|
COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP 2006/07
PREVIEW
BARNSLEY
Manager:
Andy Ritchie
Last Season:
5th in League One (Promoted through play-offs)
Players In:
Michael McIndoe (Doncaster, undisclosed), Sam Togwell (Crystal Palace,
undisclosed), Michael Coulson (Scarborough, free)
Players Out:
Scott Flinders (Crystal Palace, undisclosed), Chris Shuker (Tranmere, free),
Barry Conlon (Darlington, free), Matt Carbon (released), Stephen McPhail (Cardiff,
free)
It looks like being a long hard winter for the newly promoted
Yorkshire men. After
losing two of their best players in Stephen
McPhail and Scott Flinders, the squad looks worryingly weak and ill prepared
for their first season at this level since 2002. After missing out on Michael
Chopra and Geoff Horsfield the Tykes will be hoping Daniel Nardiello and
Paul Hayes can find their scoring boots at the higher level.
One To Watch:
Michael McIndoe
ATWD
Prediction:
23rd
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Manager:
Steve Bruce
Last season:
18th in the Premiership
(Relegated)
Players In:
Cameron Jerome (Cardiff City, £3million), Radhi
Jaidi (Bolton, £2million), Neil Danns (Colchester, £850,000), Stephen Kelly (Tottenham,
£750,000), Bruno N'Gotty (Bolton, free), Fabrice Muamba (Arsenal, loan), Seb
Larsson (Arsenal, loan), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal, loan)
Players Out:
Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool,
£6.7million), Emile Heskey (Wigan, £5.5million), Chris Sutton (released), Stan Lazaridis
(Perth Glory, free), Nico Vaesen (Lierse, free), Chris Cottrill (released),
Sam Alsop (released), James Dormand (released), Kenny Cunningham
(Sunderland, free), Carl Motteram (Torquay, free), Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town,
free), Muzzy Izzet (retired), Jamie Clapham
(Wolverhampton Wanderers, free), Mario Melchiot (Rennes, free)
On paper City look a sure-fire bet to be pushing for
automatic promotion this forthcoming season although after having said that,
on paper City looked too good to be relegated last season. After the
departures of Heskey, Pennant, Jirosik, Melchiot and Cunningham
amongst others, Steve Bruce badly needed to strengthen his squad and
he has done so, bringing in eight new players so far. Former
Cardiff striker Cameron Jerome could be the pick of the bunch and
along with ex-Colchester midfielder Neil Danns Bruce has the young and
hungry players his club’s co-owner David Sullivan
so expressed a desire for. Defensively Blues look far stronger than last
season with Stephen Kelly, Bruno N’Gotty and Radhi Jaidi all dropping down a
division to help City’s promotion push.
One To Watch:
Cameron Jerome
ATWD
Prediction:
2nd
BURNLEY
Manager:
Steve Cotterill
Last Season:
17th
Players In: Andy Gray (Sunderland,
£750,000), Alan Mahon (Wigan, £200,000), Stephen Foster (Crewe free), Steve
Jones (Crewe free)
Players Out:
None
A decent but inconsistent squad has been strengthened by the
arrival of Andy Gray from
Sunderland and Alan Mahon from
Wigan
Athletic. With the highly regarded Steve Cotterill in charge the
Clarets should do better than last season’s 17th place but will need to
improve on their away form after just three wins
on their travels last year.
