The Official Skybet Championship Discussion Thread 2016-17

[The Prototype]

Somewhere I can bitch about Newcastle United this season.

No but seriously starting in a matter of weeks is the Championship season, Newcastle are short priced favourites to claim the title and go back. Which would be great, it'd be just the 2nd title Newcastle has won in forever, last time they were relegated they bounced back up the next season only to replace Hughton mid-season with Pardew and the rest is history.

I will update the post with the fixtures when I can.

[Jezza]

Good luck to the Toon! I hope for your sake they can get straight back into the top flight rather than languish in the Championship for a few years.

With Benitez at the helm, I think they will get promoted back into the top flight at the end of the season.

[The Prototype]

Thanks I hope so as well.

I think Rafa has done well with the signings, and there has been some pre-season bonding camps lead by some players so I think that things are steadily on the rise there. We've cut some deadwood and we've got the right mix I think.

Had Rafa been signed a bit earlier I reckon we'd have survived he seemed to bring the team together.

[The Prototype]

4.40 in the morning Fulham and Newcastle kick off the season. I will IQ the game as I will be asleep for work. But hope we can win.

[Jezza]

Not a good start for Newcastle losing 1-0 to Fulham.

[sixpoints]

The Championship will be the dour struggle that it always is. It's really more about substance than style, as 46 games is an enormous drain. The parachute money helps enormously and gives the newly relegated the scope to build a squad that will go the distance (like Burnley & Hull just did).
There are plenty of 'big' clubs competing and visits to Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, Nottingham Forest & Derby County will mean facing big hostile crowds who all think they follow clubs that should be in the Premiership.
Villa, Norwich & Newcastle will be up there. Last seasons unlucky non promoted Sheffield Wednesday, Derby & Brighton look strong enough again.
Bolters who may improve include Fulham, Bristol City & Cardiff.
It's going to be a really interesting scrap, where picking up those mid week points when away to the likes of Burton, Barnsley & Brentford in the freeze of mid winter will prove invaluable.
I don't get the unbridled confidence in Newcastle. They will be up there, but I'm not convinced Benitez will feel comfortable in a league like the Championship.