Will the Championship be tougher or easier? A division that still defies prediction | OneFootball

The Championship returns tonight as Wolverhampton Wanderers host Blackburn Rovers. Neil Warnock says promotion leans on dressing-room strength as much as budget, and that there are no easy games.

According to NY Times, the weekend brings Southampton at Watford and Burnley against West Ham United, with Monday's all-Welsh Cardiff City v Wrexham. There is still no VAR across the 46-game season, and the play-offs now extend to eighth.

Last season drew 12,223,766 spectators, the third-highest since the war. West Ham’s 61,500-capacity London Stadium could nudge attendances higher, though that remains uncertain.

Southampton’s spygate fallout includes expulsion from the final, a four-point deduction and three FA charges for Tonda Eckert that could bring a lengthy ban. They took 48 points from New Year, added Lewis Dobbin, and secured Cyle Larin and Daniel Pertz, but lost Shea Charles to Fulham.

Middlesbrough sold Hayden Hackney to Everton for an initial £16.5million, and £10million arrival Will Lankshear has already scored a scissor-kick winner against Wrexham in the Carabao Cup. Elsewhere, Norwich finished strongly under Philippe Clement and have kept their core.

Wolves have turned to Cesar Peixoto and carry Adam Armstrong and Raul Jimenez, with Kieran Trippier added. West Ham retained captain Jarrod Bowen despite relegation, while Burnley are an unknown under Nicky Hayen after key exits.

Warnock says the relegated trio are the ones to watch, but adds that a challenger could also emerge from Middlesbrough, Birmingham City, Southampton or Norwich. For him, the division’s unpredictability is the attraction.

Source: NY Times

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”