2023-24 Championship Predictions
24th - Queens Park Rangers
After a season where you can truly say you’ve experienced both the highs and the lows, what on earth comes next? Who would have thought that when QPR stood top of the table in mid-October under Michael Beale, they would have two further bosses before the campaign was up? Beale would depart for Rangers at the end of November, replaced by Neil Critchley who would be gone after just a single win in two months. Gareth Ainsworth’s opportunity at Loftus Road was always going to come at some point given his strong playing connections at the club. He would arrive in mid-February, but lose six of his first seven games as a terrifying slump continued before consecutive victories in late April saw the London club over the line with safety. The question now, will a full pre-season under Ainsworth get QPR back on track, or was that start a foreshadowing of what is to come? There are certainly reasons to believe that Gareth’s tenure at Loftus Road can be a successful one. A gift of motivational skills and raising the level of players was the foundation of his decade plus at Wycombe Wanderers. The aesthetics of his “up and at them” style of play has never bothered me. The man is a very good manager, but the group didn’t feel the right fit for him last year and hasn’t changed as much I would have expected it to. Asmir Begović is a big name signing that QPR will be hoping comes good. The 36-year-old Bosnian has a tonne of experience at the top level, but you do have to go back to 2020-21 for the last time he was the regular number one somewhere. Someone has to fill the gloves of the departing Seny Dieng. Last season’s backup Jordan Archer would not be expected to be that man. Senior centre-back options in the current QPR team are limited to Jimmy Dunne, Jake Clarke-Salter, and left-sided defender Morgan Fox who arrives from Stoke City. Dunne in turn has picked up a pre-season that will see him miss the start of the campaign. The unit have a challenge on their hands if they are going to make Rob Dickie’s departure to Bristol City feel like it isn’t a loss. Joe Gubbins and Aaron Drewe are a lot more inexperienced, with the latter featuring largely as a full-back rather than a central defender last season. Current first-choice right-back Osman Kakay missed the end of last season with injury, but has returned to match action during pre-season. On the opposite side is Surinamese left-back Kenneth Paal, with a new addition being Ziyad Larkeche. The 20-year-old joins from Fulham as an option on the left side of defence, yet to fully establish himself in senior football after a largely unproductive loan with League One Barnsley in 2022-23. Sam Field played every league game last season and will be a valuable part of the R’s midfield again in 2023-24, with Jack Colback a new addition following three years at Nottingham Forest. Field’s disciplined role would allow the likes of Andre Dozzell, Chris Willock and Ilias Chair to be more expressive further forward. The latter two in particular could be influential in whether Queens Park Rangers stay in the Championship, though I’m a bit worried that Ainsworth’s football seems to be bypassing them rather than going through them. Taylor Richards has made a loan move from Brighton and Hove Albion into a permanent transfer. The 22-year-old was sensational whilst at Doncaster Rovers in 2020-21 but has yet to make it as a major hit in the Championship. Elijah Dixon-Bonner will be one hoping for more gametime this season after making his debut last March. I’m incredibly intrigued to see how Paul Smyth fares back at Loftus Road. The Northern Irish winger showed flashes of his quality in the past, and previously worked under Gareth Ainsworth during a loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers. A permanent to Leyton Orient and a full season under Richie Wellens transformed him into a star. Last season, he was League Two’s clear best player for the first six months, unstoppable when at full speed. Though his output decreased after the turn of the year, he remained a nimble, direct threat off the left-hand-side for the fourth-tier champions. The 25-year-old’s skill, flair and infectious energy will be a welcome addition to a QPR dressing room that needs a lift ahead of this new campaign. Albert Adomah can still be called upon to take up positions on the R’s right-hand-side. Lyndon Dykes looks like he could have an even more important role this term as the most experienced natural centre-forward in the team. The Scottish international will get goals, albeit not an exceptional number, and Ainsworth will hope to have him available throughout the entire campaign as Sinclair Armstrong and Charlie Kelman are a lot more unproven at Championship level. It's a quite terrifying drop-off that Queens Park Rangers have suffered in the space of less than 12 months. Having come dangerously close to the drop last year, a desire to see the squad rebuilt in Ainsworth’s image hasn’t yet happened to the level I hoped it would. QPR at the time of writing are desperately low on available, proven central defenders, look dependant on Lyndon Dykes to lead the line and provide output, and could well be forcing those most technical midfielders to feed off scraps. The results of pre-season friendlies are always something to take with a pinch of salt, but any team being beaten 5-0 by a side from the division below will always get flagged up. That’s duly what happened to Queens Park Rangers in their last major pre-season game against Oxford United. An uncomfortable season looks right around the corner…
23rd - Sheffield Wednesday
On the back of a promotion campaign, every supporter should be allowed to enjoy each passing day up the next season and carry that momentum and buzz into life in a new division. It really annoys me that Sheffield Wednesday’s fanbase haven’t been able to do that. 2022-23 will go down in history. The Owls formed part of an exceptional top three in League One, amassing a mammoth 96-point tally that easily broke the record for the most points earned by third place in the third tier. It proved to be not enough for automatics though, and the Wednesdayites were subjected to play-off football, hit by the monumental sucker punch of a 4-0 drubbing to Peterborough United in their first leg. We all visualised the idea of a comeback, but how many of us actually thought it possible? That second leg is one of the greatest play-off games there will ever be. That Liam Palmer goal will be shown around for years to come. It’s fitting that after a night like that, Sheffield Wednesday then go and win the final with a goal as last gasp as you can get. Another famous Wembley moment for the Windass family. Within three weeks of that play-off win however, the champagne bottle had been smashed. Darren Moore, fresh off delivering that unforgettable season finale, leaves the club alongside his staff by mutual consent. A disagreement with owner Dejphon Chansiri is understood to be the reason. It didn’t do much to ease the shock for us all. We’ll never known what Darren Moore’s heavy influence would have done for Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship. Attention instead turns to Xisco Muñoz as he is selected to lead the club into the new campaign. The 42-year-old Spaniard does have a past legacy in England, promotion to the Premier League with Watford in 2020-21. Hornets fans struggled to warm to his tactical approach however, and it was ultimately the immense quality of individuals that took Watford up in second place. Muñoz does not have the same luxury of players at Hillsborough. With David Stockdale released, Cameron Dawson now has a clear path to being the regular number one this season. 18-year-old Pierce Charles is his understudy. Central defensive additions at the time of writing have been the return of left-sided defender Reece James, and the signing of right-sided defender Di’Shon Bernard. The latter is a player I have a lot of time for. Bambo Diaby moves across to Hillsborough from Preston North End. Aden Flint was only a loan player last term, which leaves Michael Ihiekwe, Akin Famewo and the more mobile Dominic Iorfa as senior centre-back options alongside James and Bernard. Ciaran Brennan was loaned out to League Two Swindon Town last season and hasn’t played Championship football for Sheffield Wednesday before. Xisco should find a home somewhere for utility man Liam Palmer. The homegrown hero cemented his Hillsborough legacy further with that iconic second leg goal last season. Naturally a right-back, he can cover at wing-back, centre-back, or further up in central midfield. Natural forward Callum Paterson has spent time as an attacking wing-back and attacking right-back in the past. New signing Juan Delgado plays as a right-back or much further up as a winger. Fellow new recruit Pol Valentín is also a right-back. Marvin Johnson has been established as an attacking left-back and left-wing-back since coming to Sheffield Wednesday and always looked a good asset in League One. Reece James can cover his roles on the left flank. Midfield is possibly the area of most confidence in this current Sheffield Wednesday team. Barry Bannan needs no introduction, a superstar down in League One who will be back to being among the most accomplished Championship playmakers this season. George Byers will be welcomed back from injury to return to his tireless midfield role. Will Vaulks disciplined position in the centre allows others to flourish and proved a great signing from Cardiff City last summer. Tyreeq Bakinson is a squad option still with a point to prove. Forward Josh Windass was often deployed by Darren Moore as a roaming attacking midfielder behind the frontline. A change away from last season’s 3-4-1-2 would be welcome news to Mallik Wilks. The 24-year-old is a player I have long been a fan of down in League One level and needs to feature as an inverted winger in order to be at his best. 22-year-old Anthony Musaba is an intriguing arrival from AS Monaco. Up top, Michael Smith and Lee Gregory have plenty of lower league goalscoring knowhow and can form a practical front pairing together. It is the latter who has up to now looked more adept at Championship level, however. Ashley Fletcher is the lone forward arrival so far, moving across the division on a loan deal from Watford. The 27-year-old had a strong season with Middlesbrough back in 2019-20 and it is output that has yet to be recreated since. Callum Paterson can at the least be expected to provide some goal contribution, likewise Josh Windass who should be seen as one of the brighter sparks in this team. As strong as Sheffield Wednesday performed in League One last term, the Championship is a step up that requires significant improvement in order to be a competitive side. That business just has not come yet. Several figures in this squad are well-seasoned at second tier level, but not getting any younger. Xisco Muñoz is in turn an appointment that it is difficult to feel that upbeat about, a manager who won promotion because of the Premier League players he had rather than how he used them. There is still time for these new reinforcements to come in, but the chance to integrate them away from competitive pressure has passed…
22nd - Rotherham United
Last year brought about something that hasn’t been seen since 2016, Rotherham United not changing division. After six straight years yo-yoing between the second and third tiers, the Millers got to enjoy Championship survival with a 19th place finish. It wasn’t a smooth ride for Matt Taylor as he stepped up from Exeter City last October to fill the shoes of the departing Paul Warne. There were several occasions where Rotherham put in well below-par performances. Strong January reinforcement was the added boost needed to keep the South Yorkshire outfit above the drop zone for the entire campaign. Around the corner in 2023-24 though comes a new challenge for Taylor. Progression from 19th feels unlikely. Another relegation battle is anticipated. Taylor must complete this survival push entirely off his own back. There are no strong start foundations that he can inherit from Paul Warne. Three weak teams have gone down from the Championship, not all of the three coming up are going to be expected to fight against the drop with them. The odds are stacked against the Millers again. Competition in the goalkeeping department will come from a familiar face and a new arrival. Swedish stopper Viktor Johansson was exceptional last season and may well need to be again this term. Could his position as starting goalkeeper be lost to Dillon Phillips though, who joins upon release from Cardiff City having been loaned out to Belgian club KV Oostende for 2022-23. 24-year-old Cameron Humphreys, a regular last season at the back, could carry a pivotal defensive role into the new season. Sean Morrison but for injury could have played a bigger influence in last year’s survival push, and has returned to action during this pre-season. Grant Hall has made a loan move from Middlesbrough permanent, hoping injury doesn’t affect his time at the New York Stadium like it did in 2022-23. Others central options with notable Championship experience are left-sided defender Tyler Blackett and right-sided defender Lee Peltier. Jake Hull and Jamie McCart were out on loan lower down the pyramid in 2023. Cohen Bramall still looks first choice at left-back and left-wing-back. The 27-year-old has previously looked a good dynamic player in League with Colchester United and in League One with Lincoln City, but has yet to particularly standout as a Championship player. Shane Ferguson is another wing-back option on that side. The Northern Irishman can play up the way up the left flank. Tolaji Bola had an unproductive loan at Bradford City last year. Wes Harding’s departure to Millwall leaves Lee Peltier as a main option at right-back, with Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Dexter Lembikisa coming in to compete for minutes on either side. The decision to loan Peter Kioso down a division to Peterborough United feels an odd one. He could have been handy. I want to be hopeful on the signing of Cafú. The 30-year-old Portuguese midfielder previously played a part in two seasons at this level with Nottingham Forest but played just six minutes for them in the Premier League before release. He’s had a long period without senior competitive football, but could prove useful for the Millers when back up to speed. Academy product Ben Wiles remains at Rotherham and has long been admired for his ball-carrying in central areas. Oliver Rathbone has established himself as a central regular since arriving from Rochdale two years ago. Jamie Lindsay should continue to form part of a midfield trio. Hakeem Odoffin could find an increased level of importance this season with other players gone and the rest of the midfield unit being very young and inexperienced. Fred Onyedinma’s arrival on loan from Luton Town could prove handy in advanced areas. Andre Geen returns to England following two years in Slovakia with ŠK Slovan Bratislava. Jordan Hugill had a positive impact for Matt Taylor upon arriving last January, one of only two who was a permanent winter signing and is therefore certain to stay at the New York Stadium into 2023-24. Rotherham no longer have the option of playing talented Ireland international Chiedozie Ogbene alongside him though. With Conor Washington now also away from the club at Derby County, one of Georgie Kelly or Tom Eaves really could do with stepping up and providing solid contribution for the Millers. At this stage, I would have more faith in the former out of the two, an Irish forward who scored on his debut down in League One and but for a period of injury could well have featured more in the last Championship campaign. It’s been a while since 23-year-old striker Joshua Kayode has looked a genuinely class player, and that was down in League Two. Relegation survival is certainly not impossible for Rotherham United, but the odds are going to be stacked against them again. Matt Taylor has to cope with seeing influential January loans head back to parent clubs, and in turn lose two regulars on the right-hand-side, long-standing centre-back Richard Wood and one of his more dependable goalscorers in Conor Washington. In what is always a challenging division, the current Rotherham squad sadly doesn’t feel good enough to earn another season in the second tier. There is plenty of time left in the window though for the Millers to get the additions they need and have a fighting chance again…
