A 2018-2019 Championship Season Preview

The hardest slog in world football, the 2018-2019 Championship Season is just about to start, 24 teams playing 46 games, and all with the EPL riches in their sights.

As ever we could barely be more excited, not just as an Ipswich Town looking forward to another season of mediocity, but as a Football fan in general who loves the openness of the Football League often referred to as the toughest in Europe.

That openness looks even more likely this season with the team that will fill the top six and get that golden ticket to the EPL looking harder than ever to predict.

Before we get into it why it is good and open, why not have a look at some of our fun and games for the 2018-2019 Championship season.

There’s no stuffing around either, by the end of August the Championship teams would have played 6 League games, plus at least one League Cup game.

Our Adopt A Championship Personality Quiz.

Haven’t yet got a team for the upcoming 2018-2019 Championship Season? Take our quick quiz to pick your side for the season based on questions about you. Click on the link above.

Our Who Cares Championship Tipping Competition with Superbru.

https://www.superbru.com/championship_predictor/pool.php?p=11902011

Pool name: The Who Cares Championship Cup  Pool code: editfunk

How to watch the 2018-2019 Championship Season

Thankfully this year it looks like we get the BeIn Sports coverage from the first game, unlike last year’s disgrace. 

It’s part of the Foxtel Sports pack, so for a lot of Australian sport fans, it’s a matter of finding which channel between 513 and 515 it is on.

You can sign up directly to BeInSports. It is $19.99 a month, and covers the EFL and just about every other football league and competition in the world, except the EPL.

Or you follow just about every game of your club live for 110GBP with the EFL iFollow Service. Be warned though, it’s a lot of money and if your team plays a lot of Sky televised games it isn’t great value.

But it is not all fun and games, here then is a preview of the 2018-2019 Championship Season.

THE ACTUAL 2018-2019 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON PREVIEW

CAN THE RELEGATED EPL SIDES GO STRAIGHT BACK UP?

Of the last 10 seasons, just eight teams have gone gone straight back up at the first attempt, and two of those occurrences were giant EPL club Newcastle. Just twice in those 10 seasons has two teams gone straight back up, and four times no side has gone back up, including last year.

History proves it is hard to go straight back up unless you are a big club or very well run. Given all of these clubs slowly slid towards the Championship over the past few seasons, it is hard to see them running away with the Championship. Not that you can’t see at least one of them going back up.

West Bromwich Albion are our choice to go back up given they were finished the season the best of the three teams relegated (Last 6 form W3-D2-L1) and have continuity with the same manager Darren Moore who earned the full time gig after his end to the season. The Baggies do have a reasonable history of going straight back up.

You could also make an argument for both Stoke and Swansea too, Stoke looked to have strengthened the best of the three relegated sides, as they cashed in on Shaqiri for 13 Million. Swansea have the intriuging appointment of Ostersund manager Graham Potter, but look to have weakened their side the most with off season transfer activity.

Interestingly, both Stoke and West Brom have gone down since parting with manager Tony Pulis, who is now in charge of one of their big promotion rivals Middlesbrough.

At worst, it doesn’t quite look like any of these sides were like the rabble that Sunderland were last season, and so all should survive.

CAN THE PROMOTED SIDES GO UP TOO?

A rare occurrence from last season where all three sides that went down to League One came straight back. Former EPL sides Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic, who have won an EPL title and FA Cup respectively, bounced straight back up automatically. Rotherham United made it three from three via the playoff final.

All three promoted teams stayed up last year, Millwall the best in 8th having threatened to make the finals with a late season charge, two places behind were Sheffield United who spent a lot of time in the top 6 earlier in the season. Bolton just hung onto their Championship status on the last day of the season.

You could see a similar pattern emerging from this year’s promoted sides, with top half not looking beyond Wigan and Blackburn, and Rotherham the potential struggler.

Blackburn’s promotion was the first bit of good news for a long time for their fans, since the club were taken over by Chicken entrepeneurs Venky’s and took the club from mid field EPL safety to the third division. Wigan too got their first taste of joy since they won the FA Cup and got relegated.

It is hard to see any of the these going up though.

2018-2019 CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGERIAL CHANGES

The Championship is as cut throat an environment as any football league in the world, and the average tenure of the current Championship manager is just under 400 days. 

There has also been no less than 6 manager changes in the off season – a lazy 25% of the clubs have changed the boss.

Some of them are very interesting too.

FRANK LAMPARD (Derby)

One of the big names of English football in the past decade has decided to take his first managerial appointment at Derby. A club which always seems to have resources, and very good players, but fails to take full advantage. Perhaps having the big name there bring a change in luck.

