The new Championship season is nearly upon us and EFL pundit Gab Sutton shares his 2023/24 season preview, complete with his 1-24 predictions.
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The last 15 years have been more incredible for Leicester than anyone could have imagined, but after relegation last season, it’s now a case of starting a new journey under Enzo Maresca.
The former Manchester City assistant has impressed natives early on, and is committed to delivering stylish, expansive, free-flowing football.
The Italian inherited an excellent squad, even with the departures of Youri Tielemans and James Maddison, and the likely exit of some from Timothy Castagne, Wilfred Ndidi, Boubakary Soumaré, Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Any remaining from the question-marked quintet could star, along with Belgium international defender Wout Faes, technical right-back Ricardo Pereira, domestic talents Luke Thomas and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, at left-back and in midfield respectively, and Patson Daka.
The 2020-21 Austrian Bundesliga top goalscorer will compete or combine with City legend Jamie Vardy, who at 36 won’t have the electric pace of yesteryear, but can still get away from defenders in the box, and is capable of poaching for fun in the right system.
That system will be a 4-4-2 diamond that converts into a 3-2-4-1 – or at least, that’s our best interpretation of it!
The flip comes when Pereira shifts from right-back into a right-sided #6 next to deep-lying playmaker Harry Winks, who joins from Tottenham to be the fulcrum of City’s play.
Elsewhere, cultured Man City loanee Callum Doyle will start as a left-back but often tuck into a back-three with Faes and marquee signing Conor Coady, who brings defensive leadership after signing for a reported £7.5M.
Further up, Timothy Castagne starts on the right of the diamond but drifts to right wing-back when Pereira moves infield, while homegrown talent Wanya Marcal-Madivadua goes from second striker to an attacking left wing-back role, allowing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall the space to push into a left-sided #10 position next to Dennis Praet.
The indications are that Maresca has got his ideas across straight away, and with the international calibre of this squad, the results could be ominous for the rest.
Optimism at Sunderland is arguably higher, now, than it was at any point during their 10-year Premier League stay.
After ending a four-year League One exile in 2021-22, the Black Cats continued their upward trajectory in the Championship by securing a Play-Off spot, despite so much going against them.
Losing promotion-winning manager Alex Neil to Stoke was a blow, or seemed like one at the time, although replacement Tony Mowbray looks the better fit, more aligned with the club’s vision, and did a wonderful job last year.
The adaptability Mowbray showed at Blackburn was tested again on Wearside, where he had to operate without a focal point for much of the season after talisman Ross Stewart got a long-term injury, and Ellis Simms was recalled by Everton.
Then, a plethora of defensive injuries to defensive leader Danny Batth, talented centre-back Dan Ballard, athletic left-sided defender Aji Alese, flying left-back Dennis Cirkin and solid midfielder Corry Evans threatened to knock Sunderland off course.
The top-notch mentality of utility men Luke O’Nien and Lynden Gooch, plus spirited right-back Trai Hume, meant Sunderland kept finding a way of making things work with their makeshift defence.
They shouldn’t have finished in the Play-Offs, with all that went against them, yet somehow they did.
Talented goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, creative midfielder Dan Neil, productive winger Jack Clarke and direct wide man Patrick Roberts were all influential last season, and will only get better.
Plus, all-action midfielder Pierre Ekwah, as well as silky talents Abdoullah Ba and Jewison Bennette were fringe players last season, but each are another year on in their development and could be set to make a serious impression.
The squad has since been strengthened further by the signings of defenders Jensen Seelt and Nectarios Triantis: the former is a total football ball-player from PSV, while the latter is touted as a potential future Australia captain.
Elsewhere, 6’4” striker Hemir will bring a certain frame after signing from Benfica – and three goals in three in pre-season won’t do Portugal Under-20s star any harm.
Play-Offs to automatic promotion is a fair old jump but, with a couple of out-and-out centre-forwards, and better luck with injuries, who’s to say the Black Cats couldn’t make it?
Middlesbrough looked unstoppable last year, for effectively half a season.
They were languishing in 21st when Michael Carrick took charge in late October, eight points off the Play-Offs, but an astonishing 16 wins in 22 saw them surge into automatic promotion contention, though ultimately they gave themselves too much to do.
Four defeats in eight at the end of the league campaign can be partially forgiven, coming with the top two out of reach and Play-Offs assured, so with a full season under Carrick, Boro may be able to extrapolate the above 22-game form over a full campaign.
That task is made harder, however, by the loss of the loan stars: goalkeeper Zach Steffen, selfless creator Aaron Ramsey, nippy poacher Cameron Archer, and possibly left-back Ryan Giles – though the latter has been linked with a return.
Replacing Steffen could be tough: Seny Dieng and Tom Glover have had one good season, and one poor one apiece for QPR and Melbourne City in the last two years respectively, so neither look a sure bet.
Also poached from the Australian market, though, is Sam Silvera, who the club hope can bring elusive ball-carrying and fine finishing, while Morgan Rogers might also come good in the right system: the forward is still only 20 and represents a great long-term investment.
Rogers has started up top in pre-season, though, in a squad that looks short of an out-and-out centre-forward barring Josh Coburn, who loaned well at League One Bristol Rovers, and Matthew Hoppe – but both are unproven at this level.
Adding the right striker could be the difference for Middlesbrough, who intend to blend the experience of right-back Tommy Smith, aggressive centre-back Darragh Lenihan, solid midfielder Jonny Howson, and 28-goal #10 Chuba Akpom with more youthful vitality elsewhere.
Ball-playing defender Rav van den Berg could make an impression after signing from PEC Zwolle, midfield dynamo Hayden Hackney has a chance to build on a stunning breakthrough campaign, while dynamic left-sider Riley McGree is one of the most underrated players in the second-tier.
If Isaiah Jones can recapture his 2021-22 heroics, depth looks strong, especially with Dan Barlaser having signed from Rotherham in January: the deep-lying playmaker is already Championship proven and should get more opportunities.
Elsewhere, advanced creator Martín Payero is back from a loan at Boca Juniors: he was the most exciting signing in the Championship two summers ago, and could catch fire under more progressive coaching.
