It is said every year that the Championship is the most competitive and unpredictable league in the world, and a look through this season’s runners and riders backs up that claim.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United will start as favourites for the title given how close they came to automatic promotion last term, but several teams could spring a surprise.
Relegated duo Cardiff City and Fulham are two sides who should challenge Leeds.
The Bluebirds are still managed by promotion specialist Neil Warnock, while Fulham have one of the most lethal attacking forces in the division after tying down Aleksandar Mitrovic to a new contract and signing wingers Anthony Knockaert and Ivan Cavaleiro.
Outside of that leading trio, however, it is very much a case of the unknown. The jury is still out on Nathan Jones at Stoke City, while Slaven Bilic has returned to English football with West Bromwich Albion after a spell in Saudi Arabia at Al-Ittihad.
Phillip Cocu is also an unknown quantity after replacing Frank Lampard at Derby County, as is Jonathan Woodgate at Middlesbrough, who visit Luton Town on Friday night in the opening fixture of this season’s calendar.
With that in mind, Brentford and Bristol City might think this is their year to gatecrash the play-offs.
Meanwhile, it is just as difficult to call who will end up at the bottom of the table, with several teams in danger of getting sucked into a relegation battle.
Barnsley, Charlton and Luton will all have to step up after gaining promotion, while Millwall and QPR will know they must improve their form from last season.
Outside of that quintet, financially hamstrung Birmingham look contenders for the drop, as do a Reading side who have flirted with relegation before.
They know they cannot afford to slip up but, then again, it is the same for everyone when it comes to the Championship.
