Filed under: Portsmouth, Ipswich, Reading, Leeds, Championship, Football, Team Previews, Brighton, Southampton
The new season is almost upon us and with that, FanHouse UK brings you the final instalment of previews for the runners and riders in the Championship.This time it we consider the hopes of the two sides to win automatic promotion from League One. Last year's champions Brighton have a brand-new stadium to bask in the glory of making it back to the second tier, while Southampton are clawing their way back to where they used to be.
Then we have Reading, last year's losing play-off finalists, along with Leeds. Both are tipped for a top-six finish once again, but as we saw last season, predictions can often go awry.
Speaking of awry, Portsmouth and Ipswich will be hoping for more stable campaigns than last season, now that the former have new owners and the latter have the steady hand of Paul Jewell at the helm for his first full season at Portman Road.
For the previews for West Ham, Doncaster, Watford, Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace, click here.
For the lowdown on Coventry, Millwall, Bristol City, Barnsley, Blackpool and Birmingham, click here.
For our insight into the hopes of Leicester City, Derby, Burnley, Cardiff, Peterborough and Nottingham Forest, click here.
Leeds United
Last Season: 7th
Odds for promotion: 18-1
Manager: Simon Grayson
Big buys: Andy Lonergan (Preston, £150,000)
Big sales: Bradley Johnson (Norwich, Free)
Our verdict: Fresh from their end-of-season capitulation, the gloom at Elland Road hasn't been lifted by a striker injury crisis and three key players heading through the exit door this summer. Luciano Becchio (hamstring) will miss the start of the new campaign and David Somma (knee) faces nine months out. To make matters worse, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has joined big-spending Leicester and out-of-contract midfielders Neil Kilkenny and Bradley Johnson have left for nothing.
Don't expect: Clean sheets. It was Leeds' Achilles heel all last season and Grayson has yet to bolster this department.
Do expect: Bids for Max Gradel to come in if the winger emulates the form of last season.
Finishing position: 4th
Reading
Last Season: 5th
Odds for promotion: 16/1
Manager: Brian McDermott
Big buys: Mikele Leigertwood (QPR, free), Bongani Khumalo (Tottenham, loan).
Big sales: Matt Mills (Leicester, undisclosed), Ivar Ingimarsson (Ipswich, free).
Our verdict: The play-off final defeat to Swansea would have felt like a crushing blow to Reading but their manager McDermott vowed that the players would bounce back. He has managed to retain the bulk of his squad, although the loss of Mills to Leicester will be felt.
Don't expect: Shane Long to stay around in January if he keeps on scoring goals on a regular basis.
Do expect: Reading to be in the mix during the final few games of the season.
Finishing position: 8th
Ipswich
Last Season: 13th
Odds for promotion: 16/1
Manager: Paul Jewell
Big buys: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Arsenal) undisclosed, David Stockdale (Fulham, loan), Michael Chopra (Cardiff, undisclosed).
Big sales: Connor Wickham (Sunderland, £8.1 million)
Our verdict: It has been a busy summer at Portman Road with plenty of new arrivals as manager Jewell stamps his mark on the team. Last season Jewell took his side up to 13th but the Tractor Boys are unpredictable and they could be in for a rough ride this season.
Don't expect: Any exciting derbies with bitter rivals Norwich or Colchester as they are all in different league this season.
Do expect: More signings in January if things are not going to plan by them.
Finishing Position: 18th
Brighton
Last Season: 1st (League One)
Odds for promotion: 18/1
Manager: Gus Poyet
Big buys: Craig Mackail-Smith (Peterborough, undisclosed), Romain Vincelot (Dagenham and Redbridge, undisclosed), Kazenga LuaLua (Newcastle, loan).
Big sales: Glenn Murray (Crystal Palace, free), Jim McNulty (Barnsley, undisclosed).
Our verdict: Brighton played some neat football on their way to the League One title lastseason. Over the summer, manager Poyet, has signed prolific striker Craig Mackail-Smith from Peterborough and the hardworking midfielder Vincelot from Dagenham and Redbridge. This season they will be good value too.
Don't expect: Route one football. Poyet likes to get his team passing and playing the beautiful game properly.
Do expect: Plenty of away fans. A brand new stadium and a weekend at the seaside will be a big draw for many.
Finishing Position: 12th
Portsmouth
Last Season: 16th
Odds for promotion: 40/1
Manager: Steve Cotterill
Big buys: Stephen Henderson (Bristol City, undisclosed), Luke Varney (Derby, undisclosed), David Norris (Ipswich, undisclosed).
Big sales: Michael Brown (Leeds, free), David Nugent (Leicester, free).
Our verdict: The dust has settled at Fratton Park but for how long? The club are moving on from their disastrous spate of rogue owners. Manager Cotterill is working hard to return to the club to the top flight but this season comes too early for them.
Don't expect: An easy ride. Things always have a habit of going wrong down on the south coast.
Do expect: Plenty of amusing anecdotes from Cotterill. He could rival the unusually quiet Ian Holloway in the humour stakes this season.
Finishing Position: 17th
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/08/04/championship-previews-brighton-leeds-southampton-reading-po/
No comments:
Post a Comment