The Championship Season 2012/13 Preview
Part 4 : Millwall - Wolves
by Colin Cowan
Millwall
In: Maik Taylor (Leeds, Free), Scott Malone (Bournemouth, Undisclosed), Chris Taylor (Oldham, Free), Karleigh Osborne (Brentford, Free), Danny Shittu (QPR, Free)
Out: Chris Hackett (Northampton, Free), Jordan Stewart (Released), Hameur Bouazza (AC Omonia, Free), Tony Craig (Brentford, Undisclosed), Josh McQuoid (Bournemouth, Moved as part of Scott Malone deal)
Key Player: Liam Feeney
Final League Position Last Year: 16th
After a mid-table finish last season, Millwall will be hoping that they will have a more successful season. They have brought in experience centre back Danny Shittu from QPR. They have lost experienced players in Hameur Bouazza and Josh McQouid. I feel they will have another disappointing season and will narrowly escape relegation unless they manage to bring in more players.
My Prediction: 21st
Nottingham Forest
In: Adlène Guedioura (Wolves, Undisclosed), Danny Collins (Stoke, Undisclosed), Greg Halford (Portsmouth, Undisclosed), Dan Harding (Southampton, Undisclosed), Simon Gillett (Doncaster, Free)
Out: Garath McCleary (Reading, Free), Luke Chambers (Ipswich, Free), George Boateng (Released), Joel Lynch (Huddersfield, Free), Chris Gunter (Reading, Free), Paul Anderson (Bristol City, Free)
Key Player: Lewis McGugan
Final League Position Last Year: 19th
It has been a summer of change for Nottingham Forest. With new owners coming in along with a new manager and new players Forest fans are looking forward to the new season. New manager Sean O'Driscoll has been busy this summer. He has brought in Danny Collins from Stoke in a move to improve his defence. There have also been departures with Chris Gunter leaving for the premiership alongside Garath McCleary as both joined Reading. I feel Forest will have a good season and should have enough to secure a play-off position.
My Prediction: 4th
Peterborough United
In: Michael Bostwick (Stevenage, Undisclosed), Robert Olejnik (Aston Villa, Undisclosed), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Wolves, Undisclosed), Tyrone Barnett (Crawley, Undisclosed), Shaun Brisley (Macclesfield, Undisclosed), Nat Knight-Percival (Wrexham, Free), Danny Swanson (Dundee United, Free), Jonson Clarke-Harris (Coventry, Free)
Out: Joe Lewis (Cardiff, Free), Paul Jones (Crawley, Free), David Ball (Fleetwood, Undisclosed), Nathan Ralf (Yeovil Town, Free), Matthew Breeze (Worcester City, Free)
Key Player: Tyrone Barnet
Final League Position Last Year: 18th
After securing their Championship status last year, the Posh have had a busy summer. They have brought in Michael Bostwick from Stevenage and Danny Swanson from Dundee United to strengthen the midfield. They have however lost goalkeeper Joe Lewis to Cardiff which is a massive blow. I feel that Darren Fergusons side will struggle in their second season back in the Championship and can see them making a return to League One at the end of the season.
My Prediction: 22nd (RELEGATED)
Sheffield Wednesday
In: Chris Kirkland (Wigan, Free), Kieran Lee (Oldham, Free), Joe Mattock (West Brom, Free), Anthony Gardner (Crystal Palace, Free), Chris Maguire (Derby, Undisclosed), Diogo Amado (União Leiria, Free), Nejc Pečnik (Nacional, Free), Rhys McCabe (Rangers, Free), Michail Antonio (Reading, Undisclosed)
Out: Scott Canham (Released), Sean Cuff (Released), Clinton Morrison (Colchester, Free), Richard O'Donnell (Chesterfield, Free), Vadaine Oliver (Lincoln, Free), Jon Otsemobor (MK Dons, Free), Tom Rowbotham (Released), Chris Sedgwick (Released), Matthew Tumilty (Released), Lee Wall (Released), Rob Jones (Doncaster, Free), Ryan Lowe (MK Dons, Undisclosed), Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen, Loan)
Key Player: Chris Maguire
Final League Position Last Year: 2nd in League One
After promotion from League One, Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping to secure a good finish in their first season back in the Championship. They have made some very impressive signings as they have brought in Joe Mattock, Chris Maguire and Chris Kirkland. They have however lost experienced striker Clinton Morrison. I feel they should have enough to stay in the Championship.
My Prediction: 18th
Watford
In: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal, Free), Fitz Hall (QPR, Free), Almen Abdi (Udinese, Loan), Steve Leo Beleck (Udinese, Loan), Matej Vydra (Udinese, Loan), Ikechi Anya (Granada, Loan), Daniel Pudil (Granada, Loan), Alex Geijo (Udinese, Loan)
Out: Rene Gilmartin (Plymouth, Free), Michael Bryan (Released), Tom James (Nuneaton, Free), Chez Issac (Boreham Wood, Free), Adrian Mariappa (Reading, Undisclosed), Scott Loach (Ipswich, Undisclosed), David Mirfin (Scunthorpe, Free)
Key Player: Sean Murray
Final League Position Last Year: 11th
The Golden Boys have had a summer of change. New owners arrived and so did a new manager in Gianfranco Zola. He has had a busy summer bringing in 8 new players. Manuel Almunia and Fitz Hall arrived on free transfers and a number of loan players arrived from Udinese and Granada (two clubs the new owner also owns). Some of these loanees included Daniel Pudil who has caps for the Czech Republic and Almen Abdi who has and Europa League experience. They have however lost goalkeeper Scott Loach and the teams play of the season from last year, Adrian Mariappa who has joined Premier League side Reading. The Hornets are not expected to do much this season but I can see them having a chance of sneaking into the play off places if they have a good start. If not then they should finish in the top half of the table.
My Prediction: 10th
A 'Golden' goal?
Wolverhampton Wanderers
In: Frank Nouble (West Ham, Free), Jamie Tank (Walsall, Undisclosed), Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson (Lillestrom, Undisclosed), Tongo Doumbia (Rennes, Loan), Slawomir Peszko (Colonge, Loan)
Out: Ashley Hemmings (Released), James Spray (Released), Louis Harris (AFC Wimbledon, Free), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Peterborough, Undisclosed), Adlène Guedioura (Nottingham Forest, Undisclosed), Sam Vokes (Burnley, Undisclosed), Leigh Griffiths (Hibernian, Loan), Jake Cassidy (Tranmere, Loan), Johnny Gorman (Plymouth, Loan), Michael Kightly (Stoke, Undisclosed)
Key Player: Kevin Doyle
Final League Position Last Year: 20th Premier League RELEGATED
After a disappointing season last year, Wolves were relegated from the Premier League. They will hoping that they can bounce back up at the first attempt. They have made a few signings, the most impressive being Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson from Lillestrom. They have had a lot of departures but have managed to keep hold on to the majority of the starting XI. However star striker Steven Fletcher and midfielder Matt Jarvis have both handed in transfer requests and look set to depart. If they do manage to keep hold of them they should easily win the Championship. However if they do leave they still have a good side and should at least be able to finish in the play-off places.
My Prediction: 1st PROMOTED AS CHAMPIONS
Kevin Doyle
Part One - Barnsley - Brighton Part Two - Bristol City - Derby County
Part Three - Huddersfield - Middlesbrough
Part Three - Huddersfield - Middlesbrough
(c) 2012 thegoal-line.com All Rights Reserved.
