Who are your dark horse teams in the Championship this year?

[Paul Reids Sock]

I am thinking Bristol City.

They came close a few years ago. Although that mean absolutely nothing, I just have a feeling they will make playoffs

 

[Surf's Up]

Everyone except Newcastle, Norwich and Aston Villa

 

[We're the Stripes]

Huddersfield if their raft of German signings turn out to be decent. They didn't quite make the progress I expected in the months after we played them at the Amex last season though. Always got goals in them.

Bristol City too have looked better since Lee Johnson came in (0-4 Albion excepted), and I expect will further improve the supply line to Kodjia this window. Birmingham I fancy to push for play-offs again, maybe Preston too. Then you also have the likes of QPR and Fulham who have some talented players but are yet to really click for whatever reason since dropping down.

Wigan appear to have plenty of momentum from the way they stormed to the L1 title, and have seemingly hoovered up the best young players from that division and below (Grigg, Power, Morsy, Gilbey etc). Think a lack of Championship experience will prevent them from being anything beyond mid-table however, unless they go and address that quite dramatically this summer.

 

[Machiavelli]

No way Fulham, and I suspect that Huddersfield won't be challenging for the play-offs either.
Preston just might but the gap might be too big for them to bridge. Bristol City is the best call, although my prediction is that dark horses will be fewer than previously: too much money with the relegated clubs means that at least two will make the play-offs most seasons; and there does seem to be a group of Championship teams that are challenging consistently, are well-run and/or have rich chairmen, have big crowds, and have solid and consistent squads. The good news is we're in that latter category.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I don't see any dark horses this season, I see a clear Top 5 of Newcastle leading the way with Norwich, Derby, Sheff Wed and us in the chasing pack.

 

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

Lloyds Bank Academicals are my dark horse for the forthcoming season...

TNBA

TTF

 

[Bakero]

I don't see any dark horses this season, I see a clear Top 5 of Newcastle leading the way with Norwich, Derby, Sheff Wed and us in the chasing pack.

The Championship is never that predictable.

 

[Yoda]

Although not so much a small/med club, Forest for me.

They were ravaged by injuries last season (more than us when we finally lost a game) so were in a false position at the end of last season.

 

[Braggfan]

Preston for me. I think they finished well last year, and were hard to beat at home. With a few decent signings to strengthen and they could suprise a few people this year.

 

[Pavilionaire]

The Championship is never that predictable.

What, like Boro, Hull, Burnley and Derby last season wasn't predictable?

 

[GloryDays]

Probably Leeds' turn now isn't it? Wigan isn't a bad shout either.

 

[surrey jim]

Wolves for me.

 

[Mattywerewolf]

Palace for me...Sorry i'm thinking of the season after

 

[Biscuit]

Bristol City.

 

[Bakero]

What, like Boro, Hull, Burnley and Derby last season wasn't predictable?

You seem to have missed 2 teams

 

[Albumen]

This is my dark horse team.

View attachment 76364

Oh come on it took me ages to compile a list of dark horses. I don't even like horses.

 

[Frankie]

Cant see past us and at 14s consider it quite a good bet

 

[Pavilionaire]

You seem to have missed 2 teams

Re Sheff Wed, the bookies had them finishing 9th at the start of last season so not that much of a surprise they finished 6th.

Re the Albion - if a team finishes in a play-off spot in 2 of the previous 3 seasons is it really a dark horse? As soon as we bought Zamora we knew we were going to contend for the play-offs once again.

 

[northstandsteve]

Brentford finished last season very well

 

[Lurchy]

If Warnock was at Rotherham still I would have said them, definitely feel Bristol City will surprise a lot this coming season.