While the Coca Cola Championship is speeding up, we bring you the brief prediction for each team this season. Many things have changed in the squads especially on the benches. It seems that it will be tenser than ever and many so-called favourites will soon turn into something else…
BARNSLEY
A quite summer for the club from south Yorkshire doesn’t give many reasons for optimism this season. Manager Simon Davey has been struggling to keep the club alive for two seasons now; by the end of the last season everyone was sure that he will get sacked but club owner Patrick Cryne gave him the last chance. Still, with all the skepticism from the fans, he will be under huge pressure. There weren’t any significant transfers, the only signing worth mentioning is Onome Sodje from York City, the striker from a football family Sodje, as his uncles Sam, Efe and Akpo all play in England.
The future is dim, foreign legion from Oakwell will again fight to survive. Slightly better than the rest will be players like Jamall Campbell-Ryce, winger who is ready for a bigger club as well as Brazilian defender Anderson Da Silva, with indestructible Johna Mackena up front, while Ian Hume, a pretty good striker is expected to recover.
Tip: 18th place
BLACKPOOL
At one point it seemed that things are changing at Bloomfield Road, when Ian Holloway came in June. Charismatic and once a successful QPR, Plymouth and Leicester boss guarantees that popular Tangerines will be much better this season and that they won’t rely on loans so much as before. Still, the crisis took its toll and the transfer window could have been better. The biggest acquisition is Glasgow Rangers midfielder, Charlie Adam (after plenty of complications and wasted time), and the club also signed Saints experienced striker Jason Euell. The biggest loss in defense will be Shaun Barker, and experienced striker Brett Ormerod is expected to do a lot, as well as midfielder Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who is not consistent enough. The club was also boosted by Billy Clarke, the striker Ipswich can do without, and with a little luck he might just prove useful.
With popular Ollie on the bench, perhaps Blackpool might turn out to be the surprise this season, at least for one part of it. In that case they can secure a supply of points needed to survive, as the season is long and it is not realistic to expect this team to be consistent.
Tip: 16th place
BRISTOL CITY
Here’s a club that have grown a lot over the last few years. Last season they failed to repeat the success from the previous season and get hold of the play-offs, but they were always main contenders for top six. The main reason is that manager Gary Johnson is able to get the best of Robins. In spite of some personal problems with the key players (last season Bradley Orr, this season keeper Adriano Basso), Johnson is doing a great job at the helm and this season Bristol are again one of play-offs contenders, even though experienced midfielder Michael McIndoe and even more experienced striker Dele Adebola left the club. Brazilian keeper Basso was also one step out of the club. The biggest acquisition is Scottish international with Champions League experience, midfielder Paul Hartley from Celtic and his compatriot from Motherwell, David Clarkson, together with defender Lewin Nyatanga from Derby and the striker from Ipswich Danny Haynes.
The team was reinforced but this season we could easily see a dip in form after two successful seasons. That is why Johnson has a difficult task, first of all to prepare the team psychologically and we think that Robins will miss out on the play-offs.
Tip: 8th place
CARDIFF CITY
Cardiff City were tragic characters last season after they were eliminated from the play-offs in the last minute, even though they were the candidates for automatic promotion even. It is hard to tell how they will react to the shock with the problems they have inside the team. Roger Johnson, defender, captain and the idols of the fans left to Birmingham City as well as his colleague Darren Purse, so there is a completely new tandem in front of the keeper. Mark Hudson (arrived from Charlton) and Anthony Gerrard (Walsall), Steven Gerrard’s cousin. Midfielder Paul Parry went to Preston. The biggest stars of the club, Joe Ledley and winger Ross McCormack want to continue their career in Premiership clubs and Bluebirds are in for problems inside the squad. Welsh team will play on newly-built Cardiff City stadium, that is to say they will leave their fortress Ninian Park, which may hold another potential problem.
