Hi Jarkko.Here are my selections from the land of thousand lakes and islands (and some raindeers):
- TOP 6 = Boro, Coventry, Southampton, Ipswich, Birmingham, WBA
(opt. Sheff Utd, Brissol City)- BOTTOM 3 = Sheff Wed, Charlton, Hull City
(opt. Stoke, PNE, Norwich)- AUTOMATIC PROMOTION = Southampton, Birmingham (opt. Ipswich, WBA)
- CHAMPIONS = Southampton opt. Birmingham)
- OVER ACHIEVER = Derby (opt. Porstsmouth)
- UNDER ACHIEVER = Wrexham (opt. Millwall)
- BORO = 5th
PS: Why they are called raindeers - snowdeers would be a better description 😉.
Up the Boro!
You have picked Portsmouth to overachieve, which means they would finish 6th or higher. However, Portsmouth is not one of your selections to finish in the top 6. Would you like me to add them as a 3rd optional team to finish in the top 6, or would you like me to replace one of the other teams you selected? Alternatively, you might change your prediction for who (if anyone) will overachieve.
Also, you have picked Wrexham to underachieve. As a promoted side, they cannot finish 10 places lower than last season, so on that basis they cannot be an underachiever this year. Would you like to choose another team or for me simply to remove Wrexham from the selection and leave you with Millwall as an underachiever?
@andy-r Hi Andy. You have marked down Sheffield Wednesday to be an underachiever, which means that would have to finish in 22nd place or lower. That means they would have to be in the bottom three, but you have not selected them in that category. Would you like to tweak your entry with this in mind ?
Was this meant for someone else?
Here is my own curious set of predictions for the year, delivered wearing very rose tinted spectacles:
Top 6 = Ipswich , Birmingham , BORO, West Brom, Leicester , Sheffield U
Bottom 3 = Sheffield W, Charlton , Portsmouth
Automatic = Sheffield U, BORO, Leicester
Champions = Sheffield U
Over achievers = Birmingham, Wrexham
Under achievers = Sheffield W, Bristol
Boro to finish = 2
That means we now have 9 entries. Still time for everyone else to get their predictions in... 🙂
Sorry Andy, indeed it was. It was meant for FD, so I'll do a new reply to him.@andy-r Hi Andy. You have marked down Sheffield Wednesday to be an underachiever, which means that would have to finish in 22nd place or lower. That means they would have to be in the bottom three, but you have not selected them in that category. Would you like to tweak your entry with this in mind ?
Was this meant for someone else?
@powmillaemore - Here are my (usually catastrophic) predictions for the COTS Challenge 2025-26. From a farmer's field just outside Beadnell in the sunshine - but aware there is serious "weather" expected for Monday when we are on duty siting any new arrivals. Rain for most of the day and winds up to 57mph predicted. The awning may have to be taken down tomorrow or else we may see it flung into the air and lost into the North Sea.
In the hope I can do this on my new mobile phone, the predictions are:
TOP SIX - 1. Ipswich. 2. Birmingham. 3. Southampton 4. Wrexham. 5. Bristol C 6. Sheff Utd.
BOTTOM THREE - 1. Oxford. 2. Hull 3. Charlton
AUTO PROMOTION - 1. Ipswich. 2. Birmingham 3 OPTIONAL Southampton.
CHAMPIONS - 1. Ipswich 2. Birmingham
OVER ACHIEVERS - 2. Birmingham 2. Wrexham (optional)
UNDER ACHIEVERS - Sheff W (Optional Leicester).
BORO POSITION - 8TH.
I hope that makes sense!
Hi FD.
You have marked down Sheffield Wednesday to be an underachiever, which means they would have to finish in 22nd place or lower. That also means they would be in the bottom three, but you have not selected them in that category. Would you like to tweak your entry with this in mind ?
@powmillnaemore - OK. Thanks for that. Is it possible to put in contradictory predictions (such as having Sheffield Wednesday being nominated as underachievers which, if correct, would have them finishing no higher than 22nd despite not beiong one of my nominated bottom/relegated three)? If it is possible - even if it might raise an eyebrow - I am happy to leave Sheff W as underachievers yet not naming them as one of the relegated bottom three, if it is possible to do that. I have named the three teams I thought most likely to go down but equally I could see Sheffield Wednesday collapsing this season. They might have a shockingly bad season but avoid the bottom three by one place!
If it is NOT possible, or if it would cause problems, I could name Coventry as my preferred underachievers for the season, whilst leaving my relegated/bottom three unchanged.
Is that OK? (By the way, I am impressed that you can spot inconsistencies like mine out of the entries submitted. Well done!).
@forever-dormo it is indeed possible to make contradictory predictions. However, in doing that you know for sure you won't get any points for one of the choices, but on the other hand you might get points for one them, just not for both of them.
I am trying very hard here not to tell you what I would do, as it really is your call. You tell me which you prefer to do and I'll respect that even if it is not what I would have done!!
OK, here are my selections for the COTS Challenge...
TOP 6: Ipswich, Leicester, Southampton, Norwich, Birmingham, Sheff Utd + Options: Millwall, Watford
Bottom 3: Sheff Wed, Hull, Oxford + Option: Charlton
Automatic Promotion: Ipswich, Leicester + Options: Birmingham, Sheff Utd
Champions: Ipswich
Over Achiever: Birmingham + Wrexham
Under Achiever: Sheff Wed + Bristol City
Boro: 12th
Many thanks Powmill may your spreadsheet prove more reliable than my predictions 😉
That's 10 entries received by Wednesday evening.
