Source: FOOTYMAD
The Fratton Faithful Championship Preview: Part III
Portsmouth - Watford Welcome to Fratton Faithful's big Championship season preview 2010/2011! Here is a brief lowdown on all 24 teams in the division, with fans of each club (a few currently missing) giving their thoughts on the upcoming season and their thoughts on Pompey.PortsmouthLast Season: 20th (Premier League - Relegated)Ground: Fratton Park (Capacity: 20,224)Manager: Steve Cotterill - Guided Notts County to the League Two title last season having previously managed Burnley with little to spend and Cheltenham, where he initially made a name for himself. I wonder if he really knows what he has let himself in for…My thoughts on the upcoming season: With the CVA passed, Balram Chainrai will take over the club. I'm not buying his lawyer's talk where he said that Chainrai would be looking into the long-term investment into the club and I expect Cotterill to be operating on a shoestring budget as "Baloo" gets his money back.Having said that, so long as the likes of Wilson, Smith and Nugent aren't sold then I think we can have a reasonable season. I'm not expecting a promotion challenge and I think we will struggle to start with because of the lack of depth in the squad.However, I don't think we're so bad that we'll find ourselves relegated. I think there are three worse teams than us in the division and our home form will see us safe from the drop. Of course, if we fail to hold onto our key players…Key Player: Marc Wilson - Steve Cotterill said he knew who his captain was and I believe Wilson is that man. As long as he plays in the correct position, he can offer good protection to the back four and is a calm influence in midfield. His passing, heading and tackling will only get better too.My Prediction: 14th - This season is all about surviving as a club and consolidating our position in the Championship. It'll be a struggle at first, but after Pompey have adapted I think a fair season lies ahead, depending on how much trouble there is off the pitch.Preston North EndLast Season: 17thGround: Deepdale (Capacity: 23,408)Manager: Darren Ferguson - The son of Sir Alex, Darren led Peterborough to two consecutive promotions from League Two to the Championship from 2007-2009, but left by mutual consent after a run of poor results last season, before joining the Lilywhites soon after.Preston fan Dino Constovalosis on the upcoming season: Preston have undergone a fair amount of surgery this summer as Darren Ferguson transfer listed nine players at the end of last season as well as releasing several who were out of contract following last seasons 17th placed finish.Following a winding up order and then a takeover by a Lancashire Business Tycoon, the club is trying to stabilise its finances and has brought in just five players so far leaving us with a squad of around sixteen. Despite being a small club in this division the aim is always for the play-offs, which we've managed a surprising number of times to be fair, but a more realistic aim this season would be mid-table.Dino's Key Player: Sean St. Ledger - International for Rep. of Ireland and best player at Deepdale over the past few years. Although he was loaned out to Middlesbrough last season, a permanent move didn't happen. Celtic are rumoured to be interested.Dino's Preston Prediction: 14thDino's Pompey Prediction: 4th - Thanks to free scoring David Nugent!Queens Park RangersLast Season: 13thGround: Loftus Road (Capacity: 19,100)Manager: Neil Warnock - Neil, or "Colin" as he is affectionately known by opposition fans, is mainly known for his rants at the press, the officials and the FA. He has managed many clubs but was most successful at Sheffield United, winning promotion to the top flight in 2006.ReadingLast Season: 9thGround: Madejski Stadium (Capacity: 24,224)Manager: Brian McDermott - Joined Reading's coaching staff in 2000 before becoming caretaker boss last season following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers. McDermott's stock rose considerably after the Royals knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup and climbed the league, meaning McDermott got the job permanently.Scunthorpe UnitedLast Season: 20thGround: Glanford Park (Capacity: 9,088)Manager: Nigel Adkins - Was promoted from physiotherapist to assistant manager and then eventually replaced Brian Laws as manager in 2006, leading the Iron to the League One title. Scunthorpe were relegated after one season but bounced back a year later and Adkins kept them in the division last campaign.Scunthorpe fan Rick Taylor on the upcoming season: Our hopes for this season are exactly what they were last season. Finish 21st or above! We've got no chance of finishing top half, or even making a valiant charge for mid table. As long as we finish above those three relegation spots, then that's mission complete for Scunny. Crowds and budgets similar to that of several League One clubs mean that we'll never be able to compete with the big boys in this league without financially crippling ourselves. A few key players left at the end of the season, and we've done our normal replacement job... brought in lower league/reserve team players on the cheap in the hope that they'll do well for us before eventually moving on for pastures new.No big names, no famous ex pro's fighting to save their career in football. Just a lot of hard work, determination and a manager getting the best out of an average, but dedicated bunch of players.Obviously all hope goes out the window if Adkins leaves