The Championship kicks off on Friday and broadcaster Sanny Rudravajhala returns to preview the season, with added hot takes!
There’s something ‘real’ about football in the Championship. The passion, the huge crowds, and all that rich history, but without the lick and polish that comes with the Premier League. Instead, the edges are frayed. Scratch the surface and finances are precarious. But even when clubs turn up with their own documentary crews, there is nothing ‘reality tv’ about life in the second tier.
Premier League’s relegated three
The gap to the Premier League can be a chasm, and logic dictates that the three who went down will bounce back up.
Southampton have 32-year-old Will Still (pictured) now at the helm. From playing Football Manager as a teenager to becoming the youngest boss across Europe’s top five leagues when he took over at Reims, it’s been a hell of a ride. An immediate 17-game unbeaten run elevated his profile whilst he still completed his coaching badges, and his reputation has only grown from his last role at Lens. The Belgian-born Englishman arrives as an ‘unknown’ having never managed in England. But we said the same about Régis Le Bris who’s busy preparing Sunderland for the Premier League.
On the pitch Southampton were abysmal last season. Still has to turn around a group that are used to losing. Again they start the season with goalkeeping issues with Aaron Ramsdale joining Newcastle and Gavin Bazunu returning from serious injury. Cashing in on Tyler Dibling seems inevitable but keeping Shea Charles in the middle will be vital.
Leicester have the core attackers that helped them win the league under Enzo Maresca two seasons ago. Abdul Fatawu’s class is undiminished, as shown with his wonderful friendly goal against Fiorentina. With Bilal El Khannouss and Stephy Mavididi, that’s an attacking trio that can tear any side in this division apart. Martí Cifuentes has put down his trowel to take over at Leicester. After saving and stabilising QPR, his time at the club ended with gardening leave. However, a points deduction for alleged EFL rule breaches does hang over the club. Leicester supporters continue to be unhappy with what they see as an apathetic approach from the owners and the appointment and bungled dismissal of Ruud van Nistelrooy shows that, off the pitch at least, they’re lacking direction and clear strategy.
Kieran McKenna remains at Ipswich and they are the best placed of last season’s relegated sides. They’ve lost big Liam Delap but tied down the even bigger George Hirst. Having spent over £130m last campaign, they made a poor fist of their Premier League foray but given that was after incredible back-to-back promotions from League One, they are in a stronger position now than two years ago. Azor Matusiwa has been their main transfer outlay. Being in the 95th percentile with his duels won last season in Ligue 1 with Rennes shows you that they’ve got a combative player ready to fill the boots of the departed Samy Morsy.
Coventry to climb?
I’m backing Coventry City. Under Frank Lampard they were superb last season and they have kept the team together. Kaine Kesler-Hayden excelled in a very poor Preston side and arrives from Aston Villa. He can countenance the departure of Milan van Ewijk, if that happens.
Jack Rudoni has become the ‘manager’s son’ as one of Lampard’s favourite pupils but his performances at the back end of the season were stellar. His return of 12 assists and 9 goals, including dislocating his shoulder to score against Oxford, shows the 24-year-old can be counted upon. The players have a chastening play-off semi-final exit to Sheffield United to spur them on this campaign.
As for the Blades, Rubén Sellés is now in charge after Sheffield United’s play-off final heartbreak. I think it will take time for the players to adapt to his methods after working under Chris Wilder for so long though. The Spaniard was ditched by Hull City after less than six months on Humberside, despite previously working wonders at besieged Reading.
Goalkeeper Michael Cooper is the best in the division – his save map alone can show you that.
The mercurial Louie Barry arrives on loan from Aston Villa. Injury ended his spell with Sellés at Hull but his outstanding efforts at Stockport County left him as one of League One’s players of the season, despite leaving in January.
Wrexham go big, Birmingham bullish
I’ll admit I’ve previously been a tad scathing towards Wrexham. But one signing alone means I’ll take some of it back. Bringing in Keiffer Moore is a masterstroke. The Welshman was instrumental in Sheffield United’s play-off semi-finals, although we won’t mention teeing up Tommy Watson’s 95th minute Sunderland Wembley winner. It’s a fresh start for the 6’5” centre forward. At 32, he again adds to Phil Parkinson’s Dad’s Army, but they can stand the ball up and he will nod it in all day long.
For Birmingham, the further Tom Brady is away from the dugout, the better. Talented head coach Chris Davies can do his own motivational seminars and the ownership group have continued to back him. I’m looking forward to seeing Kyogo Furihashi in the flesh. Celtic’s key man left for Rennes mid-season before a management-change saw him frozen out and thoroughly miserable. Now the Japan international can link up with compatriots Tomoki Iwata and new boy Kanya Fujimoto and get his chance to shine. Added to that, Tommy Doyle impressed at Wolves and arrives on loan, as does goalkeeper James Beadle from Brighton, fresh from winning the U21 Euros with England. The bookmakers are backing the Blues to go up again, even if the Opta super computer is not – read those always interesting data-backed predictions here.
Relegation a foregone conclusion for Wednesday?
Sheffield Wednesday are in a mess. Staff and players are being paid late, and half the squad has left. Their 9,000 capacity North Stand has been shut down by the local council for being unsafe. Owner Dejphon Chanshiri has seemingly pulled the financial plug and is prevaricating on any potential sale. Danny Röhl has called time and been replaced by his assistant Henrik Pedersen. Only captain Barry Bannan, at the behest of his distraught daughter, has committed to the club. The spectre of one of our great football institutions going to the wall looms large.
Hull City have another new boss in Sergej Jakirović, but it is owner Acun Ilıcalı who has caused the biggest issues for the Tigers. Thanks to a late loan payment for Louie Barry, they’re under an embargo and unable to pay for any players. Surviving on goal difference after finishing seventh the season before, the broadcaster and entrepreneur touted as Türkiye’s Simon Cowell isn’t getting a ‘yes’ from me.
Oxford United will be mentioned in relegation conversations as a club with one of the smallest budgets in the division, but Gary Rowett will keep them solid. I predicted Preston for the drop last season and their biggest refresh has been bringing in social media stars and lifelong fans ‘Spud Bros’ as their sponsors. Having met them over the summer and asked them ‘what makes a good potato’ live on TV, there is a buzz and some much-needed positivity at PNE. I think that third spot will be a club that will find itself in a fight almost by accident, Preston will be hoping it isn’t them again this season.
Watford could do anything. Norwich with local lad Liam Manning are a wildcard, Ryan Mason has his chance at West Brom and Nathan Jones at least has his Charlton players singing from his hymn book.
There’s no Tunnel Club, the paint is peeling and if you have a pie that’s cooked all the way through then you’re onto a winner, but on the pitch there’s plenty to look forward to from the Championship this season.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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