Championship 1-24 predictions 26/27
It's time club football is back after the first round of the Carabao Cup last weekend; the action properly gets underway this weekend as the best league in the world returns after a wild season last year, culminating in Coventry, Ipswich and Hull going up and Oxford, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday going down. This promises to be one of the best Championship seasons ever, with the expanded playoff format leading to, by my reckoning, at least 18 clubs that reckon they have a chance of making that top 8, so expect the Championship to be as close as ever this season.
All transfer fees listed below are from Transfermarkt
Relegation contenders
24th - Lincoln City
Last season: 1st League One
Major signings: A. Coubis (€3 million), C. Elder (free), T. Olaofe (loan), M. Melia (loan), J. Gauci (loan)
Major Sales: JJ McKiernan (undisclosed), E. Ring (undisclosed), J. Moylan (undisclosed)
Last season's League One champions come into the first game of the season unbeaten in 30 games, but the manager who masterminded that in Michael Skubala has moved on to Bristol City and has been replaced by his assistants from last season, Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, who are serving as joint managers in what is their first Managerial job in mens football plus selling their best player last season in Jack Moylan to Cardiff should also massively hurt them I like sigining Melia on loan from Spurs he has been very highly thought off to play in attack alongside Freddie Draper and Rob Street that attack on paper should be strong for a newly promoted team the midfield is the main area where I have questions Conor Mcgrandles has been largely excellent for Lincoln while they've been in League one but he is unproven at the level as is Ivan Varfolomeev. They do have players who have played well at Championship level in the past, in Tendayi Darikwa, Sonny Bradley and Adam Reach, but all these players are towards the end of their careers.
I don't think Lincoln are going to get battered every week by any means, like some people. I just think that come the end of the season they might just fall away and I have no confidence in the Managers to be able to get them through games, but Lincoln are a smart club who have been on an upwards trajectory for the best part of a decade if they do go down I dont think this will be a one and done at championship level they will be back in the coming seasons.
23rd - Charlton Athletic
Last season: 19th
Major signings: D. McNamara (free), N. Chalobah (free), K. Grant (free), M. Alli (undisclosed), B. Koumetio (undisclosed), I. Mesik (undisclosed)
Major Sales: L. Dykes (free), C. Coady (loan end)
Charlton are a weird one; they have a great manager for being in a relegation scrap in Nathan Jones, who will win them points by himself at times. Lloyd Jones is an exceptional Centre-back who could be in any squad in this division, and a midfield of Chalobah, Conor Coventry, Harvey Knibbs and Greg Docherty is serviceable and can do the job that Jones will ask them to do in being compact and working hard. My worry for Charlton is in both boxes; Thomas Kaminski was dreadful last season in goal, and I can't quite believe they haven't signed a goalkeeper to at least compete with him for the number 1 shirt. The attack also worries me. Karlan Grant is a good player, but he is never fit, and the rest of the attackers like Tyreece Campbell, Miles Leaburn, Charlie Kelman and Millenic Alli are all streaky at best. I'd be amazed if any of these guys got the 10-15 goals that will be needed to keep Charlton up.
Charlton are definitely not nailed on to go down if one of the attackers has a good season and gets 10-15 goals; that may well be enough to keep them up, given how hard they will be to beat, especially at The Valley.
22nd - Preston North End
Last season: 14th
Major signings: Alfie Devine (€5.3 million), D. Burgzorg (loan), J. Erabi (loan), L. Nicholls (free)
Major Sales: B. Whiteman (€3.5 million), L. Dobbin (loan end), D. Jebbison (loan end), J. Lewis (free), W. Keane (free), R. Brady (free).
I feel this might be the season where Preston's run of finishing between 12th and 16th might finally end; the perennial championship mid-table team might finally go down to League One. I love making Alfie Devine's loan permanent, and the midfield pair of Devine and Ali McCann is a fairly strong one. Paul Heckingbottom is a great manager for this level, and Daniel Iversen is one of the better shot stoppers in the league. That being said, the problem, like Charlton, will be goals. A front three of Callum Lang, Milutan Osmajic and Jusef Erabi/Delano Burgzorg is bang average at best, and I think it's probably worse than that; none of these guys has been a proven good Championship player in my eyes. Add in the major departures of Ben Whiteman and Lewis Dobbin, who were arguably their two best players last season, and Preston are in trouble of dropping to League One for the first time since 2014/15.
