Championship 1-24 predictions
24th: Sheffield Wednesday.
Let’s get straight into it, and I won’t dwell on it. Hardly any senior players contracted to the club, pre season hugely disruptive, a moron of an owner, and a manager that has tried his best to be in his own bomb squad at the club. Fans have just got to hope Chansiri sells up asap.
23rd: Hull City.
To be clear, talent wise I don’t think Hull are a bottom three side, this is more to do with off field issues and it all being messy as anything. Reminds me of Cardiff last season where player for player they aren’t relegation material. I like Charlie Hughes, Cody Dramah has played well in the league before, Gustavo Puerta has the potential to be something, Belloumi is one that could go to a different level. I watch Liam Millar and think corrrr yeah he’s good and then check his goal output and he’s 3 goals in 34 or something. There’s a blend of experience and leadership in the side too, and I’m sure the owner will bring in players of some decent quality too with his connections. I’m not going to pretend to say I know a lot about the manager, he’s been very good at winning with very good teams but then last season he was just alright with a mid team (underlying numbers wise, don’t shoot me. Football is played on spreadsheets). But you know when you’ve just got a bad feeling about a team? Like if it came out in January that Hull were dodgy and they’ve been deducted 6 points; would you be shocked? I know I wouldn’t. Sorry Hull fans.
22nd: Oxford United.
I asked for fans to submit their squad, and of course that aspect can change, but I looked at their squad and thought crikey, they’re seriously lacking in most areas for a Championship side. Jamie Cumming is obviously good enough as is Michal Helik and Cameron Brannagan but outside of that, I don’t think you’re going to win many games of football with a front three of Goodrham, Placheta and Harris. Dembele is another that could be good enough but need to see it more. Also, I had a look at the underlying numbers for Oxford last season and bare in mind this was supposedly one of the weakest Championship’s for awhile. Yes they picked up a lot of points, but the numbers and eye test suggest otherwise to me. 23rd for Expected points, 24th for Expected goals, 21st for Expected goals against and 23rd for Expected goal difference. Now would it surprise me if Rowett kept them up? absolutely not, but someone has to finish 22nd and I’ve got Oxford United.
21st: Charlton Athletic.
I think if you look at every single transfer window from each of the 24 clubs in the league, you could make an argument that Charlton have had the best in terms of practicality. They’ve brought in plug and play players in the main — and Nathan Jones’ Luton connection meaning they don’t need to adapt as much and there’s already a familiarity with the system. Burke and Bell will slot in easily, Kaminski whilst having a torrid few seasons should be fine, Rankin-Castello if, and that’s a big if, stays fit then he’s obviously good enough for the level and can play a variety of roles in defence and midfield. And then you’ve got Sonny Carey who could bring goals from midfield, as well as Oloafe who’ll do Godden’s running for him and batter defences around, and that’s without mentioning the current and potential ability of Apter, Campbell, Leaburn and the signing of Kelman who’s arguably a better version of Godden anyway. I think they need more legs in midfield, I’m not sure Greg Docherty is up to the level but Charlton pass my staying up test and that’s do they have a good keeper? Yes. Do they have options to score goals? Yes. Survival for the Addicks (please let us win opening day)
20th: Preston North End.
I’m not going to overthink this one, they were absolutely godawful in the second half of last season. Now to be fair, they did have Woodman in goal, also nicknamed Jesus as the geezer had holes in his hands and Iversen is a significant upgrade in that department. However I really don’t like the quality of player they’ve brought in — I think profile wise they make sense. More speed, more physicality, but ability is still the hub of all things good. Jordan Thompson I don’t understand, likewise with Pol Valentin, Thierry Small is good to be fair and Offiah did do well last season and should be better than Porteous. They also signed Andrija Vukčević who seemingly has more releases than Muttiah Muralitharan so I doubt he’s any good #analysis. All I’ll say on Daniel Jebbison is they best pray to god last season was an anomaly and him knowing PH will change his fortune around because good lord. What have they seen? Preston won’t go down because they never do, they have too many players who know how to win enough points, but they’re running it close with their current window.
