Npower Championship, League one and League two 2011/2012 predictions.

Predictions for the Npower Championship season 2011/2012

Champions- Leicester City

What has impressed me about Sven Goran Eriksson’s spending is that he has brought a number of youth players in Peltier and Danns and Schmeichel, who can play at a higher level, Leicester will be able to buy there way into the Premier League if they continue to buy young ambitious players, rather than players like (Yakubu, Kamara).

2^nd place- Blackpool

I think Blackpool will go up more out of hope rather than anything if they can sign a number of Liverpool players on loan (Shelvey, Darby) also Blackpool will be able to spend on a number of players, and with Ian Holloway as manager they have someone who can keep morale, players like Taylor-Fletcher, Evatt have something to prove and I believe their experience will help Blackpool only stay in the Championship for one season.

Play-off places-

Birmingham City

This is if they can get any funds Carson Yeung being charged for money laundering may effect the club, but they have signed Marlon King who does score goals at this level and also Adam Rooney who impressed while in the SPL, and also Chris Burke who will add width to the squad, the main reason I feel Birmingham will do well is they have a manager who is liked by other clubs and can take players on loan from Fulham or Newcastle or Tottenham where Hughton has been with or knows the manager, it will be the loan market which will determine Birmingham’s season.

Nottingham Forest

Steve McClaren has a number of youth players who will help his team gain success in (McGugan, Cohen and Gunter), and for all the failings McClaren had with England no one can say he failed at FC Twente although his spell as Wolfsburg manager was a disaster, McClaren will be able to get a few players in although not many but Nottingham Forest should have enough in terms of personnel to get into the play offs.

Middlesbrough

Tony Mowbray, may lose a number of players before the season starts but Middlesbrough should have the strike power in Lita, McDonald and Boyd to be able to score the required goals to get into the playoffs but also they have a very good defence in Bates, Hoyte and Steele, and with Steve Gibson reportedly saying if any players are sold Mowbray will receive the full amount for transfer Middlesbrough should have enough to get into the playoffs

Cardiff City

Another new manager but Malky Mackay knows what he wants if they sign Goodwillie then they will have a proven striker, Cardiff’s problem last season was there midfield but with Conway being brought in he adds the creativity that Cardiff needed, Cardiff should be able to get into the play offs yet again.

Relegated-

Barnsley

Barnsley in Keith Hill have a manager who deserves a crack at the Championship, but his signings just have not excited me Kelvin Etuhu did not impress me when he was on loan at Cardiff, two years ago and Craig Davies is stepping up two divisions although he was prolific at a League two level I don’t think he will be at a Championship level, if they go down it will be due to a lack of goals.

Crystal Palace

Dougie Freedman is a club legend but last season he joined while other teams were in freefall this time round he has the whole season to help Crystal Palace survive, its quite simple Palace have a team which is not good enough Ambrose may leave, and although Glenn Murray does bring a presence in attack, can he supply the 20 goals a season striker Crystal Palace have been lacking since Andy Johnson, also losing Neil Danns is a huge blow for Palace and a blow I feel will help Crystal Palace be in League one next season.

Peterborough

There problems are that they are losing Craig Mackail-Smith and he will be hard to replace while yet again Darren Ferguson seems determined to sign more Man Utd youth players who will once again have to quickly adjust to the fast pace of the Championship, Peterborough risk becoming a yo-yo team, but unless they buy a number of players who have real quality then this will happen.

Predictions for the Npower League one season 2011/2012

Champions- Charlton Athletic

2^nd place- Huddersfield Town

Play-off places- Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Preston and Leyton Orient

Relegated- Yeovil Town, Tranmere, Stevenage and Exeter

Predictions for the Npower League two season 2011/2012

Champions- Swindon Town

2^nd place and 3^rd place- Shrewsbury and Gillingham Town

Play-off places- Bradford City, Rotherham, Port Vale and Crawley Town

Relegated- Barnet and Accrington