Premier League Preview - The Bottom Half

With the brand new Premier League season less than 24 hours away, Andrew Webb analyses the teams that he expects will make up the bottom half of the Premier League come the end of the season.


11. West Bromwich Albion


For the very first time in their history, West Bromwich Albion are on the verge of establishing themselves as a Premier League club. 


Since his appointment after the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo last February, new manager Roy Hodgson has instilled a confidence into the Baggies that has made them incredibly difficult to break down and defeat. 


The most important summer signing for the club is the arrival of Birmingham City goalkeeper Ben Foster, as Hodgson looks to shore up a leaky defence that conceded more goals than relegated West Ham United last season. 

Roy Hodgson will be looking to continue his good work at the Hawthorns this season. (Times)

With proven Championship goal grabber Shane Long and the talented Zoltan Gera also arriving at the Hawthorns during the summer, the Baggies posess one of the most talented squads in their history and they should be good enough to comfortably achieve a mid-table position.




12. Swansea City


Swansea City arrive in the Premier League playing a rich brand of attractive football that wouldn't be out of place in continental Europe. 


Manager Brendan Rodgers has a small, but talented group of players at his disposal, who will be looking to defy the odds of many pundits that view the Welsh club as relegation candidates.

Play-off final winners don't have a great record in the Premier League.

Play-off final hero Scott Sinclair and new signing Wayne Routledge are extremely talented players who can cause tremendous problems with their pace, whilst the likes of Alan Tate, Gary Monk and Leon Britton, who were all at the club when the Swans played at the Vetch Field, provide a good spine to the team. 


Darren Pratley's move to Bolton will be a loss, but with other players like Nathan Dyer, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor and Joe Allen all choosing to remain at the Liberty Stadium, people really should underestimate Swansea City at their peril.




13. Stoke City


Tony Pulis' side have been criticised by many and chastised by just about every opposing manager in the country, but the masters of the long ball game enjoyed their most remarkable season yet, securing European football by virtue of their FA Cup Final appearance.

Jonathon Woodgate - A new arrival at the Britannia Stadium this summer.

The Stoke gaffer has been busy in the transfer market; adding Jonathon Woodgate and Matthew Upson to his defensive options, whilst there are also rumours about Peter Crouch joining the club to bolster the attack. 


However, the prospect of European football coming to the Britannia this season is one that will whet the appetite of the Potters faithful, but could prove to be decisive to Stoke's season. If Pulis' team can cope with the demands of a busier fixture schedule then there is no reason why they can't challenge in the top half. If not, then it may be a case of groundhog day at the Britannia Stadium.

The Britannia Stadium will host European football for the first time. (Stoke City FC)

14. Newcastle United


It has been quite a dramatic year in the North East. Depending on which Newcastle supporter you ask, it is difficult to assess whether the changes the club have made will have a negative or positive effect. 


On the bright side, the club never looked out of place in the top flight last season and the thrashings of Sunderland and Aston Villa at St James Park will live long in the memory. On the negative side though is the departure of a number of key players in the last 12 months, with players to have left for pastures new including the likes of Andy Carroll, Jose Enrique and Kevin Nolan. 

Mike Ashley has made some bold decisions at Newcastle. (Mirror)

With Joey Barton's future remaining far from clear and the clubs transfer policy under intense scrutiny, it is probably a fair assessment to say that the Magpies are in a big period of transition.




15. Queens Park Rangers


After ending a fifteen year absence from the top flight, you would expect the multi-billionaire owners of the West London club to be pleased with how the club are progressing. 


However, QPR seem to be a bit of an enigma, with the future of manager Neil Warnock less than certain and much of what the Super-hoops can achieve this season will depend on how the owners treat the 62-year-old Yorkshireman.

Neil Warnock is back in the Premier League - but for how long? (The Sun)

Warnock has brought together a talented group of players that fully respect him, but if the sweeping winds of change blow through Loftus Road at some point in the season, the next incumbent into the managerial hot seat could have a tough job on his hands to get those same players working for him.