So despite the defence and midfield being good on paper with many proven mid-table Championship players, I see Preston losing a lot of games 1-0. Obviously, if Preston bring in a striker before the window ends, they probably move up these predictions
21st - Blackburn Rovers
Last season: 20th
Major signings: M. Baradji (€1.10 million), J. Fevrier (€580k)
Major Sales: R. Hedges (free), S. Tronstad (free), N. Redmond (free), T. Gardner-Hickman (undisclosed)
You have to think that, at some point, unless the ownership group changes, Blackburn will go down at some point. I don't think it will be this year, but it very much could be. The reason I have them above the two below them is the attacking talent at the club: a front three of Todd Cantwell, Andri Gudjohnsen and Yuki Ohashi is far and away better talent-wise than the three below plus throw in the experience of Tony Mowbray as the manager I think he will be able to get a tune out of that front three who will score close to 30 goals between them. Then the rest of the squad has players who have been there and done that at this level, like Scott Wharton and Sam Morsy and other good players at the back in Balazs Toth and Ryan Alebiosu. I think they will just have enough to survive this season, but I will preface this prediction: if Toth leaves before the end of the window, I would swap Blackburn and Preston.
20th - Bolton Wanderers
Last season: playoff winners, League One
Major signings: L. Stephenson (€820k), A. Famewo (€585k), K. Dong (€300k loan), G. Larrazabal (free), D. Watson (free), B. Davies (free)
Major Sales: S. Schön (€600k), G. Johnston (free), K. Dempsey (free), L. Temple (loan), S. Sharples-Ahmed (undisclosed), R. Taylor (loan), J. Osei-Tutu (free), C. Mendes (free), S. Inwood (loan), M. Burstow (loan end), J. Kenny (loan end), I. Cissoko (loan end)
This is more of a projection of how the end of the window will go for Bolton cause with the squad in the state it currently is, it's hard to see them staying up. I reckon they will get at least three very good Premier League loans late on in the window, plus a few other additions. As for the current squad, I like the David Watson signing, who has been one of Kilmarnock's best players over the last few seasons. Adding him in the midfield with Xavier Simons and Josh Sheehan makes for a good midfield for a bottom-half Championship side; they definitely need some attackers though between now and the end of the window cause Kyliane Dong is new to English football, and Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale are unproven at the level, so at least a couple more attacking additions are necessary.
Could definitely go down, but I think they will get the attackers in the final weeks of the window.
19th - Portsmouth
Last season: 18th
Major signings: M. Milovanovic (€3.5 million), A. Kamara (€2.9 million), R. Shein (€2.5 million), D. Bielica (€650k), L. Brooke-Smith (€465k), E. Kelly (€40k) O. Bailey (free)
Major Sales: A. Dozzell (free), C. Chaplin (loan end), G. (loan end), J. Brown (loan end), M. Alli (loan end), I. Bowat (undisclosed)
John Mousinho. If he stays all season, Portsmouth will be fine. Even if he leaves at some point this season with the likes of Adrian Segecic, Jacob Murphy and very exciting youngster Luke Brooke-Smith they should create enough for new man Marko Milovanovic to comfortably outscore the teams below them the only reason I have them this low is if Mousinho leaves and isnt replaced correctly they could still be in trouble but if he stays dont be surprised if Portsmouth are in and around the top 12 conversation.
Mid-Table Mediocracy
18th - Stoke City
Last season: 17th
Major signings: E. Galbraith (€11.66m), M. Smit (€5.50m), D. Soumaré (€4.00m), L. Graham (€2.35m), S. Ingelsson (€1.20m), J. Griffiths (undisclosed)
Major Departures: S. Nzonzi (free), L. Baker (free), N. Lowe (loan), E. Tezgel (loan), N. Jojic (free), T. Simkin (loan), T. Grant (loan), M. Smit (loan end), D. Mubama (loan end)
Stoke always finish between 14th and 18th. Enough said.
