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The English Championship always entertains and never fails to throw in dozens of twists and turns throughout its season.
This year saw a return to the second tier for Leicester, Leeds and Southampton, while Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle achieved promotion from the third tier, League 1.
Many have impressed so far, and while promotion seems to be when and not if for some, there’s still lots to be decided. Today, I’m going to predict how the table will be decided, whilst also taking out the Crystal ball to determine who will finish with some of the individual awards received out the end of the season.
Join me as we look at what I believe who will finish where, from top to bottom.
1st – Leicester City
I think this is the most predictable pick on the list- and that’s not a criticism of the teams around them, but credit to how strong the foxes have been so far this season.
Despite losing key players like James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans, signings such as Harry Winks and Stephy Mavidi have seen Enzo Maresca transform this side into a surely promotion winning side.
The key to all this has been the electric Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall, with 9 goals and 9 assists in 26 games so far this season. Hailed by many as the best player in the championship, Dewsbury-Hall has comfortable controlled Leicester’s midfield this season and has started to gain outside chances of being featured in Gareth Southgate’s England squad this summer.
2nd- Ipswich Town
What a revelation Ipswich Town have been this season. Not only are they a tricky team to break down, and solidifying themselves as one of the best teams in the EFL, but also play exciting offensive football that make them serious contenders to be competing in the Premier League.
Former Manchester United assistant coach Kieran McKenna has created a fantastic side that stand on the verge of the promised land. If he and his team can hold their nerve and maintain good form heading into the second leg of the season, which I’m confident they can, then they will achieve their promotion dreams.
Shout-out to former Bournemouth left-back Leif Davis as well for making a name for himself this season, with 10 assists so far for the Tractor Boys.
3rd – Leeds United
Leeds are having fun this season and you can tell from the way they’re playing on the pitch.
Leeds are arguably the most exciting team to watch in the championship, with a team of entertainers including the likes of the skilful Crysencio Summerville (left), the lethal Georginio Rutter (right), the pacey Dan James and top bagsman Joel Piroe.
Like Leicester, relegation meant Leeds lost a few top players last summer, with the likes of Tyler Adams and Rodrigo leaving on permanent bases with Brendan Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra and Rasmus Kristensen leaving on loan deals that will surely become permanent next summer. Similarly, also like Leicester, they reinvested well with the likes of Piroe, Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara all coming to Elland Road.
Unfortunately, I see Daniel Farke’s side barely missing out on automation promotion this season, and instead having to try and bet themselves back to the Premier League via the unpredictable playoffs.
4th- Southampton
Southampton are looking well-oiled and a team hell bent on getting back to the Premier League one way or another, which comes as little surprise. Disciplined in attack and effective in attack, Southampton have all the tools to potentially return to the Premier league this season- but unfortunately, that’s not how I see things playing it.
Leading the charge back to England’s highest point in the football pyramid is former Blackburn and Newcastle striker Adam Armstrong, who so far sits on 14 goals and 11 assists in 26 games, a phenomenal return for a proven clinical striker. Previously in the championship, he scored 28 for Blackburn in 20/21 and 16 for them in 19/20, so it should come as no surprise that he’s excelling at this level.
Unfortunately, I don’t think this Southampton side have enough to return quiet yet, but there is no doubt that they will be back in the top flight very soon.
5th- Hull City
An outside shout here, as I think the business completed by the Tigers in January will propel them into the play-off contentions.
The new year has seen former Fulham ace Fabio Carvalho join them on loan, a move many tip to be a hit given he made his name at this level in the 21/22 season. Elsewhere, experienced number 9 Billy Sharp joins on a free following a generally unsuccessful venture into the MLS, and young goalkeeper Ivan Pandur joins from Fortuna Sittard in Holland.
So far, stand out players include the electric Jadon Philogene, who leads their goal and assists tally this season with 11 (combined) and another young ace in Tyler Morton, who at just the age of 20 provides a cool and composed head in he heart of their midfield.
