2009/10 predictions revisited

Way back in August, I wrote a season preview which included three predictions apiece for English football's top four divisions. With the dust settling on the 2009/10 campaign, save for the playoffs, I thought it might be a good time to congratulate myself revisit those predictions and see how I got on. Mixed fortunes, in a nutshell.

Premier League

Chelsea to win the title, Hull to get relegated, Villa to disappoint

Okay, so these predictions weren't exactly ambitious but they were correct nonetheless. Chelsea left it late to pip Manchester United to the Premier League title and should have sewn it up weeks ago, but they seem vulnerable occasionally when the pressure is off. I've long seen Hull's relegation as inevitable and George Boateng's comments recently explain why, although it's sad that the players have let their distaste for Phil Brown result in the club's relegation. Things aren't looking too clever at the KC.

As for Villa, I think there's an argument either way. Finishing sixth place for the third time in a row might not be disappointing in itself, but I feel there have been missed opportunities and - despite an improved points total - something of a lack of progress. Martin O'Neill has no Plan B and Villa are increasingly being figured out. They might have been in a fight for fourth two weeks ago, but if Liverpool recover next season then Villa will struggle to finish in the top six next season. I certainly feel disappointed.

Championship

Middlesbrough to get promoted, Newcastle to miss out on playoffs, Plymouth to get relegated

Bit of a fail here, if I'm honest. In essence I got Newcastle and Middlesbrough the wrong way round, for which I'm sure neither would thank me. Newcastle took to their task professionally and exploited their assets to the maximum, securing promotion with ease. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, have slumped badly. There's no reason to expect a return on the horizon. Plymouth were relegated a while ago and finished some eight points from safety. It seems obvious in hindsight, but I did feel I was going out on a limb in August. Still, I'm claiming a point here because it was correct even if it was obvious.

League One

Brentford and Exeter to stay up, Gillingham to go down, Leeds to secure automatic promotion

I'd like to draw your attention to my League One predictions in an unnecessarily smug way. Admittedly, predicting Leeds to get promoted was an easy option and it came mighty close to being wrong. But I'm quite chuffed with my other predictions. Brentford and Exeter were promoted from League Two last season and it was great to see them both survive, as I have a bit of a fondness for both. Gillingham were eventually relegated by Ryan Harley's winner for Exeter over Huddersfield, securing a League One clean sweep for me and making me wish I'd put my money where my mouth is, was and forever will be.

League Two

Burton to get relegated, Rotherham to reach playoffs, Sven to manage Notts County at least once

In the bottom division, only blind loyalty prevented me from predicting Bournemouth being relegated. Eddie Howe and the boys proved me emphatically wrong with their amazing season. My piss-taking Notts County prediction didn't come true itself, but did point towards the chaos that would befall the Magpies this season. Through it all, their squad - arguably operating outside the league's salary cap - held firm and went up as champions. Rotherham, gawd bless 'em, did the job for me. Threatening to derail Bournemouth's cause, they eventually succumbed but will kick off their playoff campaign at Aldershot on Saturday.