Reading
Manager: Brendan Rogers
Finish last season: 4th
Prediction this season: Top 8
Last season was intended to be a quick return to the Premier League for Reading but after fizzling away towards the end, that place was taken up by Burnley instead who displaced the Berkshire side in the playoffs. As a result, Steve Coppell stepped down as manager paving the way for former Watford manager Brendan Rogers to take over who will be looking to go one better.
Coppell isn’t the only one to have made a departure from the Madejski as strikers Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita have both left as well as goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann who has also left for pastures new. Both Doyle and Hahnemann have joined Wolves whilst Lita stays in the Championship with Middlesbrough.
It is because of departures such as these that Reading will have a tough campaign ahead of them. Doyle and Lita have been key players for Reading in recent years and by not replacing them it could mean another season in the Championship is on the cards. With the Championship being as strong as it is this term, Reading may well struggle to even make the playoffs.
Transfers In:
Ryan Bertrand Chelsea Loan
Transfers Out:
Marcus Hahnemann Wolves Free
Kevin Doyle £6.5m Wolves
Scott Golbourne Exeter City Free
Michael Duberry Wycombe Wanderers Free
Alex McCarthy Yeovil Town Loan
Graeme Murty Released
Alan Bennett Released
Gary Frewen Released
Tom Hateley Released
Daniel Spence Released
Sam Sodje Released
Scunthorpe United
Manager: Nigel Adkins
Finish Last season: 6th (League One)
Prediction this season: Relegated
The Iron did well to gain promotion last season after doing what was needed to secure their playoff place on the final day. The achievement of winning in the final was too a monumental one but if their last stay in the Championship is anything to go by, staying up this term is going to be just as big of an achievement, if not bigger.
Although Nigel Adkins’ side have been in rampant form during pre-season, not strengthening their squad significantly may prove costly when it comes to competitive matches. As a result, the absolute maximum that Scunthorpe can hope to achieve is survival and unless there are any major coups between now and the end of the transfer window, it looks like a quick return to League One is on the cards.
Transfers In:
Michael O'Connor Crewe Alexandra £225,000
Josh Wright Charlton Athletic Free
Rob Jones Hibernian Undisclosed
Adam Boyes York City Undisclosed
Transfers Out:
Michael Lea Chester City Free
Joe Wilcox Released
Sheffield United
Manager: Kevin Blackwell
Finish last season: 3rd
Prediction this season: Same again
Last term Kevin Blackwell’s side seemed to sneak into within a shout of the automatic promotion completely off the radar. After narrowly missing out on 2nd place, United had to make do with a place in the playoffs against North End’s bitter rivals Burnley. A 1-0 defeat to the Clarets meant that the South Yorkshire side will have to wait at least another season for their chance to return to the Premier League.
Despite the setback, it seems that Blackwell has not pulled any punches in the transfer market having brought in the likes of the highly rated Welsh international Ched Evans as well as North End target Lee Williamson. As a result it seems that Sheffield United do not want to procrastinate returning to the Premier League any longer.
Judging from the signings Blackwell has brought in, United will have another good season and will consider themselves hard done by if they don’t go one better this time round.
Transfers In:
Mark Bunn Blackburn Rovers Loan
Glen Little Portsmouth Free
Ryan France Hull City Free
Keith Treacy Blackburn Rovers Loan
Ched Evans Manchester City £3m
Andy Taylor Tranmere Rovers Undisclosed
Kyel Reid West Ham United Free
Lee Williamson Watford Undisclosed
Transfers Out:
Kyle Naughton Tottenham Hotspur Undisclosed
Kyle Walker Tottenham Hotspur Undislcosed
Jamie Annerson Rotherham United Free
Adam Chapman Oxford United Nominal Fee
Nicky Law Rotherham United Free
Ben Starosta Released
Keith Quinn Released
Danny Webber Released
Ugo Ehiogu Released
Sheffield Wednesday
Manager: Brian Laws
Finish last season: 12th
Prediction this season: Relegated
Since their return to the Championship Wednesday have flirted with a return to League One and have barely left the bottom half. Thus, without any serious investment, it seems that English football’s third tier will beckon sooner rather than later for Brian Laws’ team.
Whereas their bitter rivals Sheffield United have strengthened quite significantly, the Owls have not and instead have brought in a couple of players on a free transfer.
One suspects that The Owls will struggle this season and, as mentioned above, unless any more signings are announced of real quality, League One could beckon once again. Wednesday fans can take solace in knowing that Marcus Tudgay signed a new deal, though.
Transfers In:
Darren Potter Wolverhampton Wanderers Undisclosed
Tommy Miller Ipswich Town Free
Darren Purse Cardiff City Free
Transfers Out:
Kenny Lunt Hereford United Free