Championship fans predict the 2021/22 season
We asked fans from all 24 Championship clubs to tell us their hopes and expectations for the 2021/22 season. It’s fair to say that some fans are feeling more confident than others…
AFC Bournemouth:
Sam Davis, Back of the Net
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? In a season of major transition, stability is key. Scott Parker’s arrival brings a lot of optimism and fresh ideas, yet our inability to spend in the transfer market means we’ll be relying on youth and loans to see the season through.
Hopeful finish: 6th
Expected finish: 10th
Who will be your key player? Ben Pearson in centre midfield has provided our midfield with much needed bite and aggression, and with a full campaign ahead of him after signing from Preston last season, he could be pivotal to our chances.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Jaidon Anthony is a young attacking winger that could find himself getting more chances as the season progresses. He’s fast, tricky and knows how to find the net – an exciting prospect for all Cherries fans.
Barnsley:
Carlo van de Watering, redsreport
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? Consolidate championship status, sure the hoard and fans are aiming for a top half finish
Hopeful finish: 11th
Expected finish: 11th
Who will be your key player? Difficult. Helik in defence, Benson in midfield, Morris or Woodrow up front?
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Callum Styles….the Bury Baggio showed glimpses of what he’s capable off last season. Big things are expected from him.
Birmingham:
Gabriel Sutton, @GabSutton
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? Stabilisation. We’ve had lots of seasons battling against the drop. There is optimism due to last year’s Bowyer-inspired resurgence, but a quiet, midtable season with signs of progression will do me.
Hopeful finish: 12th
Expected finish: 14th
Who will be your key player? Ryan Woods. We’ve never really been a possession side throughout our history, and so technical players have rarely joined and generally struggled when they have. Woods might help us evolve our style though and his energy could win him kudos.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? I’ve got a feeling Riley McGree might have a good season. He’s re-joined on loan from MLS club Charlotte FC, is full of running and loves to drive forward with the ball. Will offer something different to Woods, Sunjic and Gardner.
Blackburn:
Dan, Rovers Chat
What are your hopes for the season? In all honesty, to avoid a relegation battle and to see players progress to a point where we can push up the table in coming seasons. A play-off dream seems a mile away currently.
Hopeful finish: 12th or 13th
Expected finish: If we keep Adam Armstrong, 15th. If we don’t, 19th.
Who will be your key player? If Adam Armstrong stays, then it has to be him. Otherwise, midfielder Lewis Travis is a strong player at this level and will play Premier League football in the coming years.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? I’d say Dan Butterworth. He’s struggled with injuries and I believe he would be in the first team by now if he had a clean injury record. He’s impressed in pre-season and could step up to senior level permanently if Armstrong departs.
Blackpool:
Jane Stuart, Lee Charles TV
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? Continued improvement on and off the pitch. Improved fan engagement from the club to really connect with and help retain the fan base.
Hopeful finish: 6th
Expected finish: 12th
Who will be your key player? I expect keeper Chris Maxwell will have a busy season against better centre forwards. He’s a massive player for us. We wouldn’t have got promoted without him.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? From what we’ve seen of new signing Shayne Lavery, he could be a menace to Championship defences. He’s focused and relentless and chases everything down.
Bristol City:
Ben Mead, Robins on Tour
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? It’s been a difficult few seasons for Bristol City, last season especially. I always want to hope for top six, but realistically this season, anything around mid-table would be a great finish.
Hopeful finish: 10th
Expected finish: 15th
Who will be your key player? I would say if Nigel Pearson can get Chris Martin and Andi Weimann working together up front, they could be a scare to Championship defenders.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Everyone should watch out for our youngsters. I don’t know how many will have a major role this season, but we saw against Aston Villa in pre-season, Alex Scott was brilliant. But again, you also have that front ‘three’ of Palmer, Wells and Weimann, if they get into some form that would be an amazing attacking threat.
Cardiff:
Tom Taylor, Sport Addict Corner
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? I hope Cardiff will be able to replicate some of the form in the early McCarthy days this season. We really turned a corner when he came in and looked impressive getting convincing results against big teams. We were unlucky not to sneak into the play-offs but hopefully we’ll get there this season.
