Npower Championship Season Preview

The Npower Championship is one of the most exciting leagues in football, as those promoted up from it get a shot at the Premier League.

The league consists of 24 teams from right across the country with four teams promoted and two relegated at the end of the season.

The upcoming slides review each club’s offseason transactions, and previews their chance of success this year.

Barnsley

Nickname: The Tykes

Year Founded: 1887

Stadium (Capacity): Oakwell (23,009)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 21st

Manager: Keith Hill

Notable Transfers In: Marlon Harewood (Nottingham Forest), Jacob Mellis (Unattached), Mido (Zamelek)

Notable Transfers Out: David Cotterill (Doncaster), Jay McEveley (Swindon), Andy Gray (Leeds)

Key Player: Craig Davies

Preview: Barnsley seems to achieve the impossible and just about stay up every season, but this year may a step too far for the Yorkshire Club.

The addition of veteran strikers Mido and Marlon Harewood to partner Craig Davies up front could produce goals through the season, but the aging frontmen have been injury prone over recent seasons.  

More importantly, ‘The Tykes’ are missing the guile in midfield needed to survive in the Championship and they don’t have the financial clout to get someone in to fulfill that role.

Predicted Finish: Relegation

Birmingham City

Nickname: Blues

Year Founded: 1875

Stadium (Capacity): St Andrew’s (30,909)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 4th

Manager: Lee Clark

Notable Transfers In: Darren Ambrose (Crystal Palace), Peter Lovenkrands (Newcastle United), Hayden Mullins (Portsmouth)

Notable Transfers Out: Guirane N’Daw (St Etienne), Caleb Folan (Unattached), Ben Foster (West Brom) 

Key Player: Curtis Davies

Preview: Birmingham were the next best team after those who got promoted last time out, and ‘The Blues’ have managed to maintain that core squad through the preseason.

The biggest reason that Birmingham could not keep up with the top three last year was the inability to turn draws into wins late in the game. A solid spread of veteran players with Premier League experience should help overcome this issue, and that could well be enough to see Birmingham win the League.

Predicted Finish: Promotion

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers

Nickname: Rovers

Year Founded: 1875

Stadium (Capacity): Ewood Park (31,367)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 19th in Premier League (Relegated)

Manager: Steve Kean

Notable Transfers In: Danny Murphy (Fulham), Nuno Gomes (Sporting Braga), Leon Best (Newcastle)

Notable Transfers Out: David Hoilett (QPR), Yakubu (Guangzhou), Michel Salgado (Unattached)

Key Player: Paul Robinson

Preview: Rarely has there been a time when a football club is in open civil war but that is the atmosphere the Blackburn Rovers must start the season in.

Club owners, the Venky family, have backed current boss Steve Kean despite his getting the club relegated from the Premier League last season. Blackburn fans have been calling for Kean’s head since the autumn.

With relegation confirmed, more information about poor management throughout the club came into public circulation which further drove a wedge between the club and its fans.

In fact, Rovers fans have become so appalled with the situation that they have met with the league in the attempt to get the Venkys removed from the club.

With all that going on, the idea of some actual football being played seems like a nice idea. Blackburn have been able to maintain many of their players and added Danny Murphy to control the midfield area.

Should things stay together then Blackburn will be in the hunt for the playoff places.

Predicted Finish: Playoff Contenders

Blackpool

Nickname: The Tangerines

Year Founded: 1887

Stadium (Capacity): Bloomfield Road (17,338)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 5th

Manager: Ian Holloway

Notable Transfers In: Isaiah Osbourne (Hibernian), Scott Robinson (Dundee United), Alberto Noguera (Atletico Madrid B)

Notable Transfers Out: Brett Ormerod (Wrexham), Matt Hill (Sheffield United), Lomana LuaLua (Karabukspor)

Key Player: Matt Phillips

Preview: Blackpool's odyssey in the Premier League may have been more than a year ago, but the feel-good spirit around Ian Holloway and his men is still fully evident.

