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What can the Championship teams expect this season?
Peter's top eight: Burnley, Middlesbrough , Hull, N Forest, Portsmouth, Bristol City, Cardiff, QPR
Here are the teams I feel are most likely to contend for the automatic and play-off promotion positions this season:
BURNLEY
They're one of the favourites for most people because apart from Steven Fletcher, they've kept the majority of their team together. They've also made some astute signings: Chris Iwelumo is a target man who knows his way to goal and Ross Wallace should provide a supply line. A big signing is Lee Grant as back-up to Brain Jensen. He has been a colossus for Burnley and they need cover in case anything happens to him and I think Grant is a snip at £1million. Furthermore, Dean Marney from Hull City could be one of the signings of the season following the departure of Joey Gudjonsson because he has a fantastic engine and an eye for goal. They've kept Chris Eagles and still have money to spend, so I definitely expect Burnley to be up there.
MIDDLESBROUGH
Middlesbrough have spent big this summer, perhaps fearing next season when the teams coming down from the Premier League will pick up even greater parachute payments (somewhere in the region of £48million over four years). I think Steve Gibson wants to ensure promotion this year because it will be very difficult to break the monopoly of the relegated sides after this campaign. Also, Gordon Strachan didn't make a great impression when he first arrived, so Gibson wants to prove he made the right choice by backing his manager with money. They've bought some real quality in Kris Boyd, Nicky Bailey, Kevin Thompson and Stephen McManus and even though the number of signings from over the border has raised a few eyebrows, Strachan obviously likes the work ethic of those guys from his days in Scotland.
HULL CITY
I still think Hull have the core of a squad that can be competitive in this division. They've lost Dean Marney, Steven Mouyokolo, Boaz Myhill and Stephen Hunt but I think there is a skeleton of a squad that can do well. Adam Pearson appointed Nigel Pearson and I don't think he'd have come if he hadn't been promised funds to reinvest. I suspect there could be a couple more signings, but either way I think they'll be in the top eight positions in the Championship.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
The only significant departure this summer has been James Perch to Newcastle, so the fabric of last year's tremendous season is still in place. They have a lot of youngsters and a lot of pace in the side, but unfortunately they lost Paul McKenna at an inopportune time last season and they fell by the wayside in the race for the automatic spots, before losing their play-off semi-final. In Dexter Blackstock they have the perfect foil for Robert Earnshaw, who should be among the goals this year despite his age.
PORTSMOUTH
I truly believe Portsmouth have a first XI that could win this division. They can name an outfield team of: Finnan, Sonko, Mokoena, Hreidarsson, Smith, Wilson, Brown, Boateng, Utaka, Nugent. If they can find a goalkeeper then that's a very strong side - plus there's Kanu, Hughes, Webber, Mullins and the promising youngster Matt Ritchie on the bench. They've let a lot of players go, but if those players went out each week in the Championship, I'd guarantee they'd finish in the top six. Obviously many of those might leave before the transfer window closes but at the time of writing they are a threat to the automatic spots.
BRISTOL CITY
Bristol City have made some fantastic acquisitions and Steve Coppell has been very active in the transfer market. David James is the headline arrival, but there's also wide player Kalifa Cisse, who Steve knows from Reading, and Albert Adomah from Barnet who is a match-winner on his day. He's a quick player, who usually operates on the right wing and destroyed plenty of sides in League Two. If he can add some consistency to his game he'll add pace to an already quick Bristol City side. They drew too many games last year, but with Damion Stewart in at centre-back and Nicky Hunt in at right-back plus Nicky Maynard, who was one of the stars of the season last year, I think they could do well under their new talented manager.
CARDIFF CITY
They'll be there or thereabouts again. Their front four were incredible last season and despite the loss of Joe Ledley to Celtic, they still have Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra, Chris Burke and Peter Whittingham. If those players can replicate the form they showed last year they might be able to go one step further than they did when they lost the play-off final to Blackpool.
