With the EFL fixtures for the 2024/25 season now in the public domain, it is no surprise to see a raft of predictions beginning to surface.
Everyone loves a good prediction. Here at The Real EFL, we do too. The thing about them is that they are always the cause for a good, healthy debate. So, imagine our delight when we were shared an early forecast for the upcoming Championship campaign.
We’ve regularly featured Supercomputers over the past few months. They’re great fun, although they’re rarely that super. Last season saw one predict Derby County to miss out on promotion from League One with just seven games remaining, whilst Sheffield Wednesday were completely written off in the race for survival in March.
So, take this with a pinch of salt…
This week’s fixture release has prompted a Supercomputer to reveal next season’s final positions. That is despite the transfer window having opened less than two weeks ago, with the majority of clubs (Rotherham aside) taking their time in assessing the best options to add to their existing playing squad.
Of course, there’s some obvious ones. Burnley and Leeds United are both tipped to secure automatic promotion, whilst Oxford United sit at the foot of the table after their play-off heroics against Bolton Wanderers. However, Sunderland’s position is certainly an eye-opener.
It’s fair to say that the Wearsiders endured a torrid time last season. It started brightly under the stewardship of Tony Mowbray, who kept the Black Cats in and around the play-off places before his dismissal in December. From there, it all unravelled remarkably. In came Michael Beale to steady the ship, although 12 games later he was gone.
Mike Dodds was given the reigns until the end of the season on an interim basis, with the club desperate to get their next appointment right. Managerial targets came and went, until they finally announced that Regis Le Bris would swap his native France for the Stadium of Light from the beginning of July.
The 48-year-old was in charge of Lorient last season, who were relegated from Ligue 1. It’s perhaps that fact that has helped the Supercomputer draw up a conclusion that Sunderland will not only fail to improve on their 16th-placed finish but will indeed struggle with survival themselves.
With each Championship game simulated by the Grosvenor Sport Supercomputer 1,000 times, it is stated that the Black Cats will finish in 19th, just three places above the drop zone. They are however predicted to open up an 11 point gap on Blackburn Rovers, who have been pitted in 22nd.
Writer’s View
Obviously, anything can happen in football, but this one seems unlikely. Yes, key stars such as Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham have been linked with moves away from the club, but surely they will be able to attract a good calibre of player to see them finish further up the table.
These predictions can and will be taken with a pinch of salt. It is impossible to predict the outcome of next season without seeing what transfer business will be conducted before it kicks off. Despite that, Sunderland will be targeting at least a place in the play-offs.