Despite good organisation and some excellent young talent, I don’t think Hull City will ultimately have enough to make it back to the Premier League for the first time in 7 years.
6th- West Brom
Carlos Corberan continues to transform this West Brom side and looks to be on a steady path back onto the top flight. Appointed in October 2022, he lead the West Midlands outfit to a 9th place finish last season, missing out on a playoff spot on the final day following defeat at the hands of Swansea City.
Corberan has instilled smooth and stylish football into West Brom, a sentence no one would dare say in the past 5 years under the tenures of the likes of Steve Bruce and Sam Allardyce for example.
Alex Palmer has provided a safe pair of hands in between the sticks, conceding a goal every 93 minutes on average, with the likes of Brandon Thomas-Asante and Grady Diangana adding pace and flair in attack.
7th- Sunderland
Despite how exciting they can be when they’re on it, I think Sunderland lack the consistency to break into the playoffs and try and get themselves back to the Premier League this season.
While I’m sure we will see the black cats back in the top flight in the next few years, I just can’t see this year being their year as the side continues to transform.
Last summer, the departures of Ross Stewart and Bailey Wright saw experienced members of the squad that reached a playoff spot leave a void in the squad. Replacements in squad depth inclduded the likes of 20 year old Jenson Seelt, 21 year old Adil Aouchiche, 20 year old Timothée Pembélé and 17 year old Jobe Bellingham added into the team. The glaring problem for me is the experience needed tom sustain a playoff challenge until the very end, and while I think Sunderland may have the ability, I think they’ll lack the experience to het over the line this year.
8th- Coventry City
Coventry were high flying last season, and were just a penalty kick away from sealing promotion to the Premier League for the firs time since 1992. Unfortunately, I don’t think they’ll get that opportunity this season.
Key players in aforementioned promotion push Gustavo Hamer and Victor Gyökeres left big shoes to fill, and while Callum O’Hare (picyured above) and Ellis Simms leave more to be desired, other players have began to step up like summer signings Haji Wright (with 12 goals and asissts in 26 games) and Milan van Ewijk which have seen the sky blues push up the table.
If Coventry can maintain their defensive stability and provide more in attack, I think hey can battle until he last day for a play off spot, but perhaps won’t have enough to take up one of the places.
9th- Norwich City
One way or another, it will only be a matter of time before we see Norwich City back in the Premier League. I just don’t think it’ll be in August 2024.
Jonathan Rowe has looked excellent this season and has the stats to back it up, with 14 goals and assists in 26 games so far this season. Elsewhere on the pitch, Gabriel Sara has been a fantastic purchase in midfield, providing 13 goals and assist so far and plays a progressive pass every 23 minutes on average so far this season.
Despite lots to be positive about in East Anglia, compared to tother teams in the promotion push, I don’t think Norwich possess the overall quality to mount a proper challenge for a play off spot, let alone competing for promotion bak to the Premier League. If they can tie down Gabriel Sara and Jonathan Rowe to new contracts next summer, or alternatively sell them on for big profits and reinvest smartly, then perhaps next season will be a different story.
10- Watford
Watford, like Norwich, will surely be back in the Premier League in the coming years like they always seem to do. But, also like Norwich, I think they lack the overall quality to get promoted.
Despite scoring 45 goals overall this season, Watford at times have seen offensively blunt, which is perhaps why their top scorer, Mileta Rajcovic, is only on 8 this season from 26 games. This case is supported when it is noted that no Watford player has reached double figures in goals and assists combined this season, with Rajcovic being the closest on his 8 goals with no assists to pair with them.
If Watford are to mount a promotion push, then not only will they need to nail their offensive output to improve, but will also need to look more consistent, an issue proved no better than in December where 10 days after beating Preston North End 5-1 at Deepdale, a team close to them in the table at the time, they were defeated 5-1 by Bristol City in their own backyard.
So there we have it. The championship always provides pure cinema during the playoffs, and all the eyes of English football will watch at its conclusion. The age old battle of who will take the 4 spots awaits, and I can’t wait to watch it all go down.
