Return of Former Championship Stars a Theme Ahead of 2016/17
The Championship makes its return on Friday night and its once again shaping up to be an intriguing season, fittingly kicked off by the team that is widely expected to dominate proceedings. Indeed, Newcastle are the outstanding favourites with the bookies to make an immediate return to the top-flight as champions.
The optimism started when Rafa Benitez confirmed that he would remain as manager when many felt he would jump ship following relegation and has only built following a number of notable moves in the transfer market. Thus far Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie, Mo Diame, Ciaran Clark, Grant Hanley, Isaac Hayden and Jesus Gamez have all arrived to swell the ranks, while Belgian keeper Matz Sels looks set to take the number one spot.
The majority have experience of both the Premier League and Championship and join an already strong squad to be captained by 22-year old Jamaal Lascelles after the young centre-back impressed Benitez at the tail end of last season. Both Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic look set to stay, and along with the aforementioned Gayle make up an incredibly fierce attack at this level. The fact that Mitrovic will miss the start of the season through suspension should count for relatively little as a result.
The Magpies start against a Fulham side that have also had a busy and effective transfer, at least until losing star man Ross McCormack to Aston Villa. It’s been all change from the top down at the Midlands club, with a new owner in Tony Xia, new manager in Roberto Di Matteo and now new marksmen in McCormack. After an absolutely dire campaign brought a miserable end to a long stint in the top-flight, many understandably have their reservations about Villa ahead of the campaign, with Ian Holloway tipping them to come as low as 16th, sparking something of a Twitter tirade from the club’s outspoken new owner.
They remain among the favourites for promotion though, but their chances are likely to rely on the attitude and fight from a group that showed so very little last season. Like Newcastle, their attacking line-up has the potential to do real damage in this league, with Gestede and McCormack proven at this level - notching a combined total of 155 Championship goals - and Andre Ayew the team’s bright spark. The additions of youngsters Gollini, in goal, and Tshibola, midfield, will be interesting to follow, while Tommy Elphick has captained a side to the Championship title in the recent past and could have the chance to do so again given that he is expected to take the armband. Di Matteo’s first mission was to provide a backbone the side lacked last season and he’s attempted to do just that.
Norwich are perhaps better fancied to bounce back by many given their knowhow at this level, particularly under Alex Neil, but were beaten to the signing of McCormack and consequently still look short up front. The arrivals of Sergi Canos and Alex Pritchard - who have both impressed on loan at Brentford in this division - add creativity to a midfield that looks to have it in abundance following the contract renewal of Wes Hoolahan, and Robbie Brady will also be one of the strongest players in the league should he stay. The Canaries should once again be there or thereabouts.
Elsewhere the likes of Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday will have money on them having both missed out narrowly on gaining top-flight status last season and added firepower to their ranks this summer, while Derby are perennial promotion chasers and have a new manager in Nigel Pearson that has won this division as recently as 2014. The Seagulls have secured the return of former fan favourite Glenn Murray on loan and in Anthony Knockaert, have another player that has shone more than once in the Championship.
Steven Fletcher, meanwhile, joins a Wednesday outfit that already boasts impressive goalscorers in Gary Hooper and Fernando Forestieri. They’ve also added the latter’s ex-Watford teammate Almen Abdi to their increasingly impressive ranks under a manager, in Carlos Carvahal, that could be sought after before long.
There have also been notable signings from the lower leagues, with Leeds recruiting League Two Player of the Year Kemar Roofe. He scored 25 goals in all competitions last season and can play anywhere in the final third, while the 23-year old’s ex-Oxford teammate Callum O’Dowda has moved to Bristol City. Barnsley have also made a strong statement of their intent to stay up at the first time of asking with the capture of Walsall top scorer Tom Bradshaw, and while not a new signing, Will Grigg was promoted with Wigan as League One’s top scorer from the previous campaign (25 goals).
While the Tykes and Latics look well placed to mount a serious survival bid, with Wigan in particular well fancied to avoid the drop, the same can’t be said of Burton Albion. Their rise to this level has been sensational but most feel that this will be a step too far for a side whose form tailed off badly after a fantastic start to last season. Indeed, Burton’s record since the turn of the year would have seen them finish outside of the play-off places and after a relatively quiet summer at the Pirelli Stadium, it’s little wonder Nigel Clough’s men are tipped to struggle.
If you’re looking for an outside bet to go the distance a la Sheffield Wednesday outside of the Owls themselves, Wolves are an intriguing proposition following the injection of riches from their new ownership and under a new manager in Walter Zenga who will be under pressure to deliver a play-off finish at the least. Leeds will also hope to be back in the mix and in line for a return, and Fulham could still have a slim chance despite the departure of their two top scorers from last season having invested well elsewhere in the squad. Bear in mind, after all, that only three sides scored more than the Cottagers last season (66), who finished way down in 20th.
In terms of those with a long season ahead of them, Rotherham have avoided the drop by one place in the last two seasons, so new boss Alan Stubbs has a real task on his hands once again, while the likes of Preston, Reading and Blackburn also look at risk. Forest should have enough if fit again Britt Assombalonga can make a successful return, while Bristol City will also have the required firepower should they keep hold of 17-goal striker Jonathan Kodjia following the permanent signing of Lee Tomlin.
The former Middlesbrough man is yet another player that returns to a league in which he has excelled in the past, and outside of Newcastle’s predicted dominance, that has been the main theme approaching the start of a season that looks as unpredictable as ever elsewhere.
Who do you think will be promoted and relegated from the Championship this season? Let us know in the comments below
