EFL: It’s Championship time…

0:00At PwC, we optimize the systems that put your data to work, so you can scale your AI from proof of concept to competitive edge, and accelerate your tech evolution so you can redefine what's possible. From blueprint to breakthrough, we take you further with tech. So you can outthink, outpace, and outperform. PwC. So you can. PwC refers to the PwC network and or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. You're probably multitasking right now, right? Commuting, working out, crossing things off your list. Worth asking when check-in on yourself landed on it. Grow makes the booking part fast.

0:41The rest is between you and a therapist who actually gets it. Grow connects you with thousands of high-quality licensed therapists across the U.S., offering both virtual and in-person sessions, nights and weekends. There are no subscriptions, no long-term commitments. You just pay per session. Grow helps you find therapy on your time. The therapist you want takes your insurance on Grow. Grow accepts over 125 insurance plans. Sessions average$21 with insurance and some pay as little as$0 depending on their plan. Visit growtherapy.com slash start now today to get started. That's growtherapy.com slash start now.

1:23growtherapy.com slash start now. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.

1:36Hello and welcome to the Game Football Podcast from The Times. This is our EFL Extra show with me, Tom Clark, and the former Football League legend, Gregor Robertson. Throughout the season, we bring you reaction and analysis to the highs and lows of the Championship, League One and League Two, and today we are in preview mode once again. The toughest league in the world, an unpredictable and thrilling test for all teams and with a huge prize on offer at the end of it. The Championship is back and we are here today to try and work out what on earth is going to happen over the next nine to ten months.

2:12Gregor, we're back and I'd say this is the toughest job in football, previewing the Championship. Toughest job, never mind managing in it or playing in it, previewing it has got to be one of the hardest things in journalism, surely. It's right up there, yeah. I mean, there are some teams that you haven't got to scooby what's going to happen with them. I would say Watford has won this year. I'd say Stokes another. Every year you think, surely this year? Stokes, eight years now in the second tier, never finishing the top half. You think, Mark Robbins, got a good manager, made some good signings.

2:43Maybe this is the year. Probably not. we'll see you know there's obviously been some you know the fact that the relegated teams have kind of managed to bounce back in the first or second year is perhaps becoming an issue that's slightly easier to say that they'll be in the mix but there's always a surprise there's always a Luton or a Coventry or someone Sunderland so like yeah still full of surprises the championship and full of entertainment and drama yeah absolutely you mentioned some of those teams that have gone down coming up and talk about that promotion race we'll get to that in just a second before we begin though a quick look at the opening weekend in league one and league two obviously we previewed these two campaigns last week immediately looking stupid you know producer neil delighted with our suggestion that blackpool might be there or thereabouts and immediately lose to three two at home sorry to stevenage cardiff making me look stupid by for suggesting they won't be in the mix with a two one win against peter brett and my own team the mighty lincoln city i said i was worried Reading fans have been complaining in their absolute hordes about my inverse jinx because Lincoln went and won 2-0 any other results catch your eye?

3:50Stockport's win over Bolton that was a big game on the opening day we obviously previewed them saying that they're right up there again this year and then after we recorded the show they signed Nathan Lowe as well who was obviously on fire last season at Walsall that's really boosted their forward line too he only came on in this game but I'm sure he's got a big part to play and I'd say probably Grimsby's 3-0 win in the opening day as well against Crawley. That was pretty emphatic and impressive. And I think Grimsby might have a good season in store. Yeah, you've said that twice. You've said that twice.

4:20Last week you said it. Just give myself a pat on the shoulders, really. You make sure you remain a club legend at Grimsby Town, making sure that is firmly the case. Right, let's get into it then. The Championship kicks off on Friday night with Birmingham promoted as champions of League One last season at home against relegated Ipswich. It's the perfect place to start, Gregor, I think, in lots of ways. And I think probably this is the most sensible way of starting with the six clubs, the three who came down and the three who came up. So that's Birmingham, Charlton and Wrexham, obviously up from League One, Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich down from the Premier League.

4:56You are, you've got many catchphrases and ways that I think of you in my mind, annoying being one of them. But another is Mr. Parachute Payments. You are obsessed with the idea that parachute payments skew this league. so that's my first question to you is this going to be a case again of Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester being up near the top of the league and basically looking like it might make competitiveness look a bit of a nonsense the thing I always say is that you have to do something really stupid to be in receipt of the best part of 50 million quid in a parachute payment in year one and not be in the top end of the table you have to and you know Luton you know I doff my hat to you but there are obviously other things at play this year it's potentially Leicester could have a points deduction still kind of rumblings going on about that and it's looking likely they will, it's just the extent to which they'll be punished Southampton have got the youngest manager in the EFL in Will Still who has been talked up for a long time but the Championship's a a very challenging league and particularly when you've not really had any experience in it and Southampton have been up and down a couple of times now and they were so bad last season, so bad I wonder how much that's going to have a hangover I think Ipswich are by far and away the favourites for the league I think they could really walk it actually Keira McKenna is still a hugely, hugely talented manager one kind of one difficult season in the Premier League does not change that and as we said when they were promoted they basically their kind of model of recruitment was to buy all the best players in the Championship it stands to reason that when you come back to the Championship you've got the best squad in the League and that's the case so yeah I think they'll all be up there and it's an issue the Championship is still a fantastic league and it's still as I said at the start there there's still teams that always surprise you and there's still teams who are able to because of how relentless the league is and how unique it is there's still teams who can who can spring a surprise and because of the playoffs you know as we see every year you're going into March and April and you still could be in 12th and have a chance of being in the playoffs so that will always give an opportunity for a surprise but you know last season Burnley got 100 points you know lead two were in the second year and still have receipt of parachute payments got 100 points Sheffield United who were relegated the year before had 92 points Sunderland in fourth had 76 like even if you go to the season before that it was there was like a 12 point gap between Southampton who were fourth I think finished third maybe and then and then and then the next team in fourth so there was like again another dozen point gap and three of the three of the three the three teams who were relegated were were all finishing the top four so like it is becoming a bit of a trend um there's no no escaping that another thing that makes interesting this year is the teams who are who were promoted from league one two of them are very very well backed and charlton yeah have a very experienced manager and nathan jones so let's get into them yeah i was going to one thing i was going to say to link though is that I agree with you on Ipswich I think they have to be up there but there's part of me that with the other two thinks they would leave the door open to other teams and as you just tease there I think one of those other teams is got to be Birmingham City.