21st - Huddersfield Town
What exactly is the motivation for Huddersfield Town this season? We soon knew what it was last year. Carlos Corberán’s sudden departure before a ball had even been kicked began a sequence of events that quickly dropped the Terriers into the relegation zone. Failures with Danny Schofield and then Mark Fotheringham followed, before the return of the Messiah. 74-year-old Neil Warnock comes back out of retirement to return to West Yorkshire and pull off the miracle. Survival secured, 18th place finish, a one-year extended deal for the Yorkshireman, and now what? Huddersfield currently enter this new season with a lot more personnel lost than gained. Is the idea that Warnock’s magic will come through again and he will lead the Terriers to a Cardiff City-like transformation? That promotion was five years ago now. He has shown to still be capable as a survival specialist, but not done much else in the years since. The squad is bloated but ok overall. It needs a lot more proven ammunition if a serious flip of fortunes is wanted though. Lee Nicholls is a more than decent goalkeeper, one of the stars on their way to the 2022 Championship play-off final and is still a key asset more than 12 months down the line. Chris Maxwell comes in to be his backup. Defence isn’t currently that much different to the one which finished 2022-23. Matty Pearson had a superb impact across the backline during the Warnock miracle. Michał Helik and Tom Lees regularly formed a back three with him. Rarmani Edmonds-Green featured in both defence and midfield last season under Warnock. Yuta Nakayama has returned in pre-season after a long period out injured. Right-sided defender Ollie Turton is anticipated to remain out of action until the earlier parts of the campaign. 20-year-old Loick Ayina progresses from the B team and sits on the periphery. Jaheim Headley is someone I am keen to see a lot of in 2023-24. The 21-year-old returned from an encouraging loan at Harrogate Town to play a part in the Terriers’ survival. Naturally a left-back, the attacking talent can play all the way up the left-hand-side. Ben Jackson features in similar roles. Josh Ruffels’ versatility covers a number of positions, including his primary left-back position. The aforementioned Matty Pearson, Ollie Turton and Rarmani Edmonds-Green are more senior right-back options than Aaron Rowe who returns from an unproductive loan at Stockport County. Huddersfield have at least answered for a more seasoned, fit natural out there with the loan signing of Tom Edwards from Stoke City. Stalwart central man Jonathan Hogg should regularly feature in midfield again alongside Jack Rudoni. The latter has had a positive first season since signing from AFC Wimbledon, capable of taking up a number of midfield roles or being deployed out wide. David Kasumu was a frequent feature in games last season but had quiet output compared to others. Scott High was limited to just nine league appearances after returning from a loan at Rotherham United. Brahima Diarra caught the eye in flashes during a previous loan at Harrogate Town and the more attack-minded midfielder is an option for Huddersfield either in central areas or as an auxiliary left-back. Sorba Thomas can hopefully have a key role in the team again after being loaned to Blackburn Rovers around the turn of the year. The Wales international is well-known for his crossing ability from wide positions and could operate as a winger or as an attacking wing-back on the right-hand-side. Connor Mahoney is the other natural winger in the current Huddersfield squad, with other forward players being more natural strikers who can be pushed wider as a secondary role. Jordan Rhodes and Danny Ward are the most senior strikers in the Terriers team, finishing last season as joint top league scorers with just five goals alongside the revitalised Matty Pearson. Josh Koroma returned from a loan at Portsmouth to contribute a small part of Huddersfield’s goal tally. There is a notable drop-off in first team experience from these three strikers to the likes of Kian Harratt and Kieran Phillips, both on loan at lower league clubs last season. Giant striker Kyle Hudin looks likely for a loan out elsewhere at the time of writing. Neil Warnock is having one more season in management, but could he soon realise that he is not enjoying what he has to work with? Far too little has been added at current to believe that Huddersfield aren’t spending another campaign down at the bottom end. Certain individuals within the team are good and dependable, but the lack of high calibre firepower is really worrying. Matty Pearson hit a period of form when April rolled around, and those four goals in three games saw him end the campaign as one of the Terrier’s joint top scorers. Danny Ward can hopefully up his output back to a more of the level seen in 2021-22, I don’t think I could back Jordan Rhodes to do the same though. Action in the remainder of this window is really needed for Huddersfield Town, or some of those promising youngsters are going to need to hit their potential pronto…
20th - Cardiff City
The return of the hometown hero will lift the mood, but it might not ultimately do much to lift a team that was in an uncomfortable position for a lot of 2023. The buzz of the 2017-18 promotion season feels a very long time ago now. In four seasons since returning to the second tier, the Bluebirds have been on a gradual decline down the table. Managers in that time have had limited opportunities to make their mark. Neil Harris is the only post-Warnock boss to last more than a calendar year in the job. The most recent manager Sabri Lamouchi was brought in last February to keep Cardiff away from relegation and ultimately succeeded, but has not had a contract renewed despite hopes of staying on. The latest name in the Cardiff City Stadium dugout is a new one in English football. Turkish manager Erol Bulut has more than 200 matches of prior experience with four top flight clubs in his home country. A European spot and cup final with Alanyaspor in 2019-20 is among his highlights from a management career that has included work with giants Fenerbahçe. The 48-year-old still enters this season with uncertainty though, creating both understandable excitement at what could potentially be coming and understandable concern that he may just soon end up the latest to join the list of sackings under Vincent Tan and Mehmet Dalman. Bulut will have Ryan Allsop to use as Cardiff’s starting goalkeeper again this season, with Jak Alnwick his backup and young Ronan Luthra playing understudy to the pair. Hopes are high for dominant Greek centre-back Dimitrios Goutas as he arrives from Sivasspor in Bulut’s native Turkey. The 29-year-old should prove a good fit at the back where Mark McGuinness and Jack Simpson are other central defensive options. Perry Ng is a more natural right-back who can work on the wide right side of a back three. Nigerian left-sided defender Jamilu Collins had his first season in South Wales heavily affected by injury. Republic of Ireland international Callum O’Dowda can feature at both left-back and left-wing-back alongside his more natural winger position. Joe Ralls was on occasion pushed wide from midfield to play on the left. Academy graduate Joel Bagan was barely used last season and will hope for more chances from a manager who liked to promote from within at this previous clubs. Mahlon Romeo should be seen as a dependable enough full-back, primarily right-sided, who is entering his second season with Cardiff City. The feelgood story for the Bluebirds this summer is the return of Aaron Ramsey, heading back to the club where he started his career and left for Arsenal 15 years ago. The Wales legend has had a top career, and at 32 still has plenty of offer in the Championship even if no longer at the prime of powers. The goal threat he should provide from midfield will be valuable to Erol Bulut’s side. Joe Ralls’ output has been much lower the past couple of seasons when compared to previous years. Goalscoring from midfield has never really felt the game of Ryan Wintle or Andy Rinomhota. Ebou Adams had his 2022-23 affected by injury and the Gambian is still waiting for his Cardiff City competitive debut. Attacking midfielder Romaine Sawyers is someone that you want to see have a key role in the creative part of the team, but had low output despite a lot of minutes last season. At this stage, I feel more excited about what youngster Rubin Colwill could offer than what the Saint Kitts and Nevis international will provide. A goalscoring touch from Ramsey will prove incredibly handy when assessing the lack of real potency in Cardiff City’s frontline. The Bluebirds cannot pin their hopes on top scorer Sory Kaba returning. Callum Robinson was the highest scoring active player with just five in 22 Championship appearances. Jaden Philogene-Bidace came next and was another only at the Cardiff City Stadium on a temporary basis. Karlan Grant might provide hope of an answer to these goalscoring problems, arriving on loan from West Bromwich Albion and having previously fared well at this level with the Baggies and Huddersfield Town. Josh Bowler comes in from Nottingham Forest on loan, previously an exciting wide threat at Blackpool before his permanent move to the City Ground. It has been a couple of years since new signing Iké Ugbo last recorded a very potent season. Reading’s Yakou Méïté feels more likely to take up a role as a supporting goal contributor, similar to what Kion Etete and Sheyi Ojo were last term. Barring a disaster, Cardiff City should have enough to stay away from relegation again this season. Unless a notable improvement in frontline goal output is found though, it is difficult to believe in the Bluebirds climbing much higher than the table’s bottom end. Defence has some decent enough figures, Ramsey will be fun to watch driving into the box from the centre, but we could really do with Grant or Ugbo rediscovering previous form. Erol Bulut should last this season if general expectation is low. If the demand is for the new boss to take this team to higher ends of the division, there could be a problem…
19th - Preston North End
As is typical of the Championship, you run through your list of relegation candidates, then dive into your list of top six chancers that you find takes well into the bottom half of the table. It’s taking me really low this season, to a club that would be mortified at the thought of ending up down here. 19th might be 13 spots away from sixth, but who’s to say for sure that the points gap will end up that big a number? Ryan Lowe will hit his two-year anniversary as Preston North End boss in early December. The 44-year-old secured a 13th place finish in 2021-22 and a 12th place finish in 2022-23. It’s a pair of very respectable placings for what could somewhat be considered a Championship underdog. The Lilywhites don’t have the experience and riches of former Premier League seasons that a good number of their competitors do. 1961 in fact is the last time Deepdale was a top flight football ground. Quality management has been a big part of Preston’s previous success at this level, and it will be again if they record another midtable or better finish. Freddie Woodman is a very good quality goalkeeper and will be a key part of the Preston team again in 2022-23. David Cornell is his backup. Jordan Storey looks one of the most important figures in central defence, where he also has Liam Lindsay, Andrew Hughes, Patrick Bauer, Greg Cunningham and former Wigan Athletic man Jack Whatmough as options join him in a back three. 19-year-old Calvin Ramsay will hope to have a positive impact on his first loan move from Liverpool. The Scot’s primary competition at right-wing-back will come from club stalwart Alan Browne as well as tall midfielder/wing-back Brad Potts. Robbie Brady is the senior option for a left-wing-back role. Academy product Jacob Slater is 13 years his junior and very much in the infancy of his Lilywhites career. Controller Ben Whiteman will hold a key role in the centre of Preston’s midfielder for as long as he stays at Deepdale. Ali McCann and Ryan Ledson are competent midfielders in the squad. Ben Woodburn and the new pair of Dane Mads Frøkjær-Jensen and American Duane Holmes are more attack-minded midfielders who can be deployed out wide. I like to think that Will Keane can prove a valuable signing for Preston North End. The 30-year-old has had three productive years as a striker or attacking midfielder at Wigan Athletic, including a double figure return in the Championship just last season. Experienced Welsh striker Ched Evans will be a welcome return from injury down the line. Danish striker Emil Riis Jakobsen is in turn looking to get back from injury next season, having been unable to play since the 2nd January. The 25-year-old was clinical in 2021-22 but didn’t get the chance to hit those numbers in 2022-23. With Evans and Jakobsen out, new signing Layton Stewart has a chance to make his mark on the team following a permanent move from Liverpool. It’s Preston North End’s overall depth that could hold them back in this new season. Ryan Lowe has a likeable group, good senior players in all areas, but this squad has to be littered with inexperienced youngsters at this current time in order to make up the numbers. The new signings will get their chance to prove their worth. Will Keane is the one who at this stage I am most keen on. It might take the likes of Ramsay, Frøkjær-Jensen and Stewart emerging as serious stars though if Preston are to earn another high finish with such fierce competition around. The Lilywhites often do what they can with what they have available though.