One To Watch:
Alan Mahon
ATWD
Prediction:
10th
CARDIFF
CITY
Manager:
Dave Jones
Last Season:
11th
Players In:
Roger Johnson (Wycombe, £275,000), Glenn
Loovens (Feyenoord, free), Michael Chopra (Newcastle, £500,000), Stephen
McPhail (Barnsley, free), Kevin McNaughton (Aberdeen, free), Malvin Kamara
(MK Dons, free), Nick McKoy (MK Dons, free), Mark Howard (Arsenal, free),
Luigi Glombard (Nantes, free), Kerrea Gilbert (Arsenal, loan) Kevin Campbell
(Albion, free), Willo Flood (Manchester City, undisclosed)
Players Out:
Neal Ardley (Millwall), Cameron Jerome (Birmingham
City, £3m), Neil Cox (Crewe, free), Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu (Gillingham,
free), Tareq Khalil (Bournemouth, free)
After losing last season’s top scorer Cameron Jerome to
Birmingham City, the
Bluebirds needed to find an adequate replacement and in Newcastle United
striker Michael Chopra it appears that they might just have. A very busy summer
of transfer activity has seen a number of quality additions made to an
already good squad. The key to a possible promotion push perhaps lies with
City re-signing last season’s star turn - a certain Jason Koumas. On his day
probably the most gifted player at Championship level and If City can
finally cut a deal with the Baggies then they could be set for a very
successful season.
One To Watch:
Michael Chopra
ATWD
Prediction:
4th
COLCHESTER UNITED
Manager:
Geraint Williams
Last Season:
2nd in League One (Promoted)
Players In:
Jamie Cureton (Swindon,
free), Johnnie Jackson (Tottenham, free)
Players Out:
Neil Danns (Birmingham
City, £850,000), Stephen Hunt (Notts County, free), Liam Chilvers (Preston,
free), Tony Thorpe (Stevenage, free), Sam Stockley (Wycombe, free)
After losing manager Phil Parkinson and highly rated duo Liam
Chilvers and Neil Danns, United look set to struggle in their first ever
season at this level. The signing of former
Norwich and Reading striker
Jamie Cureton and Spurs’ midfielder Johnnie Jackson probably won’t be enough
to prevent an immediate return to League One.
One To Watch:
Greg Halford
ATWD
Prediction:
24th
COVENTRY
CITY
Manager:
Micky
Adams
Last Season:
8th
Players In:
Wayne Andrews (Crystal
Palace, free), Mikkel Bischoff (Manchester City, free), Elliott Ward (West
Ham, £1million), Colin Cameron (Wolves, free), Andy Marshall (Millwall,
free), Jay Tabb (Brentford, free), David McNamee (Livingston, free),
Chris Birchall (Port Vale, £300,000)
Players Out:
Dennis Wise (released), Richard Shaw (Millwall,
free), Clayton Ince (Walsall, free), James Scowcroft (Crystal
Palace, £500,000)
City’s success this forthcoming season depends on whether
they can hold on to last season’s leading goalscorer Gary McSheffrey.
Birmingham City have already
seen two bids turned down for the player whilst rumoured interest from
Albion has never materialised. In McSheffrey, Dele Adebola and Stern John,
City possess plenty of fire power and with the signings of Elliott Ward and
Mikkel Bischoff their defensive frailties of last season should disappear.
One To Watch:
Gary McSheffrey
ATWD
Prediction:
8th
CRYSTAL
PALACE
Manager:
Peter Taylor
Last Season:
6th
Players In:
Leon Cort (Hull
City, £1.25million), Carl Fletcher (West Ham, £400,000), Scott Flinders (Barnsley, undisclosed), Mark Kennedy (Wolves, free), James Scowcroft
(Coventry, £500,000),
Matt Lawrence (Millwall, undisclosed)
Players Out:
Andrew Johnson (Everton, £8.6million), Fitz Hall (Wigan,
undisclosed), Sam Togwell (Barnsley, undisclosed), Wayne Andrews (Coventry
City, free), Aki Riihilahti (released), Glenn Wilson (released), Tony
Popovic (Al Arabi Qatar, free), Mikele Leigertwood (Sheffield United,
undisclosed), Emmerson Boyce (Charlton, £1.75 million)
Whilst the loss of manager Iain Dowie to Charlton was bad
enough, the loss of
England striker Andrew Johnson will probably cost Palace a promotion push.
