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

Season 2009/10 predictions: League One

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LEAGUE One is looking at its strongest in a while, because of the number of former-Premiership sides, increased by the relegations of Norwich City, Southampton and Charlton Athletic, from the Championship last season.

It will be a close season, in which fans of many of those former-Premiership sides will be demanding nothing less than bouncing straight back, but it is easier said than done, shown by Leeds United's failed attempts since being relegated in 2007.

There are also some strong sides coming into the division from League Two, looking to make their marks, including a return of Brentford, who finished as champions. They are joined by Exeter City, Wycombe Wanderers and, winners of the League Two play-offs, Gillingham.

An exciting season looms as the sides kick-off tomorrow.

Brentford

The Bees were promoted as champions of League Two last season and Andy Scott has equipped his side well for life in League One. Transfers including a trio of Dagenham and Redbridge’s best players from last season, Ben Strevens, Danny Foster and Sam Saunders have arrived at Griffin Park, along with goalkeeper Nikki Bull from Aldershot and midfielder Myles Weston from Notts County. With their new signings in addition to last season’s squad, Brentford could find themselves challenging at the top of the table. Prediction: 2nd

Brighton And Hove Albion

Brighton finished in 16th place in League One last season and will be aiming to build on that this season. Albion will be an attacking threat, having signed striker Liam Dickinson from Derby County, and midfielders Mark Wright and Alan Navarro from Milton Keynes Dons, and should be capable for a top-half finish. Prediction: 9th

Bristol Rovers

Rovers finished in 11th place in League One last season and with quite a settled squad, there is no reason why they should not be expecting a similar finish this time around, but with the signings of other clubs, Rovers squad is not strong enough to claim a play-off spot. Prediction: 10th

Carlisle United

Carlisle avoided relegation by a point last season and, with the departure of striker Danny Graham, goals may be hard to come by and another season of struggle looks likely for Greg Abbott’s side. Prediction: 24th

Charlton Athletic

Charlton endured a miserable season last time around, finishing bottom of The Championship. Their fans will be longing for end to the miserable time they have had since relegation from The Premiership. Their squad, with the additions of defenders Christian Daily, Frazer Richardson and Miguel Angel Llera should be strong enough to stay up, but this could be a season of stopping the rot for The Addicks and steadying the ship in mid-table. Prediction: 15th

Colchester United

Paul Lambert’s side finished 12th in League One last season and will want to build on that, but they may miss winger Mark Yeates after his sale to Middlesbrough. Colchester will do well to reach as high as 12th again this season, but the loan of striker Kevin Lisbie from Ipswich could give them the goals they need to stave off relegation. Prediction: 16th

Exeter City

Exeter were promoted in second place in League Two last season and will be looking to build on the success they have achieved since coming back into the league. The signings of Scott Golbourne at left-back and Joe Burnell, if he can stay fit (because he is notoriously injury-prone) should see The Grecians finish comfortably in mid-table. Prediction: 11th

Gillingham

The Gills were promoted via the League Two play-offs last season and will find League One a challenging step up. They have not strengthened their squad enough to challenge at the top of the table, and depend a lot on Simeon Jackson. If he hits the same vein of form as last season and stays free of injury, they should stay up. Prediction:20th

Hartlepool United

Hartlepool finished last season just above the relegation zone and may find that they have not done enough to strengthen their side for this year’s campaign, which could see them struggle again. Prediction:21st

Huddersfield Town

The Terriors started showing potential under the guidance of Lee Clark last season, finishing 9th in League One. His side will be pushing for a play-off spot this year, aided by the pace of Theo Robinson, an arrival from Watford, in attack. Prediction:4th

Leeds United

The departure of Fabian Delph to Aston Villa could be crucial in Leeds’ season, but it means they should have money to spend to strengthen their squad. Whether Jermaine Beckford stays or not will also be crucial to Leeds’ season and their will be a lot of pressure on them again to achieve automatic promotion again. It would not be surprising if they fell into the play-offs again. Prediction:5th

Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient cruised to a 6-1 win over Newcastle United in pre-season, which should give O’s players a lot of confidence for the start of the season. Scott McGleish will also be a threat for them at the front. Prediction: 14th

Millwall

Millwall will lost out in the play-off semi-finals last season, but they should be strong again this year. With a similar squad to last season, expect Millwall to make another play-off bid, if not the automatic places. Prediction: 3rd

Milton Keynes Dons

Milton Keynes have been at the top of League One for the last couple of season and will be expected to mount another challenge at the top of the table. If Jermaine Easter focuses on his football, he will score goals and David McCracken, who left Wycombe Wanderers in the summer, will be a key part of Milton Keynes’ defence this year. Prediction: 6th

Norwich City

Norwich were relegated to League One last season, having finished 22nd in League One, but it will not be long before the Canaries return to the second tier of league football, having signed a host of decent players, in wing-man Simon Whaley from Preston North End, striker Grant Holt from Shrewsbury and Exeter’s Matthew Gill. Expect Norwich to do well this season. Prediction: 1st

Oldham Athletic

Oldham achieved a 10th-placed finished last time around and should improve that this season, thanks to the signings of potential goalscorers, Pawel Abbott and Keigan Parker. Joint signings from Huddersfield Town, Andy Holdsworth and Jon Worthington will also help Oldham to a top-half finish. Prediction: 7th

Southend United

Southend finished in 8th place last season , but the lack of improvements to their side will mean they may not be able to improve on this and can expect a similar finish this season. Prediction: 8th

Stockport County

Stockport finished last season in 18th place, but would have ended the season in 14th place in League One, had it not been for a 10-point deduction for going into administration. County will struggle this year with instability at the club and will miss players who have left, including Tommy Rowe. Prediction: 22nd

Swindon Town

After a 15th-place finish last season, Swindon have brought in some decent signings over the summer, but may miss striker Simon Cox, who has signed for West Bromwich Albion for £1.5million. Swindon may miss his goals at the front, but should have ample money to replace him. They will need to replace him soon, if they are to have a greater impact on League One this season. Prediction: 17th

Tranmere Rovers

Rovers missed out on the final League One play-off spot on the final day last season and fans will be optimistic of challenging again. But it is questionable how well new manager John Barnes will do in charge of Tranmere. He is a big name, but big names do not always come with success and Barnes. It is a risk appointment for Tranmere.Prediction: 23rd

Walsall

The Saddlers had a comfortable mid-table finish last time around and have signed defenders Jamie Vincent from Swindon Town, Peter Till from Grimsby and Matt Richards from Wycombe Wanderers, but they have not strengthened much at the front. Their side will not be strong enough ton challenge at the top this year, looking at the strength of some of the sides predicted above them. Prediction:13th

Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe were promoted to League One automatically last season, albeit by the odd goal. The club went through a transition which led to Steve Hayes being the sole owner of the club this summer, which meant Peter Taylor may have lost out on some key transfer targets to rival clubs. No solution has been brought in for the Chairboys’ goalscoring problems, but, like last season, they should have a solid defence, with experienced defender Michael Duberry arriving at the club. Prediction:12th

Yeovil Town

Yeovil finished last season in 17th place in League One last season. They have brought in striker Dean Bowditch and experienced and well-rated midfielder Scott Murray, but this may not add enough quality to the side for a higher finish this time. Prediction: 18th

1. Norwich City

2. Brentford

3. Millwall

4. Huddersfield Town

5. Leeds United

6. Milton Keynes

7. Oldham Athletic

8. Southend United

9. Brighton And Hove Albion

10. Bristol Rovers

11. Exeter City

12. Wycombe Wanderers

13. Walsall

14. Leyton Orient

15. Charlton Athletic

16. Colchester United

17. Swindon Town

18. Yeovil Town

19. Southampton

20. Gillingham

21.Hartlepool United

22. Stockport County

23. Tranmere Rovers

24. Carlisle United