17th - Watford
Last season: 17th
Major signings: F. Ravaglia (€7.00m), M. Payero (€4.00m), L. Kjerrumgaard (undisclosed), I. Bravo (undisclosed), O. Traoré (undisclosed), J. Zemura (loan), J. Hurtado (loan end), G. Ortelli (undisclosed), A. Marriott (loan end), D. Bachmann (loan end), T. Dele-Bashiru (loan end), M. Roberts (loan end)
Major Sales: T. Dele-Bashiru (€500k), N. Mendy (free), T. Ince (free), N. Baxter (undisclosed), G. Chakvetadze (undisclosed), J. Hurtado (loan), V. Semedo (loan), M. Roberts (free), P. Dwomoh (free), A. Marriott (loan), J. Abankwah (loan end), P. Ekwah (loan end), S. Goglichidze (loan end), S. Mfuni (loan end), F. Mendy (loan end), L. Kjerrumgaard (loan end)
I've seen plenty of people saying Watford could go down, but no team with Maamma, Bove and Louza in it is going to go down. I think they're more likely to make the top 8 than go down. Obviously, the Pozzos could pull something stupid at some point, but the manager looks like he has them playing well. If Watford can sort out defending set pieces and can get Kjerrumgaard scoring, Watford could finish much, much higher than this, but also if Louza and Maamma leave, Watford could be in trouble.
16th - Cardiff City
Major signings: N. Trott (€1.80m), J. Moylan (undisclosed), R. Simic (loan end)
Major Sales: R. Wintle (free), J. Daland (loan)
Brian Barry Murphy is one of the best up and coming managers in the UK and Cardiff will score goals because of the tactical set up. Salech at 50/1 is a great outside bet for top scorer off the whole league they have a very young squad with a few championship proven players sprinkled in in Calum Chambers, Chris Willock, Perry Ng and Callum Robinson. Ruben Colwill and Alex Robertson are both going to have strong seasons in my opinion sure Cardiff will ship goals and may get battered a few times but they will score enough goals to win plenty of games and be on the beach by March.
Playoff potential
15th - West Bromwich Albion
Major signings: F. Myhre (€3.00m), B. Stewart (€1.50m), J. Morgan (€1.50m), N. Galves (€1.00m), C. Townsend (free), M. Ingram (undisclosed), O. Bostock (undisclosed), A. Williams (undisclosed)
Major Sales: Josh Maja (free), D. Dike (free), K. Grant (free), J. Wallace (free), J. Griffiths (undisclosed), J. Wildsmith (free), C. Taylor (loan end), H. Mustapha (loan end), J. Jimoh-Aloba (loan end)
I have West Brom down in 15th because I dont really know what to make off them I love the Galves and Morgan signings Plus throw in players who had a decent season last season put could well make the next step in Aune Heggebo, Mikey Johnston (who is out injured to start the season) and Isaac Price West Brom could score many many goals and further back down the pitch with Alex Mowatt. Callum Styles, Alfie Gilchrist, Chris Mepham and Nat Phillips. The reason I have them this low is I don't trust interim managers who are given the job full time. James Morrison had West Brom playing well with top 6 underlying numbers after he came in. My gut feeling is West Brom won't be as good as they were down the back end of last season. The other major problem with West Brom is that goalkeepers Max O'Leary and Matt Ingram are both ok without being good goalkeepers, and both are prone to errors. I just think they might cost West Brom too many points.
14th - Wrexham
Major signings: D. Imray (€6.60m), B. Whiteman (€3.50m), Joe Rees (undisclosed), A. Patterson (undisclosed)
Major Sales: A. Cannon (free), T. O'Connor (free), P. Mullin (free), M. Purvis (free), Tom Kelly (free), Mo Faal (loan), R. Egan (free), C. Edwards (free), J. Rodríguez (free), I. Kaboré (loan end)
Imray and Whiteman are both good signings who improve the ceiling of the squad, and the squad is full of great players. Kieffer Moore will score 15 goals, and Callum Doyle is among the best players in the division, but the squad is still full of bottom-half Championship players and top-half League One players; the likes of Dom Hyam, Davis Keillor-Dunn, George Dobson, Oliver Rathbone, and Sam Smith are all going to play lots of minutes and are bang average. The even bigger problem with Wrexham is Phil Parkinson. Before joining Wrexham, Parkinson had only managed 5 seasons in the Championship, and three of those were disasters. He isn't a manager at the level of Wrexham's ambitions of going to the Premier League, and the only way I see them making the playoffs this year is them having a bad start and sacking Parkinson, getting a better manager in and climbing the table late in the season. If they're to make the playoffs, I'd like to see them bring in more exciting attackers to surround Moore and not have the two wing-backs as the biggest creative outlets in the side.