8:44I think there's every chance, we're getting ready for an early seven minutes in listeners for Tom Clark's ridiculous hot take but there's every chance that the championship season begins on Friday night with the two teams that will finish first and second. Thoughts? I don't quite as bullish about Birmingham they've made some unbelievable signings one caveat is do you think so? I think they've made some they've made three really good signings and I think the rest I'm biased having seen them seen them a fair bit in League One last season and thinking these lads these lads are playing in first gear and are way too good for this league they've got a load of players already that were good enough to go up but you know I mean Führer Hashi not a very good player at the championship level yeah I mean look forward signed for about 7 million from Sadrené to add to the already packed forward line he's a modern legend at Celtic he was outstanding Damari Gray, Bright Asahi Samuel these are players that are very good level championship players aren't they?

9:43yeah look Tommy Doyle alone from Wolves as well that's a great signing Aaron Cashin from Brighton played in league very very good signing I love Asahi Samuel he's been at Fernabachi after QPR that's a good signing Damari Gray, less sure being in Saudi Arabia you hear Chris Davis Chris Davis gave a really good interview to Johnny Northcroft at the weekend and Sunday Times and he referenced him saying that he kind of needed the idea that he's coming back to the club where he began is something that's going to really get him motivated there's a good chance he'll be a good sign and I'm not so sure about that Kyogo could be, as I say he was an absolute star at Celtic didn't look out of place in the Champions League went to Wren, barely played last season, so if that works then yes could score the goals that take them into the automatics.

10:37But they have already got a 22 year old Jay Stansfield who they signed for all that money last season, like let's be honest he was signed surely as a championship level striker. Yeah, he's a championship level player, whether he's a top, top, top, top, top level championship player I think there's still a question mark about I think he only scored nine non-penalty goals last season in League One there was a lot of penalties in his goal record look there's also the fact Chris Davies it's his first season at the level and they were so used to being completely dominant in possession and dominating the entire league that there's going to be a different dynamic at play now the other thing I will say as well is the window's not shut they could still blow your mind with some sign-ins it's you know their their ambition i fully expect them to do just that i can't see how they won't sign at least one more that makes you go whoa you know whoa they've signed that guy how there's every chance every chance so like i expect them to compete but i i'm not sure i'm not sure about automatic they they will expect to compete though won't they that's the other thing they the hierarchy tom brady's you know your mate your mate wagner will expect them to compete won't they like that this is the thing I'm saying they're going to finish in the top two automatics there'll be people at the club expecting them to be up there yeah no no their their their goal is to is to be promoted again absolutely and you know the automatic uh promotion spots are are in their sights it's just whether the reality will will uh will prove different um I think as well you look at their squad and and I think there are a lot of players who were too good for league one I just don't think they're too good for the championship not too good but definitely got more to come i'd say more to come from a lot of the players in that team already um and i think more to come from them i would not be surprised to see them in the top six and obviously i'm being mischievous suggesting that the season opens with the top two i wouldn't rule it out what about wrexham then another club who's hierarchy american backers superstar glitz and glamour that part of them will be expecting it again but we've talked about the idea that they've had this amazing upward trajectory that maybe in the world of documentary and Hollywood films, a year battling it out near the bottom of the championship might not be a bad thing, certainly for a bit of drama.

12:52But again, they've signed players that doesn't look like they're going that way. Lewis O 'Brien brought in from Forest. He's a brilliant signing in the championship. Kiefer Moore, similarly. Connor Cody. I mean, they're not big money, glitzy signings, but they're very much in the Parkinson-Wrexham mould, aren't they? This is very, very clever recruitment. Yep, Wendass on a free from Wednesday Ryan Hardy kind of proved last season at Plymouth he was capable of playing in the league, you're right they're not, Lewis O 'Brien is a big sign and Cody's had a great career and he did well at Leicester in the Championship, less so last season they've been linked with Nathan Broadhead from Ipswich which would be a really good sign in but I don't think I think this is going to be a more difficult season for them, they've won treble promotion three promotions in a row consecutively it's never been done before it stands to reason that this is the biggest leap and it's not a squad that's going to be able to acclimatise naturally I think there's also question marks about Phil Parkinson as well incredible job he's never really cut it at championship level as a manager there are reasons for that think about his time at Bolton the club was a basket case he was there with Colchester in the past and they were always kind of punching above their weight there's a question about if he's going to evolve his tactics a little bit it's been quite direct and sort of rudimentary a little bit, come on, let's be honest he's got to upgrade it more than a little bit hasn't he?

