After a summer break, the football season is finally upon us as 38 weeks of Championship action get up and running.
For Leeds United, it’s a chance to dust themselves down and pick themselves back up again after the previous season.
Daniel Farke’s attempt at an instant return to the Premier League fell just short at the final hurdle, missing out on a top-two finish before defeat in the play-off final to Southampton.
It was a long and gruelling campaign for many, but after a summer of change, there’s a chance to put things right.
While key stars such as Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray have moved on, the return of Joe Rodon and loan signing of Joe Rothwell has restocked the squad ranks.
Players have also returned from loan to attempt their own redemption at Elland Road in the season ahead.
So at Leeds United News, our writers have taken a crack at predicting how the Championship season will pan out for Leeds, including a claim on their final position.
Jordan Harris
It really does feel like the only team which can stop Leeds going up automatically this season is Leeds themselves, as the quality is there to clear that final hurdle this year.
Losing Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville are big blows, but the squad showed in pre-season that there is more than enough for Daniel Farke to emulate Marcelo Bielsa and secure promotion in his second season.
Optimistically, it feels like Leeds have everything to win the title, but we never do things that simply.
Final position prediction: 1st.
Will Butcher
I feel really confident in that Farke took a year to work things out at Norwich the first time around, before promotion.
Also think the three teams coming down from the Premier League aren’t as good as Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich.
A couple of additions here and there and I think we’re the team to beat in the Championship this season, especially, if we get off to a good start on Saturday against Portsmouth.
I think we go up automatically, perhaps along with Sheffield United, given how good they’ve been in the transfer market.
Final position prediction: 1st.
Danny Bloomer
With four wins in four during pre-season, and some really solid signings, I feel confident Leeds can go one better and secure automatic promotion.
It is difficult to see any of the three promoted clubs emulating what Ipswich did last season, and while I expect Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton all to be strong, they won’t be at the same level as either Leicester or Southampton.
Leeds’ slow start to the season let them down last year but that shouldn’t be a problem this time around with the squad in a far more settled place, which should set them up to finish in the top two.
Final position prediction: 1st.
Luke Thrower
This season truly feels like promotion or bust for Leeds when it comes to their hopes of making a return to the Premier League.
With some key sales and funds raised, the Elland Road outfit are into their second of three years with parachute payments.
As those payments drop drastically next season, the chances of holding that competitive advantage slim considerably and may force yet more sales.
While that is a key concern of staying down, I firmly believe that Leeds will have too much for the division this season.
Rodon and Rothwell are additions that will only solidify the defensive side of the game, while the forwards are more than capable of finding the back of the net.
As others have mentioned, the league certainly feels weaker this season, even though the relegated sides will provide some stiff competition.
Farke must ensure a quick start to the season though, which was severely lacking last time around.
