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BARNSLEY:
Comfortably avoided relegation in their first season back at this
level last term, so this season, aspirations will be higher. Manager
Simon Davey has made a handful of additions to his squad, the most
notable being Rob Kozluk from Sheffield United and Andy Johnson
from Leicester, both of whom now this division inside out. The loss
of Danny Nardiello to QPR will be a blow to them, and a solid start
to the season is essential.
Last season: Championship, 20th. Won 15, drew 5, lost 26,
scored 53, conceded 85.
Strengths: Oakwell has its own micro climate. It could be
the coldest ground on earth.
Weaknesses: That cold could actually freeze Andy Johnson’s
lengthy locks and unbalance him, causing him to fall over and become
embedded in the turf.
BLACKPOOL:
Clinched promotion to the Championship via a 2-0 win over Yeovil
in the Play-Off Final at Wembley, just rewards after finishing third
in League One.
Andy Morrell and Keigan Parker did the damage up front but there’s
been no splashing of the cash since promotion, with John Hills,
Stephen Crainey and Gary Taylor-Fletcher the main additions. An
unknown quantity, anything above 21st place will surely be a bonus.
Last season: League One, 3rd. Won 24, drew 11, lost 11, scored
76, conceded 49.
Strengths: Training regime built exclusively on rock, candy
floss and extensive use of the kiss me quick hat.
Weaknesses: No good ever comes from signing a double-barrelled
player.
BRISTOL CITY:
Manager Gary Johnson continued cultivating a strong CV by taking
City to automatic promotion ahead of more fancied sides last term
- hello Nottingham Forest - and will be looking for a strong showing
this season. The addition of Hibs’ Ivan Sproule, a lightning
fast, if erratic, winger will give his side real directness and
their impressive defensive organisation means they could be the
surprise package this term.
Last season: League One, 2nd: Won 25, drew 10, lost 11, scored
63, conceded 39.
Strengths: Everybody keeps saying it’s time a city the
size of Bristol had a successful club.
Weaknesses: Everybody keeps saying it’s time a city
the size of Bristol had a successful club.
BURNLEY:
Burnley fans will doubtless be excited by the return of Robbie Blake,
snatched from the fire sale at Elland Road. The addition of the
pyjama wearing Gabor Kiraly might have sold rather fewer tickets
at Turf Moor, but for all that he looks like an inmate of the kind
of place where they don’t give you knives in case you hurt
yourself, Kiraly could be the more important acquisition as Steve
Cotterill looks to add consistency to an unpredictable side.
Last season: Championship, 15th. Won 15, drew 12, lost 19,
scored 52, conceded 49.
Strengths: Turf Moor is an intimidating place. Especially
when they let the double glazing salesman with the long leather
coat out on the pitch to announce the teams, like a uPVC Van Helsing.
Weaknesses: Claret? It’s for drinking, not for wearing.
CARDIFF CITY:
Last season, Cardiff City were Lewis Hamilton. Coming from out of
nowhere, careering off at a remarkable pace, leaving everyone in
their wake before driving into a wall and having it all end in tears.
Chopra’s gone, Fowler’s arrived, presumably to buy up
all the housing in the Principality - that’ll cost him about
a week’s wages judging from reports on his contract. And from
the look of the drive into Ninian Park.
Last season: Championship, 13th. Won 17, drew 13, lost 16,
scored 57, conceded 53.
Strengths: Robbie Fowler. Keep him on the right lines and
30 goals should do the job.
Weaknesses: The Welsh language. How can you take them seriously
when they think they’re playing a game called pel droed?
CHARLTON ATHLETIC:
It takes real effort to make such a complete bog of a season as
Charlton managed last time around, plummeting from established Premier
League outfit
to deeply relegated shambles, via three managers. Alan Pardew knows
his job, knows this league, but the turnover of players at the Valley
has been bewildering. All depends on how quickly they settle to
life back in the Championship, but hey have to be top six contenders.
Watch out for Luke Varney up front as well.
Last season: Premiership, 19th. Won 8, drew 10, lost 20,
scored 34, conceded 60.
Strengths: Darren Bent. £16.5million in the bank. Are
you sure?