Blackpool have kept the promising pair of Matt Phillips and Tom Ince who will offer 'The Tangerines' plenty of offensive flair, while veteran striker Kevin Phillips will keep the goal tally ticking along nicely.

This is a side that looks like it is destined for another run at the playoffs, but anything more will rely on the newcomers from Spain and Scotland.

Predicted Finish: Playoff Contenders

Bolton Wanderers

Nickname: The Trotters

Year Founded: 1874

Stadium (Capacity): Reebok Stadium (28,101)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 18th in Premier League (Relegated)

Manager: Owen Coyle

Notable Transfers In: Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Andy Lonergan (Leeds), Mathew Mills (Leicester)

Notable Transfers Out: Jussi Jaakelainen (West Ham), Tuncay Sanli (Wolfsburg), Ivan Klasnic (Unattached)

Key Player: Darren Pratley

Preview: This season represents a crash back down to earth for Bolton Wanderers as the club experiences Championship football for the first time for 10 years.

Chairman Phil Gartside sensibly did not push the panic button when 'The Trotters' went down, and the club have methodically changed the squad while keeping a core of experienced Premiership-hardened players.

Many teams will go in with a negative game plan against Bolton so midfielder Darren Pratley, who moved to Bolton last year after helping Swansea to promotion, will be a key player in unlocking tight defences and alongside wingers Martin Petrov and Chris Eagles could be the class of the division.

If all goes well on the injury front, Bolton can expect an immediate return to the top flight.   

Predicted Finish: Promotion

Brighton & Hove Albion

Nickname: The Seagulls

Year Founded: 1901

Stadium (Capacity): Falmer Stadium (27,350)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 10th

Manager: Gus Poyet

Notable Transfers In: Tomasz Kuszczak (Manchester United), Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Bruno (Valencia)

Notable Transfers Out: Michael Poke (Torquay), Alan Navarro (Swindon Town), Mauricio Taricco (Retired)

Key Player: Ashley Barnes

Preview: Brighton have gone from strength to strength under manager Gus Poyet and their fans will be looking to make a concerted push for the playoffs.

The additions of Kuszczak, Bruno and Bridge will further solidify 'The Seagulls' at the back but the real question is whether Ashley Barnes and Craig Mackail-Smith can score enough goals.

In such a tough division, it seems unlikely.

Predicted Finish: Mid Table Obscurity

Bristol City

Nickname: The Robins

Year Founded: 1982

Stadium (Capacity): Ashton Gate (21,497)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 20th

Manager: Derek McInnes

Notable Transfers In: Jody Morris (St Johnstone), Tom Heaton (Cardiff), Paul Anderson (Nottingham Forest)

Notable Transfers Out: Christian Ribeiro (Scunthorpe), Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Notts County), Davil Clarkson (Bristol Rovers)

Key Player: Lewin Nyatanga

Preview: Had Portsmouth not received a 10 points penalty for going into administration, Bristol City would have had a last day scrap for survival and that would have been a fair representation of how well City played last year.

This year the Championship is even stronger, so 'The Robins' needed to strengthen every area and this does not appear to have happened. Tom Heaton has been brought in to replace veteran David James and Paul Anderson brings some width, but it does not look like the rebuild that Bristol needed.

Predicted Finish: Relegation

Burnley

Nickname: The Clarets

Year Founded: 1882

Stadium (Capacity): Turf Moor (22,546)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 13th

Manager: Eddie Howe

Notable Transfers In: Jason Shackell (Derby), Brian Stock (Doncaster Rovers), Sam Vokes (Wolves)

Notable Transfers Out: Clarke Carlisle (Unattached), Jay Rodriguez (Southampton), Joe McKee (Bolton)

Key Player: Charlie Austin

Preview: Eddie Howe has made himself a great reputation for playing football the right way, so Burnley fans may see some of the prettiest football in the Championship this year.

Having said that, the loss of Jay Rodriguez who was bought by Southampton for over 7 million is a big blow as it puts a lot of pressure on Charlie Austin to deliver the goals. Welsh international Sam Vokes has been brought in to be the target man that Austin can play off, but Burnley's aspirations will be lay heavily on the one man.