14:27I think in the nicest way he says with a bit of stubborn resentment as a former League 1 rival who watched us drop points against Wrexham in a very unfortunate fashion it's hard to remember the last team that that were promoted playing that sort of football. Teams kind of sometimes break into the top six. You think of Barnsley under Valerian Ishmael. I think they do need to evolve. And I think they need to evolve if they want to get to the Premier League too. So I think now's the time to start. And that's a question mark for Phil Parkinson. Do you see then, just to push you a bit farther on Parkinson, because I agree with you, that's what I was going to say before you brought it up.

15:01I can almost read the statement now. We thank Phil for everything. It's been an amazing journey. you know like around like no late november time you know that kind of that kind of time where there's enough time to change the season around and push towards the top half you know we thank everything it's been amazing he will always be a part of rexham you know rexham till i die you know phil legend forever you know they'll name name a seat after him in the dugout or something like that and then they'll bring in someone from you know spain or someone who brilliant to push you a bit further do you think phil parkinson lasts the season at rexham in the championship I think he'd have to do really badly.

15:34I think they would have to be in danger of going down. I don't think that's going to be the case. Because I think what you said, you know, you said it a bit tongue-in-cheek. I think probably there is an element. I remember speaking to Humphrey Kerr, who's been a big part of their journey. He's been on the board and was Ryan Reynolds and McElhinney's man on the ground at the start. and I remember him saying there is a kind of part of us who thinks we don't want to do this too quickly it shouldn't look too easy so I don't think they would be yes they want to be promoted but I don't think they would be majorly upset if there was a year in the mid-table when there was a bit more jeopardy and I think what Phil Parkinson has done should buy him time and if you're allowing him to mould the squad and to sign players like Kiefer Moore, who's clearly a big guy up front, then if you suddenly turn to someone who's going to play total football, then that will raise its own issues as well.

16:39So I wouldn't expect it, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility. Charlton then, Nathan Jones signing a massive new contract in the summer after being linked with a move away from Charlton after getting them promoted via the playoffs. Again, speaking of playing styles, not always the most attractive to watch Charlton last season, but they got the job done. Big signings for them as well. Charlie Kelman coming in, signed from QPR, having been a top scorer in League One at Leyton Orient last season. Rob Apter from Blackpool, another very good signing, very interesting for a 22-year-old. Will he be able to step up and play in the Championship?

17:14I'm sure a lot of Blackpool fans think he can. Not quite as exciting or as upwardly mobile as the other two, but Charlton will not be wanting or expecting necessarily to be scrapping it out in the relegation zone. I think they might though Gregor, what do you reckon? Yeah I mean the recruitment has been interesting and there are a lot of players who are kind of very very good League 1 players players that, kind of what Luton would have done when he was there, you know sign the best players in the league below and try and develop them and you know everyone's part of the same journey but yeah Charlie Kellerman won the League 1 Golden Boot he's never really done it in the Championship Rob Apter as you say it's a step up for him same with Sonny Carey, came from Blackpool Harvey Nib's a really good young player but he's come from Reading but again it's the same he's not really tested at this level Olaofe from Stockport same thing he signed three players from Luton and Amari Bell, Rhys Burke and Kaminski, they are players well capable of playing at the level but everyone else, the kind of squad they had before, it feels like a brilliant League One squad so how they navigate the step up is the big question but Nathan Jones is a force of nature and when he really gets his teeth into a job exerts the full force of his personality upon the club then who knows where that can take them Stoke and Southampton are very difficult difficult jobs for him and this is the job where he's been bouncing back from that but I think I've no doubt that he's a hugely talented manager, motivator and he's got a point to prove.

18:53So I don't expect them to be battling relegation but I also don't expect them to be kind of challenging for the top six either. But I think that would be fine because Charlton's last two seasons in the Championship have ended in relegation. They've been through a lot of turmoil in the past. That would be fine. That would be a good result. I just worry you made that point there about that League One squad. Going back to Wrexham getting promoted, Birmingham walking away with the League One title last season. I don't think there was much between Charlton and a lot of other teams in League One last season.

19:25It was a very tight finish for those final playoff spots and in the playoffs as well. It was a good League One. I don't necessarily... It was a good League One. It was a very good League One. I just don't think, as you say, your point about Kelman, it's that old Rob Earnshaw thing when he used to step up to the Premier League, is he good enough? I just don't think it's quite the same and I don't look at that squad and go, oof, there's a lot relying on Nathan Jones here and I don't think all the points you made could well stack up and he could drag them through but I think mid-table are absolute best for Charlton this season Just to come back then, on Wrexham and Birmingham would you say both promotion contenders or Birmingham only?

20:02What bracket would you put them in if we create three broad ranging buckets to help us here? Promotion contenders, mid-table or a bit of a worry? Where would you put those three promoted teams? Birmingham are promotion contenders I think both Wrexham and Charlton mid-table and really in the grand scheme of things we'd be pleased with that. I'm going to go Birmingham promotion contenders very, very strongly. Wrexham probably mid-table, maybe promotion contenders but I think Charlton might be now down battling it out against relegation. Let's come back then to have the same quick question on those teams who were relegated Ipswich, I'm with you, should probably win the league, will definitely be up there.

