August 5 2005

The Football League

The final part of Simon Pophale's comprehensive preview to the forthcoming Championship season...

Preston North End

Last Season: 5th – Playoff finalists

In: Dave Hibbert (Port Vale – tribunal), Joe Anyisah (Bristol City – undisc), Danny Dichio (Millwall £160,000)

Out: Simon Lynch, Eddie Lewis (Leeds – free), Dave Elebert (loan)

Manager: Billy Davies

One to watch: Dave Nugent

My Prediction: 8th

How will we do? – 4/6

It is always hard to repeat the feat in the 2nd season. Jose Mourinho will find this out at Chelsea and so will Billy Davies at Deepdale, but there the similarities will end. I fancy Chelsea to retain their title, but Preston won't manage a repeat of their playoff appearance.

Simply put, they haven’t gone out and competed in the same way that Leicester and Sheffield United have, while they do not possess the quality in abundance that Norwich and we have. They had enough to squeeze past Derby (just!) but while Cardiff was an experience, it will be one that they want to forget.

Danny Dichio has never freely scored for some seasons now and I don’t expect that to change, while the loss of Eddie Lewis will be felt. Their other signings don’t really augment what they already have and as such, Davies will find it hard to gain the momentum that took them to the playoffs last season.

They do have Dave Nugent, who scored goals last season and will once again be the man to watch. But Preston do pin their hopes on him a little too much and I cant see them making the top 6, when you look around at the striking partnerships that the teams above them possess.

I see another good season for Davies and their fans, but a repeat of last seasons success seems unlikely and they will have to settle for a top half finish.

Sheffield United

Last Season: 8th

In: Danny Webber (Watford - £500,000), Paul Ifill (Millwall £800,000), Lilian Nalis (Leicester), Neil Shipperley (Crystal Palace), Gary Mulligan (Wolves), Craig Short (Blackburn), Nick Travis, Kyle Fadzean, Colin Marrison, Ryan Gyaki, Travis Binnon, Kyle Nix (Aston Villa)

Out: Ashley Ward, Danny Haystead, Tommy Johnson, Danny Cadamateri (Bradford), Andy Liddell (Oldham), Luke Beckett (Oldham – loan)

Manager: Neil Warnock

One to watch: Danny Webber

My Prediction: 7th

How will we do? – 6/6

Love him or hate him, Neil Warnock has managed now to get Sheffield United on the fringe of the playoffs 2 years in a row, but not managed to get that elusive place in the top 6 come the end of the 1st week in May.

A much-televised cup run last year, which saw United beat Villa and only go out to Arsenal on penalties epitomised Warnocks team, full of heart and desire, with only a lack of goals up front to complain of. Lots of good play but no end product or not enough of one meant that they were once again, left out of the end of season playoff party.

So can they go one step better this time? No is the answer. Warnock has gone all out but I don’t expect a lot of the players who came in to make a difference. But up front is one area where Warnock has invested heavily in, to try and make the difference and has got one of the players earmarked for success at a real snip.

Danny Webber, the former Manchester United trainee, found the net on a regular basis for Watford and he is my one to look out for. Quick, direct and with a tremendous shot, will prove a handful for a lot of defences. Neil Shipperley will provide experience and should see action, while Steven Kabba is still there and he will have to compete with Lilian Nalis for a place on the bench or to be the foil for Webber.

With quality players such as Leigh Bromby, Derek Geary, Paddy Kenny and Phil Jagielka, United have the basis of a good team. But my concern is that Warnock does not know his best first 11 and that the squad on the whole, will not stand up to the rigours of the season ahead. I think that they will get a lot of draws and be difficult to beat, but ultimately, will fall short again in the closing weeks.

It is not that United have not progressed, more that the other teams that fell short last season will be challenging and the division is a lot tougher than it was come 12 months ago. This is why I think that we will do well. We play them last game of the season and by then, it should all be academic; United will not be able to get into the playoffs, while we will be up already.

We should beat them at home, but they will give nothing more than 100% and expect a lot of Warnock rants along the way, but I think that they will once again come up short.

Leicester City

Last Season: 15th

In: Momo Sylla (Celtic), Rab Douglas (Celtic), Nils-Eric Johansen (Blackburn), Paul Henderson (Bradford) , Patrik Gerbrand (Hammarby – undisc), Peter Gilbert (Plymouth – £200,000)

Out: Ian Walker, Lilian Nalis (Sheff. Utd), Keith Gillespie, Scott Gemill, Nikos Dabizas, Nathan Blake, James Scowcroft, Lars Hirschfield, Stephen Dawson, Jordan Stewart (Watford £125,000), Matt Heath (Coventry £25,000)

Manager: Craig Levein

One to watch: David Connelly/Mark De Vries

My Prediction: 6th - Playoffs

How will we do? – 4/6

6th place is traditionally filled with a team who either has gone on a late season surge (something that we know all about) or have been there or thereabouts all season, or a total surprise package.

