ivanhoe

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
One of the Premier League title favourites Chelsea begin their league campaign against fellow London club Crystal Palace at 3pm BST on Saturday afternoon at Stamford Bridge. The home team have a number of injury concerns ahead of this opening clash but will they face a testing opponent who come into this game at the dawn of a new era for the club?
Chelsea finished last season in the best way possible by winning the Champions League and their league form also showed that they have the potential to step up to being title challengers this season. Thomas Tuchel has done a superb job since coming in as head coach of the Blues. It had looked like a quiet summer for Chelsea in the transfer market after last season's lucrative spending but the club splashed out £97.5 million on Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku last week to see the Belgian front man return to the club. Lukaku is still quarantining so is unavailable for this game. The team could also be without the duo of Hakim Ziyech and N'Golo Kante for this game. Chelsea generally start their league seasons well having only lost on 4 of the last 27 opening game days. Christian Pulisic could be a pick for anytime scorer having bagged 4 goals in 4 games against Palace.
Crystal Palace start life under new manager Patrick Vieira here and it's set to beckon in a new look Eagles squad. A fresh-looking defensive partnership made up of new signings Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen is set to start but the on-loan Conor Gallagher is ineligible to face his parent club, new signing Michael Olise has a back injury, and Luka Miliojevic is absent for personal reasons. The highly-rated Eberechi Eze is also ruled out for a while. Palace ended last season quite poorly with 6 defeats from their last 8 league games. However, in Vieira, they possess a manager who was undefeated against Chelsea as a player winning 6 and drawing 4 of his encounters against them.
I'm cautiously optimistic that Vieira can be a decent appointment for Crystal Palace if he's given time but he has a lot of key players missing for this game. That is particularly the case in the creative department. A lot of emphasis will be on Wilfried Zaha today and if Chelsea can keep him quiet then it should be a business-like display for the home team who I fully expect to win this clash having won 18 of the past 24 metings.
Chelsea HT/FT @ 2.15 with Mansion Bet
Chelsea -1 @ 2.20 with RedZone

West Brom
Finally, we have the team I am backing to win the Championship title this season and it's the archetypal yo-yo team West Brom. It's a decision I became quite conflicted about with Fulham, Bournemouth, and Sheffield United all becoming my preference at different points during the last couple of weeks but the appointment of former Barnsley head coach Valerien Ismael sold it for me. Everything is in place at the Hawthorns for a swift return back to the Premier League this season.
Ismael has been clinical with his summer business so far. Deadwood such as Branislav Ivanovic, Hal Robson-Kanu, Kamil Grosicki, Lee Peltier, Sam Field, Charlie Austin, and Andy Lonergan have left the club. The only additions so far have been Alex Mowatt from Barnsley, Quevin from Chelsea, and the loan signing of Matthew Clarke from Brighton but it's a squad that still has the likes of Sam Johnstone, Callum Robinson, Jake Livermore, Matt Phillips, Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira, and Romain Sawyers. This squad is experienced at this level to the hilt but also blends nicely with exciting young talent.
When it came down to it I had to pick the team I felt looked the most balanced and West Brom offer that. There have been so many managerial changes over the summer for the teams that could be competing for promotion back to the Premier League but I feel West Brom currently look the best placed to seal it. Their pre-season has shown that Ismael is not only making the most of the attacking talents but also running a tight ship at the back and that will be key this season. Attackers win you promotion. Defenders and midfielders win you titles.
My Prediction: 1st

Fulham
Could it be that Fulham are finally learning their lessons of seasons past by not spending fortunes of money on new players in an effort to earn promotion or survive relegation? The Cottagers will be looking to bounce back up to the promised land at the first time of asking. Scott Parker has left the club for rivals Bournemouth and he's been replaced by former Watford head coach Marco Silva. Big decision!
Silva has been reluctant to make too many changes with Marcus Bettinelli, Kevin McDonald, and Stefan Johansen the only real noteworthy departures. The arrivals have been minimal but potentially huge. Goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga has arrived from Tottenham and creative midfielder Harry Wilson has come in from Liverpool. Those two additions boost a squad that already includes the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Tom Cairney, Bobby Cordova-Reid, and Tosin Adarabioyo. This Fulham squad is arguably the strongest at this level and in Silva they have a manager who has enjoyed success in Portugal and Greece but not yet in England.
It's a big call putting Fulham as finishing in 2nd place but I think Silva should be able to get this team playing if he can get his tactics right. The attacking talent throughout this squad is frightening for the second tier of English football and they could still yet add more players to that squad. You have to say that if anyone finishes above this Fulham team then they'll likely earn automatic promotion.
My Prediction: 2nd