New boss Peter Taylor will also have to contend with the departures of
defensive duo Emmerson Boyce and Fitz Hall although Taylor has signed a
potential gem in Leon Cort, a dominant central defender from his previous
club Hull City. After Taylor’s attempts to sign Carl Cort - Leon’s brother -
from Wolves failed, the Eagles will be hoping John Macken and Dougie
Freedman recapture their goalscoring form after poor returns last season.
One To Watch:
Jobi McAnuff
ATWD
Prediction:
7th
DERBY
COUNTY
Manager:
Billy
Davies
Last
Season:
20th
Players In:
Steve
Howard (Luton, £1million),
Ryan Smith (Arsenal, loan)
Players Out:
Jeff
Kenna (Kidderminster Harriers, free), Pablo Mills (Rotherham,
free), Kevin Poole (released), Lionel Ainsworth
(Bournemouth, loan)
After turning Preston
North End into a Championship force new Rams’ boss Billy Davies will be
hoping for similar results at Pride Park. The signing
of target man Steve Howard could be vital for a side that had never really
replaced Gregorz Rasiak. With the talented Inigo Idiakez, Seth Johnson and
Tommy Smith in midfield County do have the players to create chances, Rams’
fans will be hoping Howard is the man to take them. Will need to improve
last season’s woeful away form if they are to push for the play-offs.
One To Watch:
Inigo Idiakez
ATWD
Prediction:
11th
HULL
CITY
Manager:
Phil
Parkinson
Last Season:
18th
Players In:
Dean Marney (Tottenham, undisclosed), Sam Ricketts (Swansea,
£325,000), Michael Turner (Brentford, £350,000), David
Livermore (Leeds United, undisclosed)
Players Out:
Leon Cort (Crystal
Palace, £1.25million), Robbie Stockdale (Tranmere, free), Kevin Ellison (Tranmere,
free), Scott Wiseman (Rotherham, loan), Billy Paynter (Southend
United, undisclosed)
Although expectations are
high on Humberside following the appointment of Phil Parkinson, a look at
City’s squad suggests a mid-table finish will be the limit of their
achievements. The loss of Leon Cort to Crystal Palace is a blow
but the signing of Spurs’ Dean Marney adds quality to a midfield already
containing former England star Nick Barmby. A lack of goals could hamper any
attempt to reach the top level of English football for the first ever time.
One To Watch:
Dean Marney
ATWD
Prediction:
13th
IPSWICH
TOWN
Manager:
Jim
Magilton
Last
Season:
15th
Players In:
Alex Bruce (Birmingham City, free)
Players Out:
Kevin Horlock (Doncaster,
free), Dean McDonald (Gillingham, free)
Another bottom half of
the table finish looks on the cards for the Tractor Boys. With no money for
new signings, new manager Jim Magilton will be pinning his hopes on strike
duo Nicky Forster and Sam Parkin keeping his team out of trouble.
One To Watch:
Sam Parkin
ATWD
Prediction:
17th
LEEDS
UNITED
Manager:
Kevin Blackwell
Last Season:
5th
Players In:
Sebastien Carole (Brighton,
free), David Livermore (Millwall, undisclosed), Kevin Nicholls (Luton,
£700,000), Geoff Horsfield (Sheffield United, loan), Tony
Warner (Fulham, loan)
Players Out:
Danny Pugh (Preston, £250,000), Michael Ricketts (Southend,
free), Simon Walton (Charlton, £500,000), Jermaine Wright (Southampton,
free), Rob Hulse (Sheffield United, £2.2million), David Livermore (Hull
City, undisclosed), Ben Parker (Bradford, loan)
After last season’s near miss many are tipping United for automatic
promotion this time around. They should be in and around the play-offs again
but with much tougher promotion contenders than last year, United could
struggle to gain a top two finish. The loss of Rob Hulse to Sheffield United
puts strike partner David Healy under pressure to deliver the goods whilst
injury to new signing Kevin Nicholls is a huge blow.