There’s an exhaustive list of players who could be amazing for Middlesbrough this season, on top of the core of reliability, yet nagging question marks remain at either end.
They’ll be the most enjoyable team to watch – but will that be enough?
Unusually, perhaps, expectations for Leeds are higher outside Elland Road than they are within.
The Whites will always be held to high standards at this level, and with parachute payments combined with a plausible big-money sale of Wilfried Gnonto, some anticipate another title-winning triumph for new boss Daniel Farke, whose Norwich side were twice second-tier champions.
On the inside, it doesn’t feel quite as simple as that, especially given the series of operational and ownership mistakes, going back to – and probably including – the dismissal of the greatest manager of the club’s modern era, Marcelo Bielsa.
‘El Loco’s whole philosophy revolved around expanding the space, yet the club subsequently appointed a manager in Jesse Marsch who intended to compress it.
As such, running stats dictated subsequent recruitment for two windows, yet now Leeds have appointed a manager who wants smooth, patient football and needs delicate technicians to play it.
Farke has shown he can deliver with the correct personnel but, due to a complicated and prolonged 49ers takeover approval period, Ethan Ampadu was the only senior signing with two pre-season friendlies to go.
Ampadu is a great addition: he can collect the ball from the defence, break lines with excellent ball-carrying, then follow that up if needed by being aggressive on any turnovers, a range of qualities arguably missing in the Whites’ current midfield make-up.
Ampadu could forge a good midfield pairing with Tyler Adams or Darko Gyabi, but it’s an imbalanced squad, short of Farke-ready options almost everywhere apart from out wide.
In those areas, any of Crysencio Summerville, Jack Harrison, Dan James or Georginio Rutter could star, as well as Gnonto if he stays, and most notably Luis Sinisterra.
With elements of the explosivity of a classic winger, the creative knowhow of a playmaker and the goalscoring instincts of an inside forward, the Colombian could prove the complete package at this level.
The 24-year-old was hot property 12 months ago, having scored 23 goals and made a further 14 when Feyenoord reached the Europa Conference League Final in 2021-22, and if he stays on for the Championship, looks ready to tear up this league.
Elsewhere, Ilian Meslier remains a goalkeeper of huge potential but needs to rebuild confidence after a tough Premier League campaign, though the club are recruiting for a new number one.
Stalwarts Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas and Patrick Bamford may not be as reliable at this level as they were three years ago, though any drop-off from the seasoned quartet will hand opportunities to Cody Drameh, Charlie Cresswell, Leo Hjelde and Joe Gelhardt, who are hoping to build on positive Championship loans.
Expect a disjointed start for Leeds, but Sinisterra should have the individual quality to keep them competitive regardless, so if Farke is given the leeway in January to reconfigure the squad in his image, they have the potential to motor.
Few clubs can see their manager poached and then appoint one who’s even better, but Swansea might just have become an exception.
Russ Martin, poached by Southampton, is undoubtedly an excellent coach, but he doesn’t have the same managerial CV as replacement Michael Duff.
The Northern Irishman has delivered good football at Cheltenham and Barnsley, yet crucially, his teams have been ruthless and efficient, with consistency on the basics allowing them to win games in different ways.
Duff’s side, last season, enjoyed great combination play between wing-backs, overlapping centre-backs and outside #8s in his 3-5-2, but when they needed to defend their box strongly, they could do it.
As such, the 45-year-old’s target will be to maintain Swansea’s stylistic appeal, but build on the foundations Russ Martin laid down by adding a more efficient edge.
Duff inherits a core of Harry Darling, the Championship Vermaelen, conductor Matt Grimes, and poacher Joel Piroe, who could depart but who’s would-be replacement is in the building, after Jerry Yates signed from Blackpool.
The new boss will love Yates’ work ethic, and feel he can mould the striker into a 20-goal-a-season man at this level, as well as elevating agile creator Oli Cooper to new heights and getting the best out of technical wing-back Josh Key, who signs from Exeter.
Swansea might not have a top six squad on paper, yet Duff has either overseen significant progress – and in some cases, massively exceeded expectation – in each of his five seasons in management.
The Swans finished three points and four places off the Play-Offs last season, and with the quality of manager they now have in the dugout, strong August recruitment would make that short hop into the top six look more than doable…
For a club that just finished 15th, it seems almost counter-intuitive to talk about a positive season at Hull as being a likelihood, rather than a mere possibility, but that’s the state of play at Hull right now.
Confidence is high, thanks to the belief instilled by owner Acun Ilıcalı, who took over midway through 2021-22, and Head Coach Liam Rosenior, who oversaw just six defeats in his first 28 league games in charge.
Rosenior’s excellent media-handling and personable manner with supporters isn’t what wins City three points on a Saturday, but it adds to the sense of togetherness at the club – and family ties don’t do any harm either.
There’s more concrete cause, too, for the high hopes in East Yorkshire, chiefly the fact that the club possessed eight of a Play-Off-capable starting XI before the transfer window even opened.
For starters, technical right-back Cyrus Christie, battler Alfie Jones and his more cultured centre-back partner Sean McLaughlin, plus attacking left-back Rúben Vinagre, make an excellent back-four.
Prodigy Jacob Greaves could be cashed in on for eight figures this summer, after having had to play out of position at left-back last season, so impeccable was the form of Jones and McLaughlin.
Elsewhere, Jean Michaël Seri brings class and swagger to City’s midfield alongside the more industrious Regan Slater, who may go under the radar outside the MKM, like Adama Traore.
After signing from Hatayspor on deadline day last summer, Traore missed out through injury in 2022-23 until late February, but in the nine games he started thereon, the graceful Malian flourished and could now take the Championship by surprise.
Sign a goalkeeper and the Tigers’ defensive and midfield units are complete, so it’s all about adding forward quality to a side that managed just 51 goals last season.
Given the promise the physical yet balletic Benjamin Tetteh showed last year, Hull still have some solutions in existing personnel, more so if poacher Óscar Estupiñán can improve his link-up play, and if the unpredictable Allahyar Sayyadmanesh can finally settle.