Weaknesses: There’s a few there who’ve played nothing
but Premiership football for a long while now. They won’t know
what’s hit them in this league - hello West Brom last season.
COLCHESTER UNITED:
The surprise package in last season’s Championship, fantastic
form at Layer
Road, the poor man’s Sunday morning ground, got them to the
edge of the play
offs. They were a breath of fresh air and it would be good to see
them go further again, but the loss of goalscorers Iwelumo and Cureton
could be a blow that not even Teddy Sheringham will be able to cushion
- expect him and Robbie Fowler to swap stories about their days
in the Home Guard when they play Cardiff.
Last season: Championship, 10th. Won 20, drew 9, lost 17,
scored 70,
conceded 56.
Stengths: You can’t go wrong if your manager’s
called Geraint can you?
Weaknesses: They could go bankrupt from lost balls punted
aimlessly over the
extremely low stands and out of bounds. Especially when Wolves visit.
COVENTRY CITY:
The club finally climbed out of the 1970s by leaving Highfield Road
behind a couple of years ago, but despite the magnificence of the
Ricoh Arena, on the field they’ve gone backwards - seventeenth
was a poor return last season.
Arjan de Zeeuw and Michael Hughes should be influential new signings
but if Iain Dowie doesn’t show some bouncebackability and quick,
the future won’t be pretty. An encouraging set of early fixtures
offers a chance of a good start, but they have to make the most
of it.
Last season: Championship, 17th. Won 16, drew 8, lost 22,
scored 47, conceded 62.
Strengths: They’ve removed all the mirrors in the Ricoh
dressing rooms...
Weaknesses: They’re Coventry. 40 years of history says
they have to be at the bottom of whatever league they’re in.
CRYSTAL
PALACE:
Peter Taylor is another manager with the P45 hovering a few inches
above his head if he fails to deliver promotion this season - there’s
about a dozen of them. A slew of outgoings, including Jobi McAnuff,
suggests that money is running short at Selhurst. Perhaps their
chairman should take a tip from the
other Jordan and become a multimedia star to raise some cash. So
long as he
keeps his top on.
Last season: Championship, 12th. Won 18, drew 11, lost 17,
scored 59,
conceded 51.
Strengths: The least accessible ground on earth. Eventually
they’ll win a
game by default when the opposition fails to find Selhurst Park.
Weaknesses: When you start selling players to Coventry, something
is
horribly wrong.
HULL CITY:
Under new owners, again, it’s time Hull started to consolidate
in the
Championship instead of thrashing around at the bottom. Phil Brown
did a
good job of rescuing them last season and he’s added some quality
in Bryan
Hughes from Charlton, as well as taking Brown and Garcia from Colchester.
Dean Windass will still score a bunch of goals too. Mid table and
no fears
of relegation will be a good staging point season for them.
Last season: Championship, 21st. Won 13, drew 10, lost 23,
scored 51, conceded 67.
Strengths: Enough pre match food to go round now John Parkin’s
gone.
Weaknesses: Hang on. Dean Windass has arrived.
IPSWICH TOWN:
A young team, Ipswich will have benefited from the experiences of
last term.
They play the right way which guarantees goals at one end or the
other, but
inconsistency bedevilled them. The addition of Neil Alexander in
goal is a good signing and if Alan Lee gets decent service, they
could go close to the play offs, but a lack of strength in depth
might be costly by season’s end.
Last season: Championship, 14th. Won 18, drew 8, lost 20,
scored 64, conceded 59.
Strengths: Now Joe Royle and his large head has gone, at
least you can see the pitch from behind the dugout.
Weaknesses: Being called the Tractor Boys makes hem sound
like a Village People tribute band.
LEICESTER CITY:
Ten signings, three sales, cash splashed, and Martin Allen installed
as gaffer. Yes, another normal summer for Milan Mandaric who clearly
intends to do for Leicester what he did for Portsmouth, though this
time, he’s got a ground worth doing it in. Frankly, Leicester
were awful last year. This year, it’s promotion or bust. And
not even Mad Martin would like Milan when he gets angry.
Last season: Championship, 19th. Won 13, drew 14, lost 19,
scored 49, conceded 64.
