Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has run through the Championship clubs targeting stability and steady progress this season.
The former West Brom , Sunderland and Wolves striker has backed Tony Mowbray to steer Blackburn Rovers away from any relegation worries, and warned Stoke City they must solve their goalscoring problem before the window shuts.
Goodman has also assessed Rocco Vata 's development at Watford , hailed Portsmouth for keeping John Mousinho , and set out realistic expectations for Cardiff City after relegation.
Stoke City
What Do You Make of the Faith Shown in Mark Robins at Stoke?
Everyone at Stoke City will demand progression. Despite all the sympathy everyone had for Mark Robins due to their horrific injury list, he knows he needs to produce results. Stoke failing to finish in the top half for another season is remarkable for a club relegated from the Premier League eight or nine years ago that has spent significant money. Jon Walters has publicly stated the club's ambition to do better.
They lacked real depth last season and slid down the table quickly when injuries hit. Galbraith and Ingelson are great additions to the midfield, while Soumare struggled for game-time at Sheffield United last season but will hope for more opportunity at Stoke . However, the big area Stoke must address is goalscoring. They struggled badly for goals and have not made changes to their forward line yet. Unless they address that before the window closes, I struggle to see who will score enough goals to make them successful.
Watford
What Does Rocco Vata Need to Do at Watford?
For any dynamic attacking player, whether you are playing as a forward, operating out wide, or sitting in as a number ten, it ultimately all comes down to your end product, and that is an area where he simply has to improve. A massive factor in determining your overall numbers in terms of goals and assists is the quality of your decision-making on the pitch. Young players so often tend to make slightly rash or rushed choices in the final third when there are much better options available around them.
That is precisely the area of his game that he needs to refine through dedicated coaching, rigorous video analysis, and learning exactly when to pass, when to dribble, when to take the shot, or when to deliver a cross. There is absolutely no question that he possesses undoubted natural talent, but players operating in those offensive positions are ultimately judged almost entirely by cold, hard stats like goals and assists. Look at Troy Parrott , who struggled to find his feet for a period before heading over to the Eredivisie and discovering his goalscoring touch. Hopefully, for the sake of both Vata and Watford , the penny will drop for him soon, and he can begin to enjoy that same level of consistency week in, week out.
Portsmouth
How Big Was Holding On to Mousinho For Portsmouth?
Securing John Mousinho 's future at Fratton Park was a massive win for Portsmouth because of the job he did keeping them in the Championship the last two seasons and solidifying them in the division. Portsmouth 's recruitment strategy has been unique, actively targeting markets in Australasia and New Zealand . John urgently needs sufficient squad depth; without adequate reinforcements, Portsmouth risk finding themselves again entangled in a gruelling relegation battle.
For a club in Pompey 's position, year-on-year consolidation and incremental progress must be the main goal. Given the increased quality and depth across the Championship this year, establishing Portsmouth as a stable, mid-table Championship side would represent a very solid campaign.
Blackburn & Cardiff
Should Blackburn Fans Be Concerned by the Transfer Activity?
When you look at the starting lineup Tony Mowbray selected for their recent cup victory against Burton Albion , I really do believe that there is quality in the team. It is completely understandable that the Blackburn fans are anxious as they've been struggling, and the financial constraints are probably what ultimately prompted Michael O'Neill to walk away.
However, I maintain immense faith in Mowbray 's ability to organise, coach, and extract maximum performance from a group of players. Blackburn supporters have endured a great deal of frustration over recent seasons, so their scepticism is natural, but I certainly do not expect Rovers to be dragged into a relegation battle. There are at least six or seven teams in this division with far weaker structures who will find the campaign significantly harder. I hope it goes well for them, and that Tony Mowbray 's expansive, exciting brand of football will energise the home support, and while an opening trip to face Wolves at Molineux is a stern test, Blackburn remain in remarkably safe hands and shouldn't be too up or down regardless of the result on Friday.
What Should the Realistic Expectations Be For Cardiff City?
I was thoroughly impressed by Cardiff City throughout last season, concluding very early in the campaign that they possessed all the ingredients required to secure automatic promotion. Full credit must go to Lincoln City for clinching the title, as they were brilliant. Cardiff 's possession-heavy style of play was impressive and reminded me of Birmingham City when they romped League One .
Birmingham City , however, soon discovered during their own transition into the Championship , you simply cannot expect to control 65 per cent of the ball every single week in the Championship without running the risk of being severely punished on the counter-attack or losing the ball in dangerous areas. Tactical adaptability will be vital for them. That being said, in Yousef Salech , Cardiff boast a powerful, ruthless front man who gives them a genuine focal point and goalscoring threat in the final third. That individual quality should make competing at this higher level far more achievable. I'd have thought their primary ambition would be securing a top-half finish, which naturally positions them within striking distance of the expanded play-off places. I am sure they will prove a severe test for any side in this league.
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