Bournemouth
The little club that could finally saw their Premier League run come to an end two seasons ago and hopes of bouncing back at the first time of asking last season didn't come to fruition after play-off failure. The board took the ruthless decision to sack head coach Jonathan Woodgate and replace him with former Fulham manager Scott Parker. It's a big gamble but will it pay off?
The Cherries have put a lot of their eggs in one basket with the appointment of Parker. The former Chelsea and Charlton player guided Fulham to promotion to the Premier League but also led them to relegation last season. He's been minimal with his transfer movements so far only bringing in Emiliano Marcondes from Brentford and Leif Davis from Leeds on loan. Departures have also been limited with Jack Wilshere, Ajani Burchall, Asmir Begovic, and Diego Rico the only big name exits. That must mean Parker feels he has the quality within this squad to get promotion done and you can't blame him. This team still boasts the likes of Steve Cook, David Brooks, Jefferson Lerma, Dominic Solanke, Arnaut Danjuma, and Philip Billing.
There's no denying that the quality is there within this Bournemouth squad but, for me, the jury still remains out on Parker. Yes, he got promotion with Fulham but it was through the play-offs when really they should have been walking the Championship that season. Is he the right man? I think he'll get them in the mix but, again, I'm not sure he has what it takes to get them to finish in the top two.
My Prediction: 3rd

Sheffield United
There is no doubt that last season was certainly one to forget for Sheffield United fans. A season that promised so much after a fantastic debut campaign in the Premier League ended in a horror show with the club finishing bottom of the league table by some considerable way. The Blades come into this campaign looking to bounce back to the top flight with a new manager at the helm in Slavisa Jokanovic. Can they do it?
The massive exodus and player turnover that was anticipated by many hasn't appeared to have happened at Bramall Lane over the summer. United have seen Phil Jagielka, John Lundstram, Simon Moore, and Jack Rodwell depart as well as the loan signing from last year of Ethan Ampadu but other than that it's consistent from last season. That means the club have got the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Enda Stevens, Chris Basham, Sander Berge, Rhian Brewster, Oli McBurnie, John Fleck, John Egan, Jayden Bogle, and the rest to start this campaign. How many more will leave before the season begins? Who knows! Players could yet arrive as well though. It's a strong squad.
My only concern is that this is a Sheffield United squad that made losing a habit. I think the appointment of Jokanovic is an excellent one but it's going to need some serious man management and tactical nous to turn the morale of this depleted club around after the last 12 months. I think they'll start to recover and we won't see them continue to free fall but I'm not entirely sure they'll bounce back at the first time of asking. If the likes of Brewster, McBurnie, and David McGoldrick can bang in the goals then it'll be a very interesting season.
My Prediction: 4th

Middlesbrough
Right, so we all know why I've placed Middlesbrough as high as this don't we? Say it together now. Neil Warnock! Yes, the former Cardiff and Sheffield United manager is one of, if not the, most successful gaffers in English second tier football history. God, I miss having that man as our manager but alas he belongs to someone else now and they can benefit from his wisdom and experience. Are Boro really ready to build on their 10th placed finish of last season though?
I must admit, I was slightly disappointed that Middlesbrough finished so low last season in Warnock's first full campaign in charge but it may take more time than it has at other clubs. A lot of remedial work was needed. A fair few players have left this season too with high profile names such as Britt Assombalonga, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Marvin Johnson, Jordan Archer, Ashley Fletcher, and George Saville plus the loan signings from last season. You have to say that the additions so far have hardly been inspiring with Lee Peltier, Sammy Ameobi, Joe Lumley, Uche Ikpeazu, and Matt Crooks coming in.
Yes, you look at it more and more and it does start to seem that Middlesbrough have a fight on their hands to be anything more than mid-table mediocrity but this is Warnock we're talking about. He still has time to bring in new signings and he still has a number of superb players on his books like Sam Morsy, Marcus Tavernier, Paddy McNair, Jonny Howson, Djed Spence, and Duncan Watmore. Never write Warnock off!
My Prediction: 5th

QPR
My big punt for this upcoming Championship season is that QPR are going to be a team to watch from the crowd. Manager Mark Warburton enters his third season as manager of the Hoops and it feels like he's building something special here at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. The club has improved its league position in each of the last two seasons and I'm expecting a similar improvement again.
Warburton has not messed around this summer. The former Brentford and Nottingham Forest gaffer has moved quick to bring in a horde of new signings including Jordy de Wijs from Hull City, Sam Field and Charlie Austin from West Brom, Andre Dozzell from Ipswich, Jordan Archer from Middlesbrough, Jimmy Dunne from Burnley, Stefan Johansen from Fulham, Moses Odubajo from Sheffield Wednesday, and Sam McCallum on loan from Norwich. No big names have been lost this summer either with the club keeping hold of Lyndon Dykes, Ilias Chair, Yoann Barbet, and Seny Dieng.
There are times you get teams that build momentum organically in the Championship by slowing piecing together a competitive squad that improves season-upon-season. QPR are one of those teams right now. Warburton is doing a cracking job and it's totally understandable why their fans are feeling even more optimistic about this season than I am for them. This is a big season for QPR and I wouldn't be surprised if we're seeing them celebrating promotion to the Premier League come May.
My Prediction: 6th

