The League Championship kicks off in three weeks time, and with the lucrative carrot of promotion to the Barclays Premier League, it is little wonder that teams are building and hoping to be major contenders for the much coveted promotion spot come May 2011.
This article will give a low down on who might just be there.
Probables-Of the 24 teams vying for promotion, in my opinion, perhaps only two clubs are looking to be realistic contenders at this point in time: Middlesbrough and Burnley.
Middlesbrough- The Scottish revolution at the Riverside continues, with Rangers midfielder, Kevin Thomson expected to wing in this week in a 2 million pound deal.
The additions of all time SPL leading scorer, Kris Boyd, and Charlton starlet, Nicky Bailey, coupled with the permanent capture of former Celtic captain Stephen McManus, have certainly installed Boro as firm favourites for the title.
They now boast a strike force comprising the two most lethal scorers for the SPL in recent years, Boyd and Scott Macdonald.
Bailey would provide excellent support in the midfield together with Thomson, while the back four would be spearheaded by the formidable duo of David Wheater and McManus. So long as Strachan can unite the team and steer its course well, nothing can stop this season from being a promotion winning campaign for them.
Burnley- Having had a season of top flight experience would certainly have done no harm to Burnley’s hopes for promotion at first try.
Having lost Steven Fletcher and Robbie Blake, Brian Laws has done well to add Ross Wallace, Chris Iwelumo and Dean Marney to the squad. With the majority of the team intact and with Chris Eagles recently rejecting a move to the Gers, it bodes well for a team that finished with 8 wins in the Premier League last season.
If Laws is able to add one or two more quality players to aid its defensive frialties, Turf Moor would be a tough hunting ground for anybody and hopefully they will improve on thier travels as well.
But dun be surprised if they are thereabouts at the top next year.
Possibles- Several teams made headlines last season by making a late push for the play off spots and it wont come as a shocker should unfancied sides push the top teams all the way this season.
Contenders who have an outside chance of making the top two should include Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Leeds United and Leicester City.
Nottingham Forest- Although Forest missed out on the automatic promotion spots last season, expect to find them at least among the play-off sides this season.
Not much of the squad has changed, other than the departure of the versatile James Perch, there have not been significant changes. This may prove a stubling block in the long run if no new faces come in.
Talk of Nicky Shorey coming back on loan would excite fans, but the need for an improved midfield and a proven striker should be top of thier list.
Hull City- After all the fanfare and theatrics of Phil Brown over the last one and a half seasons, fans should be glad to see some form of stability back in the side.
Nigel Pearson has a daunting task at hand to lift his squad, who have since lost the services of Geovanni, Bernard Mendy, Dean Marney and possibly Jimmy Bullard. Adding the experienced Norberto Solano is no doubt a sound move, but there is a need to bring in faces who can change the tide of the game. Having spent two seasons in the top flight, the Tigers should not be underestimated.
Though currently licking its wounds, with a couple of good signings, expect them to come back stronger and push the top teams till the end.
Leeds United- An opportunity to return to the BPL would leave fans demanding more from a Leeds side that at times faded off last season.
The loss of Jermaine Beckford would no doubt be a blow, but Grayson has quickly attempted to plug the gap by signing Billy Paynter, who bagged 26 goals in League One last season. With good service from the likes Robert Snodgrass, expect a performance from Paynter.
The signing of Lloyd Sam is also a shrewd capture, and he should chip in with a few goals and assists throughout the new campaign. The weighted expectations from the fans, though, may prove to be fatal.
Leicester City- The appointment of Paolo Sousa is no doubt a step forward, given that he took and unfancied Swans side to the brink of the play-offs.
The loan signing of Miguel Vitor from Benfica, maybe a sign of Sousa’s preference for pacy and lightening quick youngsters. Not a bad option but unless The Whites pick up a couple of old heads either in the burgeoning free transfer market or on loan, they may struugle to secure a spot in the play offs.
Do not be surprised, though, if Sousa manages to transform the team to title chasers.
The Rest of the Field- Realistically speaking, of the rest of the teams that have not been mentioned, Preston, Sheffield United and Swansea with some luck might just find themselves at the right end of the table.
For the rest, baring a miracle of somesort, I do not think we will see any shockers this coming season.
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