In the penultimate part of our season preview we look at the six teams that, in the bookies’ opinion, will be bobbing around in midtable for the next nine months.

Bristol City 20/1

Last Season

LFW said: City lack sufficient fire power in attack to make a real impression but have strengthened well this summer and can expect to do better than they did last season in my opinion. I am always surprised by the amount of stick Johnson seems to get on the City forums as I think he is a decent manager and one of his many tasks this season is to unlock the obvious potential in young Danny Haynes.

Manager Survival Chances Gary Johnson 7/10

Likely Star Player Marvin Elliott depending on fitness

Verdict 9th - Falling just short of the six.

What actually happened? 10th. In much the same way as Reading LFW got it about right positionally, only one out with the guess, but wrong in most other categories. City’ final league placing was due largely to a rally late in the season under caretaker boss Keith Millen after Gary Johnson’s time with the club had petered out. City were poor for the best part of last season, particularly away from home where they contrived to lose 2-1 to a QPR side managed by Paul Hart and boasting two right backs, two left backs, three centre halves and three defensive central midfielders for most of the second half. The last 18 months of Johnson’s reign was hamstrung by an inability to find a decent striker to play up front with Nicky Maynard. Partly that was down to bad luck, Rangers front man Andrius Velicka knackered his knee on debut against QPR in August, but Johnson was to blame as well – only an escaped mental patient would have taken Patrick Agyemang on a six month loan last season, that was one of the last acts of a desperate man.

Manager In the end Johnson just ran out of shelf life at Ashton Gate. His time with the club will undoubtedly be remembered fondly, having rescued them from the depths of League One and taken them to within 90 minutes of the Premiership in 2007/08. City never went close to matching that memorable run to the play off final and ultimately the board decided that was because Johnson had run out of time and ideas. I would contest it’s because a club on their average gate and wage bill probably shouldn’t be doing much better than the middle of this league and that play off was an exception rather than a rule. The appointment of Steve Coppell should shine light on the truth.

Star Man After a mediocre first season in which he scored just 12 goals and failed to justify a £2.3m price tag Nicky Maynard kicked into gear last season and is now one of the division’s hotter properties. His final tally of 21 came despite a mid season slump of one goal in 20 games but his class shone through with the division’s goal of the season against QPR on Boxing Day.

Next season

LFW Says: The appointment of Steve Coppell caught the eye as a particularly shrewd looking move this summer and City are starting afresh this season. City’s pre-season form has been patchy and they were beaten 3-0 at Aldershot last week after which Coppell revealed hhis frustration at the lack of transfer activity. Since then though the club has hit the national headlines with the capture of England keeper David James, and strengthened the defence with the arrival of Damion Stewart and Nicky Hunt as well. This, and the rumoured interest in the likes of Jay Simpson and even, ridiculously, Michael Owen, has made the bookies sit up and take note and their odds won’t be 20/1 for long if they get off to a good start.

The Manager: Coppell is an intelligent, thoughtful and likeable manager but constantly comes across as a guy whose heart isn’t really in it. His departure from Reading came a good year after it really should have done and to be honest I’m surprised he has stepped back into the hot seat anywhere. In fairness it’s a surprise that he’s taken a job other than the vacant one at Crystal Palace where he has had three spells previously. Plenty of experience and his style of football is a good fit at City. Survival chances 8/10.

Ins and Outs: David James obviously headlines the incomers but Damion Stewart and Nicky Hunt from QPR and Bolton respectively didn’t come cheap. Kalifa Cisse joins from Coppell’s old Reading side and Albert Adomah, a former Harrow Borough man, has been given his shot at the big time after impressing at Barnet. Long serving right back Bradley Orr heads the departures with a £500k move to QPR, Paul Hartley has returned north to Aberdeen, Jamie McCombe the most obviously out of his depth defender in the league has gone to Huddersfield and Brian Wilson to Colchester. Tristan Plummer, Ashley Kington and Steve Collis have been released.

Potential Stars: Nicky Maynard is probably another really good Championship season away from some serious interest from the Premiership. He found the higher level tough at first but really looked the part last term and will carry the weight of, at times, unreasonable expectation in this part of the world on his shoulders in the new year.

Verdict: 5th. A fine striker and wily manager mean City are unlikely to be too far away.

Cardiff City 20/1

Last Season:

LFW said: With Chopra back in the attack and Ledley and McCormack still with the club at the time of writing Cardiff have a top six squad at their disposal make no mistake. But with unhappy players wanting away, a defence weakened by the departure of Roger Johnson, and further players through the exit door likely it remains to be seen if Cardiff can first of all enjoy a good season and second of all hang on right through the 46 games and not die on their arse before the end again.