Hopeful finish: 5th
Expected finish: 10th
Who will be your key player? Our key player will be Kieffer Moore. His stats last season spoke for themselves scoring 20 goals in the league and impressed for Wales at the Euros. I can easily see him having another 20+ goal season.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? I think Joel Bagan will be a surprise package. He’s a young left back who looks like he’ll take Joe Bennett’s place at left back after Bennett’s contract expired. Cardiff fans know how good he is and I don’t think it’ll be long before the rest of the championship do as well.
Coventry:
Harley McKittrick, @HarleyM10
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? I think the overall aim is to consolidate our place as a Championship club once again. But I definitely believe the fans and the club want us to aim a little bit higher up the table and build on our 16th place finish from last season. A mid table finish would be exceptional. It is also incredibly exciting to be returning to the play our home matches in Coventry, at the newly named Coventry Building Society Arena, after a 2 year exile in Birmingham.
Hopeful finish: 12th
Expected finish: 16th
Who will be your key player? Callum O’Hare – I believe he makes our team tick. He wins the ball back high up the pitch whilst also winning a lot of fouls in dangerous areas. He played all 46 games for us last season and he will be wanting to build on his 3 goals and 8 assists from last season.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Bright Enobakhare – It will come as no surprise to Coventry fans the talent that Bright has; having spent half a season on loan in League One in 2019, racking up 6 goals and 3 assists in just 18 games. On his day, he is arguably one of the most skilful and exciting players in the league. He will certainly get bums off seats with his style of play. I’m expecting a big impact from him – and hopefully one that will take the rest of the Championship by surprise.
Derby:
Cory Hancock, The Rams Review Podcast
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? The hope this season would be to avoid relegation. Derby are in a terrible state at the moment and it’s all very bleak. With a weaker squad than last season, hope has pretty much left before it even arrived.
Hopeful finish: 20th
Expected finish: 24th
Who will be your key player? Tom Lawrence. Lawrence has been always divided the fan base but he’s probably Derby’s most important (fit) player. If he plays well and can contribute with goals and assists that will be a huge plus to Derby, if he doesn’t that will just pile the pressure on the rest of attack, which struggled last season.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Festy Ebosele. The converted winger has looked raw but lively in preseason and has the pace and strength to trouble defenders. He’s young so you can expect fluctuations in form, but he could be a livewire.
The fans, Rooney lead first Champo winners & losers
Fulham:
@DanSCooke97, Fulhamish
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? The aim is undoubtedly an instant return to the top flight. However, Fulham fans are also hoping that Marco Silva can bring entertaining, attacking football back to the Cottage after a turgid, uninspiring year in the Prem.
Hopeful finish: 1st
Expected finish: 2nd
Who will be your key player? This squad has some talented individuals, but it has to be Aleksandar Mitrovic. He has 38 goals in 57 Championship games for Fulham, and under Marco Silva expect him to continue in a similar vein. He’s gold dust – a proven goalscorer.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Fabio Carvalho. Impressed hugely in the youth teams and got his Premier League debut at just 18. A nimble, creative attacking midfielder, he likes to get on the ball and make things happen. Could be his breakout year.
Huddersfield:
Matt Shaw, And He Takes That Chance.
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? We’re still rebuilding after a quite ruinous time in the Premier League. After an 18th and 20th place finish in the last two seasons we’d like to see more progression and Town to push up the Championship.
Hopeful finish: 12th
Expected finish: 18th
Who will be your key player? Last year Josh Koroma made his breakthrough and still ended up as our top scorer despite only playing 20 league games due to injury. If he stays fit we could have our first 20 goal a season man since 2012.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Levi Colwill has shown some real promise in pre-season. The Chelsea loanee oozes quality on the ball and despite being only 18 has shown a good appetite for the physical side of the game too.
Hull City:
Rick Skelton, Booth Ferry to Wembley
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? It’s a boring answer but re-establishing ourselves in the Championship and not continuing to yo-yo after the past couple of seasons is key. We capitulated spectacularly in 2020 but then bounced back impressively so if we can’t have a surprise tilt at the play-offs, just surviving would be fine.