It was important for Rosenior to strengthen up top, though, and after a year to acclimatize in the Championship last season, Man City loanee Liam Delap could show the talent that saw him represent England in the previous five age groups.
Delap could be one to watch – so could Hull…
Will the real Russ Martin please step forward?
Depending on who you speak to, Martin is either a pioneer of process-driven, extreme possession-heavy football who’s destined for success, or someone who’s relied on stylistic appeal alone to get bigger jobs, before he’s necessarily earnt them.
Truth lies somewhere in between. It’s true, the former Norwich defender’s 2020-21 MK Dons and 2022-23 Swansea outfits were superbly coached, created a high volume of chances, and were among the best teams in their respective leagues between both boxes.
And yet, both those sides performed best when Play-Offs were off limits, thus ultimately finished midtable, and arguably missed the ruthless streak they would have needed to go from pretty outsiders to serious contenders.
It’s highly plausible that either could have found that extra edge under Martin the following season, but it’s a theory that due to his departures, hasn’t been put to the test.
Doubts remain, but they’re ones the personable gaffer will have to answer at Southampton, where the pressure is on to deliver promotion at the first attempt, as opposed to having a year to grow into the job like he did at MK Dons and Swansea.
That could be a problem, seeing as Southampton have a squad that, while not short of quality, isn’t used to playing keep-ball.
Ryan Manning is – the new left-back worked with Martin at Swansea – likewise Northern Ireland international midfielder Shea Charles, who joins from Man City, but they are the only two additions going into the final two pre-season friendlies.
Plus, it’s highly likely that the squad that starts the season will be very different to the one in situ come September, so everything will have to amalgamate quickly.
Nonetheless, the club could still get a combined nine figures from the sales of Tino Livramento, Roméo Lavia and James Ward-Prowse – but how much of this summer window will they have to use any of that cash?
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, technical right-back James Bree, exciting winger Samuel Edozie and attacking midfielder Carlos Alcaraz could shine, but there’s many unknowns.
History suggests Martin needs stability and clarity before he can stand out from the rest.
The days of Blackburn Rovers being the Championship’s basket case aren’t recent, but they’re recent enough for it to still feel strange talking about the club, still owned by the Venkys, in completely different terms.
The Lancashire club are getting smarter, they have a clear playing identity and, dare we say, some financial stability – contrary to misleading reports that the Venkys have been advised by the Indian government to cut back on spending, which were recycled from 12 months ago.
The owners have written off the debt, they’ve taken a step back, and simply trusted wise football people to make… well, wise football decisions.
Jon Dahl Tomasson enjoyed a great first season at Ewood Park, delivering a progressive seventh-placed finish, as Rovers missed out on the Play-Offs only by goal difference.
The club has a thriving academy, from which versatile defender Hayden Carter, utility man Joe Rankin-Costello, midfield technician John Buckley, and ball-winner Lewis Travis have grown to become mainstays in the first-team squad.
Next on the conveyor belt is Adam Wharton, on whom the club has high hopes of a star campaign: even at 19, the midfielder carries big creative responsibility in this Rovers side, but his assurance belies his tender years.
The prospects hoping for a similar breakthrough season to the one Wharton had last year are tough-tackling left-back Jake Batty, tenacious midfielder Jake Garrett and Under-21s goal machine Harry Leonard.
Ash Phillips would have been top of that list but the prodigious centre-back is reportedly set for a £3M move to Tottenham, highlighting the strength of the youth setup.
Meanwhile, Blackburn will feel they can rely on a core of centre-back Dominic Hyam, left-back Harry Pickering, and energetic forwards Sammie Szmodicz and Tyrhys Dolan, who can dovetail delightfully, but they did need to add proven quality to their squad to make the jump into the top six.
Sondre Tronstad arrives in midfield after a tough year with Vitesse, striker Niall Ennis will fit into Tomasson’s pressing identity but might not rack up the goals – so the onus is on attacking midfielder Arnór Sigurðsson to make the difference.
A top six finish is possible with the right remaining additions, but the likelihood is a season similar to the last.
Ipswich are back in the Championship with unyielding optimism.
The Tractor Boys had Marcus Evans as owner for much of the previous period in the second tier, and the lack of investment and engagement saw the club stagnate, reaching the Play-Offs on just three occasions prior to relegation in 2018-19.
The East Anglians have since rebuilt on and off the field, under wealthy US owners who entrusted CEO Mark Ashton to put in place structural foundations that could see the club on the right track, for the next decade at least.
Not only that, Town boast one of the highest-potential bosses in the Championship in Head Coach Kieran McKenna, who has been able to implement a clear playing identity whilst showing the required pragmatism at key moments.
The level the club are stepping up to shouldn’t be underestimated, yet nor should their core of commanding shot stopper Christian Walton, homegrown ball-playing centre back Luke Woolfenden, energetic left-back Leif Davis, midfield general Sam Morsy, and relentless forward Conor Chaplin – all of whom were instrumental in Town’s promotion. The latter shared the League One golden boot last season, scoring 26 goals from the number ten position!
It didn’t come without a mid-season wobble, though: four wins in 15 league games temporarily gave Sheffield Wednesday the upper-hand in their promotion battle but crucially, McKenna was backed in January.
Athletic right-sided defender Harry Clarke, midfield dynamo Massimo Luongo, industrious forward Nathan Broadhead and strong yet stylish front-man George Hirst made all the difference, as Town secured second spot with a game to spare.
Ipswich kept an astonishing nine consecutive clean sheets, scored a staggering 45 goals, and won an incredible 12 without conceding (13 victories in total) in their final 15 games.
That momentum should go a long way for the Tractor Boys, who have retained key players and added box-to-box man Jack Taylor into a competitive midfield equation after a stellar season with Peterborough, while prodigal Chelsea attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson arrives on loan.
If Sunderland showed anything last season, it’s that with the right structure, resources and quality of coaching, a resurgent big-hitter can come into the Championship northwards, and challenge straight away.
2023 has been a difficult summer for Millwall, following the sad passing of chairman, John Berylson.