13th - Birmingham City
Major signings: J. Solís (€7.50m), L. Vázquez (€3.50m), K. Lund (€2.50m), D. Fry (free), J. Beadle (loan), T. Gardner-Hickman (loan end)
Major Sales: K. Wagner (€3.50m), K. Furuhashi (€1.20m), J. Panzo (free)
Very much like Wrexham, the manager has got to go for Birmingham to progress. Chris Davies had no plan B last season, which is why their away form was so bad. If Birmingham had John Mounsinho or Brian Barry-Murphy, I'd have Brum comfortably in the top 8. The squad is very good. Dael Fry is one of the best centre-backs in the division when fit, and he, next to Phil Neumann, is one of the better centre-back pairings in the league. Paik Seung-Ho is excellent in midfield, and Carlos Vicente was great from January onwards. The full-back areas could be improved, and James Beadle is prone to a clanger in net, but there should be no reason this squad should be any lower than eighth. If they sack Davies early and get a Mousinho or Barry-Murphy in, Birmingham could fly up the table.
12th - Queens Park Rangers
Major signings: C. Ward (€760k), B. Kemper (free), T. Lamptey (free), G. Kamara (loan), I. Alemayehu (undisclosed), P. Charles (loan),
Major Sales: Sam Field (€1.75m), Zan Celar (€1.50m), M. Cooper (€290k), Hevertton (free), P. Nardi (free), S. Cook (free), I. Hayden (free), Joe Walsh (loan), E. Dixon-Bonner (free), Ben Hamer (free), D. Bennie (loan), R. Norrington-Davies (loan end)
It was a fairly anonymous 15th-placed finish for QPR last season, but I like their business so far. Lamptey, when fit, is a great Championship right back, and having two goalkeepers with hands is much better than the zero they had last season, so whichever of Ward and Charles gets the number 1 spot is a massive upgrade on last season. Throw in the players that were there last season that should take a leap in an overall better team like Ronnie Edwards, Kwame Poku and Richard Kone. QPR should score goals and have a good season. I do worry slightly about Julien Stephan as manager; he has the pedigree but was very uninspiring in his first season, so that's why I dont have them higher
11th - Bristol City
Major signings: L. Tolaj (€4.70m), L. Eissat (€2.50m), S. Greenwood (€2.30m), S. Tickle (€1.75m), B. Collins (free), J. Wallace (free), D. Ballard (undisclosed), G. Yah (undisclosed), Y. Hirakawa (loan end),
Major Sales: S. Armstrong (€1.75m), R. McCrorie (€1.30m), J. Lumley (free), M. Sykes (free), J. Stokes (loan), H. Cornick (free), Sam Morsy (free), J. Knight-Lebel (loan), D. Burgzorg (loan end), R. Vítek (loan end)
Bristol City are a club on the rise after a bit of a tumultuous season last season; they have made great moves in the window. Laurent Tolaj and Sam Tickle are excellent bits of business and will hit the ground running. I'm more unsure about Dom Ballard, but his goal record speaks for itself. Throw in Jason Knight, Max Bird and Scott Twine going forward, and in Midfield there should be no problems. Getting Skubala in as manager is also a major coup, as he was the mastermind of Lincolns 29 match unbeaten run at the end of last season, which saw them promoted to the Championship. The reason I don't have them higher is defensively; Rob Atkinson and Rob Dickie are decent players for Championship level, but I don't think they're playoff level, and I like the look of new boy Eissat, but he has to prove himself in the Championship, and the full-back position is also not very strong. I think it might be a season too early for Bristol City to make the playoffs, but like Swansea, this is a club going in the right direction.