20:41What about Southampton and Leicester then because they are up there with two of the 11 teams that have changed manager this summer we'll come on to the others in a minute but yeah Marty Sifuentes going with that what do you reckon for that as a pronunciation of the new Leicester manager solid enough yeah yeah decent passable for now replacing Ruud van Nistelrooy and as you say Will Still replacing Ivan Juric at Southampton absolutely fascinated to see how Will Still gets on Pete Rutzler our colleague has interviewed him you can read that interview on the Times website and in the Times pages in the coming days.

21:17Where do you see it for both these sides? Because Leicester, I'm a bit worried about if I was a Leicester fan because they've lost a few very experienced players. They could surprise a few, but as you say, potential points deductions looming, not made any particular moves in the transfer market as yet. I don't necessarily see an immediate bounce back, but tell me I'm wrong. Again, it's one of those where you think that, you think that about relegated teams these days and how bad they were last season the turmoil that's perhaps going on behind the scenes but then you look at their squad and you know still got like Winks and Skippen and Didi and James Justin and Bobby de Cordova-Reed and Pat Sindaka who is their only striker but I think in the championship is a good striker Sifuentes, there's one thing Sifuentes is a bit of a change in direction in terms of the style of play that Mureska had Leicester playing in the Championship again a totally dominant style of play Sifuentes is a bit more pragmatic and defensive minded the squad is still stacked it's just as you say there's a lot of uncertainty there and how much a points deduction would even affect them when you're talking about teams who are finishing in the 90 point bracket they could still have a points deduction and finish in the playoffs so that's totally possible.

22:41So, I mean, it's also the same sort of squad that they, a lot of the same squads that won promotion last time. So it's not just the same. That's two years ago now, though. I mean, I'm no physio expert here, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee the same results, does it? No, it doesn't guarantee the same results, but they, you know, they dominated the league and I still think a lot of the players in that squad are, if not too good for the league, they are totally elite players in the Championship, undoubtedly. So, you know, a lot of the squad has been together for two years. They've had a big up and a major down and they've seen two managers come and go.

23:21They're on to their third. There's a lot of uncertainty, undoubtedly, but they don't have to do that much to be challenging. I still think Leicester will challenge. Southampton are fascinating because of Will Still. His journey as someone who, he's born in Belgium, but he is English and never had any playing career of note he's an analyst he had a bit of work experience at Preston back in the day he's worked in Belgium and then did a really good job with Reims and Lund they've lost players they've lost Keld Walker-Peters Suleymana, Ramsdale, Bednarek Tyler Dibbling will go I'm sure Fernandes will go Harwood Bellis probably will go but again you look at the squads, they've got Flynn Downs, Shea Charles who is a brilliant player, not really done much at Southampton yet but I think he'll get an opportunity this year, Will Smallbone that's a great midfield Cameron Archer Armstrong up front he completely blew the league away the last time a lot of players again who they step up to the Premier League has not been easy for them to navigate but they've proven themselves to be very very good players in the championship so Will still is the biggest unknown I'm sure a lot of people might have watched his Monday Night Football appearance a couple of months back and the thing you took away from that was he's not like a kind of dogmatic coach as many modern young coaches are in terms of how he wants to play with the ball it's a lot of what he talks about as what they do without the ball and the intensity and the high pressing and all that kind of stuff and it's going to be interesting fascinating to see is his coaching going to be visible immediately if not it may be a bit more of a difficult season for them because the championship's relentless but he's had a full pre-season and it'll be fascinating to see his effect on that squad So both in the promotion contenders view Undoubtedly You think they're so you think they're in a bad way and then just look at their squad.

25:36It's too good. Just flagging the listeners as we approach the halfway mark that you've already picked four of your six promotion candidates. That's all I'm saying. We've got a lot of big clubs, a lot of managerial changes, a lot of movers and shakers still to come in the second half of the show, but you've already locked in four of six. I'm joking. Of course, we can have contenders. We're going to take a little break. Time for a little quiz question. One of the other big games of the opening weekend pits two of the clubs we've already mentioned, Southampton against Wrexham against each other on Saturday.

26:03This is the first meeting in any competition between the two sides since a League Cup second round clash in the 1979-80 season. Gregor, this is going to be a guess for you. What was the aggregate score in that two-legged tie? Find out after the break.

26:33AI from proof of concept to competitive edge. And accelerate your tech evolution so you can redefine what's possible. From blueprint to breakthrough, we take you further with tech. So you can outthink, outpace, and outperform. PwC. So you can. PwC refers to the PwC network and or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. You're probably multitasking right now, right? commuting working out crossing things off your list worth asking when check in on yourself landed on it grow makes the booking part fast the rest is between you and a therapist who actually gets it grow connects you with thousands of high quality licensed therapists across the u.s offering both virtual and in-person sessions nights and weekends there are no subscriptions no long-term commitments you just pay per session grow helps you find therapy on your time the therapist you want takes your insurance on Grow.

27:32Grow accepts over 125 insurance plans. Sessions average$21 with insurance and some pay as little as$0 depending on their plan. Visit growtherapy.com slash start now today to get started. That's growtherapy.com slash start now. growtherapy.com slash start now. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. Take this as your sign to go. Just get out there and go. This summer at Best Western, get 1 ,000 bonus points and a chance to win 250 ,000 bonus points. Life's a trip. Make the most of it at bestwestern.com. No additional purchase necessary for sweeps. See bonus points, TNCs, and sweeps rules for details.