Manager Survival Chances Dave Jones 4/10

Likely Star Player Joe Ledley if he stays, Michael Chopra otherwise Verdict 5th. Play off push if they hold onto Joe Ledley.

What actually happened?4th. Another one LoftforWords got just about right. Cardiff went one better than 2008/09 by actually making the play offs this time but there was still plenty of evidence of their ability to choke – they blew a four goal lead to draw at Peterborough on Boxing Day, and lost the play off final at Wembley as heavily backed favourites against Blackpool. The whole season was set against a backdrop of apparent impending financial doom with Peter Ridsdale’s world class ability to financially ruin football clubs rearing its ugly head again. Staved off several winding up orders from HMRC in the second half of the season.

Manager Dave Jones did a good job and there was rarely any talk of him leaving or being replaced. With Cardiff now under new ownership but still suffering financial problems and now under a transfer embargo it may be Jones that leaves Cardiff, rather than the club sacking him.

Star Man Chopra scored 18 league goals as you would expect, Ledley’s season was disrupted somewhat by injury, Chris Burke improved again on the wing and is now one of the division’s top wide men but coming from nowhere really the talk of South Wales last season was midfielder Peter Whittingham. The former Villa trainee has always had a cultured left foot but to go with a fine passing game and lethal set pieces last season he added goals – lots of them, 22 in fact from midfield.

Next season

LFW Says: Hard to say. A takeover seemed to have quelled any financial fears, but the club was immediately placed under a transfer embargo by the league just as the transfer window was about to open because they still haven’t paid the tax they owe, or transfer instalments to Motherwell. That means squad strengthening is currently off limits and surely leaves them vulnerable to losing their better players to other clubs. A chronic lack of pace at the heart of the defence and midfield needs to be addressed, with Mark Hudson looking more and more like a dead tree with each passing game, if they are to match or better this season’s achievements. Joe Ledley left for free when they would have been banking on a £3m tribunal fee and Michael Chopra has threatened to leave unless current uncertainty is resolved.

The Manager: Dave Jones remains in post, and insists he is committed to doing so despite the financial turmoil, transfer embargo and reported interest from Premiership side Fulham. He seems to be on a hiding to nothing here though – the board room is a mess, the finances have been well and truly Ridsdaled, the players are unhappy, he’s lost key players, he cannot strengthen and fans will be expecting the play offs at a bare minimum despite all that. I’d be very surprised to see him finish the season in charge, in fact I’d be quite surprised to see him finish August at Cardiff. Survival chances 2/10.

Ins and Outs: Former R Tom Heaton arrived on a free before the transfer embargo was put in place, Daniel Drinkwater has followed him from Old Trafford on a free. Joe Ledley to Celtic is the big name departure, City would have received £3m in compensation had he gone to Stoke but he moves to Scotland for nothing. Riccy Scimeca has retired, Mark Kennedy has gone to Ipswich for £75k, Warren Feeney is now with Oldham, Darren Dennehy has moved to Barnet, Aaron Morris and Josh Magennis have been released.

Likely Stars: Michael Chopra will always score goals at this level if he stays and puts his dummy back in. Peter Whittingham is unlikely to be as brilliant again but he and Chris Burke remain dangerous threats. The team relied too much on Jay Bothroyd last year – undoubtedly a good player, but a tart of the highest order prone to limping off with one tiny knock or another, picking up stupid cards and going on long barren runs of form. His pathetic early withdrawal at Wembley in May cost them the final against Blackpool, because his toe hurt a bit.

Verdict: 10th. Potential champions but impossible to predict success in current crisis.

Sheff Utd 20/1

Last Season

LFW said: With the three relegated teams in various states of disarray this season represents an excellent chance for the likes of Sheff Utd, Ipswich and Cardiff to really make a big push for the top flight after years of knocking on the door. For me United look best placed to make a fist of it. They have added to their squad intelligently, with good young players coming into areas of the field that can affect the game. The sale of Walker and Naughton and the loss of Halford from last season has weakened them, but also provided a sizeable war chest for Blackwell and a useful link up with Spurs for loans which could come in handy when injuries bite. If Evans is as big a success as I think he will be they will go very close indeed.

Manager Survival Chances Kevin Blackwell 6/10

Likely Star Player Ched Evans

Verdict 1st. Possible champions.

What actually happened?8th. They were crap. A dire, ugly, horrible long ball outfit that never once looked like making the play offs never mind win the league.

