Barnsley predictions 7th Aug

I'm on holidays from Saturday so won't have internet access until after this date, hence the early post.

Another close tough season in store for the Championship. After Blackpool and Ollie hitting the jackpot last season the reality is nearly any team in this league can go up. The teams who will believe they should be front of the pack will be those who narrowly missed out, Cardiff, Forest, Leicester, but the form team for the last 6 months was certainly Reading, Burnley at least from the relegated teams. Then just behind their shoulders would certainly be Hull, Bristol City, Swansea, but what about Leeds, Norwich coming up from below. This will be a tight season indeed. I think I've been predicting 6th place finishes for QPR for a while now, depending on signing a good striker and keeping a manager...This season I'll be happy if we sign a good striker and keep the manager, our end position to be irrelevant (within reason). We have to re-establish managerial stability. Then build a full strength consistent team as the foundation for future success. I believe the manager is in place. The players he has brought in, well time will tell. But no ridiculous expectation on Neil's shoulders, which in previous seasons would result in his departure by November and the season in disarray. His signings aren't spectacular but just may be astute given the competitive nature of this division. The departure of Stewart is an eye to the future. The potential loss of our loan players from last season, well, the first half of last season had me licking their boots, but the 2nd half, well, had me wondering were they wearing any....Time to build for the future. I hope those that are worthy are kept.   

Barnsley at home? Of all the teams in this league, you've got to be thinking Barnsley just can't stay up this year, not again...Their usual bristling start followed by mid season collapse, then somehow they win their home games to finish just safe....Uh oh, isn't that what they said about Blackpool a year ago? And we seem to start every season with a 1-1 draw...Team building for the future ringing in my ears now. Bugger it. We'll win it 2-0. I want to say Ephraim will score aswell but each summer he seems to be the best player in the friendlies and then he disappears. Buz to net for us, a glory season beckons once again...

QPR to win 3 - 1, Buzz.

I don't tip QPR  to get promoted and this year again my head inclines me towards a finish somewhere between 8th-12th. However I am going to predict a successful season. I was never a fan of Neil Warnock as a character or his style of play.However he has strengths and the team will be stronger and more competetive. He will be there for the full season and January might see additions required to make the team stronger. So I will bury my inhibitions about NW and predict a finish in the top 2 and automatic promotion.

3 -1 mackie