28:26Welcome back to the Game Football Podcast from The Times. I'm Tom Clark and I've got former football league legend Gregor Robertson with me. Admittedly, don't get all huffy with me. That was a difficult quiz question. There's absolutely nowhere you could have known the answer. You had a guess. You went 5-4. Not quite right. It was actually 8-0 on aggregate over two legs to Southampton. Southampton winning 5-0 at home. 3-0 away against Wrexham. Wrexham will be hoping that that is not the case on Saturday. Gregor, I mentioned managerial changes. It was a huge theme of last season's EFL Extra shows, constant changes, particularly in the Championship, and it's continued into this summer.

29:05As I said, 11 changes. We've already talked about Will Still and Marty Sifuentes. There's also been Gerhard Struber replacing Liam Manning at Bristol City. Sergei Yakirovich replacing Ruben Stellas at Hull. Rob Edwards has gone in as head of Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough. Liam Manning, who I've just mentioned, has ended up at Norwich, replacing Johannes Hof-Thorop. Julian Stefan has replaced Sifuentes at QPR. Henrik Pedersen has replaced Danny Roll at Sheffield Wednesday. Ruben Seles, who I mentioned, has gone in replacing Chris Wilder at Sheffield United. Paolo Petzolano, which sounds like a perfectly football manager, AI-generated name for a Watford manager.

29:43But he's the new man in charge at Watford, replacing Tom Cleverley. and a fascinating one at West Brom, Ryan Mason, replacing Tony Mowbray, who of course was sacked towards the end of the season. It never stops. The managerial merry-go-round in the Championship just never, ever ends. Any ones that you want to pick out there? There's loads to talk about. Any clubs, any choices that you're particularly interested in? Sellers is interesting. I mean, Sellers did a great job at Reading, obviously, and then he did the job that was required at Hull and then was sacked. and now he's gone to a team with parachute payments after Chris Wilder was sacked, which a lot of people will be surprised by as well.

30:18They won 92 points last season. They were within, I don't know, 15-odd minutes of promotion in this playoff final. That's a really interesting one. There's been a lot of change. I think there could be more too. They lost Ahmed Hodzic to Feyenoord, Vinnie Souza to Wolfsburg. Kiefer Moore, as we said, has gone to Wrexham. Even players last season, their squad changed a lot last January after the takeover was completed and they signed Ben Brerent and Diaz, Hamza Choudry, Rob Holding on loan so they've all gone back. They've not really signed anyone apart from Louis Barry yet. Louis Barry is an exciting signing but they've got more to do I think and then Sales I feel like he's someone we say this quite often we need to get off to a good start because he's replacing someone who was a local hero you know he always spoke Chris Wilder always spoke about the football representing the city you know front foot in your face that's his catch his kind of catchphrases Salis I think you know tries to play football a little bit differently more expansive so I think you'll need to start well I think Liam Manning to Norwich is really interesting yeah yeah I like him that's the one that's got me that's really interesting to me I think they could be I like him I really like him I think I interviewed him once when he was at MQ Don you could tell he's a fiercely intelligent guy like a really good coach in education at the City Football Group his kind of philosophy for want of a better word has evolved since MK to Oxford to Bristol City last season he's become more pragmatic too and Norwich are a club that should be challenging, they finished 13th last season they should, you know, the size of the club in the Championship even low.

32:03They made 11 signings as well. I think it's 11. I've been struggling to keep count, but one of them was a signing who signed Jovan McCarma, a young striker from Lincoln, who's a really, really promising young forward, but they've spent nearly, I think, about 20 million quid, brought in 11 new players and a new manager. A lot of those players under 25, yeah. It could be a car crash, but there's something about it that suggests with Liam Manning, who are like you, I rate, could do pretty well. but again the expectation is certainly going to be that they're up there Absolutely, I mean Norwich always expect that they've got to remember they've lost Borja Sainz Callum Doyle's gone back to City they let Angus Gunn go as well goalkeeper Mark Atanasio has kind of finally taken over fully full control from Delia Smith so a new era is kind of really fully beginning now Jacob Wright from City after a lone 19 year old midfielders a good pick up but you're right, a lot of players a week we'll need to see like young forward from Metz another from Braun Bay you know it's one where it's been interesting recruitment but we'll see how many are hits and how many are misses, but I come back to I like Manning, I think he's got a big future and you know it was, got Bristol City into the playoffs last season, that was a big overachievement I think and he's he's I think he was born in Norwich that's you know again another one that seems perhaps a little bit odd and leaving Bristol City to go there but bigger budget you know home club although I think he began his career at Ipswich that'll be forgotten if he's a success so they're really interesting.

33:51The other two for me again following a theme of like what you say about Norwich. Norwich should be in that promotion category. Middlesbrough and West Brom, two teams that have been in the Championship a while now, would expect to be in promotion contention. Middlesbrough going for Rob Edwards after Michael Carrick. Rob Edwards obviously doing brilliantly initially at Luton and then terribly. And West Brom going for Ryan Mason after Tony Mowbray. I don't think you can get as big a flip-flop in terms of what type of manager in terms of Championship experience in Tony Mowbray to then opting for Ryan Mason.

