Championship Season Preview (25/26) – managers, signings and the 1-24
David Beeden dissects every Championship club to give his gargantuan 1-24 predictions (outraged disagreement actively encouraged)
Predicting how the Championship will pan out does seem to be easier than it used to be. In recent times, the three coming down are normally right at the top, with a few who just missed out in the playoffs and a couple that might get stronger over the break (Luton were the aberration last season in that they suffered back-to-back relegations). This year seems like it might follow that same format.
Ipswich and Southampton should both be very strong but Leicester have an asterisk next to their name with uncertainty over points deductions. Both United and Coventry should be around the top six. Bristol City might find it hard to keep the pace after losing a talented manager.
Outside of these, Norwich, Middlesbrough and West Brom are the obvious contenders but all three have gone in a different direction with new managers. Birmingham are the side splashing the cash and you would expect them to contend: a double promotion is not outlandish in a relatively weak division. Wrexham might not quite have the same quality but should be able to consolidate with no real issue, and recent business could see them aiming even higher.
There are several sides that could finish anywhere from the edge of the playoffs to flirting with relegation, and I look at sides with stability in terms of management and playing squad as being more likely to contend than those who are changing style and identity. In total, there have been 11 new managers appointed at this level since the season ended, and of the clubs that started in the Championship last season, only one – Portsmouth – still has the same man in charge! This does show the perhaps unreasonable thirst for success and the precarious status of a manager in this league.
There’s trouble ahead for cash-strapped sides like Hull and Wednesday, and I expect Charlton and Oxford might struggle despite their wily leaders. The league is such that anyone can beat anyone, but the points totals of the top three last year suggest it is now hard to get out without financial backing and/or parachute payments. However, Ipswich (and the Blades previously) have shown that good coaching and a clear style of play can see a club contend with those cash-infused heavyweights coming down.
Here’s how I see the Championship ending up.
*Transfer info correct as of 5pm, Wednesday 6th August*
1) Ipswich Town
Ipswich’s ascent to the Premier League was a fantastic story, as a talented young manager built a side that used its momentum to move up the pyramid very quickly. Staying up was always going to be extremely difficult and their recruitment was sensible in that they signed a number of players that were top-end Championship performers; the likes of Jack Clarke, Jacob Greaves and Sammie Szmodics will all find things much easier this season. Losing the likes of Delap, Morsy and Tuanzebe is not helpful but the rest of the squad is packed full of a nice mix of youth and experience.
It is important they hold onto talents like Leif Davis and Omari Hutchinson, but the most vital retention of all is surely that of the outstanding McKenna, whose impressive coaching has seen him courted by Premier League sides. They will need to bring in some more forward options and as I pen this, it seems they have hijacked Birmingham’s move for former Boro striker Chuba Akpom.
In
David Button (free from Reading)
Azor Matusiwa (£10m from Rennes)
Cedric Kipre (loan from Reims)
Ashley Young (free from Everton)
Out
Liam Delap (£30m to Chelsea)
Cameron Burgess (free to Swansea City)
Marcus Harness (free to Huddersfield Town)
Axel Tuanzebe (free to Burnley)
Sam Morsy (free to Kuwait SC)
Massimo Luongo (undisclosed to Millwall)
Mathaeus Roberts (free to Stevenage)
Jokubas Mazionis (loan to Cheltenham)
Manager: Kieran McKenna. Still only 39, McKenna’s star remains bright, despite the relegation last season. He was linked with a few Premier League clubs over the summer but stuck around and will want to test himself back in the big time again.
Key Player: Jaden Philogene. Mainstays like O’Shea and Davis will be important but Philogene will be the one, along with Hutchinson, asked to unpick defences who will undoubtedly sit in against the Tractor Boys. He had injuries and never really got going after signing from Villa – look for a big season from him.
Verdict: Champions. They have too much talent and have a relatively settled set-up on and off the pitch. Will be a close race between them and Southampton and I can see both being some way ahead of third, achieving 85-90 points (100 will be a push this time).
2) Southampton
Last season was a disaster and like the Blades a few seasons ago, there was a real fear that they might struggle to overtake Derby County’s record-low 11 points from the 2007-08 season. They managed to just avoid that humiliation but the campaign was nothing short of embarrassing. They went through different managers before appointing the highly-rated Will Still, who has impressed in Ligue 1 in France. Like Ipswich, they have a squad of talented players that at the lower level will be too powerful for most sides.
The transfer business has been slow. There have been outgoings, with Ramsdale, Sulemana and Walker Peters the notable departures, but they’ve retained talented players like Dibling, Harwood-Bellis and ex-Wednesday loanee Shea Charles. Former Blades Cameron Archer and Ben Brereton Díaz remain. You’d expect Archer to score plenty of goals, as he has done before at this level. They have a big squad and lots of options in all areas. Fans will be glad to finally see some goals and victories after such a depressing season.
In
Joshua Quarshie (£3.5m from Hoffenheim)
Damion Downs (£6.9m from 1. FC Köln)
Out
Samuel Amo-Ameyaw (£5.9m to Strasbourg)
Adli Mohamed (undisclosed to Al-Nasr)
Kamaldeen Sulemana (£18m to Atalanta BC)
Joe Lumley (free to Bristol City)
Paul Onuachu (undisclosed to Trabzonspor)
Kyle Walker-Peters (free to West Ham United)
Adam Lallana (retired)
Juan Larios (loan to Cultural y Deportivo Leonesa)
Ollie Wright (loan to Accrington Stanley)
Jay Bednarek (undisclosed to Porto)
Aaron Ramsdale (loan to Newcastle)
Renton Takaoka (loan to Valiencennes)
Manager: Will Still. If Still can implement his pressing and high intensity style, then you expect that some of the young talent will thrive. It’s his first managerial job in English football so it’ll be interesting to see how he copes with the relentless grind of the Championship.
Key Player: Tyler Dibling. Been linked with Premier League sides, but Saints have apparently said they want £50 million. A talent that was maybe the only bright spot of a torrid season, Dibling is still only 19 and seems set to go to the top.
Verdict: Automatic Promotion. If they start well and regain confidence with some early victories then you expect them to remain near the top. A poor start and the natives will get restless. It really does show the huge chasm between the top flight and Championship, in that teams can struggle so much in the Premier League but win most weeks at the lower level. Expect this trend to continue with the Saints.
3) Coventry City
Coventry made it to the playoffs again and are now a consistent performer at the top of the Championship, despite their shock managerial change, which in the end had the desired effect. Lampard, who replaced Robins, took City to 69 points and fifth, only to see their Premier League dream slip away in the dying moments of a tense semi-final against Sunderland, losing 3-2 on aggregate.
The squad only really needed tinkering, as Coventry have slowly built a powerful group that was cleverly added to with the acquisition of Matt Grimes from Swansea in January. I expect their continuity to be a huge factor, with many of the other contenders facing some level of uncertainty or a managerial change.
City will look for more consistency from Simms and Wright, both in terms of fitness and goals. They have strengthened in the defensive areas: talented left-back Miguel Ángel Brau arrived on a free transfer from Granada, while Kaine Kesler-Hayden has boosted the opposite side of the defence with a switch from Aston Villa.
Home form will be important as a growing belief and swell of numbers at the CBS Arena means they will be tough to beat. Their pace and direct style, however, means they could be dangerous on the road.
In
Miguel Ángel Brau (free from Granada)
Kaine Kesler-Hayden (undisclosed from Aston Villa)
Carl Rushworth (loan from Brighton and Hove Albion)
Out
Jamie Paterson (free to Plymouth)
Jack Burroughs (free to Northampton)
Fabio Tavares (free to Burton Albion)
Ryan Howley (free)
Cian Tyler (free)
Manager: Frank Lampard. Lampard has been criticised for his previous management but his record at Championship level proves he knows what it takes to contend. After he took over from the popular Mark Robins, he propelled City up the league and very close to the playoff final.