QPR
Neil Warnock has a passion to operate at the top level, but we were all wondering how the multi-national QPR squad would react to his no-nonsense manner. Well, this summer he's brought in Shaun Derry, Clint Hill and Paddy Kenny and has got rid of Angelo Balanta and Matteo Alberti. Those two players are undoubtedly talented, but Neil wants people he can hang his hat on and I think he's made a real statement of intent in a division that is sometimes a war of attrition. I expect a more solid QPR and with funds available I think they're in for a decent season. I didn't believe the hype in the last couple of seasons, but I think they've now got a manager in charge who could make a difference.
Peter's middle eight (upper): Leicester, Reading, Sheff Utd, Swansea, (Lower) Norwich, Leeds, Coventry, Doncaster
I've split this section into two parts with the first four the most likely to challenge for the play-offs, but probably not the automatic spots.
LEICESTER CITY
I've got a lot of time for new Leicester boss Paulo Sousa, who has been harshly treated at some of his previous clubs. They have signed Miguel Vitor from Benfica and Tom Kennedy from Rochdale, who can deliver quality set-pieces. But in my opinion it's all about Andy King, Richie Wellens, Matty Fryatt and DJ Campbell, who has been given a second bite of the cherry at Leicester. If those four players can perform well through the middle and King and Wellens can supply ammunition for Fryatt and Campbell then they could push for a play-off place.
READING
Reading were one of the form teams at the end of last season and Brian McDermott was able to make his players believe in him. There are a lot of young players at the club and he gave them an environment to flourish by pushing some of the older guys out on loan. They have lost two quality players in Kalifa Cisse and Marek Matejovsky, but they've brought in two decent full-backs. Marcus Williams from S****horpe United is a left-back who likes to get forward and Andy Griffin from Stoke likes to get across the half-way line as well. Gylfi Sigurdsson is the key man and they'll be looking for him to build on a good season last year.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
The Blades have made some astute signings. The one that grabs me is Leon Britton from Swansea, who can get the ball down and play in the heart of midfield. They'll also hope that Daniel Bogdanovic can supply the goals they struggled to score last season. Their ambitions have been tempered in the last couple of seasons - 14 have gone out and seven have come in over the summer - so they're not one of the division's big spenders any more. Some of the signings won't grab the fans' imaginations, so it's a case of 'suck it and see' for them. A lot will still depend on Chris Morgan and Nick Montgomery, the two players who drag them forward and inspire the other players.
SWANSEA
Brendan Rodgers seems to change clubs as often as he changes his socks, but at least he is getting opportunities. A lot will depend on how Swansea start because they play some wonderful football and have some very talented footballers such as Darren Pratley, who is one of the most highly-rated and industrious players in the division (and famously scored some key goals against Cardiff last season). If they can hold onto him then they'll always have a chance. It'll also be interesting to see if Rodgers changes the system after the departure of Leon Britton, but the biggest thing of all might be the fitness of Ferrie Bodde who has had terrible knee injuries. As an impartial observer, I would love to see him get fit and show us all what a wonderful talent he is.
These are four sides who I expect to finish in mid-table, but may get dragged down if things go against them.
NORWICH
Last year they had three or four players who were unplayable in League One and if they can maintain their confidence they can make a statement in the Championship. They were led at the back by Adam Dury, while Grant Holt and Chris Martin scored plenty of goals. I also expect Wes Hoolahan to prove himself at a higher level because he was the architect for their success last season and he looks to be playing with even more confidence in pre-season. They've added Andrew Surman in midfield and Simeon Jackson will bolster an attack that doesn't need much improvement. I expect them to at least stay in the division very comfortably, especially with a packed Carrow Road cheering them on every week.
