Well, just 43 days after we completed the 2019/20 season, its time to start 2020/21! The continuing influence of the COVID-19 virus means that there still won't be fans in stadiums for a while - at the time of writing this blog it seems likely to be 2021 at the earliest. We just have to carry on with the "new normal" for the time being.
So what can we expect from the new season?
There have been 3 new signings to the club during this limited off-season so far. Welsh international Kiefer Moore has joined from Wigan to increase our attacking options. His form for Wales in two international matches last week looks encouraging, especially with him scoring the winning goal in the game in Finland. As mentioned in my last blog, Moore is a bit of a late developer but first indications are encouraging.
Jordi Osei-Tutu at Bochum
We have also signed two young players from Premier League clubs on a season long loan - Jordi Osei-Tutu from Arsenal and Sheyi Ojo from Liverpool. Osei-Tutu is a right back - an area where the club definitely needed help following the departure of Lee Peltier and Jazz Richards last season. He scored 5 goals in 21 appearances on loan at Bochum in Bundesliga 2 last season which is a pretty good scoring rate for a fullback - lets hope he can defend too!
Sheyi Ojo at Rangers last season.
Sheyi Ojo has played a dozen or so games for Liverpool over the last 4 or 5 years but has spent time out on loan at Wigan, Fulham, Wolves and last season at Rangers in Scotland. Its difficult to fully assess his ability as he is 23 now but has recently been given a new contract by Liverpool prior to his loan so presumably he is still rated there.
The transfer window extends for another 4 weeks yet so there may yet be some more comings and goings within the squad.
Kiefer Moore scores the winner for Wales against Finland.
The Big Question
Can we get promotion back to the Premier League? I would rate our chances about the same as last season - we should be good enough for a top 6 finish at least, and are capable of getting an automatic spot. Of the 3 teams relegated from the Premier League I would only think that Watford have a good chance of returning straight back to the Premier League. Both Norwich and Bournemouth have had their best players "cherry-picked" back to teams in the Premier League and must be considered as only outside chances of a top 6 spot although Norwich always seem to do it when least expected. Of the teams already in the Championship I fancy Stoke to perform better this season with a new manager in place, and from experience we shouldn't rule out what Neil Warnock might achieve at Middlesborough.
So here are my top 6 predictions for the Championship this season ( in no particular order) :-
WATFORD
CARDIFF
STOKE CITY
MIDDLESBOROUGH
BRENTFORD
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
I'm hoping that as we have been able to keep the bulk of our team together from last season while other teams have had to sell some of their better players (eg Ollie Watkins from Brentford) will give us a good chance of making the top 6. However, a lot rests on the fitness of Lee Tomlin and perhaps the club needs to find a near equivalent player to take some of the work off his increasingly injury-prone body.
But, this is the Championship where anything can happen where almost any team can get promoted or relegated. If I had to pick a team from "left field" then Coventry City might be a team that will do unexpectedly well. Football is back!