18th - Norwich City
Bottom half as a team freshly relegated from the Premier League was bad enough. Could it get worse? We had a period where Norwich City were in what can be described as a “yo-yo” state, a team clearly too good for the Championship and aiming to gradually improve their level of competitiveness in the Premier League. The problem though comes with the summer 2021 window. Players brought in for the Premier League season have not only failed to make the mark in the topflight, but in turn haven’t managed to stand out down in the second tier. The previous plan of having a quality base to simply add extra talent onto didn’t work, and saw the canaries drop away from the top places despite a positive beginning. David Wagner is far from a bad coach, though his reputation in England as the man who took Huddersfield Town to the Premier League is coming from a season that happened an increasingly long time ago. The 51-year-old’s record since moving to Carrow Road last January can’t really be described as much better than ok. The German could prove the answer to the Canaries desire down the line, but needs the time to lay foundations before making that serious promotion push. His compatriot Daniel Farke originally got that level of patience, and it proved the right decision. Angus Gunn will be first choice goalkeeper ahead of 35-year-old Tim Krul. It’s up for debate whether the Scotland international is considered a league-leading goalkeeper when compared to other stoppers in the second tier. Daniel Barden is a younger understudy. Andrew Omobamidele is a likeable young centre-back who finished last season as a starter after injuries to Grant Hanley and Ben Gibson. The former hasn’t yet returned in pre-season. Republic of Ireland Shane Duffy arrives as a free agent, far from a bad signing but one who may have his years as an accomplished Premier League-level centre-back now behind him. Dane Jacob Sørensen had slotted into central defence on occasion last term despite being a more natural midfielder. Max Aarons still remains a Norwich City player, something I did not expect to be saying in August 2023. The now 23-year-old was long marked as one of England’s brightest full-back talents, linked with numerous major clubs and seemingly set to only spend so long at Carrow Road. Nearly five years after his debut though, Aarons has now surpassed 200 career appearances and is yet to find himself with a senior England cap. He was a regular for the victorious U21 EURO side this summer, however. Jack Stacey could prove a fun free signing addition from Norwich City, having previously shown at Luton Town that he can be a flying full-back. Four years at AFC Bournemouth hasn’t maybe gone as hoped though. Left-back Sam McCallum has really yet to prove a hit at Norwich City. Greek Dimitrios Giannoulis feels more likely to start ahead of him at this stage. If Norwich City are to do anything seriously good this season, midfield stars will be key. Brazilian Gabriel Sara and Chilean Marcelino Núñez look like they could be really good players. Finding that additional consistency takes them to a whole new level. I hope for more from Liam Gibbs after a decent first impression last season. Kenny McLean is the most experienced midfield man. Winger Christian Fassnacht could be one of the watch. The Switzerland international worked with David Wagner at previous club BSC Young Boys. The last action of Borja Sainz before a move to Norwich from Turkish club Giresunspor was a game in which he scored and then was instantly sent off for a second yellow card. Young Greek forward Christos Tzolis, Kosovar winger Milot Rashica and Polish winger Przemysław Płacheta have yet to really stamp their mark on the Norwich City team. Cuban winger Onel Hernández is probably still best remembered for his part in the victorious 2018-19 season. The goals of Finnish hero Teemu Pukki are now elsewhere as he moves to MLS side Minnesota United. Free agent Ashley Barnes should be able to contribute, still an effective centre-forward but now at 33 is someone who has likely already seen his prime goalscoring years. American forward Josh Sargent was one of the few brighter positives of last season. 22-year-old academy product Adam Idah has yet to bring a strong goalscoring record at youth level up into the senior game. The Irishman is often put into supporting frontline roles as opposed to being the main man up top. That could well stay the same with Barnes now in the building. Patience will be key to Norwich City getting back to where they aspire to be. David Wagner has a group that is far from awful, but does have several players who need to step up their game if they are to be considered a leading Championship outfit again. Arrivals this summer are decent if unspectacular. Swiss winger Fassnacht is the one that personally intrigues me most. If he can be a hit, and the Canaries’ South American midfielders can reach high levels of consistency, there’s still a decent chance of league position improving from last year…
17th - West Bromwich Albion
A very, very tricky one to pick an exact place for. One of the main reasons for major hope with West Bromwich Albion this season has to be Carlos Corberán. A serious immediate impact upon arriving last October, a previous stellar campaign leading Huddersfield Town to the 2022 play-off final. The Spaniard is a top coach, one of the finest in the division, but is up against it to deliver a top end finish with a team that now no longer has Premier League parachute payments. 26-year-old Alex Palmer would have featured a lot more for the Baggies last season if not for injury. David Button’s previous position as first-choice backup might well be taken instead by 21-year-old Joshua Griffiths is the academy product is kept at the Hawthorns. At the time of writing, West Bromwich Albion haven’t made a single addition to their defensive unit, the most major departure being Dara O’Shea’s move to Burnley. Erik Pieters and Semi Ajayi can still form the centre-back pairing that regularly featured in the backend of 2022-23. Kyle Bartley had a period out injured last term. Cédric Kipré returns from a loan at Cardiff City. Caleb Taylor was very impressive down at division at Cheltenham Town last season. Might the tall 20-year-old centre-back have an opportunity to break into the first team during this new campaign? Conor Townsend remains first choice left-back, a position winger Adam Reach can also cover in. Darnell Furlong was a right-back regular, with the returning Martin Kelly and versatile youngster Taylor Gardner-Hickman also available to take up that role. Gardner-Hickman however might be preferred to develop as a metronome midfielder, sitting alongside players like Jayson Molumby, Nathaniel Chalobah or Okay Yokuşlu. Alex Mowatt, back from a loan at Middlesbrough, is a player you would want to see West Brom turn into a key asset. There is still plenty of creative ability in the 28-year-old’s feet. John Swift had good output from advanced midfield positions after previously excelling at Reading. Ecuador international Jeremy Sarmiento is an attacking midfielder on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion and could be one to watch as he takes his first steps into Championship football. Jed Wallace’s effective Championship game has been known about for a long time now, and the winger should provide decent goal and assist output again in what will be his second season at the Hawthorns. Matt Phillips feels a player more fondly remembered for his previous output than his current record. Grady Diangana is a lively winger but has been out of action since early March and is working back to a return. The hope will be for further growth from Brandon Thomas-Asante this term. The 24-year-old has been one of the lower league gems at Salford City and provided several individual moments during his first year at West Bromwich Albion. With Daryl Dike currently injured, BTA’s main striker competition comes from new boy Josh Maja. The 24-year-old has been a Bordeaux man since 2019, getting previous loans at Fulham and Stoke City, and now makes a permanent move from France to the Hawthorns. Maja had a positive 2022-23 in Ligue 2 with Les Girondins. As much as there will be a desire for a high finish, it feels like the Corberán magic dust is going to be needed for West Bromwich Albion to make a genuine top six push. Certain players are well-accomplished Championship figures, ones who on their game can contribute to a high-quality side. The Spaniard needs to get those assets flourishing again and hope that injury doesn’t hit them with another setback to momentum. Who is to say for sure that the current group will all remain at the club though? Parachute payments have dried up, West Brom are lower on resources than they’re used to be being, some of these players are still on wages that don’t really reflect the gametime they are likely to get. Some more offloading could be coming before the window shuts…
16th - Birmingham City
Finally, finally, we can start to believe in Birmingham City again. It’s been a tough watch following Blues over the last decade, let alone actually supporting them. Top half on just two occasions since 2012, saved on goal difference in 2013-14. Birmingham City seasons have often felt a rinse and repeat case of peaking and troughing, with slight relegation concerns around March and April silenced before another underwhelming bottom third finish. It’s been sad to see such a sequence for a club that is genuinely capable of so much more. Birmingham are one of the most underappreciated outfits in the country for support and potential, held back for ages by bad ownership and poor recruitment. The takeover from American businessman Tom Wagner this July has brought something St. Andrew’s has not seen for years, genuine hope. It is really worth emphasising how good a job John Eustace did last season. Fancied by many to finally fall out of the league, the West Midlander worked superbly against challenging on-field and off-field circumstances to deliver 17th in the Championship, Blues’ joint-highest league finish since 2016. The 43-year-old has already shown impressive qualities in the second city, imagine what he could now achieve with the shackles off? Birmingham still have John Ruddy as their number one goalkeeper, having played in all but the final three games of last season. He is still performing well in his mid-30s. Philippines international Neil Etheridge is his backup. 22-year-old Zach Jeacock is an understudy to the pair. Marc Roberts and Kevin Long remain as senior centre-back options, whilst Blues have been able to welcome back right-sided defender Dion Sanderson on a now permanent deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Birmingham’s academy has long been a dependable source of talent, and youngsters will once again have a part to play in line-ups during 2023-24. Marcel Oakley for instance is a right-back who can cover in the centre if needed. Lee Buchanan is a likeable signing. The 22-year-old left-sided defender returns to England following a year of Bundesliga football with Werder Bremen. Dynamic left-back Emmanuel Longelo is another option on that side and a player who was a loan that became a permanent transfer mid-way through last season. Ethan Laird looks a class addition at right-back, part of technical Russell Martin teams in the past and turning 22 as the season starts. Youth players Josh Williams and Marcel Oakley are alternatives on the far-side side of defence. Krystian Bielik regularly anchored the midfield and has now made a long-term move from Derby County. Youngster Alfie Chang has had a positive cameo in deeper midfield. We remain to see what happens to Croatian Ivan Šunjić after returning from a loan at Hertha BSC. Juninho Bacuna provides a technical option in both midfield and out on the right. George Hall and Jordan James can be called upon as dependable young talents in the starting midfield. Attacking midfielder Koji Miyoshi will be one plenty have an eye on as the starts life in English football. Gary Gardner had his 2022-23 heavily affected by injury. New wide options for Birmingham City come in the form of Keshi Anderson and Siriki Dembélé. The latter is my particular favourite, a fabulous direct runner with great agility and speed. Tyler Roberts covers striker, attacking midfield and the right flank and will look to provide a notable contribution to the Blues goalscoring tally. Lukas Jutkiewicz and his strong aerial game will still be an option for Birmingham, as will last season’s top scorer Scott Hogan. Might John Eustace also have a place for Sam Cosgrove this season? The 26-year-old has felt like a failure of a signing from Aberdeen, but was very effective on loan at League One champions Plymouth Argyle. Steven Schumacher showed that there is a natural goalscorer in there, can Eustace find it as well? The minimum Birmingham City will want for this season is to set the foundations for a long-awaited return to the Premier League. Years of mismanagement are over. Belief is rightly back. Blues have a squad that already has had some decent additions to go with the latest crop of bright youngsters, and last season found a managerial gem in John Eustace. St. Andrew’s is not set to fully reopen just yet, but it’s going to have a lot more smiling faces inside now…
15th - Hull City