Don’t let last seasons 15th place finish fool you. Leicester are a tough nut to crack, they have had a season which I think all in the midlands would rather forget and the future is now a lot brighter thanks to Craig Levein.

The Scot came in late last season and has dispensed with virtually the entire squad that saw action in the Premiership, some 2 seasons ago. The outgoing list is a who’s who of Premiership failures and high profile names. Thankfully, for Leicesters fans, the overpaid stars and the poor performances that went with them have disappeared for good.

One person who hasn’t disappeared and managed to avoid the chop was David Connelly. The Irishman with the short fuse, who has been in good goalscoring form, will need to impress Levein and find a partnership with Mark De Vries, who had a good goalscoring pedigree at Hearts. These are my men to watch, as Leicesters hopes will ride on both strikers getting a return of 20+ goals each.

They will be helped by Leveins’ solid knowledge of the transfer market and he has moved swiftly to bring in Rab Douglas and Momo Sylla from Celtic, who should prosper at this level. Both are winners and the squad, now it has been trimmed and the dead wood removed, will be thriving on the new broom that Levein has swept through the Walkers stadium.

I think that Leicester have one of the more exciting managers in the division in Levein and this will be the reason why they will edge into the playoff frame, possibly on the last day. At home they are an uncompromising outfit and getting a result there will take a lot of doing, but at home we should beat them, or at the very worst snatch a draw.

Leicester has now got a chance to start afresh and may surprise a lot of teams this season, maybe where previous playoff campaigners Ipswich and Preston may fail. To repeat the trick year after year is difficult and Leicester will be the ones to profit from this, so a late run will take them there.

What happens after that, is anyones’ guess but with the last season being turbulent with financial problems and off the field issues, foxes fans will have the hope of the Premiership to keep them going this season, something that last season was a million miles away.

Derby County

Last Season: 4th – Playoff Semi-Finalists

In: Kevin Poole, Mark Edworthy (Norwich), Andrew Davies (Middlesborough – loan)

Out: Chris Makin, Marco Reich, Ian Taylor, Junior (Watford), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham £1,000,000), Dan Martin (Notts County), Gary Twigg (Airdrie)

Manager: Phil Brown

One to watch: Inigo Idiakez/Gregorz Rasiak

My Prediction: 5th - Playoffs

How will we do? – 3/6

It has been a close season of change and upheaval at Derby. George Burleys’ sacking was messy and public, while Phil Brown has come in from being an assistant at Bolton and while this is his first managerial post, there is no doubt that he has inherited a talented squad.

But good Assistant managers do not good Managers make, just ask Blackburn fans when Brian Kidd presided over their team and he had Alex Ferguson to learn from, possibly one of the best in the business.

Phil Brown will have his work cut out to prove himself but he also had a good teacher in Sam Allardyce, so I doubt that he will be daunted by the task in front of him.

This has been made considerably easier now that he has managed to persuade Inigo Idiakez and Gregorz Rasiak to remain at Pride Park as it will be their inventive play and goalscoring ability that will take Derby back into the playoff frame this season.

Both of these players are my men to watch, simply because without them, Derby would be mid-table and struggling. The loss of Tom Huddlestone will be felt after his move to Spurs, but Brown has recruited well in the summer and another playoff berth is well within their grasp.

Mark Edworthy and Andrew Davies can perform at this level, Davies did well at QPR last season and Edworthy is a seasoned campaigner with another years Premiership football under his belt, should make a big impression in their defence. Derby will rely heavily on Rasiak to score the goals and this is the one area where Derby could struggle, as a few injuries could damage a successful season.

Brown will need to make a big impression this season, if Derby are going to make the playoffs. He seems so far to be a canny manager and in persuading both his stars to stay, could have an outstanding first season. But it will be a learning curve and no doubt, mistakes will be made.

Pride Park is a difficult place to go and I think that we may struggle there. Derby will find it difficult at Selhurst, as most teams will this season, so we will get between 2-3 points this season.

Derby should make the playoffs, but last seasons semi-final defeat could repeat. If they stay fit, I see another top 5 finish.

