Not sure Oxford's or Portsmouth's recruitment has been amazing really given they didn't have the strongest championship squad, I wonder if they could be dragged into the scrap
They will be and I think they know it.
As far as I can see it currently, Wednesday are as good as gone, and then it's a mini relegation league for two slots between us, Oxford, Pompey, Preston and Hull.
There will be a few other teams who may also get dragged into it like Watford, Stoke & QPR who have been stagnant for a few years now. Other than that I would say the top10/12 is fairly set in stone.
I'd be amazed if we don't finish above Oxford. An excellent manager, but clearly the smallest side in the division.
I hope so too, but not a given. The experience of a successful season in the championship, as in not being relegated, is not to be sniffed at. They now know what to expect, and how to navigate that. We are going in blind so to speak.
I know a lot of Pompey fans and they are mostly expecting top half - outskirts of play offs - I think they’re deluded but it’s rare they all agree and generally they’re quite pessimistic - so they must have seen something positive end of last season!
I'd be amazed if we don't finish above Oxford. An excellent manager, but clearly the smallest side in the division.
They have a very decent side and a very good manager at Championship level. I think we should also remember that they have properly had our number over the last 12 years or so. Since 2013 we have played Oxford 18 times, Oxford have won 9 of those games, we have won 3, and the other 6 have been draws.
We are an improved side since we last played them, but so are Oxford with a similar calibre of manager.
They have good players like; Ciaron Brown, Cameron Brannagan, Tyler Goodrham, Greg Leigh, Jack Currie, Elliott Moore, Peter Kioso, and probably a few others I am forgetting.
Alright they've got a shit ground, but other than that they are well run and a decent side and won't be an easy 3 points for any side.
Bournemouth were a small club with a crap ground, now look at them, a more recent example would be Wrexham.
Having a bigger ground and more fans won't decide us finishing above them
I'd be amazed if we don't finish above Oxford. An excellent manager, but clearly the smallest side in the division.
They have a very decent side and a very good manager at Championship level. I think we should also remember that they have properly had our number over the last 12 years or so. Since 2013 we have played Oxford 18 times, Oxford have won 9 of those games, we have won 3, and the other 6 have been draws.
We are an improved side since we last played them, but so are Oxford with a similar calibre of manager.
They have good players like; Ciaron Brown, Cameron Brannagan, Tyler Goodrham, Greg Leigh, Jack Currie, Elliott Moore, Peter Kioso, and probably a few others I am forgetting.
Alright they've got a shit ground, but other than that they are well run and a decent side and won't be an easy 3 points for any side.
Bournemouth were a small club with a crap ground, now look at them, a more recent example would be Wrexham.
Having a bigger ground and more fans won't decide us finishing above them
Bournemouth were financed by a secretive Russian, and we fined £4.75m for breaching FFP.
What is with Wrexham trying to sign 7 forwards. You can only play 2 or 3 at a time yet they are going into the season with the likes of O’Connell and Scarr as their starting center halves and a 52 year as their starting defensive mid.
Who's that sitting at the top of the most active list? 🤨
Transfers in as of end of 1 August 2025: 129 by 23 Teams (League One, 1 August 2024 - 186 signings by 23 Teams, Charlton with 7) Most signings: Birmingham, Charlton, Norwich, Preston & Watford (9) Least signings: 1 Team (0)
Teams with 8+ signings: 7 Teams with 7+ signings: 8 Teams with 5+ signings: 13 Teams with 3+ signings: 21
