The Championship is always a difficult one to predict. It's usually the case that of the 24 clubs in it, about 18 of them will be in the hunt for the play-offs or higher at some point. So really you might as well throw a dart into a wall as try to make these predictions. But hey, it's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it...
Brentford for the Premiership? It could happen. With last season's run taking them all the way to the play-offs and some eye catching big money signings over the summer, there's nothing to suggest that Chelsea may be facing a West London derby at Griffin Park rather than Loftus Road or Craven Cottage in 2016-17.
Middlesbrough were desperately unlucky not to get promoted last time around and will be giving things another go but the departure of striker Patrick Bamford to Crystal Palace could hurt them. They're currently being linked with a move for Blackburn's Jordan Rhodes and whether or not that comes off could be the difference between automatic promotion and another tilt at the dreaded play-offs.
Derby missed out last time around but despite hiring an untested manager in English football in Steve Clement, they've made some eye catching signings that suggest failure is not going to be tolerated again. Well in with a shout of a Top 2 place.
Looking at last season's relegated clubs, Hull and Burnley should both be well in with a shout of a play-off place but QPR's financial demons mean I can't see them finishing above halfway. Also in with a shout at the Top 6 are Wolves and Cardiff, both of whom finished strongly last season. Ipswich did well to make the play-offs with a very small budget last season but they now face a challenge to keep that squad together which makes me a bit hesitant about predicting them to do the same again this season. Bristol City, winners of League One at a canter last time out, could well be up there challenging again but I think upper mid-table is more likely.
Certain clubs you can almost guarantee will be finishing in the mid-table area - Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham all have the capability to string a set of results together and challenge for the play-offs but are more likely to finish around the halfway mark. Reading struggled last season but with a bit of tweaking they should be okay this time around. Last season's Championship runners-up Preston will be keen to make sure they consolidate at this level and should be good with a lower mid-table finish.
Looking at the wrong end of the table, MK Dons are likely to find the going very tough at this level. Matthew Upson will at least add some experience to their defence but he doesn't represent the future and they may be facing an instant return from whence they came. Rotherham scraped home by the skin of their teeth last season and with two promoted clubs looking capable of finishing above them they may not be so lucky this time around. Likewise Fulham flattered to deceive for a lot of the previous campaign and with changes at board level, a lack of money and players leaving, they may well be returning to their spiritual home of the lower leagues in 2016. Leeds' continuing off-field pantomime won't do them any favours, Brighton struggled last season and look likely to do so again while Nottingham Forest fell away alarmingly in the second half of last season and desperately need to halt their slide. Other potential strugglers include Huddersfield and Bolton who both need to avoid a bad start to keep their heads above water while Blackburn could be in serious danger if they lose Jordan Rhodes before the end of the transfer window.
ANDY'S PREDICTIONS
1. Brentford
2. Derby
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3. Middlesbrough
4. Hull City
5. Wolves
6. Burnley
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7. Cardiff
8. Ipswich
9. Bristol City
10. Charlton
11. Sheffield Wednesday
12. Reading
13. QPR
14. Birmingham
15. Preston
16. Blackburn
17. Huddersfield
18. Brighton
19. Nottingham Forest
20. Bolton
21. Leeds
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22. Fulham
23. Rotherham
24. MK Dons
Tomorrow - the big one! It's Premiership predictions time!
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