Christian Brown’s npower Championship 2011/12 Preview - Part Two

The Football Front’s Christian Brown in a three feature takes a look at the chances of the team’s in the npower Championship.

This is part two of the npower Championship preview – Part one can be found here.

Crystal Palace – 2010/11 finish: 20^th

Last season started with so much optimism for Palace; George Burley started the season in charge, Nathaniel Clyne was still there and even Edgar Davids signed at one point. But, it came so close to tears as Palace very nearly went down. Under the guidance of former player Dougie Freedman they won’t be going down this season. Key additions such as Glenn Murray and Jonathan Parr will improve the team. Whilst retaining crucial players like Julian Speroni will ensure relegation doesn’t’ happen. It’s clear the club do not have enough to challenge for promotion, following their financial crisis suffered and the relegation battle last year. But most Palace fans will happily settle for a mid-table place - which is exactly what they should achieve. Position – 16^th

Derby County – 2010/11 finish: 19^th

After the complete write off last season, this summer started with so much hope. New signings were ade, money was actually spent by Mr Clough. But then pre-season started. Draws against Morecambe and Macclesfield occurred, before embarrassingly losing to Matlock Town, and then 2-1 against Crewe with arguably The Rams’ best team out and being a goal up. Clough’s dilly dallying in the window has caused targets to move elsewhere or stay put, and when the owner is saying how “Derby will finish top 6”, you do fear for Clough’s job security. Average additions to an already average squad will not get Derby to the top 6, so after this season it will be goodbye and farewell to Mr Nigel Clough. Position – 19^th

Doncaster Rovers – 2010/11 finish: 21^st

In terms of injuries, no-one in arguably the whole of the Football League had it as bad as Doncaster Rovers. How they survived last season was an absolute miracle. Speculation over Sean O’Driscoll’s job was unfairly increasing, but as John Ryan said – “we will never have an injury crisis this bad ever again in the history of the club.” Keeping hold of players like Billy Sharp and James Coppinger have been crucial, whilst also acquiring the services of Tommy Spurr from rivals Sheffield Wednesday, will tighten things up at the back. In terms of league position, their team is in no state to challenge, but they will stay up rather comfortably. Position – 17^th

Hull City – 2010/11 finish: 11^th

Hull City will be a very strange tiger this season. At one point last season they were in the hunt for the 6^th play off place, but Middlesbrough put an end to that with a 4-1 thumping at The KC Stadium. However, from all the signings they’ve currently brought in during the close season, only Jack Hobbs and Adriano Basso would seem players that could maybe piece together a play off charge. Paul McKenna and Dele Adebola are experienced yes, but a combined age of 69? No-one knows what to expect from this Hull team, which could well work in their favour. With a strong squad already in place though, this should be another productive season. Position – 10^th

Ipswich Town – 2010/11 finish: 13^th

After so much expectation last year, it was perhaps inevitable Ipswich were going to fail. This season there is more expectation, but with good reason. With Paul Jewell at the helm and with five quality additions brought into the club (Michael Chorpra, David Stockdale, Lee Bowyer, Jay Emmanuel Thomas and Nathan Ellington), this could well be the season Ipswich achieve the targets set by the club’s hierarchy and the impatient fans. The players already in the squad are hardly from the footballing scrapheap, so with the new men in place they’ll definitely be good enough to mount a charge, and that is exactly what they’ll do. Position – 4^th

Leeds United – 2010/11 finish: 7^th

What is going on at Leeds? First they lose both holding midfielders Bradley Johnson and Neil Kilkenny on frees, then they force their goalkeeper out before bringing in a sub standard replacement in comparison to Schmeichel, and then to top it off, 2 of their best strikers get injured (Becchio and Somma)! With Premier League eyes keenly fixed on both Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass, if Leeds aren’t careful, they could be back where they came from. Losing Schmeichel is a monumental blow, as he won the club so many points on his own last. New keeper, Longeran will not do the same. Position – 13^th

Leicester City – 2010/11 finish: 10^th

The Foxes aren’t high up on every other Championship club’s Christmas card list at this current moment in time. Last season, they got a load of Premier League loans in. This season they’ve bought a whole new team, spending ludicrous fees and paying out ridiculous wages in the process. For example; Matt Mills cost them £5.5 million, and Paul Konchesky is on 40k a week. Unfortunately for football purists, money does talk; and talks a lot in this league. Leicester will get promoted, especially so under Sven’s guidance – but they still don’t have the required strength to win the league outright. A lot of people will be hoping Leicester fall flat, but you can’t see it. Position – 2^nd