Fee paid/Undisclosed: 63 Free: 46 Loan: 20
Birmingham: 9 Alfons Sampsted - FC Twente (Undisclosed) Phil Neumann - Hannover (Free) James Beadle - Brighton (Loan) Tommy Doyle - Wolves (Loan) Demarai Gray - Al-Ettifaq (Undisclosed) Bright Osayi-Samuel - Fenerbahce (Free) Kyogo Furuhashi - Rennes (Undisclosed) Kanya Fujimoto - Gil Vicente (Free) Eiran Cashin - Brighton (Loan)
Blackburn: 4 Dion De Neve - KV Kortrijk (Undisclosed) Sidnei Taveres - Moreirense (Undisclosed) Ryan Alebiosu - KV Kortrijk (Undisclosed) Sean McLoughlin - Hull (Undisclosed)
Bristol City: 4 Adam Randell - Plymouth (Undisclosed) Joe Lumley - Southampton (Free) Emil Riis Jakobsen - Preston (Free) Radek Vitek - Loan (Manchester United)
Charlton: 9 Sonny Carey - Blackpool (Free) Thomas Kaminski - Luton (Undisclosed) Tanto Olaofe - Stockport (Undisclosed) Amari'i Bell - Luton (Free) Reece Burke - Luton (Undisclosed) Joe Rankin-Costello - Blackburn (Undisclosed) Rob Apter - Blackpool (Undisclosed) Charlie Kelman - QPR (Undisclosed) Harvey Knibbs - Reading (Undisclosed)
Coventry: 3 Miguel Angel Brau - Granada (Free) Kaine Kesler-Hayden - Aston Villa (Undisclosed) Carl Rushworth - Brighton (Loan)
Derby: 8 Carlton Morris - Luton (Undisclosed) Andreas Weimann - Blackburn (Free) Danny Batth - Blackburn (Free) Richard O'Donnell - Blackpool (Free) Patrick Agyemang - Charlotte FC (Undisclosed) Owen Beck - Liverpool (Loan) David Ozoh - Crystal Palace (Loan) Rhian Brewster - Sheffield United (Free)
Hull: 8 Gustavo Puerta - Bayer Leverkusen (Free) Reda Laalaoui - Fath Union Sport (Undisclosed) Dillon Phillips - Rotherham (Free) Semi Ajayi - West Brom (Free) Akin Famewo - Sheffield Wednesday (Free) Joel Ndala - Manchester City (Loan) John Lundstram - Trabzonspor (Loan) Enis Destan - Trabzonspor (Free)
Norwich: 9 Jacob Wright - Manchester City (£2.3m) Dan Grimshaw - Plymouth (Undisclosed) Harry Darling - Swansea (Free) Louie Moulden - Crystal Palace (Free) Jakov Medic - Ajax (Undisclosed) Vladan Kovacevic - Sporting Lisbon (Undisclosed) Mathias Kvistgaarden - Brondby (£6.9m) Papa Amadou Diallo - Metz (£4.3m) Jeffrey Schlupp - Crystal Palace (Free)
Oxford: 3 Brian De Keersmaecker - Heracles (Undisclosed) Brodie Spencer - Huddersfield (Undisclosed) Luke Harris - Fulham (Loan)
Portsmouth: 5 Adrian Segecic - Sydney FC (Undisclosed) John Swift - West Brom (Free) Luke LeRoux - IFK Varnamo (Undisclosed) Mark Koznovszky - MTK Budapest (Undisclosed) Florian Bianchini - Swansea (Loan)
Preston: 9 Jordan Thompson - Stoke (Free) Pol Valentin - Sheffield Wednesday (Free) Thierry Small - Charlton (Free) Daniel Iversen - Leicester (Free) Daniel Jebbison - Bournemouth (Loan) Odel Offiah - Brighton (Undisclosed) Michael Smith - Sheffield Wednesday (Free) Jack Walton - Luton (Undisclosed) Andrija Vukcevic - Juarez (Free)
Stoke: 6 Sorba Thomas - Huddersfield (Undisclosed) Maksym Talovierov - Plymouth (Undisclosed) Divin Mubama - Manchester City (Loan) Aaron Cresswell - West Ham (Free) Ashley Phillips - Tottenham (Loan) Robert Bozenik - Boavista (Free)
Swansea: 5 Cameron Burgess - Ipswich (Free) Ricardo Santos - Bolton (Free) Bobby Wales - Kilmarnock (Undisclosed) Zeidane Inoussa - BK Hacken (Undisclosed) Ethan Galbraith - Leyton Orient (Undisclosed)
West Brom: 4 Nat Phillips - Liverpool (Undisclosed) Jack Bray - Harrogate (Undisclosed) Aune Heggebo - SK Brann (Undisclosed) George Campbell - Montreal (Undisclosed)
Wrexham: 7 Ryan Hardie - Plymouth (Undisclosed) Danny Ward - Leicester (Free) Liberato Cacace - Empoli (Undisclosed) George Thomason - Bolton (Undisclosed) Josh Windass - Sheffield Wednesday (Free) Lewis O'Brien - Nottingham Forest (Undisclosed) Conor Coady - Leicester (Undisclosed)
*Over 18, but initially will be in the development squad
Conspiracy hat firmly on. Wonder if Leicester aren't getting players in / spending money, as they know the points deduction is big and means they're unlikely to get automatic promotion this season.