34:25I mean these two are fascinating I'm not fully convinced by either I have to say I agree Mason has got that kind of association with Spurs he's been a coach to some good managers for quite a long time so he's worked beside some big names he's 34 I've never been convinced of him whether he's a kind of leader personally that's just my hunch and so it's a big that's a big brave move for West Brom and they've not really done a great deal either in the transfer market, they're still kind of slightly constrained financially, Nat Phillips centre and a half, a big striker from Norway, still got Tom Fellows, one of the best players in the league can Daryl Dike stay fit I think Carlos Corberan, he left for Valencia at Christmas time, again that was another overachievement to get West Brom in the playoffs the season before and have them up there competing so I'm not convinced about that and I think Rob Edwards has a bit to prove now as well he's had a rollercoaster career promotion at Forest Green sacked by Watford promotion with Luton relegation with Luton sacked again midway through last season with Luton on the way into League One Middlesbrough are a club finished 10th last season that's not good enough for them they believe they should be challenging Hayden Hackney looks like he's off to Ipswich yeah I think that's a challenge.

36:04Interesting he brought in ADV Vash as number two though who was long term association with Mark Robbins and that was part of the reason that Robbins Robbins time at Coventry went wrong last season so that's a shrewd appointment but they're really interesting ones too and I've also got to say Mark Robbins, I know he joined last season but he's had a full pre-season there's been some Coventry-esque sort of recruitment, Devin Mubama from City but he came through at West Ham 19 striker big opportunity for him to start to make a career for himself Ashley Phillips centre-half from Spurs Aaron Creswell left back Sorba Thomas I think they've made some decent recruits actually but Stoker Stoker Club we've said that before in the past Do you know what if you're about to put Stoke in your promotion bucket category honestly that'll be your wildest prediction ever made on this podcast ever like I'm not disagreeing with you about Mark Robbins necessarily but I don't see that club and him working out I just don't see it at all I think your point about Vivash as well is something that always sticks with me when you make that point about Robbins maybe being a bit more of an old school leader and he almost he thrived at Coventry because he needed that you know that narrative behind him of like how tough it was and I think that really he really used that to his advantage and he did brilliantly absolutely brilliantly and some of his Coventry teams played fantastic football but when it then went wrong at Coventry and then all the things you points you made about his coaching staff then getting the Stoke job I just and as you say they've made some interesting signings but I don't see it for me I think they're in the middle mid table bracket at best I think that's likeliest but look if they have a season without having to look over their shoulder they finished 18th last season two points above the drop zone like that's not what Stoke should be doing with their budget and the amount that the Coates family have invested so yeah if there's progress signs of progress then I think they'll probably take that there'll be so many really interesting ones.

38:20I think that the returner Gerard Struber is interesting he did a good job at Barnsley he's managed New York Red Bulls Red Bull Salzburg FC Cole in Germany since then Bristol City are a club that again I've had a lot of investment but it's kind of dried up a little bit and they've pivoted towards youth but that was the kind of the model that he operated with at Barnsley so I think that's an interesting one and Petzolano at Watford is, you know, who knows he's coached in, he's a Uruguayan he's coached in Mexico, Brazil and Spain he's had promotions from like the second tiers in those countries Watford have had a very kind of Watford summer, signed a lot of talented young players from all over Europe, players from Bayern, Montpellier Udinese, surprise surprise they've still got Coadobah Chakvatadze, Imran Luzza Ngakia they've still got some talented players, like last season under Cleverley they surprised everyone for the first half of the season and then yeah they were terrific and then they were the worst team in the entire league in 2025 so who knows but it could catch fire I think they've got a talented talented group of players and the appointment's interesting so yeah some fascinating appointments and who would you be picking out then we talked I kind of teed it up in the first half of the show about you suggesting Birmingham and then the relegated three would be in contention which of those clubs that we're just mentioning there are you starting to think they should be or could be in and around that playoff promotion contention?

39:56Norwich. I'd agree on Norwich. Sheffield United again. Year two of parachute payments and I'll keep banging on about them. I think they'll probably do a bit more business. A bit of a question mark about the new owners. That was part of their recruitment model. Their desire to not let Chris Welder be the master of the universe there was a big part of the reason he left but again they've got the budget to be competing so I think both of those teams will, I'm not sure about the rest but there's still plenty of other interesting teams that we can come on to that I think could be surprises Yeah, well talking about teams that we could come on to, you mentioned Coventry talking about Mark Robbins, Frank Lampard still there, still at Coventry did absolutely brilliantly let's let's be honest no one saw that coming last season he did absolutely terrific job to get them into the playoffs I'm sure probably lots of Coventry fans are still thinking back to that semi-final against Sunderland and wondering what might have been especially after what Sunderland managed to pull off in the playoff final against Sheffield United not been a particularly busy summer for them though and you do wonder about that factor of momentum with Lampard in his career before where it has is there the longevity there is there there a build there?

41:14I'm just looking at some of the promotion odds now and some bookmakers have got them sixth favourite for outright winner which would suggest that they should be in and amongst the playoff contentions again I'm just not sure they're necessarily there and I do wonder about that upward push of what Lampard seems to generate where he gets something going and he keeps it going, whether a summer actually for lots of managers is ideal, maybe it's not for Frank Lampard they've made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons as a squad that are good enough to be competing at that level, again the biggest problem is if they want to look higher than that, as the reason we've pointed out several times already is that teams come down with far bigger, greater resources so they were the third best team in 2025 behind Leeds and Burnley they've still got great firepower Look up front, they've got Haji Wright, Thomas Asante, Ellis Sims, Ephraim Mason-Clark, Sakamoto.

