Opinion: UTMP Predict the League Table

We didn’t do too bad on the League One predictions. Dan faired better than others by naming three of the four going down (Rochdale, Bristol Rovers and Northampton Town) and getting one of the promoted teams in Peterborough. This time we decided to publish the tables instead of our usual combined league table prediction.

Conor Hamilton’s (@Glad_All_Over_) predictions:

Conor’s Predicted Position	Team
1	Fulham
2	Bournemouth
3	Sheffield United
4	West Bromwich Albion
5	Barnsley
6	Swansea City
7	Reading
8	Cardiff City
9	Stoke City
10	Middlesborough
11	Millwall
12	Nottingham Forest
13	Queens Park Rangers
14	Blackburn Rovers
15	Bristol City
16	Luton Town
17	Blackpool
18	Coventry City
19	Hull City
20	Birmingham City
21	Huddersfield Town
22	Peterborough
23	Preston North End
24	Derby

My three promoted teams this season are:

1. Fulham. They have a squad full of top quality players; including a healthy mix of promotion veterans and quick, eager young players. With buying Wilson for £12M, they’re spending to add to this and have a manger with a point to prove. I expect them to win the league.
2. Bournemouth. I really rate Scott Parker, and I think this squad still has enough talent to push on and win promotion under his leadership. 
3. Sheffield United. I think Sheffield may struggle without Wilder’s incredible connection with the supporters, but this is still a team that finished 9th in the Premier League two years ago. I think they’ll battle through the play-offs to get back into the top flight.

The three relegated teams will be:

1. Derby. They barely have enough players for six-a-side training, and that was before Wayne Rooney started injuring more. There is no way they are surviving this season.
2. Preston. I’m not just saying this because I’m a Blackpool fan. I think the loss of Ben Pearson is a defensive hole, and their attackers are all past their prime. They’ll play grim football and hopefully go down for it.
3. Peterborough. One promoted team will go straight back down and I think it is the Posh. They have a thin squad, which I think got lucky last season. A few injuries, or COVID-19 scares, and they are in real trouble.

I think Blackpool will finish 17th. Our squad is strong enough to avoid relegation, but we haven’t made the level of signings required to really push on. It feels like a stabilisation season at the moment and, after the trials of Oyston Ownership, I’m kind of okay with that?

Dan Hopwood’s (@HopwoodDan) predicts:

Dan’s Predicted Position	Team
1	Fulham (P)
2	West Bromwich Albion (P)
3	Sheffield United (P)
4	Bournemouth
5	QPR
6	Middlesbrough
7	Millwall
8	Cardiff City
9	Nottingham Forest
10	Swansea
11	Barnsley
12	Birmingham
13	Luton
14	Coventry
15	Blackpool
16	Reading
17	Blackburn Rovers
18	Hull City
19	Stoke City
20	Bristol City
21	Peterborough
22	Huddersfield
23	Preston North End
24	Derby

Three teams for promotion:

Boring as it is, I can’t see anyone knocking the three previous premier league teams off their stool. Therefore, I have gone with a simple one, two, three of Fulham, WBA and Sheffield United. I would think that Sheffield Uniteds’ promotion push would be most at risk from the likes of QPR or Bournemouth if they make the play-offs!

Three teams for relegation:

Derby is a banker for relegation currently with the on-goings at their club. At this point it would take a miracle to steady that ship. Other teams to join are our derby rivals PNE, and Huddersfield for me.

Tom Johnson (@TJohnson93) predicts:

Tom’s Predicted Position	Teams
1	Sheffield United
2	Fulham
3	West Bromwich Albion
4	Bournemouth
5	Millwall
6	Middlesbrough
7	Stoke City
8	Cardiff
9	QPR
10	Nottingham Forest
11	Swansea
12	Barnsley
13	Luton
14	Bristol City
15	Reading
16	Coventry
17	Huddersfield
18	Blackpool
19	Preston North End
20	Blackburn Rovers
21	Peterborough
22	Birmingham
23	Hull City
24	Derby

Teams for Promotion:

Sheff utd have the strongest squad and an experienced manager so I’ve backed them for the title, followed by Fulham who have heavily invested in a squad full of talent and another top manager in Marco Silva. After those two, I fancy WBA to to be up there too, though I hope I’m wrong and it’s not the three who came down from the Premier League as the top three.

Teams for Relegation:

It’s no secret that Derby look set for a season of struggle – cobbling together a squad last minute, having nearly gone down last year, and with a very unproven manager is surely a recipe for disaster when you consider the strength of the other teams in the league. After that, I think off-the-field problems could catch up with both Hull and Birmingham. Neither of them have particularly good squads or managers and I think that a poor run of form could turn the fans against the players, spiralling into relegation. Peterborough, Blackburn and PNE will finish just above the drop.

Ben Whetton (@Whetton123) predicts:

Ben’s Predicted Position	Team
1	Fulham
2	West Bromwich Albion
3	Bournemouth
4	Cardiff
5	Millwall
6	Sheffield United
7	Middlesborough
8	QPR
9	Stoke City
10	Nottingham Forest
11	Blackpool
12	Swansea
13	Coventry
14	Peterborough
15	Barnsley
16	Blackburn
17	Luton
18	Preston North End
19	Reading
20	Birmingham
21	Huddersfield
22	Bristol City
23	Hull City
24	Derby

Teams going up: I have Fulham to top the table. After their relatively unfortunate relegation, you could argue their squad and coaching team have upgraded since their promotion two years ago. Prior to his poor tenure at Everton, Marco Silva’s track record prior suggests he is more than capable of taking this talented squad back into the premier league at the first try. Valérien Ismaël’s appointment at WBA fills me with confidence that they can follow, with Bournemouth being my choice for the play-offs.

At the other end of the spectrum, Derby are in freefall. Unless we see a significant change in the squad between now and the end of August, there’s a very real possibility Wayne Rooney’s men are relegated by March. Whilst the other 2 spots are much harder to call, I have gone with Hull, who I believe may lack the firepower to survive in the championship, and Nigel Pearson’s Bristol City.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media channels!

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