Son James has been strong and dignified presence in a time of grief, as the club attempts to rally together and honour John’s memory in the best way possible – on the pitch.
The hope would be that while this news will inevitably affect the Lions emotionally, and set them back slightly, they don’t have to carve out a new practical structure in terms of day-to-day operations, thanks to the work of CEO Steve Kavanagh.
The Lions have been solid outsiders in recent years, having conceded on average barely over a goal a game since Gary Rowett took charge in 2019, earning them 8th, 11th, 9th and 8th-placed finishes with a bottom-six budget.
As such, the solidity offered by a long-serving centre-back pairing of the experienced Shaun Hutchinson and aerial specialist Jake Cooper will be crucial to the Londoner’s latest Play-Off bid.
The duo are joined again by right-back Dan McNamara, who would be one of the best in the league if he can just perfect those final deliveries, and recruit Joe Bryan, who should still bring energy and drive at left-back, despite being on the older side at 29.
In midfield, fan favourite Billy Mitchell could have a huge bearing: the 22-year-old is a far slicker passer than you’d often expect from a Lions academy product, but also has the quintessential tenacity.
Elsewhere, Zian Flemming enjoyed a stunning debut campaign after signing from Fortuna Sittard and after the attacking midfielder scored 15 goals, Millwall will either keep the dangerous Dutchman around, or get their asking price of £13 million in the coffers.
Tom Bradshaw scored 17, last season, though the nippy poacher will want to spread a similar record around this time, after two hat-tricks and braces apiece in 2022-23.
It’s a stronger squad this year, with the emergence of defensive battler Alex Mitchell and explosive forward Romain Esse, which mean usual suspects of previous seasons aren’t assured of their place, but the league itself is stronger too.
Another Play-Off challenge is likely, if defensive midfielder Casper de Norre and forward Kevin Nisbet make the desired impression.
When Coventry won the EFL Trophy in 2017, the club was doomed to relegation to League Two amid ownership unrest, so the occasion felt almost like a swansong for a fallen giant, but instead it was the start of an incredible journey under Mark Robins.
The Sky Blues won two promotions in three years, before achieving another three years of continual progression in the Championship, culminating in last season’s Play-Off Final defeat to Luton.
The last six years have given the club renewed belief, and with the welcomed new ownership of Doug King, 2023-24 feels simultaneously like the start of something special, and the continuation of it.
It would be disrespectful to the fine work of Chief Executive Dave Boddy, and an excellent recruitment team, to say that Robins has been doing all his work with his hands tied, yet this rise has come under the same ownership regime supporters firmly opposed.
It stands to reason therefore, that with the right ownership, the sky could be the limit – long-term, at least.
In the short-term, Robins has the unenviable task of replacing the best striker in the Championship, Viktor Gyokeres, while the future of star midfielder Gus Hamer hasn’t been resolved, yet.
Plus, defenders Callum Doyle, Luke McNally and Jonathan Panzo, plus wing-backs Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Josh Wilson-Ebrand, all have to be replaced, having been on loan last season.
Versatile defender Joel Latibeaudiere and left wing-back Jay Dasilva have higher floors than their loan alternatives, but perhaps lower ceilings.
The other question is whether Coventry can expect goalkeeper Ben Wilson, veteran centre-back Kyle McFadzean, ball-winner Liam Kelly, midfield terrier Jamie Allen and striker Matty Godden to continue to cut it for a top six side at this level, when all of them are on the older side and have a history of playing in the lower leagues.
Of course, the Sky Blues have been able to be bigger than the sum of their parts due to Robins’ management, but that might not hold strong forever, given the increased quality of the league.
As such, the Midlanders will have to legislate for drop-offs from a couple of the above by hoping goalkeeper Brad Collins, signed from Barnsley, can step up to the level, that midfielder Josh Eccles can build on a breakthrough season and, crucially, that Callum O’Hare and Kasey Palmer find fitness.
O’Hare is a relentless presser and an outstanding ball-carrier, making him one of the best players in the league in 2021-22 before missing large swathes of last season through injury – add goals and he’ll be a danger.
Palmer, meanwhile, is a final ball specialist who will look to link up with tricky wide man Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, poached from KV Oostende, and Ellis Simms, who’s out to step up to Gyokeres’ mantle.
Coventry look to be reducing their reliance on loans under King’s ownership, which could be great for building a squad that can grow together, but might also set them back slightly in the here-and-now.
Hope has come to St Andrews – and we don’t just mean Powell, who arrives as Technical Director of the Women’s side.
Since winning the League Cup in 2011, Birmingham’s recent history has been dominated by ownership concerns, poor recruitment, and a series of Championship relegation battles – but that could be about to change.
Tom Wagner, co-founder of New York investment adviser business Knighthead Capital Management finalized a takeover of the Blues, who have fresh hope and ambition for the first time in a long, long time.
As well as providing the investment that would be hoped for from someone who runs a $9 billion enterprise, Wagner seems to be aware of the facets of running a club, like communication, transparency, planning and setting an example from the top.
As such, 2023-24 is a huge opportunity for talented Head Coach John Eustace to show what he can do, after delivering a promising 17th-placed finish in difficult circumstances last year.
Eustace showed tactical flexibility, in the middle of an injury crisis and with a wafer-thin squad, to lead Blues out of a mid-season rut, and deliver a Spring run of four wins in eight that ensured survival.
Not only that, the former QPR coach has improved individuals young and old, like sitting midfielder Alfie Chang, explosive left-sider Emmanuel Longelo, unpredictable midfielder Juninho Bacuna, poacher Scott Hogan and veteran target man Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Blues have talent coming through, too, along with Chang, as the tenacious Jordan James aims to make his mark again in midfield, along with forward-thinker George Hall, while six youngsters signed first professional terms in a signal of the club’s intent.
Recruitment has been encouraging, too, as defender Dion Sanderson and anchor man Krystian Bielik return permanently to provide solidity.
Elsewhere, adventurous right-back Ethan Laird looks a fine capture, while the technical Koji Miyoshi and the skilful Siriki Dembélé add quality in attacking midfield.
