When we went down last time we had goals all across the team. You can be a fairly poor team has Peterborough have demonstrated but if you can score at will you will be there or thereabouts. With the expected departures I don’t see many goals so would expect 10th to be a ‘decent season’.
There will be a huge turnover of players, & we will have one of the youngest squads in the league, so therefore I predict a relegation battle. I think we will appoint from within so expect Devaney to be named head coach. A long hard slog of a season basically.
When you look at it. The midfield will improve next season with Wolfe, Thomas, Benson, Ackroyd, ICD and Kane. Oduor and Williams will still be here. There's Aitchison and Schmidt to return. Iseka is under contract and will have had a full pre-season. Cole will score goals and play regularly in League 1. Even Moon and Kitching might be able to forge a partnership at the back. It isn't all doom and gloom.
I am ever the optimist, but unless quite a lot changes between now and August, I reckon bouncing straight back is going to be a very difficult task. Don't get me wrong, I think we will see a big turnover in players, and probably a new head coach which will change things, but there's so much uncertainty around it all. The only thing for sure is, we're going down with less than 40 points, which is abysmal, and won't breed confidence into the players who will be here next season. I'd also add that Peterborough may find it similarly difficult, considering their poor season too. They're also in more debt than we are and may have to cut their cloth even more accordingly. Depending on who sticks around for Derby, they should win the league. There's some big clubs in league 1 for next season too. Potentially Wednesday, Rotherham, Sunderland, Ipswich, Charlton, Bolton and Portsmouth.
I love a good prediction but it’s a bit early isn’t it? Nobody knows who will be the coach and what squad we’ll have.
The Derby situation is a farce. Overspend, don't pay the tax bill, go into administration, take out further loans to finish the season, turn down bids for the highest paid player, then get a new owner who may or may not shaft the existing creditors then rinse and repeat step 1 whilst hoping for a different result. Wigan not too dissimilar, as I suspect their owners are in for a shock next season when they realise how much you actually get for your money in the Championship.
I honestly believe we will have a season very much like this one and drop straight through to league 2 (div 4 ).
I see a similar kind of season to 2002/03 ahead. Main difference then was that we had an expensive ageing squad without many who other clubs wanted to sign. Cut price fees will be received for our players with more ability and promise to offer. Party line on covid, relegation being unfair financially, and a sprinkle of blame for fans who didn't renew meaning we can't sign anyone. Our squad will be filled with a few solid performers who couldn't find a move, a core of current under contract fringe players and U23s, and a couple on big wages that we're lumbered with. Crucially, I don't see our ownership changing tact in either playing style, recruitment or coaching remit. 16th placed finish and continued unrest amongst the fanbase.