LEEDS
I think Leeds will stay up without a problem, but the big question mark is over the attack without Jermaine Beckford. New signing Billy Paynter scored 27 goals for Swindon last season and should cause problems to Championship defences, but I don't see him scoring even half that many goals at this level. I also think he's similar to Luciano Becchio and I can't see him scoring many more than 10 goals either. I think Simon Grayson needs to work hard to bring another striker in, but they have made some good buys already in Paul Connolly and Alex Bruce to bolster the defence. The best signing of all is Kasper Schmeichel, who has first-class distribution and won't be fazed by coming to a big club. Casper Ankergren gave the Leeds fans palpitations at times and Shane Higgs dropped a couple of clangers too, but they should be in safe hands with Schmeichel. I expect a season of consolidation.
COVENTRY
Aidy Boothroyd has been busy in the transfer market, which shows that Ray Ranson thinks highly of his new manager. Lee Carsley, Gary McSheffrey and Roy O'Donovan have all returned to Coventry, but the signing that really captures the imagination is Lukas Jutkiewicz from Everton, a very, quick and creative player. I also think Richard Keogh, the right-back they have brought in from Carlisle, is a very good signing. Every time I saw him last season, he was terrific and is one of the new breed of full-backs that people may not have heard about.
DONCASTER
They can beat anybody on their day and if you awarded a goal for every 10 completed passes then they'd win every game they play. They've lost a couple of players, but have signed Billy Sharp who will provide the presence in the six-yard box that they have been lacking. He didn't get much game time at Sheffield United, but he should enjoy himself at Doncaster. Captain Brian Stock and midfielder James Coppinger are tremendous players and they'll beat a few top teams this season.
Peter's bottom eight: Derby, Millwall, Preston, Ipswich, Barnsley, C Palace, S****horpe, Watford
Any four of the teams in this bottom eight could go into the middle eight, that's how close it is, but at first glance these are the teams that could end up near the bottom.
DERBY COUNTY
When Nigel Clough arrived at Derby it was clear he was in it for the long haul, but if they can keep their major players fit then they can finish in mid-table. They've had a very good pre-season and hopefully that means the players are gelling well, but I think a lot will depend on the fitness of Kris Commons and Rob Hulse. I've seen a little bit of their loan signing Tomasz Cywkaand he looks like a bright player and will hopefully help Derby to turn draws into wins. However, I do worry about their defence. They could finish as high as 13th, but I don't see them threatening the top eight this year.
MILLWALL
They were terrific in League One last year; strong, organised and they played with no fear. Kenny Jackett has instilled tremendous resolve in the squad and I anticipate an incredible atmosphere at the New Den this season. With that in mind, their season could be dictated by their home form. Steve Morison is a strong, powerful player up front and they've signed Kevin Lisbie and he could prove to be an ideal foil. I think they'll play 4-4-2 and will win their fair share of games.
PRESTON NORTH END
Preston have financial restraints and have struggled to bring in much quality over the summer. However, they've got some good, experienced free signings in Paul Hayes who has scored goals for S****horpe and Wayne Brown who did well for Leicester before he got injured. He'll be playing alongside Preston's key man, Sean St Ledger, who is back at Deepdale after failing to secure a permanent move to Middlesbrough. That partnership could be imperative in a tough season for Preston and if Hayes can get into double figures they should be safe for another year.
IPSWICH TOWN
Ipswich drew 20 games last year, often due to their inability to kill teams off from winning positions. I wonder if the Ipswich players are not equipped to deal with Roy Keane's straightforward management style because we only saw glimpses of what he was trying to impress on them last year. He's brought in a lot of new faces, it's definitely his team now, but I think the Championship is more competitive this season and I'm not sure Ipswich will be able to stand toe-to-toe with all of the sides. Keane needs to try and instil a winning mentality into that squad.
BARNSLEY
I thought Mark Robins did a magnificent job last year, playing good football and taking a few scalps. They went for it later in the season, playing all-or-nothing football and the wheels came off to a degree. I understand why he did it because they weren't going down and they wanted to make a last-ditch assault on the play-offs, but they need to make sure they don't leave themselves so open at the back this season. Barnsley are on a shoestring budget, but I believe in Mark's ability to do a very difficult job. The loss of Daniel Bogdanovic will hurt them, but they've brought in Jason Shackell and Liam ****inson to try and replace some of those goals. It'll be a tough season, but Barnsley fans can realistically hope for a finish between mid-table and the bottom four.
