The Championship. A league so brilliant to be in, some Premier League fans question what league they would rather be in. Despite Yeovil spending the solitary season in England’s second tier, I’m still an avid watcher of the league. Every season the league doesn’t let us down with mouth-watering fixtures and dramatic games.

The brilliance of the Championship is unrivalled with any team able to cause a shock. Look at Yeovil, we beat Watford 3-0 away from home during our short stint in the league and the next season we finished bottom of League One and they had just secured Premier League football. In the preview I will be selecting my promoted teams, play off contenders and unfortunate relegated sides, so let’s get straight into it.

Top of the league- Fulham

Whenever a team gets relegated to the Championship they will be looking to make a swift return before the parachute payments end. Fulham’s squad has surprisingly been relatively untouched despite a number of decent Prem standard players. Their wingers will certainly cause all Championship full backs havoc. Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockaert put in some good performances in the league above last season so who knows what they could do this season.

Second- Stoke

A little bit of bias may be sneaking in with this prediction as Stoke manager Nathan Jones was a Yeovil legend and quite frankly I love the bloke. Jones guided the Potters to a 16th place finish last season and the fans will definitely want a promotion push this time around. They have a capable squad, it just relies on whether the team will finally click and end Stoke’s 2 year wait for Premier League football.

Play-offs-

Leeds– It was heartbreak once again last year and this campaign will probably be no different. They definitely have the players and manager to go up but can they finally go one better, I think maybe!

Huddersfield– Another West Yorkshire side, but this one has been in the Prem a lot more recently. Huddersfield spent the last two seasons a division above and I can see them giving it a right go to return at the first try.

Derby– It must be an absolute roller-coaster following the Rams. Every season they are in the play off race and every season they seem to bottle it in different fashion. I can see more of the same coming this season.

Brentford– The final play off position was the hardest to call but I have opted for Brentford. They took a dip last season after the departure of Dean Smith but now Thomas Frank has made the team his own, they can push on.

The likes of Bristol City and Middlesbrough will run the teams close as will West Brom who have lost some of their key players which is why they don’t make the play offs for me.

Bottom of the league- Charlton

The three relegated sides were tough picks as the league looks as strong as it has ever been. The League One play off winners are my pick for bottom as they haven’t improved enough in the transfer window for me to feel that they could avoid the drop. The signings of Chuks Aneke and Tom Lockyer are promising but may not be enough to survive.

Second bottom- Millwall

Neil Harris’ side finished a place above the drop last season but I think there time will be up after this season. They lost star striker Lee Gregory to Stoke and have replaced him with a couple of decent striking options. Despite a couple of cute signings this summer, it will be a tough ask for Harris and Millwall to continue their stay in the second tier.

Third bottom- Barnsley

Another recently promoted side with the Tykes and once again a decision which is purely based on them only just joining the league. They seam to yo-yo between the two leagues, which must be so frustrating for the fans. Kieffer Moore and Cauley Woodrow are decent strikers for this level but I don’t think they will suffice for staying up.

Top scorer- Karlan Grant

The 21 year old left Charlton for Huddersfield last January but couldn’t help keep the Terriers up. He did managed to score four Premier League goals in 13 games whilst being in arguably one of the worst Premier League teams ever. I think Huddersfield and Grant will cause havoc in this brilliant league and surprise a few people with how good some of their players actually are.

Full table-

1. Fulham
2. Stoke
3. Leeds
4. Huddersfield
5. Derby
6. Brentford
7. Bristol City
8. Middlesbrough
9. West Brom
10. Nottingham Forest
11. Preston
12. Cardiff
13. Blackburn
14. Swansea
15. QPR
16. Hull
17. Reading
18. Luton
19. Sheffield Wednesday
20. Birmingham
21. Wigan
22. Barnsley
23. Millwall
24. Charlton

I must start the article with a disclaimer. Yeovil haven’t played in League One since 2015, so my knowledge of the League will be minimal. Every year there seems to be a huge club that was once of the Premier League, slipping in to the league and it isn’t any difference this time round.