10th - Sheffield United
Major signings: M. Doherty (free), R. Donovan (loan), C. Nwachukwu (loan end), E. Ukaki (loan end), L. Faxon (loan end), N. Zätterström (loan end), R. Norrington-Davies (loan end), Ivo Grbic (loan end)
Major Sales: A. Brooks (€9.34m), C. Nwachukwu (undisclosed), G. Hamer (undisclosed) M. Polendakov (loan), A. Matos (loan), Ben Mee (retired), D. Ings (free), T. Davies (free), L. Faxon (loan), T. Bindon (loan end), K. Phillips (loan end), L. Hjelde (loan end), R. Donovan (loan end), D. Soumaré (loan end)
9th - Derby County
Last season: 8th
Major signings: B. Clark (€8.00m), C. Taylor (free), F. Bilbija (free), K. Goudmijn (loan end), D. Brown (loan end)
Major Sales: J. Rooney (free), C. Elder (free), B. Osborn (free), D. Batth (free), L. Thompson (undisclosed), D. Brown (loan), A. Weimann (free)
The squad is basically the same one that finished 8th last year, so Derby will be there or thereabouts. I slightly worry about the style of play that means for the elite teams in this division; Zetterstrom is amongst the best keepers in the league, and Morris, Szmodics and Agyemang are a great front three when fit. Derby are not going to be a team anyone looks forward to playing, but I feel they might drop too many points against the Blackburns, Lincolns and Boltons of the world to get into the playoffs. Getting Bobby Clark back permanently is a big coup, but Agyemang being out till the new year is a problem, as is having Corey Blackett-Taylor as your best winger in a promotion-pushing team; that shouldn't happen if at least two wingers dont come through the door before the end of the window. Derby are going down this list cause then where does the creativity come from? That being said, Eustace will make Derby a horrible team to play against and will have them there or thereabouts come the run-in.
Top 4 potential
8th - Swansea City
Major signings: J. Opoku (€6.50m), E. Just (€5.90m), Leo Walta (€3.40m), R. Stewart (free), S. Welsh (free), M. Yeo (undisclosed), T. Parente (loan), C. Congreve (loan end), S. Parker (loan end), B. Wales (loan end), O. Cooper (loan end), J. Thomas (loan end)
Major Sales: E. Galbraith (€11.66m), C. Congreve (€1.00m), J. Thomas (free), L. Cullen (undisclosed), R. Santos (undisclosed), O. Cooper (loan), Joel Ward (free), S. Parker (loan)
Swansea have what the three teams below them don't have in Vitor Matos, who is an exceptional manager, and while losing Ethan Galbraith may hurt them slightly, Swansea are a very well-run club and getting 10 million quid for him is great business. The signings of Eli Just and Joseph Opoku are great and will increase their creativity massively, and getting Ross Stewart on a free is amazing business, particularly if Vipotnik doesn't leave, as if you aren't relying on Stewart to be fit for every game, he is guaranteed goals at this level and a group of strikers of Vipotnik, Stewart and Adam Idah is among the best in the league the rest of the squad has great players in other roles as well Josh Tymon and Josh Key at left and right back is a great pair of full backs. Ben Cabango is a good centre back, and Lawrence Vigouroux is a great goalkeeper. Midfield without Galbraith is the reason I dont have them higher, as Widell, Franco, Stamenic and Fulton are a solid if not spectacular group of players. Swansea should at the very least be a great watch this season and could be amazing if everything clicks and Vipotnik stays.
7th - Burnley
Major signings: U. Raghouber (€5.00m), Ben Amos (free), L. Castell (undisclosed), J. Banel (undisclosed), A. Hountondji (loan end), O. Sonne (loan end), S. Sambo (loan end), O. Adewumi (loan end), O. Dodgson (loan end)
Major Sales: M. Estève (€25.00m), L. Tchaouna (€23.00m), Florentino (€18.70m), J. Anthony (€17.50m), L. Koleosho (€14.00m), L. Ugochukwu (€3.52m loan), M. Dúbravka (free), O. Dodgson (undisclosed), Q. Hartman (loan), O. Adewumi (loan), V. Hladký (free), A. Tuanzebe (free), J. Ward-Prowse (loan end)
The mass exodus this summer after relegation and the very late managerial appointment have not helped Burnley at all, losing players like Esteve, Ugochukwu and Anthony who were probably amongst their top best players last season. That being said, they still have a front four on paper of Flemming, Tresor, Edwards and Bruun Larsen, which is a joke at Championship level with the likes of Amdouni, Foster, Broja and Banel behind them; that attacking depth is insane for the Championship, although obviously more of these players could leave before the window ends. The biggest loss would be Flemming if he goes; they instantly become significantly worse. I worry about Burnley in midfield; Ugo Raghouber has never played in England before. Hannibal Mejbri is very hot and cold can be amazing, often isnt and Josh Laurent is a decent player but not exceptional. Only Josh Cullen is a proven starter in a championship title winning calibre team. At the back, Bashir Humphreys was great last time they were in the Championship, but the rest of them have question marks. Kyle Walker isnt getting younger; Ekdal can be inconsistent, and Connor Roberts is average. To my mind, the squad building over the last 3 years has been terrible, which has left Burnley with a very lopsided squad with some positions with loads of depth but others with no depth, and I dont trust the manager to get this squad ticking early enough to challenge for automatic promotion, but anything less than the playoffs is a sackable offence in my eyes.