Gaps remain, at the time of writing, especially in defence and up top, and it may still be that youthful depth holds Blues back from turning a progressive season into one of glory.
Forward movement is likely, though, in a year that will inspire fresh belief for the future.
After slumping to midtable last season following relegation from the Premier League, Norwich are hoping a former Dortmund II coach can inspire them through a tough transitional period, under a new Sporting Director.
Come to think of it, the state of play at Carrow Road right now feels eerily reminiscent of summer 2017, when freshly appointed Daniel Farke and Stuart Webber needed a year to rebuild before inspiring the club to the title the following season.
David Wagner and Webber’s replacement will need time, just as they did, but while the Canaries have a largely patient fanbase, they’ve been put through the ringer over the last two years, as the gap between club and supporters has felt wide as the Norfolk Broads.
As such, there’s only so much longer supporters can be asked to be patient before they want to see tangible progress.
Key to achieving that will be Gabriel Sara and Marcelino Núñez, who showed flashes of promise in midfield last season after joining from São Paulo and Universidad Católica respectively.
Sara has a delicious pinch of arrogance, and will pull off the most audacious Samba flicks and tricks that English players wouldn’t dream of, yet also has a driven ethic that makes it all effective for the team.
Similarly, Núñez has outstanding technical quality but is also a speedy defensive workhorse, so if both add consistency, they’ll be among the league’s top midfielders.
On the flip side, however, Norwich are set to lose star defender Andrew Omobamidele, and have a long-serving core of players who look mentally drained by recent failings.
As such, there’s a question of how much more goalkeepers Tim Krul and Angus Gunn, right-back Max Aarons, centre-backs Ben Gibson and (injured) Grant Hanley, plus midfielder Kenny McLean really have to offer.
When the club won the title at this level in 2020-21, they could afford to minimize the hangover effect of relegation by adding fresh talent, but it’s not something the club could afford to do last summer, or in this one, due to 2021’s wasteful extravagance.
The Canaries invested in left-back Sam McCallum, midfielder Jacob Sorensen, wingers Milot Rashica, Christos Tzolis and Przemysław Płacheta, plus forward Josh Sargent, neither of whom have yet made the grade, yet who the club haven’t been able to offload either due to their wages.
As such, it’s been a case of shopping for free agents in centre-back Shane Duffy, right-back Jack Stacey and striker Ashley Barnes.
As free transfers go, these aren’t bad additions, but nor are they the type of signings likely to inject fresh impetus into a despondent squad. Sara and Núñez had better turn up to the party…
It’s been two years of gradual progress for Bristol City, under Nigel Pearson.
After a 17th-placed finish in the now 59-year-old’s first season at the club, in which the attack shone but the team was leaky at the back, City rose three places last year, solidified slightly and developed a prized asset in midfielder Alex Scott.
After shining in the Championship last season, the bright ball-carrier is sought after by Premier League clubs, so it’s likely a question of how sensibly the club reinvest the ≈£25M.
Four additions have preceded Scott’s departure, three of whom coming in to fix a defence that’s looked an area of weakness in recent seasons.
Aggressive utility man Ross McCrorie, ball-playing centre-back Rob Dickie, and intelligent left-back Haydon Roberts, who can also play in the middle, arrive from Aberdeen, QPR, and Brighton respectively – Dickie intends to replicate his 2020-21 form with the Rs.
The fourth arrival, Pearson will love: versatile midfielder Jason Knight is a relentless athletic with an outstanding attitude, which has earnt him 20 senior international caps with Ireland by 22, and is a monster in the press.
Following Scott’s stardom, his old roommate Tommy Conway could have a similarly stellar season for City up top, especially if he gets more service into his feet, after the 20-year-old striker hit 12 in all competitions last year and is only getting better.
If agile Albanian Anis Mehmeti can provide even half the individual magic Scott did, perhaps in a more advanced role, further modest progress is possible.
Pearson’s side leant heavily, last season, though on a core of defender Kal Naismith, midfielders Matty James and Andy King, plus forwards Andreas Weimann and Nahki Wells, all the other side of 30, who played in on average 75% of league games.
It may be that some of the signings and the development of Conway reduces the reliance on the aging quintet, but with Scott gone, retaining the status quo will be hard enough – launching a Play-Off challenge looks a tall order.
Despite supporting a club that’s spent 21 of the last 23 years either in the Premier League or the top six of the Championship, West Brom fans aren’t optimistic right now.
A series of mistakes have been made by the club since Jeremy Peace left in 2017, with the owners wasting a lot of the club’s money through poor planning which appears to have continued this summer.
For example, Ron Gourlay’s exit as Chief Executive this summer was welcomed, but rather than replace that role, the club have simply given two jobs worth of responsibilities to Managing Director Mark Miles.
Elsewhere, Ian Pearce has been promoted from Head of Recruitment to Football Operations, despite substandard recruitment under his watch, in which there had been a heavily reliance on management.
It’s not how a successful club operates, and parachute payments finished last season, leaving Albion in the unusual position of having limited resources, two years after playing in the Premier League.
Having sold key defender Dara O’Shea to Burnley, the Baggies may yet have to offload more of the assets they’d want to build around, such as midfielders Jayson Molumby and Okay Yokuşlu, plus wide livewire Grady Diangana, though the latter is recovering from injury.
Conversely, they will likely remain lumbered with some of the injury-prone low performers on high wages, although they have been able to more from that category than they might have expected to.
The biggest asset West Brom have, though, is Head Coach Carlos Corberán, who delivered 10 wins in 11 after taking charge last season, following a rough start, before injuries to goalkeeper Alex Palmer and others set things back.
Corberán is arguably the best manager in the Championship, and central to any hopes of an unlikely Play-Off challenge in such chaotic circumstances.
If the Spaniard can utilize the loan market well, whilst getting a tune out of go-to Championship performers in Conor Townsend, Jed Wallace and John Swift, it’s possible.
West Brom are the worst-run club in this league, though, and more often than not that shows on the pitch.
The mainstream criticism of Watford for routinely firing managers has gone from feeling like a hackneyed jibe that almost seemed a little unfair, at one point, to something that’s now impossible to argue with.