Pedro de Espana
Forever Dormo
Andy R
Len Masterman
Selwynoz
MW in Darwin
jarkko
Clive Hurren
Powmillnaemore
werdermouth
We are still short of last season's 18 entries, so come on everyone, lets be havin' you, as a certain Norwich City supporter might say.
OOPS, Sorry. That’ll teach me to read the terms and conditions!
I’ll stick with Leicester and Stoke, thanks!
@powmillnaemore. Having consulted the runes and my crystal ball, here is my best guestimates:
Top 6 = Southampton, Ipswich, Coventry, Leicester, Sheffield U, Norwich
Bottom 3 = Sheffield W, Charlton, Hull
Automatic = Southampton, Ipswich
Champions = Southampton
Over Achievers = Birmingham
Under Achievers = Blackburn
Boro to Finish = 15
😎
Last call before the Championship kicks off later today, We have 13 entries so far:
Pedro de Espana, Forever Dormo, Andy R, Len Masterman, Selwynoz, MW in Darwin, jarkko, Clive Hurren, Powmillnaemore, werdermouth, Peter Surtees, Original Fat Bob & K P in Spain
If your name isn't there and you sent an entry, let me know and if it isn't there and you want to enter then let let me know today if at all possible:
- which teams will finish in the Top 6;
- which teams will finish in the Bottom 3;
- which teams will win automatic promotion;
- which team will be champions;
- which team(s) will over achieve;
- which team(s) will under achieve; and
- what will be the Boro’s league position at the end of the season
all in the following format:
- TOP 6 = Team1, Team2, Team3, Team4, Team5, Team6, Optional1, Optional2, Optional3
- BOTTOM 3 = Team1, Team2, Team3, Optional1, Optional2, Optional3
- AUTOMATIC PROMOTION = Team1, Team2, Optional1, Optional2
- CHAMPIONS = Team1, Optional1
- OVER ACHIEVER = Team1, Optional1
- UNDER ACHIEVER = Team1, Optional1
- BORO = 1st
@powmillnaemore Hello, I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. I am back from my fishing now and so have prepared my entry.
I still really have doubts about how we are going to perform this season. I hope we don't Flounder.
On the other hand we may be Brilliant.
I have decided to Perch somewhere in the middle and have placed us 15th.
Enough of my Carping. Here are my predictions:-
Top six - Ipswich Southampton Leicester Coventry Sheffield United Norwich
Bottom 3 Sheffield Wednesday Hull Oxford
Automatic promotion - Ipswich Southampton
Champions - Ipswich
Over achievers - Birmingham
Under Achievers - Sheffield Wednesday
Boro - 15th
Thank you for all your work on this and best wishes to everyone on the forum!
Chris
@chris-from-barlby Thanks Chris. That's your entry in at number 14....
@jarkko did you see my post about your entries for Portsmouth overachieving and wrexham underachieving? Would you like me to change anything?Hi Jarkko.Here are my selections from the land of thousand lakes and islands (and some raindeers):
- TOP 6 = Boro, Coventry, Southampton, Ipswich, Birmingham, WBA
(opt. Sheff Utd, Brissol City)- BOTTOM 3 = Sheff Wed, Charlton, Hull City
(opt. Stoke, PNE, Norwich)- AUTOMATIC PROMOTION = Southampton, Birmingham (opt. Ipswich, WBA)
- CHAMPIONS = Southampton opt. Birmingham)
- OVER ACHIEVER = Derby (opt. Porstsmouth)
- UNDER ACHIEVER = Wrexham (opt. Millwall)
- BORO = 5th
PS: Why they are called raindeers - snowdeers would be a better description 😉.
Up the Boro!
You have picked Portsmouth to overachieve, which means they would finish 6th or higher. However, Portsmouth is not one of your selections to finish in the top 6. Would you like me to add them as a 3rd optional team to finish in the top 6, or would you like me to replace one of the other teams you selected? Alternatively, you might change your prediction for who (if anyone) will overachieve.
Also, you have picked Wrexham to underachieve. As a promoted side, they cannot finish 10 places lower than last season, so on that basis they cannot be an underachiever this year. Would you like to choose another team or for me simply to remove Wrexham from the selection and leave you with Millwall as an underachiever?
@forever-dormo it is indeed possible to make contradictory predictions. However, in doing that you know for sure you won't get any points for one of the choices, but on the other hand you might get points for one them, just not for both of them.
I am trying very hard here not to tell you what I would do, as it really is your call. You tell me which you prefer to do and I'll respect that even if it is not what I would have done!!
@forever-dormo are you happy for me to leave your prediction for Sheffield Wednesday underachieving as is or do you want me to switch the prediction to Coventry ?
My entry for this season’s COTTS CHALLENGE 25/26, hopefully I will do better than last season’s dismal entry 😱.
Top 6 Ipswich, Southampton, Shef Utd, Leicester, Coventry, Birmingham.
Bottom 3 Shef Wed, Charlton, Oxford
Auto Ipswich, Southampton
Champions Ipswich
Overachiever Birmingham
Underachiever Bristol
Boro 12th
Come on BORO.
@powmillnaemore - Thanks for your tolerance. Can I please leave my selections as originally notifed except as below:
The Bottom 3 - instead of Oxford, Hull & Charlton put SHEFF WED, Oxford and Charlton.
Underachiever - instead of Sheff Wed put COVENTRY CITY (and no need for Leicester C as an alternative).
We might get there one day. (And I hope my Boro prediction is way out. I'd like to put Boro down for automatic promotion but I don't want to give my wife any excuse to doubt my mental health).
Yeah, Millwall would underachieve (opt. Blackburn).
My overachievers are Derby (opt. QPR).
Sorry for the delay. I saw your remarks but was a bit lazy to correct earlier. Hope all OK now.
Up the Boro!