Key Player: Jack Rudoni. After losing Hamer and O’Hare in consecutive seasons to the Blades, they recruited well to take Rudoni from Huddersfield. He scored nine goals and was a constant threat with his late runs into the box. He will dovetail nicely with Grimes in a very strong Championship midfield.
Verdict: Playoffs (Promoted beating Birmingham City in the final). Real contenders now, and in a division that does not look particularly stronger (or deeper) than a year ago. Like the Blades, their playoff record has been poor, so fans will not be confident if again faced with the end-of-season lottery, but they have the firepower to be too strong for many teams. Expectations will be high.
4) Birmingham City
Tom Wagner and the Knighthead Capital group reinvigorated a previously moribund club. Their investment means a new stadium and training ground are on the way, but the manner in which they cruised to the League One title was impressive.
They spent a lot of money and have continued that approach this summer, seemingly determined to not just anchor ship in the second tier, but try to blitz their way to the top flight. The current investment is unprecedented for a side without parachute payments and it’s hard to bet against them contending.
They might not find it as easy against sides packed full of experience at this level but they have strengthened the squad, with multiple players for each position. Klarer is an excellent centre back and Demari Gray, Osayi Samuel and Laird give them pace in the wide areas. Tommy Doyle has proven he can be successful at the heart of a Championship midfield and is a few years more experienced. Jay Stansfield cost a lot of money and will face a tougher task, but has good foils in Lyndon Dykes and Kyōgo Furuhashi.
In
Phil Neumann (free from Hannover)
Taylor Gardner-Hickman (£1.5m from Bristol City)
Alfons Sampsted (£1.7m from Twente)
Bright Osayi-Samuel (free from Fenerbahce)
Demarai Gray (free from Al-Ettifaq)
Tommy Doyle (loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
James Beadle (loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Kyōgo Furuhashi (undisclosed from Rennes)
Kanya Fujimoto (free from Gil Vicente)
Eiran Cashin (loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Out
Grant Hanley (free)
Myung-jae Lee (free)
Lukas Jutkiewicz (retired)
Ayumu Yokoyama (undisclosed, Genk)
Romelle Donovan (£3m, Brentford)
Emmanuel Longelo (undisclosed to Motherwell)
Bailey Peacock-Farrell (loan to Blackpool)
Alfie May (£1.2m to Huddersfield Town)
Emil Hansson (loan to Blackpool)
Dion Sanderson (loan to Derby)
Manager: Chris Davies – Another young manager, one that impressed in the way he led the Blues to the title with little fuss. Davies worked under Brendan Rodgers for several years and then spent time under Ange Postecoglou at Spurs before the Blues. His ambition seems aligned with the approach of the owners at St Andrews and I expect their rise to continue together.
Key Player: Kyōgo Furuhashi. Only signed for Rennes in January for £10 million but did not play much and Blues brought him back to the UK. Scored a lot of goals at Celtic previously and you would think he will be a stand out at the Championship.
Verdict: Playoffs. The level of investment means they could even contend for the top two, but it is hard to do what Ipswich did a few seasons ago. However, Birmingham will continue to recruit and the feel-good factor means a packed home ground every week will give them the platform to be in the promotion mix.
5) Sheffield United
United led the league around Easter and, but for a disastrous week, might even have taken one of the automatic places. For much of the season, the Blades were remarkably consistent and despite not always being as convincing as the top two in terms of performances, they kept winning. The fall away at the end shouldn’t take away from a season that was supposed to be one of transition with huge change on and off the pitch: the ownership issue continued throughout long periods of last season but when this was eventually sorted, Wilder had somehow got United right in the mix.
The recruitment last summer was excellent with Michael Cooper, Tyrese Campbell and Harrison Burrows all superb signings, and players that if sold now would all surely command close to, or even over eight figure fees (Campbell for free was a revelation – if only he could stay fit). Wilder continued to develop youngsters Arblaster, Peck, Brooks, Oné and the surprisingly resurgent Femi Seriki. The injuries to Arblaster and defensive kingpin Harry Souttar did have a big impact on United’s solidity. The new board backed Wilder in January but other than Hamza Choudhury, the signings did not have the impact desired.
Despite the heartbreak of the playoffs, which was a microcosm of the season – good start but one that was built upon as the team ultimately sat back – it is still easy to forget how close they were. A VAR goal (a borderline decision that saw the system only used for a single game) and a one-on-one chance for Andre Brooks (goes a few inches the other way) were big moments that on another day easily see United double their lead and win promotion.
The late comeback was a hammer blow, and the last 20 minutes meant that the board decided to act. It was harsh, but new owners often want to bring new men in and so it proved after such a good season ultimately ended in failure. It is telling that United finished in 19th place for the final 15 minutes of games, and that drop off needs addressing.
The squad is currently weaker with no Souttar (or Arblaster to start with), and midfield enforcer Vini Souza and Anel Ahmedhodžić leaving for Wolfsburg and Feyernoord. It is surprising that the Blades have not done more business, but we saw last season that players can come in later – expect more signings before the end of the window.
United have the basis of a good side. The development of the young core with Seriki, Peck, Arblaster, Brooks and Oné has to be continued and if Sellés can bring in two or three quality starters to supplement the talent he has, then United will be near the top again.
It is vital the new manager can make sure the soft core that was exposed when it most mattered is strengthened to give some no-nonsense defensive protection. Ultimately there is going to be a different style with the emphasis on pressing high up the field and a new formation (pre-season has seen a 4-1-2-3 style with a sitting midfielder, two midfielders in front and two wide men supporting a single striker) and fans have to be patient as it may take time. Wilder has departed and fans have to give Sellés a chance to get his blueprint in place. It might take more than one window for him to get the players he needs to play the way he wants.
In
Ehije Success Ukaki (undisclosed from Botev Plovdiv)
Tyler Bindon (loan from Nottingham Forest)
Louie Barry (loan from Aston Villa)
Anton Polendakov (undisclosed from Septemvri Sofia)
Djibril Soumaré (loan from Braga)
Out
Vinicius Souza (£13m to Wolfsburg)
Rhian Brewster (free to Derby County)
Harry Boyes (free to Southend United)
Billy Blacker (loan to Tranmere Rovers)
Miguel Freckleton (undisclosed to St Mirren)
Antwoine Hackford (undisclosed to AFC Wimbledon)
Kieffer Moore (£2 million to Wrexham)
Anel Ahmedhodžić (undisclosed to Feyernoord)
Manager: Rubén Sellés. A controversial manoeuvre at the top from the new United owners. Wilder may have courted criticism for his chippy and abrasive style, but to garner 90 (92) points after he had to effectively build a new side is not given enough credit.
Sellés has a good reputation and seems to be on trend with many sides who are bringing in young, continental coaches. Many seem to have a style and formation intended to win the ball high with relentless pressing leading to possession and ultimately high numbers of chances and goals. Whether United’s current crop has the fitness and intensity to be able to apply this remains to be seen.
He has young players that can hopefully fit this approach and he will continue to develop the squad. Fans need to be patient. Eventually the club were going to move away from the one man does everything approach and embrace a style that will hopefully be more sustainable.
Key Player: Gustavo Hamer. For now, Hamer stays, despite reported interest from sides in the Netherlands and Brazil. He was Championship player of the season playing out wide despite many fans calling for him to be moved to a more central role. In pre-season he has played a deep lying role which has surprised as you would hope for him to be further up the field where his dribbling, passing, and shooting can be utilised more. With further recruitment, you would expect this positional change and for him to continue to be one of the stand outs at this level.
He can frustrate still at times but his ability on the ball and vision means he is worth so much to the Blades in what he offers. If he was to depart, despite all the questions around position and fitness, we would really see how critical he is to United’s chances.
Verdict: Playoffs. The hangover from the playoff final and the change of manager will have an impact. If United get off to a poor start and the new style of play does not yield results early, people will quickly let the new manager/board know their feelings. However, there is enough talent in the squad to be too strong for many sides at this level and while the new style may mean higher scoring games, it might be that United outscore teams rather than eke out single-goal narrow wins.