CRYSTAL PALACE
The shining light for Palace fans is that they've held onto Darren Ambrose. With his presence and the arrival of George Burley, the club can hopefully iron out their finances. I backed Palace to beat the drop last year, but it's going to be difficult this time. The Palace fans are an intelligent and realistic bunch and know how important it is to assure the long-term future of the club. But even though a bottom-eight finish seems likely, a good start could galvanise the squad to finish in mid-table against the odds. They should be happy to still have a football club and the passion of the fans will hopefully be reflected on the pitch.
S****HORPE
In the last couple of seasons the H-Bombs of Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper have scored goals to get S****horpe into the Championship and keep them there. But Professor Nigel Adkins will have his work cut out to keep them up after both of those players departed, plus the engine room of Grant McCann has also gone. The key man will be Joe Murphy, who is one of the best goalkeepers outside the Premier League in my opinion. He'll certainly be under pressure this season. They've also brought in Bobby Grant, Michael Collins and Chris Dagnall, who scored bags of goals for Rochdale. It's not a big squad, but I expect a good attitude and some upsets on that narrow pitch. You never know, but I fear it may be a season too far for them.
WATFORD
This club are potless and I do feel sorry for the manager. It wasn't long ago that I was playing for Bradford and we got promoted into the Premier League alongside Watford and it's been disappointing to see their fall. If they are to survive, a lot will depend on Danny Graham and they'll be hoping he can hit double figures again up front on his own in a 4-5-1 formation. It will be a season of struggle and I expect them to be in the bottom third of the league for most of the season. A lot can happen and I can't tip any team for relegation at this stage, but Watford are underdogs this season. I hope I'm proved wrong.
Peter's top eight: Burnley, Middlesbrough , Hull, N Forest, Portsmouth, Bristol City, Cardiff, QPR
Here are the teams I feel are most likely to contend for the automatic and play-off promotion positions this season:
BURNLEY
They're one of the favourites for most people because apart from Steven Fletcher, they've kept the majority of their team together. They've also made some astute signings: Chris Iwelumo is a target man who knows his way to goal and Ross Wallace should provide a supply line. A big signing is Lee Grant as back-up to Brain Jensen. He has been a colossus for Burnley and they need cover in case anything happens to him and I think Grant is a snip at £1million. Furthermore, Dean Marney from Hull City could be one of the signings of the season following the departure of Joey Gudjonsson because he has a fantastic engine and an eye for goal. They've kept Chris Eagles and still have money to spend, so I definitely expect Burnley to be up there.
MIDDLESBROUGH
Middlesbrough have spent big this summer, perhaps fearing next season when the teams coming down from the Premier League will pick up even greater parachute payments (somewhere in the region of £48million over four years). I think Steve Gibson wants to ensure promotion this year because it will be very difficult to break the monopoly of the relegated sides after this campaign. Also, Gordon Strachan didn't make a great impression when he first arrived, so Gibson wants to prove he made the right choice by backing his manager with money. They've bought some real quality in Kris Boyd, Nicky Bailey, Kevin Thompson and Stephen McManus and even though the number of signings from over the border has raised a few eyebrows, Strachan obviously likes the work ethic of those guys from his days in Scotland.