16. Bolton Wanderers


Although Owen Coyle's first full season as Wanderers manager was relatively successful, the undignified and humiliating exit at the hands of Stoke City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, and the subsequent dip in league form that followed left a bitter taste in the mouths of many at the Reebok Stadium. 


Coyle has been busy in the transfer market this summer, with striker Tuncay replacing Johan Elmander and Nigel Reo-Coker, Darren Pratley and Chris Eagles all being snapped up. Another new signing, Tyrone Mears, already faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines though, after being seriously injured during his first training session.

Bolton can no longer call upon the services of Johan Elmander. (Guardian)

The clubs results from what look to be some tricky fixtures in the opening few weeks of the new campaign could set the tone for what may be a long season at the Reebok.




17. Blackburn Rovers


When Sam Allardyce was sacked by the Indian owners of the Lancashire club last December, there was a whiff of condemnation in the air as many leading personalities within the game questioned the decision.

The Venky's - Blackburn Rovers' owners. (Telegraph)

Exactly eight months on, it is difficult to see how the Ewood Park based club have benefited. Steve Kean has hardly set the world alight during his first managerial job and has suffered a major blow during the summer with the departure of highly-rated defender Phil Jones. 


Although the signing of David Goodwillie will bring goals, many fans will be wondering whether or not Kean can motivate a group of players that were in freefall throughout the second half of last season. 


If the 43-year-old Scotsman fails to do so, then it may not be long before the Venky's hand out another P45.

The pressure is on for Steve Kean this season. (Guardian)

18. Wolverhampton Wanderers


In previous years, Ipswich Town, Reading and Birmingham City have all fallen victim to the bug that is known as 'second season-itis'. 


After the most dramatic of final day escapes, Mick McCarthy and his team are now firmly looking to the future as Wolves begin the process of trying to firmly establish themselves in the Premier League. 

Will Mick McCarthy be celebrating survival once again in May 2012?

Roger Johnson, Dorus De Vries and Jamie O'Hara have arrived at Molineux during the summer and will all be eager to prove a point to their former employers, although McCarthy's failure to add more players to a team that flirted perilously close to the drop last season could prove to be Wolves' undoing.

It may be a long season for supporters of the Old Gold.



19. Wigan Athletic


Fans of Wigan Athletic are begining to grow accustomed to the club's annual battle against relegation. Last year proved to be one of the most nail biting of escapes yet for Roberto Martinez's side, with Hugo Rodallega's winning goal on the final day of the season keeping the Latics in the top flight for another year at least. 

Rodallega's goal against Stoke kept the Latics in the top flight last season. (Mirror)

Martinez's task of keeping the Latics away from the drop zone this season hasn't been made any easier following the departure of Charles N'Zogbia to Aston Villa and persistent rumours surrounding the future of the industrious Rodallega, who is now in the final year of his contract at the DW stadium. 


With no notable new arrivals, it will therefore come as little surprise to the Wigan faithful that many bookmakers and pundits are tipping their team for the drop. 


For once, this just may be the year when those pundits are proved to be correct in their expectations.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan knows it could be a tough season. (Telegraph)

20. Norwich City


Whilst Paul Lambert's magnificent achievements of the last two years will go down in Norwich folklore as one of the greatest periods in the club's history, to say the Canaries have come a long way in a short space of time would be a major understatement. 


Arguably the most worrying feature of Lambert's squad, however, is the severe lack of Premier League experience amongst any of his players, and the squad as a whole will have to learn quickly if they are to face anything other than a long and arduous battle against relegation.

The Canaries are back in the big time - but for how long?

Two players who may help the Canaries cause significantly this season are summer signing James Vaughan and the mercurial Republic of Ireland midfielder Wes Hoolahan.

Eight good reasons to watch Scottish football this season?

