Automatic promotion

[Martinmalta]

As things stand, Newcastle will run away with the championship. Aston Villa, with Di Matteo in charge and Gestede and now McCormock to bang the goals, will be right behind them. I see that it will be difficult to finish before these two giants. However, I do have the feeling, maybe because I am a fan, that the R's will surprise a few people. Maybe even us the fans. JFH and Les are building a young squad that plays with determination, something we lacked in the past, and a very solid defense. It happened several times in the past when teams not quoted much, surprised all by reaching their targets. Leicester and Bournemouth are a good example. As many already said, including JFH, we may need to strengthen on the wing and upfront, and you'll never know.

[Greg1882]

Don't agree with villa at all. They have goals in them but they are rotton to the very core. You need to be a team to get out of this league and they are so far from being a team it's unreal. Teams like Brighton and Wednesday will finish above villa

[Martinmalta]

Because they finished at the bottom of the Premier does not make them a bad team in this division. And remember, they have now a very good manager that will transform them for sure. If they had the feeling of winning again, they do have the potential to automatic promotion.

[Greg1882]

It's not just that they finished bottom it's how they finished bottom. A succession of managers went into villa, they can't all be bad managers. They are a massive club but so were Leeds, forest, man city, wolves etc etc etc. This league can chew you up and spit you out and I don't think they've got the bottle to be anywhere near automatic promotion. It's just my opinion but I suspect they will scrape into the playoffs and that's at a push

[West London is Rss]

All I know is, is that it's the Championship - The most unpredictable league in the world!

We're all tipping Newcastle or Villa but it wouldn't surprise me at all if one of these, if not both, finished no-where near the top. I think at least one of them will but it would not surprise me if they didn't!

I think we'll have a good solid go at it and will finish play-offs to mid-table.
We've certainly got a solid base to build from!

[Shepherds Mush]

I'll stick my neck out and say Newcastle won't win the league (but may get promoted) and Villa will still be in the Championship at the end of the season.

[CroydonCaptainJack]

i gree with Mush and Greg on Villa. Can't see them going up automatically even with their new overvalued striker.

[stanistheman]

Newcastle, Norwich, Sheff Wednesday, Bristol City, Aston Villa Brighton Derby will contest automatic promotion and play off places. One or two others could be a surpise package for a top 6 finish, but sorry, can't see QPR being amongst them.