if we don't go up...

[Jamie Mackie's Smart Car]

the championship next season would be much weaker than this. hull and portsmouth have no money and burnley have brian laws. we'd have to be in with a shout, no? players all a year more experienced. bit more strength in numbers. who knows? maybe even buy a left back...

obviously the transfer acquisitions panel thing is unwieldy in january but you can't fault how well it worked in the summer.

i don't want to sound defeatist but if we we're still here next season i'd be quietly confident.

 

[thehockleyhustler]

Norwich and Leeds are coming up though and I expect them to have good seasons

 

[Brolin]

Norwich and Leeds could potentially enjoy the bounce that Leicester had after they got promoted, but looking through both their squads it is clear they would both need plenty of additions to challenge for the top spots.

If we don't go up then I think we will be there or there abouts next season, but Davies would have to buck the trend of his managerial career and avoid the slow start so we don't have to play catch up quite so much.

 

[RedDogChris]

Depends on how much we strengthened again and whether Billy Davies would be in charge.We've overachieved this season and would find it hard again without a proper left back and possibly Majewski.We may get it tougher on the injury front next year also.

 

[winnits]

I would hope we are now a more attractive proposition for ambitious players than we were this time last year irrespective of our fate in the play-offs.

 

[onlythetruth]

What gives you confidence is the fact that so many times Billy has rested our best players and we play teams and still look very comfortable and capable of beating anybody

Great young squad and we have fringe players who would be automatic starters for many of our Championship rivals

Would not swap our squad or manager with any other

 

[marshal99]

I would hope we are now a more attractive proposition for ambitious players than we were this time last year irrespective of our fate in the play-offs.

Yeah , we might be able to finally attract Neil Danns & Leon Best next year. lol

 

[sebs]

disagree. this year we've been quite lucky in the fact that middlesbrough, sheff utd and reading haven't had as strong seasons as they should. burnley haven't lost many of the players who got them there in the first place. losing play off teams usually have a poor season the year afterwards. ask preston.

 

[wemaybefamousagain]

Next season in the CCC promises to be the most open for years with no big contenders dropping from the Prem and a couple of decent sides coming up from League 1.

Still, it will act as little compensation if we fail in the play-offs and of course many sides struggle the season after coming so close. In short, I don't really want to think about that possibility!

 

[Jamie Mackie's Smart Car]

i'd not thought of norwich and (probably) leeds. you'd expect them to be strongish but i would expect us to be in good shape. tieing raddy down would be important. he could boss the championship even more next season

 

[RedDogChris]

disagree. this year we've been quite lucky in the fact that middlesbrough, sheff utd and reading haven't had as strong seasons as they should. burnley haven't lost many of the players who got them there in the first place. losing play off teams usually have a poor season the year afterwards. ask preston.

Sheffield United have a poor manager in Blackwell and Burnley will go back to how they were before Owen Coyle,making up the numbers in a mid-table position in this division.Forest Legend he may be but I'm sad to say I don't think Laws is up to the job there.Middlesborough will also be cutting back this summer.This division could be anyones next year and in sense we've been unlucky in fact that two very strong teams in West Brom and Newcastle came down.

 

[Lizardinho]

Matt - I think you're right but only if can keep the current team together (including Raddy) and make the purchases we need (a left back - hate to say it but I don't think Jules will cut it at this level - and back up for McKenna are top of my list). We must keep hold of Billy as well.

I hope Nigel has learnt his lessons after the Sheffield Utd play-off season and does all he can to make sure our young squad isn't broken up. I guess, at least, there shouldn't really be anyone coming to the end of their contract, is there?

(you're only at the other end of the house so could say this to you in person, rather than virtually!)

 

[wemaybefamousagain]

If we fail in the play offs but then go and sign Shorey, Pratley, Boyd and Maynard I will be more confident!

 

[Loughborough_red]

I would expect ipswich to be up there next season, along with all the other sides mentioned. I think i'm right in saying that Sheepshanks (if he's still the chairman there?) is giving Keane some cash to play with. I'd also expect Derby to have a better season next year as much as it pains me to say it.

 

[Jonathan]

Bristol City will be up there next season now Coppell's in charge.

 

[Jamie Mackie's Smart Car]

i think it's safe to say the league will be more open next season anyway and we'd hopefully be better equipped to handle it. in terms of new signings we will have at least established ourselves as one of the league "big boys"

(hi liz - thought i'd delurk for a moment!)

 

[Kier]

If we don't go up we will probably be favourites next season but Billy will be able to handle the expectations and still get the best out of the current squad.

I think if we were to replicate or better this season next time round we definitely need another summer of heavy investment, we have punched above our weight this season and been relatively lucky with injuries. We need a left-back, another centre-back to compete with Wes and Wilson, a couple of wide players and another decent striker to challenge Earnshaw and Blackstock.

Would also like us to ship some of the deadwood out: Lynch, Adebola, McGoldrick and McCleary who simply are not good enough for a side with promotion ambitions.

 

[sammy the snake]

yep Brizzol, us, Reading and dare I say it the knuckledraggers of direby will improve.
As long as this squad stays together, we shouldnt fear anyone though

Top marks to Billy for that!