13th: Norwich City

Sticking with greasy German manager Daniel Farke and continuing their selling policy indicates they're a club simply looking to stabilise. They got good money for James Maddison and unbelievable money for Josh Murphy, but have only reinvested a small percentage. Generally this isn't the way to improve. And relying on Jordan Rhodes for goals isn't advisable these days. Another mid table season looks highly likely.

Best signing: Ben Marshall. Had an excellent spell at Millwall where he seemed to score or assist in every game he played. A snip at around £1.5m. He'll produce for them but it remains to be seen where he plays, such is his versatility.

Key player: Grant Hanley. With the goals they've lost it's important they're decent at the back, and Hanley, their captain, will be key here.


14th: Blackburn Rovers

That season in L1 was just what they needed. They weren't such a bad side when relegated and now they're back with some good additions and momentum on their side. The loan signing of Kasey Palmer will help take them up a level, and complete a dangerous attacking midfield line. They could still do with a striker, but they appear to have found money from somewhere and are in the market for high calibre additions. I can't see anything other than comfortable survival for them.

Best signing: Adam Armstrong. For a reported initial £1.75m, this is a superb piece of business. A no risk investment. He's still only 21 and has bags of ability. Will be an option up front or in attacking midfield, and will only get better.

Key player: Bradley Dack. If he can carry his performances into the Championship he'll be a huge catalyst for them and ensure comfortable survival at the very least.


15th: Sheffield Wednesday

They're stale, they're a mess, they have an overpaid squad and collectively don't have a great mentality. They're paying the price for thoughtless excessive spending and certainly don't seem like a club on an upward curve. They have quite a defensive manager but don't have many defenders. Not a great recipe. At this rate they might not even be able to make any signings either. Good times for The Massive. 15th place is not to be sniffed at.

Best signing: No Body. They're the only club in the league to sign him. How funny is that?

Key player: Barry Bannan. As long as he's in the team they should at least be able to function to some extent.


16th: Wigan Athletic

They pissed L1 last season with a comparable points total to ours and a goal difference +15 better. They definitely have momentum and I think they could in fact finish a fair bit higher. They had a very strong finish to the transfer window and their summer business has to be rated as very good. They now have a comfortable Championship level squad with a lot of depth.

Best signing: Josh Windass. A £2m deadline day signing from Rangers. An exciting attacking midfielder, this is a big signing for them following promotion.

Key player: Nick Powell. In a team where Blades legends Dan Burn and Sam Morsy provide the solidarity, it will be Powell's responsibility to unlock opposition defences and he's by far the most equipped of their players to do so.


17th: Queens Park Rangers

Swapping Holloway for McClaren might not seem a massively progressive move but it's far from a disastrous one. He should be able to keep this squad in the division fairly comfortably. They have some good players, especially in midfield with Luongo, Scowen and Freeman. The emergence of Eberechi Eze is a big plus for them because he looks a huge talent. They've not been able to make many signings but their priority was to keep the likes of Freeman, and they've done that.

Best signing: Toni Leistner. German centre back who played around 100 games for Union Berlin. Has immediately been made captain.

Key player: Massimo Luongo. Midfielder at the heart of their team. Primarily a playmaker, but he's become a real all rounder and captained them last season.


18th: Birmingham City

A very well deserved transfer embargo has stopped them strengthening much but with Garry Monk in charge they should have enough to keep out of trouble. They have a solid squad and a sprinkling of quality with Jota and Maghoma.

Best signing: Kristian Pederson. Left back from Union Berlin. Their only permanent addition.

Key player: Jota. Their most talented player by a country mile. He doesn't belong in that team. They need to find a way to get the most out of him.


19th: Ipswich Town

I thought they'd get relegated initially, and really regret hounding McCarthy out. They'll still struggle, but I think they should have enough to stay up. Paul Hurst should have them working hard for each other and punching above their weight, certainly if his spell at Shrewsbury is anything to go by. They've freshened up their squad with a number of younger players with something to prove who'll have the hunger to make it at this level, but they'll still do very well to get near their 12th place finish last season.

Best signing: Gwion Edwards. Versatile winger signed from Peterborough. Pacy, direct and will definitely give them something new.

Key player: Bartosz Bialkowski. One of the league's best keepers and has won their player of the season three years in a row.


20th: Bristol City

Lee Johnson is a manager who seems to have a good initial impact and then burn out. I think that's what could happen here in his second full season. It doesn't help that they've sold their three best players in Joe Bryan, Aden Flint and Bobby Reid. They are significantly weaker as a result, despite reasonable attempts to replace them with Jay Dasilva, Adam Webster and Andi Weimann respectively. As a result, I expect them to struggle.

Best signing: Adam Webster. With him, they've replaced Flint about as well as they possibly could have.

Key player: Famara Diedhiou. He needs to build on a decent first season and lead an attack that needs to replace the goals Bobby Reid scored last season.


21st: Reading

On paper, they have a squad that should be nowhere near relegation. But they've been underperforming for a while now and Paul Clement is a very unconvincing managerial appointment. They seem to lack punch in attack and their defence can't be relied on to keep clean sheets. The Madejski's also about the furthest thing from a fortress you can get. I struggle to see Clement lasting the season, but no doubt his replacement will firefight them to survival.

Best signing: Sam Baldock. Pacy and with a powerful shot, he should get into double figures. A partnership with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson is surely the way to go for them.

Key player: John Swift. High quality midfielder. Has had injury issues but if they can get him in the team consistently, they could well finish a few places higher.


22nd: Bolton Wanderers

Their embargo's been lifted but they've still had very little to spend, once again having to scrape the barrel and rely hugely on free transfers. But they've actually recruited quite well. Luke Murphy is an impressive free transfer, while the loan addition of Yanic Wildschut is a surprising coup. They've definitely shaken things up and there's no doubt they'll be competitive, and give no one an easy game. But the lack of a quality striker could cost them.

Best signing: Josh Magennis. Wildschut and Murphy might be the more obvious ones but Magennis is a smart buy - their only buy, in fact. He's a very good target man who they'll get full value out of. Wouldn't be surprised to see him add more goals to his game and get into double figures.

Key player: Sammy Ameobi. Tall winger with natural athleticism and skill in abundance. Wasted at Bolton where he stands out like a sore thumb. He'll continue to be their main attacking outlet.


23rd: Hull City

Their squad is considerably weaker than last season, and I don't expect Nigel Adkins initial positive impact to be replicated over a full season. They've lost their glut of loanees, most notably Harry Wilson, who was a huge catalyst for their survival last season. They lack a goalscorer as things stand and are too reliant on Jarrod Bowen scoring from midfield. Look like relegation candidates.

Best signing: Reece Burke. Highly rated young centre back from West Ham. It was a surprise to see him move there on a permanent basis.

Key player: Jarrod Bowen. Young goalscoring winger. Was their shining light last season and they'll need more of the same after losing various important players.


24th: Rotherham United

Here to make up the numbers again by the looks of it. They almost got promoted too early. Paul Warne's surpassed expectations and done a good job there but they continue to operate as a L1 club. They simply can't compete at this level and the signings prove that.

Best signing: Clark Robertson. Centre back from Blackpool. This probably speaks volumes. They're doing their usual 'we'd rather be in League One thanks' style recruiting.

Key player: Will Vaulks. Their talisman, a decent all round midfielder who captained them to promotion.