It’s a time of the year where every football fan in the country can at least be the tiniest bit optimistic about the forthcoming season. But who will make the top 6? And who will wallow at the foot of the table? I’ve given my thoughts on how each of the 24 Sky Bet Championship teams will fair this season.
Here is Part Two in the series
Here is Part Three in the series
Club by Club Championship Guide
Birmingham City
Key player: Clayton Donaldson will be a big part of everything good coming out of Birmingham City this year. The powerful front man should bring goals to a struggling Blues side.
Realistic ambition: After snatching survival from the claws of relegation last time out, I expect Birmingham to progress under Lee Clark’s stewardship. It’s vital that all of his 13 summer signings gel and find their feet at St. Andrews before it’s too late
Predicted finish: 20th
Blackburn Rovers
Key player: Jordan Rhodes is a front man that every Championship side would want in their starting XI. The clinical, potent striker has netted over 50 goals during his two-year spell at the club.
Realistic ambition: I fancy Blackburn to nick the last play-off spot with a late rush. It could be argued that they’ve underachieved for a while, but providing they sort out their defensive issues they could have hope this year.
Predicted finish: 6th
Blackpool
Key player: Having let go 24 senior players, it’s hard to look past new signing Peter Clarke as Blackpool’s key player this season. The experienced defender is important in organising both an unsettled squad and back-line.
Realistic ambition: I’m sure if Blackpool fans were offered staying up on goal difference they’d take it. Sadly though, I see them finishing as the league’s basement side.
Predicted finish: 24th
Bolton Wanderers
Key player: Jermaine Beckford will be Bolton’s key player this term, as his goals will be necessary to fire them towards the top 6. The much-travelled striker will be looking to improve upon his goal tally of 8 from last season.
Realistic ambition: I expect Bolton to finish a little short of the play-offs, probably in amongst the clutch of teams that are separated by minimal amounts of points.
Predicted finish: 17th
Bournemouth
Key Player: Former Coventry City striker Callum Wilson will prove to be Bournemouth’s make or break signing this year, with the club expecting to be on the verge of the play-offs. As well as this, expectancy has been galvanised by the sell-on clause in Premier League starlet Adam Lallana’s contract, which entitled the club to around £6 million.
Realistic ambition: This may be a season too soon for the south coast club, though, I do expect them to challenge for the play-offs.
Predicted finish: 9th
Brentford
Key player: League One’s player of the year Adam Forshaw will be central to Brentford’s hopes of consolidating a mid-table finish this year, that’s if they can persuade him to stick around.
Realistic ambition: Brentford will be looking to cement themselves a Championship spot for next season and with attacking flair such as new signing Moses Odubajo they should be fine to do just that.
Predicted finish: 19th
Brighton & Hove Albion
Key player: On loan Jesse Lingard will be central to Brighton’s attempts to put together a promotion push this year. The Manchester United youngster seems to have a promising future, with new United boss Louis Van Gaal keeping a watchful eye over the on-loan attacker.
Realistic ambition: It doesn’t look like, on paper at least, that Brighton have enough to secure a promotion spot, especially with the financial clout that the newly relegated clubs possess. I expect them to just miss out this year.
Predicted finish: 12th
Cardiff
Key player: Adam Le Fondre is quite a coup for Cardiff City, especially considering his renowned ability to ‘score from the bench’. That said, you can expect Le Fondre to be part of Cardiff’s starting XI this year and amongst the top goal scorers in the league at that.
Realistic ambition: Hotheaded owner Vincent Tan will expect nothing less than the best from Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s Cardiff and this, I think, is what he’ll get.
Predicted finish: 1st
Look out for part 2 of my club-by-club Championship guide, coming tomorrow!
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