From Championship to Premier League



This article can also be found on the Futbol Network: https://thefutbolnetwork.wordpress.com/2016/02/15/from-championship-to-premier-league-who-will-gain-promotion-this-season/

The Championship is an extremely competitive league. A whole host of Championship clubs nowadays have massive budgets, meaning they are able to buy a higher calibre of player. This has undoubtabley improved the quality of the league, but has also heaped pressure on the managers of the wealthier clubs. The pressure on themselves and the players to get in to the Premier League is bigger than ever. Although there are many in the hunt for a promotion place, only three can move up. Despite there being many teams within the league who could make it, I believe Hull, Burnley and Middlesbrough, will make it this year.

Hull are currently clear favourites for the Championship title, and rightly so. They simply have the strongest squad in the league. They have lots of Premier League players within their ranks, Robert Snodgrass, Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore to name a few. Steve Bruce has managed to keep hold of key players, such as the ones already mentioned, as well as Mo Diame and Abel Hernandez, who have been crucial to their success in this campaign. Despite losing a couple of important characters, such as Robbie Brady and James Chester, these two were sold for a combined worth of about £15 million, which is sure to help them in the long run if they do make it back in to the Premier League, as they will have a substantial amount of money to spend. While, the players certainly do deserve their praise for performing so well this season, we must not forget about Steve Bruce. Many teams drop down from the Premier League and assume that they are going to go straight back up, but in reality, very few accomplish this. Teams such as Cardiff and Fulham have had poor seasons after being relegated. Both Cardiff and Fulham had foreign managers at the time who had no experience of the Championship, resulting in them being complacent, and subsequently being sacked. However, Steve Bruce has a wealth of experience in both the Premier League and Championship, so it is no surprise that he is well on his way to returning Hull to the Premiership at the first time of asking. If Hull do not finish the 2015/16 season as Champions, I will be very surprised.

Middlesbrough also have strengthened their squad this season with big money signings. Stewart Downing, a fan favourite, made a return to the Riverside in the summer from West Ham, along with David Nugent from Leicester, who despite never being that impressive, does provide Premier League experience. The two players costing Boro a combined worth of around £9.5 million. However, their biggest transfer of the season came in January, signing Jordan Rhodes from fellow Championship side Blackburn, for a staggering £9 million. This is a huge statement of intent from Boro, showing they are willing to splash the cash if it helps them reach the Premier League. They also brought in Richie De Laet from Leicester on loan until the end of the season, but defensively, they have been very solid this campaign. In fact they have the best defence in the league, conceding just 16 goals all season. We will get to really see what they are made of when they play their last 4 games of the season. In those games they play Birmingham, Brighton, Burnley and Ipswich, all of which are currently chasing a play off spot. Even though those games seem the most difficult, there are no easy games in the Championship, and lots could change between now and May. Boro do currently have 2 games in hand, meaning if those 2 games in hand end up in victories, they will be top of the pile, but that of course is easier said than done. Middlesbrough also play Hull in a few weeks time which should be an excellent game. Although its very tight at the top, and will continue to be so until the final day of the season, I think Hull and Middlesbrough have enough to make it in to the automatic promotion places.

In all honesty, any one of about 6 teams could manage to fight their way in to the Premier League through the play offs. But for me, Burnley have the edge over everyone else. Crucial totheir success this season has been down to Sean Dyche keeping the majority of the players that were part of the squad that were relegated in the 2014/15 season. Despite losing prolific striker Danny Ings to Liverpool, they have managed to perform well in the Championship. The signing of Andre Gray has been an excellent decision. He is a quick, nippy striker, who has scored 33% of all their goals in the league. He cost Burnley £9 million pounds, but if he continues this kind of goal scoring form, it will have been well worth it. They also have another proven Championship goal scorer in their ranks, in the form of Welsh international, Sam Vokes, who provides serious aerial threat, as he showed recently in the FA Cup against Arsenal. Joey Barton is Sean Dyche's most recent recruit, and although he may not be the most likeable of footballers, he is a solid, consistent midfielder who contributes a lot, despite the occasional booking. A rather overlooked player for Burnley is Tom Heaton. The English goalkeeper performed admirably in their 2014/15 Premier League campaign, and impressed at his previous clubs of Cardiff and Bristol City, so I am glad to see him consistently featuring for Burnley, a team who are seriously pushing for a place in England's top flight. Sean Dyche has an experienced bunch of players who I think are ready to have another go at the Premier League. This year, it is really tough to call who will make it through the play offs, but assuming Hull and Middlesbrough occupy first and second place, I think Burnley have enough to make it through.

Hull, Middlesbrough and Burnley are all undoubtabley strong Championship sides. I would be very surprised if Hull do not manage to claim the Championship title and if Middlesbrough do not make second place, but as for Burnley, it is more ambiguous. The likes of Derby, Birmingham and Brighton have all impressed so far this year, and are sure to push the league leaders all the way to the final day. The Championship is a notoriously competitive league with no easy games, and it may be said a lot but it does not stop being less true, anything could happen between now and the end of the season.