There’s a mixture of real mixture of opinions around on Hull City this season. Some believe they could soon be on their way to setting the division alight, others believe their general recruitment is more hype than actual productivity. Since Turkish broadcaster and businessman Acun Ilıcalı took over the Tigers in January of 2022, the connection between the club and its fans has gone from strength to strength. Trips out to Turkey for groups of fans for instance have been subsidised by Ilıcalı. An initial experiment on the pitch with Georgian manager Shota Arveladze didn’t hit as hoped, but his eventual successor looks to have laid good foundations. Ex-Tigers player Liam Rosenior has been the calm presence in a club that has generally had a lot of noise over the last 18 months. Hull City lost 10 of their first 18 games last season. After Rosenior arrived on the 3rd November, they would lost just six league games during the remainder of the campaign and be beaten just once at the MKM Stadium. Draws have been aplenty during the 39-year-old’s time in the dugout, enhancement to an already decent squad could turn those level games into victories. As things stand, Matt Ingram is going to return to his position as Hill City’s starting goalkeeper. Karl Darlow was only on loan from Newcastle United last term, whilst French stopper Thimothée Lo-Tutala is an inexperienced understudy. Centre-back options for the Tigers include homegrown left-sided defender Jacob Greaves, as well as the commanding Alfie Jones and the slick Irishman Sean McLoughlin. The trio often featured together in games last season, with Jones and McLoughlin forming the centre-back pairing whilst Greaves was pushed out to left-back. Greaves’ status as a left-back though will face strong competition from Rúben Vinagre. The 24-year-old Sporting Clube de Portugal loanee is one of the eye-catching signings in the Championship this summer, previously a feature for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and on loan at Everton last term, albeit that spell at Goodison was impacted by injury. He should be a superb flying left-back if given a run in the team. Brandon Fleming returns from a loan spell at Oxford United and can play anywhere up the left-hand-side. Cyrus Christie has long been an accomplished Championship level right-back and was at times deployed very high up last season. He was able to do so because of solid regular Lewie Coyle being based behind him. Last season’s regular midfield pairing of Regan Slater and Jean Michaël Seri both remain at the MKM Stadium. Ryan Woods and the younger Xavier Simons typically take up deeper midfield roles and can play as auxiliary right-backs. Greg Docherty covers a number of central roles. The pair of Turkish midfielder Ozan Tufan and Malian midfielder Adama Traoré would occasionally form part of the frontline as a right winger and striker respectively. 19-year-old prospect Harry Vaughan was bought from Oldham Athletic in January and was gradually eased into the team in the backend of the campaign. Though naturally an attacking midfielder, he is a serious attacking utility man who can also be deployed out wide or up top. Hull retain the services of Iranian winger Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, lively forward Ryan Longman and young American forward Vaughn Covil. Winger Doğukan Sinik has returned from a loan at Antalyaspor but has been injured during this pre-season. Belgian forward Jason Lokilo is one of the latest intriguing arrivals at the MKM Stadium. The 24-year-old was a Doncaster Rovers man three seasons ago and has since played out in Poland, the Netherlands, and Turkey. If not for fitness problems, Colombian striker Óscar Estupiñán could have had an even greater impact than his 13-goal return. A previous dependence on him to be the natural centre-forward in the team will hope to be answered by Liam Delap. The 20-year-old is in on loan from Manchester City having previously had Championship spells last season with Stoke City and Preston North End. There is a very good, instinctive goalscorer in there. Ghanian striker Benjamin Tetteh was bit-part for the Tigers in 2022-23. Aaron Connolly returns on a now permanent deal from Brighton and Hove Albion. Hull City look a mixed bag. Some feel very good on them, some feel very average on them. I at the moment sit somewhere in the middle. Liam Rosenior looks like he may have put decent foundations in place, but it remains to be seen whether squad enhancements can take the Tigers to the next level. Vinagre is a signing I really like, Delap at this stage I am more unsure on. In what is always described as an unpredictable league, this could be the most unpredictable team. No one seems quite sure what’s coming…
14th - Watford
Will Watford “Watford” again? Probably. The Hornets have become a running gag among English football discourse for their ability to scythe through managers each season. Last year alone saw three in the Vicarage Road dugout, made even more painful for fans as the man who started the campaign ended it up taking their bitter rivals up into the Premier League. Maybe with patience, something good and sustainable could actually be built at Watford, but who really at this stage believes that will happen? Valérien Ismaël should be an exciting appointment. A coach I like a lot with his high-intensity style that was best shown on these shores at Barnsley. The 47-year-old Frenchman is the latest ‘new chapter’ in Watford’s history under owner Gino Pozzo, trouble is that chapters here tend to only be a few paragraphs long. Austrian Daniel Bachmann is set to be Watford’s starting goalkeeper again, with 35-year-old Ben Hamer his backup. I’ve yet to really feel that convinced about Bachmann being a leading Championship goalkeeper though, which is what you want Watford to have. Ryan Porteous and Wesley Hoedt will look to continue their roles as central defensive regulars. Chilean right-sided defender Francisco Sierralta is another option. Young defender Mattie Pollock is back from a productive loan at Aberdeen. Jeremy Ngakia is the leading right-back option in this current Watford team. 18-year-old Ryan Andrews also got the chance to feature though as the season came to a close. Winger Ken Sema can be dropped back to left-back or left-wing-back and carries much more Watford experience than 21-year-old James Morris. Jake Livermore reunites with Valérien Ismaël after previously being together at West Bromwich Albion. The 33-year-old becomes the most senior contracted player in Watford’s central unit, which also includes Moroccan Imrân Louza and Canadian ball-carrier Ismaël Koné. Edo Kaymbe and Tom Dele-Bashiru have returned in pre-season after a period of injury. Yaser Asprilla is someone I would like to see have an increased influence in the team this new season. The 19-year-old is an attacking midfielder who caught the eye for his native Colombia at the recent FIFA U20 World Cup before exiting in the quarter finals to Italy. The departure of forward stars João Pedro and Ismaïla Sarr, as well as striker Kienan Davis’ return to loan club Aston Villa, creates a new for new emergent goalscorers in the Watford frontline. Brazilian winger Matheus Martins also played at the U20 World Cup and is back for another loan from Udinese. The prospect will want a lot more gametime this new season. Samuel Kalu has yet to make his mark at Vicarage Road. Tom Ince will be hoped to be a positive signing in wide areas or as an attack-minded midfielder. Injury stopped new striker Rhys Healey from getting close to his very productive 2021-22 whilst over in France with Toulouse. The 28-year-old could prove a handy signing. Kwadwo Baah and Vakoun Bayo are forwards who have returned from loan spells. There has to be one simple question with Watford at this point in time, how long will Valérien Ismaël get at Vicarage Road to make his mark? Last season’s mistake and consequences with Rob Edwards really should be the kick up the backside that the Hornets hierarchy need. How can you be sure that it will though? Expecting a promotion push straight away with this group is a very tough ask. The superstar talents have moved on, there’s a need for new firepower to emerge up top. Over a period of time, allowing Ismaël to mould the squad in his image could produce desired results. You don’t usually get time here though…
13th - Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle playing Premier League football in the future? It is far from a pipe dream. The Pilgrims’ ascent into the Championship has been coming for a while. Promotion from League Two was won via points-per-game back in 2019-20. Anyone who visited Home Park that season would have identified the infrastructure and support that had the potential for life far above the fourth tier. Three progressive years in League One would follow, culminating in a magnificent 101-point title season whilst up against two exceptional competitors in Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday. Key to the immense success on the field has been Steven Schumacher. There is a very valid argument to suggest that Ryan Lowe’s departure to Preston North End in December 2021 was actually one of the best things that could have happened to the club. Steady progress would have certainly been achieved under the Liverpudlian, but not at the rate seen currently by Argyle. Assistant Schumacher chose to stay down in Devon and has never looked back, creating a stylistically effective winning machine that last season boasted a phenomenal home record and a remarkable resilience to setbacks. They have no reason to fear life in the Championship. Northern Irish goalkeeper Conor Hazard needs to grab the opportunity presented to him. Star stopper Michael Cooper remains out of the action for the foreseeable and the 25-year-old former Celtic man will hope to create a selection dilemma for Schumacher by the time both are available. Callum Burton proved a more than effective backup last season in League One. Dan Scarr had a starring role as a rock in the centre of Plymouth’s back three last term. The pair of Macaulay Gillesphey and Brendan Galloway both played their part in the title-winning defence and were occasionally pushed further wide on the left. Left-sided defender Lewis Gibson joins permanently from Everton after a productive League One loan at Bristol Rovers in 2022-23. Spaniard Julio Pleguezuelo is a signing very much in the mould of what can be expected from Championship Argyle. The 26-year-old is in following four Eredivisie seasons with FC Twente. Wing-back plays a key part in Schumacher’s progressive formations, and Plymouth Argyle carry both familiar and new riches. Bali Mumba was one of League One’s superstars last season, outstanding as a wing-back on either side, primarily the right. 2023’s League One Young Player of the Season has been bought from Norwich City - I think the Canaries will regret that one - and it has left a huge buzz down in Devon. It’ll be business as usual with him. Right-wing-back Kaine Kesler Hayden is having another loan spell away from Aston Villa. The 20-year-old first caught the eye whilst very young at Swindon Town, and whilst subsequent loans at Milton Keynes Dons and Huddersfield Town have been fairly quiet, he could prove a fantastic fit bombing down the right-hand-side at Home Park. Saxon Earley was a ‘one for the future’ investment at left-wing-back. Joe Edwards has been one of the key figures in Plymouth’s rise from the fourth tier to the second tier, and the Argyle captain covers competently as both an all-action midfielder and a dynamic right-wing-back. Jordan Houghton and Matt Butcher typically occupy deeper, disciplined midfield roles, whilst 22-year-old academy product Adam Randell shone last year with his all-round central game. Lewis Warrington moves up a level for a loan at the Pilgrims after showing last year to be capable of several midfield roles at Fleetwood Town. Schumacher can switch his frontline setup around but often favours two attacking midfielders behind a lone striker. In the first half of last season, major creative and goalscoring output was provided by Morgan Whittaker. The 22-year-old was recalled by parent club Swansea City last January, but is now back down in Devon after being bought permanently. It is testament to the quality of Plymouth’s recruitment that having lost Whittaker in January, they swooped to bring Callum Wright in from Leicester City. The 23-year-old shone previously as an attacking midfielder at Cheltenham Town and looked an effective fit in the second half of Argyle’s title push. Finn Azaz is back for another loan from Aston Villa after the attacking midfielder made a bright impact in League One. The Argyle system doesn’t really call for natural wingers though, and that is what has held the progress and potential of Mickel Miller and Tyreik Wright back since joining. Perhaps the biggest area of improvement for Argyle is right up top. They have lost Niall Ennis to Blackburn Rovers but do still have Ryan Hardie on their books. The Scot should be a dependable source of goals again in this team with his lightning-fast movement in behind and smart finishing. Kiwi striker Ben Waine remains a work in progress after arriving from Wellington Phoenix last January. 17-year-old Freddie Issaka sits on the periphery. It can be easy to write off Plymouth Argyle as one of the supposed smaller outfits in the second tier. Doing so however is making the same mistakes people made last season. Argyle proved everything they needed to prove down in League One. Pace was set and kept against two exceptional promotion challengers. The loss of key players to recall or injury were superbly overcome. Occasional heavy, potentially demoralising defeats would not knock them off the stride. All this, and they still finished top of the pile in the third tier. Argyle are far from done with their progression. The club’s infrastructure and approach to recruitment can draw comparison with the likes of Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion and Luton Town who have all now become Premier League clubs against the odds. That topflight dream for the Devon club is certainly possible down the line, and it could come even sooner if they quickly establish themselves in the second tier. League One sides rarely enjoyed that long trip down to Home Park last season, Championship clubs are not likely to find it any more fun…
12th - Blackburn Rovers
