I wasn’t going to do a 1-24 for the Championship, but I figure it might be worth dropping my personal thoughts in and seeing where we go.
Usually, given that Lincoln are expected to challenge at the top end of the table, at least in the 11 or so seasons I have been doing the site, I start at the bottom and work my way up. Let’s be honest, that isn’t the case this season.
Instead, I’m going to start at the top and work my way down, one prediction a day, until I do my final Lincoln prediction on Friday for you to enjoy.
In the meantime, please enjoy this guide. All transfers are only correct as of August 6th, when I started researching this piece.
1. Middlesbrough
Last 5 Championship finishes: 5 – 10 – 8 – 4 – 7
Ground/Capacity: Riverside Stadium (33,746)
Manager: Kim Hellberg
In: Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton, undisclosed), Myles Peart-Harris (Oxford, free), Kyle Joseph (Hull, undisclosed), Will Lankshear (Tottenham, undisclosed), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps, undisclosed)
Out: Hayden Hackney (Everton, undisclosed), Dan Barlaser (MK Dons, free), Dael Fry (Birmingham, free), Sam Silvera (MK Dons, undisclosed)
I’m backing Middlesbrough for the title, after seeing them strengthen in the two areas that most needed attention. Radek Vitek should represent a major upgrade in goal, while Will Lankshear arrives with the potential to provide the reliable finishing they lacked last season. Losing Hayden Hackney is a significant blow, but Boro were excellent under Kim Hellberg and still possess a squad capable of challenging at the top of the Championship.
They spent 35 matchweeks in the top two last season before a costly run of draws and defeats denied them automatic promotion. Defensively, there were few concerns, with Boro conceding the second-fewest goals in the division, while their possession, passing accuracy and shot numbers underlined how dominant they could be. Former Imp Morgan Whittaker and Tommy Conway contributed heavily, but too many chances were wasted elsewhere, and Lankshear could be the player who finally turns that control into promotion.
2. West Ham United
Last 5 Championship finishes: None
Ground/Capacity: London Stadium (62,500)
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo
In: Keiber Lamadrid (Deportivo La Guaira, undisclosed)
Out: Krisztian Hegyi (Sparta Prague, undisclosed), Mateus Fernandes (Tottenham, undisclosed), Mason Terry (Port Vale, loan), Callum Wilson (Brentford, free), Crysencio Summerville (Al-Hilal, undisclosed), Callum Marshall (Luton, undisclosed), Freddie Potts (Club Brugge, undisclosed)
It’s a bit obvious, but with the Premier League quality retained in their squad, West Ham should set themselves apart from most of the division. Jarrod Bowen should be the outstanding player at this level, while Mads Hermansen, Kyle Walker-Peters, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman, Edson Álvarez and James Ward-Prowse all look capable of thriving, if they stay. Nuno Espírito Santo has already won promotion from the Championship with Wolves, while Bowen also knows the division well from his time with Hull City.
Their squad already looks primed for promotion, even before any significant additions are made, but success is not guaranteed. West Ham will be the biggest game of the season for many opponents, and household names and excellent facilities do not always translate into Championship dominance. They should remain in the top six throughout, although the number of sides likely to produce season-best performances against them could prevent the Hammers from finishing as champions.
3. Southampton
Last 5 Championship finishes: 4 – n/a – 4 – n/a – n/a
Ground/Capacity: St Mary’s (32,384)
Manager: Tonda Eckert
In: Daniel Peretz (Bayern Munich, undisclosed), Cyle Larin (Mallorca, undisclosed), George Long (Norwich, free), Lewis Dobbin (Aston Villa, undisclosed)
Out: Ollie Wright (Gillingham, loan), Charlie Taylor (Derby, free), Oriol Romeu (Avispa Fukuoka), Alex McCarthy (Leicester, free), Samuel Tabares (Gillingham, free)
Southampton have retained one of the strongest squads in the Championship and should remain firmly involved in the promotion race despite beginning the season with a four-point deduction. There were fears of a major summer exodus, but that has not materialised, leaving Tonda Eckert with a group capable of challenging near the top of the table. The German transformed a struggling side last season, with Saints remaining unbeaten from late January onwards.
The fallout from the Spygate controversy continues to create uncertainty, particularly with a misconduct charge still hanging over Eckert. However, those off-field issues should not overshadow the progress made under his management, and the points penalty could even help foster a siege mentality at St Mary’s. Southampton may have to settle for the play-offs rather than automatic promotion, but they should still have every chance of returning to the Premier League.
4. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Last 5 Championship finishes: None
Ground/Capacity: Molineux (31,750)
Manager: Cesar Peixoto
In: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle, free), Raul Jimenez (Fulham, free), Ladislav Krejci (Girona, undisclosed), Rafiki Said (Standard Liege, undisclosed)
Out: James Storer (Plymouth, free), Alfie Pond (Chesterfield, undisclosed), Joao Gomes (Aston Villa, undisclosed), Matt Doherty (Sheffield United, free), Tolu Arokodare (Ajax, loan), Leon Chiwome (Colchester, loan)
Wolves possess enough individual quality to challenge for automatic promotion, having retained much of the core of their Premier League squad. André, Santiago Bueno, Kieran Trippier and Raúl Jiménez should all be among the strongest players in the division, although César Peixoto remains something of an unknown quantity in the dugout. His appointment follows a dreadful relegation campaign in which Wolves kept only two clean sheets and scored just 24 goals.
That negativity may take time to clear, particularly if uncertainty around the managerial change contributes to a slow start. The additions of Trippier and Jiménez offer encouragement, while the squad should still contain enough quality to win more often than it loses. Wolves are likely to remain firmly in the promotion picture, but their difficult recent history could leave them having to settle for a place in the play-offs.
5. Bristol City
Last 5 Championship finishes: 12 – 6 – 11 – 14 – 17
Ground/Capacity: Ashton Gate (27,000)
Manager: Michael Skubala
In: Billy O’Neill (Bray Wanderers, undisclosed), Sam Tickle (Wigan, undisclosed), Gibson Yah (Volendam, undisclosed), Jed Wallace (West Brom, free), Brad Collins (Coventry, free), Lisav Eissat (Maccabi Haifa, undisclosed), Sam Greenwood (Pogon Szczecin, undisclosed), Lorent Tolaj (Plymouth, undisclosed), Dom Ballard (Leyton Orient, undisclosed)
Out: Sinclair Armstrong (Goztepe, undisclosed), Mark Sykes (Millwall, free), Joe Lumley (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Josh Stokes (Reading, loan), Ross McCrorie (Rangers, undisclosed)
Bristol City have committed to a significant rebuild, with Michael Skubala arriving alongside a new sporting director and a large group of new players. Lorent Tolaj and Dom Ballard should give them a serious attacking threat, while Jed Wallace adds experience and Sam Tickle strengthens the goalkeeping department. There is already quality in the squad, with Scott Twine capable of creating chances and Emil Riis a reliable finisher at this level.
Skubala’s success at Sincil Bank was built on sensible coaching rather than unnecessary complexity. We know City pressed collectively, attacked weaknesses and played directly when the situation demanded it. The question is how quickly he can transfer those principles to a squad undergoing so much change, but the potential is considerable. Should the new arrivals settle quickly, Bristol City could move beyond their familiar mid-table position and become a genuine play-off contender.
6. Burnley
Last 5 Championship finishes: n/a – 1 – n/a – 2 – n/a
Ground/Capacity: Turf Moor (21,994)
Manager: Nicky Hayen
In: Lluc Castel (Espanyol, undisclosed), Ugo Raghouber (Lille, undisclosed), Ben Amos (Port Vale, free)
Out: Owen Dodgson (Stockport, undisclosed), Quilindschy Hartman (Espanyol, loan), Jaidon Anthony (Brentford, undisclosed), Loum Tchaouna (Coventry, undisclosed), Lesley Ugochukwu (Galatasaray, loan), Maxime Esteve (RB Leipzig, undisclosed), Jack McEvilly (Tranmere, free), Charlie Veevers (Tranmere, free), Luca Koleosho (Paris, undisclosed), Florentino (Ipswich, undisclosed)
Burnley’s record at Championship level means they cannot be dismissed, but this has been a summer dominated by departures. Jaidon Anthony, Maxime Esteve, Luca Koleosho and Florentino are among those to have moved on, while only a small number of players have arrived to replace them. That leaves Nicky Hayen with plenty of work to do as he attempts to rebuild a side that conceded just short of two goals per game during a difficult Premier League campaign.
Hayen has a respectable record in Belgium but is unproven in the Championship, where an unsettled pre-season and a demanding opening schedule could leave Burnley playing catch-up. The club’s recent history suggests they usually find a way to challenge at this level, although their squad currently looks weaker than those of the other relegated sides. A slow start followed by gradual improvement appears more likely than another immediate promotion charge, and sixth might be a little ambitious, which may not please everyone at Turf Moor.
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