Championship strongest in years?

After a couple of years of very average quality in the Championship (IMO), in which Cardiff had to fight hard to stave off relegation twice, next season's division is shaping up to be the strongest in years.

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I know people have said on many occasions the strongest championship in year.

If anything the Championship will have a number of big football clubs in the division next year and not too many smaller clubs If anything we may see the largest attendance’s in the championship for many years With Leeds , Leicester , Southampton, Ipswich , Plymouth and possibly Sheffield Weds all playing in the division next season .


Even at this early stage it looks like it is going to be a hard on for city without a big squad overhaul

The last few years mediocre / weak.



And for me one of the strongest for years next season:

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Yeah we’re in real trouble next year if we don’t get our act together

I believe post covid football has been in transition where the better-run clubs have had their day in the sun and I can see it lasting for another season or two.

The like of Bristol,Hull,Stoke, Brum, QPR and of course us, have needed to get their houses in order so have shed good but overpaid players and replaced them with cheaper worse footballers. In previous seasons we followed the same rule as our peers and recruited recognised class at a premium whereas the well-run clubs identify championship class players before the market.

We have taken potshots at identifying gems, but none of our former L1 players are going to play higher than lower championship.

Allsop,NG,Wintle,Romeo are not going to get any better, Rinomhota can't be as poor.

That leaves us the Robinson and O'Dowda as players who'd probably start (in a normal season) at a top 10 team. Ralls and Sawyers would be in that group but are on the downgrade and lets be honest Sawyers hasn't been all that since Brentford (the uber well run club) let him go for a decent fee. McGuiness is still a work in progress that someone may be tempted to go for

The clubs coming up have had their rebuilds and if Wednesday win today, Flinty is still better than our lot, Paterson would start for us and Vaulks is better than Wintle.

I expect us in trouble again next year with a few of the old championship names but it will be a tight division from top to bottom. Southampton bought a lot of untried kids at inflated prices so may outclass the division. Leeds are shit and Leicester will have a major rebuild, so lets hope we play them very early next season.

We will be the strongest club in the championship next season as we will be holding up the other 23 clubs at the foot of the table.... no manager and the weakest squad we have had in years.... God help us

On paper, maybe.

For a start, it's likely all three of the teams coming down from the PL will change their manager. Southampton are bringing in Martin. Good chance that Leicester will replace Smith. Can't see Big Sam staying at Leeds, he won't want a season in the Championship unless they give him a lot of money.

Leicester and Leeds will lose a lot of players. They'll have to invest in the squad wisely, having money is no guarantee of getting out of this league. Leicester expected to lose at least ten players.

As for the teams coming up from League One, Plymouth and Ipswich both have very good managers. They'll both need better players to compete around the top half though.

I always think are the six that are coming into the league stronger on paper than the six leading the league.

So are Southampton, Leicester, Leeds, Plymouth, Ipswich and Sheff Wed/Barnsley stronger than Burnley, Sheffield United, Luton, Wigan, Blackpool and Reading?

The answer is probably. But as we all know, the game is played on grass.

Then you have to consider the clubs that are already in the Championship and what their situation is. West Brom, for example, have financial issues.

I do think it'll be a tough season for us and that we'll probably get relegated whoever the manager is.

But really, we don't know how strong this league is until the transfer window is over.

The recruitment that the relegated Premier League teams make will be key. Because they'll lose a lot of players and it's very easy to spend money on the wrong signings when you get relegated.

Championship 23/24 - Possibly one of the strongest for years

Birmingham
Blackburn
Bristol C
Cardiff
Coventry
Huddersfield
Hull
Ipswich
Leeds
Leicester
M'boro
Millwall
Norwich
Plymouth
Preston
QPR
Rotherham
Sheffield W
Southampton
Sunderland
Stoke
Swansea
Watford
West Brom

Championship 23/24 - Possibly one of the strongest for years

Birmingham
Blackburn
Bristol C
Cardiff
Coventry
Huddersfield
Hull
Ipswich
Leeds
Leicester
M'boro
Millwall
Norwich
Plymouth
Preston
QPR
Rotherham
Sheffield W
Southampton
Sunderland
Stoke
Swansea
Watford
West Brom

That list concerns me. I struggle to see any teams as weak as we are, unless something drastically changes.

I believe post covid football has been in transition where the better-run clubs have had their day in the sun and I can see it lasting for another season or two.

The like of Bristol,Hull,Stoke, Brum, QPR and of course us, have needed to get their houses in order so have shed good but overpaid players and replaced them with cheaper worse footballers. In previous seasons we followed the same rule as our peers and recruited recognised class at a premium whereas the well-run clubs identify championship class players before the market.

We have taken potshots at identifying gems, but none of our former L1 players are going to play higher than lower championship.

Allsop,NG,Wintle,Romeo are not going to get any better, Rinomhota can't be as poor.

That leaves us the Robinson and O'Dowda as players who'd probably start (in a normal season) at a top 10 team. Ralls and Sawyers would be in that group but are on the downgrade and lets be honest Sawyers hasn't been all that since Brentford (the uber well run club) let him go for a decent fee. McGuiness is still a work in progress that someone may be tempted to go for

The clubs coming up have had their rebuilds and if Wednesday win today, Flinty is still better than our lot, Paterson would start for us and Vaulks is better than Wintle.

I expect us in trouble again next year with a few of the old championship names but it will be a tight division from top to bottom. Southampton bought a lot of untried kids at inflated prices so may outclass the division. Leeds are shit and Leicester will have a major rebuild, so lets hope we play them very early next season.

Twelve months ago the likes of Flint and Vaulks were considered two of our 'weaker' players. How times have changed.

Looks a stronger set of clubs next season than this season just gone .

Championship 23/24 - Possibly one of the strongest for years

Birmingham
Blackburn
Bristol C
Cardiff
Coventry
Huddersfield
Hull
Ipswich
Leeds
Leicester
M'boro
Millwall
Norwich
Plymouth
Preston
QPR
Rotherham
Sheffield W
Southampton
Sunderland
Stoke
Swansea
Watford
West Brom

That list concerns me. I struggle to see any teams as weak as we are, unless something drastically changes.

A worrying list indeed. Let’s hop and pray that come August we'll have a squad that will compete and almost as important, have real fight for every game.

SkyBet currently have City ranked at 18th. They believe the following will six clubs will finish below the Bluebirds:

Bristol City
Plymouth
Preston
QPR
Huddersfield
Rotherham

No Easy Games In The Championship