The Championship: A Look Ahead to the Most Competitive Second Tier Ever
The Championship is widely regarded as one of the most competitive and entertaining leagues in Europe. With 24 teams battling it out for promotion to the Premier League, the level playing field ensures that every club has a chance of success. Last season saw Burnley win promotion to the top tier, and this year, the competition is set to be even fiercer.
Of the 24 clubs featuring in the Championship, an astonishing 19 have played in the Premier League since its formation in 1992. This means that the league is packed with clubs who have experience of genuine success at the top table. Only Millwall, Preston, Bristol City, Rotherham and newly-promoted Plymouth have not played in the top tier during the last 21 years.
Leeds United, Leicester and Southampton will be playing Championship football once again after suffering relegation from the Premier League. Meanwhile, two of the three clubs promoted from League One last term, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich, also both played in the top flight in the nineties and early 2000s. The Tractor Boys even played in the UEFA Cup between 2001 and 2003.
Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Southampton, Hull City, Birmingham City and Swansea City have also played in the UEFA Cup, while a trio of teams have gone one step further. Leeds, Leicester and Blackburn Rovers have all featured in the Champions League, while the latter two have been able to call themselves champions of England.
Leicester stunned the nation when they won the Premier League in 2016 and Blackburn stopped Man United’s momentum in 1995. Both teams begin the new season at home, with Coventry at Leicester and West Brom travelling to Ewood Park.
The prize for clubs competing in the second tier is huge with the riches and global exposure that life in the Premier League brings. Each year, a number of clubs have a genuine case for striving to be ‘back where they belong’ in England’s top league. However, with 19 clubs having experience of genuine success at the top table, it means that the Championship is going to be more competitive than ever in a season which will make it arguably the best second tier ever.
So, what can we expect from the Championship this season? Let’s take a closer look.
The Contenders
With so many clubs in the mix, it’s difficult to predict who will come out on top. However, there are a few teams who are likely to be in the running for promotion.
Leeds United are one of the biggest clubs in English football and will be desperate to return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence. They have appointed former Argentina and Chile boss Marcelo Bielsa as their new manager, and he will be tasked with guiding the club back to the top tier.
Aston Villa are another club with a rich history and a huge fanbase. They narrowly missed out on promotion last season, losing to Fulham in the playoff final. However, they have strengthened their squad over the summer and will be hoping to go one better this time around.
Middlesbrough have a new manager in Tony Pulis, who has a proven track record of getting teams promoted from the Championship. They have also signed some impressive players, including Aden Flint from Bristol City and Paddy McNair from Sunderland.
West Bromwich Albion were relegated from the Premier League last season, but they have managed to keep hold of some of their key players, including Jay Rodriguez and Craig Dawson. They will be hoping to bounce straight back up under new manager Darren Moore.
The Dark Horses
While the likes of Leeds, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and West Brom are likely to be among the frontrunners for promotion, there are a few other teams who could surprise a few people.
Nottingham Forest have made some impressive signings over the summer, including Joao Carvalho from Benfica and Lewis Grabban from Bournemouth. They also have a new manager in Aitor Karanka, who led Middlesbrough to promotion in 2016.
Brentford have been quietly building a strong squad over the last few years and narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season. They play an attractive brand of football and have some talented players, including Ollie Watkins and Neal Maupay.
Sheffield United were one of the surprise packages of last season, finishing 10th in their first season back in the Championship. They have a young and hungry squad, and their attacking style of play could cause problems for opposition defences.
The Relegation Battle
While the focus is often on the teams at the top of the table, there will also be a fierce battle at the bottom of the Championship. Rotherham and newly-promoted Bolton are likely to be among the favourites for relegation, but there are a few other teams who could struggle.
Ipswich Town have been in the Championship for 16 seasons now and have finished in the bottom half of the table for the last three years. They have a new manager in Paul Hurst, but it remains to be seen whether he can turn their fortunes around.
Reading narrowly avoided relegation last season and have lost some key players over the summer, including Liam Moore and George Evans. They will need to find some new talent if they are to avoid the drop this time around.
Conclusion
The Championship is set to be more competitive than ever this season, with 19 clubs having experience of genuine success at the top table. While Leeds, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and West Brom are likely to be among the frontrunners for promotion, there are a few other teams who could surprise a few people.
With so many clubs in the mix, it’s difficult to predict who will come out on top. However, one thing is for sure – the Championship is going to be an exciting and unpredictable league this season.