Predicted Finish: Mid Table Obscurity

Cardiff City

Nickname: Officially 'The Bluebirds' (but who knows after the rebrand)

Year Founded: 1899

Stadium (Capacity): Cardiff City Stadium (26,828)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 6th

Manager: Malky Mackay

Notable Transfers In: Joe Lewis (Peterborough), Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Bo-Kyung Kim (Cerezo)

Notable Transfers Out: Tom Heaton (Bristol City), Kenny Miller (Vancouver), Jon Parkin (Fleetwood Town)

Key Player: Peter Whittingham

Preview: Cardiff have all the ability in their squad to win the Championship this year, but off-the-field distractions are likely to be costly.

Cardiff's owner, the rather mysterious Malaysian businessman Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun, announced that he would invest tens of millions of pounds into every element of the team and stadium as long as the club rebranded themselves in red rather than blue.

After a fierce backlash Cardiff officials eventually decided that the rebrand was worth the money, so the club now plays in red with a change kit of blue and the badge now incorporates the Welsh dragon.

Placating signings like Craig Bellamy and highly sought-after goalkeeper Joe Lewis have not quelled the ill-feeling about the rebrand, and that feeling is likely to permeate onto the pitch.

Predicted Finish: Midfield Obscurity

Charlton Athletic

Nickname: The Addicks

Year Founded: 1905

Stadium (Capacity): The Valley (27,111)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 1st in League One (Promoted)

Manager: Chris Powell

Notable Transfers In: Lawrie Wilson (Stevenage), Jordan Cook (Sunderland), Salim Kerkar (Glasgow Rangers)

Notable Transfers Out: Gary Doherty (Wycombe Wanderers), Conor Gough (Bristol Rovers), Jason Euell (Unattached)

Key Player: Bradley Wright-Phillips

Preview: Charlton stormed to the League 1 championship, and manager Chris Powell is to remain faithful to his promotion-winning squad as he has made only a few additions to his squad over the closed season.

The big difference between Championship football and the division below is how difficult it is to create space, and that onus will fall on Bradley Wright-Phillips. Brother of QPR player Shaun, Wright-Phillips was prolific in League 1 but has had difficulties in scoring at Championship level before.

Ultimately, Charlton's main goal is to survive and they should achieve that mission, but it could be close come the end of the season.  

Predicted Finish: Survival

Crystal Palace

Nickname: Eagles

Year Founded: 1905

Stadium (Capacity): Selhurst Park (26,309)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 17th

Manager: Dougie Freedman

Notable Transfers In: Peter Ramage (QPR), Aaron Wilbraham (Norwich), Joel Ward (Portsmouth)

Notable Transfers Out: Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town), Darren Ambrose (Birmingham City)

Key Player: Julian Speroni

Preview: Dougie Freedman was a legend as a player at Palace and he is on his way to making himself a legend as a manager as well.

Limited resources coupled with a restrictive board setup means that Palace are one of the least wealthy clubs in the Championship, yet under Freedman, Palace have been difficult to beat and never looked to be going down.

More key players like creative midfielder Darren Ambrose and bright defensive prospect Nathaniel Clyne have left the club, but that ethos of hard work will remain. Freedman just needs one of his strikers to find some form and safety should be secure for at least one more year.

Predicted Finish: Survival

Derby County

Nickname: The Rams

Year Founded: 1884

Stadium (Capacity): Pride Park (33,597)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 12th

Manager: Nigel Clough

Notable Transfers In: Michael Jacobs (Northampton Town), James O'Connor (Doncaster), Richard Keogh (Coventry City)

Notable Transfers Out: Miles Addison (Bournemouth), Jason Shackell (Burnley), Lee Croft (Oldham)

Key Player: Craig Bryson

Preview: Derby, like many in the Championship, are suffering from the same credit crunch that the rest of the world is enduring so money has been tight this closed season.