Leeds United

Last Season: 14th

In: Robbie Blake (Birmingham £750,000), Rob Hulse (WBA – undisc), Dan Harding (Brighton £850,000), Eddie Lewis (Preston), Steve Stone (Portsmouth), Ian Bennett (Birmingham)

Out: Barry Corr (Sheff. Wednesday), Simon Johnson (Darlington), Julian Joachim (Boston), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham – undisclosed), Martin Woods (Sunderland)

Manager: Kevin Blackwell

One to watch: David Healy

My Prediction: 4th - Playoffs

How will we do? – 4/6

The dark days are lifting at Elland Road. After the debt-ridden days of Risdale and the off field takeover, Leeds can now focus once again on playing football and winning matches, rather than just existing. Kevin Blackwell has had money to spend for the 1st time and now, in his 2nd season, will have no excuses to hide behind if Leeds end up mid-table.

Which they should not, the striking talent on offer is one which would not be sniffed at by most clubs. Rob Hulse, Robbie Blake and David Healy can all score goals for fun, whether they do or not, will depend on the quality of the midfield and the ammunition that they provide.

In fact, I haven’t even mentioned Micheal Ricketts, but Leeds fans won’t thank me for that. He has been an almighty flop and Leeds cannot get him off the wage bill. How easy it is for the mighty to fall, 2 years ago he was in the England squad – AJ take note!

There are still remnants of the Risdale regime lying about the place, one such relic is Seth Johnson, a man who takes lots (around £25,000 a week) but gives little in return. Bought in the days of Premiership and European chasing glory, the £7 million former Derby man is still on the wage bill, crippling the club.

Leeds would like either to see the player who caused so much havoc while at Pride Park, rather than the washed up offering they have been served. That said, Blackwell has got a settled side and has opted to bolster it with experience.

Ian Bennett and Steve Stone can guide the young Lilywhites through to a much improved finish this term, while Dan Harding looks to be a good buy also. But it is up front where Leeds are dangerous and my one to watch is David Healy.

How a Premiership club has not picked up Healy yet is surprising to say the least. He scored goals aplenty for Preston and despite injury, scores regularly for Leeds. It will be down to him this season again to point the way up the table.

Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake, with the former also being a proven scorer at this level, should provide assistance in this area and Blake is no slouch either, although his signing shows that Leeds has serious ambitions to make it back to the Premiership this season.

Leeds can only perform better this season and will do so, as they do not have to get a whole new team to gel in the opening weeks. Blackwell guided Leeds to a respectable, if unspectacular 14th place last season but will be under pressure to deliver. Ken Bates does not suffer fools gladly and if Leeds are not moving in their direction, Blackwell could feel the pressure.

A more settled approach will see Leeds cement a playoff spot come May, without ever really threatening the automatic places. Elland Road is still an imposing place to go and Leeds always have a good home record.

Which is why I think that 4 points is as well as we will do. Leeds is a hard place to go, especially midweek and they could turn us over, with a draw the best we can realistically expect. At home, I expect that we can do better and beat them, although a draw would be no surprise either, given the quality that Leeds possesses.

While it isn’t the giddy heights of the Champions League, 4th place is certainly not beyond them, providing they start and finish well. They won’t be an easy team to play in the playoffs either, so they could end up in Cardiff. At least the long suffering fans will be looking more positive now, than in any of the last 3 years and Leeds can make headlines, finally, for all the right reasons.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Last Season: 9th

In: Jackie McNamara (Celtic), Rohan Ricketts (Tottenham), Gabor Gyepes (Ferencvaros – loan), Wayne Hennesey

Out: Gary Mulligan (Sheffield United), Keith Andrews (Hull City)

Manager: Glenn Hoddle

One to watch: Kenny Miller

My Prediction: 3rd - Playoffs

How will we do? – 2/6

Glenn Hoddle came in last season and turned Wolves into a very difficult side to beat, as in 22 matches they lost only once, but won 8. They became the draw specialists which was no bad thing, considering that they were struggling in the lower half of the division most of the season.

Hoddle got them to 9th and with more wins and less draws, could have sneaked a playoff place. This is exactly where I expect them to finish this time. They have good strikers in Carl Cort and Kenny Miller, while Oh Yung Keol is a quality midfielder, who turned many heads last season.

Wolves are solid in all areas, but just lack that quality that could make them automatic promotion contenders, although they won’t be far behind.