Hopeful finish: 6th!
Expected finish: 18th
Who will be your key player? George Honeyman was the best player in League One last season so it’s hard to look past him. He’s not just key to set pieces but his industry, creativity and defensive responsibility are all key. He and the front three of Mallik Wilks, Josh Magennis and Keane Lewis-Potter need to step up if we’re to really compete.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Young centre-half Jacob Greaves has all the makings of a top-flight defender. He’s tall, commanding in both boxes and good on the ball. He had a real breakthrough season last year and we will struggle to hang on to him if he continues to develop at the same rate.
Luton Town:
Lewis Williams, @LewisT_Williams
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? To enjoy football again. It just hasn’t been the same watching it from home. I want that feeling when your team scores that goal. I believe Luton are going to be the dark horses this season so hoping for a surprise play-off finish.
Hopeful finish: 6th
Expected finish: 10th
Who will be your key player? Elijah Adebayo. If we’re going to climb up the table, you need your striker to score the goals. He also has fantastic link up play to get our other attackers involved. I believe he will hit over 15 goals this season.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Jordan Clark. He was a great player for us last season and surprised plenty of people. This year everyone is expecting the new signings to do the job but with Clark’s versatility I believe he will score more goals and assists this season.
Middlesbrough:
Dana, The Boro Breakdown
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? A play-off place. This will be our second full season with Neil Warnock and given he’s the most successful Championship manager, if we’re not in and around the top 6 come Christmas then questions will be asked.
Hopeful finish: 6th
Expected finish: 7th.
Who will be your key player? Marcus Tavernier. He’s one of our best players, if not the best. Whether he’s playing through the middle or out wide, his energy and creativity is invaluable.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Potentially Martin Payero, by virtue of not many people knowing who he is! But also Uche Ikpeazu – I’m thinking double figures for the big man this season.
Millwall:
Kai Bennett, That Millwall Podcast
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? To go one better and make the play-offs. For the last couple of years we have been close to making the top six, but this year I feel could be our year if we can be more of an attacking threat.
Hopeful finish: 6th
Expected finish: 6th
Who will be your key player? Our key player has to be Jed Wallace. He has got into double figures for goals in the last two seasons, and is vital for everything we do going forward. As well as his excellent forward play, he works tirelessly for the team as well.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Our surprise player this year, I think will be Daniel Ballard. After a very good loan spell with Blackpool last season, he is a very exciting prospect. He’s very composed and brings the ball out from the defence very well.
Nottingham Forest:
Mr Dore, Dore on Tour
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? We need to strength attacking wise but we need to sell as well just to balance the books. We need to start well this season or it’s going be another poor season for forest.
Hopeful finish: 6th
Expected finish: 11th
Who will be your key player? Joe Lolley is the key player because he’s fantastic when he’s on his game. Plus we’ve got youngsters like Brennan Johnson & Alex Mighton as well but Lolley is our key player.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Brennan Johnson is the player that had a fantastic loan spell with Lincoln City and top prem clubs are chasing him so he’s the player you got to watch out this season if he stays with us.
Peterborough:
Jack, We Are The Posh
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? We’ve got to be hoping to stay in the division. Hopefully teams will realise that little old Peterborough United can actually play football rather than underestimating us.
Hopeful finish: 14th
Expected finish: 19th
Who will be your key player? Sammy Szmodics. When on form, he was one of the best in the league last season. He didn’t really get a shot in the Championship with Bristol City, and I’m sure he’ll want to take his chance with Posh.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Jack Taylor. I’d bet good money that not many Championship fans have heard of him, but he’s an unbelievable player at the heart of our midfield.
Preston North End:
Ben Stewart, Ben HD
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? To avoid a relegation battle and refresh our squad. Frankie Mcavoy has a big task on his hands this season to clear out some of the deadwood and make us competitive again.
