It is widely recognised by most here in the Transfer Tavern, that the Championship is one of the most competitive football leagues in the whole of Europe.
Out of the 24 teams currently plying their trade in it, 17 of them have played in the top flight during the ‘Premier League’ era from 1992.
There are others who have dropped even further down the divisions and with only three promotion places at the end of the season, it is increasingly difficult for those former top-flight clubs to regain their former glory, especially with the parachute payments that relegated Premier League clubs pick up, that benefit their attempt at getting back up at the first time of asking.
There are many currently in the Championship that think they should still be in the Premier League, but here we look at FIVE that really should be……..
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE CLUBS!
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Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough are a club with decent top-flight pedigree but they have now been out of the top flight since 2009.
This season looks to be their best shot at getting back to the top flight, they are currently in second place after leading the table for much of the current campaign.
They have a manager with top class pedigree, Aitor Karanka, who worked with a certain Jose Mourinho as an assistant at Real Madrid.
It is, perhaps, easy to forget that it is only ten years since they were lining up for a UEFA Cup final, which they ultimately lost, and with consistent attendances still flocking to the Riverside week in week out, maybe this is their chance to finally get themselves back into the top flight.
Hull City
Hull can be classed as somewhat of a yo-yo club having flitted between the Championship and Premier League over recent years.
They gained promotion to the top flight for the first time in 2008 and after narrowly surviving their first season, they were relegated the following year.
They returned in 2013 under the guidance of Steve Bruce, who guided them to the FA Cup final the following year.
Again they were relegated the following season but look well placed to make an immediate return.
They have proven that they are just too good for the Championship given their numerous promotions but probably just need a little bit extra to sustain themselves in the Premier League, which they would surely get this time.
Leeds United
Still regarded as one of the biggest clubs in England, they have been down in the doldrums since they were relegated out of the top flight 12 years ago.
They even suffered further relegation to League One, and initally found it difficult to return to the second-tier which they finally did in 2010.
After narrowly missing out on the play-offs in the first season back in the Championship, they have never really looked like competing for promotion again, finishing closer to the relegation zone on a couple of occasions.
Steeped in history and still with a fan base that top flight clubs can look at with envy surely it is only a matter of time before Elland Road is hosting top-flight football again.
Nottingham Forest
Forest fans still consider themselves to be a massive club, even though they have been out of the top flight since 1999.
Like Leeds, they have found themselves in League One as well, but they have a great history, fan base and facilities and everything is in place for top-flight football.
Under Dougie Freedman they are again stuck in mid-table in the Championship, and more investment on the playing side is going to be needed but a club like Forest surely should be in the top flight again.
Derby County
Derby are now a big player in the Championship but like many of the other former Premier League clubs in there, are struggling to get themselves back up.
They have major financial clout now and have a squad which is one of the best in the Championship.
They still sell the iPro Stadium out every week but have stumbled at the last couple of hurdles in recent seasons.
The recent departure of Paul Clement was a big surprise, especially given his pedigree as assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti at the likes of PSG and Real Madrid.
They have also had former England boss Steve McClaren in charge until the end of last season but they really need some stability on the field to again challenge for top flight football.
