Friday 7 August 2009

Season 2009/10 predictions: The Championship

Picture: Stevec77
THE CHAMPIONSHIP is going to be a real battle for the automatic and play-offs spots this year, with the relegations from the Premiership of Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion, along with the sides who were up there last season, the Readings, Sheffield Uniteds and Preston North Ends of the world, as well as the sides like Derby County and Ipswich Town, keen to improve with keen young managers Clough Junior and Roy Keane respectively. Wow! And all that without mentioning sides promoted like Leicester City and Peterborough United, who look likely to challenge for mid-table spots and Scunthorpe, who will have no intention of giving up their hard-fought-for status in football's second tier.

The season starts tonight with Middlesbrough playing Sheffield United at 8pm. It looks like these predictions are just on time, before the first of many mouth-watering clashes in The Championship. Enjoy the season!

Barnsley

Barnsley finished last season in 20th place in The Championship and have not done much to strengthen the squad. It could be a miserable time at Oakwell this season. Prediction:24th

Blackpool

The Tangerines finished 16th in The Championship last season and will face an even tougher task this season, with strong teams moving into the division. The signings of strikers Jason Euell and Billy Clarke, from Southampton and Ipswich Town respectively, and midfielders Charlie Adam from Glasgow Rangers and Ishmel Demontagnac, from Walsall, should see Blackpool create enough chances for a mid-table place. Prediction:15th

Bristol City

Bristol City finished a comfortable 10th last season in The Championship and with several good players arriving and leaving at the club, they can be hopeful of another good finish next season and could be challenging at the top. Prediction: 11th

Cardiff City

Cardiff had a disastrous end to the season last time around, losing their play-off place on the last day of the season after an end-of-season loss of form. Their squad has had a couple of major changes, including the sale of defender Roger Johnson to Birmingham City for £5million, and they have splashed some of that cash on striker Michael Chopra from Sunderland for £4million. Chopra will be a big threat at this level and will help Cardiff to a play-off spot. Prediction: 4th

Coventry City

It could be a tricky season for The Sky Blues. Having finished 17th in The Championship last season, not a lot has been done to strengthen the side and relegation is a real possibility. Prediction: 22nd

Crystal Palace

Palace finished last season in 15th place in The Chamopionship and have not set the world alight on the transfer market this summer, but new signing Stern John should net some goals for them. Expect a similar finish to last season. Prediction: 19th

Derby County

Derby finished in 18th place last season, but have strengthened the side over the summer with the signings of goalkeeper Saul Deeney from Burton Albion and left-midfielder Dean Moxey. Nigel Clough’s side should have no trouble finishing in mid-table. Prediction: 12th

Doncaster Rovers

Doncaster will do well to improve on last season’s 14th-place finish, and may struggle more this year. The signings of midfielders Quinton Fortune and John Oster could be vital after the departure of midfielder Richie Wellens. Prediction: 20th

Ipswich Town

Roy Keane guided Ipswich to 9th place last season and will be aiming for a play-off spot this year. Keane has strengthened his side, including the signing of striker Tamas Priskin from Watford, but there are stronger sides still in the division. Prediction: 7th

Leicester City

The Foxes had a fantastic season last time around, gaining promotion as champions of League One. Signings over the summer, including midfielder Richie Wellens from Doncaster for £1.2million, should see Leicester consolidate a place back in The Championship. Prediction: 10th

Middlesbrough

Boro fans endured a miserable time in The Premiership last season and were relegated in 19th place, but they should be capable of making a strong challenge at the top of the table, particularly after signing winger Mark Yeates from Colchester United and striker Leroy Lita from Reading. Prediction: 2nd

Newcastle United

Newcastle are another side which had a disastrous season, as they were relegated from The Premiership in 18th place. With the departures of players to higher clubs on free transfers and with the uncertainty of who will be in charge this season still looming, as well as uncertainty behind the scenes, it is asking a lot for The Magpies to bounce straight back. Prediction: 8th

Nottingham Forest

Forest finished a lowly 19th last season, but have done some serious spending over the summer to bring in Chris Gunter from Tottenham Hotspur and Paul McKenna from Preston North End, among others. They should challenge at the top of the table this season. Prediction: 3rd

Peterborough United

Peterborough were promoted to The Championship after a second successive promotion, under the management of Darren Ferguson. Posh have kept hold of many of their key players and should succeed in consolidating a mid-table place. Prediction: 13th

Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth just stayed up last season, finishing in 21st place, but will be one of the prime candidates for relegation, having not strengthened their squad enough and with the strength of sides that have been promoted. Prediction: 23rd

Preston North End

PNE secured a play-off place on the last day of last season, before having their Premiership dreams ended by Sheffield United in the semi-finals. They will be expected to challenge for the play-offs again this season, despite the sale of Paul McKenna to Nottingham Forest. Prediction: 6th

Queens Park Rangers

QPR finished last season in 11th place. During pre-season, they have been scoring goals, but have also had a leaky defence. Again, because of the strength of sides entering the division in comparison with QPR, they could see themselves finish lower this year. Prrediction: 16th

Reading

Reading almost gained automatic promotion last season, but had to make do with the play-offs, before being beaten by Burnley. They have a side capable of making the play-offs again, if it can cope with the departures of goalscorer Kevin Doyle and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, who both left for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Prediction: 5th

Scunthorpe United

Scunthorpe will be the promoted side which struggles the most, having made it to The Championship via the League One play-offs. Expect The Iron to be in a relegation battle this season. Prediction: 21st

Sheffield United

The Blades finished in 3rd place and had their play-off dreams ended by Burnley. With so many players coming and going over the summer, the blades could find it difficult to make a play-off spot again. Prediction: 9th

Sheffield Wednesday

Wednesday finished their season in 12th last time around and have not had many major changes to their squad. Expect them to finish around the same area of the table again this time. Prediction: 14th

Swansea City

Swansea could find it it difficult to improve on last season’s impressive 8th-place finish, after the sale of Jason Scotland. Prediction: 18th

Watford

Watford finished in 13th place last season, but will struggle more this season, having not improved their squad very much. If new arrival, striker Danny Graham, scores the goals for them, they will avoid a relegation battle. Prediction: 17th

West Bromwich Albion

West Brom were relegated from The Premiership in 20th place last season, but will be looking to bounce straight back and they look capable of doing that, having signed goalscorers Reuben Reid and Simon Cox. Prediction: 1st

1. West Bromwich Albion
2. Middlesbrough
3. Nottingham Forest
4. Cardiff City
5. Reading
6. Preston North End
7. Ipswich Town
8. Newcastle United
9. Sheffield United
10. Leicester City
11. Bristol City
12. Derby County
13. Peterborough United
14. Sheffield Wednesday
15. Blackpool
16. Queens Park Rangers
17. Watford
18. Swansea City
19. Crystal Palace
20. Doncaster Rovers
21. Scunthorpe United
22. Coventry City
23. Plymouth Argyle
24. Barnsley

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