Comments
As far as I can see it currently, Wednesday are as good as gone, and then it's a mini relegation league for two slots between us, Oxford, Pompey, Preston and Hull.
There will be a few other teams who may also get dragged into it like Watford, Stoke & QPR who have been stagnant for a few years now. Other than that I would say the top10/12 is fairly set in stone.
We are an improved side since we last played them, but so are Oxford with a similar calibre of manager.
They have good players like; Ciaron Brown, Cameron Brannagan, Tyler Goodrham, Greg Leigh, Jack Currie, Elliott Moore, Peter Kioso, and probably a few others I am forgetting.
Alright they've got a shit ground, but other than that they are well run and a decent side and won't be an easy 3 points for any side.
Bournemouth were a small club with a crap ground, now look at them, a more recent example would be Wrexham.
Having a bigger ground and more fans won't decide us finishing above them
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44721788
Wrexham have a big budget.
Kieffer Moore to Wrexham doesn't bother me either.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cpqv9rpe4n5o
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c24zn4n8q1vo
Transfers in as of end of 1 August 2025: 129 by 23 Teams (League One, 1 August 2024 - 186 signings by 23 Teams, Charlton with 7)
Most signings: Birmingham, Charlton, Norwich, Preston & Watford (9)
Least signings: 1 Team (0)
Teams with 8+ signings: 7
Teams with 7+ signings: 8
Teams with 5+ signings: 13
Teams with 3+ signings: 21
Fee paid/Undisclosed: 63
Free: 46
Loan: 20
Birmingham: 9
Alfons Sampsted - FC Twente (Undisclosed)
Phil Neumann - Hannover (Free)
James Beadle - Brighton (Loan)
Tommy Doyle - Wolves (Loan)
Demarai Gray - Al-Ettifaq (Undisclosed)
Bright Osayi-Samuel - Fenerbahce (Free)
Kyogo Furuhashi - Rennes (Undisclosed)
Kanya Fujimoto - Gil Vicente (Free)
Eiran Cashin - Brighton (Loan)
Blackburn: 4
Dion De Neve - KV Kortrijk (Undisclosed)
Sidnei Taveres - Moreirense (Undisclosed)
Ryan Alebiosu - KV Kortrijk (Undisclosed)
Sean McLoughlin - Hull (Undisclosed)
Bristol City: 4
Adam Randell - Plymouth (Undisclosed)
Joe Lumley - Southampton (Free)
Emil Riis Jakobsen - Preston (Free)
Radek Vitek - Loan (Manchester United)
Charlton: 9
Sonny Carey - Blackpool (Free)
Thomas Kaminski - Luton (Undisclosed)
Tanto Olaofe - Stockport (Undisclosed)
Amari'i Bell - Luton (Free)
Reece Burke - Luton (Undisclosed)
Joe Rankin-Costello - Blackburn (Undisclosed)
Rob Apter - Blackpool (Undisclosed)
Charlie Kelman - QPR (Undisclosed)
Harvey Knibbs - Reading (Undisclosed)
Coventry: 3
Miguel Angel Brau - Granada (Free)
Kaine Kesler-Hayden - Aston Villa (Undisclosed)
Carl Rushworth - Brighton (Loan)
Derby: 8
Carlton Morris - Luton (Undisclosed)
Andreas Weimann - Blackburn (Free)
Danny Batth - Blackburn (Free)
Richard O'Donnell - Blackpool (Free)
Patrick Agyemang - Charlotte FC (Undisclosed)
Owen Beck - Liverpool (Loan)
David Ozoh - Crystal Palace (Loan)
Rhian Brewster - Sheffield United (Free)
Hull: 8
Gustavo Puerta - Bayer Leverkusen (Free)
Reda Laalaoui - Fath Union Sport (Undisclosed)
Dillon Phillips - Rotherham (Free)
Semi Ajayi - West Brom (Free)
Akin Famewo - Sheffield Wednesday (Free)
Joel Ndala - Manchester City (Loan)
John Lundstram - Trabzonspor (Loan)
Enis Destan - Trabzonspor (Free)
Ipswich: 4