HULL CITY
I still think Hull have the core of a squad that can be competitive in this division. They've lost Dean Marney, Steven Mouyokolo, Boaz Myhill and Stephen Hunt but I think there is a skeleton of a squad that can do well. Adam Pearson appointed Nigel Pearson and I don't think he'd have come if he hadn't been promised funds to reinvest. I suspect there could be a couple more signings, but either way I think they'll be in the top eight positions in the Championship.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
The only significant departure this summer has been James Perch to Newcastle, so the fabric of last year's tremendous season is still in place. They have a lot of youngsters and a lot of pace in the side, but unfortunately they lost Paul McKenna at an inopportune time last season and they fell by the wayside in the race for the automatic spots, before losing their play-off semi-final. In Dexter Blackstock they have the perfect foil for Robert Earnshaw, who should be among the goals this year despite his age.
PORTSMOUTH
I truly believe Portsmouth have a first XI that could win this division. They can name an outfield team of: Finnan, Sonko, Mokoena, Hreidarsson, Smith, Wilson, Brown, Boateng, Utaka, Nugent. If they can find a goalkeeper then that's a very strong side - plus there's Kanu, Hughes, Webber, Mullins and the promising youngster Matt Ritchie on the bench. They've let a lot of players go, but if those players went out each week in the Championship, I'd guarantee they'd finish in the top six. Obviously many of those might leave before the transfer window closes but at the time of writing they are a threat to the automatic spots.
BRISTOL CITY
Bristol City have made some fantastic acquisitions and Steve Coppell has been very active in the transfer market. David James is the headline arrival, but there's also wide player Kalifa Cisse, who Steve knows from Reading, and Albert Adomah from Barnet who is a match-winner on his day. He's a quick player, who usually operates on the right wing and destroyed plenty of sides in League Two. If he can add some consistency to his game he'll add pace to an already quick Bristol City side. They drew too many games last year, but with Damion Stewart in at centre-back and Nicky Hunt in at right-back plus Nicky Maynard, who was one of the stars of the season last year, I think they could do well under their new talented manager.
CARDIFF CITY
They'll be there or thereabouts again. Their front four were incredible last season and despite the loss of Joe Ledley to Celtic, they still have Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra, Chris Burke and Peter Whittingham. If those players can replicate the form they showed last year they might be able to go one step further than they did when they lost the play-off final to Blackpool.
QPR
Neil Warnock has a passion to operate at the top level, but we were all wondering how the multi-national QPR squad would react to his no-nonsense manner. Well, this summer he's brought in Shaun Derry, Clint Hill and Paddy Kenny and has got rid of Angelo Balanta and Matteo Alberti. Those two players are undoubtedly talented, but Neil wants people he can hang his hat on and I think he's made a real statement of intent in a division that is sometimes a war of attrition. I expect a more solid QPR and with funds available I think they're in for a decent season. I didn't believe the hype in the last couple of seasons, but I think they've now got a manager in charge who could make a difference.
Peter's middle eight (upper): Leicester, Reading, Sheff Utd, Swansea, (Lower) Norwich, Leeds, Coventry, Doncaster
I've split this section into two parts with the first four the most likely to challenge for the play-offs, but probably not the automatic spots.
LEICESTER CITY
I've got a lot of time for new Leicester boss Paulo Sousa, who has been harshly treated at some of his previous clubs. They have signed Miguel Vitor from Benfica and Tom Kennedy from Rochdale, who can deliver quality set-pieces. But in my opinion it's all about Andy King, Richie Wellens, Matty Fryatt and DJ Campbell, who has been given a second bite of the cherry at Leicester. If those four players can perform well through the middle and King and Wellens can supply ammunition for Fryatt and Campbell then they could push for a play-off place.
READING
Reading were one of the form teams at the end of last season and Brian McDermott was able to make his players believe in him. There are a lot of young players at the club and he gave them an environment to flourish by pushing some of the older guys out on loan. They have lost two quality players in Kalifa Cisse and Marek Matejovsky, but they've brought in two decent full-backs. Marcus Williams from S****horpe United is a left-back who likes to get forward and Andy Griffin from Stoke likes to get across the half-way line as well. Gylfi Sigurdsson is the key man and they'll be looking for him to build on a good season last year.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
The Blades have made some astute signings. The one that grabs me is Leon Britton from Swansea, who can get the ball down and play in the heart of midfield. They'll also hope that Daniel Bogdanovic can supply the goals they struggled to score last season. Their ambitions have been tempered in the last couple of seasons - 14 have gone out and seven have come in over the summer - so they're not one of the division's big spenders any more. Some of the signings won't grab the fans' imaginations, so it's a case of 'suck it and see' for them. A lot will still depend on Chris Morgan and Nick Montgomery, the two players who drag them forward and inspire the other players.
