The Championship and League One: Round One

Championship

Norwich vs. Watford

With the World Cup over, attention has turned back to domestic league football once again. With the weather England still erratic as ever, Norwich and Watford will be hoping this coming season in the Championship is anything but inconsistent. Their first match of the season on Friday kicks off the 2010-11 season of England’s second-tier, with both teams looking to start with a victory in order to build for the year ahead.

Last season League One champions Norwich, once founding members of the Premier League in 1992, will be hoping star striker Grant Holt, who scored 24 league goals last season, is fit enough to start after struggling with a thigh injury all summer. Manager Paul Lambert will be hoping new signings David Fox, Andrew Surman, and Andrew Crofts will come off and add something to the team.

Norwich have a good young goalkeeper in John Ruddy, who had a very good season last year with Motherwell north of the border. But against a team with power and speed up front, Norwich may struggle at the back with inexperience, as the only stand out defender remains former West Ham centre-back Elliott Ward.

Watford, meanwhile, will be hoping for more this year than what they got last season when they finished a disappointing 16th. Malky Mackay is still hoping to add four or five new players before the opening fixture and will be hoping youth players from Premier League clubs end up at Vicarage Road before the end of August, just like what happened with Arsenal prospect Henri Lansbury and Manchester United’s Tom Cleverley last season.

There can be no doubt that the likes of Tommy Smith, Jobi McAnuff, Mike Williamson, and Jay DeMerit among others, have not been replaced yet, no doubt a direct consequence of the club just escaping administration last season. With Scott Loach in goal, Adrian Mariappa in defence, and experienced midfielder John Eustace, Watford will be hoping to start solid and perhaps look towards getting into the playoffs come season end.

There can be no doubt that Carrow Road will be rocking come Friday night, as the Canaries and the Hornets return to the pitch for the new season.

Coventry vs. Portsmouth

In Aidy Boothroyd, Coventry City have the perfect manager, a manager who has real experience in Championship football. During his time at Watford, he secured the club promotion to the Premier League and even steered the club to an FA Cup semifinal appearance in the 2006-07 season. That ever-elusive top form, and the success that comes with it, may be a struggle to find in the early part of the season with the Sky Blues.

Coventry have the best goalkeeper in Keiren Westwood and they look to have a very solid defensive foundation with the likes of Martin Cranie at the back and the acquisition of Richard Keogh should bolster their defence. But having finished 19th last season and with both Scunthorpe and Crystal Palace having scored more goals than them even though both teams finished 20th and 21st respectively, the problem for Coventry may lie up front.

That’s exactly why Aidy Boothroyd has made it his priority to secure former Birmingham City striker Gary McSheffrey and former Colchester forward Clive Platt. A victory this weekend at home against Portsmouth would be most realistic, especially since Portsmouth’s spectacularly fall from the riches of the Premier League.

Portsmouth, on the other hand, are still coming to grips with relegation. With uncertainly still surrounding the club, and the loss of key players such as David James and the potential loss of players such as Kevin-Prince Boateng and John Utaka, promotion back to the top flight seems highly unlikely for Portsmouth any time soon.

But with the return of David Nugent to the club after his loan spell with Burnley and the retention of midfielder Michael Brown and striker Tommy Smith, Portsmouth look like a team capable of scoring a lot goals. But against Coventry and their very sound defence this weekend, it would be highly unlikely for Portsmouth to come away with a draw, let alone all three points.

Burnley vs. Nottingham Forest

Championship football returns to Turf Moor after the highs and lows of Premier League football last season. The Clarets face off against former European Cup winners Nottingham Forest in the opening weekend of England’s second division, and expectations will be higher than ever before.

The majority of Burnley’s squad, which won promotion to the Premier League 18 months ago, have remained and that experience of having gained promotion will be essential if Burnley are to return to top-flight football next season.

With the acquisition of goalkeeper Lee Grant from Sheffield Wednesday, the retention of Danish goalkeeper Brian Jensen, along centre backs Michael Duff and Clarke Carlisle, and a strong midfield with the likes of Graham Alexander and Chris Eagles, Burnley have an excellent backbone of a team.

But knowing how to win after only winning three games in 2010 may be the real problem for manager Brian Laws as he seeks to get Burnley promoted again.

Burnley’s opponents this weekend, Nottingham Forest, are also in the hunt for promotion to England’s top division. After falling in the semifinals of the playoffs last season to eventual promoted side Blackpool, Billy Davis will be keen for Forest to repeat the kind of football they played last year that saw them secure third.