Key losses like Jason Shackell were quickly replaced, in this case with the signing of Richard Keogh, but the squad has not really moved on to become a playoff-challenging team.

One high note for 'The Rams' fans is their youth team, which is producing a number of quality players, but these youngsters are unlikely to make a big impact this season.

Predicted Finish: Mid Table Obscurity

Huddersfield Town

Nickname: The Terriers

Year Founded: 1908

Stadium (Capacity): John Smith's Stadium (24,500)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 4th in League One (promoted via playoffs)

Manager: Simon Grayson

Notable Transfers In: Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace), Anthony Gerrard (Cardiff), Adam Clayton (Leeds)

Notable Transfers Out: Nathan Clarke (Leyton Orient), Gary Roberts (Swindon), Danny Cadamarteri (Carlisle)

Key Player: Jordan Rhodes

Preview: So far Huddersfield have retained the services of front man Jordan Rhodes, who's 40 goals last season was the difference between 'The Terriers' and the other League One promotion hopefuls.

Manager Simon Grayson was aggressive in the transfer market and brought in several players with Championship experience to help bolster his side. However improvement in the other teams suggests that Huddersfield will struggle this year, especially if they lose golden boy Rhodes.

Predicted Finish: Relegation

Hull City

Nickname: The Tigers

Year Founded: 1904

Stadium (Capacity): KC Stadium (25,586)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 8th

Manager: Steve Bruce

Notable Transfers In: Nick Proschwitz (SC Paderborn), Abdoulaye Faye (West Ham), Alex Bruce (Leeds United)

Notable Transfers Out: Kevin Kilbane (Coventry City), Dele Adebola (Rochdale), Adriano Basso (Retired)

Key Player: Robert Koren

Preview: Steve Bruce is the newly-installed manager at the KC and his primary objective this summer was too prune an oversized squad in a way that kept the quality but lost the excess.

How well Bruce has achieved that goal will only be revealed as the season starts; but on paper, Hull's side, which finished just outside the playoffs last season, looks like it can mount a playoff charge.

The addition of Abdoulaye Faye will give the midfield a bit more steal and Hull fans will hope new German striker Nick Proschwitz is the answer to the lack of goals at critical moments last year.

Predicted Finish: Playoff Contenders

Ipswich Town

Nickname: The Tractor Boys

Year Founded: 1878

Stadium (Capacity): Portman Road (30,311)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 15th

Manager: Paul Jewell

Notable Transfers In: Elliot Hewitt (Macclesfield Town), Luke Chambers (Nottingham Forest), Scott Loach (Watford)

Notable Transfers Out: Ibrahima Sonko (Unattached), Jimmy Bullard (Unattached), Lee Bowyer (Unattached)

Key Player: Scott Loach

Preview: A very different approach from Ipswich this offseason as 'The 'Tractor Boys' have chosen to bring in young talent with a point to prove rather than the big names all brought in together one year ago.

Although this may be a strong strategy for the future, it will put a lot of pressure on those left at the club to perform well, having struggled for the most part last season. The pressure will be felt especially strongly by striking trio Jason Scotland, Michael Chopra and Nathan Ellington who have all scored goals at other clubs but have failed to catch fire in Suffolk.

Still, Ipswich should be strong enough to keep themselves out of trouble.

Predicted Finish: Survival

Leeds United

Nickname: The Whites

Year Founded: 1919

Stadium (Capacity): Elland Road (39,460)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 14th

Manager: Neil Warnock

Notable Transfers In: David Norris (Portsmouth), Paddy Kenny (QPR), Lee Peltier (Leicester City)

Notable Transfers Out: Billy Paynter (Doncaster Rovers), Maik Taylor (Millwall), Robert Snodgrass (Norwich)

Key Player: Ross McCormack

Preview: All change at Leeds United this preseason as Neil Warnock searches for his eighth promotion-winning team.

Last year was a big disappointment for Leeds fans as they were never really involved in the playoff picture when it came to the sharp end of the season, so changes were unsurprising.

