as Leeds very strong favourites. Blades clear 2nd favourites then not a lot between us, Boro, Makems (in that order)

Odds for promotion.......
Leeds 1/9
Sheff U 8/11
Us 6/5
Boro 5/4
Sunland 15/8
WBA 4/1
Rovers 11/1

Could change a fair bit after Leeds v Boro tomorrow, let alone all the fixtures over Christmas/ New Year.

The odds of 1/9 for Leeds are unbelievably short.

With their tendency to fall apart I wonder what the odds would be for them not to gain promotion.

[Bosscat]

If it's a 3 horse race then Blagburn must be favourite

So thats how its spelled ...

[jdrobbo]

Boro must surely be considered in the conversation

[FCBurnley]

If Rovers win their game in hand and beat us they will be right in the thick of it !!!

[hoosier-daddy]

1/9 would only make sense to me if they were currently something like 10 points clear. They aren't even top. Unless it's simply because so many people have placed bets on them for promotion, so the odds have changed accordingly.

[Dark Cloud]

Sunderland are this season's "Ipswich" as there's often one team that comes from nowhere and has a great season, but it's a very long course and I think ultimately they will be in the play offs. The top 2 will almost certainly come from Burnley, Sheffield Utd and Leeds and with a totally unbiased hat on I'd say Sheff U are probably the best all round team. Having watched us in 3 promotion seasons in the past 10 years I have to say we look pretty good right now, but probably not good enough for a top two finish unfortunately, which means I can see Leeds finishing above us. We'll see.

[box_of_frogs]

The type of thread that will come back and bite us in the arse in May!

[ClaretTony]

Back in 2013/14 a lot on the message board thought we’d drop down eventually despite a great start but such a start can give you bundles of confidence so don’t be ruling out Sunderland.

[Dyched]

There’s a case for all in the Top 6 to maintain their position or drop.

If we supported someone else we’d look at Burnley and think “I f they concede, then they most likely won’t win unless they get a goalscorer in, in January”. “They won’t maintain keeping clean sheets for the full 46 games at the rate they have”.

[Woodleyclaret]

Unpopular though it is we are going up again as Champions
Bring in a striker in January and we are sorted.

[Spijed]

Sunderland are this season's "Ipswich" as there's often one team that comes from nowhere and has a great season, but it's a very long course and I think ultimately they will be in the play offs. The top 2 will almost certainly come from Burnley, Sheffield Utd and Leeds and with a totally unbiased hat on I'd say Sheff U are probably the best all round team. Having watched us in 3 promotion seasons in the past 10 years I have to say we look pretty good right now, but probably not good enough for a top two finish unfortunately, which means I can see Leeds finishing above us. We'll see.

Looking at the three previous seasons when we got promoted (at the same point in time) it's hard to tell where teams will finish. Brighton were well ahead of us at one point but collapsed, so it's hard to say where we'll end up.

[The Shire Claret]

Unpopular though it is we are going up again as Champions
Bring in a striker in January and we are sorted.

I agree with this

[TheOriginalLongsider]

One good striker and we would win this league

[Ric_C]

The bookies make me laugh sometimes. Leeds 1-9 and us 6-5?

As others have said, no one can really predict anything until the squads are sorted in January.

[TheFamilyCat]

Looking at the three previous seasons when we got promoted (at the same point in time) it's hard to tell where teams will finish. Brighton were well ahead of us at one point but collapsed, so it's hard to say where we'll end up.

23, 23 undefeated helped too.

[houseboy]

The bookies make me laugh sometimes. Leeds 1-9 and us 6-5?

As others have said, no one can really predict anything until the squads are sorted in January.

I believe bookies odds are largely based on bets placed. This may upset a few on here but Leeds are actually a much bigger club than us and therefore will have more bets placed on them due to their far superior fan base and the fact that a lot of neutrals will back a big club who are doing well. To be fair I think Sheff Utd look as good a bet as anyone.

As an aside I have been saying most of the season that I don’t think Sunderland will sustain their challenge. I largely agree with the OP that it is looking like any two from three. The current top four are starting to pull away though.

[Woodleyclaret]

It's true media backed DL have more muppets betting on them It means nothing and come May we will be looking down on them.Ideally another Wembley trip for Leeds with another fail at the last hurdle

[Quicknick]

It's true media backed DL have more muppets betting on them It means nothing and come May we will be looking down on them.Ideally another Wembley trip for Leeds with another fail at the last hurdle

BFC top with SU 2nd and Leeds losing at Wembley would be brilliant. As long as it's not to Blackburn.

[hoosier-daddy]

One game at a time..

[AfloatinClaret]

The bookies make me laugh sometimes...

And at other times they make you cry; while the bookies themselves just quietly smile whatever the result.

The odds on offer have nothing to do with who a bookie/booies thinks will win the Championship and as a group they don't care, provided the figures balance out and they make a profit. The amount wagered on the Championship result will not in real terms be large, so it's relatively easy to skew the odds; you can prove it for yourself easily enough: Lay £10k on Burnley at 6/5 tomorrow and those odds will likely be reversed an hour later.