Manager Kevin Blackwell remained in place despite growing discontent on the terraces during the season and utterly vile football being played out on the pitch. Brian Howard left after six months citing Blackwell’s wretched style as reason.

Star Man Ched Evans was poor, although as Billy Sharp showed at Doncaster that could be more down to United’s style of play rather than any failings in his own game. Jamie Ward was a rare beacon of footballing light, midfield destroyer Nick Montgomery won the player of the year award.

Next season

LFW Says: I wouldn’t take a season ticket at Bramall Lane while Blackwell remains in charge if you offered me one for free. They’re the worst kind of horrible, nasty, cynical, long ball knocking rubbish you could ever hope to see and nothing Blackwell has said or done this summer has hinted at any kind of departure from tactics that are clearly hindering rather than helping. Sheff Utd have a squad capable of a top four finish at the very least, but not playing in the way they do currently.

The Manager: A one dimensional fool holding a reasonable bunch of players back. The Sheffield public grew increasingly restless as they were outplayed on their own patch by the likes of QPR and Scunthorpe last season and they are unlikely to be very patient this year. The signing of yet another target man forward in Daniel Bogdanovic hints at more of the same to come, and they’ve brought in some real cloggers at the back as well. If, as I suspect, they continue in the same vein as last season patience should run out around November time. Survival chances – 4/10

Ins and Outs: I cannot imagine the 100 metre sprints in training are going to be very competitive at Bramall Lane this season. Nyron Nosworthy (Sunderland), Daniel Bogdanovic (Barnsley), Rob Kozluk (Barnsley) and Simon Walton (Plymouth) head the list of incomers although Walton has already suffered his annual season ending injury in pre-season. Steve Simonsen has replaced Paddy Kenny who has gone to QPR, Leon Britton stands out as a rare good signing in midfield, Johannes Ertl has come in from Crystal Palace. The outgoings have been plentiful with only Kenny (750k) and Billy Sharp (1.3m) commanding a fee. Of the free transfers Jordan Stewart has gone to Xanthi, Glen Little to Aldershot, Kyel Reid to Charlton, James Harper to Hull and Gary Naysmith to Huddersfield. Ian Bennett, Justin Haber, Henri Camara and Jonathan Fortune have been released.

Potential Stars: Well Ched Evans, Jamie Ward, Leon Britton and others could all be outstanding players at this level, but it’s impossible to predict the ‘star’ being anything other than big and/or nasty. Expect Chris Morgan, Darius Henderson, Nick Montgomery and other talentless thugs to come to the fore.

Twitter verdict: 12th. More chronic underachievement and, if they know what’s good for them, a managerial change.

Swansea City 25/1

Last Season

LFW said: With the best will in the world it is unlikely that Dobbie is going to come in and score with the freedom and frequency that Scotland did, especially with the impressive if somewhat un-balanced (or prone to cheating) Jordi Gomez no longer with the Swans. Nevertheless with Bodde, Lopez and Dyer Swansea will be an attractive and threatening side again. Second seasons after promotions are always tough and I cannot see Swansea repeating their success of last term with their current squad – if Bodde does leave I cannot see them even making the top half.

Manager Survival Chances Paulo Sousa 6/10

Likely Star Player Ferrie Bodde if they can keep him

Verdict 12th – Midtable mediocrity.

What actually happened? 7th. Swansea did substantially better than LFW predicted. Paulo Sousa responded to the loss of Jordi Gomez and Jason Scotland to Wigan, and Ferrie Bodde once again suffering a season ending injury early in the campaign, by securing the defence and while the Swans were nowhere near as good to watch or as attack minded as they had been under Martinez, they were nevertheless more effective. Ultimately though the failure to score enough goals cost them a play off spot – a victory at home to Doncaster on the final day would have done it for them, but despite Rovers having nothing to play for they could only scrape a 0-0 draw, their tenth of the campaign.

Manager Sousa’s teams at QPR and Swansea have not been easy on the eye, but they’ve been almost water tight and his year in charge in South Wales provided the Swans with their highest league position for 27 years. Swansea fans seemed to take to the Portuguese, and have reacted with sadness to his sudden and unexpected departure to Leicester.

Star Man With Bodde injured early on again the stars of Swansea’s season mostly came at the back and centre back Alan Tate took the club’s Player of the Year award.

Next season:

LFW Says: With Sousa gone the club has turned to Brendan Rodgers, who succeeded at Watford before being ousted early on in a rebuilding programme at Reading. The loss of Leon Britton from midfield is a big one as well. It’s doubtful that Swansea can continue to maintain season on season improvement while continually losing their best players to other clubs every summer and as it stands they’re unlikely to do as well again would be my guess at this stage.

