Championship Table 17/18 - In Their Own Words

N.B. despite all our efforts we couldn’t find a Middlesbrough fan... so I guess they’re so despondent about their chances that we’ll slot them firmly in mid-table...

Also, we’re not putting Reading in this table - but you can make your own predictions for the campaign here.

Right, let’s get to it!

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1st - Fulham

"I'm confident we'll be one of the highest scoring squads again and if the defense can hold, a top two finish is easily attainable." - Andrew Beck, Cottagers Confidential

2nd - Leeds United

"Watching the lads gel as Thomas Christiansen is implementing his philosophy, I genuinely feel automatic promotion is a real possibility." - James Mahoney, Nowt For Second (ironic blog name, no?)

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3rd - Sheffield Wednesday

"Top two should be the target. If we hit playoffs again though and make a push for promotion again then that won’t be too much of a train smash." - Joe Crann

4th - Brentford

“I do believe - after seeing the teams make the playoffs last season - that we could make the playoffs." - Billy Grant, Beesotted

5th - Aston Villa

"I expect we will finish in a playoff position." - James Rushton, 7500 To Holte

6th - Wolverhampton Wanderers

"I'll be conservative and say sixth. That has to be the minimum requirement." - Thomas Baugh, Wolves Blog

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7th - Derby County

"While I believe we will be pushing for a top six place, at this stage, I'm not wholly convinced that we will quite crack it." - Ollie Wright, DerbyCountyBlog

8th - Norwich City

"Top six would be a result for all the reasons stated in the first question. Equally there are so many unknowns I really have no idea." - Gary Gowers, Norwich City MFW

9th - Hull City

"At this point, a play off berth seems the height of our ambition, but late recruitment might improve that." - Les Motherby, Amber Nectar

10th - Nottingham Forest

"I’d be happy with a top 10 finish. If we didn’t achieve that but improved on last season (it wouldn’t be hard to do that to be fair), I’d be OK with that too." - Sean Hockett

11th - Cardiff City

"The play-offs will likely be out of reach this time around but I expect a finish between seventh and 11th." - Dan Lewis

12th - Preston North End

“I’m expecting to see a more attacking team. Saying that we’re also expecting some set backs along the way.” - John Cornall

13th - Middlesbrough

Yup, thanks to no comment from any Boro fans, they finish top! Of the bottom half, as Garry Monk wistfully looks upon the scenes at Elland Road with no regrets at all.

14th - Ipswich Town

"I'm more optimistic than I have been for about three seasons, but I fully expect to be disillusioned by, say, late September!" - Susan Gardiner

15th - Sheffield United

"I have faith in Chris Wilder as one of the best young English manager's outside of the top flight, and I believe he will guide us to a mid table finish." - Chris Davis-Smith

16th - Sunderland

"Mid-table is about as much as we can hope for given the lack of investment." - James Copley, Roker Report

17th - Bristol City

"Most would be happy with something around the top of the bottom half" - Paul Binning, The Exiled Robin

18th - Barnsley

"Another finish in mid-table would be a good return" - Ian Wilkinson, On The Ponty End

19th - Burton Albion

"A more comfortable survival than last time." - Colston Crawford

20th - Birmingham City

"I hope I'm wrong, but right now I can only see another season of struggle." - Gabriel Sutton, The Football Lab

21st - Millwall

Knowing Millwall I'd take 21st with a last minute goal on the last day of the season. - Mark Dillon

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22nd - n/a

We’ll leave this position free, so wherever you think Reading will finish, put them there and move everyone down a place...

23rd - QPR

"I think we'll finish bottom third, and if I'm totally honest it could well be bottom three." - Simon Skinner, QPRNet

24th - Bolton Wanderers

"If I’m being honest it’s that we will likely be relegated." - Chris Manning, Lion Of Vienna Suite