How the Championship table will look in May is anyone's guess - with giants dropping down from the Premier League and big clubs coming up from League One.
A closed shop in some ways, wide open in others: the Championship is a befuddlingly fascinating league, specialising in one thing above all: chaos.
Automatic promotion races of the last two seasons have both featured a swashbuckling, runaway champion followed by a runner-up cruising to second, challenged only by a resurgent slow starter.
It’s also true that there’s been no final-day drama in the relegation dogfight since 2020/21. But the play-off scrambles have been absolute box-office.
With just two games left in 2022/23, even a team in the bottom half had a chance of qualifying for the post-season. On the final day, five teams fought for two places. Luton ultimately won the play-offs – a massive achievement for a club that had been in non-league as recently as 2014, and a message to all that success against the odds is possible with smart ownership, recruitment and coaching.
There’s no denying, though, that the clubs with parachute payments have a sizeable advantage. It’s one that Leeds, Leicester and Southampton must seize. The Yorkshire club will have a lively, energetic squad if they can avoid too many important departures, while Leicester hope that Enzo Maresca has learned plenty as Pep Guardiola’s assistant, and new Saints boss Russell Martin must ensure there’s an efficiency behind his side’s possession principles.
The biggest threat to the tumbled trio may come from Middlesbrough, given their form after Michael Carrick took charge last October: 58 points from his 30 games, scoring 65 goals and conceding 35. After such end-to-end entertainment, losing their play-off semi-final 1-0 over two legs could be incentivising.
Their conquerors, Coventry, have new ownership and a manager who can do no wrong, having taken the club from League Two to within one game of the Premier League. Mark Robins may struggle to replace key players, however, and the same could be true at fellow play-off losers Sunderland, although they have bagged a potential Australia captain of the future in their gloriously-named defender, Nectarios Triantis.
Millwall must recover from the uncharacteristic mental collapse that kicked them out of the play-off places on final day, but finishes of 8th, 11th, 9th and 8th under Gary Rowett suggest they’ll be involved. Blackburn, whose three second-half goals stunned the Lions that day, went close themselves, and have a clear pressing identity under Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Things look a little less positive at West Bromwich Albion, though they have an outstanding coach in Carlos Corberan, while Watford and Norwich, so dominant in previous seasons, need serious rebuilds – as do Gareth Ainsworth’s QPR, due to a total stylistic change and a worrying slump that nearly relegated them. And Stoke began pre-season training without a full XI under contract. Anyone for five-a-side?
Bristol City and Preston, perennial mid-tablers, will hope they can push on. So, too, Liam Rosenior and John Eustace, talented coaches intending to build on progressive first seasons at Hull and Birmingham respectively.
Faced with vacancies in their dugouts, Welsh rivals Cardiff and Swansea took two very different approaches: Erol Bulut arrives in the capital from Turkey, and Michael Duff in Swansea having worked wonders at Cheltenham and Barnsley. The Swans are in a double-figured list of clubs who feel they can aim for the play-offs, behind the small cluster expecting an automatic promotion challenge – but who knows what surprises are in store?
Ipswich could join the top six mix straight away. Consolidation would be no mere consolation, though, for the also-promoted pair of Plymouth Argyle and, still reeling from Darren Moore’s shock exit, Sheffield Wednesday.
Elsewhere in Yorkshire, 50 points is the objective for Rotherham and Huddersfield. Neil Warnock, 74, is staying with the Terriers for one last, last, last dance. Well, there has to be some continuity in the chaos...
Championship 2023/24 season preview
Birmingham City
Why Blues fans are finally looking up
Birmingham finished 17th in the Championship last season, but new owners at the club means Blues have some positivity to cling to. Expect more of the same on the pitch, however.
Blackburn Rovers
Why Rovers are aiming for the play-offs
Blackburn just missed out on the play-offs last season, despite beating rivals Millwall 4-3 on the final day to end their hopes, too. Rovers could sneak into them this term, though.
Bristol City
Why there's optimism at Ashton Gate
A 14th-place finish in the Championship for Bristol City is encouraging, and things are looking up as younger players start to make their name at the club.
Cardiff City
Will the Bluebirds have enough to survive?