Cardiff
This is a tough one for me because I need to try and remove myself from my usual pre-season pessimism as a Bluebirds fan. Mick McCarthy enters his first full season in charge of the club. Last season, he turned us from a club that looked in deep trouble to one that only narrowly missed out on a play-off spot for a second season in a row. We ended the season on a 6-game unbeaten run. Unfortunately, our pre-season preparations haven't been great.
The trio of Sheyi Ojo, Harry Wilson, and Jordan Osei-Tutu haven't renewed their loan deals. The likes of Junior Hoilett, Joe Bennett, Robert Glatzel, Sol Bamba, Joe Day, and Jonny Williams have left the club. Our pre-season results and performances haven't been great either having failed to beat Cambridge United, Exeter, and having suffered a 4-0 hammering against Southampton this past week. They are only friendlies though. The positive notes include new striker James Collins being in scoring form so he'll compete with Kieffer Moore for a starting spot. The signings of Ryan Giles from Wolves, Ryan Wintle from Crewe, and Mark McGuinness from Arsenal are also exciting.
There is still a bit of time left before the new season starts and I'm glad because it feels like we still need 2-3 fresh faces to improve this squad. A few injuries mean we could enter our first game with a severely weakened team if we don't add numbers to the squad. I have faith in big Mick though. When it comes to the crunch I think he'll get us grinding out results. Sadly, I think we'll fall just short of the play-offs again unless we can bring in some game-changing players. I can't see that happening though.
My Prediction: 7th

Nottingham Forest
If one team has been flattering to deceive for a number of seasons now then it has to be Nottingham Forest. The Tricky Trees have been in the Championship for 13 straight seasons now. The club has gone through 19 different managers during that time with the likes of Billy Davies, Steve Cotterill, Mark Warburton, Steve McClaren, Aitor Karanka, Martin O'Neill, Sabri Lamouchi, and now Chris Hughton all failing to get the club up into the top flight so far. Yet this is a Forest team that has boasted some quality players during that period too so why hasn't it worked?
Many fans will point to the Al-Hasawi era where the owner probably dabbled too much in team affairs. You have to feel that under the guidance of new owner Evangelos Marinakis that the club is on a better footing now. Hughton has experience of getting both Newcastle and Brighton up from this division into the Premier League so they have a man at the wheel who has seen it and done it. Forest certainly under-performed last season in 17th place but Hughton definitely started to make them a team that became hard to beat as the season progressed. Scoring goals was a big issue though with only rivals Derby hitting the net fewer times over the course of the season.
Worryingly, there haven't been any major movements on the transfer front for Forest yet. The club has gone unbeaten in pre-season and it's also been pleasing to see Welsh starlet Brennan Johnson starting to make his presence felt in the first team fold. You get the feeling that Forest are only a 20-goal a season striker away from being a real threat. Can they get that man? Even if they don't they just need the proven scorer Lewis Grabban to get back to his usual form and they can push for the play-offs again. I think Hughton will make it work.
My Prediction: 8th

Swansea
As a Cardiff fan, this pick will court controversy no matter where I position them but I'm putting Swansea here because I think that this could be a potentially difficult season for them. I even think I'm probably giving them the benefit of the doubt. Head coach Steve Cooper is set to depart the club and the next appointment is going to be massive. It's surprising they are leaving it so close to the season starting with the playing squad so small as well.
There is no denying that the Swans have been punching above their weight for the last decade with stints in the Premier League and consistently battling at the better end of the Championship table. Managerial appointment after managerial appointment has worked out for them and the fans will look back on these times as halcyon days. However, Cooper's departure feels like it could be a possible turning point unless the Swansea board get the next manager spot on. Last season's play-off final defeat to Brentford was a huge missed opportunity. A squad made up largely of loan signings has been dismantled with the likes of Freddie Woodman, Morgan Gibbs-White, Marc Guehi, Viktor Gyokeres, Kasey Palmer, Conor Hourihane, Jordan Morris, and Paul Arriola all returning to their parent clubs. Andre Ayew, Declan John, Kieron Freeman, Barrie McKay, and Nathan Dyer have all left the club too. Moves have been made to bring in 16 young players from other clubs but none of them come close to matching the quality of those that have left. Liam Walsh from Bristol City is undoubtedly the biggest arrival.
I know a lot of people have been picking Swansea as potential surprise relegation battlers given the huge transition taking place but, as a Cardiff fan, I'm very wary about writing them off.  Their pre-season results and performances have gone reasonably well. The squad is still packed with quality players such as Matt Grimes, Ben Cabango, and Jay Fulton. If they can bring the right man in, add some loan signings, and blend the team early then there's no reason they can't battle for the play-offs again. I just think leaving it so late in the off-season to get a new gaffer in is asking for trouble.
My Prediction: 9th

