' PAUL TROLLOPE WILL BE UP AGAINST IT BIG TIME '

' PAUL TROLLOPE WILL BE UP AGAINST IT BIG TIME '

Next Season the Championship will be the Toughest Ever?


Why Paul Trollope will have to get the better of Champions League winners at Newcastle United, Aston Villa and the best ever crop of Championship managers



Sunday 29th May 2016

BY PHIL SMITH


The appointment of Rafa Benitez at Newcastle could soon be followed by fellow Champions League winner Roberto Di Matteo at Aston Villa



Can Trollope conquer a Champions League winner next season?

Unless you've had your head in the sand, you'll have noticed that next season's Championship is hotting up to be the most ferociously competitive yet.

Of course, it feels like we all say that ever year.

But the eye-catching managerial appointments made over the last week, with another one or two almost certainly on the way, really do give this league a glamour and lustre it's never had before.

Cardiff City have set out their stall; and it could not be further from the template being used elsewhere.

As other teams hoping to challenge for the top six have dug out the stardust, the Bluebirds' have put their trust in stability and continuity.

It may yet turn out to be a triumph of level-headed thinking.

But if the 2016/17 campaign is to end in triumph, then Paul Trollope will have to mark his first season back in the dug-out by navigating his way through the greatest managerial line-up this division has ever seen.



This is why...


The Superstars
Has there ever been a more decorated manager in the second tier of English football than Rafa Benitez ?

The Spaniard was welcomed back to Newcastle last week like a messiah, with scenes of excitement and sheer fervour not seen since the days of King Kevin Keegan.

Benitez needs to gut an average squad, with dubious levels of commitment and a chronic lack of leadership in defence.

Still, with total free reign, you have to seriously worry that the Magpies' could demolish all comers.

He will bring a tactical nous and attention to detail rarely seen at that level.





Aston Villa, meanwhile, looked like a team that could follow the likes of Leeds and Wolves in plummeting straight the floor of this league.

That is until Tony Xia bought the club out and Roberto Di Matteo was installed as the front runner.

He brings a Champions League, a superb pedigree as a footballer himself, and a cool head to a club in a mess.

Even more ominously, he also knows what it takes to get a team out of this division.

He looks like a perfect fit.







The Proven Winners

Beneath those two famous names is a plethora of managers whose credentials speak for themselves.

Derby County have one of the most talented squads in the division, strongly funded and with a quite staggering depth of attacking options.

The question marks have been over the temperament and mental strength.

Which is why the appointment of Nigel Pearson has left the rest of the league quivering. He will enjoy working with the pacey forward line that the Rams' possess, and will not tolerate any weakness from his players.

Fasten your seatbelts.


Brighton, meanwhile, have moved quickly to secure a new contract for Chris Hughton . Given the extraordinary progress his side made this season, they will only be stronger next time around. Yet another man skilled at navigating this division.







Strong favourites to bounce straight back up have to be Norwich.

Alex Neil only spent a few months in the Championship, but it was all he needed to blow it away.

The hurt and guilt he feels over his team's relegation will leave him steeling himself for a season ahead. If he can his squad together and rediscover his attacking instincts, they will be tough to stop.

And who can disregard a Mick McCarthy side? This has ultimately been a disappointing season for the Tractor Boys, with fans underwhelmed by the football on offer and the lack of progress.

Yet they still beat Cardiff City to seventh spot. Get Daryl Murphy scoring again, and there won't be too many finishing above them.

Slavisa Jokanovic will have big ambitions for his first full season in charge at Fulham, too. It says everything about this league that a manager of his pedigree had to come back build a team up from the bottom.

Don't bet against Neil Warnock finding himself a job with a team in the middle of the division, either.

Could Neil Warnock come back to haunt Cardiff?


Cardiff fans know just how good he is; many were desperate for him to get the job.





On the rise...

How good are Birmingham City going to be next year? They will be far from the best funded squad; indeed they will be far from the most talented squad.

But they do have one of the most impressive managers in the Football League. Were it not for Pearson's availability, Derby County would probably have looked at Gary Rowett . He will move onto bigger things soon enough, but the Blues will be a formidable outfit until then.

Further down the league, there are plenty of aspirational bosses looking to make a mark.

Liverpool fans are purring at the thought of what Jurgen Klopp can achieve with a full pre-season to get his team up to fitness and ready to implement his 100 mph football.







Can David Wagner lead Huddersfield to glory?

At Huddersfield, fans are hoping that his former assistant Neil Wagner can do the same.

They're unlikely to be contenders at the top, but watching his gung-ho approach go up against the likes of Rafa will be fascinating.

Keep an eye on Wigan Atheltic, who recovered with impressive poise to their collapse under form Bluebird Malky Mackay.