SWANSEA
Brendan Rodgers seems to change clubs as often as he changes his socks, but at least he is getting opportunities. A lot will depend on how Swansea start because they play some wonderful football and have some very talented footballers such as Darren Pratley, who is one of the most highly-rated and industrious players in the division (and famously scored some key goals against Cardiff last season). If they can hold onto him then they'll always have a chance. It'll also be interesting to see if Rodgers changes the system after the departure of Leon Britton, but the biggest thing of all might be the fitness of Ferrie Bodde who has had terrible knee injuries. As an impartial observer, I would love to see him get fit and show us all what a wonderful talent he is.
These are four sides who I expect to finish in mid-table, but may get dragged down if things go against them.
NORWICH
Last year they had three or four players who were unplayable in League One and if they can maintain their confidence they can make a statement in the Championship. They were led at the back by Adam Dury, while Grant Holt and Chris Martin scored plenty of goals. I also expect Wes Hoolahan to prove himself at a higher level because he was the architect for their success last season and he looks to be playing with even more confidence in pre-season. They've added Andrew Surman in midfield and Simeon Jackson will bolster an attack that doesn't need much improvement. I expect them to at least stay in the division very comfortably, especially with a packed Carrow Road cheering them on every week.
LEEDS
I think Leeds will stay up without a problem, but the big question mark is over the attack without Jermaine Beckford. New signing Billy Paynter scored 27 goals for Swindon last season and should cause problems to Championship defences, but I don't see him scoring even half that many goals at this level. I also think he's similar to Luciano Becchio and I can't see him scoring many more than 10 goals either. I think Simon Grayson needs to work hard to bring another striker in, but they have made some good buys already in Paul Connolly and Alex Bruce to bolster the defence. The best signing of all is Kasper Schmeichel, who has first-class distribution and won't be fazed by coming to a big club. Casper Ankergren gave the Leeds fans palpitations at times and Shane Higgs dropped a couple of clangers too, but they should be in safe hands with Schmeichel. I expect a season of consolidation.
COVENTRY
Aidy Boothroyd has been busy in the transfer market, which shows that Ray Ranson thinks highly of his new manager. Lee Carsley, Gary McSheffrey and Roy O'Donovan have all returned to Coventry, but the signing that really captures the imagination is Lukas Jutkiewicz from Everton, a very, quick and creative player. I also think Richard Keogh, the right-back they have brought in from Carlisle, is a very good signing. Every time I saw him last season, he was terrific and is one of the new breed of full-backs that people may not have heard about.
DONCASTER
They can beat anybody on their day and if you awarded a goal for every 10 completed passes then they'd win every game they play. They've lost a couple of players, but have signed Billy Sharp who will provide the presence in the six-yard box that they have been lacking. He didn't get much game time at Sheffield United, but he should enjoy himself at Doncaster. Captain Brian Stock and midfielder James Coppinger are tremendous players and they'll beat a few top teams this season.
Peter's bottom eight: Derby, Millwall, Preston, Ipswich, Barnsley, C Palace, S****horpe, Watford
Any four of the teams in this bottom eight could go into the middle eight, that's how close it is, but at first glance these are the teams that could end up near the bottom.
DERBY COUNTY
When Nigel Clough arrived at Derby it was clear he was in it for the long haul, but if they can keep their major players fit then they can finish in mid-table. They've had a very good pre-season and hopefully that means the players are gelling well, but I think a lot will depend on the fitness of Kris Commons and Rob Hulse. I've seen a little bit of their loan signing Tomasz Cywkaand he looks like a bright player and will hopefully help Derby to turn draws into wins. However, I do worry about their defence. They could finish as high as 13th, but I don't see them threatening the top eight this year.