It is only 12 weeks since the thrilling climax to last seasons Scottish Football League season, but with the brand new league campaign due to start tomorrow, Sport Matters... gives football supporters eight good reasons as to why they should consider sampling some football north of the border this season.

8. DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC

East End Park might not be the most obvious of settings for entertainment, but a trip to see a Dunfermline Athletic is quite likely to make you either smile or cringe, dependant upon what you consider to be humorous.

If the prospect of the club returning to the SPL for the first time in four years isn't enough to whet the appetite, the Pars possess one of the most controversial mascots in (world) football in Sammy The Tammy.

Sammy takes a tumble in a sledging 'accident'. (STV)

The furry bear received more than his fair share of criticism last season after sledging down one of the stands in tribute to Amy Williams' gold medal-winning performance at the Winter Olympics, and also pointing a mock machine gun at Raith Rovers fans during an end-of-season title decider.

Even if Sammy does choose to behave himself (highly unlikely), then there is always the chance you may hear the infamous 'Come along to East End Park' song, which has to be one of the most embarrassing club anthems ever to be released.

7. THE RAMSDENS CUP


When many people think about Scottish Football and who wins silverware, they think of the old firm dominance. They are right too of course. After all, Rangers have probably won more trophies than any other club in the world, and Celtic have had more than their fair share of silverware too. But one trophy that neither club has managed to get their hands on is the Ramsdens Cup.

Elgin City's Borough Briggs - The Theatre of Dreams.

Similar to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in England, the competition allows the SFL member clubs the chance to get their hands on some silverware. So, sometime in the spring when the final is usually played, if you see the likes of Annan Athletic, Cowdenbeath or Stenhousemuir are in a cup final, then do not adjust you're set-top box or think that whichever person updates teletext has been on the cooking sherry, because it will actually be true.


The final of the competition is played at St Johnstone's McDairmid Park and also screened live by the broadcaster BBC Alba, where the commentary is likely to be as entertaining as the football itself.

The Ramsdens Cup offers the chance for Elgin City to win silverware. (SFA)

6. THOSE BROWN SHOES...


As a player with Hearts, Steven Pressley earned a somewhat ferocious reputation as a tough and uncompromising centre half, which led to him being capped a number of times by Scotland.

Steven Pressley's shoes are much talked about in Scottish football. (Sky Sports)

However, as manager of First Division side Falkirk, Pressley's reputation has taken something of a battering due to a pair of hideous brown shoes, which has left many fans dumbstruck as to whether the Bairns boss is actually trying to be a fashion icon or a football manager. Who knows, maybe given his suave looks and the black overcoat that sometimes gets worn, the 37-year-old is actually trying to be the sixth member of Take That.


But regardless of what happens on the pitch, if Pressley chooses to wear those terrible shoes once again this season, opposition fans from across all four divisions will be quick to tell the former defender that it is probably time to open the dustbin lid and get rid of them once and for all.

5. THE ARTIFICIAL PITCH


Forest Green Rovers have spread manure (not the horrible team from Manchester, unfortunately) across their pitch during the summer in an attempt to protect their pitch, but up here in Scotland, clubs use a far simpler approach that is less likely to cause a stink.


Plastic pitches can be found at Stenhousemuir, Airdrie United, Montrose and Alloa Athletic, amongst other places. Despite not being to everyone's liking, it has been proved in the past that they serve their purpose. On one particular weekend last season, Alloa Athletic's game against Peterhead was the only game that managed to escape falling victim to the wintry weather; and the result, a scrappy draw, but one what was witnessed by a bumper crowd desperate for a football fix.

Recreation Park; a winter wonderland for some. (Alloa Athletic)

Even the Scottish Premier League have acknowledged that plastic pitches can improve the chances of games being played over the winter months and talks are at an early stage over the whether they could make a more widespread return to grounds across the country. 