Millwall
OK, this may well be my most controversial pick in this season's predictions given their awful end to last season of just 1 win from their last 6 league games including losing 6-1 away to Coventry on the final day of the season but I have reasoning behind my decision to put the Lions in the top half of the table this season. Simply put, they have a man at the helm in Gary Rowett who knows this division, understands what the club is all about, and has what it takes to keep Millwall performing as an upper mid-table side at the very least.
Not only do Millwall have Rowett but his summer business so far has been very positive. He's moved to make the loan move of Scott Malone permanent. Daniel Ballard's superb performances on loan for Blackpool in League One last season have earned him a shot at the Championship and it could be a shrewd acquisition from Rowett. The arrivals of George Saville, George Long, and Benik Afobe will all add strength to the squad. It's also key that the club keep hold of their inspirational midfield maestro Jed Wallace.
When you consider that Millwall finished 11th place last season and they have only strengthened their squad over the summer you have to feel that whatever Rowett is doing will keep working. Can they be considered as outsiders for a play-off push? You wouldn't blame their fans for thinking so but I think, ultimately, they will fall just short. It could be an enjoyable season for their fans though.
My Prediction: 10th

Stoke City
It's not exactly been an awe-inspiring last decade for Stoke City fans with the club suffering relegation from the Premier League and since treading water in the Championship. I don't think anybody was kidding themselves into thinking the football was going to be brilliant under Michael O'Neill but the way last season ended with just 1 win from their last 7 league games probably made things even worse. Although they did end their campaign with a positive 2-0 win over Bournemouth.
The Potters needed to move on some more deadwood this summer and, judging by the fans reactions on the forums, he has managed to do this reasonably successfully. The likes of Kevin Wimmer, Liam Lindsay, Ryan Woods, Jordan Cousins, Moritz Bauer, John Obi Mikel, Benik Afobe, Bruno Martins Indi, Sam Vokes, Badou Ndiaye, and Lasse Sorensen have all departed the club. Losing Nathan Collins to Burnley is a blow but he has been replaced by Ben Wilmot. The other two main additions of Jack Bonham and Mario Vrancic are also excellent signings. A few more arrivals are needed to add more quality and depth to the squad, particularly in the wide positions, but you feel the club is in the hands of a man who knows what is needed.
There is a general feeling that O'Neill needs to start well to avoid coming under pressure. The former Northern Ireland head coach guided his team to 15th place in his first season and then 14th place last term. If he can improve on that then it slowly but surely progress for the club. I think O'Neill will bring in the right players and with the crux of a decent squad already in place they could be pushing for a top 10 finish this season.
My Prediction: 11th

Preston
Heading into the last couple of months of last season I thought Preston were going to be one of those teams that might be going in the wrong direction and become a popular pick for relegation candidates this time around. However, Alex Neil's men lost just 1 of their last 8 league matches including winning their final 4 league games to finish in 13th place and leave us all thinking that maybe there is life in Neil's managerial spell at Deepdale yet!
Inconsistency blighted the club's campaign last year and that appeared to be put right come the final game of the season. However, the club took the bizarre decision to sack Neil as manager after the last game of the season and replace him with a fellow Scottish head coach in the shape of Frankie McAvoy. The new man is allegedly not in full control of player signings and sales which can often cause problems. The fans have already pointed out at the club's inability to move on players such as Connor Ripley, Jordan Storey, and Sean Maguire but then other fringe players such as Dave Nugent, Billy Bodin, and Louis Moult have departed the club. There should also be excitement around the arrivals of Sepp van den Berg from Liverpool, Matthew Olosunde from Rotherham, Liam Lindsay from Stoke, and Izzy Brown from Chelsea. All of those players have the ability to thrive at this level but can McAvoy get the best out of them?
Preston are in a similar situation to Bristol City with mid-table mediocrity having been the order of the day for a number of years now but a new manager coming in means there's every chance of fresh energy and ideas. North End have still got the likes of Josh Harrop, Scott Sinclair, and Greg Cunningham in their ranks so it remains a solid squad. I'm probably being generous putting them this high but I don't think they're going up or down this season.
My Prediction: 12th

