Championship Preview

Last season’s Championship proved to be the most exciting seen in years with promotion and relegation issues all having to be resulted with just two games to go.

This season should be no different with a host of teams looking to hit the big time of the Premiership. The relegated teams of Birmingham City, Derby County and Reading will be looking to bounce back while Doncaster Rovers will be looking to see whether there unique style of attacking passing football will be able to dazzle the Championship big boys.

Of the relegated clubs I can’t look past Birmingham when talking about promotion candidates. They have kept the vast amount of there players minus Mauro Zarate and should have too much for everyone else. To be honest I felt they were far to good to go down in the first place and it seemed that complacency was the reason and not lack of talent. If they don’t get complacent this season then they should walk this division and make it there second promotion from this league in three years.

In every league there is always a shock. This year’s shock for me is coming from Chris Coleman’s Coventry City. The chairman has obviously backed Coleman in the transfer market and some super signing has come of it. Former Southend striker Freddy Eastwood is an excellent acquisition along with Clinton Morrison from Crystal Palace, two players made for this division. Along with that keeping Michael Mifsud and the addition of Keiron Westwood from Carlisle probably the best signing of the lot and Coleman is building the sort of squad that can be taken seriously in the promotion hunt. For me if any team finishes above Coventry this season your promoted.

Wolves also look like a decent outfit and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake is firing the goals in from everywhere. I also like Michael Kightly, so refreshing to see a play put his head down and just run at defenders. Wolves missed out on the playoffs on goal difference last time out, they won’t let that happen again. These three sides have a real chance this season and watching them fight it out will be fascinating.

With the amount of money pilling into QPR right now it would be silly not to count them in with a chance. I worry whether the money is being used effectively and if the players will bond together like a championship winning side have, they have a long season to do it yes but I’m not sure whether this season is there turn.

Sheffield United were another side to miss out on the play-offs narrowly. James Beattie was an inspiration for them last season and 22 goals shows that he was a striker to be reckoned with as well. Along with Billy Sharp those two will cut some defences to ribbons again, another good season is for sure and the play-offs are the likely route.

I’m going to disappoint both Reading and Derby County fans by saying I don’t think either side will be troubling the play-offs this season. Reading have lost to many of there better players like we expected and as yet I haven’t seen hardly any signings from Steve Coppell whose negligence in the January’s transfer window helped to contribute to there relegation in the first place. The loss of Dave Kitson and Nicky Shorey is far too much for them to bear.

Derby on the other hand just need to re-build from last season. They are a broken side, however under Paul Jewell they do have a manager who has experience at winning this league. This season is too early for them top think about bouncing back but don’t count them out next season.

The promoted sides will produce a interesting test and seeing defences trying to deal with the man mounting that is Jason Scotland at Swansea will be awesome to see. Scotland was the main man in League 1 last season and he looks set to produce similar damage this season as well. Martinez is a decent manager and he should get them through this season without to many scares.

Doncaster’s entertaining way of playing won them many fans last season and many are looking for much of the same this time round. Richie Wellens will for sure be looking forward to showing everyone his talents, the player will be at home in the Championship and he is sure to be one of the shining lights for the play-off winners.

Nottingham Forest could surprise a few however. They have assembled a fine quartet of strikers including Championship journeyman Rob Earnshaw. I can’t see forest dropping out of the division and if they can keep their better players fit they have a real chance of a top half finish and maybe even more.

For the relegation issues there are many candidates and I’m not going to look further than Southampton. It’s no doubt that letting Nigel Pearson go is a huge mistake by the board. When will the board learn not to mess with team affairs when for the first time in a few years the dressing room had some sort of cohesiveness. Pearson kept a poor team together and got them playing something near there best as they struggled to keep alive in this division. I never like seeing former Premiership sides drop down another division to league 1 but I can’t help think that this year might be one to many.

Other clubs that will also be looking to avoid the drop are Blackpool who will be reeling from the loss of Wes Hoolahan, Plymouth Argyle who really struggled for any sort of form at the end of last season and Barnsley who needed there FA Cup run to cover up a horrendous season in the league.

I think it will be entertaining at both ends of the table this year and hopefully just as dramatic.

Champions: Birmingham City
Promoted: Coventry City
Play off winners: Wolves
Play offs: Wolves, QPR, Charlton, Sheffield United
Relegated: Barnsley, Blackpool, Southampton