Ones To Watch: EFL Championship
@KLKCmedia
Written By Kieran Crook
The EFL Championship kicked off last weekend and we have got a few key things for you guys to watch out for until that final whistle in May.
Wrexham
Most likely the least surprising entry on this list but the red dragons have a pretty good shot at becoming a key part of the chaos that will unfold this season, backed by a documentary team and two Hollywood superstars Wrexham have enjoyed being the envy of the football spaces they have operated in over the last few seasons.
That however will change this season they are no longer able to outspend the teams around them but be significantly off the outgoings of some of the teams from midtable up, with that being said money isn’t everything and some very clever and ambitious recruitment have left the club in a good spot.
As seen from their opening game which was a narrow loss to former Premier League side Southampton the ability is there, summer additions of Kieffer Moore, Ryan Hardie, Lewis O’Brien, Conor Coady and Liberato Cacace have given this team the credentials to compete with those around them.
Coady and Moore bring tremendous amounts of playing experience with both making a combined 399 appearances at this level paired with O’Brien and Hardie’s comfortable Championship CVs and they have a solid foundation built just through summer recruitment alone, additionally Josh Windass from calamitous Sheffield Wednesday on a free looked an incredible move based on his debut for the club alone.
Whilst Wrexham will not be challenging the summit despite their last few years that being a standard they will be involved in the midtable fight anyone forcing them into a relegation fight are clouded by the fact they have a documentary and your favourite team does not, I have the Red Dragons forcing some championship staples to watch their backs.
Stephy Mavididi
Leicester City don’t have a tremendous amount to be happy or sad with, they kept a majority of players who are elite at this level such as Abdul Fatawu, Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes and Ollie Skipp but Stephy Mavididi will be the most important.
Maybe because of his short spell at this level only joining upon Leicester’s first season back down following their relegation in the 2022/23 season but it seems there are many people who have a short term memory with Mavididi’s ability.
During his one and only season at a Championship level Stephy registered 12 goals and 6 assists whilst being in the 90th or higher percentile for all attacking statistics with his lowest rated ability being his double digit goal tally, he was a relentless part of that Leicester team and even in fouls won and touches in the opposition box he was one of the best in the league I would not be shocked to see him build on his incredible output from last time around as the season progresses.
Gerhard Struber
Gerhard Struber’s last season at this level of football was at the opposite end of the table to where the Robins want him to have the club by the end of their 46th game this season, the Austrian was last in England to navigate Barnsley away from relegation to the third tier.
Since then Struber has managed at NY Red Bulls in the MLS, RB Salzburg in the A.Bundesliga and Koln in 2.Bundesliga guiding the latter to promotion as champions last season. Struber picks up where Liam Manning left off which is a big role to fill with Manning bringing the Robins their first taste of a playoff campaign in 17 years before jumping over to Norwich City.
Struber’s style will either make or break the team at his disposal this season Struber is known for a high-pressing committed game plan most effectively used by Jurgen Klopp and Ralf Rangnick over their time in European football if executed effectively Bristol will be able to tear teams apart as seen in their opening day demolition of last season’s playoff finalists Sheffield United.
Whilst a good indication of what could be to come United are navigating their own problems amid a managerial change and a difficult summer, but Struber will happily take catching teams unaware of his team’s unrelenting play all season long.
Gustavo Hamer
It feels uncommon to have a player of the season winner from the season before play at the Championship level the season after but if there is no movement until the end of the transfer window that is exactly the circumstances Gustavo Hamer will be playing in.
An unfortunate absence from the promoted sides Sheffield United fell at the last couple of hurdles with some of their worst performances of the season happening in those final few weeks combining that with Tom Watson’s winner at Wembley to confirm their place in the Championship for a second season the Blades ended the season a bit worse for wear.
The club had to say goodbye to standout performers Vini Souza to Wolfsburg and Anel Ahmedhodzic to Feyenoord for discounted fees whilst also having manager Chris Wilder removed from his position, the one constant from that season however is Gustavo Hamer.
EFL Championship player of the season with a career high 18 goal contributions over the course of last season, he was also unsurprisingly a statistical outlier being the best in the league in statistics such as successful passes per 90, accurate long balls per 90 and most touches per 90, Sheffield not only depend on Hamer but they need him to stand a chance.
Hamer was able to convert higher than his expected goals output but lower than his expected assists output which means with a stronger squad last season Hamer ended up underperforming in assists due to the lack of clinical shooting from his fellow teammates.
If he stays expect him to be front and centre in trying to drag this Sheffield team to the Premier League because it is not going to be an easy task, a 4-1 demolishing on opening day and a difficult tie away at Birmingham in the cup do not spell an easy start for the Blades.