Strengths: “My cheque book’s bigger than your cheque
book”.
Weaknesses: Likelihood of Martin Allen spontaneously combusting
with rage.
NORWICH CITY:
Norwich boss Peter Grant has added well in the summer with the arrival
of goalkeeper David Marshall and striker Jamie Cureton capable of
offsetting the loss of Earnshaw to Derby. That said there are few
signs of major improvement, so any advance on mid table mediocrity
will centre on them recapturing their impressive Carrow Road record
of old.
Last season: Championship, 16th. Won 16, drew 9, lost 21,
scored 56, conceded 71.
Strengths: Peter Grant was petty ruthless and extremely successful
when he managed Led Zeppelin. Oh, it’s not the same one...
Weaknesses: “Come on, let’s be havin’ you!”
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE:
The land of Ian Holloway, who should have his own TV series. After
a terrific season last year, Argyle are under pressure as their
lack of resources start to show in an increasingly Viv Nicholson
Championship. A lot depends on how Holloway works the loan market
in August, but anything like a repeat of last season will be like
swimming the channel in diver’s boots.
Last season: Championship, 11th. Won 17, drew 16, lost 13,
scored 63, conceded 62.
Strengths: “I want to try and spread the support with
my Bristol connection. Rovers are in the bottom division so why
can’t I try and convert some of them into Argyle fans? We’re
in the West Country so it’s not that far away. Only two and
a half hours away in a slow car, an hour and a half in a fast one
- or 10 minutes in a rocket! As long as you aimed it right, you’d
be down here really quickly. Don’t land it on the pitch, though,
because you’d ruin it!”
Weaknesses: “We threw everything at them. The kitchen
sink, golf clubs, emptied the garage and threw it at them. Unfortunately,
it was not enough, but at least my garage is tidy.”
PRESTON NORTH END:
“Where’s your Nugent gone?” will be the call from
the stands when Preston are in town this term, but don’t underestimate
Preston’s ability to replace quality with quality - Billy Jones
is a great signing from Crewe, full of potential. Kevin Nicholls
from Leeds will dominate the middle of the park, but how fast can
Preston recover from their Cardiff like capitulation at the end
of last term? Yet again, they should be play-off challengers.
Last season: Championship, 7th. Won 22, drew 8, lost 16,
scored 64, conceded 53.
Strengths: Over the last handful of seasons, they’ve
shown they know how to get into the play-offs.
Weaknesses: They don’t seem to know what to do when
they get there.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS:
John Gregory did a handy job in keeping QPR afloat last term after
they seemed doomed, and that is pretty much the extent of their
hopes this year after a summer in which the addition of Danny Nardiello
is more than offset by the departure of Lee Cook to Fulham. They
should edge forward, but they’ll be hoping that none of the
promoted sides do particularly well, just as a bit of insurance.
Last season: Championship, 18th. Won 14, drew 11, lost 21,
scored 54, conceded 68.
Strengths: John Gregory’s glossy black mane - he uses
it to reflect sunlight and dazzle opposition goalkeepers.
Weaknesses: It’s not often sunny in Shepherd’s
Bush.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED:
They had a phenomenal season on the way to winning League One last
year, even surviving the departure of manager Brian Laws early in
the season. The
question this season is can they survive the departure of Billy
Sharp who knocked in 30 of their 73 goals last year when nobody
else hit double figures. They need to find a similarly free scoring
replacement by the time
the transfer window snaps shut. Goalkeeper Joe Murphy was secure
at the back as they surged into the Championship, but he could be
in for a busier season
this time around.
Last season: League One, 1st. Won 26, drew 13, lost 7, scored
73, conceded 35.
Strengths: Scunthorpe on a Tuesday night. God, no.
Weaknesses: Come to sunny Scunny. It’s not much of a
slogan is it?
SHEFFIELD UNITED:
Nobody faces a bigger season than Bryan Robson whose managerial
future rests on getting the Blades promoted. Will the last day Wigan
defeat and the West Ham fiasco depress Bramall Lane, or will that
injustice fire them up for an epic season? Unlike at West Brom,
Robson’s players know this division inside out and that will
be a big help, as will a squad of about 95 players and the acquisition
of Billy Sharp. Promotion favourites, anything outside the top two
will be underachieving.
