It’s that time of the year where the excitement for the new season is at its peak. With the start of the Championship season tonight, I thought I’d have a crack at predicting the final table, starting with the bottom half. There is no doubt that this prediction will be horrifically wrong, but having watched the championship a lot over the past 3 seasons, I’d like to think I could get vaguely close. I’ll also give a short summary of my reasons for the positions given.
24th Charlton Athletic
Last season’s League One Play-off winners Charlton haven’t lost many players from the side that gained them promotion, but one player whose loss could affect their survival chances greatly is that of Joe Aribo. The attacking midfielder will be hard to replace and though they have signed Chuks Aneke from MK Dons and secured Jonny Williams permanently, I do believe they will greatly miss his quality. This lack of quality and the unproven nature of Manager Lee Bowyer are the reasons why I think Charlton will finish bottom of the pile.
23rd Wigan Athletic
Wigan were nothing short of dreadful at times last season, and have hardly strengthened this transfer window. The signing of Antonee Robinson on a permanent deal is a move in the right direction, however, losing players like Nick Powell to a Championship rival and not effectively replacing him could cost Wigan. On top of this the fact that Reece James has gone back to Chelsea will also dent their chances. I can’t see any improvements for Wigan this season.
22nd Luton Town
Luton Town have been an exciting team to watch over the past few years in League One and Two, and this season it will be interesting to see if they can make the step up to the Championship. Their recruitment has been relatively astute with plenty of Championship experience being brought in as well as an unknown entity in the form of Goalkeeper Simon Sluga. Despite this, I’m not sure that the players that have secured the hatters back to back promotions will be able to step up at this level. Goalscoring will be key and plenty of strikers haven’t adapted to the level well enough and I don’t think James Collins will either. I expect them to be relegated, but don’t be surprised if Luton do finish higher.
21st Queens Park Rangers
QPR have had a lot of incomings and a lot of outgoings this summer. The loss of Luke Freeman will be the biggest loss, and I’m not sure he’ll be easily replaced. For large parts of last season, it seemed like Freeman was the only decent player at QPR’s disposal and the team was absolutely diabolical. I expect this trend to continue despite some good incomings, such as Jordan Hugill, and I almost put them in the relegation zone.
20th Barnsley
Barnsley could easily go down this season, they have lost a number of the players that got them promoted. However, something tells me that they will stop up. They’ve brought in a number of players to replace those that they’ve lost and manager Daniel Stendel is young, exciting and most importantly German. This is a recipe for a team that could surprise a few and I think they will.
19th Millwall
Millwall are an odd one. Each season I have expected them to be relegated and they haven’t been. So, this season I don’t think they will be, probably means they will, but ah well. The loss of Lee Gregory will greatly affect them as he has been their talisman for a number of seasons, but the addition of Jon Dadi Bodvarsson in his stead could work. Bodvarsson is hard working, though not prolific, and could suit the Millwall system. Where Millwall finish will be hugely reliant on their home form, which will need to be as good as it has been in the past.
18th Birmingham City
As much as I want the Blues to be relegated, when I put my personal bias aside, I don’t think they will be. That doesn’t mean I think they’ll be good, far from it. The whole palaver involving the Loss of Gary Monk can only harm any good feeling and harmony that may have been in the squad after last season. The message from the owners seems to be very mixed also, with Gary Gardner being brought in and Jota being moved out to cut costs, but then they spend £7million on Ivan Sunjic. It will likely be a rollercoaster season for Birmingham.
17th Hull City
Nigel Adkins did a fantastic job last season at Hull. Comfortably keeping a poor team in the Championship. Adkins is now gone, and I can’t see McCann doing a similar job, especially with the endless rumours surrounding star man Jarrod Bowen. If Bowen stays Hull stay up, if he doesn’t anything could happen.
16th Reading
Reading are in for another dull season in the Championship and may even get dragged into the relegation picture. When your Marquee signing is Charlie Adam, I think that says it all. Dull.
15th Swansea city
Swansea seem to have had a fire sale on their players recently, any player with quality is just a money maker for the owners it seems. The loss of bright spark Daniel James and Proven Goal scorer Oliver McBurnie will all but destroy any chances of Swansea pushing on from a disappointing 2018/19 campaign.
14th Nottingham Forest
Forest are another team that I see heavily relying on one player this season, Joe Lolley. They’ve shrugged off bids from Villa for the midfielder this window, and if he stays, I see them securing yet another mid table finish. The acquisition of Albert Adomah on a free will also provide them with extra experience, and most importantly if they are to push on, experience of promotion.
13th Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday were looking very promising at the tail end of last season, and they looked set for a play off place with Steve Bruce at the helm. Steve Bruce’s departure has certainly mixed things up though, and I see them dropping to a dismal mid table finish. Wednesday have lots of quality, but very rarely does it come together on a consistent basis, and I see this season being a continuation of that.
Jon Parkin Sports 