Bristol City
I feel like I'm saying this for every team I'm posting up but this is another side in Bristol City that could go one extreme or another... so I've put them in the middle!  Nigel Pearson was appointed to replace the outgoing Dean Holden in February and, well, things didn't exactly go brilliantly. It started off well with back-to-back wins against Middlesbrough and Swansea away but then it was just 1 win from their last 13 matches to finish in a lowly 19th place.
Pearson has certainly wasted no time in getting rid of the dead wood over the summer with 14 players being sent on their way including Famara Diedhiou, Jack Hunt, Henri Lansbury, Adrian Mariappa, Jamie Paterson, Liam Walsh, and Marley Watkins. Pearson has gone back to his Leicester days to bring in the midfield duo of Matty James and Andy King as well as signing Oxford centre back Robert Atkinson. More additions are needed before the new season starts but you can see that Pearson isn't messing about and has moved quickly to start moulding his own squad or at least eliminating the players he felt were holding the squad back. It is easy to forget how much quality there is within this Robins team though with the likes of Andreas Weimann, Chris Martin, Joe Williams, and Nathan Baker are just some of the talented players within this squad. A few more arrivals and this could turn into a tricky team.
Bristol City have long been a team I've felt are destined for the Premier League one day but I also feel right now they are closer to League One than the top flight. I can't see that changing this season. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here. I do think either Pearson will get it right and they'll be one of those teams that are dogged and tough to beat or he'll get it wrong and be sacked quickly with a replacement coming in who'll give them the necessary bounce to keep them up. I would be surprised if they finished in the top half though.
My Prediction: 13th

Barnsley
It's last season's surprise package that are up next in this prediction table with play-off semi-finalists Barnsley coming in. It's been a summer of change at Oakwell with the mastermind behind their success Valerien Ismael departing to manage Premier League relegated side West Brom with the little known former TSV Hartberg manager Markus Schopp coming in as his replacement. Who? Exactly! This is the approach that has worked for so many years by Moneyball legend Billy Beane who is on the Tykes board. The approach has had mixed results so far but can they build on last season's positivity?
Barnsley have the crux of a decent squad. The likes of Cauley Woodrow, Callum Styles, and Herbie Kane have been targeted by other clubs for years now. It's been a huge blow to lose the influential midfielder Alex Mowatt who has left for West Brom to re-join his former gaffer Ismael. You have to wonder what impact even his absence will have on the team's league performances. He was such a key cog in their machine. It is interesting to see the players they have brought in. I feel the arrival of strike duo Devante Cole and Obbi Oulare are signings that have potential but they need to make a quick impact. The departures of Conor Chaplin and Michael Sollbauer are also a disappointment so they'll need to adjust to life without those players.
I loved seeing Barnsley perform so well last season. Their form in the second half of the campaign was vital in helping them finish in the top six. Is this season's squad stronger than last season? At the moment, you'd have to say no. It is a big ask for Schopp to come in and carry on the fine work of Ismael as well. Especially because Ismael has taken one of the most important players in Mowatt. I just think the transition that is needed for a club that is so delicately poised and over-achieved last season will be too difficult. The moneyball approach has generally delivered more positive results for Barnsley but it's a risky strategy. Barnsley could just as likely be play-off pushers again as they could be dropping towards a relegation dog fight.
My Prediction: 14th

Blackburn
I was really disappointed in Blackburn last season and judging by the views of their fans online it seemed that a lot of the responsibility lay at the door of the so-called "Coventry Three" or "Coventrio" as they have been dubbed. CEO Steve Waggott, manager Tony Mowbray, and assistant manager Mark Venus all spent time with Coventry and have been blamed for the under-performance of Rovers talented squad last season. It was a team that included Adam Armstrong, Sam Gallagher, Bradley Dack, Tom Trybull, Harvey Elliott, Lewis Holtby, Bradley Johnson, Barry Douglas, and Ryan Nyambe yet they didn't even finish in the top 14.
You look at the team that they are likely to have this season compared to last one and you have to feel it's considerably weaker. Elliott, Trybull, and Holtby have all departed the club. No new signings have been brought in. Can Mowbray honestly expect Armstrong to score 28 league goals again? That's even if they manage to get through the season without him being snapped up by an interested team at a higher level? It feels like the only answer to Blackburn progressing is now for Mowbray et al to move on and for a new manager to have a crack. Just like Birmingham though, the problem appears to be the owners with Venky's still the controversial name in charge of the club. It says everything that Venky's have owned the club since November 2010 and the club's highest league finish since then has been 15th in the Premier League with relegation confirmed the following season. This was a Blackburn club that has been an established Premier League team for 10 seasons before that including having qualified for Europe and, obviously, also being Premier League champions as recently as 1995.
Unfortunately, I think another underwhelming campaign is abound for Blackburn. I was even wondering if they could be a surprise team that could get sucked into a relegation battle. I'm interested to see who they bring in on loan in particular but I just feel that with Mowbray in charge they could struggle. The goals of Armstrong should be enough but if they can't hold on to the former Newcastle striker then a bigger problem is on the horizon.
My Prediction: 15th