Cardiff finished 21st last season, one place above the relegation zone, and could have an even bigger fight on their hands to stay in the division come May 2024.
Coventry City
How Coventry plan to deal with losing Victor Gyokeres
Play-off final defeat to Luton Town, after defeating Middlesbrough in the semis and finished fifth in the regular season, was heart-breaking for Cov, though arguably way beyond anyone's expectations for the team.
Huddersfield Town
How the Terriers hope Neil Warnock can bring stability
Warnock returned mid-season to guide Huddersfield to safety last season, and he's stuck around for the start of this campaign to ensure they don't end up in the same situation.
Hull City
Why the Tigers are expecting progress
Finishing 15th was slightly underwhelming for Hull last season, but with a new manager and a fresh influx of players, things could be looking up.
Ipswich Town
Are back-to-back promotions possible?
While Ipswich finished as runners-up in League One, the Tractor Boys are already being tipped as promotion-candidates in the new Championship campaign. Can they live up to the expectation?
Leeds United
Why a Premier League return might not be possible straight away
It's all change at Elland Road, with a new manager and plenty of new players set to bed in. While fans want to return to the top tier immediately, following their 19th-place finish, they might not get what they desire.
Leicester City
How the Foxes plan to walk the Championship
Leicester are favourites to win the league this season, and it's understandable considering they won the FA Cup just two years ago and have made some shrewd signings.
Middlesbrough
Why Boro are a force to be reckoned with
Michael Carrick has impressed since taking over at the Riverside, and while they lost to Coventry in the play-off semi-finals, Boro are tipped for another strong campaign.
Millwall
How the Lions can finally break into the Championship top six
Narrowly missing out on the play-offs on the final game of last term, after leading Blackburn 3-1 at one point before losing 4-3, will mean Millwall will come back with a vengeance.
Norwich City
Are the Canaries destined for mid-table obscurity?
Norwich could only manage to finish 13th last season in their first season back in the Championship, and they've now lost Teemu Pukki.
Plymouth Argyle
Why Argyle are confident of surprising the Championship
League One winners with 101 points, Plymouth could shock a few as they aim to retain their Championship status come May 2024.
Preston North End
Why Preston fans are praying for excitement at Deepdale
Everything was just a bit, well, flat at Preston last time out, as they finished 12th. They were never in danger of being relegated, but never troubled the top six either.
QPR
Will Gareth Ainsworth be able to turn around a sinking ship?
QPR were in free-fall last season despite such a promising start, they ended up 20th in the Championship. Manager Ainsworth will have to address that slide, though things are looking precarious.
Rotherham United
How the Millers plan on staying up
Rotherham finally stayed in the Championship last season, after four consecutive campaigns of yo-yoing between the second and third tier. They came 19th, and will hope for another season of safety.
Sheffield Wednesday
Will the Owls be able to move on from Darren Moore?
Beating Peterborough in the play-off semi-finals, after losing the first leg 4-0, will live long in the memory of Wednesday fans, before Josh Windass scored in the final against Barnsley in the 123rd minute. Many suggested they should've been automatically promoted regardless.
Southampton
Why rebuilding could be a blessing in disguise
Southampton were the first Premier League side to drop into the Championship last term, finishing plum last. It's not all bleak now though - they could use 2023/24 as a chance to rebuild.
Stoke City
Why consolidating in mid-table seems inevitable
Finishing 16th last time out, Stoke City are expecting more of the same under Alex Neil.
Sunderland
How Sunderland plan to kick on once more
Many didn't expect Sunderland to reach the play-offs in their first season back in the Championship last time out, so losing to Luton Town is no shame. Their young side is constantly progressing as well.
Swansea City
Will the Swans have enough quality?
While they came 10th last term, Swansea have lost manager Russell Martin and some key players, without replacing them with the same quality.
Watford
How long will Valerien Ismael last at Vicarage Road?
Sacking Rob Edwards, who later led Luton to the Premier League, turned out an awful decision by the Watford hierarchy, a they ended up 11th. With Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr both gone, it's unlikely they'll be in the top spots again this campaign.
West Bromwich Albion
Why Carlos Corberan is vital to Baggies success
West Brom came ninth last season - without Corberan, they could've feasibly been saying goodbye to the division and heading to League One.
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