STEVE McLAREN (QPR)

Former England manager takes over at QPR, he has coached at this level before with Derby County either side of an ill fated stint with Newcastle in the EPL. Has a decent 48% win record in the Championship and has won a Leaue Cup and Dutch title. But not yet tasted promotion.

MARCELO BIELSA (Leeds United)

Another interntaional manager in the Championship with the man known as the Madman a former boss of Argentina and Chile. Also has been in charge of several South American and European club. He will be the tenth manager since the kick off of the 2013-14 season.

GARY ROWETT (Stoke)

Touted as a potentiial EPL manager, he finally gets an EPL team gig, after they have been relegated. Left Derby for this job, and like a few managers before him, was unable to unlock success with the Rams with one of the better Championship squads.

PAUL HURST (Ipswich Town)

Took Shrewsbury Town all the way to the League One playoff final after starting the season off as one of the favourites for the drop. He also led them to the Football League Trophy final at Wembley earlier in the season for the same result. Taking over from long serving Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy, bringing fresh ideas to what ended up a very unhappy club under McCarty.

GRAHAM POTTER (Swansea)

English manager who has made his name with Swedish side Ostersund, taking them from the fourth tier to the top, and into the Europa League where they even beat Arsenal. First gig on UK soil after eight seasons in Sweden.

TOP 10 1st MANAGER SACKED ODDS

Our tip: Nigel Adkins (Hull)

2018-2019 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON PLAYERS OF INTEREST

It wouldn’t be a season of football without the players, so here are a few players of interest for the upcoming season, split into convenient categories.

NEW ARRIVALS

TOM INCE (Huddersfield to Stoke) – proved himself to be a very good Championship player last season for Huddersfield. Another chance to shine in the second tier. Stoke paid a cool 10.1M GBP for him.

BENIK AFOBE (Wolves/Bournemouth to Stoke) – helped Wolves earn promotion last season while on loan from Bournemouth with 6 goals, and could do it again with Stoke at a cost of 12.1M.

LEWIS GRABBAN (Bournemouth to Nottingham Forest) – signed from Bournemouth for 6 Million, but spent last year on loan to Aston Villa and Sunderland where he scored 20 goals.

JOAO CARVALHO (Benfica to Nottingham Forest) – Nottingham Forest have spent 15M on this Portuguese midfielder in the hope that he can bring success like the fellow countrymen did for Wolves last season.

GIL DIAS (To Nottingham Forest on loan from Monaco) another Portuguese players arrives in Nottingham, on loan from Monaco no less.

OTHER NOTABLE TRANSFERS

IN

PATRICK BAMFORD (Middlesbrough to Leeds) 10M

ADEN FLINT (Bristol City to Middlesbrough) 7.2M

OUT

JAMES MADDISON (Norwich to Leicester) 22M

JOSH MURPHY (Norwich to Cardiff) 10M

A QUICK WHO CARES TEAM BY TEAM GUIDE TO THE 2018-2019 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

Don’t have enough time to care about all 24 teams? How about the quickest possible rundown of each club ahead of the 2018-2019 Championship season kick off.

Squad value and transfer information from Transfermarkt.com.

ASTON VILLA

Last season: 4th – 83 Points (16 to 1st) – Beaten in Playoff Final
Squad Value: 67.8 M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +14.5M
Odds: Promotion $5.00  Relegation $11.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Aston Villa head into their third successive season in the Championship, and things looked bleak as the parachute payments were diminishing and a fire sale would need to happen. Happily fresh investment by billionaires from Egypt and the US has the club looking on the up now.

Player to Watch: Mile Jedinak (Mid)

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Last season: 19th – 46 Points (5 from relegation)
Squad Value: 28.0 M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -2.3M
Odds: Promotion $13.00 Relegation $6.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Just survived last season with Garry Monk at the end being one of four managers used. The first was Harry Redknapp who lasted a few months. Their survival means the big Birmingham derby will be on for another season.

Player to Watch: Cheikh N’Doye (Mid)

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Last season: 2nd League One – 96 Points (2 from Winners)
Squad Value: 11.3 M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss –
Odds: Promotion $11.00 Relegation $7.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Finally on the up after new owners from India took them from mid table EPL to League One in a matter of seasons.

Player to Watch: Danny Graham (Forward)

BOLTON WANDERERS

Last season: 21st – 43 Points (2 from relegation)
Squad Value: 17.2M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -0.2M
Odds: Promotion $34.00 Relegation $2.10

A Reason to Care About ……

Kept their Championship status on the last day in dramatic style. Despite their woes, have stuck with manager Phil Parkinson who brought them up from League One the previous season, which is nice to see and against trend in this division.

Player to Watch: Clayton Donaldson (Forward)

BRENTFORD

Last season: 9th – 69 Points (6 from Top Six)
Squad Value: 31.8M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +3.4M
Odds: Promotion $6.00 Relegation $17.00

A Reason to Care About ……

The lesser known of the London based clubs, it will probably be the last full season at their home ground of over a century in Griffin Park.