I find Blackburn Rovers a very tricky one to call an exact position for. They may well challenge again for top six, having come eighth and seventh the last two seasons with a team that has bled in some impressive young products and a group of smart signings from other clubs. Can they keep the pace with tough competition again though? One thing that is for certain is that Jon Dahl Tomasson had a very positive first season in Football League management. Chances of top six went right down to the dramatic final day where they did their part with a win over Millwall, but just didn’t have the prior goal difference to topple Sunderland and sneak in. The 46-year-old will try again but is going to need someone to fill the boots of a now-departed forward star. Right at the back, Aynsley Pears became number one by the end of the last season and the 25-year-old looks like he will keep his place. Joe Hilton is a younger understudy. Dominic Hyam was a regular presence in the heart of defence and the Scot will continue to hold an influential role. Hayden Carter has grown well from loan spells at Burton Albion and Portsmouth and the 24-year-old became well established in the Rovers XI in 2022-23, playing primarily as a right-sided centre-back. Left-sided defender Scott Wharton is another out of the academy who can play his part in this team. Whether prospect Ash Phillips remains at Ewood Park beyond this window remains to be seen. Out at left-back, Harry Pickering offers the balanced game any Championship outfit could hope for, whilst club stalwart Joe Rankin-Costello shone at times in a very attacking right-back role. Callum Brittain is an alternative to Rankin-Costello on that side of defence. Talented midfielder Adam Wharton, younger brother of Scott, is the latest superstar-in-the-making to emerge from the Blackburn academy. The 19-year-old caught the eye last season in a central unit that also includes Lewis Travis, Jake Garrett, John Buckley, and the very attack-minded Sammie Szmodics. Norwegian Sondre Tronstad arrives from Vitesse, whilst Icelandic attacking midfielder Arnór Sigurðsson is in on loan from CSKA Moscow. Carrying over a one-in-two goal record from two seasons at Allsvenskan side IFK Norrköping would make 24-year-old Sigurðsson very popular, very quickly. One of Blackburn’s big tasks for this season will be replacing Ben Brereton Díaz. The 24-year-old is a story you just cannot help but love. Born in Stoke, began his senior career at Nottingham Forest, moved to Blackburn in 2019. It was through Football Manager that a group of fans noticed Brereton’s eligibility for Chile through his mother. A campaign was launched, awareness grew, and the man from the midlands would end up making his debut at the 2021 Copa América, going on to pick up 21 caps and score seven international goals at the time of writing. The addition of Díaz to his name that same summer led to a conversion into a star goalscorer at Blackburn. 36 league goals in two seasons followed before a move to La Liga side Villarreal where his legacy in the Spanish-speaking game will be set to continue upwards. There is a drop off in goal output that Tomasson needs to replace now. Sam Gallagher was next highest in Championship fixtures with eight and is the most experienced forward in this current Blackburn team. Niall Ennis showed solid progression at Plymouth Argyle and now gets his Championship chance as either a striker or wide forward. Tyrhys Dolan remains a bright attacking talent. Ryan Hedges often featured on the right side of the front three. Dilan Markanday returns from an unproductive loan at Aberdeen. Academy products Harry Leonard and Jack Vale could prove valuable goalscoring assets in the future, Leonard in particular. Even with the departure of their Chilean star, there is a good amount to like in this Blackburn Rovers team. The Ewood Park outfit have a very nice mix of established and emerging academy products to complement what has been brought in from previous and current transfer windows. Jon Dahl Tomasson should hopefully make this side competitive again. Whether or not they end up in the desired top six come May could come down to the new additions being the hits that they are hoped to be. There’s a lot of play-off hopefuls in this Championship line-up. Blackburn need to stand out again…
11th - Swansea City
It’s not often that a club has their manager poached and get an upgrade with their successor. I have yet to really understand the hype of Russell Martin. Clearly a good manager, but his rapid rise is not one you would associate with a manager who has delivered fairly average on-pitch results. Michael Duff’s rise from League Two to Championship on the other hand, is fully deserved. The Northern Irishman is a gem of EFL management. In four seasons at Cheltenham Town, Duff transformed the Robins from a middling League Two outfit into fourth tier champions and then to their highest ever finish in the football pyramid. It was only in June of 2022 that the 45-year-old began his tenure at League One Barnsley, inheriting a side coming off the back of one of the worst seasons in recent Championship history. 12 months later, he had guided the Tykes to an 86-point campaign and a play-off finish, ultimately being beaten in the final by the latest of extra-time winners. The evidence is right there. Duff is not only a fantastic manager, but he is also capable of adapting and make a quick impact. Carl Rushworth is a very smart addition in goal, a Brighton and Hove Albion loanee who has impressed previously in League Two with Walsall and in League One with Lincoln City. Whilst German Steven Benda remains out of action with injury, Andy Fisher holds the role of backup. Duff has a mostly young group of centre-backs on his books in Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Nathan Wood and the returning Brandon Cooper. Academy graduate Cabango had been a dependable presence for a number of years. Darling has been well-admired in the lower leagues for his confidence stepping out from the backline and into midfield. Stalwart Kyle Naughton can operate in the centre of defence if needed. Duff made great use of attacking wing-backs in his Cheltenham Town and Barnsley teams. Out on the right, he will enjoy working with new signing Josh Key. The incredibly versatile 23-year-old is one of the strong crop out of Exeter City and though he ended up being something of a utility man down in Devon, he is likely to be deployed in his most comfortable wing-back role at Swansea. Nathanael Ogbeta is the current senior left-wing-back option in the team, yet to make his mark at the Swansea.com Stadium and possibly set to miss the opening weekend with a fitness issue. Matt Grimes’ ability to dictate play from deeper midfield makes him one of the most valuable players in the Championship. Sitting at the base allows Jay Fulton, Joe Allen and Olivier Ntcham to pursue matters further up field. Oli Cooper, an attack-minded midfielder who can also be deployed out wide, is a player I am very keen to see the progress of under the new boss. Liam Walsh was bit-part for the Swans last term. Cameron Congreve is a 19-year-old midfielder who can also play as an auxiliary right-back. For now at least, Swansea City retain the services of Joël Piroe, one of the Championship’s most effective goalscorers during his two seasons in South Wales. Whether the Dutch striker remains post the summer window remains to be seen, but the investment of Blackpool’s Jerry Yates suggests that they are already covered for his potential departure. Yates’ work rate and all-round game makes him a model Duff striker, but his suitable strike partner will need to emerge as the season progresses. Josh Ginnelly could well be that guy, regularly leading the line for Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premiership. Jamie Paterson feels better suited to a supporting frontline role off of a striker. Liam Cullen provided decent output last season either up top in a pair or on the right side of a three. A move to Swansea City requires Michael Duff to once again adapt to a changed environment. Though he has started to put his imprint on the squad, this is still a team built for a manager who focuses more on possession than the immense intensity favoured by Duff. That doesn’t mean that Swansea’s new boss isn’t capable of making what he has work in his favour though. It was clear by October of 2022 that Barnsley had been moulded into a side typical of the Michael Duff vision. Who’s to say that we don’t get to October of this year and are saying the same about Swansea City? One to watch here…
10th - Bristol City
The lower league enthusiast in me loves this Bristol City. A high number of talents recruited from League One and League Two who have deserved their chance in the Championship and could hopefully become standouts in the years to come. Nigel Pearson will pass three years in the job next February. Steady progression in his first two seasons saw the Robins progress from 17th to 14th. There will be a desire to take a further step forward this term in the long-term pursuit of the topflight, but improvement in areas on the pitch is needed. Bristol City were a side last year who could give as much as they take. Good attacking talent, but a lack of real defensive solidity. If this window goes as many are expecting, they will soon be without their most talented player as well. Academy graduate Max O’Leary looks set to continue his position as Bristol City number one. The 26-year-old has Harvey Wiles-Richards and the returning Stefan Bajic as his understudies. Kal Naismith remains on the books. The 31-year-old is the ultimate utility man, capable of playing everywhere outfield and often deployed by Bristol City as a centre-back or deeper-lying midfielder. His 2023-23 was impacted by injury. Bringing in expressive centre-back Rob Dickie is an excellent piece of business, and reunites him with another former Oxford United team mate in Rob Atkinson. Homegrown right-sided defender Zak Vyner was a regular last term. Czech Tomáš Kalas featured sparsely in squads because of injury. 21-year-old centre-back Duncan Idehen is on the periphery. Haydon Roberts could prove a smart capture from Brighton and Hove Albion. Though capable of playing in the centre of defence, he impressed most with Derby County as a dynamic left-back and wing-back. Cameron Pring covers similar roles to the 21-year-old. George Tanner is first choice on the far-right side of the backline, in positions that can also be covered by versatile wide man Mark Sykes. At the time of writing, Alex Scott remains a Bristol City player. The 19-year-old is the biggest talent outside of the Premier League, an instant eye-catcher in the centre of the park and someone the Robins hope to gain a worthwhile transfer fee for when he inevitably moves on to the topflight. Scott will be missed in the Bristol City team when he eventually moves on, he would be missed in any Championship team. It is up to new arrivals Ross McCrorie and Jason Knight to combine with the midfield unit and look to replace what the teenager offered. McCrorie is a deeper-lying midfield player who comes in from Aberdeen. Knight should prove popular with his tenacity and excellent versatility. Veterans Andy King and Matty James will look to play their part. Joe Williams will hope injury doesn’t hold him back like it did last season. Omar Taylor-Clarke is a deeper-lying midfield on the first team periphery. Bristol City’s chances of kicking on will come from further growth of players in their frontline. Albanian Anis Mehmeti is a serious talent, a brilliant direct player out wide or in attacking midfield who has already shown flashes of what he is about at Ashton Gate and needs to kick on from there. Austrian Andreas Weimann could not recreate an incredible 2021-22 return but can still contribute up top, out wide or in attacking midfield. Mark Sykes is a useful asset on the right-hand-side who should be one of the Robins’ main contributors again this season. If Alex Scott is to move on as expected, attention should be turning to the next brightest talents out of the academy. Tommy Conway is a player I really like, a promising goalscorer either leading the line or dropped back into attacking midfield. Sam Bell features up top or on the left and will be wanting to carry good pre-season form into the competitive campaign. Last season’s top scorer Nakhi Wells will be keen to add to or at the very least match his 11 league goal return. Harry Cornick covers positions across the frontline, often being deployed on the right. The loss of an immense talent like Alex Scott would hurt any side, but I certainly wouldn’t see it as a move that kills any Bristol City hopes of top half or better. Nigel Pearson has a very likeable group, including new additions in defence and midfield who could prove great fits and a pair of young forwards keen to take over the status as the best thing out of Ashton Gate. One to watch here, I think we could quickly warm to them as the season progresses…
9th - Stoke City
Part of me wants to take the gamble and believe that Stoke City could finally have a good Championship season again, and part of me doesn’t. Since coming out of the Premier League in 2018, the Potters have been consistently underwhelming at this level. 16th, 15th, 14th, 14th and 16th in the five seasons building up to this one. There may be valid reasons for greater optimism in season six though. Alex Neil is a very good coach with a strong record in English football. Promotion to the Premier League came with Norwich City back in 2015, almost four full seasons followed with Preston North End that included finishes close to the play-off places in 2017-18 and 2019-20. At Sunderland, he quickly developed the Black Cats into a clinical, structured machine perfect for earning promotion through the League One play-offs. Neil’s decision to move to Stoke last August directly from Sunderland was a fair shock. His time at Staffordshire has yet to hit serious heights, but not because of him. Past managers up to now have tried and failed to reignite the spark in Championship level Stoke City. Republic of Ireland international Mark Travers could prove a very good arrival in goal, even if only on a season-long loan deal. The 24-year-old will come in as number one ahead of Jack Bonham and Frank Fielding, with Cameroonian Blondy Nna Noukeu an understudy. Michael Rose provides a dependable presence in the centre of defence, a good partner to Ben Wilmot whilst Luke McNally comes in on loan from Burnley, having been part of the Coventry City team which made the play-off final just last season. Irish wing-back Enda Stevens joins from promoted Sheffield United, with other left back options being Josh Tymon and Liam McCarron who was out on loan at Port Vale last term. Potters fans are understandably delighted to have Ki-Jana Hoever back for another loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Dutchman is a right-sided defender who was at times deployed very high up last season. Ben Pearson links up with former boss Alex Neil and will keep things ticking over at the base of midfield, a smart passer and valuable asset. Lewis Baker and the lively Josh Laurent can be pushed further forward whilst Pearson holds the fort. Daniel Johnson is another former Preston boy returning to work under his old manager, Jordan Thompson an additional central option. A pair of new Portuguese wingers could well prove the difference for Stoke City this season. 23-year-old Chiquinho is on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, a nimble wide player who already appears to have a strong understanding with fellow Wolves loanee Ki-Jana Hoever on the right-hand-side. 24-year-old André Vidigal is a permanent arrival from Maritimo, similarly a direct agile player who looks comfortable attempting shots from the edge of the box with either foot. The duo add to what looks a fluid frontline with Jacob Brown, Dwight Gayle and Tyrese Campbell additional senior options. Campbell is a player I adore at full flow, a product of the Stoke City youth system who has had to battle with periods of injury but remains a big talent. Unlocking his potential will be one of Alex Neil’s biggest success in Staffordshire, and could be what takes the Potters to the next level. Stoke City look fun, very fun. Positive additions at the back, a midfielder who can keep the show ticking along just nicely in the centre, and forwards who look capable of interchanging whilst providing both direct running and pace in behind. Consistency in output and performances will equal a very good chance of Stoke having an enjoyable second tier season. It would be a lovely change to what has been seen before…
