2017/18 Championship Seasons: Ian's Predictions

After a year in the footballing wilderness we are back in a league that is possibly one of the most exciting, deadly and until recently (yeah thanks Sky/EPL) evenly matched divisions you could possibly want to be in. A good season and Premiership lucre awaits. Shite season and next up is Scunthorpe. So how will it finish? Probably nothing like below otherwise I'd have a huge wedge of cash deposited at the bookies.

Winner

Middlesbrough. Reminds me of the UAE wanting a World Cup, but simultaneously having football grounds at the arse end of the world. The answer to the problem was to throw so much wonga at it, they couldn't be denied. A World Cup in an Arabian high summer 40-50C is now happening. Similarly with Boro spending £36.5 million (double the next highest spenders Wolves) on striker Assombalonga (£15m), Martin Braithwaite (£8m), Jonny Howson (£6m), Cyrus Christie (£2.5m) and Darren Randolph (£5m) tells a story of a club that will not be denied a Prem return. I think Gary Monk is a good manager as well and has a point to prove. Life's not fair and Boro will win this league.

Runner Up

Tough one this. Sheffield Wed, Fulham, Hull and Sunderland will all be in with a shout but I'm going for Villa. With the odious but highly experienced and admittedly good John Terry now organising that back line, Steve Bruce will guide this team back up to the promised land.

Play Offs

Funnily enough I'm going for Sheffield Wed, Fulham, Hull and Sunderland, with play off final victory for the Owls, thanks to a Jordan Rhodes winner.

Relegated

Millwall bottom by a country mile for me. They've absolutely no chance in this division. Grit and grind got them up via the playoffs last season against better teams but it will be bugger all use in the Championship.

QPR are a team that have been waiting to implode for a few seasons now. Time for them to meet their destiny. This prediction has absolutely nothing to do with the fact of how a club can completely ignore FFP but somehow stay out of an embargo. Honest. The bloody shithouses.

Burton Albion will be down after their season in the sun despite being well managed by the impressive Nigel Clough. I just can't see them surviving another season with a budget as small as Boltons but a team purely made up of minions.

Where Bolton will finish?

As I said in my Bolton predictions we will survive in a creditable 19th place. I just have a feeling that a well drilled squad, still on a promotion high, will just about have enough in the tank to keep them up. Karacan is a cracking signing as well. Could he be this seasons Morais?

League top scorer

Jordan Rhodes. The git will undoubtedly score against Bolton both home and away so I may as well go for him. Not had the best of times at Boro but this lad is still quality and now with the right club in Sheffield Wednesday.

He's also a Championship player through and through. Twenty plus goals no problem for this fella this season.

Bolton top scorer

ALF. Fifteen plus goals for the wonder boy. Can't see anyone else getting close. Wheater and Beevers will be too busy defending and our other strikers/attacking midfielders aren't exactly prolific.

Mad random event prediction

Bolton will be out of the embargo before the winter window opens.

Only joking as there's sweet fa chance of that happening.

How about Bolton yet again stuff a highly expensive Wolves squad, showing who are the Wanderers big boys and who are the Wanderers bitches. The Parkinson inspired win ensures our Championship survival.

COYWM, I should be dreading this season but honestly can't wait for it to start.