The loss of Robert Snodgrass to Premiership Norwich was a blow to their ambitions, but they have kept 20-goal man Ross McCormack and he has been given help with the additions of El-Hadji Diouf and Andy Gray.

Add experienced goalkeeper Paddy Kenny to the mix, who has been part of promotion teams twice in the last five years, and Leeds look like a strong contender

Predicted Finish: Playoff Contender

Leicester City

Nickname: The Foxes

Year Founded: 1884

Stadium (Capacity): King Power Stadium (32,262)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 9th

Manager: Nigel Pearson

Notable Transfers In: Ritchie de Laet (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Fleetwood), Matty James (Manchester United)

Notable Transfers Out: Steve Howard (Hartlepool), Mathew Mills (Bolton), Lee Peltier (Leeds)

Key Player: Kasper Schmeichel

Preview: Huge investment has been put into Leicester City over the past three years and there is certainly a fair amount of excitement over what they could do if the team were to get together.

The core of the side, from Kasper Schmeichel at the back through Wes Morgan and Richie Wellens to new striker Jamie Vardy, is as strong as anyone in the league but there are question marks over whether the whole team can perform consistently well.

A strong promotion push that ends up in the playoff is a very likely scenario for this team.

Predicted Finish: Playoff Contenders

Middlesbrough

Nickname: Smoggies

Year Founded: 1876

Stadium (Capacity): Riverside Stadium (34,988)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 7th

Manager: Tony Mowbray

Notable Transfers In: Mustapha Carayol (Bristol Rovers), George Friend (Doncaster Rovers), Jonathon Woodgate (Stoke City)

Notable Transfers Out: Barry Robson (Vancouver), Tony McMahon (Sheffield United), Mathew Bates (Unattached)

Key Player: Marvin Emnes

Preview: Middlesbrough just missed out on a playoff spot last season which was especially disappointing considering that they were in the top six for most of it. 

However this should not obscure the fact that Tony Mowbray's men played exciting football for much of the season, and exceeded the expectations set out for them at the start of the campaign.

This time around there will be a lot more pressure on 'Boro, and it will be up to the same core of players to match last season's efforts.  Marvin Emnes had a breakthrough year so many will be watching to see if he can play to the same level again.

It would not be surprising to see some drop-off, so a mid-table position may be all Middlesbrough get.

Predicted Finish: Mid Table Obscurity

Millwall

Nickname: The Lions

Year Founded: 1885

Stadium (Capacity): The Den (20,146)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 16th

Manager: Kenny Jackett

Notable Transfers In: Scott Malone (Bournemouth), Maik Taylor (Leeds), Danny Shittu (QPR)

Notable Transfers Out: Hameur Bouazza (Omonia Nikosia), Josh McQuoid (Bournemouth), Chris Hackett (Northampton)

Key Player: Andy Keogh

Preview: Millwall's famous reputation for being one of the toughest teams in all of football hides the crisp passing style of Kenny Jackett's team. Even though Millwall have been playing in this fashion for a few years, teams still get caught out by this fact.

However Millwall are still limited by their relatively small finances, so comfortable survival is the target again. This should happen as long as 'The Lions' don't receive key injuries to Andy Keogh and Scott Malone.

Predicted Finish: Survival

Nottingham Forest

Nickname: Forest

Year Founded: 1865

Stadium (Capacity): City Ground (30.602)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 19th

Manager: Sean O'Driscoll

Notable Transfers In: Adlene Guedioura (Wolves), Danny Collins (Stoke City), Simon Cox (West Brom)

Notable Transfers Out: Gareth McCleary (Reading), Chris Gunter (Reading), George Boateng (Unattached) 

Key Player: Lewis McGugan

Preview: Last season was nearly a disaster for Forest and only an end of season surge kept them away from the drop zone, so this year has been about changes.

These changes are at every level of the club with new Kuwati owners, a new manager in former first-team coach Brian O'Driscoll who comes back to the club via a 60 day stop at Crawley, and half a team's worth of new players.