With an outstanding Lee Camp in goal, an excellent defensive line with the likes of Wes Morgan, Kelvin Wilson and Chris Gunter, and a very good midfield with former Preston North End hero and now Forest captain Paul McKenna and Chris Cohen, Forest appear to have what it takes to finish in the top five this season.

Add to that the front line of Robert Earnshaw, Nathan Tyson, and Dexter Blackstock, and finishing in the top two and securing automatic promotion wouldn’t be too unrealistic for Forest. A loss against recently relegated Burnley this weekend wouldn’t be the end of the world for Forest, but an opening draw, like they did last season against Reading, would be the perfect start.

Cardiff vs. Sheffield United

The last match of the opening weekend sees last season’s beaten playoff finalist Cardiff City take on Sheffield United at the City Stadium. After finishing fourth last year and then losing to Blackpool in a enthralling playoff final in May, manager Dave Jones will be keen his side can repeat the success of last year, just like Nottingham Forest. And like Nottingham Forest and Burnley, the experience of getting into the playoffs will be essential for Cardiff.

Thankfully, Dave Jones has retained most of the squad with goalkeeper David Marshall still first choice, experienced defenders Kevin McNaughton and Gábor Gyepes, and an impressive forward line with the likes of Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd, and last season’s top goal scorer Peter Whittingham.

But with their financial troubles and transfer embargo, Cardiff have been unable to strengthen the team over the summer and that may mean disaster should they either pick up injuries or lose the momentum of last season, or both.

Sheffield United though, may find it difficult to beat Cardiff this weekend.

Under Kevin Blackwell, the Blades finishes a respectable eighth last season, scoring more goals than they conceded. With limited signings, the Sheffield may struggle if they pick up injuries like they had last season. The ever-present centre back and captain Chris Morgan will be the key for Sheffield at the back this season and especially this Sunday against the dangerous Cardiff front line.

Further up the field however, all the attention will be on Leon Britton, newly arrived from Swansea City, to pull all the strings in midfield. With Brian Howard and James Harper failing to make impressions in the middle of the park last season, hopes will be high that Britton will succeed and drive Sheffield into a top six finish.

If Chris Morgan fails to marshal Sheffield’s back line, then Cardiff, with their potent strikers, may just find it easier to find the back of the net.

League One

Charlton vs. Bournemouth

The thrills and excitement of League One returns this weekend with matches that are sure to offer plenty of goals. But one side that may struggle to find goals this season is Charlton Athletic. After finishing fourth last season in League One and then being beaten 5-4 on penalties by Swindon Town in the semifinals of the playoffs, one would think Charlton have enough to challenge for promotion again.

But with the loss of midfielder Nicky Bailey to Middlesbrough and Jonjo Shelvey to Liverpool, the Addicks have lost two of the star men that were key to their success last year. Yet for all that, they still have one of the most multinational squads in League One. The globalisation of the world’s game has meant that Spanish defender Miguel Ángel Llera and Portuguese defender José Semedo have remained at the Valley and ensuring they both keep injury free will be the main priority for Charlton considering the lack of attacking threat they possess up front.

Their first opponents of the new season, Bournemouth, step up a division after securing second place last year in League Two. Young manager Eddie Howe will be hoping his team can secure all three points this weekend, but if they do come out victorious it will be without newly arrived Steve Lovell who remains out with injury. New singing Michael Symes is uncertain as well to start after picking up a groin injury against Fulham while veteran Steve Fletcher may also be out with a heel injury.

After an impressive preseason that finished with a young 11 beating Dorchester 5-0 over the weekend, Bournemouth will be hoping to hit the floor running in England’s third division, and with Brett Pitman hopefully starting, they may just have what it takes to beat a Charlton side which currently lacks a cutting edge up front. Winning away from home is never easy, especially at the Valley.

Carlisle vs. Brentford

"If we get off to a flying start and confidence is high we'll be alright". Those were the words of Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott as he spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria. With striker Gary Madine impressing in preseason, and the experience of Graham Kavanagh and the experience and firepower of Ian Harte, along with winger Joe Anyinsah, Carlisle have a decent backbone to their squad.