8th - Coventry City
The 2023 Championship Play-Off Final was a fantastic occasion, a hard-fought game that went all the way. What made it so great is that it was a match-up very few would have seen coming before a ball was kicked. Both Luton Town and Coventry City have been underdogs at Championship level. Five years previously, they had gone up together from League Two. Whilst plenty of deserved praise and admiration came the way of final victors Luton, the praise needs to also be given to Coventry. It is through a similar smart approach that the Sky Blues have reached this stage of their progression against the odds, and they have far from reached their peak yet. Mark Robins is one of the managers in English football you can always carry faith in. The 53-year-old return from a second spell in the West Midlands in March 2017. The club would sink to their lowest point in those next few months, but Robins was still able to deliver Wembley success with an EFL Trophy win over Oxford United. In more than 300 games since, the former Manchester United man has taken the Sky Blues up two divisions to the end of the Football League, and remains the perfect man to lead Coventry back to the top flight. Robins’ position at the CBS Arena has to be one of the securest jobs in English football right now. Ben Wilson made the Championship Team of the Season last year and remains on Coventry City’s books heading into 2023-24. Mark Robins does still have the services though of previous number one Simon Moore, and welcomes Brad Collins on a deal from Barnsley. The 26-year-old is a fine goalkeeper himself and a part of the Tykes team which made the Championship play-offs back in 2020-21. There’s plenty of change at the back, where 36-year-old Kyle McFadzean is the only central defender kept from last season’s line-up. Joel Latibeaudiere is a likeable signing from Swansea City, a defender who can go across the backline and has plenty of previous experience in a back three. Bobby Thomas is a very smart signing from Burnley. The 22-year-old has had excellent lower league loans in the past at Barrow, Bristol Rovers and Barnsley. He does still need to prove himself at Championship level, but is very capable of doing that. Agile left-wing-back Jay Dasilva comes in from Bristol City to provide competition for Jake Bidwell. The latter featured in almost every league game for Coventry last season. Milan van Ewijk is certainly someone to keep an eye on, a 22-year-old Dutch right-back who arrives after two solid seasons of Eredivisie football at sc Heerenveen. Academy graduate Jack Burroughs is primarily a right-back but can cover on either side. Coventry’s chances of another top six finish will be significantly affected by whether Gustavo Hamer stays beyond the summer window. The Brazililian-born Dutch midfielder is one of the very best anywhere in the division. Liam Kelly or Ben Sheaf can provide a solid base in the centre of the park. Josh Eccles, Jamie Allen and Kasey Palmer are livelier as a result. The hope will be that we get to see a lot more of exciting attacking midfielder Callum O’Hare when he returns from a long period out injured. Japanese attacking player Tatsuhiro Sakamoto has an opportunity to gain influence on the team in O’Hare’s absence. Ryan Howley is a teenage academy product eased into the Sky Blues first team last season. The departure of Viktor Gyökeres to Sporting Clube de Portugal presents a monumental replacement task for Coventry. The Swede has been one of the best players outside of the Premier League for the last two seasons. In Ellis Simms though, I think Mark Robins has the answer. Signed permanently from Everton, the 22-year-old has the qualities to be a very good all-round centre-forward. Previous spells at Blackpool, Heart of Midlothian and Sunderland demonstrated excellent finishing ability and sharp movement in behind. With Matt Godden the only seasoned striker in the Sky Blues team, Simms will need to hit the ground running if Coventry are to maintain high standards shown at the end of last season. Portuguese forward Fábio Tavares has been bit-part since joining from Rochdale in February 2021. Mark Robins certainly has some challenges on his hands if he is to create another top six side. Star striker Viktor Gyökeres leaves a big hole to fill up top. There is a chance of star midfielder Gustavo Hamer could in turn be elsewhere before the beginning of September. In situations like this though, Mark Robins comes into his element. Progression over his long tenure has come through excellent tactical flexibility and a gift for getting the best out of his players. It is going to be a different team to the one which made it to Wembley last May, but it is still going to be a strong one.
7th - Millwall
In an unpredictable league like the Championship, there are a few certainties that you can hold. One of them is that Millwall will be there or thereabout in the mix for a top six finish. The club have been rocked this pre-season with the tragic passing of John Berylson, Millwall chairman. The position at the top which he held since 2007 is being taken over by his son, James. As fitting tributes continue to be made towards a man who oversaw a proud period of success, a team built with Berylson’s spirit and mentality will be looking to pay him the greatest respect they possibly can. Gary Rowett’s previous managerial experience has been with Midlands club, but it is down in London where he looks set to cement his legacy most. 2023-24 marks a fourth full season at The Den, originally taking the job in October 2019 and finishing top half every year. It is one of the Championship’s finest against-the-odds stories of recent years, and there is no reason why it cannot continue further yet. 29-year-old George Long faces competition as starting goalkeeper from Matija Sarkic, a new signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers. 36-year-old Polish stopper Bartosz Białkowski is still a good level alternative. 27-year-old Connal Trueman is the third man in the senior goalkeeping department. Senior centre-back options come from Shaun Hutchinson and the towering Jake Cooper, who can form a good level pair together. Left-back Murray Wallace can also deputise centrally. Natural midfielder Ryan Leonard has previously gone as an auxiliary centre-back in a back three. New signing Wes Harding joins from Rotherham United and worked under Gary Rowett previously at Birmingham City. Naturally a right-back, he can cover across the backline. Harding’s time at the Den might well see him deployed mainly as a full-back though. Last season’s regular Danny McNamara can take up the same right-back position as the Jamaica international, whilst Ryan Leonard can cover out on that side of defence. Joe Bryan could prove an excellent signing. The 29-year-old left-back is well-seasoned from years at Bristol City and Fulham, making a handful of appearances in Ligue 1 whilst on loan at OGC Nice last term. Murray Wallace faces strong, healthy competition on the left now. Newly arriving at Millwall this summer is Casper de Norre, a 26-year-old Belgian defensive midfielder bought from Oud-Heverlee Leuven and getting his first taste of football outside of his native homeland. He can cover at full-back if necessary. Could De Norre provide a solid base for his midfield teammates? Billy Mitchell is a very popular homegrown figure with a smart passing game, George Evans, Ryan Leonard and George Saville typically suit being deeper-lying players in a midfield three. I loved Zian Flemming last year, a brilliant attacking midfielder whose 15 league goal return included some special strikes. George Honeyman covers similar positions and roles to the Dutchman. Flemming and Honeyman can be pushed out to the right flank, joining an impressive list of forward options. German Andreas Voglsammer has had a positive first season at the Den. Duncan Watmore can be a lively wide forward. 21-year-old Tyler Burey remains one to keep an eye on as he gains further Millwall gametime. Aidomo Emakhu is an Irish forward on the Lions periphery. Millwall don’t just have one good centre-forward on their books now, it looks like they have two. Wales international Tom Bradshaw was sensational last year as he produced a Championship-career-best 17 goal return. Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet has long been linked with Championship moves and will now make his second-tier debut at Millwall. The 26-year-old Scot has looked very productive during pre-season. Gary Rowett’s tenure at Millwall has been one of continued success, and it looks very capable of going on further. The Lions squad is one that it is difficult to pick major holes in. On top of what was already a solid core have come quality additions at full-back, defensive midfield and centre forward. These could well prove the signings that get Millwall over the line as a top six side come next May. The London outfit are very close now…
6th - Middlesbrough
I loved Carrickball last year. With a little more extra work in the transfer market, I am going to love it again this season. High expectations for the start of last season weren’t being met by Chris Wilder, and the Yorkshireman was dismissed at the start of October. Three weeks later, in comes Michael Carrick for his permanent spell in senior management, taking over a side hovering just above the relegation zone. In the months following, Middlesbrough are transformed into a winning machine that is up into the play-off places by the start of 2023 and spends the end of the season hunting down second place Sheffield United, ultimately falling short and settling for fourth. Carrick took what he had at his disposal and created a wonderful front-footed side with a whole host of goalscoring options, further enhanced by three smart January signings. Loans were a frequent part of last season’s side and do need replacing, but a solid core remains for the 42-year-old head coach to work with. With Zack Steffen only a loan player last season, Middlesbrough have a new arrival to take the gloves for 2022-23. Senegal international Seny Dieng has played a part in Queens Park Rangers’ last three Championship seasons but does need to reach higher levels of performance than what he achieved during the season just gone. Wigan Athletic’s Jamie Jones and Melbourne City’s Tom Glover come in as his backups and competition. Darragh Lenihan and Paddy McNair were a regular centre-back under Michael Carrick and can be once again this season. Academy graduate Dael Fry will look to have a part to play. Matt Clarke has been out of action for a long time with injury. Rav van den Berg, younger brother of Liverpool’s Sepp, is a 19-year-old six-foot-three defender who comes in from PEC Zwolle. Right-backs Tommy Smith and Anfernee Dijksteel can cover at centre-back if needed. The former was the more frequent appearance maker last season. There is a need for Middlesbrough to replace the output of loan left-back star Ryan Giles. 25-year-old academy product Hayden Coulson is the only senior left-back in the current Middlesbrough squad, returning from a season-long loan north of the border at Aberdeen. Youth product Hayden Hackney showed excellent growth under Michael Carrick last season and will not look out of place on the pitch again this season. Dan Barlaser and Jonny Howson cover similar deeper-lying positions. Howson can in turn operate as an auxiliary centre-back. Matt Crooks provides goal contribution from attacking midfield or when pushed up to a striker role. Martín Payero has returned from time out on loan at Boca Juniors. One of the key features of Carrick’s success last season was a fluid frontline capable of interchanging with one another during phases of play. Australian Riley McGree was one of the regular features as part of this front quartet, likewise Finnish forward Marcus Forss. Winger Isaiah Jones provides another option in forward areas. Plenty of eyes will be last season’s Championship top scorer Chuba Akpom. 28 goals for the 27-year-old primarily from a freely roaming attacking midfield position. Morgan Rogers has previously shown at Lincoln City to be a very promising direct forward and could be someone who flourishes in this Carrick system. Sam Silvera carries similarly high hopes after joining from the Central Coast Mariners, and left-winger Alex Gilbert signs from Brentford. Strikers Matthew Hoppe and Josh Coburn are back from loan spells, the latter’s time with Bristol Rovers was particularly noteworthy. It’s not quite a case of “carry on as usual” with Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough. Last season’s team was boosted by several important loan figures and their output will need to be replaced. I see no reason not to believe that Carrick can’t solve the issues and go again though. His reputation as a head coach has skyrocketed in the space of less than 12 months after a really impressive turnaround. Boro fans may have been left wondering what could have been if this standard had been set for an entire campaign. Get everything clicking from August, and we may find out…