Player to Watch: Alan Judge (Midfielder)

BRISTOL CITY

Last season: 11th – 67 Points (8 from Top Six)
Squad Value: 31.9M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +10.3M
Odds: Promotion $10.00 Relegation $10.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Surprised many with a League Cup semi final run last year whcih included wins over four EPL sides including Manchester United. Took its toll on their League campaign as they dropped out of the top six by season’s end. Equal price to be promoted and relegated.

Player to Watch: Adam Webster (Defender)

DERBY COUNTY

Last season: 6th – 75 Points (24 from Winners)
Squad Value: 56.9M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -3.8M
Odds: Promotion $5.50 Relegation $19.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Haunted by a chokers tag, they have fallen short in the past few seasons despite spending a good amount on the squad. Now being managed by Frank Lampard. Some very interesting young players in squad. Maybe this is the year.

Players to Watch: Tom Lawrence (Mid) Jack Marriott (Forward) Mason Mount (Mid)

HULL CITY

Last season: 18th – 49 Points (8 from Relegation)
Squad Value: 39.8M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -2.2M
Odds: Promotion $15.00 Relegation $5.50

A Reason to Care About ……

Came down with Sunderland from the EPL, and managed to avoid a second successive relegation unlike Sunderland, but not by much. A second chance to prove themselves this season?

Player to Watch: Jackson Irvine (Midfield)

IPSWICH TOWN

Last season: 12th – 60 Points (15 from Playoffs)
Squad Value: 12.5M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +2.1M
Odds: Promotion $19.00 Relegation $4.00

A Reason to Care About ……

A change in manager sees up and coming Paul Hurst replacing the highly entertaining Mick McCarthy after a Championship defying 5+ seasons in charge. Ipswich fans would say a shame Mick’s entertainment didn’t extend to on field action. A breath of fresh air, and surely better than being third favourite for relegation.

Players to Watch: Trevoh Chalobah (Def), Andre Dozzell (Mid), Teddy Bishop (Mid)

LEEDS UNITED

Last season: 13th – 60 Points (15 from Playoffs)
Squad Value: 56.6M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -3.1M
Odds: Promotion $4.50 Relegation $15.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Another year of wondering if this is the year that they make it back to the EPL. They have a manager in charge called El Loco aka Marcelo Bielsa. Will be the 10th manager in the last 5 years.

Players to Watch: Patrick Bamford if they can get the transfer from Middlesbrough done.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Last season: 5th – 76 Points (23 from Winners)
Squad Value: 79.3M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -9.6M
Odds: Promotion $3.75 Relegation $41.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Another off season of big spending for one of the favourites for the title. Manager Tony Pulis may afford himself a smile as two of the three relegated EPL sides both got rid of him thinking they could do better. The favourite of the teams not to have been relegated.

Players to Watch: Rudy Gestede (Forward), Adama Traoré (Forward)  Aden Flint (Defender)

MILLWALL

Last season: 8th – 72 Points (3 from Playoffs)
Squad Value: 10.5M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss –
Odds: Promotion $13.00 Relegation $6.00

A Reason to Care About ……

They almost got through to the playoffs last season on the back of a great but mostly unexpected late season surge. Would be something different in the EPL if they ever did make it.

Players to Watch: Steve Morison (Forward)

NORWICH CITY

Last season: 14th – 60 Points (15 from Playoffs)
Squad Value: 43.4M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +30.1M
Odds: Promotion $7.00 Relegation $11.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Another year of the Old Farm derby between the Canaries and Ipswich. Came down with Aston Villa two seasons ago and as the parachute payments dwindle they have sold two of their better players for 32M which balances the books nicely.

Player to Watch: Jordan Rhodes (Forward)

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Last season: 17th – 53 Points (12 from Relegation)
Squad Value: 55.5M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -24.4M
Odds: Promotion $4.50 Relegation $15.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Have been very active in the transfer market, nabbibg a few Portuguese players along the way to emulate Wolves success from last season.

Players to Watch: Gil Dias (Forward) João Carvalho (Midfielder)

PRESTON NORTH END

Last season: 7th – 73 Points (2 from Top Six)
Squad Value: 12.7M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +2.6M
Odds: Promotion $10.00 Relegation $10.00

A Reason to Care About ……

A real underdog to get behind, but can they improve on 7th from last season. Another team with equal odds to go up or down.

Player to Watch: Ben Pearson (Midfielder)

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Last season: 16th – 56 Points (15 from Relegation)
Squad Value: 25.0M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +3.6M
Odds: Promotion $17.00 Relegation $5.00

A Reason to Care About ……

A new manager in ex England boss Steve McLaren, a bit of a shame as the departed Ian Holloway was good value.