The Hornets turnover bosses quicker, and more harshly than they did when they first gained that reputation, when initially there were nuances that weren’t explored much outside WD18, but they’ve since become parodies of the very thing they were accused of being.
Aiming to lead them out of this existential crisis are Sporting Director Cristiano Giaretta, Technical Director Ben Manga – who did good things at Eintracht Frankfurt – and Manager Valérien Ismaël.
The Frenchman aims to build around a core of aerial centre-back Ryan Porteous, Morocco international midfielder Imran Louza, agile creator Yáser Asprilla, reliable left-sider Ken Sema, and nippy inside forward Rhys Healey.
If that quintet stay fit, they’re good enough to aid the Hornets upwards, Asprilla especially: strong on either foot, the nimble operator has stunning vision and can not only turn his opponent under pressure, but then pick out a killer pass.
Already a Colombia international at 19, the attacking midfielder only started 14 league games last season due to the option of João Pedro, but this time he could make centre-stage his own.
Joining the above are defender Wesley Hoedt, exciting wing-back João Ferreira, aggressive ball-carrier Ismaël Koné, and Brazil Under-20s forward Matheus Martins, any one of whom could hit the heights.
Nonetheless, there remains voids of quality in goal, at left-back, in central midfield and up top at the time of writing.
Plus, it seems unlikely that cumbersome veteran midfielder Jake Livermore can play Ismaël’s extreme, high-pressing style, which was deployed most successfully by a youthful Barnsley team.
The hope would be that watching Rob Edwards – the man the club swore to back “by hell or high water” last summer only to sack 10 games in – win promotion that same season with their fiercest rivals, might be the one last wake-up call they needed to change their ways.
Until that’s proven to be the case, however, it seems futile to even talk about the need to give Valerien Ismael several transfer windows to assemble a squad that can play his way – the chances are, he simply won’t get it.
Following in the footsteps of Brighton, Brentford and Luton, the Championship has a new smartest club.
Since League Two promotion in 2019-20, it’s been smooth sailing for the Pilgrims; after a streaky campaign back in League One, they missed out on the Play-Offs with an astonishing 80 points in 2021-22, but got their rewards last season, winning the title with 101!
What makes their rise more impressive is that in the middle of it, they lost manager Ryan Lowe to Preston North End, internally appointed his assistant, Steven Schumacher, straight away, and continued to improve at the same rate.
Lowe and Schumacher have done incredible jobs at Home Park, yet benefited from an outstanding structure, led brilliantly by owner Simon Hallett, CEO Andrew Parkinson, DoF Neil Dewsnip, and HoR Jimmy Dickinson.
One of their summer signings required much due diligence: defender Julio Pleguezuelo looks an astonishing capture from FC Twente, where the defender played 23 Eredivisie games last season, and is only moving to England because his family still live in London.
As such, the club have shown incredible awareness in the market to clock the logistics and poach Pleguezuelo, a classy, ball-playing defender with excellent versatility, which will enable Schumacher to switch formations, and one some reckon could play for a top Championship side.
Other additions didn’t require quite the same consideration, after wing-back Bali Mumba and forward Morgan Whittaker had starred on loan from Norwich and Swansea respectively, before becoming available for a permanent deal.
Gifted, versatile, and infectiously energetic, Mumba grabbed six goals and seven assists from an attacking wing-back role last season, bringing excellent link-up play, and will be out to stamp his mark on the Championship.
The same is true of Whittaker: the 22-year-old has pace to burn over long distances, but can be delightfully skilful and agile in shorter ones, as his penchant for a turn and snapshot grabbed him nine goals in the first half of last season, from 27 appearances.
Argyle are teeming with talent, too, in midfield all-rounder Adam Randell, graceful goalscoring midfielder Callum Wright, right wing-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden – who joins on loan from Aston Villa – left wing-back Saxon Earley and speedy forward Ben Waine.
When the up-and-comers falter, however, the Devonians can fall back on a group of steady operators in goalkeeper Michael Cooper, left-sided defender Macaulay Gillesphey, aerial centre-back Dan Scarr, solid midfielder Jordan Houghton, wing-back pro Joe Edwards and industrious front-man Ryan Hardie.
Cooper begins the season injured, however, so recruit Conor Hazard starting well between the sticks would go a long way towards a comfortable maiden Championship voyage.
The sentiment might be more commonplace in a month’s time than currently, but Gareth Ainsworth is the right person for where QPR are right now.
Over the last 11 years, Ainsworth has established himself as a manager who consistently delivers results in adversity, and one of the greatest positive psychologists in the EFL.
The 50-year-old’s ability to inspire belief in others is almost unparalleled, so there will have been players who began a rigorous pre-season training regime with no hope, who by opening day believe they can make the Play-Offs.
Ainsworth’s impact was compromised slightly in taking charge in-season, because the team was used to losing most weeks, and getting the buy-in required was tough, especially from the contingent that had signed for Mick Beale, who then left acrimoniously in November.
Pre-season though, has given the manager two things: the first being the window to add the characters he needs, as much as the footballers.
Wide forward Paul Smyth, for example, is not only skilful and fun to watch, he’s also a ball of energy who will turn up to the training centre every day with a growth mindset, and a smile on his face.
Secondly, Ainsworth now has the space to grow the culture he wants, and build confidence gradually, away from the pressure-cooker of the league.
Both of those things will be crucial to the Rs rediscovering their core values, and stabilizing once again, but the size of the task can’t be estimated.
Last season’s barren run of two wins in 27 hurt badly, and Ainsworth himself was not blameless in that, having overseen 10 of those encounters, prior to a crucial back-to-back wins, in which a huge dollop of luck was needed to get over the line.
Plus, the Hoops have a modest core of just five or six players who are good enough to steer them into lower midtable, and that includes attacking midfielders Chris Willock and Ilias Chair, who face uncertain futures.
Injuries to progressive left-back Kenneth Paal, grafter Sam Field, or industrious target man Lyndon Dykes, therefore, would be problematic for the West Londoners, while veteran Asmir Begović might have to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship after four games in two years.