6) Leicester City
It seems so predictable to pitch the relegated sides in the promotion places. There is uncertainty over Leicester off the field but at the time of writing, there has been no points deduction applied, remarkable considering the breaches that have been committed over a long period at the King Power.
Even if they do have to play catch up, United proved it can be overcome (although you would expect more than -2 points to be imposed). Young chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha took the helm in difficult circumstances after the tragic death of his father and has found it hard to arrest the slide despite them gaining promotion at the first attempt. They did not make much of a fist of remaining in the Premier League and botched both managerial and player recruitment.
They have lost Jamie Vardy but the rest of the squad, like the two other relegated sides, remains relatively unchanged. Players like Vestergaard, Faes, De Cordova Reid and Winks should be a step above, as proved a few seasons ago. 16-year-old Monga could be a player that lights up the league but it will be experience that ensures they contend despite off-field issues.
In
Asmir Begović (free from Everton)
Out
Daniel Iversen (free to Preston North End)
Danny Ward (free to Wrexham)
Jamie Vardy (free)
Brad Young (Free to Bristol Rovers)
Thomas Wilson Brown (Loan to Swindon)
Manager: Marti Cifuentes. Like Sellés, Cifuentes has a good reputation as a coach and with a better squad and higher ceiling, will want to prove to the Foxes board that they were right to bring him in. The fans are not happy with the direction of the club, on and off the field, so he will need to hit the ground running.
Key Player: Jordan Ayew. With Vardy departing, there are questions at the top of the pitch but Ayew is a dependable veteran who works hard and weighs in with goals. Too wily not to be profitable in the Championship.
Verdict: Playoffs. The uncertainty of any sanctions makes it difficult to place Leicester, but even with half a dozen points clipped off, the squad is too strong not to be around the top six.
7) Millwall
The Lions continue to punch above their station despite having little investment in comparison to others at this level. They were close to the playoffs last year, and experienced manager Alex Neil seemed to get the right amount of ‘up and at em’ that Millwall are traditionally known for combined with an evolving style of play. They continue to produce excellent young players and Raees Bangura Williams seems to be the next cab off the rank, after they made £12 million on Romain Esse.
Josh Coburn cost them a club-record £5 million, and the tall striker will cause problems along with leading scorer Ivanovic in an uncompromising but mobile front pairing. Recent capture Alfie Doughty is a smart signing that can provide the ammunition for the pair.
They’re a side that gets the ball forward quickly. They have shown flashes of being able to play through teams too, but their physical play is what will continue to cause problems – they should embrace this.
In
Josh Coburn (£5m from Middlesbrough)
Max Crocombe (free)
Zak Sturge (undisclosed from Chelsea)
Steven Benda (loan from Fulham)
Massimo Luongo (undisclosed from Ipswich)
Alfie Doughty (undisclosed from Luton)
Out
Zian Flemming (£7m to Burnley)
George Honeyman (free to Blackpool)
Aaron Connolly (free to Leyton Orient)
Murray Wallace (free to Huddersfield)
Duncan Watmore (free)
Shaun Hutchinson (free)
George Saville (free to Luton Town)
Liam Roberts (free to Mansfield Town)
Dillion Addai (free to Bromley)
Manager: Alex Neil. The Championship journeyman – with spells at Norwich, Preston, Sunderland, Stoke and now Millwall – is perhaps not the most fashionable of appointments, but the fact he has a win percentage of over 42 per cent as a manager proves he knows what he is doing. To watch ‘Wall beat the likes of Leeds, Burnley and the Blades last year was testament to how he prepares his teams to get results against more talented sides – showing an attention to detail in terms of organisation and tactics.
Key Player: Mihailo Ivanović. The Serbian international became a vital player and scored 13 goals last season after he established himself as the main man at the top of the field, equally adept with head and feet. Now he has settled in the Championship, expect him to be even more successful.
Verdict: Will be a challenge to gatecrash the playoffs but do not see them being anywhere near the bottom and would not be surprised they flirt with the top six again. Hard against some of the financial muscle but they seem to be well run and get the best out of what they have. Made some smart additions and will continue to surprise some of the bigger names, particularly at the Den.
8) Norwich City
Despite seeing a plethora of players depart over recent years and a plan to try and reduce the age and type of the squad, a changing board would have expected far better than 13th. It therefore came as no surprise that the manager was jettisoned despite the idea that it would be a long-term project.
With an opportunity to bring in a local lad whose pedigree is quickly ascending, City swooped to poach Liam Manning. They lost star man Borja Sainz and Jonathan Rowe but were able to net close to £30 million for the pair.
There have been some interesting acquisitions. In come Sporting goalkeeper Vladan Kovačević, towering centre-back Jakov Medić, cultured defender Harry Darling, midfielder Papa Amadou Diallo (£4.3 million) and Denmark international striker Mathias Kvistgaarden, who cost close to £7 million. Jeffrey Schlupp provides some much-needed experience to a relatively young and unknown squad. If some of the new signings come off, then they could contend.
In
Jacob Wright (£2.3m, Man City)
Daniel Grimshaw (undisclosed, Plymouth Argyle)
Harry Darling (free, Swansea City)
Louie Moulden (free, Crystal Palace)
Jakov Medic (undisclosed, Ajax)
Vladan Kovacevic (undisclosed, Sporting Lisbon)
Mathias Kvistgaarden (£6.9m, Brondby)
Jeffrey Schlupp (Free, Crystal Palace)
Papa Amadou Diallo (£4.3m, Metz)
Mirko Topic (undisclosed, Familicao)
Out
Jonathan Rowe (£14m to Marseille)
Angus Gunn (free)
Jacob Lungi Sorensen (free to Brann)
Onel Hernandez (free)
Archie Mair (free)
Lewis Shipley (undisclosed, Barrow)
Borja Sainz (£14.3m to Porto)
Vicente Reyes (loan for Peterborough)
Manager: Liam Manning. Manning’s appointment was a real surprise after he had done so well at Bristol City. It seemed like he was set to stay at Ashton Gate, but his affinity with the Canaries (as a fan and former season ticket holder) saw the East Anglian side take the opportunity. He has slowly built an excellent reputation after spells with MK Dons and Oxford United and City maybe offer him a better opportunity to move further up the leagues. It was a bold move from him and with quite a turnaround in personnel, he might not find it an easy start.
Key Player: If he remains it would be Sargent, but I expect him to leave before the end of the window.
Verdict: An improved season in prospect despite many changes, but City could still be a year away, with so many of those above them having more established squads and proven performers at this level. The loss of Sainz and potentially Sargent will mean it will be hard for them to finish much higher than just above mid table. Look for them to be more serious contenders in 26/27.
9) Middlesbrough
For the second straight season, Middlesbrough failed to reach the playoffs, finishing in 10th place during their disappointing campaign. After an impressive start, Michael Carrick was dismissed in early June and Boro brought in Rob Edwards, another young manager who had begun well but struggled in recent times.
Boro still have a squad that has underachieved in recent seasons and one that should improve under a new voice. Edwards will have the side playing at a higher intensity and will rely on the energy of young midfielders Morris, McGree and the promising Law McCabe to lead this change.
The forwards are talented but Morgan Whittaker and Marcus Forss struggled for goals and they relied too much on Tommy Conway after Latte Lath was allowed to move on. They will need more to come in if they are going to properly contend.
In
Alfie Jones (undisclosed from Hull City)
Abdoulaye Kante (undisclosed from Troyes)
Callum Brittain (undisclosed from Blackburn)
Out
Anfernee Dijksteel (free)
George Gitau (free)
Zach Hemming (undisclosed to Chesterfield)
Josh Coburn (£5m to Millwall)
Manager: Rob Edwards. Two years ago he was seen as the next big thing. Even in the top flight his approach with Luton and the way he presented himself saw him gain a lot of plaudits. However, Luton’s decline was remarkable. Edwards was probably right to get out as his reputation was still intact enough to get an off from an attractive and bigger club in Boro. He’ll want to prove himself but might need time and funds to take Boro away from the mid-table mediocrity they now seem mired in.
