Championship 2024/25 predictions: Michael Dawson picks EFL winners, dark horses and relegation battlers
Sky Sports football analyst Michael Dawson has picked his top runners and riders for the Championship 2024/25 season.
The Championship 2024/25 season has arrived, with a fresh wave of ambition drifting over fans across the land. Is this finally their year?
Former Premier League and EFL defender Michael Dawson has picked out which teams he thinks will be celebrating come May, and who faces a nervy campaign in the Championship - which starts this weekend, on Friday 9th August.
Dawson was speaking on behalf of Sky Sports as part of its start of season football campaign, which brings together 92 passionate football fans from each team across the Premier League and EFL to share their hopes for the 2024/25 season.
RadioTimes.com brings you Michael Dawson's top picks ahead of the Championship 2024/25 season.
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Championship 2024/25 predictions
Winners
MD: Burnley or Leeds are the teams for me in the Championship.
Burnley, I was really surprised with the way they performed in the Premier League last year, because of the way they blew the Championship away two years ago. I thought Vincent Kompany would take the team into the Premier League and play the same way, score goals and be comfortable, I did. I honestly believed that, and that was a real surprise for me, with the way Burnley defended, the goals they gave away and never learned.
But I do see [improvement] with Scott Parker there - he's had Fulham out of the Championship, Bournemouth out of the Championship, and I think he's the man.
Leeds are another team, they've got some good players. Yes, they've sold Archie Gray to Spurs, but if they keep some of them, they've got some big players - Joël Piroe and Georginio Rutter - time will tell, and bringing Joe Rodon back, who I thought was brilliant for them last year on loan from Spurs.
Sheffield United may be in or around it. Kieffer Moore, good signing on loan. Callum O'Hare, I like. But what will they be like? They got used to losing, these teams, last year, and Sheffield United were really, really disappointing.
Dark horses
MD: In the Championship, in terms of the surprise package teams, I think Middlesbrough will be there or thereabouts with Michael Carrick.
There might be one surprise package from the three that have come up, but only time will tell. It comes down to finances as well.
Relegation battlers
MD: Plymouth is going to be a big ask for Wayne Rooney, going there. You see when they were promoted 12 months ago, winning the league, but Ipswich are the ones going back to back. It's remarkable.
Argyle struggled last year, sacked the manager, and with Wayne coming in now over the summer, I think it's going to be a big, big challenge. They'll be looking over their shoulder, as well as the three teams promoted.
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