4. STIRLING ALBION


First there was the suggestion that 'Stirling Albion' could become the 'Stirling Albion Meerkats' as part of a sponsorship deal. Then their was the subsequent fan takeover of the club by the Supporters Trust, which was ultimately followed by a dreadful First Division campaign last season, which ended in relegation.


Now, the latest initiative in a long line of money making attempts by the Stirlingshire club, was to charge players up to £200 for a trial during the summer. The reward for being successful in the reality competition for any of the 39 potential hopefuls that enrolled on the scheme was the chance of being offered a full-time professional contract with the second division club.

Stirling Albion do cheap deals on football trials.

The trials, labelled 'So you think you're good enough?' began in June and concluded just a couple of weeks ago when goalkeeper Sam Filler and defender John Crawley won contracts with Jocky Scott's 'Meerkats'.


So if you pop down to the Forthbank Stadium this season and think you are better than some of the players on the pitch, the chance is you will probably get the chance to prove it at some point in the future.

3. SCOTLAND'S GOT TALENT


Forget what you see south of the border, in Scotland you are actually quite likely to see a number of good players in action.

David Goodwillie was a star for the Tangerines last season. (Guardian)

Players such as Ross McCormack, Steven Fletcher, Charlie Adam, Kevin McNaughton and Graham Dorrans have all played in the SPL in recent years and this summer a number of stars who performed well last season have moved south of the border, including mercurial former Dundee United play-maker Prince Buaben and super-talented David Goodwillie.

However, with players like Paul Heffernan, Gary Teale, Sean O'Hanlon and Ivan Sproule moving to SPL clubs during the summer, the league will remain as competitive as ever in 2011/12.

2. THE FIRST DIVISION PROMOTION RACE


With the SPL being such a lucrative attraction for First Division chairmen across the country, this season's battle for the solitary promotion to join Scotland's elite could be one of the most closely fought contests in years?

Raith will be hoping to win the promotion battle this season? (DAFC)

Licking their wounds from last seasons near miss are Raith Rovers, who are looking to end a 16 year absence from the top flight. The Kirkcaldy based outfit finished as runners-up last season and are expected to be strong once again this season.


Fans of Steven Pressley's Falkirk, along with the side relegated from the SPL last season in the shape of Hamilton Academical, will also expect their teams to perform well and be in the promotion hunt. 


Dundee, who themselves believe they were treated unjustly after being handed a 25-point penalty upon coming out of administration last season, will also be quick to stake their claim as promotion candidates, as will Livingston, who arrive in the First Division in great expectation after successive promotions. 

Can the Livi Lions make it three promotions in a row? (Daily Record)

Throw in the likes of Queen of the South or Partick Thistle as potential dark horses too, and that is seven teams in with a realistic chance of promotion this season from a division of just ten teams. That's definitely plenty of excitement for the neutrals.

1. VLADIMIR ROMANOV

If you haven't already been persuaded to watch Scottish football, then Heart of Midlothian's slightly off-the-wall chairman is certainly to keep you interested in Scottish football at least.


The Russian-born Lithuanian has slightly unorthodox methods to say the least. No fewer than eight managers have already fallen victim to the sack under the Romanov regime and even 'Brown Shoes' a few miles down the M9 at Falkirk has few good words to say about the Hearts owner, having fallen out with him six years ago during the infamous episode which saw George Burley sacked.

Vladimir Romanov's words always cause a stir. (Daily Mirror)

According to Romanov, the media are "monkeys with pre-planned squeals" and the Scottish Football Association are "The Mafia". In recent weeks, Romanov has also claimed that dark forces and outside influences have a negative effect on the club.

Perhaps one of those dark forces could be the Loch Ness monster, as the 63-year-old businessman has admitted to swimming in Scotland's most haunted waters before, in one of his many rambling rant's on the Hearts club website. 




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League Two Preview

With the brand new season just over 24 hours away, Sports Journalist and lower league football anorak Andrew Webb takes a look at the clubs in League Two and gives us his views on what might happen in the coming season.



