Author: Richard Cutcher

Pundits, managers, and players alike have all been enthusing how this season is the most open the league has seen for quite some time – and they’re not wrong. With two out of the three relegated teams fighting the courts off the pitch, and the other beginning to realise just what a good job Owen Coyle did in getting them to the Premier League in the first place, it is unlikely any of the three will be expecting to make an immediate return to the pinnacle of English football. Up to fifteen teams are said to have aspirations to end in the play-off positions or higher, while it is becoming increasingly difficult to find where the unlucky three to drop out of the division will come from. Below is Sport.co.uk’s attempt to highlight five teams with a with real hope of achieving something special season, and another five who may not be so lucky.

Promotion Candidates

Middlesbrough: After adding Celtic trio Scott McDonald, Willo Flood, and Barry Robson, to his squad list in January, Gordon Strachan returned to Scotland this summer and brought back SPL top scorer Kris Boyd, Rangers team mate Kevin Thomson, and former Celtic captain Stephen McManus. The signing of Charlton midfielder Nicky Bailey is a shrewd one too, and if they can avoid the inconsistency which hampered them last time out they could disappear into the distance pretty quickly. For this team not to be challenging for the top two spots in the Championship would be an extremely poor reflection on Scottish football.

Nottingham Forest: Up until this week, Billy Davies has been becoming increasingly frustrated with his club’s inactivity in the transfer market, having watched the versatile James Perch leave for Newcastle and several other key players linked with a move away from the City Ground. Ryan Bertrand has since arrived on loan from Chelsea – having impressed at Reading last season – and will solve the problematic left side of defence. Davies is proven without doubt in this league, but his temperament is not and he may well be Forest’s biggest obstacle this season.

Cardiff City: Despite Cardiff’s ongoing financial problems, the Bluebird’s have much the same squad which lost out to Blackpool in a thrilling play-off final last season. In Michael Chopra and Peter Whittingham, Cardiff possess a potent midfield-striker combination but with Championship rivals circling, it will be imperative to hold onto them; while Jason Koumas has also arrived to replace the Celtic bound Joe Ledley. Dave Jones’ good work at Cardiff has not gone unnoticed, recently being linked to numerous Premiership sides, and don’t bet against the Welshman master-minding another successful season in south Wales.

Bristol City: Steve Coppell was an inspired choice of manager, and in Bristol City he finally has a club with the potential to match his ambition. Coppell inherits a strong squad from the Gary Johnson era at Ashton Gate, and has added accordingly. The defence has been bolstered by the arrival of Damion Stewart from QPR, and Nicky Hunt from Bolton, bringing strength and experience to a defence often lacking such attributes last season. The high-profile David James has arrived, while Sam Vokes comes in on loan, with strike duo Danny Haynes and Nicky Maynard both struggling with injury.

Relegation Candidates

Millwall: Under Kenny Jackett Millwall had made a sustained challenge for promotion, and finally got their reward in the play-off final last season. He has a hard-working squad with honest professionals, blended with some talented youth products. He hasn’t stood still though, adding winger James Henry and striker Kevin Lisbie to his charges. The arrival of Darren Carter on loan bring some much needed Championship experience to a side otherwise lacking in that department. Arriving in a fiercely competitive division with fellow new-boys Norwich City and Leeds United, hasn’t given Millwall the best chance of survival but don’t expect the Lions to roll over easily.

Watford: The Hornets kick off their season tonight at Carrow Road and fans of the club will be expecting another gruelling relegation battle. Mackay steadied the ship last season, never really looking like getting the Hornets relegated, but with only two back-to-back wins all season, they will need to find a decent run of form from somewhere this time out to ensure they can steer well clear of trouble. The Hornets have not added much in the close season, with goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin arriving to compete with Scott Loach, and 20 year-old defender Tom Aldred arriving on a free from Carlisle.

Scunthorpe United: Losing both Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes this summer will have a huge impact on Scunthorpe’s fortunes this season. The man Nigel Adkins has charged with filling the gaping hole left by Hooper goes to 24 year old Chris Dagnall, who has arrived on a free-transfer from Rochdale. It will be a big ask of Dagnall to fill Hooper’s boots, but his team-mates will need to step up to prove they were not a one man team last time out. Glanford Park is not an easy place to go, and home form will be key to their survival hopes.

Portsmouth: You could write a film based on the past two years at Fratton Park, and despite the good news yesterday, it remains to be seen if a happy ending is close. With only fourteen registered players available to Steve Cotterill, and investment from Balram Chainrai unlikely to be available before the end of August  – if forthcoming at all – the manager will have to use all his experience to keep Portsmouth’s head afloat in a division which is rarely forgiving. A farcical pre-season tour of North America has not helped preparations for the south-coast club, and some long Saturday afternoons await the loyal Pompey faithful.

Surprise Package

Crystal Palace: George Burley is no stranger to working under financial constraint and he performed admirably while in similar circumstances at both Derby County and Southampton. He will be determined to prove himself once again after a disastrous spell for Scotland, and with the Crystal Palace academy at his disposal and a reunion with his Ipswich protege, Darren Ambrose, Palace could just surprise their opposition, and plenty of pundits alike, who have written them off this season.

Season of Frustration

Burnley: Clarets’ fans will be hoping their early assessment of Brian Laws’ credentials are way off the mark as they go into this campaign unsure of what it will bring. There is enough talent at Turf Moor to suggest there could be a play-off challenge, although this is a team widely regarded as over achieving during the 2008/09 promotion season. Losing talisman Steven Fletcher to Wolves was a blow, and Jay Rodriguez will be needed to fulfil his potential if they are to replace the Scotsman’s goals. Their opening month is tough, and they could be searching for a new manager before too long into the season.

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