Key Player: Hayden Hackney. The local product remains for now having turned down a transfer to Ipswich, which would have netted the Teesiders around £20 million. It might be other clubs do come in for him, but it was reassuring that he chose to remain and be part of the plans of the new manger – for now.
Verdict: Last season they finished 10th and might have underachieved but despite the managerial change, they have not improved a squad that badly needed freshening up and I expect more of the same. Edwards will have a more aggressive style of play but will need additions especially as key men Latte Lath and Doak have not been replaced yet.
10) Wrexham
The Wrexham story is an intriguing one, even if many supporters of other clubs they have bypassed won’t view it so favourably. The Hollywood investors and media attention mean that they have become of real interest worldwide. Credit to the owners for sticking with it through the early years.
As maligned as he is, Phil Parkinson has done superbly to secure promotion in three consecutive seasons. The National League and League Two saw them splash more cash than any other teams, but last year they were up against some similarly powerful clubs and so it was a considerable achievement to go up again.
This will be the first time they have played at this level since the 1970s and only the second time in their history. I do think the expectation that they can go up again, as some fans across the pond have suggested, is completely unrealistic and I would be astounded if this happened. I think a top half finish is a strong possibility though.
They have spent again this summer but in truth needed to, as their squad was way off the level required to properly compete and some of the players that were such a part of the journey such as Paul Mullin have now left. They carried a lot of forwards last year but have quickly tried to upgrade this department again: Ryan Hardie, Josh Windass and now Kieffer Moore have come in.
I expect further business to happen before the end of August as they try and improve the squad further. They will try and make the Racecourse Ground an intimidating venue but delays to the construction of the new Kop have not been helpful and it’s not expected to be ready for another season (a temporary stand remains in place).
In
Ryan Hardie (£700,000 from Plymouth Argyle)
Danny Ward (free from Leicester City)
Liberato Cacace (£2.2m from Empoli)
George Thomason (£1.2m from Bolton Wanderers)
Lewis O’Brien (undisclosed from Nottingham Forest)
Josh Windass (undisclosed from Sheffield Wednesday)
Connor Coady (undisclosed from Leicester City)
Kieffer Moore (£2 million from Sheffield United)
Out
Sam Dalby (free to Bolton)
Jordan Davies (released)
Steven Fletcher (released)
Mark Howard (released)
Liam Hall (released)
Bradley Foster (free to Ross County)
Josh Adam (released)
Paul Mullin (loan to Wigan Athletic)
Will Boyle (Free to Shrewsbury)
Luke McNicholas (Undisclosed to Forest Green)
Luke Bolton (free to Mansfield Town)
Jake Bickerstaff (loan to Cheltenham)
Manager: Phil Parkinson. Never the most likeable manager – at least to those outside of Wrexham (besides perhaps Bradford and Bolton). His style is quite basic and the football he plays is often direct but his remit was to win and get the team promoted and he did that. I worry that for him, his success may ultimately see him replaced now as the owners will want further progression and he is not really the manager that can take them to that next level. I would argue he is perfect to keep them up and even consolidate but look for a change here within 12 months, especially if the spending on players continues.
Key Player: Lewis O’Brien. Swansea wanted to keep him permanently after his loan spell so for their Welsh rivals to take him instead was a coup. O’Brien is a player that can help drive standards and he will be counted upon to provide tenacity and control in the middle of the pitch.
Verdict: One of the hardest teams to predict. Some predictions have them in the playoffs whilst others have them struggling to stay up. I have gone for somewhere in between. They will have the momentum of a promoted side, but if you compare their squad to Charlton’s at the end of last season, there was not a huge difference. They have probably signed around half a dozen Championship level starters now.
I think they will surprise some teams, but will realise this leap is their biggest yet and will likely have some spells where they struggle to put points on the table.
11) Portsmouth
I am sure that this placing will surprise many but there is always one team that surpasses expectations and I was impressed with Pompey last season under John Mousinho. They finished 16th, not only surviving but becoming a solid outfit that was hard to beat.
They have several underrated players who improved as the season went along after a difficult nine-game winless streak at the start. Keeper Nicholas Schmid and defenders Connor Ogilvie, Zak Swanson and Regan Poole may not be well-known names but they all do solid jobs. They made a good signing in John Swift, and also signed highly-rated Adrian Segecic from Sydney FC. He’ll look to link up with Colby Bishop, who came back after open heart surgery to finish last season as their the top scorer. Youngsters Harvey Blair and Terry Devlin also could emerge this season.
In
Adrian Segecic (undisclosed, Sydney FC)
John Swift (free to West Brom)
Luke LeRoux (undisclosed from IFK Varnamo)
Mark Kosznovszky (undisclosed from MTK Budapest)
Florian Bianchini (loan from Swansea City)
Out
Christian Saydee (undisclosed fee to Wigan Athletic)
Kusini Yengi (free to Aberdeen)
Cohen Bramall (free)
Alexander Milosevic (free)
Anthony Scully (free to Shrewsbury Town)
Tom Lowery (free)
Toby Steward (loan to St Johnstone)
Ryley Towler (undisclosed to Lincoln City)
Connor Bramhall (free to Luton Town)
Paddy Lane (undisclosed to Reading)
Manager: John Mousinho. Doesn’t get plaudits in the same way other managers seem to at this level, but he deserves to be talked about more for the sterling job he has done.
Key Player: Josh Murphy. Murphy gave United all sorts of problems at Bramall Lane and could easily play higher up. A quick, skilled winger who can chip in with goals – he will be a vital player again.
Verdict: Top half might be a push but expect them to improve from last season and with some established sides having financial issues, Pompey seem relatively stable even if they have a smallish budget. Fratton Park can be a hostile atmosphere when Pompey play at a high intensity. Expect them to start better this season to ensure they are settled comfortably in mid-table.
12) West Bromwich Albion
I place West Brom in the same category as clubs like Norwich and Middlesbrough: not far removed from their days in the Premier League but struggling to firm up a clear plan and identity. Many of these teams seem caught between trying to get back to the top flight and trying to change the way they operate. All have struggled to get the balance right – showing what a great job Wilder did last season despite the criticism.
The Baggies never really recovered from the loss of Carlos Corberán and disappointing performances on Tony Mowbray’s return. They finished ninth but were a far way off properly competing and had a squad that seemed to not really gel.
A rookie manager like Ryan Mason can be a risk but also could be the bold move they need to take. Several experienced players such as Diangana, Swift and Ajayi have moved on and the incomings have been perhaps more limited than Mason would have wanted. They will hope for more consistency from Josh Maja and for Daryl Dike to remain fit. Youngster Harry Whitwell is a player Baggies fans are very excited about. Bartley, Mowatt, Wallace and Molumby give them the experienced holdovers but without further additions, I do not see how Mason gets them any higher than the talented Corberán could.
In
Nat Phillips (undisclosed, Liverpool)
Aune Heggebo (undisclosed, SK Brann)
George Campbell (undisclosed, CF Montreal)
Out
Grady Diangana (free)
John Swift (free to Portsmouth)
Semi Ajayi (free to Hull City)
Ted Cann (free to Rotherham)
Ronnie Hollingshead (free)
Archie Kirton (free)
Matt Richards (free)
Sam Beedie (free)
Fran Cherchi (free)
Eseosa Sule (loan to Motherwell)
Manager: Ryan Mason. Choosing to leave his role on Tottenham’s coaching staff to begin his first full-time job in senior management, Ryan Mason was a left field appointment. He will find it a tough baptism of fire from an Albion crowd who will expect improvements on their lowest points total at this level since 2000.
