The Seventy Two’s Championship league ladder continues with the thoughts of Adam Bate [1].
In brief, the idea will be that the table begins in the order that the Championship finished at the end of the 2010/11 season and a series of bloggers and journalists will each re-position one team further up and one team further down based on their thoughts over the summer. By the end, we will have a predicted Championship table for which we can all take some part of the blame…
Over to Adam…
One up: Derby County
It’s been a difficult few years for Derby County. On the face of it, Nigel Clough’s side went backwards last season and a 19th place finish was undoubtedly a disappointment. However, results on the pitch have to be taken in the context of what has happened off it. Clough has been tasked with providing Championship stability while slashing the wage bill and this has been achieved - just. Given these circumstances, the majority of fans have been tolerant thus far. But that is unlikely to last forever and, with Clough in the final year of his contract, the coming season is a huge one for both Derby County and the manager personally.
It helps that this is now ‘his’ team and there have been some good additions. The promising Frank Fielding has signed a permanent deal and will get his chance in goal. Meanwhile, Barnsley’s player of the year, Jason Shackell, comes in at the heart of defence. Considering only Doncaster survived having conceded more goals than the Rams in 2010-11, this should help. Up front, the signings of Theo Robinson and Jamie Ward have also been made permanent, while the acquisition of enthusiastic Aberdeen forward Chris Maguire could prove a good one in time.
And time is really what it’s all about. This will be Clough’s fourth season in charge and the fans now expect to see progress. It was in his fourth season with Burton Albion that Clough won the Northern Premier league. Not many Derby fans are holding out much hope of a title but equalling their highest league finish since relegation from the top flight should be achievable.
Derby County up to: 15th
One down: Millwall
They may well not care but, for what it’s worth, it’s not that I don’t like Millwall. They just over-achieved last season. There’s some pretty good sides below them in that Championship Ladder at the moment - teams that are spending money and will have goals in them.
That could be a problem for Millwall in 2011-12. Darius Henderson is an experienced forward at Championship level but it would be something of a surprise if he is able to replicate the threat and the numbers of Steve Morison, who has moved to the Premier League with Norwich City. Relegation shouldn’t be an issue for Millwall this season.
Just don’t expect the kind of late surge that took them to the brink of the play-offs last time around. I think 16th is a fair estimate.
Millwall down to: 16th
Table after Adam’s picks:
- Nottingham Forest
- West Ham United
- Leicester City
- Leeds United
- Hull City
- Burnley
- Reading
- Cardiff City
- Brighton and Hove Albion
- Middlesbrough
- Birmingham City
- Ipswich Town
- Blackpool
- Watford
- Derby County
- Millwall
- Bristol City
- Portsmouth
- Barnsley
- Southampton
- Crystal Palace
- Peterborough United
- Doncaster Rovers
- Coventry City
[6]