LEAGUE TWO

First and foremost, out of all three Football League divisions, I think this one is the hardest to judge. On their day any team is really capable of beating each other, as has been proved in the last couple of years with unfancied teams like Dagenham & Redbridge, Stevenage, Morecambe & Accrington Stanley all relative success in either winning promotion or reaching the end of season play-off's.

Daggers Delight - Nobody expected John Still's pub team to win promotion in 2010?  (Telegraph)

Promotion - Out of all the teams in League Two, if I had to choose a team that I believe will win the title this season then I would go for Northampton Town. Despite having a horrendous second half to last season, the Cobblers have really impressed me with their summer signings. Jake Robinson was a key player for Torquay United last term, whilst other signings such as Adebayo Akinfenwa, Shaun Harrad and Ben Tozer are proven players with a good pedigree. But most of all they have a good manager in Gary Johnson, who has a proven track record and it would be foolish not to consider his team as genuine title candidates.

Pushing Northampton all the way I expect will be Swindon Town. The Robins have had a pretty awful season last year and with all the coming's and going's at the County Ground recently, Swindon fans could be forgiven for not knowing who some of their players are when they kick-off on the opening day of the season. Nevertheless though, they will be one of the biggest clubs with the best resources in League Two, and with Paolo Di Canio, they have a manager who is a motivator and a born winner, and all these attributes are something that strikes me as a great reciepe for success.

Paolo Di Canio - Great player, a great manager too? (Swindon Link)

A number of teams such as Crawley Town, Southend United, Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale are fancied by the bookmakers to gain promotion this season, and the team who I think will secure the final automatic promotion place is Southend. In Paul Sturrock they certainly have a manager that is capable of getting the best out of his players. Having overcome financial difficulties in the last few years, Sturrock has added players like Neil Harris, Jean-Paul Kalala and Jemal Johnson to his squad during the summer and these are players who will excel in this division.

VERDICT: Northampton Town, Swindon Town and Southend United.

Play-off's - I'm not sure if I am being ignorant, but I just can't see Crawley taking an automatic promotion place this season, even though most bookmakers have them as odds on favourites for the title. However, I do believe they are more than capable of claiming a play-off place. The momentum they will have from last season's title triumph can only be a good thing and players like Matt Tubbs, Sergio Torres and John Akinde should flourish at this level. Midfielder Jamie Day will also add a bit of quality.

Will Crawley fans witness similar scenes this season? (Crawley Observer)

Another couple of teams I expect to finish in play-off positions are Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale. I know the Shrews felt they were really hard done that they missed out on automatic promotion last season at the expense of Wycombe, and I'm sure the former Hereford manager will have his side back in the promotion hunt once again this season.

Port Vale fell away from the promotion race badly in the second half of last season, but with Mickey Adams returning I believe he will get the best out of a small but talented group of players, with players like Lewis Haldane, Sean Rigg and Anthony Griffith perhaps benefitting more than most from Adams' return.

Lewis Haldane could benefit from Adams' return . (Port Vale F.C.)

That leaves one position up for grabs and a host of teams could take the final play-off spot. Bradford City will be stronger this year, but I'm unsure of whether or not Peter Jackson can take them from relegation fodder to play-off material in the space of 12 months. Bristol Rovers will fancy their chances, but I believe Paul Buckle has a tough job on his hands and they may take a while to settle due to the amount of new faces that have arrived at the club over the summer. Plymouth Argyle will be another contender, but it may be a season of transition down at Home Park.

If I had to stick my neck out and pick a team, then my choice would be Gillingham. A lot was expected of Andy Hessenthaler's team last season and it took him a long time before he started getting the results he wanted, but with a full season behind him now, I'm sure the Gills will be stronger this time around. The arrival of Danny Kedwell will bring goals and Chris Whelpdale, a player who has been on loan at the Priestfield previously, is also a player I rate very highly having saw him a number of times for Peterborough.

