Between now and the beginning of the new EFL campaign, kicking off on Friday 29th July with Huddersfield versus Burnley there will be countless 1-24 predictions flying around social media and if you're anything like me you'll consume the majority of them. Making my own predictions ahead of each season is something I've longed enjoyed doing, so I thought why not use this platform to publish them, what's the worse that can happen? It'll either go well or badly and either way it'll give me something to write about at the end of the season. I take on a lot of discussion and opinion about the EFL clubs so it's important to me that I go in with my predictions before the experts content gets released, I don't want my judgement to be swayed too much by others positional placings.
CHAMPIONS - Burnley.
From the moment Burnley got relegated there was talk of financial problems, a worry about the new owners, how this would impact them following relegation. I never bought into these issues, that's not to say they are not there, more that in the first season of parachute payments these problems are often put to the back of the owners minds. If this season doesn't end in bouncing back to the Prem at the first time of asking, that's when I expect Burnley to start concerning themselves with the Championship's finances. I don't think somebody of the playing calibre of Vincent Kompany would take this gig if he wasn't of the opinion that they were gonna 'give it a right go'. Granted they've lost some of their key performers from Premier League seasons gone by, Pope, Tarkowski & Mee, the most notable. Wout Weghorst clearly didn't fancy the Championship but he didn't look like he fancied the Prem much either in his brief spell last season, Cornet is expected to leave and rumours continue to fly around about Dwight McNeil but his poor league campaign last season may be enough to put potential suitors off. In terms of the squad as it is now, I love the signings of Scott Twine & Josh Cullen, add them to underrated for the level, Connor Roberts, Matt Lowton, Charlie Taylor, Josh Brownhill, Ashley Barnes, Jay Rodriguez and I think you've got a good core of players to challenge with. I'd like to see an improvement in the Goalkeeping department, and a couple of attack minded signings before the end of the transfer window just to give me even more confidence in my pick but Burnley are Champions elect for me.
PROMOTED - Norwich.
As you'll have noticed with my picks. I've got the three relegated clubs from last seasons Premier League as my top three for this seasons Championship. In my mind, the gap between the divisions is just so, so big. I'd love to predict one of them to not challenge at the top of the table but I simply don't have enough confidence in the rest of the division to place them above any of the relegated sides. There has been little to no squad churn at Norwich as yet and although it seems the Norwich fans aren't fully convinced with Dean Smith I see no reason not to suggest that the yo-yo is on it's upwards trajectory. I've also a feeling that, based on what I seen of him at Werder Bremen before his move to Norwich that Milot Rashica could light up this division.
PLAYOFFS - Watford, Middlesbrough, West Brom, Swansea.
Watford, of the previous seasons relegated sides are the one I'm least optimistic about just because it's so difficult to get a handle on their squad and it's unknown whether Rob Edwards' two division jump up as manager will work out. I started my working out with these in third and the reason they've stayed locked in in that position is, like I've already said, I can't confidently say any of the rest of the Championship are better than them.
Middlesbrough are the closest I came to splitting the relegated sides, they've probably the best manager in the division and their squad only has one real weakness to my eye. the trouble is it's a big weakness. They are seriously lacking in forwards, If they only needed one to complete the squad I think I'd be higher on them but they need a minimum of three, if not four. They may well get them over the line before the end of August but not in time for this blog.
West Brom look made to challenge, the squad looks ready, the new signings look incredible on paper, all the Baggies fans should be on the edge of their seats with excitement, no? Not for me with Steve Bruce as manager, this 5th place prediction comes with the caveat of me thinking that they'll make a slow start, get bored of Bruce repeatedly telling the Express & Star that 'we'll be there or thereabouts, sack him in November and for once them making a correct managerial appointment which will propel them into the playoffs.
Swansea. I've gone for them in the final playoff place, the reason being that I think having sold Flynn Downes for a substantial fee, they could well hold onto, for my thinking, the most exciting player in the league, Joel Piroe. He and Michael Obafemi could be a serious partnership this season. The brand of football they play is so easy on the eye but is all too often 'all foreplay and no intercourse'. I'm hoping they do enough to impregnate the playoff places.