Birmingham
Next up, we have one of the more intriguing clubs involved in the Championship this season. You have to think that Birmingham really are a team that should have realistic aspirations of getting to the Premier League but, for one reason or another, they repeatedly seem to be flirting with relegation to League One. Last season, I thought the appointment of Aitor Karanka would have led to them finally pushing on to compete for the a place in the promised land but, once again, it didn't work out. His replacement Lee Bowyer only lost 1 of his first 8 league games in charge but form petered off in the final days with heavy back-to-back defeats against Cardiff and Blackburn.
So what can we expect this season? To be honest, your guess is as good as mine. The problem remains that Birmingham are still owned by Paul Suen and Trillion Trophy Asia. No manager at this club will be able to fully flex their muscles so long as that remains the case. You look at some of the managers they've had at the Blues since Suen et al took over in 2007 and it's a who's who of decent gaffers yet none have managed any real success. Chris Hughton, Gary Rowett, Steve Cotterill, Garry Monk, and Karanka have all failed to take Birmingham up. What is there to say Bowyer can be any different?
Bowyer is doing what his predecessors have been asked to do and that's work on a budget. Chuks Aneke from Charlton, Jordan Graham from Gillingham, Ryan Woods from Stoke, and Oliver Basey from Sunderland have all arrived on free transfers and hardly set the world alight. The loan additions of Riley McGree from Charlotte FC, Juan Castillo from Chelsea, Tahith Chong from Manchester United, Dion Sanderson from Wolves, and Matija Sarkic from Wolves are an improvement but far from guaranteed to adapt well to Championship football. Sanderson was decent for Cardiff a couple of years back but has since been in League One. One huge positive is that Bowyer hasn't lost any senior players from last season. He'll need his top scorer to bag more than the 8 goals that Lukas Jutkiewicz scored last season but surely someone will manage that with the likes of Scott Hogan, Jeremie Bela, and Aneke amongst the ranks. I just feel so long as Suen is in charge Birmingham will mill around the lower mid-table no matter who is in charge or in the starting line-up.
My Prediction: 16th

Coventry
Another tricky one up next with Coventry. I was impressed with them for a lot of last season and I wasn't surprised to see them consolidate their place in the Championship with a 16th place finish. Mark Robins continues to do a sterling job with the Sky Blues and they are now in a solid position to build on the fantastic work of the previous two seasons in particular.
It was a positive end to last season for Robins and his team. Things had looked a bit gloomy early in the campaign but they managed to turn things around. They will be hoping to continue that decent form into this campaign. The fans generally feel that a lower mid-table finish is realistic but there are some fears that relegation could be a threat. There have been a number of comings and goings at the Coventry Building Society Arena (new name for the Ricoh Arena) and the players they have brought in do stir excitement. Former Wolves youngster Bright Enobakhare is a talent whilst goalkeeper Simon Moore was very solid for Cardiff during his time with us. Martyn Waghorn has all the Championship experience a manager could wish for. Marco Rus from Southampton, Ben Sheaf from Arsenal, and Viktor Gyokeres from Brighton are all signings that have potential.
I feel Coventry will have no problems staying up this season. Robins had a squad that had proven itself last season and he's strengthened it over the summer. I think the fans' opinion of a 14th - 17th league finish is most likely and unless they hit a particularly rocky period I think an emotional return to their home ground will provide enough motivation and inspiration to keep the players in the Championship.
My Prediction: 17th

Huddersfield
This is probably the one team where after doing my prediction table I didn't really feel comfortable putting them this high. Huddersfield just about managed to stay up last season and with just 1 win from their last 10 league games it was no surprise that the Terriers fans were divided in their opinion of whether head coach Carlos Corberan should remain in charge of the club. There were those who wanted him out immediately but then there was also those that felt with the right additions that the former Leeds assistant manager could turn things around.
The departures of some first team players such as captain Christopher Schindler, midfielder Alex Pritchard, and centre back Tommy Elphick have weakened the depth of this Terriers side but a number of players including Luton's Matty Pearson, Oxford's Josh Ruffels, Blackpool's Ollie Turton, Chelsea's Jon Russell, Sheffield Wednesday's Jordan Rhodes, and Chelsea's on-loan starlet Levi Colwill have been brought in to address that. The only problem being that a lot of those players are inexperienced at Championship level. It's a big gamble from Corberan but will it pay off?
Last season, I was impressed with what Corberan was trying to do and I spoke to a few Huddersfield fans who appreciated what the plan was. Unfortunately, they just didn't turn philosophy into results. There is still some quality within this squad such as Harry Toffolo, Juninho Bacuna, and Naby Sarr but if they start poorly then it could be a disastrous season. Corberan needs to start showing his plan is setting in. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt because there were enough signs last season that it could happen.
My Prediction: 18th