Player to Watch: Massimo Luongo (Midfielder)

READING

Last season: 20th – 44 Points (3 from Relegation)
Squad Value: 41,4M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -1.2M
Odds: Promotion $17.00 Relegation $4.50

A Reason to Care About ……

Reading were beaten playoff finalists two seasons ago, and followed that up with a shocker last season where they survived thanks to results on the final day. Can they stop the slide?

Player to Watch: Marc McNulty (Coventry)

ROTHERHAM UNITED

Last season: 4th League One – 79 Points (19 from Winners)
Squad Value: 7.0M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss –
Odds: Promotion $34.00 Relegation $2.10

A Reason to Care About ……

The real underdog of this division, came up via the playoff final, and completed the trio of teams to get promoted who were relegated from the Championship the previous season. Least valuable team in the Championship.

Player to Watch: Australian Ryan Williams (Midfield) 

SHEFFIELD UNITED

Last season: 10th – 69 Points (6 from playoffs)
Squad Value: 12.7 GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +6.1M
Odds: Promotion $9.00 Relegation $11.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Best of the promoted sides early last season featuring in the top six, but fell away at the end and missed out on the playoffs. After taking five seasons to get out of the third tier, they surely won’t slide back again too quickly. It also means the Sheffield derby stays for another season.

Players to Watch: Billy Sharp (Forward) David McGoldrick (Forward)

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Last season: 15th – 57 Points (16 from relegation)
Squad Value: 41.8M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +1.5M
Odds: Promotion $8.00 Relegation $12.00

A Reason to Care About ……

After years of challenging for promotion, including our tip to go up last season, 2017-2018 was disappointing, so interesting to see which direction it goes. As above, the Sheffield derby stays.

Player to Watch: Barry Bannan (Midfield)

STOKE CITY

Last season: 19th EPL – 33 Points (3 from Safety)
Squad Value: 137.7M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -7.3M
Odds: Promotion $34.00 Relegation $2.10

A Reason to Care About ……

The Championship’s most expensive side, and they have worked hard at building a quality squad, ready for a tilt at the title. Cashing in on Shaqiri and spending that money wisely. So the interest is in whether they can do that, or it all goes pear shaped.

Player to Watch:

SWANSEA CITY

Last season: 18th EPL – 33 Points (3 from Safety)
Squad Value: 90.5M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss +16M
Odds: Promotion $4.50 Relegation $21.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Have been in the EPL since 2011, and almost hard to imagine them in the Championship despite spending most of their history in the lower divisions. Have an interesting new manager in Graham Potter who has been plying his trade in Sweden. The least fancied of the three relegated teams to go straight back up.

Player to Watch: Bersant Celina (Midfield)

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Last season: 20th EPL – 31 Points (5 from Safety)
Squad Value: 101.6M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss -2.8M
Odds: Promotion $3.50 Relegation $34.00

A Reason to Care About ……

Have kept a large chunk of the squad that went down fighting after Darren Moore took charge. Have been a yo-yo Championship-EPL club in recent years, so a swift return likely.

Player to Watch: Nacer Chadli (Midfielder) Oliver Burke (Midfield)

WIGAN ATHLETIC

Last season: 1st League One – 98 Points (2 ahead of second)
Squad Value: 11.4M GBP
Off Season Transfer Profit/Loss –
Odds: Promotion $10.00 Relegation $8.00

A Reason to Care About ……

The most favoured of the promoted teams to go well in the Championship this season. Another fallen EPL club on the way back, or another yo-yo bounce awaits?

Players to Watch: Will Grigg (Forward) Nick Powell (Midfielder)

2018-2019 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON PREDICTIONS

It wouldn’t be a season preview without some bold predictions to put the money where the mouth is, and these will be twofold. The first is a gut feel for who we think will succeed and fail, the second is a compilation of various statistics, all rolled up into a comparable score across the division.

Which one, if any, will prove correct come May 2019? Thankfully it is a long time away, and very few will come back and reference these tips, unless they are correct then we will.

1 – GURGLER’S 2018-2019 CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS

Winner – Middlesbrough
Promoted – West Brom, Nottingham Forest
Top 6 – Middlesbrough, West Brom, Derby, Aston Villa, Preston, Nottingham Forest
Relegated – Bolton, Rotherham, Birmingham

2 – GURGLER’S SUPERSTATS 2018-2019 CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS

Features stats from Overall Wins, Home Wins, Goal Difference, Away Goals, Last 6 Form from Previous Season, Post Xmas Points from Previous Season, Clean Sheets, Betting Odds for Win and Relegation, Squad Value Change, Home Crowd %, Manager Stability.