The Championship Season 2012/13 Preview
Part 3 : Huddersfield - Middlesbrough
by Colin Cowan
Huddersfield Town
In: Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace, Undisclosed), Paul Dixon (Dundee United, Free), Oliver Norwood (Man United, Undisclosed), Adam Clayton (Leeds, Undisclosed), Joel Lynch (Nottingham Forest, Free), Keith Southern (Blackpool, Undisclosed), Anthony Gerrard (Cardiff, Undisclosed)
Out: Greg Pearson (Released), Simon Thomas (Released), Gary Roberts (Swindon, Free), Danny Cadamarteri (Carlisle, Free), Tommy Miller (Swindon, Free), Nathan Clarke (Leyton Orient, Free), Aidan Chippendale (Accrington Stanley, Free), Gary Naysmith (Aberdeen, Free), Antony Kay (MK Dons, Free)
Key Player: Jordan Rhodes
Final League Position Last Year: 4th (League One, Promoted via Play Offs)
After a penalty victory in the league one play off final at the end of last season, The Terriers are back in the second tier of English football. They have had a busy summer and have made some very good signings. One that shocked most people was the signing of Adam Clayton arriving from Yorkshire rivals Leeds. They have also brought in Anthony Gerrard, Keith Southern, Sean Scannell and Joel Lynch, all players with Championship experience. They should have enough quality to stay in the Championship and could be a dark horse for a play off place.
My Prediction: 11th
Hull City
In: Sone Aluko (Rangers, Free), Alex Bruce (Leeds, Free), Abdoulaye Faye (West Ham, Free), Nick Proschwitz (SC Paderborn 07, Undisclosed), Eldin Jakupovic (Aris, Free), Ben Amos (Man United, Loan)
Out: Sonny Bradley (Aldershot, Loan), Dede Adebola (Rochdale, Free), Mark Cullen (Bury, Loan)
Key Player: Sone Aluko
Final League Position Last Year: 8th
After narrowly missing out on the play offs last year, Hull will be hoping that they can make that extra step and make it back to the Premiership. New boss Steve Bruce has had a busy summer and has brought in some quality players. The loan signing of Manchester United’s highly rated goalkeeper Ben Amos. They also brought in Sone Aluko from Rangers who was being chased by a number of Championship clubs. I can see Hull having mid-table finish as they do not have enough.
My Prediction: 12th
Ipswich Town
In: Scott Loach (Watford, Undisclosed), Massimo Luongo (Tottenham Hotspur, Loan), Luke Chambers (Nottingham Forest, Free), Elliott Hewitt (Macclesfield Town, Undisclosed)
Out: Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough, Free), Richard Wright (Released), Lee Bowyer (Released), Ibrahima Sonko (Released)
Key Player: Scott Loach
Final League Position Last Year: 15th
After a disappointing 15th place finish last season the Tractor Boys will be hoping for an improvement in the 2012/13 season. Paul Jewell has brought in goalkeeper and Ipswich fan Scott Loach from Watford to try and solve the goalkeeping problem. He has also signed Luke Chambers from Nottingham Forest. Can Jewell lead Ipswich to a successful season? I cannot see this and see them having a disappointing season and narrowly avoiding relegation.
My Prediction: 20th
Leeds United
In: Jason Pearce (Portsmouth, Undisclosed), Adam Drury (Norwich, Free), Paul Green (Derby, Free), Paddy Kenny (QPR, Undisclosed), Andy Gray (Barnsley, Free), Jamie Ashdown (Portsmouth, Free), Luke Varney (Portsmouth, Undisclosed), David Norris (Portsmouth, Free), Rodolph Austin (Brann, Undisclosed), Lee Peltier (Leicester, Undisclosed), El Hadji Diouf (Doncaster, Free)
Out: Alex Bruce (Hull, Free), Lloyd Sam (Released), Maik Taylor (Millwall, Free), Danny Webber (Released), Mikael Forssell (Released), Adam Clayton (Huddersfield, Undisclosed), Andy Lonergan (Bolton, Undisclosed), Robert Snodgrass (Norwich, Undisclosed), Andy O’Brien (Vancouver Whitecaps, Free)
Key Player: Ross McCormack
Final League Position Last Year: 14th
After a summer of change, Neil Warnock will be hoping that he can fire Leeds back up to the Premiership. He has had a very busy summer with a number of arrivals and departures. He has brought in experience goalkeeper Paddy Kenny from Premier League side QPR. Also joining from the Premiership is defender Adam Drury. They have however lost a couple of influential players. The first to leave was midfielder Adam Clayton who departed to join Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield. Then star player Robert Snodgrass left to join Norwich City in the Premiership. This is the one player most Leeds fans did not want to leave. Despite this they do have a good side and should easily finish in the top half. If they were to bring in a few more faces they could have an outside chance of promotion.
My Prediction: 9th
Ross McCormack
Leicester City
In: Jacob Blyth (Leamington, Undisclosed), Ritchie De Laet (Man U, Undisclosed), Matt James (Man U, Undisclosed), Jamie Vardy (Fleetwood, Undisclosed), Márkó Futács (Portsmouth, Free), Zak Whitbread (Norwich, Free), Anthony Knockaert (Guingamp, Undisclosed)
Out: Sol Bamba (Trabzonspor, Undisclosed), Matt Mills (Bolton, Undisclosed), Lee Peltier (Leeds, Undisclosed)
Key Player: David Nugent
Final League Position Last Year: 9th
After a disappointing season, Leicester will be hoping they can make the extra step and gain promotion to the Premiership. They have made some good signings and signalled their intention of making a promotion push with the signings of Ritchie De Laet and Matt James from Manchester United. They also brought in striker Márkó Futács in a move that saw them beat off interest from a number of Championship sides. They have a good side but I don’t think they have enough for promotion and can see another disappointing season for the Foxes.
My Prediction: 14th
The Foxes' key man: Dave Nugent.
Middlesbrough
In: Grant Leadbitter (Ipswich, Free), Stuart Parnaby (Free Agent), Christian Burgess (Free Agent), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur, Free), Emmanuel Ledesma (Walsall, Free), George Friend (Doncaster, Undisclosed), Mustapha Carayol (Bristol Rovers, Undisclosed),
Out: Barry Robson (Vancouver Whitecaps, Free), Jonathan Franks (Hartlepool, Free), Jonathan Grounds (Oldham, Free), Tony McMahon (Sheffield United, Free), Danny Coyne (Released), Matthew Bates (Released), Bartholomew Ogbeche (Released), Malaury Martin (Released)
Key Player: Marvin Emnes
Final League Position Last Year: 7th
After narrowly missing out on a play off place last season, Middlesbrough will be hoping they can make that extra step this season. They have brought in a number of new players, the one that excited the Boro fans the most was the return of Jonathan Woodgate. They also secured the signing of Grant Leadbitter from Ipswich. They have however lost a number of players. The loss of Barry Robson was a massive blow to Tony Mowbrays side. They have a good side but I feel they will have a disappointing mid table finish.
My Prediction: 13th
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