Elsewhere, centre-backs Jimmy Dunne and Jake Clarke-Salter have plenty of work to do to get close to the form that earnt them international recognition up to Under-21s level with Ireland and England respectively.
A tough season is ahead – but trust in Ainsworth and he’ll steer this club through it.
New squad, new backroom staff, new directors, new COO, new Head of Recruitment, new marketing executive… perhaps the only thing that’s old at Stoke City nowadays is their 85-year-old co-owner, Peter Coates.
Peter, and son John, want progress for the Potters, having seen few signs of it in five seasons back at this level, but an accumulation of previous mistakes make this a transitional time for the club, and patience is the order of the day, with people settling in across the board.
What the Staffordshire club have in their favour, is that their (relatively) new manager, Alex Neil, is one of the few modern-day bosses still capable of having half an eye on operational matters, especially recruitment, where most only have eyes for the team.
As such, Neil has been able to keep some plates spinning this summer, even before HoR Jaden Dublin arrived in late-June.
Signing Ki-Jana Hoever on loan from Wolves was a no-brainer, after the versatile defender’s impressive stint in the Potteries last term, and so was signing his former player, Ben Pearson.
The tenacious midfielder was one of the league’s most consistent operators when at Deepdale, and could forge a tough trio with gifted left-footer Lewis Baker, and energetic presser Josh Laurent.
Relying on a manager for recruitment is a double-edged sword, though: is Daniel Johnson really the best the club could do, after the attacking midfielder was released by PNE this summer?
Centre-back Michael Rose and left-back Enda Stevens also arrive a little more through reputation than how they’ve performed recently, and both arrive with a possible injury risk.
Likelier to be Dublin picks are André Vidigal, a ball-carrying left winger poached from Marítimo, and aggressive centre-back Emin Bayram, a Turkey Under-21s prospect who made seven Süper Lig appearances last season to help Galatasaray win the title.
Expected to soon be made official, those signings will bring the excitement factor, and so could strikers Emre Tezgel and Nathan Lowe.
Tezgel is a technical, intelligent front-man with an excellent goalscoring record at youth level, while Nathan Lowe, also 17, appears more physically equipped for senior football at this stage, and stands just as good a chance of catching fire.
For now, it’s on relentless presser Jacob Brown to lead the line, as Neil intends to build an aggressive side that can be dangerous in transition.
After a summer of widespread change, though, this season could be trickier than the owners would like.
Forget the Play-Offs – this is about ticking off those 50 points, and laying enough foundations to ensure next summer entails far less upheaval.
Belief is waning at Cardiff.
Since the turn of the century, the Bluebirds have had a modest handful of managers who built a real connection with supporters, but since Neil Warnock left in 2019, nobody has had both the time and the skills to foster that affinity.
Sabri Lamouchi showed the potential to, after saving the capital club from relegation last season, but when a deal couldn’t be agreed to keep the Frenchman on for some semblance of stability, it felt like another kick in the chops.
The club has had financial concerns, too, as owner Vincent Tan has had to borrow money: speculation is that operational authority has been used as a bargaining tool, and that new boss Erol Bulut isn’t an appointment he’s entirely on board with.
Whether that’s quite the full truth or not, it doesn’t paint the best picture for the season ahead, so it’s down to Aaron Ramsey to lift the mood, returning 15 years after leaving the club for Arsenal.
The 32-year-old won’t have the same box-to-box energy that made him world-class in 2013, but should offer remnants of quality and a much-needed goal threat from central midfield.
Last season, creator Romaine Sawyers and controller Ryan Wintle bagged two league goals apiece – though the latter enjoyed an otherwise excellent campaign – while Andy Rinomhota and Joe Ralls didn’t find the net at all.
Arguably as big an addition as Ramsey, if not as high-profile, is 6’4” Greece international centre-back Dimitrios Goutas, who could be the dominant, vocal presence at the heart of defence that was missed last season.
Tasked with correcting City’s goalscoring troubles, though, are Yakou Méïté and on-loan Karlan Grant, who have both dropped off in the Championship in recent seasons, plus Iké Ugbo.
The 24-year-old hit 16 in 32 for Cercle Brugge in 2020-21, but hasn’t since got close to that form for Genk or Troyes, who loaned him out despite now being in Ligue 2, a weaker league than England’s second-tier.
Cardiff will be reasonable defensively, if Perry Ng and Mark McGuiness have anything to do with it, but may lack the quality, Ramsey aside, to improve on last year’s dice with the drop.
Most teams who achieve a top half finish will look forward to next season with the hope that a Play-Off push could be on the cards, but optimism at Deepdale remains scarce.
Ryan Lowe delivered top 10 form after taking charge midway through the previous season, and 12th spot last year on a bottom six budget, but in some respects, the financial constraints are almost the least of his worries.
It’s one thing bridging the economic disparity with the help of an excellent infrastructure, a progressive development model or nifty recruitment strategy, but North End have neither of those things.
The Lilywhites have often punched above their weight, since promotion to this level in 2015, yet their achievements haven’t seemed to count for much towards the infinite game.
Over that eight year period, the club has cut corners and gone for the easy route, both by not selling when contract talks with key assets broke down, and by failing to invest in their recruitment team or facilities, or introducing a Development Squad.
Good management from Simon Grayson, Alex Neil and Lowe has been enough to mask these issues with competitive results on the pitch, yet the hierarchy are showing no signs of learning, and the club is overdue a point at which mistakes of the past start to catch up with them.
Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, consistent defender Jordan Storey, conductor Ben Whiteman (if he stays), all-action midfielder Ali McCann, and experienced front-man Ched Evans, when he returns, are the core who should keep North End afloat.
Plus, all-action right-back Calvin Ramsey and fleet-footed striker Layton Stewart, on loan from Liverpool, attacking midfielder Mads Frøkjær-Jensen, and creative forward Will Keane should add well to that core.
Outset the above decent, however, it’s a combination of some who are past their best, others who struggle to stay fit, others who aren’t up to the standard, and youngsters who are unproven at Under-21s level, let alone senior.