Key Player: Mikey Johnston. At times he looks devastating with his pace and ability to stretch defences. When Johnston and fellow wing threat Tom Fellows are positive, the Baggies cause teams all sorts of problems, but both need to be more consistent.
Verdict: Sadly for Baggies fans, I am not sure the Mason move will work. A manager learning on the job at a big club with playoff expectations is a tough ask. You could argue that an experienced manager in Mowbray did not work, but that also shows that the squad was not good enough, and we haven’t seen any real improvements in this regard yet.
13) Derby County
Another prediction that will have some scratching their heads, but hear me out! After surviving last time around thanks almost entirely to the appointment of John Eustace, who resuscitated a team that seemed certain to go down under Paul Warne, County will go into the season without the pressure of having to win so many games and can relax somewhat. There are plenty of sides below with issues off the field – if they perform as they ended the season, they will be around the middle of the table.
The new signings add experience with Eustace and Derby reuniting with Andreas Weimann for a second spell at Pride Park. They have also signed some power and physicality in Patrick Agyemang from MLS (although he will be out injured to begin the season after a hernia operation) and former Luton forward Carlton Morris, who has been very successful in this division. Last season, Rhian Brewster looked better in a deeper or wider role, so it’ll be interesting to see where Eustace plays him. With experienced players like Forsyth, Clarke, Osborn, Nelson and Batth at the back, they will hope to continue to prove hard to score against.
In
Carlton Morris (Undisclosed from Luton Town)
Danny Batth (Free from Blackburn Rovers)
Andreas Weimann (Free from Blackburn Rovers)
Richard O'Donnell (Free from Blackpool)
Patrick Agyemang (£6m from Charlotte FC)
Owen Beck (Loan from Liverpool)
David Ozoh (Loan from Crystal Palace)
Rhian Brewster (Free from Sheffield United)
Bobby Clark (loan from RB Salzburg)
Dion Sanderson (loan from Birmingham)
Out
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (free to MK Dons)
Kemar Roofe (free)
Tyrese Fornah (free)
Tom Barkhuizen (free)
Sonny Bradley (free to Lincoln City)
Erik Pieters (free)
Jeff Hendrick (free)
Conor Washington (free)
Rohan Luthra (free)
Daniel Cox (loan to Walsall)
Tom Barkhuizen (free to Barrow)
Manager: John Eustace. Now overachieving now at Birmingham, Blackburn and Derby – all in difficult circumstances – it is clear that Eustace is an excellent motivator, but tactically astute too. He improved the defence and his next job will be to deliver more going forward. If he does, they will be looking up rather than down.
Key Player: Carlton Morris. A player that has scored consistently at this level and will continue to be a focal point for his new club. As someone who defences can never rest easy around, he will make a real difference to a previously weak attack.
Verdict: They will not be near the bottom this year and after such a positive end to the season, confidence will be high. Some clever signings of proven players will give them more of a threat offensively.
14) Bristol City
This is one of the biggest drop offs in terms of position, and I could be way off the mark, but I will justify my placing. Bristol City overachieved last year, even though at times they were impressive to watch. They made the playoffs over more fancied teams but were well beaten by United over two legs and their total to reach the playoffs was one of the lowest in many years.
They have a very young squad and one now that teams will be more ready for. Their leader Liam Manning then of course bolted for Norwich and they have a new manager – albeit someone who has managed in the UK before. Gerhard Struber likes to play a high defensive line: with a young set of players drilled to play possession stuff that was often pretty on the eye but slow in the build up, it will be interesting to see how things evolve.
City lacked offensive firepower last time out despite the pretty football so will hope forward reinforcements, Emil Riis and Yu Hirakawa, give them something different at the top end.
In
Yu Hirakawa (undisclosed from Machida Zelvia)
Adam Randell (£750k from Plymouth Argyle)
Joe Lumley (free)
Emil Riis Jakobsen (free)
Radek Vitek (loan from Manchester United)
Out
Taylor Gardner-Hickman (£1.5m to Birmingham)
Stefan Bajic (free)
Kal Naismith (free)
Ayman Benarous (free)
Nahki Wells (free)
Ayman Benarous (free)
Taine Anderson (loan to Cheltenham)
Marcus McGuane (undisclosed to Huddersfield Town)
Manager: Gerhard Struber – Struber is a name some may recall from his time at Barnsley in 19/20 before he left for New York Red Bulls. He did OK in MLS for two seasons but then moved to Red Bull Salzburg – it didn’t go well for him in his homeland and he was fired after less than a season. He had a similarly difficult spell in Cologne and lost his job here too, so the City gig is a chance for him to restore his reputation.
Key Player: Jason Knight. Knight and Joe Williams give City both energy and ball retention in the middle of the field and their relentless drive and ability to keep possession saw City control games in their end-of-season run to the top six. Knight, who is now City captain, has finally started to deliver on the promise he showed as a youngster at Pride Park.
Verdict: I would have still had them dropping down had Manning remained, but a new manager playing a totally different style means it will be a season of further regression.
15) Stoke City
Stoke were another side that went through manager after manager last season. They began with Steven Schumacher, but sacked him after just five games into the season before also parting ways with his replacement Narcis Pelach in December. By the new year, they were on their third man as they appointed current boss Mark Robins. He kept the Potters up but it was not easy and their form continued to be patchy, finishing only two points better off than relegated Luton.
Some fans will just want stability but others will ask for more, looking at sides like Bristol City, Millwall and Blackburn. The Potters have one of the best shot stoppers in the Championship in Viktor Johansson, an emerging left-sided duo of Eric Bocat and Bae Jun-Ho, and an emerging right back Junior Tchamadeu. Wouter Berger will be a loss from the midfield area but Sorba Thomas has impressed for his country and is a useful signing. At the back, Aaron Cresswell will give them real experience and centre back Makysm Talovierov impressed at centre-back with Plymouth Argyle, linking up with returning loanee Ashley Phillips. The most exciting signing could be England youth prospect Divin Mubama, who has arrived from Manchester City on loan.
In
Sorba Thomas (undisclosed from Huddersfield Town)
Divin Mubama (loan from Manchester City)
Maksym Talovierov (£1.7m from Plymouth Argyle)
Aaron Cresswell (free from West Ham)
Ashley Phillips (loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Robert Bozenik (free from Boavista)
Jamie Donley (loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Out
Jordan Thompson (free to Preston North End)
Lynden Gooch (free to Huddersfield)
Michael Rose (free)
Enda Stevens (free)
Niall Ennis (undisclosed to Blackpool)
Tommy Simkin (loan to Leyton Orient)
Wouter Burger (£4.3m to Hoffenheim)
Emre Tezgel (loan to Crewe)
Nathan Low (loan to Stockport)
Sol Sidibe (undisclosed to PSV)
Manager: Mark Robins. Extremely harsh that he was sacked by Coventry and it was no surprise a fellow Championship team took him on so quickly. Robins is a smart operator and he will garner more improvements.
Key Player: Viktor Johansson. Along with Michael Cooper, he is right up there as one of the best keepers outside the top flight and was excellent after he signed from Rotherham. Will be an important player yet again.
Verdict: They have recruited well without spending much and with the spine of the team stronger – from a defensive perspective – they will be much harder to beat. However, they lack the firepower to be a serious contender in the upper echelons of the table.
16) Watford
The phrase often used to describe the Hornets in recent years has been ‘basket case’ of a club. Certainly, the number of managerial appointments they have made is unprecedented. They were predicted to struggle by most last season but started the season well before falling away. They finished in 14th and were never seriously in danger – they did only win two of their final 12 games, but once again it seemed ridiculous to move on from Tom Cleverley, as he had done well in difficult circumstances. They made the decision to change manager again on the day that season ticket renewals closed adding to the ire of a disconnected fanbase.