One To Watch:
David Healy
ATWD
Prediction:
5th
LEICESTER CITY
Manager:
Rob Kelly
Last
Season:
16th
Players In:
Gareth McAuley (Lincoln, free), Andy Johnson (West
Bromwich Albion,
free), Josh Low (Northampton, free), Darren Kenton (Southampton, free)
Players Out:
Joey Gudjonsson (AZ Alkmaar, free),
Lee Morris (Yeovil Town, free)
Another former
Premiership side that has found life hard going in the Championship. After
last season’s struggle against relegation, hopes will be high in the East Midlands
that the Foxes can push for a top half spot but looking at their squad
suggests a mid-table finish at best. With three good strikers in Iain Hume,
Matty Fryatt and Elvis Hammond, goals shouldn’t be a problem but a major
lack of quality throughout the rest of the team is the worry.
One To Watch:
Matty Fryatt
ATWD
Prediction:
14th
LUTON
TOWN
Manager:
Mike
Newell
Last
Season:
10th
Players In:
Adam
Boyd (Hartlepool,
£500,000), Richard Langley (QPR, free), Lewis Emanuel (Bradford,
free)
Players Out:
Enoch
Showunmi (Bristol
City, free), Steve Howard (Derby, £1million), Kevin Nicholls (Leeds,
£700,000)
The loss of Kevin
Nicholls and Steve Howard is a major blow for the Hatters. Following
on from the sale of Curtis Davies 12 months ago,
Town have now lost three of their best players, and with winger Carlos
Edwards attracting the attentions of a number of clubs,
Luton
could be kicking off the new season with a severely weakened team
compared to the one that impressed last season.
It will be a major surprise if Town do anything other than struggle.
One To Watch:
Ahmet Brkovic
ATWD
Prediction:
22nd
NORWICH
CITY
Manager:
Nigel
Worthington
Last Season:
9th
Players In:
Lee
Croft (Manchester
City, £600,000)
Players Out:
Jason
Jarrett (Preston,
undisclosed), Shane Herbert (Cambridge United, free),
Darren Ward (Sunderland, free)
With as good a
strike partnership as any in the division in Rob Earnshaw and Darren Huckerby, the
Canaries should be flying high at the top end of the table
come May 2007. Last season’s defensive frailties and poor away record
must be improved though if they are to
gain promotion and thus
keep under-fire boss Nigel Worthington in a job.
One To Watch:
Rob Earnshaw
ATWD
Prediction:
6th
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Manager:
Ian
Holloway
Last
Season:
14th
Players In:
Sylvain Ebanks-Blake (Manchester
United, £200,000), Barry Hayles (Millwall, £100,000),
Josh Clapham (Plymouth University, free)
Players Out:
Micky
Evans (Torquay, free)
With no major team
strengthening taking place during the summer, likeable Pilgrims’ boss Ian
Holloway faces an uphill battle to keep his team in the Championship.
Argyle’s chances of survival could lie with highly rated striker Sylvan
Ebanks-Blake who has arrived from Manchester United and veteran striker
Barry Hayles.
One To Watch:
Akos Buzsaky
ATWD
Prediction:
20th
PRESTON
NORTH END
Manager:
Paul
Simpson
Last
Season:
4th
Players In:
Jason
Jarrett (Norwich,
undisclosed), Danny Pugh (Leeds, £250,000), Kelvin Wilson (Notts County,
undisclosed), Sean St Ledger (Peterborough, £225,000), Liam Chilvers
(Colchester, free)
Players Out:
Chris
Lucketti (Sheffield United, £300,000), Claude Davis (Sheffield United,
£2.5million), Gavin Ward (Tranmere, free), Tyrone Mears (West Ham,
£1million)
After last season’s 4th
place finish and following the arrival of new boss Paul Simpson, North End
fans will be hoping for another play-off push. Whilst Sean St Ledger, Liam
Chilvers and Danny Pugh are all excellent signings for the Deepdale outfit,
it is the departures that should cause worry
amongst the Lilywhites’ faithful. With Claude Davis, Tyrone Mears and Chris
Lucketti all leaving the club a season of rebuilding and consolidation looks
their best bet.
