Just found this on the excellent Reading blogsite. Its a fan talking about their teams chances for the coming Championship season. Thought i would post Haveners teams, hope its of interest. It is on similar lines to the FourFourTwo idea so this may be the wrong place to post. 8 teams in all out of 23 here (it was only for Reading's opposition) so Haven is pretty well represented in the Championship this season! And given that most of these sides could be top half there's a good chance that at least one of us will be celebrating a promotion at the end of the season!
BirminghamMike from Joys & Sorrows
@joysandsorrows
How would you sum up last season?
Last season was a real case of highs and lows. Winning the Carling Cup was amazing and will be a day I will never forget but then to get relegated the way we did was unforgivable. Our league form throughout most of the year was poor with too many draws and not enough goals.
How has the summer gone so far?
As bad as it could get really. We have lost most of the squad with key players like Foster, Dann and Zigic soon to follow and we have been restricted to only bringing in players on free transfers. At least two of those players I’ll admit to having never heard of. There are constant stories in the press of financial meltdown and while they are mostly exaggerated it doesn’t help that our Chairman has been arrested. In pre-season we have so far won one game and scored one goal. On Tuesday night we lost two-nil to your friends down the road, Oxford United.
Key player for you next season?
Anyone who’s still left really but of those likely to stay I’d say Keith Fahey and Jordon Mutch in midfield. They were squad players last year but this season I expect them to get a lot more game time. Mutch is still young but got good Championship experience on loan to Watford last season.
One younger player who might burst onto the scene?
Jordon Mutch as mentioned above but also Nathan Redmond who is a pacy and tricky young winger who has played for England U-17s.
Where do you think you’ll finish?
If we can get our act together and actually add to the squad we might make the playoffs. If things don’t get better financially then League One beckons.
What do you make of Reading?
Reading were relegated with us in 2008 but didn’t bounce back and had to sell their stars. I was expecting a long Championship stay but they recovered well to make a late run on the playoffs last season. I expect Shane Long will go so probably the best you can do is sneak into the playoffs again. Looking forward to making another trip to the Madjeski this season.
Predictions on where Reading might finish?
It’s a difficult division to call but I’d say somewhere between 6th and 10th.
BrightonThe Seagull Love Review @tslr
How would you sum up last season?
We ‘stormed’ League One with a brand of slick, zippy, continental-style football the likes of Albion fans have only ever seen in Nike adverts. Admittedly Nike don’t usually film their adverts in Oldham in February, or Dagenham on a Tuesday night.
How has the summer gone so far?
In what is now an Albion tradition, our pre-season tour involved public brawls with locals in the rowdy Albufeira area of the Algarve. And that’s just the players. In other news we smashed our club transfer record twice, moved to a stadium that we’ve been fighting for for 14 years, and introduced branded club mints into the new megastore. So it’s been kinda busy.
Key player for you next season?
Everybody will have a different guess, and frankly it could be anyone, but I’ll say our captain and central defender Gordon Greer. The hairy caledonian brute will be keeping things tight at the back against what we imagine will be infinately tougher opposing forward lines.
One younger player who might burst onto the scene?
Lewis Dunk, another central defender, has so far shown composure that belies his years. Albion fans are keen for him to develop in the first team and he’s local lad to boot. He also has great hair.
Where do you think you’ll finish?
Don’t care as long as we don’t get relegated. Some people are getting carried away but we just need to stabalise in the Championship for a bit, get to know the place and not do anything stupid.
What do you make of Reading?
Meh. Still a bit of bad blood between us I think, so Albion fans will enjoy the matches.
Predictions on where Reading might finish?
There or there abouts I’d imagine. There being the top 4.
Ipswich No willing Town fans!
Leeds- Think Sam is a fanRyan Parish from The Scratching Shed
@ryanlufc
How would you sum up last season?
So close but so far away, pretty much sums it up. We exceeded all expectations in challenging for a play-off place, but if it wasn’t for the huge number of goals we let in, then who knows what could have happened. It was quite an enjoyable season from a Leeds fans point of view for a change as there wasn’t as much pressure on us as less was expected. Hopefully we can build on last season and better ourselves this year.
How has the summer gone so far?
Footballing-wise it’s been good as we were unbeaten in pre-season, including a 3-2 win against Newcastle the other day. Despite this, we haven’t really brought in anyone of any real significance and we’ve lost the likes of Kasper Schmiecel, Bradley Johnson & Neil Kilkenny who all played fairly big parts last season, so it’s been a bit disappointing from that point of view.
Key player for you next season?
Definitley Max Gradel, providing he doesn’t end up leaving before the season starts. He got better and better last season and we really need to keep hold of him. Luciano Becchio, Jonny Howson & Robert Snodgrass were all impressive last season so they’ll be key players as will Ross McCormack if he gets a chance.
One younger player who might burst onto the scene?
There’s not too many but Adam Clayton is a midfielder who could make a big impression this year and Aidy White who is a left back/winger could break into the first team too.
Where do you think you’ll finish?
Hopefully we’ll push on and make the play-offs at least but the pessimist in me see’s a mid-table finish more realistic looking at our squad, but anything can happen with Leeds United!
What do you make of Reading?
I was impressed last season despite both games being 0-0. I rate Brian McDermott highly and I definitely think that you’ll be there or there abouts this season, just hopefully not at the expense of Leeds! We’ve had the play-off final defeats in the past so we know what you’ve been through and I wish you all the best for this year!
Middlesbrough Mike from the Smog Blog
@smog_blog
How would you sum up last season?
From the ridiculous (Gordon Strachan’s management) to the sublime, as we won our last four matches and squeezed into the top half. Things looked perilous at one point, but Tony Mowbray pulled us through.
How has the summer gone so far?
