Championship Predictions 2016/17 (Part 1/4)

Why just days remaining until Fulham and Newcastle kick-off the 2016/17 English Championship season at Craven Cottage, it is time to complete the nye-on impossible job of predicting where each of the 24 teams will be placed come May 7, 2017.

The table has been broken down into four sections of six, with this opening piece focusing on the sides that I have predicted will finish 24th - 19th respectively. 

24th – Burton Albion

First up and assigned to the unfortunate position of the league’s bottom side are Burton Albion.

It is with regret that I place Nigel Clough’s men in 24th, but the decision has been made on the basis of their squad’s lack of experience at this level.

Notable additions such as Lloyd Dyer, Lee Williamson and Chris O’Grady will undoubtedly add Championship experience to the squad, while also improving the overall quality that Clough has in his ranks.

Nevertheless, it would be difficult for anyone to argue that any of those three names are anywhere the peak of their careers anymore, and further additions will be necessary to see The Brewers to safety.

Winger Lloyd Dyer promises to add both experience and class to Nigel Clough's side.

23rd – Huddersfield Town

Preparing for their fifth successive season in England’s second division, Huddersfield’s transfer activities to date will provide little in the way of excitement for their fans, and will have only a minor impact on the team’s chances of survival.

And a similar story could be told in the way of their Head coach David Wagner. The German-born boss took over at the Yorkshire club in November 2015, and, although he led The Terriers to safety last season, Wagner has only completed a full managerial season with Borussia Dortmund’s reserve team ahead of the upcoming campaign.

If Huddersfield are to build on last season’s 19th- place finish, then they will be relying on star man Nakhi Wells and the exciting Chelsea loanee Kasey Palmer to push them up the table. 

22nd Rotherham United

Rotherham’s magnificent run towards the end of last season saw the club survive what appeared at one stage to be an almost certain relegation to League One.

However, I would argue that The Millers will be fortunate to enjoy nearly the same kind of form this time around, with the loss of temporary Head coach Neil Warnock the most important piece of transfer business that Rotherham have engaged in all summer, and for all the wrong reasons.

New manager Alan Stubbs looks to be a promising young coach and enjoyed a wonderful season at Hibernian which ended in the Scottish side narrowly missing out on promotion back to the top tier.

But the Championship is an altogether tougher division, with better quality teams and individuals, and Stubbs has already lost an array of experience with the likes of Matt Derbyshire, Paddy Kenny, and Danny Collins all leaving the club.

Former Nottingham Forest central defender Kelvin Wilson is a top addition, as is Brighton loanee Jake Forster-Caskey, but those two signings alone will do little to improve Rotherham’s hopes of maintaining their Championship status this time around.

21st – Barnsley

Barnsley earned promotion to the Championship after sneaking into final play-off spot ahead of Scunthorpe United on goal difference, before then lighting up the League One play-offs with three excellent performances and comfortable victories.

Where many of the clubs mentioned above have seemingly struggled to add the players who could push them to safety, manager Paul Heckingbottom has added two men in George Moncur and Tom Bradshaw who have proven their ability in the lower divisions of the football league in recent years.

Moncur was one of the major reasons why Colchester were able to stave off relegation for a number of seasons before they ultimately experienced their unfortunate fate last year, and he promises to add further quality to Barnsley’s midfield alongside captain Conor Hourihane and the exciting winger Adam Hammill.

Meanwhile, Bradshaw netted 17 goals for a Walsall side that The Tykes defeated at the semi-final stage of the end-of-season play-offs back in May, and the forward looks set to partner 23-goal man Sam Winnall in a strong-looking attack.

20th – Bristol City

A brave decision was made to relieve former boss Steve Cotterill of his duties back in January of this year, but that judgement proved to be a good one from the Bristol City board, with Cotterill’s replacement Lee Johnson leading them to a solid 18th place finish that the club will look to build on this time out.

Nevertheless, I have positioned the side from Ashton Gate two places lower and in 20th, a decision that was made on the basis that the division is now of greater strength than it was 12 months ago, as opposed to Johnson’s men losing any of their class.

The permanent signing of striker Lee Tomlin from Bournemouth will enthuse the Bristol City faithful, while Icelandic central defender Hördur Magnússon’s transfer from Serie A giants Juventus will intrigue those at Ashton Gate.

With promising additions to his squad, Johnson’s main task now will be to keep striker Jonathan Kodjia at the club, whose 19 Championship goals were vital to the team’s survival last season.

Bristol City will need to keep hold of star striker Jonathan Kodjia if they are to enjoy a prosperous campaign.

19th – Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn have turned over eight managers in eight years, and if they fail to start this season quickly then new boss Owen Coyle may be quick to join his predecessors in leaving Ewood Park, with his links to the club’s biggest rivals Burnley and Bolton set to do him little favours in a job that even current England manager Sam Allardyce has failed to hold onto.

Rovers supporters have had little to cheer about in their five-year spell outside of the top flight (and indeed their six years under Venky ownership), and their misery has intensified in the past year with the loss of star strikers Rudy Gustede and Jordan Rhodes to Aston Villa and Middlesbrough respectively.

Losing central defender Grant Hanley would hurt any club at this level, and in a window where Coyle has brought in two good strikers in Danny Graham and Anthony Stokes, I fear that a failure to replace the Scotland international could be detrimental for the club’s hopes this season.

Although a decent addition to the side, Gordon Greer is no longer suitable to fill Hanley’s void.