2018/19 Championship Predictions: Adam

With The World Cup feeling like a far off dream, Love Island finally over and the outside temperature returning to human friendly levels, we can all now feel relieved that the end of summer is finally upon us. This means only one thing, that the football season is very nearly back. It’s exciting! The start of the season always is even though that we all know, deep down inside that come the bleak midwinter, after 3 months of watching Bolton struggle our faces will all resemble that of Steve Bruce’s above.

And with that cheery note its time for my Championship predictions:

Champions

Stoke. They’ve got a good manager in Rowett who I think has been unlucky in his previous jobs so far, a strong team for this division after retaining the likes of Butland, Shawcross, Joe Allen and Martins Indi. Add to those players the goals of Benik Afobe and you’ve got a title winner.

Runners Up

WBA. Another team probably too good for this division but I don’t think they are as good as Stoke overall. Jay Rodriguez is going to get a hatful of goals against some of the teams further down the table. However, I could see them languishing here for a couple of years if they don’t bounce back at the first time of asking.

Playoff Offs

Swansea, Leeds, Middlesborough and either one of Brentford, Preston or Derby.

I think Leeds are one of the really interesting teams going into the start of the season, the appointment of Bielsa could really go one of two ways and either end in animosity at the end of November or as title winners by April.

Relegation

Wigan (just because it’s them), Rotherham and Reading.

This really could be anybody and an honest list would most likely contain us but I couldn’t bring myself to do that. I think Reading have been struggling for a while and looked especially poor at the end of last season and Rotherham love a Yo-yo job.

Where will Bolton Wanderers finish?

As I said in my Preview of our season anywhere between 10th and 21st. With better game management at times last season we wouldn’t have been anywhere near that bottom three come the final day. This season could be the same as last year or it could be better, i’m worried about jinxing it either way.

League Top Scorer

Tough one. Afobe, Assombalonga or Josh Magennis? I think we all know the answer to that.

Mad Random Event Prediction

Parkinson is sacked with 3 weeks until the end of the season and Ken appoints the dynamic duo of Kevin Nolan and Kevin Davies, as manager and head coach, to guide the club to safety.

That or Villa have a complete meltdown and finish bottom.