Championship Preview

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Football League - Championship Preview

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Matt Smith takes a closer look at this years runners and riders in the Coca-Cola Championship.

THE MAIN CONTENDERSStood on a golf course, in the middle of the short summer break we all get from football these days, a fan of a Championship club asked me whether I thought it would be a total lottery again this season. After picking out 8 or 10 potential winners in quick succession, we both agreed it will be wide open.

With the parachute payments for the 3 relegated clubs ballooning upwards, your first thought is naturally whether they'll have the muscle to go straight back up. Reading, Birmingham City and Derby County all have good enough squads to contend for automatic promotion, but how will they cope psychologically with falling from grace? Even a passing side like Reading have to show battling qualities too.

Steve Coppell and Paul Jewell know all about getting a team up and out of the Championship. I don't see Coppell (well assisted by Kevin Dillon and the irrepressible Wally Downes) allowing his Reading players to mope for too long about losing their Premier League status. I think Paul Jewell needs a good start to the season with Derby.

Alex McLeish has none of the Championship experience of the other 2 managers, but I've always felt Birmingham are a confidence club. If the fans, owners and staff are in it together, they'll stay in touch with the top.

There are several other teams that can make a case for automatic promotion, but the two that catch my eye are Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers. In James Beattie, Kevin Blackwell may have the outstanding striker in the Championship, while the new owners big bucks and Iain Dowie's famous 'bouncebackability' are two very positive factors at Loftus Road.

SURPRISE PACKAGESIt's difficult to find teams who could surprise you in the Championship, when so many are already credible contenders. But no one really gave Bristol City a chance last season and look how close they came to the Premier League.

I think Gary Johnson could do well again this year, though it may be harder than it was in their first year in the Championship. Opposition teams will take them very seriously.

I had a good chat with the Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton over the summer, together with his new employer, the owner Marcus Evans. Jim's a very likeable, quick witted and confident character, who's taken to management very well. Mr Evans, a quieter but steely eyed sort, talks of when, not if Ipswich will be back in the big time. It could be soon.

Watford are hardly a surprise package, though I was disappointed with how they finished last season. I don't know what financial constraints Adie Boothroyd may be working under, but the club's inability to replace Marlon King last January was a major problem. They need stability in the boardroom and a regular goal scorer this term.

Of the rest, Crystal Palace will surely be a force again under the entertaining duo of Simon Jordan and Neil Warnock. Not everyone likes them, but they bring a lot of colour to the Championship picture.

KEY PLAYERS

I've already mentioned some of the players I think could be key this season - goals get you promotion to the Premier League, so strikers stand out. If James Beattie stays fit and hungry he could be top scorer in the Championship this season.

But he's got plenty of competition, not least from Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita at Reading. The departure of Dave Kitson to Stoke City means increased opportunities for Lita, the Hunt brothers and Shane Long.

Kevin Phillips will do the business once again, having moved from West Bromwich Albion to Birmingham. The Blues will also look to Gary McSheffrey and new signing Marcus Bent, who often starts well at a new club but needs to keep that form going.

Derby have signed Rob Hulse and Emanuel Villa to get goals, but I'll be particularly keen to see how Liam Dickinson does, after a big move from Stockport County. Derby also really need a fit Giles Barnes this season - he could spark a revival in the way the team plays. I read with interest how Paul Jewell had given every player a new squad number - a fresh start for all is clearly what he wants, as well as a first league win!

Funnily enough, one player who could be key to the Championship this season is a current Premier League footballer - the Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson. Watford would dearly like him back on loan after he did so well for them last season, but I gather plenty of Championship clubs - and Rangers in the SPL - have enquired about him too.

NEW BOYS

I do see the 3 teams coming down from the Premier League vying for the chance to go straight back up. And I believe the 3 teams coming up from League 1 all have a good chance of staying up. As I've mentioned, Bristol City were few people's pick to push for the Premier League last season, but I can't see Swansea City, Nottingham Forest or Doncaster Rovers quite repeating that feat.

Swansea have clearly come on leaps and bounds under Roberto Martinez, and will relish their chance on a bigger stage. They'll hope, no doubt, to make the Liberty stadium a very difficult place to visit, not least for their old friends in Cardiff!

Martinez has a young squad with no real experience at this level, and I know John Toshack thinks they'll do well to "hold their own and stay up."

Nottingham Forest have been missed in the upper tiers of English football. I would expect Colin Calderwood to aim for a solid first season, relying on the experience of Andy Cole and Rob Earnshaw. They've got a mouth watering start to the season, at home to Reading.

Doncaster are an ambitious club, well supported by owner John Ryan, and astutely managed by Sean O'Driscoll. I'm sure some of the bigger fish in the Championship will hope Donny prove to be something of a pushover, but I doubt it. Richie Wellens, a technically gifted midfielder schooled at Manchester United, has signed a new 3 year deal, and striker Darren Byfield has arrived from Bristol City. They too have a cracker on the opening day, at Derby.

I'm sure every club in the Championship has great hopes for the new season, but none really know what will happen. Enjoy the ride! Football League


Football League: Championship Ones to Watch:
[None from QPR mentioned!] -- Football League


See also Two QPR Fan Sites Season Previews of Championship:

- Dave Barton's Queens Park Rangers FC - Season Preview - Part I & Part II

- Clive Whittingham & David Price/Loft For Words Championship Preview