OTHER CONTENDERS
I see Millwall, Coventry and Luton having successful seasons again without quite getting into the playoffs at the end, I'm low on Sheffield United, don't rate the manager, don't see them filling the Morgan Gibbs-White shaped hole they have in their squad, think they'll decline this season and underachieve.
RELEGATION BATTLE
I think anyone I've placed from 14th down could potentially go down but the three I've plumped for are Rotherham, Wigan and Birmingham. I've put Reading just above the drop zone, Rotherham have lost their two best players to local rivals Sheffield Wednesday despite them being in the division below, the mood around their fanbase doesn't seem to me to be of the positive nature you would expect from a side that's just achieved promotion and i don't think their transfer business is enough to see them stay up. Similarly with Wigan, the concern with players not getting paid on time and the general feel amongst their fans doesn't give me any confidence that they can step up to this level. Birmingham, they are a basket case club, for the last few season have been like that giant turd in the toilet that refuses to go down, but now the rest of the league have gotten the plunger out this time around will be the final flush.
CHAMPIONS - Peterborough.
I'm hot on Posh to get promoted straight back to the Championship. I think having Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and Derby in the division, all of which will be under pressure to go up allows Peterborough to fly under the radar without much scrutiny on them, the manager is proven at the level which can't be said of some of the bosses at other contenders and his persona meshes nicely with a under the radar club. The squad is packed with both players of high potential and of proven higher league 1 standard. For me, they have the best collective forward options in the league. I expect them to keep the big guns honest all season long and I'm happy to tip them for the title.
PROMOTED - Sheffield Wednesday.
I think this is the season they get back to the second tier. Really strong on paper, signed two players who got promoted from this level last season. I think Darren Moore has just enough about him to get his side over the line.
PLAYOFFS - Ipswich, Derby, MK Dons, Wycombe.
I expect Ipswich to be right in the mix and only just got pipped out by Wednesday in my pick for 2nd. It's difficult to make a confident prediction about Derby with the mass of new arrivals at the club, most of them are at the twilight of their career but you have to think players of the calibre of Hourihane and McGoldrick still have enough about them to have this club at the top end of the table. MK Dons just continue to impress me with their recruitment, even losing Twine, Darling and others from last season isn't enough for me to predict a drop off. Wycombe will shithouse their way through the season and will probably shithouse their way into the last playoff place on goal difference on the final day by taking a 1-0 lead away at Portsmouth and then only allowing the ball to be in play for twenty minutes of the ninety.
OTHER CONTENDERS.
I've Bolton and Plymouth challenging but coming up just short, haven't got much belief that Barnsley, Charlton and Oxford will be any better than higher mid-table and I'm expecting Portsmouth to underachieve.
RELEGATION BATTLE.
I see all teams I've placed from sixteen down in the mix. In the end I've gone with Shrewsbury, Forest Green, Port Vale and Cheltenham. I have to look deep but I can just about find enough positives about the likes of Exeter, Morecambe, Lincoln, Bristol Rovers and Burton to not include them.
CHAMPIONS - Crawley.
I've no doubt that the crypto reign at WAGMI United/Crawley Town will eventually end in disaster but despite that their recruitment ahead of this season is to be applauded. I'm tipping them to scale the League Two mountain before descending back down it like an avalanche.
PROMOTED - Stockport, Northampton.
It looks to me like Stockport have enough about them to do a double jump and go through the league at the first time of asking, I think Northampton can bounce back from last season final day heartache and get the other spot.
PLAYOFFS - Mansfield, Bradford, Newport, Swindon.
Quite honestly, I find League two absolutely mind boggling. From Bradford who I've placed 5th to Walsall in 14th, I reckon I could've placed them teams in the ladder blind and been just as emphatic about the selections. In retrospect, this is where I should've waited for expert opinion and then copied and pasted.
RELEGATION BATTLE.
Once again, no strong opinion here. I've got it between Barrow, Hartlepool, Carlisle, Rochdale and Harrogate and the final two drew the short straws.
Thanks for sticking with this until the end and as always comments and debate welcome. Enjoy the season x
Comments