' The big boys coming down '

' The big boys coming down '


By Phil Smith

21/04/16

There remains the distinct possibility that Newcastle and Sunderland may join Villa in the Championship next year. With those football titans and three of the current top six to contend with, the play-off places may be a closed shop next year.


Parachute payments are also significantly increasing from next year. It is fair to say that Cardiff will have to improve from here on in just to maintain their current position, which is not quite good enough for the top six.

The success of Leicester this season will result in several legacies, one of which being the way they gained promotion to the top flight.


They were the first club to try to buy their way out of the division and when they failed, they swallowed the costs and tried again and again until they achieved their goal.

With the likes of Middlebrough and Derby spending in excess of £20m this year and Premier League riches set to rocket next year, this boom or bust approach may become a template.

Cardiff pushed the boat out once before, but are they willing or able to do it again?

Think Sunderland will escape, had a good win at the weekend and were unfortunate against Leicester.

Aston Villa, Newcastle and Norwich down. Out of those three, I can only see Newcastle challenging at the top. They'll win it if they keep all their players again, like last time.

Villa will struggle.

Larger parachute payments but looking at the club's overheads they are enormous compared to championship clubs!!