VERDICT: Crawley Town, Shrewsbury Town, Port Vale and Gillingham.

Gillingham have been successful in the League Two play-off's before.

Relegation - It may come as a surprise to some people, but I can see AFC Wimbledon struggling in their first year as a Football League club. What they have achieved since their formation has been nothing short of incredible, but I believe their squad as a whole is lacking in any real Football League experience and that is something that could count against them. On the positive side of things though, former Histon duo Gareth Gwillim and Jack Midson are great acquisitions and could make the grade at this level.

Haydon will be eagerly anticipating the new football season. (AFC Wimbledon)

The two teams I believe will get relegated though are Macclesfield Town and Burton Albion. The Silkmen struggle year upon year, and it seems inevitable that they will drop out of the Football League sooner or later. The resources available to the manager seems to get lesser each year and the writing could be on the wall for them I'm afraid. I also choose Burton Albion as I think Paul Peschisolido hasn't really managed to establish them as a Football League club and after their poor run last season, which saw them dragged into the relegation dog fight from absolutely nowhere, I wonder about the team spirit and belief the players have in their own ability at the club.

Finally, I'd like to finish by mentioning Barnet, who are one of my favourite teams in the entire league. I feel Lawrie Sanchez deserves a special mention as he has brought some really good players like Dean Brill, Danny Senda and Sam Deering to the club this summer. Added to the goals that Steve Kabba and Izale McLeod will provide, things are seemingly looking bright at Underhill for the first time in years, something which is really pleasing to see. I wish them all the best of luck.

VERDICT: Macclesfield Town and Burton Albion.

Things are looking considerably brighter at Underhill this season. (TeamTalk)

Don't forget to check back later today as Sport Matters... will be taking an in depth look at League Two club Cheltenham Town, who this season will celebrate their 125 year anniversary.

League One Preview

League One football is back after an absence of three months and this year the middle tier of the Football League promises to be as exciting as ever. The division harbours four former Premier League clubs, all of whom will be hoping to taste champagne at the end of the season, as opposed to the bitter taste of disappointment.

Here, in this blog, journalist Andrew Webb, gives us his thoughts on the upcoming season and tells us which players may make an impact in League One this term.



LEAGUE ONE


Promotion - After two near misses in the last couple of years, I believe Huddersfield Town will be right in the promotion mix once again this season. Despite losing a couple of key players in Kevin Kilbane and Anthony Pilkington, the Terriers still possess enough class to trouble any team in this league. As long as Lee Clark can galvanise his troops and the club don't suffer a play-off hangover, I expect the League One trophy will be heading to the Galpharm Stadium come the end of the season.

Can Huddersfield finally banish the bad memories from recent campaigns?
(Huddersfield Examiner)

It may very well be the case that another Yorkshire team celebrates automatic promotion from League One this season as well. Both the Sheffield clubs have had their troubles of late, yet still have squads easily capable of challenging for promotion and the steel city derbies are sure to be ferocious encounters.

However, I have a strong suspicion that it will actually be Charlton Athletic who steal second spot. Chris Powell has been at the club long enough now to lay some solid foundations for a promotion push. New arrivals Paul Hayes and Danny Hollands are really astute signings who will compliment good players like Bradley Wright-Phillips, Scott Wagstaff and Johnnie Jackson that are already at the club, and it is really hard to envisage the Addicks being outside of the promotion places.

VERDICT: Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic.

Play-offs - As already said, I expect both Sheffield clubs to be in the promotion picture, which essentially leaves two play-off places that are up for grabs. Teams I expect to challenge for these positions are Brentford, Chesterfield, Colchester United, Milton Keynes Dons & Walsall. On the subject of the Saddlers, I was really impressed with how well Dean Smith marshalled his troops last season and got them away from what seemed to be an inevitable relegation at one stage.