The intrigue of League One and the rest of the EFL is that literally any team can cause a shock and get promoted/relegated and in the grand scheme of things, it would be just one of many to occur in the EFL over the past decade or so. In the preview I will be selecting my promoted teams, play off contenders and unfortunate relegated sides, so let’s get straight into it.

Top of the league- Ipswich

Ipswich were one of the teams I was eluding to in the introduction. They have been a comfortable Championship side for many years and were a force in the top flight when Russell Osman and Terry Butcher were paired at the back. These days they haven’t endured much success but with a relegation to the third tier, those days could be back soon. The experience of Alan Judge providing goals for the strikers will be a successful combination for sure next season.

Second- Sunderland

The fall of Sunderland has been dramatic and sad to see, even for other football fans (Newcastle aside). Now they have managed to get some big earners off the pay roll, the team can become more balanced and together than last season. They have many young players in the ranks, one of which being Duncan Watmore. The winger was likened to Gareth Bale by former team mate Jermaine Defoe and if he can live up to that praise he should tear League One apart.

Play Offs-

Portsmouth– Kenny Jackett has done a decent job at Portsmouth but him and the fans will we wanting Pompey to make a real push for Championship football next season.

Rotherham– Similarly, Paul Warne has done a solid service to Rotherham and I think he will have a very good shout in taking them straight back up to the Championship.

Doncaster– Their top man last season, John Marquis has just made a move to Pompey but it is another former player who will help them this season. Darren Moore has taken over and has proven he can more than manage at a good standard

Blackpool– They are finally free of their dreadful owner and the back of the Oystons will be what they need to push on, both on and off the pitch. A good season ahead for the Tangerines.

The teams likely to miss out could be the likes of Peterborough and Coventry. Lincoln also have a chance under Danny Cowley who has worked wonders for them over the years.

Bottom of the league- Bury

Need I say more? They have already been given a points deduction and that may not be the end of it. They are losing players left, right and centre and have also lost their man on the touchline. It would be a miracle if they stayed up and if Paul Wilkinson does it he should be given a knighthood.

Second bottom- Tranmere

Recently promoted Tranmere haven’t been in League One for a few seasons now, but now they’ve finally returned it will be a struggle to stay there. The focal point of their goals for some seasons now has been James Norwood but his move to my predicted Champions Ipswich, will mean the goals will dry up at Prenton Park

Third bottom- Rochdale

Rochdale have seemingly been fighting the drop in League One forever, but this season I think they can’t go on any longer. Talisman Ian Henderson is only getting older and the Spotland faithful will be biting their nails for another campaign. I hope they prove me wrong as I actually quite like the club and you never know in football.

Fourth bottom- Bolton

Another terrible owner who has ruined the club. Bolton are another team who will be in a fight to beat the drop. They do have a couple of decent players in the rank but for how much longer no one knows. Erhun Oztumer and Josh Magennis have both had brilliant seasons in League One in the past so if those two can fire then they may be just safe.

Top Scorer- John Marquis

Marquis scored 22 goals last season in a Doncaster side which is worse than this season’s Portsmouth side. Meaning the forward should scored more than he did last campaign as long as he can settle in quickly at Fratton Park. He is still only 27 years old so he will just at his peak, so I fully expect him to reach the 25 goal mark barring any injuries.

Full table-

1. Ipswich
2. Sunderland
3. Portsmouth
4. Rotherham
5. Doncaster
6. Blackpool
7. Peterborough
8. Coventry
9. Lincoln
10. Burton
11. Shrewsbury
12. Fleetwood
13. MK Dons
14. Bristol Rovers
15. Accrington
16. Oxford
17. Gillingham
18. Wycombe
19. Southend
20. AFC Wimbledon
21. Bolton
22. Rochdale
23. Tranmere
24. Bury

League Two Preview by Harry Clark

With my beloved Yeovil getting relegated last season, I will only have one eye on the goings on in England’s fourth tier, that doesn’t mean I can’t have a go at a well-informed League Two preview…

The joys of League Two and the EFL in general is that literally any team can cause a shock and get promoted/relegated and in the grand scheme of things, it would be just one of many to occur in the EFL over the past decade or so. In the preview I will be selecting my promoted teams, play off contenders and unfortunate relegated sides, so let’s get straight into it.