5th - Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town are not here to make up the numbers in the Championship. Sunderland’s 2022-23 should be all the motivation the Tractor Boys need to take a huge next step. There is an argument that with strength of their squad, a second-place finish in League One last season was an underachievement. It is not something I care about though. Automatic promotion was the target and automatic promotion was achieved, done whilst facing competition from an exceptional pair of Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday. An already strong group has received further enhancement this summer, and is going to want to attack the second tier with the same level it went at the third. Kieran McKenna is one of the hottest properties in EFL management. It is one thing to be handed a great group of players, it is another thing to mould them into a great team. Some 18 months after arriving at Portman Road, the Northern Irishman has transformed Ipswich Town into a winning machine, and an outstanding attacking outfit. Promotion was achieved in the backend last season by hitting a standard of performance comparable with top Championship sides. Ipswich Town would go on a 19-game unbeaten run to end the season, winning 14 of those matches and winning nine of those by a margin of three of more goals. If McKenna can maintain that standard into the new season, the Tractor Boys will beat plenty of their second-tier opponents. Christian Walton was one of League One’s standout stoppers last term and the six-foot-five goalkeeper will continue as the Tractor Boys number one this season. Czech Václav Hladký is his backup, whilst Manchester City’s Cieran Slicker has been signed as one to develop for the future. The loss of commanding defender George Edmundson to injury didn’t hold Ipswich back as Cameron Burgess and academy product Luke Woolfenden formed a formidable centre-back pairing. Janoi Donacien and Harry Clarke are additional centre-back options but have found their place in this current Ipswich team as full-backs, primarily on the right-hand-side. Towering Indonesian centre-back Elkan Baggott is currently part of the Tractor Boys squad at the time of writing, but could well go out somewhere before the window shuts. 22-year-old Harry Clarke will be fancied to hold the position of starting right-back ahead of Janoi Donacien. Midfielder Dominic Ball can cover on the right side of defence if needed. Leif Davis is proving a superb investment as a brilliant creative outlet at left-back. Jamaica international Greg Leigh provides his competition. By the end of last season, Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo had established themselves as a star pair in deeper midfield, excellent at keeping the tempo ticking over. Ipswich will be pleased to welcome Lee Evans back as an option for this new season, with Dominic Ball another midfield option. The riches in central areas have been increased with the signing of Jack Taylor. The 25-year-old is a superb all-round midfielder who has excelled for the last few years at Peterborough United in both League One and the Championship. Cameron Humphreys was an emergent star last season, and the 19-year-old academy graduate does not look out of place in central areas. There’s a similar embarrassment of riches in the Suffolk outfit’s frontline. From the turn of the new year, there wasn’t a better player in League One than Conor Chaplin. The 26-year-old is a superstar playing behind the striker, near impossible to mark and registered an incredible 26 league goals from attacking midfield. Agile winger Marcus Harness can in turn play right behind the lone striker, whilst there is plenty of excitement for 19-year-old’s Omari Hutchinson’s arrival on loan from Chelsea. Nathan Broadhead has had the desired impact since being bought from Everton in January, a forward who plays mainly on the left and is well known for his excellent close control and quality finishing. Wes Burns has pace to burn down the right flank. Jayden Jackson, Sone Aluko and Kyle Edwards can all provide support from the bench as part of the frontline. Ipswich finally got their man in January 2023 when George Hirst joined on loan from Leicester City, scoring six league goals on the way to promotion. The 24-year-old has now made a permanent move from the East Midlands and has looked the perfect fit for McKenna’s attacking setup. Freddie Ladapo is a good quality striker alternative whose strong output in 2022-23 seemed to surprisingly go under the radar. Having come up from League One last season hitting the standards of a strong Championship side, Ipswich Town haven’t weakened this summer, they’ve got better. Everything is a beautiful fit at Portman Road at the moment. Kieran McKenna has brought a style to the team that fans haven’t seen for years. There is a rock-solid defensive unit, and incredible depth in both midfield and forward areas. Ipswich had two quality frontlines for League One last term and will have that again this time with added extras. Sunderland demonstrated just last season that with the right investment, infrastructure and coaching, it is possible for a promoted League One heavyweight to reach the Championship play-off places the following year. Ipswich Town will want to follow suit…
4th - Southampton
I would like this to be the season where I finally get to understand the Russell Martin hype. The 37-year-old has had a rapid rise. It was only this time two years ago that he had just made the move from League One Milton Keynes Dons to Championship Swansea City, and now after two seasons in South Wales gets the gig with a recently relegated Premier League side. It is the kind of quick progression you would typically associate with a manager who has made instant on-pitch impact at his clubs. Russell Martin hasn’t done that. His two finishes with MK Dons were 19th and then 13th. His two finishes with Swansea were 15th and 10th. Progression? Sure, but not to a level that people would describe as transformative. There are clearly qualities in Martin’s managerial repertoire which make him incredibly appealing to employees, including his style of football which receives a lot of praise and is often described as having huge potential when fully integrated. How long it takes him to integrate that style here remains to be seen, but the immense quality at his disposal should at the very least make Southampton a contender for an immediate return. Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has been a hit previously in League One loan spells but hasn’t yet stood out to the same level since his move to Southampton last summer. Could playing down a level and under Russell Martin be the added ingredients needed to make the 21-year-old a star? 33-year-old Alex McCarthy is on hand to step up if needed. As is customary with sides relegated Premier League sides, you find yourselves met with a squad containing players who seemingly shouldn’t be in Championship football. Brazilian Lyanco for instance is a centre-back who never would have been seen as a player for the second tier when he originally joined the Saints. Polish defender Jan Bednarek has been a fixture in the Southampton team for several seasons. German Armel Bella-Kotchap missed the end of 2022-23 with injury. Fellow central defender Jack Stephens spent last season securing survival on loan at AFC Bournemouth whilst his parent club finished bottom of the pile. It should be little surprise that Russell Martin has brought technical left-back Ryan Manning over with him from Swansea City. The 27-year-old does face competition on that side though from Roman Perraud and Juan Larlos once they eventually return from respective injuries. Spaniard Larlos has been out for much longer. Kyle Walker-Peters was making his England debut back in March 2022. Certainly in my eyes, the 26-year-old full-back should be standing out in the division with his prior Premier League experience at the Saints and Tottenham Hotspur. Tino Livramento made a return to squads in late May after a long period out. James Bree is currently an additional option for Southampton at right-back. It remains to be seen what happens with Belgian Roméo Lavia, one of the brighter sparks from Southampton’s poor 2022-23. It already looks like the Saints have covered for his potential departure though with the signing of Shea Charles. The 19-year-old Northern Ireland international has been built up with the Manchester City academy DNA and feels a logical fit for the Russell Martin style. The thought of potentially having to face up to a James Ward-Prowse free-kick will be giving cold sweats to Championship goalkeepers everywhere. Southampton’s talisman surely cannot remain beyond the summer window. Argentine midfielder Carlos Alcaraz will be keen to shine down a level from the Premier League, Stuart Armstrong and attacking midfielder Joe Aribo likewise. Will Smallbone had an encouraging loan at this level with Stoke City just last season. Ghanian forward Kamaldeen Sulemana is someone I keen to see in action this season. 20-year-old winger Samuel Edozie is similarly hoped to be a star in the second tier. Moussa Djenepo heads into this new season still on Southampton’s books. Nathan Tella shone at this level last year when on loan at Burnley. Whether the Saints get to use him in the Championship remains to be seen. Two of Southampton’s strikers come back to the second tier with fond memories of their previous time in this division. Scotland international Ché Adams hit 22 the last time he was in the Championship with Birmingham City. Adam Armstrong scored 28 with Blackburn before his move to St. Mary’s in 2021. Giant Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu has yet to make his mark following a winter move from Genk. 20-year-old French striker Sékou Mara was but-part in the Premier League last season. Russell Martin’s tenure at Southampton could well come down to his new club’s level of patience against expectations. The young boss is not one for instant impact; his football requires time to be implemented and despite creating a high volume of chances, doesn’t always guarantee winning runs in the earlier days. The strength of the squad however suggests that those connected with the Saints are going to want an immediate challenge for promotion, and I think they are well within their right to feel that way. Top six really should be the absolute minimum for this group of players. If it’s not being delivered, there could be a problem…
3rd - Sunderland
If you were to ask me how I would want my football club’s squad to be built, I would want it to be built like Sunderland’s. The Blacks Cats are every fan’s dream, a young group that has already demonstrated its capability at the top end of their division. The potential is huge. Most of these players will be able to grow with the club and rise up into the top division together. Having made a strong effort for Premier League football just last year as a newly promoted side, there will be added expectation for Sunderland. Lucky then that they have all the right ingredients to match them. Alex Neil’s sudden departure to Stoke City right at the start of last season has arguably been a blessing in disguise. The Scot is the man credited with bringing Sunderland back into the second tier as a well-drilled, clinical side, but his successor Tony Mowbray has taken the Black Cats to another level. The 59-year-old returned to management soon after bringing his tenure at Blackburn Rovers to an end, a job where his previous work bleeding in and developing youngsters will have stood out to his current club’s hierarchy. Sixth place last year, secured on the final day with a superb win at Preston North End. The young crop are going to want one of the five higher positions this term. 23-year-old Anthony Patterson will be the number one again for Sunderland this season. The academy product has had a very positive 18 months of progress. Recalled by Lee Johnson from a loan at Notts County in January 2022, he would establish himself as the starting goalkeeper for the expectant Black Cats and was part of the victorious play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers. Last year, Patterson featured in every league game and was unfortunate to miss out in being a part of the England U21 squad which won this summer’s European Championship. Fellow academy graduate Nathan Bishop comes in from Manchester United as his competition. Sunderland have added two centre-backs to their squad so far, both just 20 years of age. Australian Nectarios Triantis had his breakthrough A-League season with the Central Coast Mariners in 2022-23, someone who can be pushed further forward into midfield. Six-foot-four Jason Seelt has been bought from PSV, a regular in the Dutch giant’s reserve team though possessing just a single senior appearance in the Eredivisie to his name. The much more experienced Danny Batth was a regular appearance maker last season, though missed the final games of the campaign including both play-off matches. Dan Ballard was out of action since even earlier but has returned in pre-season. Those losses weren’t felt badly by the Black Cats though because of Luke O’Nien. The 29-year-old’s superb versatility makes him capable across the backline despite being a more natural midfielder throughout most of his career. Left-sided defender Aji Alese featured for periods of last season. On the right, Northern Irishman Trai Hume has shown to have a superb all-round game, primarily a bright prospect at right-back but deputising at centre-back during Sunderland’s end-of-season injury crisis. 22-year-old Niall Huggins is a Welsh right-back whose gametime in the northeast has been limited these past seasons. Fitness issues haven’t helped there. Dennis Cirkin is first choice left-back when available, another bright young prospect. He missed the play-off games at the end of last season though and may or may not be back for the start of 2023-24. With the injury issues that Sunderland have faced these last few months, a lot of credit needs to go to natural wingers Patrick Roberts and Lynden Gooch for their work deputising as full-backs in a back four. 21-year-old academy product Dan Neil is a deep-lying academy product going from strength to strength with each passing season. French midfielder Pierre Ekwah is another talent aged 21 and a player I am keen to see growth of this year. Abdoullah Ba is a primarily attacking midfielder who has been pushed up to striker on occasion. 30-year-old Alex Pritchard played his part in last season’s play-off finish in a variety of roles up the central spine of the team. 32-year-old Corry Evans has been out of action since the first month of 2023, and in truth hasn’t felt that badly missed on the pitch. Eliot Embleton similarly has been on the sidelines for a long time. Reports are out that Jay Matete will miss the opening part of the season after requiring surgery. It is a shame as the 22-year-old is an exceptional ball carrier and a fantastic player to watch when in possession. 16-year-old Chris Rigg sits on the senior squad periphery. Sunderland have made two new additions to their midfield this summer, a pair 12 years apart in age. Bradley Dack’s talent can make one of the very best attacking midfielders at Championship level. The 29-year-old’s six years at Blackburn Rovers included spectacular individual moments, two seasons of exceptional output, and a sadly prolonged period impacted by fitness issues. Sunderland do not look dependant on the free agent being a hit but will receive a huge boost if he can get a consistent run of games. Jobe Bellingham has been bought from Birmingham City as one of the latest who should progress with the club. It is important to simply ignore the name on the back of his shirt and let him develop at his own pace. Jobe is a different player to his all-action brother. An attacking midfielder or winger. He turns 18 this coming September and only got his first real taste of senior football last season. Patience will be key, but the boy should shine down the line. Out wide alongside Bellingham, Sunderland have a healthy list of options. Jack Clarke was one of last season’s key figures on the left-hand-side. Patrick Roberts and Lynden Gooch would have had a bigger part in the play-off frontline if not forced to deputise at full-back. Alex Pritchard covers both midfield and wide positions. Costa Rican talent Jewison Bennette missed the end of 2022-23 with injury but has been back for pre-season. 