Much will depend on Miller, who can score 20 goals regularly at this level. Cort is a good foil for him and George Ndah (remember him?) is still there, although troubled by injuries. As long as Miller keeps scoring, the signing of Rohan Ricketts will help him there, Wolves should do ok.

Hoddle is a man reborn in the Black Country, Wolves have the support and the infrastructure to go all the way, so I expect them to be in the playoffs and look the most settled of the sides I think will grace these spots. The long running Heni Camara saga drags on which will leave a sour taste in most mouths, but that aside, Wolves have no other causes for concern.

Paul Ince announced earlier this week that this would be his last season, whether they get promotion or not and his experience will be vital. He is still a great leader and can inspire those around him, which will be vital when the season reaches its sharp end. With Colin Cameron alongside him, Wolves will be strong at home and away be too much for the lower half.

I see us having real problems against them and can only see draws, rather than victories as Molineux is our first away trip and it is no easy place to go to get points.

Which is why Wolves will ultimately fall short of the big prize of automatic promotion, but could go all the way in the playoffs. Only a foolish man would bet against them.

Norwich City

Last Season: 19th - Premiership

In: Jurgen Colin (PSV £263,000), Mathieu Louis-Jean (Notts Forest – swap), Peter Thorne (Cardiff), Andy Hughes (Reading – undisc), Jason Jarrett (Wigan), Dean Marney (Tottenham – loan)

Out: Gary Holt (Notts Forest – swap), Mattias Svennson (Elfsborg - £100,000), Matias Jonsson (Djurdgardens £700,000), Thomas Helveg (Borussia Moenchengladbach £135,000), Graham Stuart, Danny Crow, Marc Edworthy (Derby), Phil Mulryne

Manager: Nigel Worthington

One to watch: Dean Ashton

My Prediction: 2nd - Promoted

How will we do? – 4/6

Norwich were let down last season by their bid to improve their squad. All of their signings last season were either substandard and/or underperformed. The notable exception was Dean Ashton, whose goals nearly kept them up. If only he had been there at the start of the last season, Norwich would have survived.

To that end, Nigel Worthington has managed to keep the core of his team that won the Championship last time out and has covered the sales with some solid signings who can perform at this level.

Tony Thorpe, Andy Hughes and Mathieu Louis-Jean have all been here and done it before and although I expect them to be part of the 1st team squad, I can see them having fringe roles. The signing of Dean Marney is exciting as David Bentley was last season so providing he can stay injury free, Norwich should be ahead of the chasing pack, as they were last time.

Outgoing have been fringe players or those that were deemed to have disappointed, Thomas Helveg was the biggest let down last season and Worthington will have taken the experience of this on board. Big names don’t always mean big performances.

It is up front again that Norwich has 3 players who can do some real damage. Darren Huckerby took them up last time, aided and abetted by Leon McKenzie.

I expect the roles to be reversed this time; however both of these players will be supporting the star attracton – Dean Ashton.

Ashton is the only striker I see challenging AJ for the golden boot. He scored freely for Crewe up to January and he is in a better side now.

My only concern is that if Damien Francis moves on, a key player will be lost and Norwich may find it difficult to fill that gap. Additionally in defence Norwich don’t look as strong as we do, but I still expect them to outscore teams so wont be too troubled. They still have Robert Green who is, along with Kiraly, at the top end of the goalkeeping spectrum.

Whether he stays or not, is open to question and Canaries fans might see him leave in January if they are not doing so well. Having been included in Svens’ squads, Green will want to challenge for a place in the World Cup Squad and may find that moving on will help his get that ambition.

I forsee that we will beat Norwich at home, while our first weekend away trip, as it was last season will bring a draw. None the less, it is still going to be a good season for Norwich and while Delia may not be able to put the Championship silverware on the table in May, she and thousands of Canaries fans will be celebrating their return to the top flight.

Crystal Palace

Last Season: 18th - Premiership

In: Jobi McAnuff (Cardiff £750,000), Darren Ward (Millwall - £1,100,000), John Macken (Manchester City £1,100,000)

Out: Gonzalo Sorondo (Inter Milan – loan return), Wayne Routledge (Tottenham - £1,500,000), Nicola Ventola (Atalanta), Vas Lakis (AEK Athens), Neil Shipperley (Sheffield United), Darren Powell (Southampton), Lance Cronin

Manager: Iain Dowie

One to watch: Andy Johnson

My Prediction: 1st – Champions

I know it may seem like the rantings of an over enthusiastic Palace nut, but I cannot see any team stopping us to the title this season. Not even Norwich, Wolves or Leeds. I have good solid reasons for this, this is not a flight of fancy.