Watford have tried a different approach in the transfer market as the squad has evolved a fair bit in recent years with not really any holdovers from the Premier League. They have brought in several promising young stars and have also signed three players from Udinese, a club that is also owned by the Pozzo family, which of course raises question marks. Their best player Giorgi Chakvetadze remains as does dangerous attacker Kwandwa Baah but no one really knows how the newcomers will adapt to the Championship and squad depth is relatively weak.
In
Hector Kyprianou (free from Peterborough)
Marc Bola (free from Samsunspor)
Nathan Baxter (free from Bolton Wanderers)
James Abankwah (loan from Udinese)
Vivaldo Semedo (undisclosed from Udinese)
Othmane Maamma (undisclosed from Montpellier HSC)
Luca Kjerrumgaard (loan from Udinese)
Nestory Irankunda (undisclosed from Bayern Munich)
Caleb Wiley (loan from Chelsea)
Out
Angelo Ogbonna (free)
Francisco Sierralta (£1.5m to Auxerre)
Michael Adu-Poku (loan to Barrow)
Myles Roberts (loan to Walsall)
Mileta Rajovic (£2.6m to Legia Warsaw)
Antonio Tikvic (Undisclosed to Preuben Munster)
Ryan Porteous (£750k to Los Angeles FC)
Manager: Paulo Pezzolano. The next manager to see if he can actually stay in post for any length of time, never mind be successful, is Uruguayan boss Paulo Pezzolano. He has operated mainly in South America before a spell with Real Valladolid in La Liga before he was sacked prior to Christmas. It is strange how Pozzo just plucks these managers from different locations and countries but it seems a thankless task for any manager to come in and please the crazy owner.
Key Player: Giorgi Chakvetadze. Surprised that he has not been picked up by anyone higher up in the Championship. The Georgian has a real ability to carry the ball and dictate a game, with most of Watford’s good stuff coming through his good play. His form dropped off and it was no coincidence that Watford weren’t able to retain their early-season form.
Verdict: It is hard to see how the club can progress under the erratic ownership of Gino Pozzo and a poor end to the last campaign means they begin with little momentum. They do have some talent despite the lack of continuity – if a few of their young stars can establish themselves at Championship level, then they will stay away from trouble. They could finish four or five places higher or lower, depending on what knee-jerk decisions are made at boardroom level.
17) Swansea
Much of the talk over the summer has been around an unexpected new ownership group that features former Real Madrid and current AC Milan midfielder Luka Modrić and American rapper Snoop Dogg. The new ownership group clearly felt that they could learn from their Welsh rivals Wrexham in adding a touch of flair to the boardroom.
On the field, it was another disappointing season. Luke Williams’s style and results saw him sacked and in came Alan Sheehan, at first temporarily but now as a full-time gig. His tenure so far has been positive (with seven wins, three draws and three defeats only being bettered by the top two to close the season). He has tried to reshape a squad that has lost key men in the last 6 months, with Matt Grimes, Lewis O’Brien and Harry Darling all departing, and he will hope to improve a poor goalscoring record that saw the Swans only manage to find the back of the net on 51 occasions during their 46 second-tier matches last season, the second-worst return of any top-12 team.
Cameron Burgess will replace Darling at the back and Ricardo Santos is another dominating centre back, who arrives from Bolton. Ethan Galbraith, who was linked with United, comes in from Leyton Orient and will hope to fill the large hole left by the departure of Grimes.
In
Zeidane Inoussa (£5m from Hacken)
Bobby Wales (£300k from Kilmarnock)
Ethan Galbraith (undisclosed from Leyton Orient)
Cameron Burgess (free)
Ricardo Santos (free)
Kaelan Casey (loan from West Ham)
Out
Joe Allen (retired)
Kristian Pedersen (free)
Cyrus Christie (free)
Jon McLaughlin (free)
Kyle Naughton (free)
Nathan Tjoe-A-On (free)
Harry Darling (free to Norwich City)
Ben Hughes (free to Cambridge United)
Mykola Kuharevich (undisclosed to Slovan Bratislava)
Nathan Broome (free to Bolton Wanderers)
Ben Lloyd (loan to Newport County)
Florian Bianchini (loan to Portsmouth)
Jerry Yates (undisclosed to Luton)
Manager: Alan Sheehan. Last season, Swansea were maddening to watch with a pass, pass, pass style that often lacked any kind of purpose or penetration and saw them often caught out and concede some ridiculously easy goals. Sheehan had them playing more purposefully, but might find things harder now the honeymoon period has ended.
Key Player: Gonçalo Franco. Won Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Year award in his first full season. The Portuguese midfielder was one of the bright spots and will be looked upon to play an even bigger role this year.
Verdict: The Swans will still struggle for goals and miss the players that have left, but there is enough in the squad to prevent them from being drawn into a struggle.
18) Blackburn
Last season I predicted a season of struggle and had them to go down. They completely proved me wrong as, led at first by John Eustace and then Valarien Ismail, they upset the odds and were within a goal away of making the playoffs. However, the Venkys remain in situ and fans are fed up with their lack of direction and interest in trying to get Rovers going again.
The big summer signing was Sidnei Tavares, a midfielder who was once on Leicester’s books. Dion De Neve is a wide who will be asked to step into Tyrhys Dolan’s shoes but the transfer business has been rather underwhelming and Rovers will mostly go with that they had last season. They will look to reliable performers like Dom Hyam and Lewis Travis and the sparks will be provided by Todd Cantwell and Yuki Ohashi, but losing Callum Brittan will be a big blow right on the eve of the season.
Igor Tyjon is a young English striker who has scored prolifically through the age groups and could be around a squad that seriously lacks goal scorers and experienced striking options.
In
Dion de Neve (undisclosed from KV Kortrijk)
Sidnei Taveres (£2m from Moreirense)
Ryan Alebiosu (£500,000 from KV Kortrijk)
Sean McLoughlin (undisclosed from Hull City)
Lewis Miller (undisclosed from Hibernian)
Axel Henriksson (loan from GAIS)
Out
Jack Vale (free)
Dilan Markanday (free to Chesterfield)
Jalil Saadi (free)
Jordan Eastham (free)
Tyrhys Dolan (free to Espanyol)
Cauley Woodrow (end of loan from Luton Town)
Connor O'Riordan (loan to Doncaster Rovers)
Danny Batth (free to Derby County)
Andreas Weimann (free to Derby County)
Joe Rankin-Costello (undisclosed to Charlton Athletic)
Callum Brittain (undisclosed to Middlesbrough)
Manager: Valerien Ismael. Eustace’s departure was a blow and Ismael struggled at first. However, the Frenchman surprised many fans who though his appointment was a poor one and by the end his high pressing and energetic style yielded results.
Key Player: Lewis Travis. Not the most polished of players and known more for his niggly fouls and stopping other teams playing, but as irritating as he is for opponents, his play is valuable for Rovers.
Verdict: They certainly overachieved last season and Eustace’s platform was a big a part of the success. I do not see them repeating this next season.
19) QPR
Rangers have had terrible starts to both of their last two Championship campaigns and last time out only won two of their first 17 games. They were always playing catch up, but did make improvements, and in the end were able to stay up without too much concern. The fact that Rangers these days are often closer to the bottom than the top shows where they probably are as a club.
The squad still needs a lot of work although young players Mbengue from Reading and Poku from Peterborough will give them much-needed energy and pace. They were able to keep United target Jimmy Dunne, tying him down to a new long-term contract. The rest of the squad lacks the depth and the quality needed to consistently produce results, and more will be expected from Karamoko Dembele now he has made his loan permanent. The forward area is still weak which makes it even more bizarre they opted not to give Charlie Kelman an opportunity, instead opting to sell him to local and potential relegation rival Charlton.