Lowe might have enough about him to keep PNE up, but this season could be a warning sign, which failure to heed would send the club on the wrong path…
Most clubs who have just won promotion have a distinct buzz, but Sheffield Wednesday aren’t in that place.
The Owls should be, after showing incredible spirit to overturn a four-goal deficit in the Play-Off Semi-Final with Peterborough and make Wembley, where they went up through Josh Windass’ euphoric 123rd-minute winner.
Darren Moore lifting the trophy prompted a triumphant cheer from Wednesdayites, who were hoping the achievement would give the club the space to stabilize for a year or two at a more natural level.
Instead, the club parted company with Moore over internal disagreement. Dejphon Chansiri may have been within his rights to make the call if, as he claimed, his manager’s demands were excessive and not right for the club – either way, the consequences were sub-optimal.
For the last two years, the club has given a lot of the operational power to Moore, in the absence of a Sporting Director or equivalent, which has made the task of replacing their chief decision-maker difficult.
Chansiri opted for Xisco Muñoz, and it’s tempting to conclude that the fact the Spaniard won promotion from this level with Watford in 2020-21, was the central factor.
Understandable, perhaps, but the best appointments are made with a more scientific plan in place, something Chansiri can’t offer with a background in tuna production, and there’s no footballing mind upstairs to do the job for him.
Although Muñoz took the Hornets up, he did so unconvincingly as his tactical approach was questioned at times.
Then, he could afford to be carried somewhat by the individual quality in his team, but that’s not a luxury he’ll have at Wednesday, who come up with an aging squad that, due to the changeover, hasn’t had surgery it needs.
Owls fans were talking about needing 8-10 new players with which to attack the Championship, yet the club have thus far only made one senior addition, that being energetic left-sider Reece James, who was at the club last season.
Muñoz can at least turn to a core of reliable stalwart Liam Palmer, selfless midfielder George Byers, playmaker Barry Bannan, driven forward Windass and nippy striker Lee Gregory, who have proven to be up to Championship level before.
Elsewhere, there’s more of a question mark over the ex-Rotherham trio – aerial centre-back Michael Ihiekwe, driven midfielder Will Vaulks and target man Matt Smith – with the League One specialists having been hit-and-miss in the second-tier.
With that in mind, and a likely change of formation from a back-three to a back-four, Wednesday need first XI improvements in around five positions, which is an awkward spot to be in going into the remaining two pre-season friendlies.
If the additions can bring the required fresh energy, athleticism and quality for the level, the Owls might beat the drop.
If delayed recruitment means their season starts slowly, however, things could get restless…
The remit Neil Warnock has taken on this summer is arguably harder than the one he assumed in February, when Huddersfield were four points adrift of safety.
It’s one thing, at 74, to come in for 15 games, lift the players, galvanize the club, and use his experience to find a formula to beat the drop… Warnock can do that almost with his eyes closed.
It’s quite another, however, to oversee the substantial rebuild a club requires, and face the all-consuming nature of the job all year round, especially seeing as he’s not the most modern-minded boss in the world on areas like data analysis.
While Warnock has a huge reputation from a career dating back to 1980, he’s only delivered one successful full season as a manager in the last 12 years, winning promotion with Cardiff, and that was back in 2017-18.
Otherwise, his best recent work has been in-season turnarounds – with the Bluebirds the year before taking them up, QPR (second stint), Rotherham, Middlesbrough, and his current employers last term.
Plus, Warnock didn’t have any intention of going back into management last season, having moved into media work and touring, only returning initially to help an old friend in Dean Hoyle out of a tight spot – hardly the sign of someone wholeheartedly committed to staying in the industry.
An early exit feels plausible if things go south in August, so Huddersfield have risked wasting a whole summer of preparation.
There’s some excitement to be had, though, from how Sorba Thomas and Jaheim Headley might get on as explosive, attacking wing-backs.
Elsewhere, shot stopper Lee Nicholls, consistent defender Matty Pearson, aerial centre-back Michał Helik, and midfield all-rounder Jack Rudoni represent a decent core.
Ultimately, however, very little has so far been done to strengthen a group that were six points adrift, last season, with nine games to play, as no outfield additions have been made since the great escape.
It’s partly because Town have a bloated senior squad, of which just over half are either well past their best, not ready, or not good enough for the Championship, so the club has had to offload a few of those players before bringing new ones in.
That looks a drawn-out process, which is hardly ideal – trouble awaits…
Most Rotherham fans are hopeful that last season’s 19th-placed finish can be the prelude to steady growth within the Championship, rather than another dogfight, but they may be disappointed.
The Millers relied heavily on goalkeeper Viktor Johansson to beat the drop and, great a shot-stopper though he is, the Swede can’t be expected to bail this team out again.
Things appeared to be heading south back in December, with a series of no-shows over the festive period, but manager Matt Taylor demanded Championship experience and got it, with six additions making an impact (technically seven, but Sean Morrison got injured early on).
Of those, however, only defender Morrison and physical front-man Jordan Hugill were permanent signings, so five loans have to be replaced, and just two outfield additions have since been made at the time of writing, Grant Hall and Cafú.
Hall, Morrison and Lee Peltier will struggle to start more than half the league games, and each of those defenders lack pace, meaning they’d struggle to hold a high line.
Rotherham got away with those issues at times last season, with the speed of Chiedozie Ogbene, but the Irishman has since departed for Luton, leaving pace a scarce commodity in existing personnel.
Midfielder Cafú, on the other hand, will need time to rediscover full fitness, after making just two appearances in the last 12 months.
The South Yorkshire outfit have two star men in Johansson, and classy defender Cameron Humphreys, as well as a handful of go-tos in Morrison, Hall, Peltier, Hugill, ball-carrier Ben Wiles and energetic presser Oli Rathbone: keep the octet fit and survival is possible.
The problem lies in what’s beneath that group, and a dearth of fringe players who have the potential to come good if it came to it, so strong remaining recruitment will be essential to giving the Millers any sort of chance.
Taylor has captured the hearts of natives for his brisk honesty, and with the culture he’s creating, it’s plausible Rotherham defy the odds again – but relegation is likelier.