6th - Millwall
Major signings: M. Servais (€4.00m), T. Arconte (€3.00m), E. Baggott (€1.17m), L. Dykes (free), D. Batth (free), M. Sykes (free), K. Lisbie (undisclosed), J. Metcalfe (undisclosed)
Major Sales: D. McNamara (free), W. Harding (free), B. Mitchell (free), B. Bannan (undisclosed), A. Mayor (undisclosed), M. Langstaff (undisclosed), K. Grant (loan), M. Luongo (free), Joe Bryan (free), T. Ballo (loan end), A. Patterson (loan end), W. Smallbone (loan end)
After finishing only a point off the Premier League last season, I'm expecting a slight drop-off but not too much. Millwall are a smart club who recruit well; Alex Neil is a great manager who knows how to get the best out of this squad, which is largely the same they've so far kept: Femi Azeez and Camiel Neghli, which is a massive boost. The defence is also still intact, with Caleb Taylor, Jake Cooper and Tristan Crama all still at the club, although Crama looks like he will face a month or two on the sidelines at the beginning of the season, where I worry for them compared to the five clubs above them in this preview is in both boxes do I trust one of Josh Coburn, Mihailo Ivanovic or Lyndon Dykes to score 20 goals? I dont and I also dont trust Jensen/Crocombe to be at the level of the best keepers in this division; that is the only reason they're not higher cause the other nine players on the pitch are as strong as any other team bar probably West Ham.
5th - Norwich City
Major signings: A. Brooks (€9.34m), Sam Field (€1.75m), B. Alves (€300k loan), D. Yongwa (free), G. Long (loan end), E. Myles (undisclosed),
Major Sales: T. Springett (free), G. Long (free), D. Barden (free), E. Marcondes (free), S. Duffy (free), J. Schlupp (free), L. Moulden (loan)
After their dismal start last season, once Phillippe Clement came in, Norwich took off and had top 6 form the rest of the season. They just started too far back to ultimately catch Hull in 6th, but the squad is in great shape despite the season-ending injury to Ali Ahmed and the other injury problems picked up in pre-season, leaving their squad a little short at the moment, but once those players are back, I expect Norwich to fly. Mo Toure and Jovon Makama are as good a strike force as anyone that isnt West Ham in the league, and with Andre Brooks and Oscar Schwartau supplying them, Norwich should have one of the best attacks in the league. The midfield is the area that separates Norwich from the 4 sides above them in my eyes. Kenny McLean is great and not a problem, but whichever one of Topic, Liam Gibbs and Jacob Wright is next to Mclean going to need to elevate their game from last season to match the midfields above them. The defence, like the midfield, is good but not amazing compared to the four above, and Kovacevic is a good keeper, although he is prone to a howler from time to time. That being said, I'm nitpicking as Norwich should absolutely make the playoffs and have the highest ceiling of every team I've mentioned so far.