In
Karamoko Dembele (£2.5 from Brest)
Amadou Mbengue (free from Reading)
Kealey Adamson (undisclosed from Macarthur FC)
Kwame Poku (undisclosed from Peterborough)
Rumarn Burrell (undisclosed from Burton)
Out
Charlie Kelman (undisclosed to Charlton)
Kenneth Paal (free)
Murphy Cooper (loan to Barnsley)
Nathan Shepperd (free to The New Saints)
Lucas Andersen (free)
Hevertton Santos (loan to Gil Vicente)
Jack Colback (free)
Morgan Fox (free to Wigan)
Manager: Julien Stephan. The Hoops appointed Julien Stephan as their new boss following Martí Cifuentes's departure. Stephan is managing outside of France for the first time in his career after previously spending two stints in charge of Rennes, either side of a spell in the Strasbourg dugout. QPR will hope he can have the same impact that Cifuentes had in his first season.
Key Player: Ilias Chair. Missed a fair chunk of last season due to injury. He will need to regain his form and fitness to help Rangers stave off a relegation scrap.
Verdict: A club that seem a long way off being able to compete to get back to the top flight and have now been out it for 11 years. A newcomer to the managerial hot seat that has not managed in the UK and a side that seems to lack balance and physicality will end up in another struggle.
20) Oxford United
Another side I tipped to go down last season, I feel they would have returned to League One at the first opportunity if not for making the brave move to replace Des Buckingham with Gary Rowett. The incoming boss had bags of experience at this level and had an instant impact. The former Millwall and Stoke City manager took charge in December and was then unbeaten across his first nine games in the dugout. In the end, they were able to stay up with room to spare and finished five places clear of the drop zone in 17th.
It was easy to see why I had tipped them to go down as despite their promotion, they looked a squad bereft of experience and with a limited budget, you sensed it might be too big a jump. Eventually, they got to grips with the Championship and surprised some of the bigger sides in the process. T
hey did count on some impressive loan performers such as Ben Nelson from Leicester and Alex Matos from Chelsea and both have now returned to their parent clubs. Ruben Rodrigues has gone to Brazil and the midfielder’s departure will be a big loss. Brian De Keersmaecker comes in to provide midfield competition, and Nik Prelec is an interesting signing from Cagliari. The experienced spine of the side remains in goalkeeper Jamie Cumming, defender Michał Helik, midfield all-rounder Cameron Brannagan and hardworking striker Mark Harris.
In
Brian De Keersmaecker (Undisclosed from Heracles)
Brodie Spencer (undisclosed from Huddersfield Town)
Lloyd Harris (loan from Fulham)
Nik Prelec (loan from Cagliari)
Will Lankshear (loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Out
Max Woltman (free)
Idris El Mizouni (undisclosed to Leyton Orient)
Joe Bennett (free)
Josh McEachran (free)
Stuart Findlay (loan)
Ruben Rodrigues (Undisclosed to EC Vitoria)
Will Goodwin (loan to Colchester United)
Jordan Thorniley (loan to Northampton Town)
Manager: Gary Rowett. Rowett got the best out of the players he had at his disposal and did what he was brought in to do – get the results to keep them up. His style of play has never been easy on the eye, but results surely must come first rather than watch an outmatched squad try things that will not get the best out of them.
Key Player: Jamie Cumming. The ’keeper impressed last time out. He will be busy again and needs to replicate his excellent shot-stopping to ensure Oxford stay in games.
Verdict: Oxford’s priority is to build a platform at this level, and if they can stay up again, that will have been another successful season. They’ll be helped by the current problems of sides below.
21) Charlton Athletic
Charlton had been out of the Championship for five years but the energetic Nathan Jones was able to get them back to the second tier via the playoffs. Coming up with big spenders like Birmingham and Wrexham can’t be easy – they have finances Charlton could only dream of and are both unlikely to be struggling next season. For the Addicks, survival may seem an unambitious aim, but has to be the focus as they do not want to drop straight back down after their hard work getting out of League One.
They have added experience with three players coming in from Luton, who will hope to avoid a third consecutive relegation. Sonny Carey scored eight goals for Blackpool last time from midfield, and another player who was successful in League One was Charlie Kelman. The striker played against Charlton at Wembley for Orient while on loan from QPR, and scored 27 goals in all competitions last time out, so will hope he can make the step up and prove the Rs wrong for not giving him an opportunity.
In
Charlie Kelman (undisclosed from QPR)
Sonny Carey (free from Blackpool)
Thomas Kaminski (undisclosed from Luton Town)
Amari'i Bell (free)
Isaac Olaofe (undisclosed from Stockport County)
Reece Burke (undisclosed from Luton Town)
Joe Rankin-Costello (undisclosed from Blackburn Rovers)
Rob Apter (undisclosed from Blackpool)
Harvey Knibbs (undisclosed from Reading)
Out
Thierry Small (free to Preston North End)
Chuks Aneke (out of contract)
Tennai Watson (out of contract)
Aaron Henry (out of contract)
Dean Bouzanis (out of contract)
Danny Hylton (retired)
Nathan Asiimwe (loan to AFC Wimbledon)
Manager: Nathan Jones. A marmite figure with his theatrics and body language somewhat over the top, but he did very well to get Charlton promoted and you can’t say he’s not invested in the job! Whether the fans will have the same view if the inevitable poor results come will remain to be seen. He perhaps needs to be more level-headed at times but he will argue that is who he is and will not change.
Key Player: Tyreece Campbell. No, not that one! The Jamaican winger (whose middle names are genuinely Tupac Shakur) was a star man for Charlton as he played 44 times, scoring nine in all competitions. Loves to run at defences and get his shots away early.
Verdict: They will be in a scrap as despite the momentum and energy that Jones provides from the sidelines, they do not have the experience at this level. Coupled with a thin squad, it will be vital to get results at the Valley. Might just about survive – but by the barest of margins.
22) Preston North End
It’s usually the case Preston North End and Bristol City end up slap bang in the middle of the Championship season after season, but last year City made the playoffs and Preston nearly went down. North End always seem to be a steady side who have been closer to the top than the bottom but last season, after a poor start which saw them sack Ryan Lowe, they improved hugely initially under new manager Paul Heckingbottom.
Despite making the FA Cup Quarter Final, Preston hit the buffers and struggled hugely, tumbling down the league. Suddenly as the matches started to run out, PNE could not buy a win and went into the final game in real danger of slipping out of the league. Only a final day draw at Bristol City combined with Luton’s hammering at West Brom saved the Lilywhites, but it will act as a big wake up call to those in charge at Deepdale.
It was clear the squad needed to change and the manager agreed with a damning statement at the end of the season: “It’s obvious what needs to happen. Change or be changed. That’s it. How much is possible won’t be determined by me. Right now, how I feel, I’d throw a bomb under the lot and start again. That’s what I’d do, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do that, so it’s going to be hard work.” His words were frank and honest, but with so many still under contract, it has been hard for him to rip it up up and start again (as the band Orange Juice once said).
Worryingly, two of his better performers Riis and Woodman departed, but he was able to bring in a replacement ’keeper in Daniel Iversen. Thierry Small brings pace down the sides and Jebbison and Smith give them a different and more physical look up front. However, the lack of quality additions to a side that nearly fell through the trap door is a worry.
In
Daniel Iversen (free from Leicester City)
Jordan Thompson (free from Stoke City)
Pol Valentin (free from Sheffield Wednesday)
Thierry Small (free from Charlton Athletic)
Daniel Jebbison (loan from Bournemouth)
Odel Offiah (undisclosed from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Michael Smith (free from Sheffield Wednesday)
Jack Walton (undisclosed from Luton Town)
Andrija Vukcevoc (unattached)
Shay Reid (undisclosed from Cliftonville)
Out
Layton Stewart (free to FC Thun)
Emil Riis (free to Bristol City)
Freddie Woodman (free to Liverpool)
Ryan Ledson (free to Huddersfield)
Kian Best (free to Chelsea U21)
Patrick Bauer (free)
Kian Taylor (free)
Jack Whatmough (undisclosed to Huddersfield Town)
Kaedyn Kamara (loan to Cork City)
Ched Evans (free to Fleetwood Town)
Manager: Paul Heckingbottom. His managerial career has been varied with promise at Barnsley and then struggles at Leeds and Hibs, but he restored his promising reputation with an excellent job at the Lane as he got United promoted. After inevitable difficulty in the top flight – not helped by a board selling his best players – he was given another chance at Preston.
