I won't review every single team as that would take far too long and would be quite mundane so I'll just group the teams with a grade.
Undoubtedly the two best teams of the season - Southampton consistently good for all of the season, Reading outstanding in the 2nd half of the season. Both ultimately deserved promotion to the Premier League in the end, both could look good to stay up in the Premier League. Organization and lots of firepower up front enabled both former Premier League clubs to make their returns to the promised land automatically this season.
These were the 4 teams who were always in the driver's seat for promotion. West Ham missed out on a plus on their stuttering form at the end of the season which probably cost them automatic promotion. Birmingham, Blackpool and Cardiff all had their bright moments throughout the season but weren't consistent enough to be promoted automatically.
4 teams who had bright starts to the season and were in the top 6 at some stage in the season but didn't quite have the consistency and finesse to finish off the job. Pretenders, yes? Contenders, not quite. Not that that's a criticism of newly promoted Brighton in their swanky new stadium and Hull City under local boy Nick Barmby. The same can't quite be said about big-spending Boro and Leicester.
These former Premier League clubs had claims for at least a playoff spot but lacked the firepower to sustain a decent challenge for promotion - or had too much change at the club like Leeds. They could be contenders in the future but for now they're definitely Championship material.
C+ for Millwall, Crystal Palace, Peterborough
These "smaller" clubs did what they needed to do - stay in the Championship - and they did it fairly comfortably with Palace starting brightly and never looking like they would face the relegation battle they have faced in the last 2 seasons. Peterborough entertained everyone with their goal scoring exploits and but their leaky defence cost them any chance of challenging for anything other than a mid-table spot.
Disappointing. Forest should have been pushing for promotion but instead were fighting for their Championship lives. Bristol City had talent but flattered to deceive. Barnsley were where they expected to be - but at least they stayed up.
Pompey don't deserve a minus simply because the circumstances at the club meant that this season was always going to be a struggle. In fact, if it weren't for the 10 point deduction, Portsmouth would have stayed up. However, the future doesn't look at all bright for the South Coast's other big club with future points deductions still likely and the players who helped them perform this season will probably end up elsewhere.
D- for Coventry City & Doncaster
These teams deserve a minus for having such dire seasons. Doncaster tried to buy their way out of relegation but failed miserably and when Billy Sharp left halfway through the season for Southampton, their fate was pretty much sealed. Coventry City were equally bad and never looked like surviving. Perhaps a season in League One could help rebuild this once respectable Premier League club.
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