Still, Dave Jones’ men have more than enough quality to emerge back at the top. Michael Chopra is back, Jay Boothroyd hasn’t had his last say and there will be plenty of time to get used to the new stadium. The quality of the players will decide; the season is long…
Tip: 6th place and the play-offs
COVENTRY CITY
Last season they got off to a great start, but later on they blended in the bleak picture of the bottom part of the standings. Still, they were brilliant in FA Cup, where they made it to the quarterfinals and lost to Chelsea. Each year Sky-blue are expected to achieve big things and they end up disappointing. The reason is, of course, money and it is no secret that owner Ray Ranson has financial problems, which is why club was forced to sell the best players this summer: defender Scott Dan and Championship’s best left back Danny Fox. The newcomers in the midfield are quality players Michael McIndoe (Bristol City) and Sammy Clingan (Norwich) but the defense still has holes.
Famous manager Chris Coleman obviously hasn’t got the money for his ideas at Ricoh Arena and this will be another season of struggle on the beautiful but half-empty stadium. Regardless of the fact that the team shines from time to time, there is no room for consistency. Relegation battle…
Tip: 21st place
CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal Palace have been in financial problems for a long time now, which is why they lack aspirations again. This spring they failed to even get close to the play-off, but experienced manager Neil Warnock keeps on launching new young talents. After teenagers Victor Moses and Sean Scanell, this season he plans to introduce young right back Nathaniel Clyne. Striker Freddie Sears came on loan from West Ham, and the team was boosted by two experienced players: midfielder Darren Ambrose (Charlton) and striker Stern John (Southampton).
Still, we don’t see any major success for them this season, as they simply don’t have the potential, so popular Eagles are in for another relegation battle and they will probably survive but after a lot of struggle. While they are producing new players, there is no room for the results at least not in the next few seasons.
Tip: 20th place
DERBY COUNTY
Nigel Clough is performing slow but steady clean-up on the pitch and following his plan on Pride Park. He got rid of many players, when he arrived last season, brought the ones he wanted to (mostly non-expensive ones), so this season will be the great reaffirmation of the fallen Rams. Defense was boosted by signing Shaun Barker from Blackpool, while excellent winger Lee Croft arrived from Norwich and Giles Barnes came back from loan to Fulham, but renewed his injury right away. Derby have the good atmosphere and serenity in the team that suits the players, Clough junior has all the time of the world to lift the Rams’ form and this pressure-free situation is the main prerequisite for success.
With striker Rob Hulse and Chris Commons, young Miles Addison and veteran Robbie Savage who is looking more prepared than ever, Derby have quite enough quality for the top of the standings. Clough is aware that there is no success without consistency. Pleasant surprise of the season.
Tip: 4th place and the play-offs
DONCASTER ROVERS
Fine passes and minimum wins is what we remember from Doncaster last season. They were much better than their actual potential deserves (14th place) and Donny owe it to manager Sean O’ Driscol and his football philosophy. Still, they are in for the famous „second season after promotion” that was the end of many underdogs. Also, the lack of money forced them to sell their best midfielder Richie Wellens to Leicester and best defender Matt Mills to Reading. If Brian Stock leaves too (as it is rumored) red-white will have plenty of problems.
O’ Driscoll hasn’t yet solved the problem with the strikers as there is a lack of them at Keepmoath stadium, so this transfer window was terrible. Weak squad, problematic situation but we believe that Donny will manage to survive, as they have a solid defense.
Tip: 19th place
IPSWICH TOWN
If you think that signing Roy Kean on a Championship bench is enough for promotion, you are mistaking. Someone should say this to Ipswich management, as aside from the famous boss they haven’t done anything to reinforce the squad. Signings like always-injured winger Lee Martin (Manchester United) and a solid back Damian Delaney (QPR) are not enough to patch the holes in the team and it seems that Keane has got rid of useful striker Kevin Lisbie and Danny Haynes too easily. Spaniard Pablo Counago is also looking for the new club.
Revision at Portman Road somehow came down to departures (even nine players left) instead of signings and if the club don’t do something about it soon, the Tractor Boys are in for a bleak season. Keane hasn’t managed to sign some players from Sunderland. The future is dim for Ipswich, but only when it comes to their aim to get promoted. Ipswich are strong enough to avoid the relegation battle.
Tip: 14th place
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