Npower Championship 20122013 Preview Part 2

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Yesterday was my first of four parts of an Npower Championship preview for the season ahead, as I featured Barnsley, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers and Brighton and Hove Albion. Today I turn my attentions to another six teams, these being Bristol City, Burnley, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace, Derby County and newly promoted Charlton Athletic, can any of these six teams mount a serious promotion challenge this seasonBristol CityLast season yet again proved that Bristol City are slowly on the decline as an Npower Championship side. The 2011/2012 campaign proved to be their worst campaign, since returning to the second tier of English football five years ago, as Derek McInness side finished in a lowly 20th place. Not much is expected of Bristol City in the 2012/2013 season, a relegation battle may well occur and relegation itself is a huge po sibility. Over the summer McInnes has brought in some valuable players, including former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris, goalkeeper Tom Heaton and young Irish left-back Greg Cunningham. These signings will benefit the side over the forthcoming season, but its in the forwards role where Bristol City are lacking serious quality, Brett Pitman will more than likely score the majority of Bristol Citys goals; however he will be very short of a sistance, astarget man John Stead and 24 year old Ryan Taylor, are unlikely to make major impacts. Bristol City could well be involved in a relegation battle this season, as I sadly believe their six year stay in the Npower Championship will come to an end. Prediction 22ndBurnleyLast season was no more than a consistent and stable one at Turf Moor, like fellow mid-table sides the final months of the season were nothing more thansubdued. This season Burnley will be hoping for better, but with the league being even harder this year, another mid-table finish is expected from the Lancashire outfit. After the departure of Jay Rodriguez to Premier League newcomers Southampton, Charlie Austin will play an influential leading role for Burnley this season, there will be huge expectance on Austin to deliver the goals this season, while fellow strikers Danny Ings Markieff Morris Jersey and Sam Vokes, will also play crucial roles. Meanwhile new signing Jason Shackell will captain the side, the sturdy defender will play a pivotal role in the heart of the Burnley defence, while the young pairing of Luke ONeill and Joseph Mills have also been signed to bring a wealth of depth to the defence. The Clarets should have another solid and comfortablecampaign in the Npower Championship, Eddie Howe is a highly rated manager and his current side are more than capable of staying in this division. Prediction 16thCardiff CityDisappointingly Cardiff City yet again mi sed out on promotionto the Premier League, as they felt the force of the demanding spectacle that is the Npower Championship play-offs. This season will be no different, apromotion challenge is this years a signment and nothing more than a top six finish will be seen Brandon Ingram Jersey as a failure. Cardiff City are one of the favourites for promotion this season, as Malky Mackayhas yet again madeserious adjustments to his side, the back four relatively stay the same despite the departure of Anthony Gerrard to Huddersfield Town. Joe Lewis has been snapped up from Peterborough United, as competition for the number one jersey, currently occupied by the highly regarded David Marshall. The most significant changes however have come within the forward line, the experienced Heider Helguson was snapped up on a free deal, while Mackay pulled two signings out of the hat, by bringing in Slovenian international Etein Velikonja and Cardiff born Craig Bellamy who rejoins the club after a loan deal in the 2010/2011 season, this time on a permanent basis. Cardiff City look well equipped for the campaign ahead, Mackay has yet again made aspiring signings, and with Peter Whittingham remaining at the club, the Bluebirds are a good bet for automatic promotion. Prediction 3rdCharlton AthleticIt was a terrific 2011/2012 season at the Valley, as Charlton Athletic cruised to the League 1 title by surpa sing the 100 point mark. Chris Powell has revitalised all ofCharltons hopes since being appointed manager in January 2011, the former Charlton player has had a ma sive impact as the manager of the Addicks, as the former Premier League side look to be heading in the right direction under the well respected Powell. Charlton have hardly made any first team changes, as the summer transfer window so far has been a frustrating one, so far only Lawrie Wilson, Jordan Cook and Salim Kerkar have joined the London club. Chris Powell knows how to get the best out of his players, on paper they arent the most talented side in the division, but Charltons work rate should pay off in this 2012/2013 campaign. When promoted many fans believed that Charlton would be po sible promotion candidates; however looking at the current team mid table stability may well be on the cards for Chris Powells side. They should pick up some very positive results, but at the end of the day I cant see them pushing for promotion. Prediction 17thCrystal PalaceIn recent seasons fora team capable of promotion, Crystal Palace have seriously underperformed. They are slowly on the demise as a capable top six team, and aregradually heading to the forgotten pit of constant relegation battles.Last seasonthe Eagles yet againfound themselves finishing in a low but stable finish, and this season it could well be more of the same. Dougie Freedman has lost three crucial players over the summer months, the exciting winger Sean Scannell, the seriously talented Darren Ambrose, and young up and coming right-back Nathaniel Clyne have all departed fromSelhurst Park. Freedman has also struggled to replace the fundamental trio, with his major signing coming in the shape of the versatile Joel Ward. Crystal Palace still remain with a mixture of youth and experience, season campaigners of Julian Speroni, Paddy McCarthy and Owen Garvan remain on Freedmans books, while youngsters Wilfried Zaha, Jonathan Parr and Jonathan Williams are expected to make enormous impacts this season. Crystal Palace should find themselves safe this season, but a relegation battle is Lonzo Ball Jersey po sible, Zaha needs to have another incredible campaign, or Crystal Palace could seriously struggle. Prediction 19thDerby CountyDerby County and Nigel Clough are looking to improve every season, last season Clough set out his benchmarks and he succeeded, as his side improved from a 19th place finish in 2010/2011, to a 12th place finish in 2011/2012. Cloughs next target will beto reach the top ten, and Derby are more than capable of succeeding.Cloughs only real lo s this summer is central defender Jason Shackell who has headed to Burnley, but the 46 year old has found a suitable and efficient replacement inthe force of Richard Keogh from Coventry City. Clough has also improved his midfield byclaiming two talented acquisitions,as Michael Jacobs and Paul Coutts sign from Northampton Town and Preston North End respectively. The Rams also look more stable in attack, striker Theo Robinson will be crucial this season, expect him to make a ma sive impact in this seasons Npower Championship. The top ten beckons for Derby County, but I believe they will just mi s out again, they have a decent side but its not exceptional, mid-table is more than likely in this campaign. Prediction 12th
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