The Steel City derby is back on the fixture card once again
this season. (Daily Mail)

If pushed as to which two teams I would go for to finish in the play-off positions, then I would choose Chesterfield and Brentford. Since moving to the b2net stadium, the Spireites have become a really difficult team to beat. Although they have lost players important players such as Craig Davies during the summer, John Sheridan's squad still possesses some outstanding talent that will be enough to see them acquire a top six position.

Brentford, meanwhile, have a new manager in Uwe Rosler and I feel he is probably the right man to take the club in a new direction and build on the fantastic work of Andy Scott. The likes of Jonathon Douglas and Clayton Donaldson are two superb signings and the addition of Harry Forrester will help them to be a real force to be reckoned with in this league.

As for other teams, then very much like Sheffield Wednesday last season, I believe it could be a season of transition for Preston North End. With the loss of a number of first team players over the summer and a cut in the wage budget, I can't see Phil Brown's men challenging for promotion this time around. The same goes for last season's play-off semi-finalists AFC Bournemouth, who despite having retained Danny Ings, perhaps over-achieved last term.

Phil Brown could be in for a long season? (Guardian)

VERDICT: Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Chesterfield and Brentford.

Relegation - With the exception of Chesterfield, I can see all the other sides promoted from League Two last season struggling in a higher division this year. Stevenage arrive in League One following back-to-back promotions and Graham Westley has built up a great work ethic and team spirit, but will that be enough this season? I can't see it myself, so they would be the most obvious choice for the drop.

Moving on to Wycombe Wanderers and Bury, I think both sides will try to play good football, which could be key to survival for either side. The Lancashire side will be hoping that Andy Bishop and Ryan Lowe score the goals they need to survive and I am confident both players will have a good season. Wycombe, like Bury, have some effective players and have recently signed Elliot Benyon on a season long loan, which I believe is a fantastic acquisition for them. However, make no mistake about it, it is going to be tough in League One this season for both of these teams.

Wycombe fans tasted relegation from League One
just 15 months ago.

Yeovil Town and Tranmere Rovers are also obvious choices for teams that may struggle. The Glovers are perrenial strugglers these days and also the bookmakers favourites for the drop this season and Terry Skiverton is faced with a tough task in trying to defy the odds. As for Tranmere, I think we may learn very early in the season as to what direction the club is going. Les Parry has done a fantastic job since taking the reigns a couple of seasons ago, but his task seems to get harder with each passing season.

A couple of clubs who I cannot see getting caught up in relegation trouble, despite being underdogs in this league, are Hartlepool United and Oldham Athletic. The Pools have impressed me during the summer with the players they have bought. Nolberto Solano is the player that has got everybody talking, but their best buy could be Colin Nish. Despite not being the most mobile of strikers, the target man is a handful for any defender and had a couple of Championship clubs looking at him not so long ago.

Victoria Park - Nobby Solano's new home ground. (Sky Sports)

It will also be interesting to see how Rochdale respond to the departure of Keith Hill to Barnsley. I can't see them getting caught up in too much relegation danger, but his replacement Steve Eyre could have been given an easier job for his first ever managerial role.

VERDICT: Stevenage, Wycombe Wanderers, Yeovil Town & Tranmere Rovers.


Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see my predictions on who the movers and shakers will be in League Two this season. Can Torquay United recover from play-off heartache? How will Paolo Di Canio fare at Swindon Town? And which two teams will face the indignity of relegation out of the Football League at the end of the season. You can read my thoughts on the League Two from tomorrow.

Championship Preview

It only seems like yesterday that Scott Sinclair brought the curtain down on last years Championship campaign and fired Swansea City into the Premier League for the first time in the Swans' history. Now, two months on, all systems are ready to go once more as a brand new Football League season is upon us.


Huddersfield University Sports Journalism student Andrew Webb previews the coming season and gives us his thoughts on what he believes could happen in the coming weeks and months.