But stepping up a division is always difficult and against Brentford, who finished a very respectable ninth last season, Carlisle may find it difficult to secure all three points. But with the acquisition of American defender Frank Simek from Sheffield Wednesday and defender Sean McDaid from Doncaster Rovers, and the experience of Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Carlisle seem to have a good defence, but whether or not they will play well together this season remains to be seen.

And if Gary Madine and new fan favourite François Zoko start and can link up, Carlisle may just be able to get a point this weekend. It wouldn’t be the best start to the season, but it wouldn’t be the worst either.

Visitors Brentford, on the other hand, will be hoping to push for a playoff finish this season. In manager Andy Scott, Brentford have one of the best young managers around. With striker Charlie MacDonald hoping to have an another successful league campaign in front of goal, and with the addition of Gary Alexander, who is set to join from Millwall, Brentford have enough firepower up front to beat Carlisle this weekend.

But having excellent strikers means nothing if they are starved of quality service, and fortunately for Brentford they a good midfield with the likes of captain Kevin O’Conner, Myles Weston, and David Hunt. With the addition of Craig Woodman and David McCracken, who have joined the Bees from Wycombe Wanderers and MK Dons respectively, along with Marcus Bean and goalkeeper Richard Lee, Brentford appear to have enough to not only score goals against Carlisle, but also not to concede.

Swindon vs. Brighton

Swindon style of attacking football won a lot of people over last season, but the majority of last season’s squad were brought in on loan. With the likes of Billy Paynter having departed, Danny Wilson may find it hard to replicate last season’s success that saw Swindon reach the playoffs. Despite the negativity of losing out on promotion, the Robins still have some great young talent coming through with the likes of striker Charlie Austin and the experience of Jonathan Douglas and Kevin Amankwaah.

Michael Rose and Paul Caddis will hopefully be welcomed additions to the squad and with Simon Ferry being secured on a permanent deal, Swindon will feel optimistic about the season ahead. Against Brighton and Hove, they may have enough to win quite comfortably, especially seeing as they are at home.

Under former Chelsea hero Gus Poyet, Brighton, however, will be hoping to improve upon their mid-table 13th finish last year. The East Sussex club have followed clubs like Arsenal in banning vuvuzelas from the Withdean Stadium, but whether or not they have the league same success as Arsenal is highly unlikely. Without a recognised prolific striker up front, Brighton may find goals hard to come by. They only scored 26 goals in 23 games at home last season, only 16th  Oldham and bottom-side Stockport did worse.

Apart from Stockport, Brighton also lost more games at home than anyone else in League One. Away from home they were excellent, securing nearly 60 percent of their points from away East Sussex—whether or not they can replicate that kind of form this season remains to be seen. With defender Gordon Greer having, ironically, arrived from opening league opponents Swindon and subsequently being named captain, and the acquisition of Argentina duo Agustin Battipiedi and Cristian Baz from Argentine’s third division side Comunicaciones, the Seagulls will be hoping for a top ten finish this year.

Against Swindon, a draw would be the most realistic result and a victory the most idealistic.

Tranmere vs. Oldham

Finishing just six off relegation last season, Tranmere and Les Parry will be hoping come season's end the club from Birkenhead are not in the bottom three. With defenders Ian Goodison and Marlon Broomes at the back, Paul McLaren in midfield, and Ian Thomas-Moore up front, Tranmere certainly look like they have the capability to grind out results.

An over-reliance on Thomas-Moore to get the goals proved their downfall last year, and it may be their downfall again this year. Striker Enoch Showunmi has been being signed during the summer and may well get some playing time against Oldham this weekend, but the Nigerian isn’t a prolific goal scorer. If Tranmere are to open with a victory against Oldham on Saturday, which is highly likely especially since they’re at home, then making sure they build from the back should their main priority as that’s where they’re strongest.

Oldham, meanwhile, have player-manager Paul Dickov at the helm this season and they too will be hoping to improve on last season’s dismal 16th place finish. Out of all the teams in the bottom half of the table last season, from Carlisle to Stockport, Oldham conceded the fewest goals. That is why goalkeeper Dean Brill and experienced defender Reuben Hazell will be so important for the Latics this season at the back. If Lewis Alessandra can replicate his fine form from his loan spell at Chester City last year and get among the goal scorers, then Oldham may just have enough to be pushing for a top eight finish this year.

Caution should be exercised as this will be Dickov’s first season is management so even mid-table obscurity might not be disaster come the end of the season. Against Tranmere, a draw would be the perfect start for the Latics and Dickov and an early goal may just settle a few nerves.