Middlesbrough – 2010/11 finish: 12^th

Last season, Middlesbrough were expected to walk the league. Kris Boyd signed, and he was expected to score 20+ and help steer Boro back to the top flight. None of this happened, and they even had a patch where they were looking over their shoulders constantly, as they were fighting against the relegation trapdoor. Tony Mowbray then came in, and a storming finale ensured they finished a respectable 12^th. They should have been allowed to build on this finish, but financial problems have meant that they have to sell, rather than buy. Mowbray will have to work wonders to get a top 6 finish, and that just won’t happen. Position – 11^th

Part One is available here

The final and third part will be available on Wednesday 3rd August

This piece was written by Christian Brown, you can follow him on his Twitter - @Chris78901, Chris also writes for The Sports Pallet too. All of Chris' work is on his blog, 1-chris78901.

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The Championship. Is it more competitive than ever before?

“The Championship is the best league in the world.” A bold statement, you might think. The Championship hardly attracts the world’s best players and it doesn’t boast the world’s best teams. So whoever was to issue the statement above might be seen as a bit mad.

But what the Championship is though, it is by far the most competitive league in the world. The league has 24 teams as its capacity, realistically about 22 of those can go up. That’s not an exaggeration either. With the exceptions of Barnsley and Peterborough, there is no reason as to why the remaining 22 can’t mount a promotion charge.

Admittedly, for at least 8 of those 22, there are a lot of ‘ifs’ involved. If Watford and Millwall can replace free scoring strikers Danny Graham and Steve Morison they could be in the play offs. If Derby can secure a proven holding midfielder and acquire a target man, they could also be in the play offs. If Coventry can get a striker or get consistency out of Freddy Eastwood, they could be in the play offs too. There are so many ‘if’ variables in the Championship that I could highlight.

Then again, all football is immersed by ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. Even if Coventry, Millwall and Watford do what’s needed, they could still get relegated; such is the competitive edge of this league. The general consensus regarding the teams who have just been promoted (Brighton (League One Champions, Southampton (League One runners off) and Peterborough (playoff winners)) is that the first two teams will survive comfortably, more so Southampton.

Incidentally, Brighton have somehow pipped West Ham and Leicester City to Peterborough’s top goal scorer last season, Craig Mackail-Smith. He is the perfect replacement for the recently departed Glenn Murray.

Even the teams coming up will be challenging for promotion!

However, there are the more notable teams which are expected to do well. Despite a currently possessing squad which contains just fourteen players, Nottingham Forest under the guidance of ex England manager Steve McClaren are expected to finish in the top 6. They have re-signed former fan favourite Andy Reid and this is a statement of their intentions, and after finishing so close in the last two years, they could make it 3^rd time lucky.

While Cardiff under new management in Malky Mackay, they have done well so far to replace the players who have recently departed, and with more signings on the horizon, they will be favourites to challenge in the play offs yet again.

There is also the small matter of the teams that have just been relegated from the Premier League. Blackpool seem certain to lose their talismatic midfielder Charlie Adam. There is also the possibility that the money gained from Adam (£9 million price tag) could go straight into the Blackpool budget.

The Carling Cup holders Birmingham will no doubt make a charge for the top 2 under Chris Hughton. This is regardless even if they have lost key players and will continue to do so. Signing Chris Burke and Marlon King means goals, and with a sturdy defence, they will be amongst the top 6.

The favourites however, are West Ham and Leicester. Leicester have strengthened enormously, Kasper Schmeichel, Sean St Ledger and Neil Danns have all joined the Foxes and under the supervision from another ex England manager Sven Goran Erikson. Leicester seem certain to go up. Although West Ham look certain to lose Scott Parker, they have signed Kevin Nolan and haven’t lost many other players. Those that have left have been expendable, and someone will come in to take their chance. This relegation could be a blessing in disguise for West Ham, as many expect them to storm the league like Newcastle did a few years ago.

Having said all this, you would be foolish to predict anything that happens in the Championship. So often people are proved wrong. West Ham may well be the runaway favourites, but with the league being as competitive as ever, whether they do get automatically promoted is not a nailed on certainty. However, if West Ham don’t finish in the automatic slots and fall into the lottery of the play offs, the West Ham fans know too well the feelings of joy and despair that the £90 million game in football can bring.

Only 3 teams can go up, and the way things are shaping up for this year, this is the league to watch.

This piece was written by Christian Brown, you can follow him on his Twitter - @Chris78901, Chris also writes for The Sports Pallet too. All of Chris' work is on his blog, 1-chris78901.

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