We need a dedicated rival's thread. Although some may say it should be play-off rivals thread, at the moment we're in the box seat. No one at the club is mentioning the auto slot, but that must be the aim and I'm sure the club are quietly confident of going up automatically. Gibson got his fingers burned the last time predictions were mooted, so it's softly, softly...

UTB.

Personally I think Ipswich are going to take the league by storm. Their squad is unrivalled. Potentially there’s one spot up for grabs but that’s going to be so difficult with Southampton and Leicester chasing. We can only hope that we maintain momentum and it carries us through the season. We can certainly challenge for it with this squad but I expect a top 6 finish as a minimum.

Mr H ...........Who do you rate outside the "parachute" clubs as they are (nearly) always going to be in the frame?

Will be watching the Saints V Pompey game with interest later with a keen eye on FA!

Selles sacked by Sheffield United, so they should start picking up soon.

48 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

Selles sacked by Sheffield United, so they should start picking up soon.

Glad we got to play them in their dark days! Would be hilarious if they went back to Wilder. I'd imagine they would have to do some grovelling

49 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

Selles sacked by Sheffield United, so they should start picking up soon.

Wilder back for a third go

He'll have them challenging again, they were idiotic to sack him in the first place.

2 hours ago, Humpty said:

Personally I think Ipswich are going to take the league by storm. Their squad is unrivalled. Potentially there’s one spot up for grabs but that’s going to be so difficult with Southampton and Leicester chasing. We can only hope that we maintain momentum and it carries us through the season. We can certainly challenge for it with this squad but I expect a top 6 finish as a minimum.

Haydon Hackney agrees with you 🤣

Of the parachute teams

I think Southampton have the best squad in the league and I expect them to end in the top 2 once they get over their relegation hangover and assuming that Will Still is the real deal as a manager.

Ipswich will end up in the top 6 but I don't think they'll run away with the league. I reckon it'll come down to Davis and Philogene forming a Giles & Akpom style axis. Speaking of the devil: if Akpom can rediscover his mojo after two soul destroying years then we all know how good he can be with Davis to provide crosses from the left.

Leicester are an odd case. Not able to do any real transfers but still with a decent squad and the manager seems decent. They'll presumably get a 6 point deduction but I can still see them hitting the playoffs. 

Sheffield Utd assuming they really have sacked Selles could become a threat. Cooper took Forest from one point from 7 games into the playoffs and Sheffield Utd still have one of the best squads in the league. If Wilder or someone does get them on a roll they could still hit 80 points for the season.

Of the rest

WBA and Norwich are both spending money under new owners having finally dealt with their relegation austerity. I like the look of both of them. Keeping Sargent is as important for Norwich as keeping Hackney is for us. 

Stoke are like a worse version of us. They spend money, appoint managers and somehow it never works. That might have changed with their appointment of Robins. Possibly they're in the same place we were when we appointed Wilder. 

Bristol City have been bubbling under for a while. I can see them being in contention for 6th place again.

Birmingham did most of their spending last season and have struggled a bit with the step up but I think they will end up in the playoffs.

Coventry. It's a matter of faith to me that Lampard is not a good manager. I think he's a decent figurehead. He has done better at Coventry than I expected but I think after failing to get promoted with the Gyokeres and Hamer money that they have probably topped out for now. They'll still be in contention for 6th.

Us. After we sacked Carrick and appointed Edwards I was happy with a season of improvement; ending on say 70 points and in contention for the playoffs. Our start has changed that. I still don't see us being strong enough to end in the autos but I think we can compete for 3rd/4th. It'll take some luck and a fair wind.

Wrexham. I figured they would end up midtable. They spent a lot more than I expected this summer and if they're still around the relegation spots in December I think they change manager. I suspect though that they'll improve as they integrate their new players. They've enough quality to end the season in a comfortable position.

hopefully maps ends up at west ham, as long as he don't bring them down here (as if we dont go up I dont want them in our league lol

this league tho, way open for play offs, could be literally anyone who ain't just surviving if teams don't put a gap between 6th and everyone 

Edited September 14, 2025Sep 14 by Rob

Im not so sure about Southampton. I think they'll be a little like us under Carrick where they'll blow teams away from time to time. Not sure they have the mental strength to grind wins. Fellows, Azaz, Archer is a bit of a powder puff front line. 

4 hours ago, GrimsbyBoro said:

Wilder back for a third go

I was thinking they’ll probably go for Rohl

Just dont bring back the snake....

Excellent piece of business offloading Azaz to a potential rival.  Southampton fans discovering that he's not very good at getting stuck in. Subbed.