Fans view: White Rose quintet target promotion

Barnsley - Liam Dyson

Verdict: I expect lots of excitement and hope we can actually be a good football team for once – and then we won’t be. We will probably sack another manager, too, and wonder why nothing changes.Can’t wait.

Key man: Sam Winnall – scores goals and, if he stays fit, we have a chance.

Potential boo-boy: Conor Hourihane. Best player by a mile last season, but berated for ‘not getting stuck in’.

Advice to manager: Sign your own players.

What will make/break your season: Recruitment. Still massively short.

Any changes needed off the field: Hopeful they are starting to make them. Stick with a plan rather than guesswork.

Which team would you like to beat and why: Sheffield United. Because they are Sheffield United.

Promoted: Blades, Peterborough, Bury.

Relegated: Rochdale, Port Vale, Burton, Fleetwood.

Predicted finish: 12th.

Bradford City - Mike Harrison

Verdict: Playing in front of crowds of more than 18,000 will bring some pressure on the team to perform at Valley Parade, but there doesn’t seem to be any real ‘big guns’ that look obvious easy bets for promotion. City should be in with a very good chance of a top-six finish, even though the new faces will take time to settle.

Key man: James Hanson.

Potential boo boy: Can’t think of anyone in particular.

Advice to manager: Keep doing what you done so well during the past four years.

What will make/break your season: Injuries to key players.

Any changes needed off the field: Everything seems good off the field at the moment.

Which team would you like to beat and why: Sheffield United home and away, it has been too long since we did both.

Promoted: Barnsley, Sheffield United and, dare I say it, City are in with a shout.

Relegated: Colchester, Crewe, Southend, Shrewsbury.

Predicted finish: Top six.

Doncaster Rovers - Mike Waddington

Verdict: This pre-season has seen greater stability after two previously disrupted summers. This has improved player recruitment, including much-needed height and experience. But unless Rovers can add greater strength in depth and quality, then luck with injuries will also be vital. The new players need to gel quickly if the fans’ patience with Dickov is to remain.

Key man: Andy Williams.

Potential boo boy: Cedric Evina.

Advice to manager: Find an attacking formula for playing at home.

What will make/break your season: A regular goalscorer or two.

Any changes needed off the field: Smart ways of promoting and advertising matches.

Which team would you like to beat and why: Barnsley. A must to win the ‘Pitman’s derby’.

Promoted: Sheffield United, Wigan, Doncaster.

Relegated: Colchester, Crewe, Blackpool, Southend.

Predicted finish: 6th.

Sheffield United - Jim Blackburn

Verdict: We weren’t far away last time, but Nigel Clough’s innate negativity held us back. Let’s try to win games at this level rather than hoping we nick a goal and defend it. Nigel Adkins seems ambitious, forward thinking and has a good track record. If we don’t do it this season, no-one will blame the board.

Key man: James Wallace, he can run games if fit.

Potential boo boy: Michael Higdon, time for the big lad to perform.

Advice to manager: Try to win games, we can’t be scared of this league.

What will make/break your season: Signings to add to the spine of the team.

Any changes needed off the field: No, we seem to have a good ambitious team in place.

Which team would you like to beat and why: Wigan seem to think they will walk the league.

Promoted: Wigan, Blades and one other.

Relegated: Southend, Shrewsbury, Gillingham, Crewe.

Predicted finish: 2nd.

York City - Andrew Briggs

Verdict: I have the feeling we are in for another long struggle. I can’t see where the goals will come from. It doesn’t help we have three transfer-listed players still here, taking up a sizeable chunk of the budget. The loan market could be vital.

Key man: Scott Flinders. A solid keeper is vital.

Potential boo boy: I don’t like the booing of our own players but the three transfer-listed lads are potential targets.

Advice to manager: We still need more creativity in the team and probably a pacey centre-half.

What will make/break your season: A solid defence is crucial.

Any changes needed off the field: Not really due to the new stadium seemingly being on the horizon.

Which team would you like to beat and why: All of them.

Promoted: Orient, Luton, Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers.

Relegated: Crawley and Mansfield.

Predicted finish: Lower mid-table.

Read more...

Fans views from The Championship