Reading
Last season was a bit of an anomaly for Reading. Their season started off with a bang with the goals of Lucas Joao and creative displays from Ovie Ejaria and Michael Olise stealing the limelight. However, despite the Royals storming to the top of the table and remaining in play-off contention for most of the season their statistics suggested they were defying logic. The results soon offered a more realistic reflection of these statistics as the team free fell into mediocrity to miss out on a top six finish completely. Manager Veljko Paunovic saw his team win just 1 of their last 11 matches in the league.
The big news for Reading this season is that one of their dynamic front three that played such a key role last season, Olise, has departed for Crystal Palace. A worrying prospect for the club's fans is that Paunovic has so far not only failed to bring in a suitable replacement for the winger but he's actually not made any signings of real note to date. This means this current Reading squad is in worse shape than it was last season with no effort being made to address the issues that saw them miss out on a play-off spot last season.
Before the last season I tipped Reading to struggle because I thought Paunovic was an appointment that wouldn't work out. I think they surprised a lot of people. The longer Paunovic has been in charge, the more I can see problems setting in that could prove terminal. Can Joao hit the performance levels he did last season without Olise there to assist? It's a big ask. Unless Reading sign someone to replace Olise I can see them really having trouble this season.
My Prediction: 19th

Luton
How much longer can Nathan Jones keep performing miracles with Luton? That's the big question that needs to be answered when deciding what sort of campaign the Hatters are going to have this year. The team finished in an impressive 12th position last season with Jones bringing the best out of, with all due respect, a limited group of players. Less than 1 goal per game scored shows how they are left wanting up front and when that's the case you're always in danger of being dragged into a relegation dog fight unless your midfield and defence can keep a tight ship. The performances of the midfield and defence will be even more important after the sale of top scorer James Collins to Cardiff.
Jones hasn't wasted any time in the transfer market with some eye-opening signings. The biggest coup undoubtedly being Motherwell's former Scotland under-21 international midfielder Allan Campbell. The club has also signed a few seasoned Championship players in Cameron Jerome from MK Dons, Henri Lansbury from Bristol City, Amari'i Bell from Blackburn, and Fred Onyedinma from Wycombe. It's also going to be interesting to see how Reece Burke fits into Jones's system after his arrival from newly promoted Hull City. Then there's also the unproven talent of Admiral Muskwe from Leicester and Carlos Mendes Gomes from Morecambe.
I have no doubt that this Luton team will provide tricky opposition for any team they come up against this season but I still feel this is a squad that lacks the quality needed to repeat last season's mid-table achievements. Jerome isn't the player he was years ago and Muskwe only scored 3 goals in 17 games on loan for Wycombe last season. Winger Jordan Clark has scored 6 goals in pre-season to date but all of those goals have come against non-league opposition. Impotency up front could prove costly.
My Prediction: 20th

Hull City
As I said, it gets very tight at this point and Hull City were one of my considerations for a return right back down to League One but at the end of the day you can't deny that manager Grant McCann is building a very solid team at the MKM Stadium. The Tigers stormed to the League One title last season with a few shrewd signings, including top scorer Malik Wilks, transforming a beleaguered relegation side into confident champions.
This is a team that is ready-made for the Championship. The back-line only conceded 38 goals in 46 games last season. The midfield contains the likes of Richie Smallwood, George Honeyman, and Greg Docherty, and the attacking options of Malik and Lewis Keane-Potter will threaten even the sternest Championship defence. So where is the issue? It's the depth. McCann has looked to address this by bringing in midfield duo George Moncur and Andy Cannon as well as winger Randell Williams but is it enough? They may need 2-3 more additions to keep their safety hopes alive.
It's a tough call for this Hull City team. The majority of sides that win League One tend to have a solid first campaign in the Championship. A number of this squad have played at this level before and that bit of experience could help edge them over the line just above the drop zone. This could be a season of fine margins though. If they can carry their form on from last season then they might shock us and make a push for the play-offs but on the flip side if they start poorly it could be a difficult season. I'm expecting a decent start but they could fade away as a lack of squad depth hits.
My Prediction: 21st

