Next Seasons Championship Campaign.

[Charnwood]

With today’s release of next seasons fixtures I can’t believe how much I’m looking forward to it. Unbelievably I’d still like to see us get promoted again as I think next time we’ll be better prepared and better equipped for it, and even more important I’m hopeful the proposed changes to the FFP rules will be less weighted against the newly promoted clubs. If this happens I think we have every chance of making a success of it next time around. However our first challenge is to get another promotion but unlike some of the bookies I don’t for one minute expect it to be easy.

What are others thinking for next season and where do you expect us to finish in the table.

[shabba]

Tricky as frankly when you look at the squad its VERY strong for this level, full of proven talent who have previously done very well in this league.
When you go position by position we may have the top talent in the league for alot of the spots, and the depth is also very strong - we defintiley recruited last year with it in mind that we might go down, i.e we aren't now trying to find 10+ players as the 10+ we signed all want out becuase they are total mercinaries, like what happened with leeds when they came down.

However football is not so simple . We have a stronger league IMO this year as Wrexham and Brum will be stronger than the teams they are replacing.
Shef UTD are stronger than Sunderland too.

The main thing might actually be the shift in mindset, going from hoping to get some points each week to expecting/needing to get a win most games.

You would reall expect we should be top 2, but as said its not always so straight forward and alot may depend on who we can recruit in the 3 key open postions (CM x2 and 1x Striker).

[Bluemike]

I too am really looking forward to my football again and I am fully expecting an exciting and successful season which has us challenging for promotion, while I don't expect it to be easy by any means I do think we will achieve Top Two and with it automatic promotion.

Two things need to happen in my opinion, we get way more luck where injuries are concerned and we get off to a very good start, should both those things happen I believe promotion will be a very real prospect.

Our main rivals could come from the likes of Southampton, Sheffield United, Birmingham, Wrexham and possibly Coventry. Leicester with their issues may well find it tough.

[marko69]

Couldn’t care less!

Joking.

Actually quite nervous about this coming season. I’m hoping & -ing that King Kieron Messiah can really properly challenge for the entire season and (as Mike says) from the start ……. Its looking like the most open Championship for years with the list of names. No real out & out favourites for me.

But yep, nervous. Hoping Kieron proves himself. I’ve personally banged on too much about how absolutely wonderful he is, (I still think that) …. But there is potential for that L1 & Champ season to look like flukes. Then it’ll be humble pie etc etc, which would be totally fine. No problem admitting when wrong. Am a feckin guru at it in my household.

Just don’t get relegated! Genuinely do not want Mansfield Town @ home in 26/27.

[Blue Wilf]

It is a bit hard to say as transfers etc are uncertain but as it stands, we should have every reason to think we will be top two. Anything less would frankly be a bit disappointing, although play offs may come into the picture I am sure. However, it often does not happen that way so who knows but I for one am really looking forward to finding out. McKenna has done it before so assuming he is still here, I think the owners and KM himself would be disappointed not to go straight back up. We have more money and more experience than most of the other potential challengers but as when we went up, much has to do with team cohesion and who knows if those coming up with injections of money (as we had) will not do as we did, given that they will be on a high and, in theory, we will be on a downer after relegation. Let us see and bring it on!! COYB's!!

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Far too early to speculate on next season - we don't yet know what personnel we will have (players and management), similarly we don't know yet what sort of squads other clubs might have.

All I do know is that I'm not expecting us to make a flying start - our battered and bruised players must have zero confidnce after the amount of defeats we suffered this year, and I think it may well take them 5 or 6 games to make the adjustment.

Personally I'm not looking forward to this season half as much as I was looking forward to last.

[ITFC2024]

The problem is, every team in the Championship now knows KM’s tactics unlike the last time. So our success will depend more on player performances, rather than strategical unknowns. Key players like J. Clarke and Szmodics will need to contribute a helluva lot more than they did in the PL. Defensively we’ll have to be ready for counter attacks especially down the wings. I still believe Davis should be moved to the MF and Townsend should assume the LB role, or at least play Townsend/Davis together. Hirst will need to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal, and if OH is still here he’ll need to score or assist regularly. We’ll need Greaves and O’Shea to be at their best consistently, eliminating unnecessary mistakes. Ben Johnson is another who may be more effective in the midfield, but we’ll need at least one more quality RB.

I’m very excited to see how we do and to see if KM tinkers with tactics…maybe a more suitable formation in lieu of being promoted again, or will he stick to his philosophy entirely. We definitely won’t be getting outplayed every week, so that’s also something to look forward to.

[shabba]

Come on, with the analysis work all clubs do now our tactics wouldn’t have been unknown!’ But yes maybe teams underestimated us.

The attacking players have very good numbers from their last championship season, probably 6 or more have at least a 0.5 per game goal involvement (assist or goal) record which is mighty impressive. Even Broadhead who you’d maybe is third choice in the left ten role got 13 goals, I think szmodics got 29 and 2nd choice Clark got 15 last time in this league. Nuts really when you look at it that way.

[ITFC2024]

Yeah I think teams underestimated our ability to execute the plan. Analytics are guides, but players have to be able to execute effectively.

[shabba]

Last season in the championship we started with a theee behind the striker of Broadhead, Chaplin and Omari.

Burns too.

Now ahead of all of those except Omari you have Szmodics, Clark, Ogbene, Philogene

[ITFC2024]

I completely forgot about Ogbene! And I suppose I’d forgotten about Philogene as well! When is Ogbene supposed to be back? We actually seem well equipped with forwards. I think Broadhead will be best utilized behind Hirst.

Think we really need physical defensive MF and a CB for backup. Two of both would be excellent, but I don’t see that happening. I’m beginning to think Delap’s replacement will be a PL loan.

[shabba]

Ogbene should be back for pre season - ie I think he will
Be available for the first games. Burns will probably be out until October to Xmas or so.

Unsure on Philogene.

Yes I’d be ok even if a PL loan striker came in, then if we get promoted we would have kept our powder dry to try and get a higher level striker than what we could get now. It’ll
Be hard to get a striker now who will be good enough for the PL.

direct as much of the budget towards a defensive CM.

[arana peligrosa]

Few weeks back some couldn't wait fast enough for season to finish, lo and behold they're now eager to be involved again. Guess can't understand the logic sometimes but kind of enjoying if that's the operative word, the break away from it all and no Town games to worry about or that we're simply not involved in anything at least by way of fixtures.

Don't think there'll be another auto promotion, not like before, best guess we'll maybe finish between third and 8th position. Maybe we'll miss out altogether and get mid-league by the end of it. You just can't tell.

We're not doing much by way of transfer activity from what you can ascertain this close season and replacements for some seem essential. Anyone thinks or imagines it's another home run to automatic promotion once again, you're likely to be disappointed. That level of success, that scope of achievement : just shouldn't be replicated in such short time from the other. Not to say we won't but once again, unlikely.

[Dubai Blue]

Excited for another season when we are very likely to be competing for something. Bit worried about Burns, Philogene & Ogbene still with fitness unclear going forward. They had big injuries and may take a long time to get back up to speed. If Omari leaves also (which I think is likely) then a large group of our creative players may not contribute so much next season (ok this is the dark view).

I think Sam may get another season as a regularly playing captain, he's probably fit enough for the champ and this might be a way to prevent a complete (and perhaps risky) total overhaul in MF.

A lot of our players will have learned a great deal from last season and be better players than they were previously in the Champ.

I'm relieved that Leicester may have issues for this season because IMO the 3 coming down will all be fighting for the two auto places.