Top of the league- Bradford City

The once Premier League side are obviously too big of a club to be rotting away in League Two and I believe Gary Bowyer will promote them as Champions at the first opportunity. Their striking options of Clayton Donaldson, Eoin Doyle and James Vaughan would do a job in League One for sure, so if Bowyer can get these firing, then Bradford fans shouldn’t be worried at all.

Second- Plymouth Argyle

Another relegated team I know but another team who will certainly feel this league is below them. It was an ugly end to Derek Adams tenure but now Ryan Lowe has taken over they can look up. Lowe managed to promote a Bury side who weren’t even getting paid, so imagine what he could do with more motivated players. The loss of Graham Carey to Bulgaria was a tough and usual one to take, but the signing of Jose Baxter will help fill the void. The attacking midfielder is still only 27 would you believe, and should tear up League Two.

Third- Newport

Grabbing the final automatic promotion spot is Newport. They finished seventh in the league last season but failed at the final hurdle in the play-offs against Tranmere at wembley. I believe they’ll go one better this time round and secure promotion without the need of extra games. A long with the above, they’ve also strengthened in the summer. A signing that caught my eye was Tristan Abrahams from Norwich. Abrahams played his football at Yeovil last season and put in some stellar performances, in a poor Yeovil side.

Play-offs:

Mansfield– Once again a play off place for the Stags who finished in the exact position last season. They certainly have the squad to compete, but it’s a different story on the pitch.

Crewe– A bold choice but David Artell’s men finished strongly last campaign and you can always rely on them bringing through some great talent through their academy.

Scunthorpe– The third and final relegated team to at least make the play-offs. Paul Hurst knows what it takes to get promotion in the EFL and with Lee Novak up front, they will cause problems.

Exeter– The Grecians seem to be League Two’s equivalent to Derby, always up there but never promoted. I certainly think they’ll be up there once more but this year could finally be their year.

The teams likely to just miss out would be the likes of Colchester and Stevenage as they always seem to be in the play-off hunt and I feel Forest Green will have another solid season under Mark Cooper.

Bottom- Macclesfield

I think it is pretty clear cut as to who will finish bottom of the Football League this season. They barely survived it last time around, and have now been forced to let go of their best players to make ends meet. Scott Wilson being one of them, who scored some vital goals last season, but was forced to make a move to fellow League Two club, Oldham, it would be a miracle if they stayed up.

Second bottom- Morecambe

The second bottom position was a tough one, but a team who normally finds themselves in a relegation battle is Jim Bentley’s Morecambe. He has done a fantastic job for the Shrimps, becoming the longest serving manager in the Football League, but after this season, he could lose that accolade. A lot his players are aging, none more than Kevin Ellison who hit his forties during last season. The club cult hero has played over 300 times for them, but this season might be his last and Morecambe’s last in league football.

Top Scorer- James Vaughan

It was a tough decision deciding between the Bradford trio but I have opted for their club captain, James Vaughan. Despite being 31 years old he’s comfortably younger than Donaldson and just a couple of months older than Doyle. He’s also a proven goalscorer from his time with Bury, but has struggled recently. A move to the fourth tier might just help him rediscover his form which saw him in the 2016/17 PFA League One Team of the Year.

Full table:

1. Bradford
2. Plymouth
3. Newport
4. Mansfield
5. Crewe
6. Scunthorpe
7. Exeter
8. Colchester
9. Stevenage
10. Forest Green
11. Walsall
12. Carlisle
13. Salford
14. Swindon
15. Oldham
16. Northampton
17. Leyton Orient
18. Crawley
19. Grimsby
20. Cheltenham
21. Port Vale
22. Cambridge
23. Morecambe
24. Macclesfield

Who do you think will rise or fall in League Two next season? Let us know by tweeting us @4TLOTG. No doubt by October, Bradford would be on to their third manager and Jim Bentley masterminds Morecambe to ten straight victories, but that’s why we love football…