19th: Stoke City.
I think Stoke will do well which means they won’t. I will not be tricked into putting them like 9th under Robins. I know I’m wrong with this one but until they actually do well I’m sticking them here.
18th: Blackburn Rovers.
The more I look at teams this year the more I realise, outside of Sheffield Wednesday there’s really not a lot of bad teams. 18th looks bad but I don’t think Blackburn are bad. I think Ismael is eh mind you. Their performance vs Boro at home last season was that bad I wouldn’t even wish that level of pain on my mother in law. Dolan is gone, Brittain will probably leave. They went to Kortrijk and didn’t sign Abdelkahar Kadri which is insane to me, the rest of them at that club are meh. McLoughlin is a good signing mind you, especially for the price. They’ll be fine, probably change manager at some point as Ismael rarely stays longer than a season as he gets confused about the style of play he actually wants to play after 6 weeks.
17th: Wrexham.
I want to make it clear from the start that it’s Rob Mac’s Wrexham and not Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham. Always Sunny in Philadelphia is streets ahead of all the shite movies Ryan Reynolds has been in.
16th: Portsmouth.
This might surprise people? I don’t really know. I think Murphy and Bishop are obviously good players for this level but I’m unsure of the others? I know from around December onwards they performed as a top half team but again I think the league is considerably tougher this year. I like their business too and I like Mousinho as a coach too, I just don’t think ability wise they match up to the others in the league. But again they’re another team that I could be way off on. I like they’ve addressed a midfield which now includes a big meaty South African and then a Hungarian who twats them in from range, likewise with the Segecic. Back four is a bit stinky but they’ll be fine and will be fun to watch. My better prediction for Pompey is they score the most goals from outside the box.
15th: Middlesbrough.
This is another controversial one but hear me out. I really don’t know if Rob Edwards is a good coach or not and he’s got two promotions on his CV, which I don’t think means that much, Xisco Munoz got us promoted and we all know how bad he was. I think in simple terms, do I think Edwards is a better coach than Carrick? no, do I think their squad of players is better than last season? also no. Do I think the players they’ll bring in will be as good as Hackney or Rav Van den Berg? not at all. Yeah fine VdB didn’t have the best season last year but there’s a reason top clubs are after him. Another thing is It’s the end of July and the only player they’ve brought in is Alfie Jones who’s a complete contrast to what Edwards’ wants to do style wise. Who’s definitely top 6 level with Lath, Doak and Hackney (most likely) gone? Morris, maybe Azaz and Conway but you could argue really only Morris. I’m not sure it’s the best time to play a back three this season either with every team loading up on wingers and big boys up top so you’re up against it from the start in every game regardless. There’s not a lot of speed in the team, especially in wide areas and at the back, the keeper position is up in the air, and I’m not convinced Conway will be as effective as he can be in a back three system. Granted they could go out and splash some money and bring in quality players, but Kieran Scott is the king of making players good and not teams good enough so I doubt that. There’s too many red flags for me.
14th: Swansea City.
Cameron Burgess and Ethan Galbraith are top players for the level, I just don’t think there’s enough goals in this side. Ronald and Eom aren’t reliable goal getters, Inoussa could help that but It’s unknown and I don’t think Vipotnik is good enough either to get enough goals. Defence is solid, they’ve upgraded Darling substantially with Burgess, Josh Tymon has huge takeover potential and their midfield is good but potentially quite easy to play against with Franco, Galbraith and Widell. If they could add a physical midfielder, another wide player and a starting level striker then there’s no reason they can’t be in the playoff hunt.
13th: QPR.