Bad on paper, with six first teamers gone and only one signed, however we’re left with a squad of 25, the right players retained and a perfect blend of experience and youth to call upon. Crucially, we hung on to the Academy players, our stars of the future, by letting go of the lazy likes of Kris Boyd and Didier Digard.
Key player for you next season?
Rhys Williams – Aussie defender/midfielder who was injured for nearly a year but returned in time to demonstrate his class again and again. We owe much of our late-season form to his prowess.
One younger player who might burst onto the scene?
Cameron Park – named after a local brewery and the latest in a production line of homegrown left-wingers, following in the fleet footsteps of Stewart Downing, Chris Brunt and Adam Johnson.
Where do you think you’ll finish?
I’d be happy with anything in the top ten, though the playoffs are likely to be a step too far. Hopefully, we’ve moved far from the crisis that had us in the lower reaches during much of last season.
What do you make of Reading?
The Royals handed us our worst single defeat of 2010/11, a really low ebb when all the cautious recovery work Tony Mowbray had instilled seemed to unravel in the face of Shane Long, and Ian Harte’s free kicks. I get the impression they could beat anyone when they’re on song.
Predictions on where Reading might finish?
It’s a tougher Championship, but I can see the playoffs being most realistic for them. It seems they’ve managed to keep much of their squad, which is obviously crucial, and in Jimmy Kebe they have a winger who can terrorise any defence, as we learned to our cost.
Nottingham ForestForest fan Winnits @winnits
How would you sum up last season?
Ultimately it has to go down as disappointing. Lack of squad numbers and our usual post-Christmas lull saw us fall from challenging for automatic and into the play-offs, where the customary semi-final failure ensued. Unusually we didn’t disgrace ourselves – indeed, it could be argued the referee was the most influential figure over the two legs. Swansea deserved credit for their resilience though. I was thrilled to see Reading eliminate cheating Cardiff in the other semi-final – leaving a final where I didn’t mind so much who won.
How has the summer gone so far?
I’m sure it’s not peculiar to Forest fans, but the clamour for news and subsequent flurry of outlandish rumours has been crazy. We have a new manager, I was shocked at first but Steve McClaren has a high calibre. Signings have proven difficult to finalise but I’m happy with the acquisitions we’ve made – but am certainly hoping for more. Not least a bloody left back!!!
Key player for you next season?
It’s early doors to predict – but I think Jonathan Greening could be the glue to bind our midfield together.
One younger player who might burst onto the scene?
There’s a possibility we might see young Jamaal Lascelles – a young centreback who apparently Arsenal tried to coax away from us with a big money offer. At the other end we might see £1m+ signing Joe Garner get a second chance after the departure of Billy Davies – McClaren might see his potential and try to harness it, and he’s bound to sympathise with him because they’re both ginger!
Where do you think you’ll finish?
Really hard to predict at present because I think our squad is far too light at the moment, but to justify what outwardly might have seen a harsh ‘sacking’, Forest need to make it to the play-offs at least really. If we don’t add a few new faces then mid-table – which would be hugely disappointing.
What do you make of Reading?
I can never quite make my mind up about whether Reading will be contenders – then they generally are. Selling Matt Mills might have looked like a lack of ambition, but then £5m in my opinion is a lot more than he’s worth so good business! McDermott is one of the best managers in the league, in my view, and seems capable of driving performances and ‘togetherness’ out of a selection of players that – from the outside – look to be overachieving.
Predictions on where Reading might finish?
I expect them to be in and amongst the play-off spots and possibly beyond which is kinda where we’ve become accustomed to seeing them!
SouthamptonChris Rann from
georgeweahscousin.comHow would you sum up last season?
Wow. Where to start. Saints never like to make things easy for themselves. We started terribly, and I am not sure most people realise how difficult League One can be, especially when everyone expects you to romp it. To seal automatic promotion was one of the best feelings I have ever had as a football fan. I enjoyed League One, but I will happy to never see it again.
How has the summer gone so far? Not bad.
We have made a very good signing in Jack Cork, and a very interesting one in Steve de Ridder. I expect a couple more to come in yet, but I am reasonably happy at the moment.
Key player for you next season?
It has to be Lallana. The speculation about Chamberlain has deflected any about him, which is a massive bonus, because for me he is a far better player. When Lallana plays well, we can beat anyone in this division.
One younger player who might burst onto the scene?
Interesting one. Our Academy has got itself a fantastic reputation now and it is almost a case of when rather than if another superstar will come through. I am hearing good things about Scott Sinclair’s younger brother Jake who is in our youth team, but Jack Stephens looks like a great prospect too.
Where do you think you’ll finish? 9th and I for one would be chuffed with that.
What do you make of Reading? Rubbish hexagonal theatre. Seriously though, I like Reading as a club, and Brian McDermott impresses me greatly, you have a habit of going unnoticed for three quarters of a season, but always ending up in the promotion mix. Good solid squad, and if the loss of Mills and potentially Long don’t effect you too much, I would back you for top 6 again.
Predictions on where Reading might finish?
5th
West HamScott Tracey from The Game’s Gone Crazy
How would you sum up last season?
Like waking up in bed and finding Heather from Eastenders undressed beside you!
How has the summer gone so far?
We have signed Nolan but one swallow does not a summer make. Mind you, given the bull pumped out by Sullivan and Gold, there’s plenty for us Hammers fans to swallow!
Key player for you next season?
Kevin Nolan
One younger player who might burst onto the scene?
Loads. Montano and Spence look the best of a good crop.
Where do you think you’ll finish?
Play-off place.
What do you make of Reading?
I would use it to house illegal immigrants ahead of deportation personally. Each time I drive down the M4 I thank God as I pass the slip road.
Predictions on where Reading might finish?
All depends on Long. I hope we get him!