The Manager: Brendan Rodgers was certainly not first choice by any stretch of the imagination – Swansea looked at Gary Speed, Graeme Jones, Eddie Howe and many others before finally going for him. They may have made a shrewd appointment though. He worked wonders at Watford in 2008/09 and was taken to Reading to rebuild a squad frantically being cut of its top talent as Madjeski tried to slash the Premiership wage bill. With that in mind three years would have been a project time in mind I’m sure and yet Rodgers was sacked after five months. Admittedly results were awful and Reading flew up the table after he left which isn’t a good sign but I still think he was harshly done to there and may well impress at Swansea. After Martinez and Sousa walked out on the Swans in 12 months they’d be loathe to sack Rodgers and cause more instability, especially considering the trouble they had getting anybody in this summer, so I’d expect him to be in place this time next year regardless. Survival chances – 7/10.

Ins and Outs: Former QPR man Scott Donnelly arrived from Aldershot and Neil Taylor from Wrexham before Sousa left. Rodgers is yet to make an addition but has been linked with Ipswich flop Tamas Priskin. Long serving midfield dynamo Leon Britton has left for Sheff Utd, Federico Bessone has gone to Leeds and Marcus Painter to Brighton. Besian Idrizaj, Guillem Bauza and Tony Pennock have been released.

Potential Stars: As it stands Swansea’s strengths lie in defence with the likes of Tate and De Vries. Rodgers is unlikely to be as cagey as Sousa though so an as yet unsigned striker may turn out to be the star turn this year – although Rodgers’ interest in Tamas Priskin should terrify Swans’ fans.

Verdict: 13th. Too much quality has left the Liberty Stadium for them to pose any real challenge.

Derby County 40/1

Last Season

LFW said: Having appointed Clough Derby must now settle in for the long haul. There is much work to be done, and Clough was meticulous when doing a lengthy building job at Burton Albion. I doubt they will be willing to give him ten years to get the job done at Pride Park but he’ll need at least three I think and in the meantime mid table mediocrity beckons for this and probably next season.

Manager Survival Chances Nigel Clough 7/10

Likely Star Player Kris Commons, rare shining light of quality in a sea of mediocrity.

Verdict15th. Same as last season.

What actually happened? 14th. As predicted. Clough regularly pointed to a horrendous injury crisis during the first half of the season as reason for underachievement (Derby fans believe 30,000 average gates should guarantee a top six finish) but in reality the players he brought in were simply not good enough for anything other than a lower mid-table finish. It will be a cold day in hell before Jake Buxton achieves anything at this level.

Manager Clough did start to attract some criticism on the notoriously harsh Sport Scene Talk In on Radio Derby last season, with the slightly unfortunate nickname of ‘non-league Nigel’ starting to stick. Clough showed at Burton that he builds very slowly over a long period of time, and spends the club’s money as if it was his own, and he has stayed true to form at Derby. He’s yet to make one signing at Pride Park that looks anything other than Championship consolidation material.

Star Man With Kris Commons and Rob Hulse regularly injured the club’s player of the year award went to Robbie Savage although his performances dipped as the season went on and he seems more worried about his media career these days than his football. Twice during the season Savage lashed out at Radio Derby presenter Colin Gibson live on air, although such is Gibson’s sense of self importance and tendency to report idle gossip as fact I actually found myself in the rare position of sympathising with Savage.

Next Season

LFW Says: Same again. Derby’s acquisitions have mediocre written across them in thick pen, only Dave Martin seems like a reasonable capture. They’re relying on Hulse to be the 20 goal a season man when in reality he’s just a good, standard Championship forward. Commons will spend more time on the sidelines than on the pitch and all in all another season of mediocrity awaits.

Manager: Clough spent ten years preparing Burton for the Football League and at the current rate of progress it’s going to take him at least that long to get Derby promoted. Of course he’s unlikely to be given that time, and may even struggle to get the three years such a job could reasonably be expected to take. Discontent will reach fever pitch in the city if this season is as dross as the last – Clough cannot purchase mediocre tat and then blame injuries for poor performances forever and get away with it. Survival rating 5/10.