Peterborough
OK, so things begin to get a little tight around this area. I'm fairly happy with backing Blackpool and Derby to fill two of the relegation spots but the third one is wide open. Still, I had to pick a team and the team I have chosen is Peterborough. Manager Darren Ferguson is now in his third spell as gaffer of the Posh and his achieved his third promotion from League One with the club. Unfortunately, on the two previous occasions, Ferguson struggled to adapt his team to life at a higher level. They were relegated straight back to the third tier in 2009/10 and then survived for an extra season the second time before being relegated again in 2012/13.
This Peterborough squad is arguably weaker than the previous two that earned promotion to the Championship so you have to wonder if they realistically stand any better chance of surviving than their predecessors. The one thing that Ferguson has done effectively is recruit fresh blood such as central midfielder Jorge Grant from Lincoln City, striker Jack Marriott from Derby, and centre back Josh Knight from Leicester. All three players will add quality to this Peterborough team and will boost their survival hopes but the problem lies with the rest of the squad. Yes, players such as Jonson Clarke-Harris, Siriki Dembele, and Sammie Szmodics look like they have what it takes but can Peterborough keep them with the vultures circling? I also have concerns that after the sale of Mohamed Eisa to MK Dons that Peterborough are a little short of options up front, especially with Clarke-Harris currently injured.
One thing that could work in Peterborough's favour is consistency. If Ferguson can keep this squad together then he's made some fine additions. It's going to be tough for them and I feel it's going to be a long shot for them to avoid any sale of a key player. If Clarke-Harris goes then that's a huge problem. Even if they keep him, how much will he stay fit? I just think it could be too tall an order for Peterborough.
My Prediction: 22nd

Derby
I argued with myself over this next one for a long while but eventually I decided to take a gamble and pick a side I feel have been sliding towards trouble for a long time now. Derby narrowly avoided relegation last season and the appointment of manager Wayne Rooney appears to be one that could cost this club a lot. The Rams ended last season with just 1 win from their last 15 league games. I nearly contemplated putting them as a bottom-placed team and this is all even before any potential points deduction they could still face.
Derby just simply look like a team that are in trouble without any major overhaul. Rooney is clearly out of his depth. Did Mel Morris think he could pull off another Frank Lampard style coup by bringing in the unproven England legend? Right now, I'm willing to take a punt that the only way Derby stand any chance of staying up this season is if they sack Rooney and bring in another manager. Even then, which manager could turn this team around? It's almost as if the club has been sleep walking towards an inevitable relegation to League One.
There's undoubted quality within this Derby team. You look through their squad for this season at the moment and with the likes of Tom Lawrence, Krystian Bielik, Louie Sibley, Jason Knight, and Kamil Jozwiak you have to wonder how on earth they are doing so badly. Still, the fact Rooney has appointed Lawrence as club captain shows where the real issues lie. No eye-opening signings have been made and after they scored just 36 goals last season you have to still feel the goal scoring issues haven't been addressed. It could be a very long and hard season for Derby fans.
My prediction: 23rd

Blackpool
OK, so I'll do these previews in reverse order and I'll start with the team that I think could struggle to adapt to life in the Championship this season. Head coach Neil Critchley did a sterling job with the Seasiders in League One last season earning promotion to the second tier via a 2-1 play-off final victory against Lincoln City. The club has endured its tough times over recent years but the current owner and fan of the club Simon Sadler appears to be getting the club back onto the right track.
Key to the club's promotion last season was their strong finish to the season which saw them lose just 2 of their last 22 league games and win their final 4 league matches. The goals of striker Jerry Yates were crucial in helping the club reach the play-offs and the big question is whether he can continue to deliver those goals at a higher level. Many strikers have struggled to make the step up from League One to the Championship before. The club has been able to retain a large portion of its promotion-winning squad which is a positive including play-off hero Kenny Dougall and the talented Luke Garbutt. However, a number of important players have left the club such as centre back Dan Ballard, striker Ellis Simms, and right back Ollie Turton.
I was excited about Blackpool earning promotion to the Championship with the head coach they have and the young players they boasted. Hopes of holding onto Arsenal loanee Ballard were optimistic but he could've made such a difference. Critchley has moved to bring in Everton's Callum Connolly and Doncaster full back Reece James as well as the experienced Richard Keogh. Are the players coming in as decent as the players that have left? I can't say that they are. A lot is going to depend on how Critchley navigates the loan market and if he can use his contacts from his Liverpool under-23s days to bring in some young prospects who could make a difference. Otherwise, this could be a brave but tough campaign for Blackpool.
My prediction: 24th