Last season: Premiership, 18th. Won 10, drew 8, lost 20,
scored 32, conceded 55.
Strengths: Media hap on about a “special relationship”
with Manchester United for loan players. Not that it worked at Boro
or West Brom.
Weaknesses: Those Roy Keane comparisons. Keano got Sunderland
promoted as Champions you know...
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY:
Dark horses for a real run at promotion after a strong second half
to last season under Brian Laws, and they could be pulled along
in United’s slipstream. Laws got them well organised and they
were able to get goals throughout the side, with four men in double
figures. Lack of an out and out goalscorer could cost them, as could
a pretty thin looking squad. The Owls are still a handy each way
bet for the top six though.
Last season: Championship, 9th. Won 20, drew 11, lost 15,
scored 70, conceded 66.
Strengths: Nobody ever likes facing their in-Laws. Sorry...
Weaknesses: Owl Stretching Time was the original name for
Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Makes you think doesn’t
it?
SOUTHAMPTON:
Microsoft tycoon takeovers, departing chairman, fortunes for a Bale
of left-back, the summer has been anything but dull at Southampton.
Which is as well because it clears the mind of a season where they
blew it. As good as any Championship side last term, they should
have gone up, but didn’t and now the side is breaking up, with
Bale and Baird big losses. They play good football, George Burley
knows his job, but this could be the year when they have to take
a step back before they take two forward.
Last season: Championship, 6th. Won 21, drew 12, lost 13,
scored 77, conceded 53.
Strengths: Pele plays for them.
Weaknesses: No, not that one.
STOKE CITY:
No team played the loan market better than Stoke last season, but
given that half the team went home at the start of May, now they’ve
got do it all again. They’ve got the basis of a handy side
in Salif Diao, Liam Lawrence, Dominic Matteo and Danny Higginbotham
while the addition of the hefty Jon Parkin up front offers what’s
known as the “Hartson option”. With Gary Megson joining
Tony Pulis in the dug out, spectators are advised to wear ear protection.
Last season: Championship, 8th. Won 19, drew 16, lost 11,
scored 62, conceded 41.
Strengths: Their fans don’t expect much by way of entertainment.
Just as well.
Weaknesses: Founder members of the Football League. Downhill
ever since.
WATFORD
Look like a good bet for an immediate return to the top flight,
especially if Marlon King completes his return to full fitness after
a knee injury last year. Aidy Boothroyd is pretty much the Messiah
in Watford, his stock is pretty high elsewhere, but this is the
year when the pressure is on for the first time. How high a mental
toll did last season’s battering take?
Last season: Premiership, 20th. Won 5, drew 13, lost 20,
scored 29, conceded 59.
Strengths: They run and run and run and run. Then run some
more.
Weaknesses: Being called the Golden Boys is even worse than
the Tractor Boys.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION:
As tranquil as an episode of “EastEnders”, Albion’s
dressing room seems packed with “Premiership” players
who got the team relegated then couldn’t get it promoted, but
want to play at the top level. Makes perfect sense...
Tony Mowbray has the toughest job in the Championship, but his style
of
play will also make Albion the most exciting in the division, given
the chance to ship out the want aways.
Last season: Championship, 4th. Won 22, drew 10, lost 14,
scored 81, conceded 55.
Strengths: You score three, we’ll score four.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t always work that way.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS:
A surprise play-off place last season, largely on the basis of Mick
McCarthy shouting very loudly. The former Irish boss worked wonders
on a team most had tipped to finish in the bottom half. With the
club changing hands for a tenner - didn’t you know you could
buy clubs on eBay , or, in McCarthy’s
case eBay gum! - there’s some cash being splashed, not least
in signing Fredy Eastwood. Top six or they’ve had a bad year.
Last season: Championship, 5th. Won 22, drew 10, lost 14,
scored 59, conceded 56.
Strengths: Money. It usually works.
Weaknesses: Colour-blindness. The shirts are not “old
gold”. They’re orange. Ok?
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