Football Season Guide

Burton entered the previous season hoping to move straight back into the Championship, but rarely looked like achieving that goal. It was clear from their pre-season activity that they were going to struggle, given that they let several players leave without replacing them, leaving Nigel Clough with a rather small squad to work with. This is a weakness that was exposed by the numerous injuries they had over the course of the season. The Brewers seem to be making the exact same mistake going into the new season. They have not lost any standout performers during the summer, but a mere body count reveals that they have lost more players than they have brought in. However, things could very well change in that regard between now and start of the season, as several players have been linked with moves away, but the Brewers are also looking for new players. Despite these potential changes, it has looked for a while that the club likes ambition and/or resources to try and push for a return to the Championship, which is where they were until last summer. Even if they do not expand their squad, they will still be well equipped to push for a top six finish, provided that they stay injury-free. Obviously, this is a rather big "if".