when a larger club in this league inevitably sacks their manager after twelve minutes of the new season and decides to poach our own miracle worker...Rick's Key Players: Gary Hooper's replacements: Bobby Grant from Accrington and Chris Dagnall from Rochdale both have the responsibility of coming onto our never ending production line of strikers and banging away the goals. Can they do it? Ask me in 6 months...Rick's Scunthorpe Prediction: 22nd - I'd like to think that it'll be 21st on goal difference on the last day of the season, but I fear after losing the lions share of our goals from last season in Gary Hooper, Paul Hayes and Grant McCann, and with barely any investment in our leaky backline, it's going to be a long hard slog for us.Rick's Pompey Prediction: 9th - With most opposition fans it's either, "Pompey will walk it" or "Two relegations on the trot." I'll sit on the fence for this one I think. While I certainly don't think you're as bad as any of the bottom half of the Championship last season, I think you'll struggle to get anywhere near the quality that Newcastle and West Brom had last season. A season of consolidation before making a proper push in 11/12.Sheffield UnitedLast Season: 8thGround: Bramall Lane (Capacity: 32,702)Manager: Kevin Blackwell - Took Leeds to the 2006 play-off final, losing 3-0 to Watford and then getting sacked after a string of poor results the following season. After a short spell at Luton, Blackwell returned to Bramall Lane, where he was initially assistant manager to Neil Warnock.Sheffield United fan Hetty Pullan on the upcoming season: Realistic hopes are for the play-offs this season. We've made new signings but I'm not too sure if they're good enough for promotion. The season after we got relegated was the real opportunity to bounce back or even the play-off final two seasons ago but since then our squad has weakened and we are less likely to get automatic promotion.Hetty's Key Player: Chris MorganHetty's Sheffield United Prediction: 7thHetty's Pompey Prediction: 5thSwansea CityLast Season: 7thGround: The Liberty Stadium (Capacity: 20,532)Manager: Brendan Rodgers - Was recently linked with the Pompey job after being sacked by Reading earlier last season. The former Chelsea youth team boss had some success at Watford before his ill-fated move to the Madejski Stadium.Swansea fan Johnny Vaisey on the upcoming season: For the third season in a row we've changed managers. The first time it devastated the club but the second time it was a bit of a relief (which is strange to say considering we finished 7th last season). The football last season though was unbelievably boring and the negative, defensive mind set was what eventually cost us a playoff place (along with a lack of a goalscorer).With Rodgers, he didn't do well at Reading after a successful spell at Watford and we've gone back to trying to push up and win the ball higher up the pitch. We'll see who comes in this week/over the next few weeks because we're still desperate for a striker who can score goals regularly and some defensive cover because we're a bit light on numbers at the back.Johnny's Key Player: Darren Pratley - Last season he was slightly out of position in my opinion, he was the furthest advanced midfielder whereas I think he would be better and more influential if he played a bit further back and was involved more in everything like under Martinez.Johnny's Swansea Prediction: Honestly could be anywhere, it's very hard to predict. We've got the same team as last season basically bar Leon Britton but Jordi Lopez will hopefully stay fit. As long as we consolidate and finish comfortably first and foremost, depending on whether we have brought in a goalscorer then we can start looking up at the top end of the table because it certainly is a wide open league.Johnny's Pompey Prediction: Another hard one to predict, lower mid table/relegation battle maybe with the tiny squad at the moment and can't see who Portsmouth will be able to afford that can push them on especially if they get injuries.WatfordLast Season: 16thGround: Vicarage Road (Capacity 17,504)Manager: Malky Mackay - Took over from Brendan Rodgers having played for the Hornets from 2005. His playing career was modest, though was something of a stalwart for Norwich for six years.Watford fan Mark Ferguson on the upcoming season: A bit like you guys, we are having money trouble although not quite as bad. A tale of blowing 60 million on massive wages and ex-directors decided to pocket the money themselves rather than invest on a new East stand for example which is now closed due to "Health and Safety reasons"We managed to avoid administration at the last minute back in December but have very limited funds despite the best efforts of an Elton John concert to raise funds for players (which haven't come).Most realistic Watford fans expect a very tough season with a weak squad full of potentially good but inexperienced youngsters and a few older pros like John Eustace and Martin Taylor. Malky Mackay has had it very tough for a first job!Mark's Key Player: Danny Graham - Our only real goal threat up front at the moment.Mark's Watford Prediction: Bottom six at best, but I fear relegation for us.Mark's Pompey Prediction: Mid-table and OUT OF ADMINISTRATION!Going to be tough for your team without being able to bring many players in but I know you fans will give the team great support which will help. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy the New Year trip to the Vic (best to find a pub to drink in though!)