One To Watch:
David Nugent
ATWD
Prediction:
16th
QUEENS
PARK RANGERS
Manager:
Gary
Waddock
Last
Season:
21st
Players In:
Damion
Stewart (Bradford, free), Adam Czerkas (Kolporter Korona, loan), Egutu
Oliseh (La Louviere, free), Armel Tchakounte (Kitchee FC, free), Nick Ward
(Perth Glory, free)
Players Out:
Dean
Sturridge (Kidderminster,
free), Richard Langley (Luton, free)
After narrowly avoiding
relegation last season Rangers will be hoping for a better season this time
around although one look at their squad suggests it won’t be. Although
manager Gary Waddock has bought a number of players during the summer most
are untried in English football, it looks a gamble that could well backfire.
With the impending departure of star defender Danny Shittu to Albion,
Rangers look set for another brush with the drop.
One To Watch:
Gareth Ainsworth
ATWD
Prediction:
21st
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Manager:
Paul
Sturrock
Last
Season:
19th
Players In:
Wade
Small (MK Dons, undisclosed), Madjid Bougherra (Gueugnon, free), Kenny Lunt
(Crewe, free),
Yoann Folly (Southampton, undisclosed), Brad Jones
(Middlesbrough, loan)
Players Out:
Drissa Diallo (MK Dons, free), Craig Rocastle (Oldham,
free), David Lucas (released), Ritchie Partridge (Rotherham,
free), Jon-Paul McGovern (MK Dons, free), Patrick Collins (Darlington,
free)
A massive club with a
loyal following that may have to settle for another disappointing season. A
squad that was clearly too weak last season doesn’t look any stronger now
although the return to fitness of highly rated striker Steven MacLean will
give the Owls a much needed boost.
One To Watch:
Steven MacLean
ATWD
Prediction:
19th
SOUTHAMPTON
Manager:
George Burley
Last Season:
12th
Players In:
Gregorz Rasiak (Tottenham, £2million), Rudi Skacel (Hearts,
£1.6 million), Jermaine Wright (Leeds, free), Bradley Wright-Phillips
(Manchester City, undisclosed), Marcelo Sarmiento (Club Atletico Racing de
Cordoba, loan), Pele (Belenenses, undisclosed), Kelvin Davis (Sunderland,
undisclosed), Mario Licka (FC Slovacko, free), John
Viafara (Portsmouth, undisclosed)
Players Out:
Darren Kenton (Leicester, free), Paul Smith (Nottm Forest,
free), Yoann Folly (Sheffield Wednesday, undisclosed),
Leon Best (Bournemouth, loan), Matt Oakley (Derby County, free)
Despite the disappointment of last year’s campaign, Saints’ fans are looking
forward to the forthcoming campaign and rightly so. A number of top quality
signings, a manager with a track record of success and the departure of
despised chairman Rupert Lowe all add up to a huge wave of optimism sweeping
the South Coast. Sure to be challenging at the very top.
One To Watch:
Rudi Skacel
ATWD
Prediction:
1st
SOUTHEND UNITED
Manager:
Steve Tilson
Last Season:
Champions of
League One (Promoted)
Players In:
Michael Ricketts
(Leeds, free), Simon
Francis (Sheffield United, free), Steve Collis (Yeovil, free), Steven
Hammell (Motherwell, free), Billy Paynter (Hull City,
undisclosed)
Players Out:
Carl Pettefer (Oxford,
free), Mark Bentley (Gillingham, free), Duncan Jupp (Gillingham, free),
Wayne Gray (Yeovil, free), Shaun Goater (released), Bart Griemink
(released), Andy Edwards (released)
Out of the three promoted sides the Shrimpers look the most
likely to avoid an immediate return to League One. Much though will depend
on star striker Freddy Eastwood continuing his impressive goalscoring record
at the higher level. United will also be hoping new signing Michael Ricketts
rediscovers the form that once saw him capped by England.