Automatic Promotion contenders
4th - Southampton
Major signings: L. Dobbin (€10.50m), D. Peretz (€8.00m), C. Larin (€3.00m), G. Long (free), D. Mubama (loan), J. Larios (loan end), D. Downs (loan end), Y. Sugawara (loan end), A. Ramsdale (loan end)
Major Sales: St. Charles (€30.40m), R. Stewart (free), A. McCarthy (free), C. Taylor (free), O. Romeu (free), N. Oyekunle (loan), J. Robinson (loan), G. Long (loan end), Joe Aribo (free), J. Jones (free), W. Smallbone (free)
Southampton were superb after Christmas, and despite the debacle of Spygate in the playoffs causing the players to miss out on a chance to get promoted at Wembley, remarkably most of them have stuck around for the upcoming season. The exception is Shea Charles, but I dont think that is as big a miss as most, as Caspar Jander is a better player than him currently. The recruitment of Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz on permanent signings after successful loans, and the likes of Leo Scienza, Finn Azaz and Taylor Harwood-Bellis sticking around for another season is massive for Saints. The question mark is about the manager: is Tonda Eckert actually any good or did he just look good because he spied on every team in the league? At the time of writing, his punishment from the FA also hasn't been announced yet, so if he gets a lengthy ban, that immediately puts Southampton on the back foot, but the squad is loaded with talent, and even if Eckert gets banned, I dont think that will matter too much, and they will be comfortably in the fight for the automatic promotion places
3rd - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Last season: 20th Premier League
Major signings: R. Saïd (€9.00m), L. Krejci (€7.50m), R. Jiménez (free), K. Trippier (free), B. Traoré (loan end), S. Kalajdzic (loan end), M. Munetsi (loan end), Fer López (loan end)
Major Sales: J. Gomes (€40.00m), M. Doherty (free), T. Arokodare (loan), A. Gomes (loan end)
Despite a dismal season in the Premier League last season, this Wolves team has talent all over the pitch. Andre is an absolute joke and should be nowhere near this division; he could start for most of the teams in the Champions League, let alone the Championship, and getting Jimenez and Trippier in on frees feels like smart business, and players like Mateus Mane, Ladislav Krejci, and David Moller Wolfe, who were their better players in the Premier League, are all still here throw in proven Championship contributors in Adam Armstrong and Tommy Doyle Wolves have the squad to go straight back up the problem is this group of players has been so used to losing for so long last season they might get off to a slow start and could be too far back come December to catch the top two which is why I have them 3rd just missing out.
2nd - Middlesbrough
Last season: 5th
Major signings: W. Lankshear (€11.70m), R. Vítek (€8.15m), M. Arfsten (€6.50m), K. Joseph (€4.70m), J. Sarmiento (€3.70m), S. Berhalter (€1.75m), M. Peart-Harris (free), A. Kanté (loan end)
Major Sales: H. Hackney (€19.30m), D. Barlaser (free), S. Silvera (free), D. Fry (free), Kaly Sène (undisclosed), D. Burgzorg (loan), D. Lenihan (free), A. Gilbert (free), M. Targett (loan end), A. Browne (loan end)
Kim Hellberg had Middlesbrough as the best attacking side in the league and best defensive side in the league last season based on underlying numbers, but the strikers couldn't score, and Sol Brynn was dismal at times in net. Both of these weaknesses have been dealt with aggressively in getting Will Lankshear from Spurs to score the goals and Radek Vitek from Man United to keep them out. Both are coming off strong loan seasons in the Championship and will slot straight in no problem. They have kept most of the best-performing players from last season. With Callum Brittain, Adilson Malanda and Aidan Morris still at the club, losing Hayden Hackney is a blow, but replacing him with Seb Berhalter and 15 million quid feels like a good deal. Max Arfsten should fill the Matt Targett-shaped hole at left back, and Kyle Joseph and Sarmiento add depth to the attack, which lacked it at times last season. Boro still need a centre back to replace Dael Fry, and another midfielder would be nice in case of injury to Morris, but the best manager in the league has a squad capable of challenging for the title.
1st - West Ham United
Last season: 18th Premier League
Major signings: M. Solomon (€5.85m), K. Lamadrid (€1.15m), J. Veltman (free), L. Orford (undisclosed), F. Herrick (undisclosed), E. Mayers (undisclosed), G. Earthy (undisclosed), E. Álvarez (loan end), K. Casey (loan end), M. Cornet (loan end), N. Füllkrug (loan end), C. Marshall (loan end), J. Ward-Prowse (loan end)
Major Sales: M. Fernandes (€99.00m), C. Summerville (€64.50m), F. Potts (€10.00m), C. Wilson (free), C. Marshall (undisclosed), Ł. Fabiański (retired), A. Traoré (free), A. Disasi (loan end), K. Lamadrid (loan end)
Hermansen, Walker Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles, Ward-Prowse, Kante, Bowen, Solomon, Pablo, Castellanos. Enough said if they dont piss the league, Nuno should never manage again.
Daniel Mott
Comments
Post a Comment