Hopeful finish: 12th
Expected finish: 18th
Who will be your key player? Daniel Iversen. He was one of the best goalkeepers in the league last season and he’s probably going to have plenty to do again this season.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? In pre-season, a few of our youngsters stood out and so I’m hopeful that they get their chance this season. Joe Rodwell-Grant in particular looks like he’ll be a good player in years to come.
QPR:
Olly Clayton and Louis Moir, Up the Rs
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? Promotion. Plain and simple, we were 3rd in the form table for 2021 and have secured all the loans that helped us achieve that on permanent deals, plus a few new faces. This is the best chance we’ve had at promotion since we came back down and there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t achieve it.
Hopeful finish: 2nd
Expected finish: 5th
Who will be your key player? Stefan Johansen. Huge signing and a steal at £400k, solidified our midfield when on loan. His passing, creativity and composure in the midfield is something we haven’t had in years and he is the most important player in that team by a mile.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Moses Odubajo. When Moses first came on trial the opinion was mixed as many Sheffield Wednesday fans warned us of his laziness and unreliability. However, he’s impressed in the pre season games, scoring a thunderbolt against Man Utd and putting in crunching challenges despite it being a friendly. He brings exactly what we need in that RWB position, pace, power and experience, and played his best football under Mark Warburton. A vital asset to us this season we believe.
Reading:
Talk Reading, @TalkReading
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? To build on the progress made last season, but it will be a struggle with the very thin squad. Not sacking our manager would be nice, too!
Hopeful finish: 6th
Expected finish: 10th
Who will be your key player? With the incredible Michael Olise departing for Crystal Palace, I am hoping John Swift can stay fit and provide that much needed magic in the final third.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? I like the look of talented young Serbian midfielder Dejan Tetek. He had a taste of first team football last season and I expect he’ll be more involved this season.
Sheff United:
Nick Wylie, Sheff United Way
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? To enjoy watching football in person again but specific to this season, playoffs at the very least by playing attacking, entertaining football to watch.
Hopeful finish: 1st
Expected finish: 2nd-4th
Who will be your key player? If he stays Sander Berge but if not David McGoldrick again. He was by far our best outfield player in the Premier League because he makes us tick and links the play.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? If given the game time and not loaned out, young striker Daniel Jebbison. He got the crowd off their couches at the end of the Premier League season and he has the ability to score the goals we need to get promoted.
Stoke:
Harvey Todd, HarveySCFC
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? An injury-free playoff pushing season would be nice, the main thing for me is seeing more academy graduates blooded over the course of the campaign.
Hopeful finish: 6th
Expected finish: 8th
Who will be your key player? If he comes back fit and firing it’s got to be Tyrese Campbell. It showed last season how crucial he was because when he was playing we were in the top six and then after he got injured our season fell off a cliff.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Maybe someone like Josh Tymon, he’s shown glimpses of quality so far this pre-season and with regular game-time he could have a positive impact on our season.
Swansea:
Luke Davies, Swans Cast
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? This year is going to be tough, but I hope we can stabilize once more and consolidate a comfortable mid table position, building a platform to challenge again in future seasons.
Hopeful finish: 5th
Expected Finish: 14th
Who will be your key player? Jay Fulton will be a key player this season. He is now the longest serving at the club, and one of the most experienced. Does a lot of the dirty work, but it is time he is the one to get noticed.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Yan Dhanda has been in and out of the team, flattering to deceive for 3 years now. I think his time is now to show what he is made of, especially creatively, or his time may be up here.
West Brom:
Ronan Thompson, WBA Report
What are your hopes for the 21/22 season? Honestly, I just want Ismael to settle well at Albion. If he can give us a long overdue identity, get us scoring and really get the Hawthorns rocking, then I’ll be happy.
Hopeful finish: 2nd
Expected finish: 6th
Who will be your key player? It’s hard to single out one player, but I’ll say Grady Diangana. After a poor year, our record signing needs to rediscover his best form. If he can, he can be almost unplayable.
Who will be a surprise player from your club that everyone should watch out for? Connor Townsend. Our left wingback keeps improving in an Albion shirt and Ismael’s 3-4-3 system suits him perfectly. Not the sexiest name we’ve got, but one you may hear a lot this season.