His public condemnation of the squad might make motivating some of the holdovers difficult. There are probably bigger issues, with investment in the club lacking, but if they start poorly, expect him to harshly carry the can.
Key Player: Lewis Gibson. Came in from Plymouth for decent money in January (a seven figure fee, which is a lot for Preston). Will be looked upon to be a steadying influence at the back and prove why Preston invested in him.
Verdict: Relegated. When a manager says the team is not good enough, that is undoubtedly a concern, and without the funds to properly change it, he now faces another season of struggle. With the teams coming up and down so strong, you fear that the relegation places this year will feature at least one established club.
23) Hull City
Hull fans might see this as too low a prediction but bear in mind they finished 21st last season, have had to make another managerial change and are now under a transfer embargo – it is hard to see how they better last season. The squad seems to be relatively unchanged and now they cannot bring anyone in for fees due to the recent restrictions imposed.
The new owner invested initially, but recent times have been a mess, with managers brought in and quickly replaced mixed with some poor recruitment on players that are ill fits for this league. To think a few seasons ago they were close to the playoffs under Liam Rosenior!
15 players have departed in the summer and not enough have been brought into an already-lean squad. Alfie Jones’s departure was a blow and they will rely on former Blade John Egan to shore up a leaky backline. Another ex-United player John Lundstram comes in on loan and his decline from his time at United in the top flight has not come as a surprise, with the one season of form he displayed a clear outlier in his career. Oli McBurnie will be more impactful due to his personality and presence.
In
Gustavo Puerta (£3m from Bayer Leverkusen)
Reda Laalaoui (undisclosed from Fath Union Sport)
Dillon Phillips (free from Rotherham United)
Semi Ajayi (free from West Bromwich Albion)
Akin Famewo (free from Sheffield Wednesday)
John Lundstram (loan from Trabzonspor)
Joel Ndala (loan from Man City)
Enis Destan (free from Trabzonspor)
Oli McBurnie (free from Las Palmas)
Out
Nordin Amrabat (free to Wydad)
Dogukan Sinik (free)
Joao Pedro (free)
Brandon Fleming (free)
Callum Jones (free)
Xavier Simons (undisclosed to Bolton Wanderers)
Thimothée Lo-Tutala (loan to Doncaster Rovers)
Jake Leake (Loan to Oldham Athletic)
Anthony Racioppi (undisclosed to Sion)
Andy Smith (undisclosed fee Gillingham)
Matty Jacob (loan to Reading)
Marvin Mehlem (undisclosed to Arminia Bielefeld)
Sean McLoughlin (undisclosed to Blackburn Rovers)
Alfie Jones (undisclosed to Middlesbrough)
Mason Burstow (loan to Bolton)
Steven Alzate (£1.5m to Atlanta United)
Manager: Sergej Jakirović. Has been around the circuit in Europe and managed in Slovenia, Croatia and most recently in Turkey with Kayserispor last season, doing well to keep them up. He brings in Dean Holden as his assistant to help him familiarise with the EFL but he has not been given the best tools to work with at the MKM Stadium. Despite a decent track record, do not expect him to last long with the haphazard history of the owner.
Key Player: Charlie Hughes. Had a promising first season after signing from Wigan and won Young Player of the Year. Scored a vital late winner at Hillsborough towards the end of the season that went a long way to keeping the Tigers up. With Jones gone, he will have to step up even more this campaign – if he doesn’t leave.
Verdict: Relegated. Hull face a great deal of uncertainty on and off the field and the decisions made in recent years will catch up with them.
24) Sheffield Wednesday
It is hard not to laugh at our city rivals, as every day a new story comes out that sees them become ridiculed even more. However, even I cannot quite comprehend what has happened – it shows how precarious the future can be if your club is put in the wrong hands.
Dejphon Chansiri was seen as a hero as the club were only a game away from the Premier League only nine years ago. Fast forward to the current day and the club is in a state of disarray under the same owner. The club has been hit with a three-window transfer fee ban by the EFL, running until January 2027, after repeated breaches of regulations, including failure to pay player wages. A points deduction seems a real possibility. The owner says he will leave if the right offer comes in, but he seems to be holding out for an over-inflated fee considering the debt the club is in. The fact they have an ill equipped training ground and a stadium that is essentially crumbling means his stance on the sale of the club is even more bewildering, considering his reputation on the blue and white side of the city. The fact the owner has the audacity to charge £70 for a new home shirt amidst the mess heaps fuel on the fire.
On the field, they over achieved last season and at one stage even skirted around the playoffs but poor home form and the turmoil off the pitch saw them fall away. At the end of the season, manager Danny Röhl had made his wish to leave this summer very clear, even missing the beginning of their pre-season, and although he later returned to hold clear-the-air talks, he ultimately departed. Players seemed to be leaving every few days after pre-season started, with key wide men Gassama and Musaba both sold. Even experienced players who seemed to want to remain had no choice but to secure a new contact elsewhere.
What is left of the carcass is still hard to fully examine, although skipper Barry Bannan remaining was against the flow of negative news. It seems they have 16 senior players left, and without the funds or ability to sign experienced players due to the wage cap, it is going to be a challenge for them to be competitive most weeks.
In
None
Out
Stuart Armstrong (free)
Ryo Hatsuse (free)
Pol Valentin (free)
Mallik Wilks (free)
Michael Ihiekwe (free)
Marvin Johnson (free)
Ben Hamer (free)
Anthony Musaba (undisclosed to Samsunspor)
Djeidi Gassama (£2m to Rangers)
Akin Famewo (free)
Josh Windass (free to Wrexham)
Callum Paterson (free to MK Dons)
Michael Smith (free to Preston North End)
Caelan Cadamarteri (undisclosed to Manchester City)
Akin Famewo (free to Hull City)
Manager: Henrik Pedersen. It was reported he was set to replace Röhl in the summer but then the manager returned for a bewildering period when players apparently did not want to work with him. Pedersen, too, reportedly felt uneasy after Röhl effectively offered himself around on the job market over the summer. Pedersen has managed in Denmark, Norway and the German second divison, but lacks any real experience at the top level and in England. Will be a big ask of someone so inexperienced to step in and steady a sinking ship.
Key Player: Barry Bannan. Surprisingly opted to remain despite all the turmoil. Either it shows incredible loyalty to the club and its supporters or is sheer madness when he cannot guarantee he will be paid. Maybe it was a bit of both, but credit to him for not jumping overboard. His leadership will be key in a side of young players but, despite his calm passing and control of play, without legs and players around him he might find it hard to dictate games when Wednesday could be chasing the ball a lot.
Verdict: Relegated. Traditionally I find it hard to predict such a bad season for our rivals for fear of having egg on my face. They have somehow found their way out of difficult situations before (Peterborough/Barnsley late goals to get up, and then staying up against the odds a few seasons ago), but I find it hard not to predict anything but the drop. They have barely any senior players left and the ones they do retain massively overachieved last time out.
Lacking experienced heads and the ability to bring players in on reasonable wages (for this level), combined with the potential of a points deduction added to the transfer embargoes they have in place, it seems the inevitable will happen. Only a quick change of ownership will give them a chance, but as we know well ourselves, this never happens due to the tightening of the EFL checks – along with finding an investor, of course!
Their preparation for the season has been as bad as it can get and if they start as badly as you would assume, it will be hard for them to dig themselves out. If they can somehow stay in touch and sort out their ownership, then maybe they can perform the great escape. As it stands, it’s hard to predict anything but bottom of the pile.
Many thanks, David - excellent research as always. A very useful summary - perhaps you can re-visit at the end of the season?!
Thanks again,
Sue.