Albion's biggest obstacle this season is not Newcastle United.
Or Aston Villa or Norwich City, Derby County or Sheffield Wednesday.
It is the bar they hoisted last season, when the scale of the recovery far exceeded the expectations 12 months ago of even the most blinkered followers of the blue and white stripes.
Back then Albion were regrouping from the ill-fated reign of Sami Hyypia, rescued - not without difficulty - by Chris Hughton.
Major summer surgery was required. Not now.
Expectations are healthy, especially for a club that was resigned to fighting against relegation during three seasons in the Championship at Withdean.
As long as the hopes of the Amex faithful are accompanied by a dose of realism. Finishing three places lower this time would not be a failure.
Albion will lose before December. They might even lose as many times by then as throughout last season (five).
That bar has shifted too, because Newcastle, Villa and Norwich were relegated. With respect to Burnley, Hull and QPR, that makes the Championship even tougher than it was last time.
It is not a level playing field, not when Newcastle can afford wages of £60,000 per week in pursuit of an immediate return to the cash cow.
Parachute payments are no longer fit for purpose. They were designed to help those demoted keep the players they had on top flight salaries, not replenish their squads.
Early predictions of Villa continuing their slide look laughable now that they have a new owner, Roberto Di Matteo as manager, Tommy Elphick stiffening their defence and Ross McCormack dramatically improving their attack.
Even Norwich, not quite of the same ilk as the other two, were able to snatch Alex Pritchard from Albion due to their superior spending power.
Parachutes normally work. Accidents are rare. Occasionally the big money bubble is pricked by a cocktail of desire, determination, organisation, spirit.
Leicester's compelling Premier League triumph last season has moved the goalposts. Now every fan of every non-giant wonders why not us?
The hope is another anomaly, a Championship table next May which does not reflect financial muscle.
Logic dictates that Albion should not finish above Newcastle, Villa or Norwich. It does not mean they won't. That is the glorious uncertainty.
What of the rest? They are playing catch-up.
Derby have flattered to deceive. That could change with the pragmatic Nigel Pearson. He knows what it takes to go up from the Championship.
Article continues after...[h=3]More Articles[/h]
Sheffield Wednesday's ambition is obvious. They could improve but they need to.
Let's not forget, Derby finished 11 points adrift of Albion last season, Sheffield Wednesday 15 points, Ipswich in seventh 20 points. That is an awful lot of ground to make up.
There is room for improvement in some areas for Albion as well.
Recapturing Glenn Murray*(below) promises a more clinical edge, turning some of those draws into wins. Steve Sidwell and Oliver Norwood are solid signings.
Hughton's teams are customarily resilient, hard to beat. This season will be no different.
The problem with crystal-ball gazing the day before the kick-off is the 25 days which follow before the transfer window shuts.
The business yet to be done by Albion, in or out, and their rivals can alter the complexion.
Losing Dale Stephens, Anthony Knockaert, Lewis Dunk or any combination of the trio attracting large bids from other clubs this summer would be harmful.
One element every team needs, irrespective of wealth, is one that is always under-estimated, especially in a league of wafer-thin margins like the Championship. Luck.
The bounce of the ball, refereeing decisions (the red card for Stephens at Middlesbrough), injuries all play their part.
Impressive as Elphick's Bournemouth were when they were promoted, they were fortunate to have a squad that stayed healthy throughout the campaign.
The knee damage sustained by Connor Goldson on the training camp in Tenerife does not bode well but Albion will hope to have better luck in this respect than last season, culminating in the carnage at Hillsborough in the first leg of the play-offs.
Uwe Huenemeier missed 31 games, Solly March and Gaetan Bong 30, Kazenga LuaLua 28, Liam Rosenior and Sam Baldock 15.
Top six is a realistic target and, with a fair wind behind them, one Albion can achieve for the fourth time in five years.
Promotion contenders: Newcastle, Aston Villa, Norwich, Albion, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday.
Chasing pack: QPR, Fulham, Ipswich, Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham.
Also rans: Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Preston, Wigan, Bristol City, Huddersfield.
Relegation fight: Barnsley, Burton, Rotherham, Brentford, Reading, Blackburn.
Original article
Or Aston Villa or Norwich City, Derby County or Sheffield Wednesday.
It is the bar they hoisted last season, when the scale of the recovery far exceeded the expectations 12 months ago of even the most blinkered followers of the blue and white stripes.
