Coca Cola Championship is speeding up and we bring you a brief prediction for each club this season. Many things have changed in the squads, especially on the benches. It seems that it will be tougher than ever and many so-called favourites might just prove otherwise…Here is part three.
READING
They failed to handle the pressure of express return to the Premier League last season and a terrible spring run saw them drop from second to the play-offs zone. They barely got hold of play-offs semifinals and easily lost to Burnley. Manager Steve Coppell decided that enough is enough and left the bench, while talented Brendan Rogers, who successfully lead Watford lsat season. He will have a difficult task, because of the total rconstruction of the strong team:
Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt, Michael Duberry, Graeme Murty, Marcus Hahnemann, Leroy Lita left the club and these are all expereinced starters and top-class players. The reinforcements are decent young players but only two of them (Ryan Bertrand, left back, loan from Chelsea and Matt Mills, Doncastera defender). Even though Rogers is talented manager it will take time for training the team and setting the continuity in a new squad, so we predict that Reading won’t have the strength to make it to the play-offs, though a place in the top part of the standings is guaranteed.
Tip: 7th place
SCUNTHORPE UNITED
The biggest underdogs of in the Championship this season managed to get hold of the higher rank, even though they were sixth in League One. They made it to an excellent play-offs finish but this season will be really „hot“. Their biggest advantage is excellent motivator, manager Nigel Adkins, as well as attacking tandem Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper (scorer of 30 goals last season). Thre were no big departures, while the biggest acquisition is Rob Jones from Scottish Hibernian.
Low budget, small stadium, Glanford Park with ever electrifying atmopshere… Popular Iron will take few favourites’ scalps, especially on home ground, but the squad hasn’t got the quality to survive in the league. They can’t hope for continuity in Tuesday-Saturday rhythm, so we predict relegation to Scunthorpe this season…
Tip: 24th place and relegation
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Without pressure and with good stable financial situation, popular Blades had enough time to create a balanced team that can go after the very top this season. Last year they were on the verge of Premier League, but B
urnley beat them in play-offs finals. Knowing the team that Kevin Blacwell had at his disposal last season, it seems that this year they will be even stronger and mature for bigger achievemnts than the play-offs.
Very good players such as striker Ched Evans (Man.City), midfielder Lee Williamson (Watford), Ryan France (Hull), Kyel Reid (West Ham) and Keith Tracy (Blackburn) boosted the squad. Excellent young defensive tandem Kyle Walker-Kyle Naughton was sold to Tottenham for big money, but Walker came right back on loan. Manager Blackwell is the man who knows his job, he can play tough and offensive for the score. Central midfielder Brian Howard is expected to contribute to the team a lot, while Ched Evans should fill the scoring void that has been a problem since legendary James Beattie left. They have big chances for the title or the second place, Premier League awaits next season…
Tip: 1st place and automatic promotion
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Brian Laws, Sheffield Wednesday boss has been holding on to the old formula to keep the nucleus of the team together; 
the players are used to each other and they know each other very well. The squad was only boosted in time by solid players and now Owls are no longer relegation candidates, but a midtable team that might even reach the top part of the standings. Good form and strong squad, excellent atmopshere on the stands and a midtable spot are characteristics of the popular Owls in the last few seasons.
The situation is similar now, the club reinforced the most critical positions: experienced defender Darren Purse from Cradiff and midfielder Tommy Miller (Ipswich) and Darren Potter (Wolves). If long-term injuries Akpo Sodje and Franciss Jeffers are healthy and inspired for scoring, anything can happen, maybe even play-offs. Marcus Tudgay stayed in the club in spite of Burnley’s offers, while young Mark Beevers, who hasn’t yet turned 20 and plays great on the position of central defender. A fine season at Hillsborough stadium…
Tip: 10th place
SWANSEA
Swansea made an excellent debut in the Championship last season and it didn’t take them long to make it to the play-offs. They played attractive football, always offensive-minded, equally dangerous at home and away. Still all good things have their end and this season is the new beginning for the Swans.
The responsible man for Swans’ success, Spanish coach Roberto Martinez went to take over Wigan and took two excellent players, Jordi Gomez and striker Jason Scotland with him. Talented but still unenstablished coach Portugues Paulo Sousa (lead QPR last season) is in charge now, while the biggest acquisitions are winger Nathan Dyer from Southamptona and Spaniard Jordi Lopez from QPR. While everyone eagerly expects the best player Ferrie Bode to recover, the fans are aware that last season’s is not likely to repeat itself, so they might have to settle for the midtable.
Tip: 12the place
WATFORD
The club has been having financial problems for a long time now, so the fact that they survived last season was the biggest success for both the fans and the management.However the creator of the last season’s good form, Brendan Rogers left the club, as well as several excellent players.
Midfielder Lee Williamson left the club, the best scorer Tamas Priskin followed his lead, while there are no signings worth mentioning except for old and worn-out returnee Nathan Ellinghton. It is a real miracle that Tommy Smith and Joby McAnuff didn’t leave, which doesn’t mean they won’t. Defense has a lot of holes and the attack is much weaker sicne Priskin left to Ipswich. Bad karma at Vicarage Road this season.
Tip: 23rd place and relegation
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
This is one of the teams that are always on a see-saw between Premier League and the Championship. Even though they underperformed last season in the Premiership, they were rock-bottom and it is time for a fresh sta
rt. Manager Tony Mowbray couldn’t refuse Celtic’s offer, so Roberto Di Mateo, who successfully lead MK Dons last season, is now in charge.
As for the squad they got rid of some players and brought interesting signings. First of all there is Simon Cox, scorer of 29 goals last season for Swindon in League One. He is supposed to be Kevin Phillips’ heir and the solution for replacing seriously injured Ishmael Miller. There is also the left back Joe Mattock, one of the biggest young hopes of the island football, brought from Leicester and he hasn’t yet turned 20. We should mention that legendary left back Paul Robinson left, while the situation with Jonathan Greening is still doubtful, as he wants to leave but the club won’t let him go to Fulham. In spite of the fact that this is the season of stablization WBA are strong enough to make it to the play-offs and we have no doubts that Di Mateo will do just fine at the helm of the Baggies.
Tip: 5th place and the play-offs
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