Ins and outs: Thomasz Cywaka’s loan from Wigan has been made permanent and Dave Martin looks to be a fine signing from Millwall. Gary Roberts was impressive at Doncaster last year and arrives for free. James Bailey and John Brayford have been picked up from Crewe. Plenty on the way out – Paul Connolly disappointed and has joined Leeds, Lee Croft’s arse and ego grow larger by the day and he will play on loan at Huddersfield this season, Gary Teale and Jay McEveley have paid the price for poor performances by being released to Sheff Wed and Barnsley respectively. Lee Hendrie has also left at the end of his deal.

Likely Star: Commons and Hulse are the obvious ones to watch, but I’ve always liked Martin whenever I’ve seen him and he’s the first really good looking signing Clough has made.

Verdict: 15th. Derby simply don’t have the quality to register anything like a top half finish.

Preston North End 50/1

Last Season

LFW said: Preston have lost two key midfielders and even if Parry does sign have hardly strengthened at all. They will remain a solid top half of the table side but without the influential McKenna it is hard to see them making the six again this year without a couple of decent additions.

Manager Survival Chances Alan Irvine 7/10

Likely Star Player Sean St Ledger

Verdict11th. Upper midtable.

What actually happened? 17th. Without ever looking like they would flirt with relegation, Preston had a poor season and changed managers very suddenly midway through. Never threatened another of their runs to the play offs and looked weak physically and mentally away from home. They were a poor side basically.

Manager Alan Irvine was sacked at Christmas time after Preston went on a run of just one win in ten games. That seemed harsh to be honest, Irvine did a good job to save them from relegation when he first arrived at the club and at least built a side that could steer clear of the bottom three. Preston have small gates and a chairman unwilling to finance big signings, they have a few financial problems of their own and Irvine could justifiably wonder what else he could have done given that situation. Darren Ferguson arrived from Peterborough for the second half of the season and oversaw more of the same.

Star Man Despite always having a poor game against QPR local boy Andy Lonergan is something of a hero at Deepdale and won the player of the year award again. Summer bids from West Brom have been rebuffed.

Next season

LFW Says:It’s hard to envisage Preston finishing any higher than they did this season. Ferguson has overseen a big turnover in players this summer but the team, if anything, looks slightly weaker than this time last year and not even as good on paper as Ferguson’s Peterborough side that finished bottom last term. I expect Preston to be ok as far as relegation goes, but probably not much more than that and it remains to be seen whether that is acceptable to the Deepdale faithful and board.

Manager:Ferguson hauled Peterborough up from the bottom division to the Championship with consecutive promotions in his first managerial role. Admittedly he did that with the aid of a big budget for transfers and wages supplied by chairman Darragh MacAnthony and as Notts County have shown this season a little bit of money goes a long way in the bottom two leagues where generally everybody is skint. That said Posh didn’t go out buying ageing Premiership stars looking for a final pay day, instead turning their attention to the non-league game and picking up the likes of George Boyd, Craig Mackail Smith and Aaron McLean.The Championship proved a step too far too soon and personally I thought Ferguson should have been recognised for his previous achievements there and given a chance to bring them back up next season. Instead he was fired and now finds himself at Preston. Worryingly for PNE Ferguson has shown nothing with either Posh or them in 12 months so far to suggest he can manage at this level – achieving just eight wins so far. Survival chances – 5/10.

Ins and outs: Several first teamers have left Deepdale this summer. Neil Mellor has gone to Sheff Wed on loan along with Chris Sedgwick, Velice Shumulikoski to Crystal Palace, Youl Mawene has been released, Eddie Nolan has gone to Scunthorpe, Liam Chilvers to Notts County and Ross Wallace to Burnley. In their stead Ferguson has returned to Peterborough and spent £400k on Craig Morgan, he’s picked up Scunthorpe player of the season Paul Hayes and has tapped his dad up for youngsters David Gray and Matthew James. Racist centre half Wayne Brown has come in from Leicester.

Likely Star: It will probably be Lonergan again although I don’t see the attraction as he’s always terrible when we play them. Wayne Brown is a sound individual on the pitch if not off it. The problem will be goals – where are they going to come from? A front two of Hayes and Parkin hardly looks prolific.

Verdict: 18th. A poor team lacking firepower. This really is all a club on Preston’s gates and finances can expect, but having been spoilt by some top quality managers taking them to the play offs they sacked Alan Irvine for effectively paring the course last season. Must reign in their expectations.

Photo: Action Images

FDC added 10:51 - Aug 4 Good articles Clive, very informative as always. What's with the Twitter verdict for Sheff Utd though?
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Northernr added 11:09 - Aug 4 Originally I planned to conclude with a verdict in 'less than 128 characters' or whatever the Twitter rules are, abandoned that plan and forgot to take sheff utd out in the final proof read.
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