Back then Albion were regrouping from the ill-fated reign of Sami Hyypia, rescued - not without difficulty - by Chris Hughton.
Major summer surgery was required. Not now.
Expectations are healthy, especially for a club that was resigned to fighting against relegation during three seasons in the Championship at Withdean.
As long as the hopes of the Amex faithful are accompanied by a dose of realism. Finishing three places lower this time would not be a failure.
Albion will lose before December. They might even lose as many times by then as throughout last season (five).
- Anthony's chance to knock Nigel on opening day of the season
- Murray is ready to hit the ground running
- Championship Preview: Top six for Albion
- No breakthrough in Albion midfielder Stephens contract talks
- Hughton targets two more signings
That bar has shifted too, because Newcastle, Villa and Norwich were relegated. With respect to Burnley, Hull and QPR, that makes the Championship even tougher than it was last time.
It is not a level playing field, not when Newcastle can afford wages of £60,000 per week in pursuit of an immediate return to the cash cow.
Parachute payments are no longer fit for purpose. They were designed to help those demoted keep the players they had on top flight salaries, not replenish their squads.
Early predictions of Villa continuing their slide look laughable now that they have a new owner, Roberto Di Matteo as manager, Tommy Elphick stiffening their defence and Ross McCormack dramatically improving their attack.
Even Norwich, not quite of the same ilk as the other two, were able to snatch Alex Pritchard from Albion due to their superior spending power.
Parachutes normally work. Accidents are rare. Occasionally the big money bubble is pricked by a cocktail of desire, determination, organisation, spirit.
Leicester's compelling Premier League triumph last season has moved the goalposts. Now every fan of every non-giant wonders why not us?
The hope is another anomaly, a Championship table next May which does not reflect financial muscle.
Logic dictates that Albion should not finish above Newcastle, Villa or Norwich. It does not mean they won't. That is the glorious uncertainty.
What of the rest? They are playing catch-up.
Derby have flattered to deceive. That could change with the pragmatic Nigel Pearson. He knows what it takes to go up from the Championship.
Article continues after...[h=3]More Articles[/h]
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[h=5]Anthony's chance to knock Nigel on opening day of the season[/h]
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[h=5]Murray is ready to hit the ground running[/h]
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[h=5]No breakthrough in Albion midfielder Stephens contract talks[/h]
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[h=5]Hughton targets two more signings[/h]
-
[h=5]Double fitness boost for Albion[/h]
Sheffield Wednesday's ambition is obvious. They could improve but they need to.
Let's not forget, Derby finished 11 points adrift of Albion last season, Sheffield Wednesday 15 points, Ipswich in seventh 20 points. That is an awful lot of ground to make up.
There is room for improvement in some areas for Albion as well.
Recapturing Glenn Murray*(below) promises a more clinical edge, turning some of those draws into wins. Steve Sidwell and Oliver Norwood are solid signings.
The problem with crystal-ball gazing the day before the kick-off is the 25 days which follow before the transfer window shuts.
The business yet to be done by Albion, in or out, and their rivals can alter the complexion.
Losing Dale Stephens, Anthony Knockaert, Lewis Dunk or any combination of the trio attracting large bids from other clubs this summer would be harmful.
One element every team needs, irrespective of wealth, is one that is always under-estimated, especially in a league of wafer-thin margins like the Championship. Luck.
The bounce of the ball, refereeing decisions (the red card for Stephens at Middlesbrough), injuries all play their part.
Impressive as Elphick's Bournemouth were when they were promoted, they were fortunate to have a squad that stayed healthy throughout the campaign.
The knee damage sustained by Connor Goldson on the training camp in Tenerife does not bode well but Albion will hope to have better luck in this respect than last season, culminating in the carnage at Hillsborough in the first leg of the play-offs.
Uwe Huenemeier missed 31 games, Solly March and Gaetan Bong 30, Kazenga LuaLua 28, Liam Rosenior and Sam Baldock 15.
Top six is a realistic target and, with a fair wind behind them, one Albion can achieve for the fourth time in five years.
Promotion contenders: Newcastle, Aston Villa, Norwich, Albion, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday.
Chasing pack: QPR, Fulham, Ipswich, Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham.
Also rans: Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Preston, Wigan, Bristol City, Huddersfield.
Relegation fight: Barnsley, Burton, Rotherham, Brentford, Reading, Blackburn.
Original article