The addition of Simon Cox should help with the lack of goals scored last season while Danny Collins and Daniel Ayala should make the centre of defence stronger. Recovery is the goal for this season and Forest should have done enough to achieve that.

Predicted Finish: Survival

Peterborough United

Nickname: The Posh

Year Founded: 1934

Stadium (Capacity): London Road Stadium (14,640)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 18th

Manager: Darren Ferguson

Notable Transfers In: Michael Bostwick (Stevenage), Tyrone Barnett (Crawley), Danny Swanson (Dundee United)

Notable Transfers Out: Joe Lewis (Cardiff City), Paul Jones (Crawley), Barry Richardson (Retired)

Key Player: Michael Bostwick

Preview: A poor end to the season saw Peterborough plummet down the table, so some new life needed to be injected into the side for the new campaign.

Manager Darren Ferguson, the son of Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson, has duly delivered with one of the highest thought-of lower league players in Michael Bostwick. If Bostwick lives up to his potential he could boss the midfield for 'The Posh', which would go a long way to helping them survive in the division another season.

Losing goalkeeper Joe Lewis will weaken them defensively so there will be pressure on newcomer Bobby Olejnik to fill his gloves immediately. 

Predicted Finish: Survival

Sheffield Wednesday

Nickname: The Owls

Year Founded: 1867

Stadium (Capacity): Hillsborough (39,732)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 2nd in League One (Promoted)

Manager: Dave Jones

Notable Transfers In: Chris Kirkland (Wigan), Kieran Lee (Oldham), Michail Antonio (Reading)

Notable Transfers Out: Rob Jones (Doncaster), Clinton Morrison (Colchester United), Ryan Lowe (Mk Dons)

Key Player: Gary Madine

Preview: Sheffield Wednesday fans were delighted to pip city rivals Sheffield United to the second automatic spot last season, and 'The Owls' boss Dave Jones has gone about strengthening his squad so another return to League One looks unlikely.

Experienced players like Anthony Gardner and Chris Kirkland will add steel to the defence, and several youngsters who impressed last year in League One will get the chance to prove themselves in the Championship.

Gary Madine will be under a lot of pressure initially as he will need to prove himself a Championship calibre striker, but the extra support brought in should help with that process.

Predicted Finish: Mid Table Obscurity

Watford

Nickname: The Hornets

Year Founded: 1881

Stadium (Capacity): Vicarage Road (17,477)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 11th

Manager: Gianfranco Zola

Notable Transfers In: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal), Fitz Hall (QPR), Almen Abdi (Udinese)

Notable Transfers Out: David Mirfin (Scunthorpe), Scott Loach (Ipswich), Adrian Mariappa (Reading)

Key Player: Chris Iweluno

Preview: Another club that has had a new owner in the preseason, Watford and new boss Gianfranco Zola are set to launch a new look 'Hornets' on the world.

How successful this approach will be is anyone guess, as the club has been inundated with new recruits from Udinese and Granada, two other teams owned by Watford's new bosses. How these different cultures will gel shall have a big effect upon how successful Watford are this season.

Predicted Finish: Mid table Obscurity

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Nickname: Wolves

Year Founded: 1877

Stadium (Capacity): Molineux (31,700)

2011/2012 Final League Position: 20th in Premier League (Relegated)

Manager: Stale Solbakken

Notable Transfers In: Bjorn Sigurdarson (Lillestrom), Frank Nouble (West Ham), Jamie Tank (Walsall)

Notable Transfers Out: Sam Vokes (Burnley), Michael Kightly (Stoke City), Adlene Guedioura (Nottingham Forest)

Key Player: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake

Preview: Wolves look like they have held their squad together well, and will be one of the favourites for automatic promotion if they remain this way.

However most people expect four or five big names to leave before the transfer window closes and that will leave Wolves very little time to find appropriate replacements.

Even with some on their way, 'Wolves's core team is capable of beating most teams in the Championship, and they will be contenders come the end of the season.

Predicted Finish: Playoff Contenders