Firstly, I believe that we have the best goalkeeper in the division, should he remain with us for the whole season. Gabor Kiraly was one of the reasons that we nearly stayed up last season. Week after week, he kept us in matches and 10 clean sheets in 32 league games, no mean feat in a relegated side.

Second, we have the best strike force in the division. Other teams have lost players but we have retained ours, with only 2 real casualties in our first team being sold.

Our strike force is not one player either, we have 4 International forwards in our squad, 2 of which have performed at this level before and scored goals regularly in John Macken and Dougie Freedman, while Sandor Torghelle should blossom this season as he showed glimpses that he is going to be a special player in years to come.

Macken may have gone off the boil at Manchester City and could take time to get back into the knack again, but Freedman looks sharper than he ever has done and will be gunning to break the 100 goal mark this season, while trying all the while to keep up with our first choice striker, England International Andy Johnson.

Johnson is staying, at least until January and most likely beyond then after signing a new 5-year deal this week. He is, I believe the difference between finishing outside the playoffs and winning the division. On his day, he is a nightmare to mark, creates space for others and can cross a ball as well, while also being a lethal finisher and penalty marksman.

He wasn’t called up into the England squad for cosmetic purposes either, as finishing only 4 Premiership goals behind Theirry Henry is no mean feat. Not Defoe, Owen, Crouch or Rooney could match him for goals last season. He deserves to be playing at a higher level, but I for one am glad that even for one season, he will be striving to get us back into the Premiership.

He gave defences everywhere problems last season and he has too much class for this division. However, he will now be a marked man more than ever, but I still believe that his ability to create goals will come to the fore this season, so I don’t expect him to score over 30 again, but 20-25 is well within his grasp, especially against teams in the lower half of the division.

We also have 4 Internationals in midfield, with MacAnuff, Micheal Hughes, Aki and Joonas Kolkka. Whether Dowie plays these 4 as a starting lineup, is unknown but all of these, especially Kolkka and MacAnuff, will be more than a handful for teams this season.

Jobi has come in and made us forget all about Wayne Routledge with some good performances on the right hand side. Whereas Wayne has talented, his showboating and constant desire to beat all comers, never paid of last season, Jobi is more direct, plays the simple pass and can cross a ball as well.

Routledge spent 6 months being quite unimpressive and the last few working as hard as possible, but with no end product. Kolkka is a player who would grace any Premiership team and we underused him criminally last season, I hope that Dowie does not make the same mistake again, he is a class act.

Defensively we are strong as well, with Boyce, Ward, Hall and Granville being our 1st choice back 4. Even if injuries and suspensions take their toll, we have Butterfield, Popovic, Hudson, Leigertwood and youngsters such as Glenn Wilson, Sam Togwell and Aaron Fray, who had an outstanding preseason, who could come in if required.

Gary Borrowdale also will have a point to prove, as he has to start showing that he can cope with this level, if he is going to show any signs of improvement. Fitz Hall is by far one of the best defenders in the division, in fact I cannot think of a better one at ANY other club.

Darren Ward looks like a solid signing and a direct replacement for the outstanding Gonzalo Sorondo, who we will miss. Ward has played at this level before for Millwall and Popovic will cope with this division, albeit used more sparingly than previously.

This brings me to Iain Dowie, possibly one of the most improved managers of the last 12 months and seems to be able to get players in the right frame of mind, while the addition of Neil MacDonald from Bolton looks to be another inspired move. He will provide a new insight to Kit Symons, who has now moved to the reserve side.

John Harbin has proven that his offbeat style of fitness works and we will have one of the fittest and prepared sides in the division. With 46 long hard games coming up, our entire squad will be utilised so fitness will be key.

We have all the ingredients to make this our most successful season since 1993-94 when we won this title with a side that was relegated on the last day the previous season. For McGoldrick read Routledge, instead of Thomas say Sorondo and we have lost, all in all, just 2 players as we did back then.

Dowie has learnt from his dealings the previous season and we did all our business on 1 day, while players left according to their contracts. We have a settled squad and with 10 Internationals, with others who could be one day, we have a squad that cannot be matched player for player.

With Dowie in charge and Johnson leading the way, we won’t be stopped in our quest to return to the big time, providing everyone plays to their potential.

We have a tough start, with away trips to Norwich, Wolves and Leeds in August, but if we can remain unbeaten by October, then I think that the results will be inevitable. We have a better side than 1993-94 and the division has not improved vastly in terms of quality. Come May, we will be celebrating once more.