42:20That's a good forward line. Matt Grimes was a great signing in January, a control man in midfield. The question mark is in defence a little bit, and again, perhaps protection of the defence, and that has been a bit of our current theme in Lampard's jobs at Derby and Chelsea, offering that protection and their vulnerability to the counter so that's something that will be interesting to see how he tries to, you know, he'll know about that how to counter that but they grew enormously under Lampard it was a hugely impressive start to his time at Coventry and I think they should be up there as well as I say, the resources of other teams are the only reason why they shouldn't be looking up even more I think Derby are really going to be really interesting this season.

43:10John Eustace, again, he's an incredible job he did in coming in and saving them last season from the drop. Finished 19th, but he's signed some familiar faces, some players that feel like really good fits for his kind of style of play. Carlton Morris up front. Danny Bath and Byman, who he's worked with at Blackburn. He's already got players who feel like, you know, will fit his kind of industrious front foot football as well and Caden Jackson, Ben Osborne, David Ozil will come back from Palace Bobby Clark is a really interesting pick up as well, he joined Red Bull Salzburg from Liverpool last summer for 10 million and he was one of the players, one of the Liverpool's kids who made a big impact in the League Cup that season they've signed him on loan talented lads I think they could be looking up as well their biggest signing is Patrick Adjimang I should say striker from the US Charlotte FC he's injured just now but you know a lot could rest on how he arrives and acclimatises in the championship but John Eustace has proven himself to be an outstanding manager let's remember for anyone who's forgotten that he left Birmingham sat by Birmingham when they were 6th in the league Wayne Rooney who came afterwards was a disaster he left Blackburn I think fifth, could have been sixth, in the top six anyway and they fell away after he left and he joined Derby and he also saved Birmingham from the drop in the past as well, he's been a success and I think it may not be this season but I think I expect a lot of improvement from Derby this season Absolutely fascinated by Swansea by the way, the team we've not mentioned yet Alan Sheehan in charge.

45:05But never mind that, Luka Modric and Snoop Dogg. I mean, come on. Like, this is absolutely crackers. I know I'm not for Ryan Reynolds, but I'm definitely for Luka Modric and Snoop Dogg being sat in the stands at Swansea watching their new investment. This is a fascinating one though, isn't it? I mean, Sheehan finished the season quite strongly in charge. But again, another club that previously in the last decade or so has been challenging, has been up in the Premier League for a great stint, haven't looked like it for a long time. Could it all come together? or could it all fall apart? I think they look quite promising.

45:38I do have Ethan Galbraith, a great signing from Leighton Orient. Their big issue last season was in defence and I think they've signed Cameron Burgess from Ipswich, Ricardo Santos from Bolton, who I've always quite liked. I think they're decent signings. I really liked G-sung Eom last season, South Korean winger. I think after a year in the league, we could see more from him they've signed a 23 year old from Hacken, Stryker Inousa for 6 million so again it's another one where clubs like Swansea and Derby don't have enough money to make that investment once it needs to work and I have to say I like Sheehan he's someone whose path I cross with a lot as a player he carries himself really well, he's very personable I do think he has kind of leadership qualities and his impact was clear.

46:34It took him a long time to be actually given the job. He was caretaker for a long, long time after Luke Williams was sacked. But I think he's someone who looks promising. So yeah, it's been a difficult few years for Swansea but I think there should be a bit more optimism this year. Well, we're being very happy because currently we've done 48 minutes of this preview, Gregor. Who's going down? No one's getting relegated. Everyone's pretty good. Everyone's promising. they could be good you know we're bigging everyone up one team that I'm going to stupid hot take and they will definitely definitely prove me wrong but I'm worried are Millwall just with the amount of players they've lost they've lost George Honeyman George Saville Murray Wallace Duncan Watmore lots of players with huge experience have left and Zian Fleming who's loaned to Birmingham was a hugely talented player he wasn't obviously with them but I don't know whether they can do it keep doing it I'm not necessarily saying they're going to go down Alex Neil's a good manager at this level how long do you keep doing what Milwa do so brilliantly every season at what point does it fall down well they were just if you look in the calendar year table they were fifth fifth best team in 2025 just say I'm an idiot I think this is a bad show Alfie Doughty's a great signing I think Massimo Luongo's a good signing part of a promotion winning team with Ipswich not long ago didn't get much game time at all in the Premier League obviously they've made some mistakes they've pivoted away from you know, signing tried and tested championship players being effective survival, they've changed their recruitment model a bit, they hired Joe Edwards who was Lampard's number two that didn't work, Neil Harris had to come back save the club and then that ended quite abruptly as well, but Alex Neal is one of the most underrated I think, managers in the championship he's been a success most places Stoke was the only exception but you know who isn't who doesn't struggle there yes Essay and Fleming two big players for them they lost last year I think they made a late run for it last season I think they could be a challenger again so I disagree come on then come on then who's coming down who's going down because you know is it Hull we've not mentioned Blackburn they've got a good manager Valerian Ismail as well I think Blackburn's another that you don't know you've no idea what you're going to get because Ismail had a shocking start after after replacing Eustace awful and then they won I think 5 out of 6 something like that before the final day of the season which gave them a chance to still go in the playoffs didn't happen but they've lost players Tyrese Dolan has gone gone on a free I think he's gone to Espanyol somewhere in Spain as we said Weiman in Bath Callum Britton has gone to Borough there's issues still about the Venkis how much money they have and I think there's kind of a court case going on in India their signings are looking like, I don't know they've signed players from the Belgian second division and a striker from Moriense in Portugal for 2 million euros they need these guys to be a success and I'm not so sure, so I think Blackburn could well struggle Portsmouth, Preston, Oxford, these teams we've not mentioned.