21-year-old French winger Isaac Lihadji and versatile academy product Ellis Taylor are additional options on the periphery. Perhaps the biggest frustration for Sunderland fans has been the unfortunate situation with Ross Stewart. The 27-year-old Scot is a top-class player, one of the best strikers in the league on his day and a very good source of goals. Stewart has found fitness issues a problem during his time at the Stadium of Light and has currently been out of action since the end of January. A lot more than sixth could have been potentially achieved had the Black Cats got to have their Scottish star available throughout the campaign. In his absence, it is up to a pair of teenage strikers to come and prove their worth. Luís Semedo looks an exciting propsect, a tall 19-year-old Portuguese centre-forward brought in from Benfica’s B team. Spaniard Eliezer Mayenda is a year Semedo’s junior, a smaller forward signing from FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in France. Neither are particularly experienced when it comes to senior level football, but will at least provide Sunderland with two different options to deploy in a position that is considered their primary one. Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League might not come this season, but it will come someday. I have loved their recent approach to recruitment, investing in talent already capable of being standouts in their current division and yet still carrying so much more potential. Mixed in with that young group though is a selection of experienced heads to provide influence and guidance, some displaying impressive amounts of versatility. Tony Mowbray’s team should believe another play-off finish is achievable, and possibly something even better if those new strikers hit the ground running or their Scottish star makes it through the campaign without issue…
2nd - Leicester City
I still don’t fully understand why Leicester City went down last season. I’m not sure I ever well. I felt an element of surprise from all three teams relegated from the Premier League, but particularly Leicester. The Foxes spell in the topflight has had the most incredible highs. A victorious FA Cup Final, European campaigns, THAT title win. When a team in the modern era is having that level of elite success, it doesn’t really feel plausible that they can find themselves dropping out of the league down the line. Eighth to eighteenth is some decline for any club, let alone one seemingly wanting to become a permanent part of the European conversation going forwards. It has happened though, and Leicester will now try to bounce back as quickly as possible. Enzo Maresca will be the man leading the Foxes into 2023-24. The 43-year-old Italian is fairly new to senior management. He may still be judged by some on the back of his time with Parma, a short tenure in the second half of 2021 where he wasn’t matching high expectations for the Serie B side. You do not work as the manager of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad and a later as assistant to Pep Guardiola if there isn’t something about you though. Maresca has brought the promise of free-flowing football typical of his previous boss, and has a fine group of players with which to implement it on. There is some very good level competition for the starting goalkeeper position at Leicester City. 26-year-old Dane Daniel Iversen finished the recent Premier League season as number one and past performances in EFL loan spells have built a positive reputation for him. Fellow Dane Mads Hermansen has been brought in from Brøndby IF this summer and the 23-year-old will compete to dislodge Iversen. Danny Ward is in need of repaired confidence after last season. Alex Smithies is very much on the periphery now after Hermansen’s arrival. There may be some questions about whether Conor Coady will justify his reported transfer fee in the long term, but he should at the very least have a positive short-term impact. The England international looks like he could miss the start of the season with injury however. Towering Australia centre-back Harry Souttar was bought from this level just last January. Similarly giant Danish defender Jannik Vestergaard looks like one who could have his future elsewhere after not playing a minute in the Premier League last season. Belgian Wout Faes had a rough time of it in the Premier League and would love a confidence-boosting Championship campaign. Left-sided defender Callum Doyle is a very smart addition on loan from Manchester City. The 19-year-old has had two positive campaigns with both Sunderland and Coventry City previously. Portuguese full-back Ricardo Pereira should be one of those starring at this level. Belgian Timothy Castagne feels likely to be moved on this window. Versatile full-back James Justin missed a large period of last year with injury but has returned for minutes in pre-season. 22-year-old academy product Luke Thomas could feature heavily at left-back this season with Dane Victor Kristiansen providing competition. Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi remains at the time of writing. A player of his ability should be nowhere near the second tier. Tenacious midfielder Hamza Choudhury was at this level with Watford in 2022-23 and could maybe find an increased level of influence if others around him depart. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is another homegrown product and his shining spell at this level with Luton Town in 2020-21 is still fresh in plenty of people’s minds. Technical midfielder Harry Winks has left boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur to join the Foxes this summer. Dennis Praet and Boubakary Soumaré are additional midfield options currently on Leicester’s books. After being loaned out to West Bromwich Albion for the second half of last season, could versatile wide man Marc Albrighton return to a past level of influence at Leicester with the Foxes now in the Championship? He’s one of the few natural wingers in this current senior team, another being 20-year-old academy product Wanya Marçal who could have a breakthrough season ahead of him. Lively forward Stephy Mavididi is a new arrival from Montpellier, returning to English football five years after leaving Arsenal. Star men have already left Leicester City for other clubs. Kelechi Iheanacho surely cannot be far behind them. The Nigerian’s name will likely stay in the rumour mill right up to the end of the window. Even if the 26-year-old is to depart, it is still going to leave the Foxes with a pair of strikers who should stand out even before potential additions. Part of me wants Patson Daka to remain in the Championship just for the fun of it. The Zambian was signed two summers ago after becoming a goal machine in the Austrian Bundesliga. Though his output has yet to hit spectacular heights in the Premier League, he would surely be expected to score plenty in the tier below. Jamie Vardy is now 36. We have certainly already seen his best years at the King Power Stadium, but he will still have enough pace to cause problems and has never lost that poachers instinct. He would love to play a part in taking the club where he has legend status back into the big time. Leicester City have the undoubted quality to mount an immediate return. We are likely not fully done with departures yet, but a fine group is going to remain regardless. New boss Enzo Maresca is going to have a lot of pressure on him to deliver against high expectations, and it’s encouraging to see the Italian already laying the positive foundations for a success season. The fit of his expansive, attacking style with players of international calibre looks a winning combination on paper. If it clicks on the pitch, it could be up the rest of the league to keep pace with the Foxes…
1st - Leeds United
Say it as it is. That is currently an outrageous frontline for Championship football. It’s been disappointing to see the recent trajectory that Leeds United have had. When that long-awaited return to the Premier League was secured in 2020, it was supposedly the return of Leeds to the very big time, an aim to do more than just make up the numbers. The scenes outside Elland Road shown on at the end of season two of Amazon Prime’s “Take Us Home” is some of my favourite footage I have watched from any football documentary. A series of mistakes though has ultimately made that new Premier League spell last just three seasons. Was letting go of hero Marcelo Bielsa the right decision back in February 2022? The debate has come before and would come back again if brought up. Jesse March follows him, then later Javi Gracia, and then that bizarre panic button press of Sam Allardyce, all of which ultimately ends with the Whites back in a division they thought they had left long behind. An immediate return will be the objective, and feels very possible. They’ve gone the right way about it with their latest appointment. Daniel Farke knows all about promotion from this level as a double title winner with Norwich City. It did take the 46-year-old a year of preparation before executing his first title charge at the Canaries, but back then he wasn’t inherited a side fresh off relegation and still containing players seemingly a cut above a level. More will likely depart Elland Road before this summer window is up, but a strong enough group is almost certain to remain. Illan Meslier needs a year where he can rebuild confidence. The 23-year-old has been almost ever-present for Leeds during their Premier League spell and remains a top prospect for France despite his weaker performances in 2022-23. Karl Darlow comes in from Newcastle United, Norwegian stopper Kristoffer Klaesson is just a few months Meslier’s junior. Leeds United have made just one outfield signing at the time of writing, but it is a very impressive one. Ethan Ampadu, who still doesn’t turn 23 until September, will be a star at this level following his purchase from Chelsea. The Wales international could be utilised by Farke at the back, but looks set to be a technical deep-lying midfield running the show between the first and second thirds of the pitch. Stalwart Liam Cooper was the man who lifted that Championship trophy back for Leeds in 2020 and can remain the heart of defence. Dutch left-sided defender Pascal Struijk really should be standing out in the second tier. 20-year-old academy product Charlie Cresswell has been seasoned at this level with a positive loan at Millwall in 2022-23. Full-backs Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas know all about the struggle Leeds United have gone through to get out of the Championship and the stalwarts continue to be part of the squad in 2023-24. Whilst Ayling was once again commonplace in the Leeds United back four though, Dallas has been out of action for a prolonged period of time and yet to return. Pascual Struijk can be deployed out at left-back. Norwegian Leo Fuhr Hjelde was at this level in 2023 with Rotherham United. Spaniard Junior Firpo looks like he could be one of the latest to be offloaded. He has proved a really disappointing signing considering the fee paid for him. On the other hand to Firpo though, right-back Cody Drameh looked a very capable Championship player just last season as he helped Luton Town up into the Premier League. Tyler Adams could do nothing but watch on from the sidelines as Leeds United were relegated last May. The American was never signed last summer with future Championship football in mind, and would be expected to be an absolute superstar at his level if still at the club when he returns from injury. Adams and the aforementioned Ethan Ampadu form part of what is currently a small midfield unit. The English trio of Jamie Shackleton, Sam Greenwood and Darko Gyabi may all have a part of play this season. Shackleton previously featured for the title winners of 2020 and can cover both midfield and right-back. Greenwood showed flashes of attacking quality in the Premier League last season. England U20 international Gyabi is very much in the infancy of his Leeds United career. Plenty of Leeds United’s forward players do need to carry the asterisk of a potential transfer. Wilfried Gnonto’s direct running would cause nightmares for opposition at this level if the Italian was to stay. Colombian Luis Sinisterra would similarly want to bring good quality goalscoring at previous club Feyenoord into the Championship. Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville should be looking to star at this level. Dan James immense bursts of pace haven’t been seen in the second tier for a while. Jack Harrison was a loanee when Leeds won the title in 2020 and has been a permanent fixture at Elland Road since the summer of 2021. Hélder Costa has twice gone up from this level as a champion with first Wolverhampton Wanderers and then Leeds United. Ian Poveda has spent the last two seasons on loan in the second tier with Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool, making a limited contribution for both. What output should Daniel Farke be targeting from Patrick Bamford this season? The striker produced 18 goal contributions in the title-winning 2019-20 season, followed by a sensational 24 whilst still under Marcelo Bielsa in the topflight. Fitness issues have impacted his gametime and output for the last two campaigns though, 2021-22 especially. Joe Gelhardt will be eyeing up the opportunity for progression after playing a part in Sunderland’s run to last season’s play-offs. Fellow 21-year-old Georginio Rutter could really do with proving a hit in the second tier. Leeds United are likely not done yet with outgoings. More may well leave the club before the end of the summer window. Promotion specialist Daniel Farke is almost certain to be left with a high-quality group though, including a standout signing so far in Ethan Ampadu, and an embarrassment of riches in forward areas. The concern for now lies in a small, relatively inexperienced midfield unit that will require young Englishman to step up and take their chance. If they do though, this combination of stalwarts and former topflight figures should really be believing in their chances of an immediate promotion push. Leeds United are normally fancied in the odds to be at the top end of this division, it’s up to the current crop to prove why…