Giving Gary Caldwell the job with such little experience raised more than a few eyebrows, but with Will Grigg on fire, there was no stopping them in League One.

Lee Johnson and Dean Smith will both be looking to build on fantastic ends to the season. If Brentford can resist their incessant urge to tinker and turn over their squad, they can be a real threat.








Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has not really made his mark at QPR yet, but in many other seasons his pedigree as a genius of a striker would make him the box office dug-out name.

Burton Albion, meanwhile, continue their remarkable rise up the footballing pyramid with some lad called Clough at the helm.

If Paul Trollope can land a play-off position ahead of this stellar collection of names, it truly would be a remarkable achievement.

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Good luck to him but realistically we have to accept that the club's only serious ambition this season is to avoid relegation.

Tan's investment and writing off of the debt is being done as quickly as fair play rules will allow with a view to his off loading the club as soon as possible.

Until then the only aim would appear to be staying in the division.

Can anyone seriously think that the appointment of Trollope was with a genuine aim of getting promotion?

Even an experienced manager like Bruce has struggled this season to get Hull back through the play-offs.

Trollope is on a hiding to nothing.

Not that Tan particularly cares - Trollope will be safe just like Slade was unless we are threatened with relegation.

Tan will want us to avoid relegation as he still needs to off load the club after the parachute payments run out in two seasons time

When we find out Trollope's assistant we will have a clearer picture of where we are going

There is an argument that the pressure will be on those managers whilst PT will have a little more leeway. The club has to operate within its own means so that rules out us making any kind of stella managerial appointment.

I'm quietly confident about next season.

I don't expect us to be challenging for a top six place next season, but I can't see us being drawn into the relegation fight. I think we will do well to get a top twelve finish, but a lot will depend on our Summer signings. I am confident we can maintain our Championship status whatever happens over the Summer.

Where do people get the idea Tan wants out? He doesnt want out

Good luck to him but realistically we have to accept that the club's only serious ambition this season is to avoid relegation.

Tan's investment and writing off of the debt is being done as quickly as fair play rules will allow with a view to his off loading the club as soon as possible.

Until then the only aim would appear to be staying in the division.

Can anyone seriously think that the appointment of Trollope was with a genuine aim of getting promotion?

Even an experienced manager like Bruce has struggled this season to get Hull back through the play-offs.

Trollope is on a hiding to nothing.

Not that Tan particularly cares - Trollope will be safe just like Slade was unless we are threatened with relegation.

Tan is taking big chance if he thinks minimal investment and "safe" management is going to keep us in championship for next 4yrs until he's finished debt to equity payments he promised couple months ago !!

Did people think Eddie Howe and Bournemouth would go up? There is always a surprise package why can't it be us.

Did people think Eddie Howe and Bournemouth would go up? There is always a surprise package why can't it be us.

Championship is always hard to get out of regardless of what teams are in it, and yes always surprise teams getting into top 6.

Good luck to him but realistically we have to accept that the club's only serious ambition this season is to avoid relegation.

Tan's investment and writing off of the debt is being done as quickly as fair play rules will allow with a view to his off loading the club as soon as possible.

Until then the only aim would appear to be staying in the division.

Can anyone seriously think that the appointment of Trollope was with a genuine aim of getting promotion?

Even an experienced manager like Bruce has struggled this season to get Hull back through the play-offs.

Trollope is on a hiding to nothing.

Not that Tan particularly cares - Trollope will be safe just like Slade was unless we are threatened with relegation.

Tan is taking big chance if he thinks minimal investment and "safe" management is going to keep us in championship for next 4yrs until he's finished debt to equity payments he promised couple months ago !!

Can't see that any action he has taken recently or currently can be viewed as suggesting that the club is serious about getting promoted.

Good luck to him but realistically we have to accept that the club's only serious ambition this season is to avoid relegation.

Tan's investment and writing off of the debt is being done as quickly as fair play rules will allow with a view to his off loading the club as soon as possible.

Until then the only aim would appear to be staying in the division.

Can anyone seriously think that the appointment of Trollope was with a genuine aim of getting promotion?

Even an experienced manager like Bruce has struggled this season to get Hull back through the play-offs.

Trollope is on a hiding to nothing.

Not that Tan particularly cares - Trollope will be safe just like Slade was unless we are threatened with relegation.

Tan is taking big chance if he thinks minimal investment and "safe" management is going to keep us in championship for next 4yrs until he's finished debt to equity payments he promised couple months ago !!

Can't see that any action he has taken recently or currently can be viewed as suggesting that the club is serious about getting promoted.

No think you are right but as last season showed it is possible but need good manager to pull it off