49:53You know, Oxford and Portsmouth doing brilliantly to stay up last season, particularly Portsmouth. We kept giving them a shout out for being about the only team in the bottom half of the table that didn't change their manager. John Moussinho still there. Maybe they'll change him this time around after a terrible start. No, I think... Preston are one. They had a shocking finish. If your metrics for this are how did teams finish last season, Preston had an absolute stinker. They nearly managed to walk themselves into a relegation battle. Absolutely shocking. you know Heckingbottom's a good manager someone that you rated did a brilliant job at Sheffield United can he make it solid can he keep them up I don't know I'm not sure I think they could be in for a tough one they're saying Daniel Jebbison who heck he knows from Sheffield United but he's been on he got a move to Bournemouth and he's been on loans none of which have been very successful in this league and Michael Smith from Sheffield Wednesday big striker like these are not like championship strikers yeah Oxford Will Lancashire from Spurs is an interesting one on loan Gary Rowett I think will keep them up but I think again it'll be another difficult season and then we've got yeah You know there's three relegation spots right because at the minute you've got no one going down and we can't Sheffield Wednesday they're a basket case but they can't fill all three places mate come on I'm going to have to pin you down on one of these other clubs we'll finish with Sheffield Wednesday in a minute but I'm going to have to get you to pick a couple who you think you could struggle.

51:23Come on. Blackburn, as I said, I think Preston could. I think Hull will. I mean, again, this is another one that's, you know, there's a bit they could change. They're under a transfer embargo. They can't pay any transfer fees until January, but they're appealing that decision. So if they win that appeal, then the owner, Akun Ulicali, is fiercely ambitious. I'm not sure he's made many good decisions yet, but he'll certainly back his new manager Jarkirovic who's managed Dino Zagreb in the past he's no mug but they've not been able to do much in the way of recruitment interest in Joel Ndala 19 year old winger from City on loan he could catch fire but I think they'll struggle as things stand Wednesday I think they're the worst the worst state a championship club has been going into a season for years and years and years.

52:18Unless something changes, there are bigger issues about whether they're going to drop into League One or not. But they could be players on strike. Danny Roll left. The manager took I think three or four members of his coaching staff and the one guy who's left behind is Henrik Pedersen as the manager for the foreseeable. One of the stands is closed for safety issues.

52:44So many players have left there in an absolute mess so yeah you've got club captain Barry Bannantell talking to TalkSport in the last couple of days saying that he doesn't think the players will go on strike and refuse to play the first game of the season against Leicester he said we pulled out a pre-season game the Burnley Burnley game at the weekend he said that was simply because it's happened too much now and I think it's a lot easier to pull out of a pre-season friendly than it is a championship fixture that's an interesting approach to starting a season he said we've come into training and just got on with it and made it look to the outside world like we're fine with it so that was our choice then to say enough's enough really and we've we understand from various reports that there are enough players to be able to fulfill this fixture against Leicester but as you say this has got to be the worst preparation for any season ever by any club and just just to that point as a former player yourself I mean that idea that Bannon's saying I mean a huge hugely brilliant stalwart for Sheffield Wednesday hugely experienced player but the idea of not playing a pre-season friendly and then playing a competitive championship match that's a disaster isn't it?

53:48Yeah I mean they're undercooked in every possible way imaginable I mean their training ground wasn't ready to use at the start of pre-season they went to St George's Park their wages have been delayed for three months in a row morale will be on the floor after like will he won't he, will he won't he leave Danny Rule eventually left and he was the one kind of big shining light for them. So, yeah, they just need a sale of the club to go through and then even then any manager who comes in or with their person given a chance to do something himself, it's an enormous task. So, like, it would be a miracle if Sheffield Wednesday stayed up.

54:29That's all you can say. It certainly would be a miracle at the minute. I'm sure fans would just be hoping that their club survives. We'll leave it there. Gregor Robertson, thank you very much for joining me. as always we just about managed to squeeze a few predictions out of you there although basically it sounds like everyone is going to do well apart from Sheffield Wednesday thank you two for listening if you've got views on some of the points we've made or if you're upset it was not something we missed out do get in touch with me tom.clark at the times.co.uk remember we will be covering the EFL throughout the upcoming campaign and we will be back with our series of previews looking at all 20 clubs in the Premier League in the coming days we'll see you then Thank you.

55:38PwC. So you can. PwC refers to the PwC network and or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. Where's your playlist taking you? Down the highway? To the mountains? Or just into daydream mode while you're stuck in traffic? With over 4 ,000 hotels worldwide, Best Western is there to help you make the most of your getaway. Wherever that is. Because the only thing better than a great playlist is a great trip. life's the trip make the most of it at Best Western book direct and save at bestwestern.com