MILLWALL
They were terrific in League One last year; strong, organised and they played with no fear. Kenny Jackett has instilled tremendous resolve in the squad and I anticipate an incredible atmosphere at the New Den this season. With that in mind, their season could be dictated by their home form. Steve Morison is a strong, powerful player up front and they've signed Kevin Lisbie and he could prove to be an ideal foil. I think they'll play 4-4-2 and will win their fair share of games.
PRESTON NORTH END
Preston have financial restraints and have struggled to bring in much quality over the summer. However, they've got some good, experienced free signings in Paul Hayes who has scored goals for S****horpe and Wayne Brown who did well for Leicester before he got injured. He'll be playing alongside Preston's key man, Sean St Ledger, who is back at Deepdale after failing to secure a permanent move to Middlesbrough. That partnership could be imperative in a tough season for Preston and if Hayes can get into double figures they should be safe for another year.
IPSWICH TOWN
Ipswich drew 20 games last year, often due to their inability to kill teams off from winning positions. I wonder if the Ipswich players are not equipped to deal with Roy Keane's straightforward management style because we only saw glimpses of what he was trying to impress on them last year. He's brought in a lot of new faces, it's definitely his team now, but I think the Championship is more competitive this season and I'm not sure Ipswich will be able to stand toe-to-toe with all of the sides. Keane needs to try and instil a winning mentality into that squad.
BARNSLEY
I thought Mark Robins did a magnificent job last year, playing good football and taking a few scalps. They went for it later in the season, playing all-or-nothing football and the wheels came off to a degree. I understand why he did it because they weren't going down and they wanted to make a last-ditch assault on the play-offs, but they need to make sure they don't leave themselves so open at the back this season. Barnsley are on a shoestring budget, but I believe in Mark's ability to do a very difficult job. The loss of Daniel Bogdanovic will hurt them, but they've brought in Jason Shackell and Liam ****inson to try and replace some of those goals. It'll be a tough season, but Barnsley fans can realistically hope for a finish between mid-table and the bottom four.
CRYSTAL PALACE
The shining light for Palace fans is that they've held onto Darren Ambrose. With his presence and the arrival of George Burley, the club can hopefully iron out their finances. I backed Palace to beat the drop last year, but it's going to be difficult this time. The Palace fans are an intelligent and realistic bunch and know how important it is to assure the long-term future of the club. But even though a bottom-eight finish seems likely, a good start could galvanise the squad to finish in mid-table against the odds. They should be happy to still have a football club and the passion of the fans will hopefully be reflected on the pitch.
S****HORPE
In the last couple of seasons the H-Bombs of Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper have scored goals to get S****horpe into the Championship and keep them there. But Professor Nigel Adkins will have his work cut out to keep them up after both of those players departed, plus the engine room of Grant McCann has also gone. The key man will be Joe Murphy, who is one of the best goalkeepers outside the Premier League in my opinion. He'll certainly be under pressure this season. They've also brought in Bobby Grant, Michael Collins and Chris Dagnall, who scored bags of goals for Rochdale. It's not a big squad, but I expect a good attitude and some upsets on that narrow pitch. You never know, but I fear it may be a season too far for them.
WATFORD
This club are potless and I do feel sorry for the manager. It wasn't long ago that I was playing for Bradford and we got promoted into the Premier League alongside Watford and it's been disappointing to see their fall. If they are to survive, a lot will depend on Danny Graham and they'll be hoping he can hit double figures again up front on his own in a 4-5-1 formation. It will be a season of struggle and I expect them to be in the bottom third of the league for most of the season. A lot can happen and I can't tip any team for relegation at this stage, but Watford are underdogs this season. I hope I'm proved wrong.
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