One To Watch:
Freddy Eastwood
ATWD
Prediction:
18th
STOKE
CITY
Manager:
Tony Pulis
Last Season:
13th
Players In:
Danny Higginbotham (Southampton,
£225,000), Vincent Pericard (Portsmouth,
free)
Players Out:
Ed De Goey (released),
Karl Henry (Wolves, £100,000)
The return of Tony Pulis will no doubt see the return of a
dour, boring but hard to beat City side. New signing Vincent Pericard will
add pace and power up front and hopefully for
Potters’ fans goals. With Danny Higginbotham coming in to strengthen an
already solid looking City defence another
mid-table finish should be well within their reach.
One To Watch:
Vincent Pericard
ATWD
Prediction:
15th
SUNDERLAND
Manager:
Niall Quinn
Last Season:
20th in the
Premiership (Relegated)
Players In:
Kenny Cunningham (Birmingham,
free), Darren Ward (Norwich City, free)
Players Out:
Andy Gray (Burnley,
£750,000), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe, free), Gary Breen (Wolves, free), Martin
Woods (Rotherham United, free), Kelvin Davis (Southampton, undisclosed) , Julio Arca (Middlesbrough,
£1.75 million)
With a proven Championship squad and the returning hero Niall
Quinn in charge, the Black Cats should be pushing
for at least a play-off spot this season. The departure of Julio Arca is a
blow but the arrival of the experienced Kenny Cunningham should bolster the
defence. Up front Jon Stead, Kevin Kyle and Stephen Elliott will be expected
to grab the goals, Stead and Kyle in particular will be looking to improve
their dismal scoring records on Wearside.
Sunderland's success this season could depend on whether the rumoured return
of Kevin Phillips materialises.
One To Watch:
Stephen Elliott
ATWD
Prediction:
9th
WEST
BROMWICH ALBION
Manager:
Bryan Robson
Last Season:
19th in the
Premiership (Relegated)
Players In:
Chris Perry
(Charlton, free), John Hartson (Celtic, undisclosed), Pascal Zuberbuhler (FC
Basle, free), Michael Nardiello (Liverpool, free)
Players Out:
Geoff Horsfield
(Sheffield United £1.2million), Andy Johnson (Leicester
City,
free), Lloyd Dyer (released, Brian Smikle (Kidderminster Harriers, free)
After two years of struggling in the Premiership,
Albion will this season be
one of the teams to beat. At time of writing chairman Jeremy Peace has
honoured his pledge to keep the club’s best players and his pledge to
strengthen the squad. With the arrival of Chris Perry, and the imminent
arrival of Danny Shittu, Albion should have no qualms about the quality and
strength of depth in defensive positions. A midfield containing the likes of
Zoltan Gera, Jonathan Greening and Nigel Quashie should also flourish at
Championship level. Up front John Hartson and Nathan Ellington promise to
produce goals but an injury to either could spell disaster with no
recognised third striker at the club.
One To Watch:
Zoltan Gera
ATWD
Prediction:
3rd
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Manager:
Mick McCarthy
Last Season:
7th
Players In:
Gary Breen (Sunderland,
free), Guilherme Finkler (season-long loan, Juventude), Jay Bothroyd
(Charlton, free), Karl Henry (Stoke City, £100,000),
Jamie Clapham (Birmingham City, free)
Players Out:
Colin Cameron (Coventry
City, free), Kenny Miller (Celtic, undisclosed), Joleon Lescott (Everton,
£5million), Seol Ki-Hyeon (Reading, undisclosed), Paul Ince (released)
A summer of upheaval at Molineux has hardly been the best
preparation for what was already going to be an extremely tough season. The
departures of a number of their better players leaves a squad looking
awfully weak. In defence Gary Breen has been brought in to add experience
and know how whilst up front the enigmatic Jay
Bothroyd will provide pace and power if not goals. After the summer they
have had a mid-table finish will be welcomed by most Wanderers’ fans.
One To Watch:
Mark Davies
Mark Thomas - August 2006
|