[beddie]

I can see Boro winning tonight at Leeds.

[jlup1980]

Sunderland are a decent team but their form over the last 6 weeks has been really poor. They don't have the squad to mount a serious challenge for the top 2 in my opinion.

The bookies have it about right. It's two of us, Sheff U and Leeds. Boro are the next in waiting.

Personally I think Sheff U are the team to beat. They started a little slower than others but are building real momentum. They remind me of us in previous campaigns under Dyche and Kompany. We're the only ones who have kept pace with them over the last 6 games (we've both taken 14 points).

The back to back away games vs Sheff U and Boro over Christmas are going to be a real test of where we are. The big positive of that is we will have played Leeds, Sunderland, West Brom, Sheff U and Boro away from home before the New Year, and Boro twice. If we're still in the top two after those games we have the potential to run away with it from January.

[The Shire Claret]

I can see Boro winning tonight at Leeds.

Lets hope so

[Dyched]

Sunderland are a decent team but their form over the last 6 weeks has been really poor. They don't have the squad to mount a serious challenge for the top 2 in my opinion.

The bookies have it about right. It's two of us, Sheff U and Leeds. Boro are the next in waiting.

Personally I think Sheff U are the team to beat. They started a little slower than others but are building real momentum. They remind me of us in previous campaigns under Dyche and Kompany. We're the only ones who have kept pace with them over the last 6 games (we've both taken 14 points).

The back to back away games vs Sheff U and Boro over Christmas are going to be a real test of where we are. The big positive of that is we will have played Leeds, Sunderland, West Brom, Sheff U and Boro away from home before the New Year, and Boro twice. If we're still in the top two after those games we have the potential to run away with it from January.

After our next 4 away games we’ve a decent run until the end of the season.

[CrosspoolClarets]

The thing to watch is that Sheffield United have had very few difficult games, they had two on the trot early in the season and lost them both. Recently they had a raggy late win against Sunderland and drew away to West Brom. They have virtually all the big clubs except Leeds to come in the next 3 weeks (including Sunderland and West Brom again).

I’m really struggling to see past squad value - that means us and Leeds clear top two. Fortune (and injury) can play a hand of course.

[expoultryboy]

Can't write off Boro , Baggies or unfortunately them down the road .

[hoosier-daddy]

The thing to watch is that Sheffield United have had very few difficult games, they had two on the trot early in the season and lost them both. Recently they had a raggy late win against Sunderland and drew away to West Brom. They have virtually all the big clubs except Leeds to come in the next 3 weeks (including Sunderland and West Brom again).

I think a lot of the better teams are playing each other. Look at our run from the 26th December. Overall, very tough until the end of January.

[fatboy47]

Is it bugg*ry a 3 horse race.

[Conroy92]

Sheff united I still think will be top. And I think it's one of us, Middleborough or Leeds for second.

[Billyblah]

If we are to be anywhere near it, relies on using the January
transfer window to bring in someone who can unlock stubborn defences and score goals. Someone who isn't going to instantly get injured or go AWOL.

[Silkyskills1]

Sheff united I still think will be top. And I think it's one of us, Middleborough or Leeds for second.

Even after tonight's showing?

[Vegas Claret]

we won't be anywhere near it

[blatherwickstattoos]

Sadly we will be way way way off those 2 and possibly another team who hit form. We will be in the play offs and draw both games 0/0 and get beat on pens

[Wokingclaret]

Sheff united I still think will be top. And I think it's one of us, Middleborough or Leeds for second.

Well not us and Boro after the last two games

[greeny364]

I can't see it being a three horse race with us being one of them. Of the teams that may drop off I think that we will be one of them. 8th/9th place incoming. Yes we have a great defensive record and possible different attacking options from January onwards but the way we approach games and how it's felt being on the terraces, we will fall away eventually.

*inject for later in the season but we will play ok and pick up points alas it won't be enough

[Quicknick]

I can't see it being a three horse race with us being one of them. Of the teams that may drop off I think that we will be one of them. 8th/9th place incoming. Yes we have a great defensive record and possible different attacking options from January onwards but the way we approach games and how it's felt being on the terraces, we will fall away eventually.

*inject for later in the season but we will play ok and pick up points alas it won't be enough

We will not drop off.

[Dyched]

We need a goalscorer massively.

Championship record for goals conceded is currently 30. 26 to play and 23 to beat it so currently we are way ahead. We need to absolutely smash that record to stand any chance of promotion.

[JohnMcGreal]

Not sure about a three horse race, more like a three donkey race.

The standard of football in the Championship is shocking. Probably as bad as I've ever seen it. It's no wonder the teams that go up come straight back down again.

From what I've seen of Leeds, Sheff Utd and Sunderland they all look incredibly average. Then again so do we and we're still up there. It just shows how crap the rest of the league is.