Championship Preview Part 2

Last updated : 11 July 2009 By Paul Neat

Coventry City

Manager: Chris Coleman

Finish last season: 17th

Prediction this season: Top half          

Some might say that Coventry City have got all but everything they need to make the step back up from the Championship. But despite having an ambitious manager, brand new state-of-the-art stadium and a squad full of proven players at this level, for whatever reason, it doesn’t quite seem to be gelling.

The Sky Blues faithful will of course be looking for a vast improvement on last season’s 17th place finish but it is going to come at a cost. As it stands, City are yet to bring in anyone and instead have concentrated on relieving themselves of their deadwood with Maltese international Michael Mifsud being the most high-profile of those players released.

It seems that if Coventry are to improve on their 17th place finish then it is front of goal where they need to be more fruitful. One has the feeling that strikers Freddy Eastwood and Clinton Morrison are about to explode and this could be their year. A top half finish is well within their grasp but still not quite there in terms of a playoff push.


Transfers In:

None

Transfers Out:

Scott Dann                          Undisclosed       Birmingham
Donovan Summonds       Released
Michael Mifsud                   Released
Guillaum Buezelin             Released
Andy Marshall                     Released
Kevin Thornton                   Released

Clinton Morrison 

Crystal Palace

Manager: Neil Warnock

Finish last season: 15th

Prediction this season: Top ten

Neil Warnock

It seemed like Palace were on course for another playoff campaign last season until the Eagles faltered after the Christmas break. In the end a dismal 15th place was all that could be mustered by Neil Warnock’s side leaving them with a case of ‘there’s always next year’. However, it looks like the Eagles are set to sore, or at lease sear as Hammers striker Freddy Sears has agreed to join on a season-long loan deal. Bad puns aside, the capture of Sears is sure to be a red hot acquisition for the South London club who have also brought in Charlton’s Darren Ambrose to add a bit of flair to the midfield.

Having already had a taste of playoff action under Warnock, Palace fans will no doubt be looking for an improvement on last season which, if the signing of Sears proves to be a successful one, is a strong possibility.

Transfers In:

Freddy Sears                    Loan      West Ham
Darren Ambrose              Free       Charlton

Transfers Out:

Carl Fletcher                       Free       Plymouth Argyle
Scott Flinders                      Free       Hartlepool United
Paul Ifill                                Released
John Oster                          Released
James Scowcroft               Released
Ryan Carolan                     Released
James Dayton                    Released
Jamie Smith                       Released
David Wilkinson                 Released

Derby County

Manager: Nigel Clough

Finish last season: 18th

Prediction this season: Top 8

Derby County, like fellow Midlanders Coventry, found themselves languishing in lower mid-table obscurity last season. However, under the stewardship of Nigel Clough, you get the feeling that things won’t quite be the same in 09/10.

Instead of spending big, Clough has opted to use his knowledge of the lower leagues in a bid to shrewdly improve on last season’s squad who only managed a dismal 18th place finish. Clough wasted no time in raiding his old club Burton Albion to sign Jake Buxton as well as capturing the signing of Norwich winger Lee Croft on a free transfer who, if reports are to be believed, was also a target for Alan Irvine.

It won’t be long before the inevitable comparisons will be made between Nigel and his father, not only as a manger in general but given that both have managed Derby County.  If Nigel can replicate what his legendary father achieved at Derby, then this upcoming season is going to be a successful one. In Brian Clough’s second season at Derby the Rams won the Second Division Championship and were subsequently promoted to the First Division. Although repeating such a feat is going to be a tall order, there is no reason why Derby can’t make the playoffs this season but the 2010/2011 might be more realistic. Clough will see Derby County as a project and not something that can be fixed overnight.

Nigel Clough

Transfers In:

Jake Buxton       Free       Burton Albion
Ben Pringle         Undisclosed       Illkeston Town
Lee Croft             Free       Norwich
Dean Moxey      Undisclosed       Exeter City

Transfers Out:

Andy Todd          Free       Perth Glory
Mile Sterjovski  Free       Perth Glory
Tyrone Mears    Undisclosed       Burnley
Lews Price           Loan      Brentford

Doncaster Rovers

Manager: Sean O’Driscoll

Finish last season: 14th

Prediction this season: See above

After making the step up to the Championship, last season was all about survival for Doncaster Rovers. That being the case, it could be argued that Doncaster achieved more than they expected or indeed set out to do. Despite a rocky start, O’Driscoll’s side showed the Championship what they were made of by playing their way out of trouble and, in the end, survived comfortably.

However, if the South Yorkshire side are to build on last year’s success then keeping Brian Stock at the Keepmoat Stadium will be essential.  Doncaster will have to fend off the likes of West Brom who were reportedly interested in the former North End midfielder under Tony Mowbray. Already out of the door is influential midfielder Ritchie Wellens and thus Rovers cannot afford to lose another one if they are to embark on a season of Championship consolidation.

Transfers In:

None

Transfers Out:

Gordon Greer       Free       Swindon Town
Jason Price          Free       Millwall
Richie Wellens    £1.2m    Leicester City
Gareth Taylor       Released
Darren Byfield      Released
Tomi Ameobi       Released

Brian Stock