THE CHAMPIONSHIP


Promotion - A lot of pundits are tipping Leicester City for automatic promotion this season and I would find it hard to disagree with them. The Foxes have added some exceptionally talented players to what was already a good squad that just missed out on the play-offs last season, and as long as Sven can keep a big squad with some big ego's happy, I can't really see anyone else winning the title.

Sven's Foxes are red hot title favourites.

As for the other automatic promotion spot I think it is between West Ham United and Ipswich Town. Sam Allardyce has bought well since his arrival at Upton Park, but it may take the Hammers a few games to acclimatise to their new surroundings. As for Ipswich, then they have a good manager in Paul Jewell who impressed me without pulling up too many trees during the second half of last season and they have added a proven goal scorer in Michael Chopra to their team during the summer, so I would go for them.

VERDICT: Leicester City & Ipswich Town.



Play-offs - As already mentioned, I expect West Ham to be in the promotion hunt come the end of the season, and I think they may be joined in the play-offs by Nottingham Forest. Billy Davies did a superb job in his time at the City Ground and despite a tumultuous spell as England boss, they have got a good replacement in Steve McLaren, a man who knows his football inside out.

McLaren might want to leave the brolly at home this season.

It wouldn't surprise me if Southampton also featured in the promotion race in some shape or form. Nigel Adkins' side deserved to win promotion last season and players like Ricky Lambert, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Guly do Prado will relish the opportunity of playing Championship football.

That leaves just one play-off spot and a whole host of teams will consider themselves to be in with a shout. Reading were well beaten in last years play-off final, but have so far managed to retain the services of Shane Long, which could be key for them. Blackpool arrive back in the Championship as an attractive propositon and the arrival of Barry Ferguson shows that they are ambitious to return to the Premier League. Likewise, Birmingham City may also be strong despite their off-field issues involving Carson Yeung, but my tip for the final play-off place would be Hull City.

VERDICT: West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, Southampton & Hull City.



Relegation - I really fear for both Barnsley & Peterborough United this season. The South Yorkshire club are used to starting the season as the bookies favourites for relegation, but with a reduced budget, a new manager in Keith Hill and having lost the services of Jason Shackell to Derby County during the summer, it could be a long campaign for the Oakwell faithful. Peterborough struggled defensively in League One last season and it is really hard to see that changing. The loss of Craig Mackail-Smith is also a body blow too, and one which will significantly reduce their goal threat.

Barnsley are used to being the bookies relegation favourites.

As to who could fill the other relegation place, then I believe it is between a number of teams with both Watford and Doncaster Rovers looking vulnerable. The Hornets have lost key personnel during the summer and rookie manager Sean Dyche has a tough job on his hands at Vicarage Road this season. Donny likewise have a tough task. They accumulated fewer points than any other team in the second half of last season, and despite adding some good quality players, they haven't really imrproved their dodgy defence and that is something what may be their undoing.

Many people believe that Crystal Palace or Coventry City could get caught up in relegation danger this year, but I would have to disagree. Both Dougie Freedman and Andy Thorn did respectable jobs last season, and with a full summer of hard work behind them, I really believe both managers will get the best out of their players and have a good season this time around.

A couple of teams who I think may struggle, which may seem surprising to some people, are Burnley and Millwall. Burnley have a good young manager in Eddie Howe, but a squad which isn't particularly big in numbers or strong in experience, and I just wonder whether the Clarets have enough big characters around the place to lift the gloom if they have a bad run of results. As for Millwall, the loss of Steve Morison is a huge one and even though Darius Henderson has joined the club, I really have a bad feeling that they could be caught up in problems.

Eddie Howe's Burnley side may be in for a difficult season.

VERDICT: Barnsley, Peterborough United & Burnley.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for my previews for the League One and League Two seasons? Can Huddersfield Town end their play-off heartache at last? Will Crawley Town rule supreme? How much of an impression will the Crazy Gang make on their return to the Football League? Find out tomorrow.