David Button - Reading (Free)
Cedric Kipre - Reims (Loan)
Azor Matusiwa - Rennes (Undisclosed)
Ashley Young - Everton (Free)
Leicester: 1
Asmir Begovic - Everton (Free)
Middlesbrough: 4
*Owen Foster - Hull (Free)
*Archie Baptiste - Tottenham (Free)
Alfie Jones - Hull (Undisclosed)
Abdoulaye Kante - Troyes (Undisclosed)
Millwall: 6
Max Crocombe - Burton (Free)
Josh Coburn - Middlesbrough (Undisclosed)
Zak Sturge - Chelsea (Undisclosed)
Massimo Luongo - Ipswich (Free)
Steven Benda - Fulham (Loan)
Alfie Doughty - Luton (Undisclosed)
Norwich: 9
Jacob Wright - Manchester City (£2.3m)
Dan Grimshaw - Plymouth (Undisclosed)
Harry Darling - Swansea (Free)
Louie Moulden - Crystal Palace (Free)
Jakov Medic - Ajax (Undisclosed)
Vladan Kovacevic - Sporting Lisbon (Undisclosed)
Mathias Kvistgaarden - Brondby (£6.9m)
Papa Amadou Diallo - Metz (£4.3m)
Jeffrey Schlupp - Crystal Palace (Free)
Oxford: 3
Brian De Keersmaecker - Heracles (Undisclosed)
Brodie Spencer - Huddersfield (Undisclosed)
Luke Harris - Fulham (Loan)
Portsmouth: 5
Adrian Segecic - Sydney FC (Undisclosed)
John Swift - West Brom (Free)
Luke LeRoux - IFK Varnamo (Undisclosed)
Mark Koznovszky - MTK Budapest (Undisclosed)
Florian Bianchini - Swansea (Loan)
Preston: 9
Jordan Thompson - Stoke (Free)
Pol Valentin - Sheffield Wednesday (Free)
Thierry Small - Charlton (Free)
Daniel Iversen - Leicester (Free)
Daniel Jebbison - Bournemouth (Loan)
Odel Offiah - Brighton (Undisclosed)
Michael Smith - Sheffield Wednesday (Free)
Jack Walton - Luton (Undisclosed)
Andrija Vukcevic - Juarez (Free)
QPR: 6
Karamoko Dembele - Brest (Undisclosed)
Amadou Mbengue - Reading (Free)
Kealey Adamson - Macarthur (Undisclosed)
Kwame Poku - Peterborough (Undisclosed)
*Tylon Smith - Stellenbosch FC (Undisclosed)
Rumarn Burrell - Burton (Undisclosed)
Sheffield Utd: 4
Ehije Ukaki - Botev Plovdiv (Undisclosed)
Tyler Bindon - Nottingham Forest (Loan)
Louie Barry - Aston Villa (Loan)
Anton Polendakov - Septemvri Sofia (Free)
Sheffield Wednesday: N/A
Southampton: 2
Joshua Quarshie - Hoffenheim (£3.5m)
Damion Downs - FC Koln (£7m)
Stoke: 6
Sorba Thomas - Huddersfield (Undisclosed)
Maksym Talovierov - Plymouth (Undisclosed)
Divin Mubama - Manchester City (Loan)
Aaron Cresswell - West Ham (Free)
Ashley Phillips - Tottenham (Loan)
Robert Bozenik - Boavista (Free)
Swansea: 5
Cameron Burgess - Ipswich (Free)
Ricardo Santos - Bolton (Free)
Bobby Wales - Kilmarnock (Undisclosed)
Zeidane Inoussa - BK Hacken (Undisclosed)
Ethan Galbraith - Leyton Orient (Undisclosed)
Watford: 9
Hector Kyprianou - Peterborough (Free)
Nathan Baxter - Bolton (Free)
Marc Bola - Samsunpor (Free)
James Abankwah - Udinese (Loan)
Vivaldo Semedo - Udinese (Undisclosed)
Othmane Maamaa - Montpellier (Undisclosed)
Luca Kjerrumgaard - Udinese (Loan)
Nestroy Irankunda - Bayern Munich (Undisclosed)
Caleb Wiley - Chelsea (Loan)
West Brom: 4
Nat Phillips - Liverpool (Undisclosed)
Jack Bray - Harrogate (Undisclosed)
Aune Heggebo - SK Brann (Undisclosed)
George Campbell - Montreal (Undisclosed)
Wrexham: 7
Ryan Hardie - Plymouth (Undisclosed)
Danny Ward - Leicester (Free)
Liberato Cacace - Empoli (Undisclosed)
George Thomason - Bolton (Undisclosed)
Josh Windass - Sheffield Wednesday (Free)
Lewis O'Brien - Nottingham Forest (Undisclosed)
Conor Coady - Leicester (Undisclosed)
*Over 18, but initially will be in the development squad