Please note that these are only my opinions and my predictions for the coming season.
Aston Villa- The bookies have them as second favourites, but surely that must be on history alone. For several seasons now, there has been something wrong with this club, from top to bottom. It is hard to envisage that, despite good support, they will rebuild in time to bounce back at the first attempt. Could be the new Fulham, with a couple of mediocre seasons ahead. However, i expect them to get at least mid table, and maybe sneak a play-off spot at best.
Barnsley- Hard to see them doing anything more than flirt with relegation all season. Attracting players is going to be a problem, and having only come up via the play-offs, they are likely to make a quick return to League 1.
Birmingham City- Bit of a difficult one to predict. Improved a lot last season, and have a mean defence. If last season is anything to go by, goals will be difficult to come by, and may hinder their chances. I can see Birmingham spending much of the season around mid table, but could be a surprise play-off contender.
Blackburn Rovers- Another team who seem to be under-performing, and a lack of stated ambition make me wonder where the club are at. The heady days of Shearer et al, are in the past now, and the board don't seem to be investing enough. Will be solid enough, but need to get their act together in the transfer market if they are to finish above mid table.
Brentford- The Warburton effect is well and truly gone, now. This season will see the remains of his groundwork disappear, and with Brentford selling some of their better players, they may start to struggle near the bottom. A good late season run, last season, saw them pull away from the bottom, but this season they may not repeat that. Should be just too good to go down, but not a top half team, for me.
Brighton & Hove Albion- Nothing suggests that Brighton will repeat the unbeaten run they started last season with. They will be solid and play some good football, but they will not be a surprise package this time around. Fire power upfront may be their achilles heel. Should still be in or around the play-offs however, but automatic promotion is unlikely.
Bristol City- A late run, last season, dragged them away from the relegation places, and consolidation was probably their aim. Nothing suggests that this season will be anything more than another consolidation season, but they have the foundations in place that should ensure they stay safely away from the bottom.
Burton Albion- Have risen rapidly from non-league to the Championship, and appear to be an ambitious club. Their lack of fan base and marketing potential indicate that they may have reached their zenith. Unlikely to reproduce the heroics of Bournemouth, and although there will be some optimism, I would expect them to struggle and possibly make a quick return to League 1.
Cardiff City- Cardiff's ambition is well reported, and it seems that their maverick owner has realized that he should not get too involved in the playing side. If this remains the case, then they have the squad to have a good season, albeit with a little inconsistency. Realistically, they should be in the play-offs, or thereabouts.
Derby County- For the past few seasons, they have been in or around the play-off positions. Their time should have come by now if they were going to get promoted. Sticking with the same nucleus of tried and tested players, it is hard to see how Derby will improve on last season. Unless Tom Ince starts to show consistency, I can see a decline in their fortunes and they may struggle to threaten the play-off positions.
Fulham- Too much to write here, so will be covered in a separate blog.
Huddersfield Town- Don't expect any fireworks from Huddersfield. Nothing much will change from last season, with them struggling in the bottom half of the table. Probably too good to go down, but if Nakhi Wells gets injured or sold, then things could change.
Ipswich Town- Like Derby, they seem to be sicking with a tried and tested nucleus of players, and that may hinder their progress. In fact, if results don't go well early on, it would not be a surprise to see Mick McCarthy replaced. Reaching the play-offs is the best they can aim for, but mid table is probably a better bet.
Leeds United- Drama unlimited, all the while Cellino is at the club. Despite having some good players and good young players, Leeds' season will depend solely on runs of good, or bad, form. One bad run, and the manager will be out on his ear. The fans will protest, which will all make for a rocky season for this once great club. I can see them flirting with relegation, but they may just have too much to be in real danger.
Newcastle United- The favourites, and probably rightly so. Still have some star quality and likely to add to it. Whether they run away with the league, or whether they just sneak it, depends on how well Rafa adapts to the Championship and whether he adapts his football ethos accordingly. I expect some adverse early results, but their quality should give them automatic promotion.
Norwich City- Have kept most of the group of players that were relegated, and they were not totally destroyed in the Prem. which should mean that they have more than enough to do very well this season. This is Alex Neil's chance to show that he can bring the same success to Norwich that he brought to Hamilton. Although highly rated for his achievements at Hamilton, he has yet to prove himself south of the border. Having said that, Norwich should be consistent and will be up there at the end of the season.
Nottingham Forest- Another team who don't seem to know what they want. Could we see another season of managerial changes, or will the board try and build some stable foundations. Plenty of potential in the team, but too much inconsistency. Forest may even find themselves too near to the wrong end of the table, but have enough to finish around 16th.
Preston North End- Last season showed that a solid team was being built at Deepdale, and a mean defence should see a repeat of those achievements. Whether they can push on from last season, and reach the play-offs is difficult to predict. Likely to cause a few headaches to more ambitious teams, but probably a season too early for them to make real progress.
Queens Park Rangers- Fellow FFC fans would love to see them fail, but they have a good squad, and will play attractive football. Last season they were adjusting to the Championship and had to reduce the wage bill. Expect a much better showing from them this year, and the play-offs should easily be within their reach.
Reading- Now becoming a regular Championship side, and there is nothing to suggest that it will change, come the end of the season. Probably won't excite too many people or cause too many surprises, so mid-table, or just below, is the realistic prediction for the Royals.
Rotherham United- Surely this must be the season when they return to League 1. When they won promotion the owners stated all sorts of ambitions, yet after the sacking of Steve Evans, nothing has improved. A very workmanlike squad will, probably, mean that they won't get cast adrift, but there is nothing to suggest that they won't struggle. Even 4th from bottom may be seen as an achievement.
Sheffield Wednesday- The surprise package last season, and likely to be pushing for the play-offs yet again. With a couple of more signings may even be a bigger surprise, and fight for automatic promotion. They concede few and have players who can score from anywhere. A top four place should be a realistic ambition for the club and their supporters.
Wigan Athletic- The bookies have not given long odds on Wigan, for reasons only known to themselves. Whilst they have financial clout, their lack of support and unfashionable status makes it hard to see how they can attract sufficient quality. I doubt we will see their heroics of the past, and the highest they can expect is mid table, although that may be too much to expect.
Wolverhampton Wanderers- And another team whom the bookies seem to overrate given their odds. The effect of new owners won't be noticeable for some time, and I cannot agree with the bookies valuation. I would imagine nothing more than a season of mid table mediocrity this time around.
Champions- Newcastle Utd.
Runners-up- Norwich City.
Play-offs- 4 from Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton, QPR, Cardiff, Derby, Ipswich, Birmingham, Fulham (outside bet).
Relegated- Burton Albion, Rotherham United, Barnsley.
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