To be honest I think there’s a clear top six and the teams from 7th-19th could feasibly finish anywhere. I think QPR are going to be fun this season if they could add another striker. Dembele, Chair, Poku, Vale, Burrell is vibey. Varane is really good and I’m a Nicolas Madsen believer too. Mbengue is a great pickup and if they could partner him with Clarke-Salter then that’s a solid pairng. Dunne is solid, Kolli and Morgan have potential as well as already showing they can perform in this league. Some depth to them and again, no reason why they can’t finish higher.
12th. Millwall.
I contemplated putting them lower purely for spending that amount of money on Coburn. But I think they’re just fine. Safe pair of hands with Alex Neil. Good Champ players mixed with stardust in Tanganga, Ivanovic. I like the idea of Azeez and Neghil. De Norre is someone I really like too. Yeah it’s a good solid team.
11th: Bristol City.
Struber is great fun. High octane football, likes a two up front, likes big boys running channels too. Jason Knight and Max Bird in a Red Bull lite system is a match made in heaven. Could finish higher but stopped here because I think O’Leary has a clanger in him and I’m not sure where exactly the goals will consistently come from. Riis will chip in for sure, Mehmeti and Twine will also, I’m just not sure they have the firepower the teams ahead of them do with their new signings.
10th: West Brom.
I don’t have a scooby tbh. Ryan Mason could be good but could also be shite. They’ve still got good players though so you’d have to expect they’ll be in and around it. Isaac Price could be a huge player in the entire league this season. Fellows is great, Mowatt is solid, so are Phillips and Heggem. I love the signing of Aune Heggebo too and that’s added to Maja and Dike (a fit Dike that is). Do they possibly need a keeper or is Josh Griffiths good enough? I have my doubts.
9th: Norwich City.
If they keep Sargent then Norwich will finish higher than 9th. What’s holding me back is I don’t like their defence or keeper, I don’t trust them. Darling, Medic and Kovacevic all have bozo moments in them. Jacob Wright is good, Fisher is good, I like the look of Mahovo as well. Diallo and Kvistgaarden are top signings and I expect Crnac to go up a level too. Manning won’t over complicate things either, he’ll do at the bare minimum par-ish for the job.
8th: Watford.
I think we’ve got four top 6 level players in Selvik, Baah, Louza and Chakvetadze. A lot of high potential players in Keben, Abankwah, Wiley, Dwomoh, Irankunda, Doumbia, Vivaldo, Vata, Kjerrumgaard, Maamma. And then your steady Champ players in Pollock, Ngakia, Bola, Kyprianou, Ince, Sissoko, Dele-Bashiru. The balance is nice and it relies heavily on the younger players clicking. But I also think we’re three positions short (right back, centre back, central midfield) to really put pressure on that sixth spot. But if any of our three young strikers catch fire, it could snowball and we could surprise a lot of people this season. But at the same time we’re one of those sides that could implode and finish 17th. Vibes FC baby.
7th: Derby County.
Player for player I don’t think they should be here. But I’m looking at the style of the league and how it’s shaping up. It’s flexibility, it’s 1v1 wingers, big men up top, runners in midfield and meaty men at the back. Who is the best coach in the league to have all of these? John Eustace.
6th: Coventry City.
Arguably best run club in the EFL so they’re obviously getting playoffs.
5th: Birmingham City.
Pure hate watch for me this season.
4th: Leicester City.
Boring
3rd: Sheffield United.
Blades have the best keeper in the league, with arguably one of the best CBs, LB, still have Hamer, Peck is a year more experienced too. Selles is also I’d say a better coach in 2025 than Chris Wilder. Also think if you keep Campbell fit he gets minimum 15 goals. Think they’ve got a good amount of quality mixed with academy players.
2nd: Ipswich Town.
Kieran McKenna + Jack Clarke in the Champjonship = promotion
1st: Southampton.
Their worst striker would be everyone else’s best striker. Also, any manager that can tell the ref to fuck off in at least three different languages is one that’s going to win 85+ points.