What a great time of year this is as we start to get into the second half of the season and its finale.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not wishing the season away, not with so much left to play for, but you start to see who is jockying for position in the Championship.

With the transfer window open, each of the teams that are really competing for a top six finish have assessed their teams and will strengthen. With so much money in the Premier League next year and the right to play against the likes of the Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Liverpool, sides in the Championship will be going all out to stake their place amongst the country's elite teams.

There is a possible backlash here, that is being weighed up by those teams. Spend now and hope to get that promotion and then the money spent will not be a problem financially because of the huge TV deal in the Premier League next season. However, spend now and you don't get promoted and that could mean a very definite strain on the club that could even mean balancing the books somehow to remain afloat. If the money and resources are there, surely you have to go for it?

How confident are the Directors and Chairmen in their squads and their managers? What would you do?

As always each year, there is one team that starts to gather momentum and that carries them into the play-offs where, quite often, that team wins and gains the ultimate prize. It's not clear at this moment in time who that might be, but I already think three teams are nailed on to go up.

So here are the the three hopefuls...

Ipswich Town - I don't live too far from Portman Road and the club never seem to do anyone any harm, but I have a soft spot for Ipswich. Leaving that point aside, the Tractor Boys are fifth with 44 points, just six points behind second placed Hull City. Their recent results give them hope after a creditable draw away at fourth placed Burnley and a win away to sixth placed Brighton. They could be an outside bet and I think Mick McCarthy is a terrific manager. Wolves fans might disagree though. Look out for the boys in blue, you heard it hear first.

Wolves - Apart from a thumping away defeat against a resurgent Sheffield Wednesday in late December, Wolves have vastly improved. West Ham saw their stoic play last weekend in the FA Cup and Kenny Jacket has got them playing and, more importantly, winning again. They've had a stuttering season and will miss Benik Afobe, now at Bournemouth, and Nouha Dicko who could be out injured for the rest of the season. Despite that, don't be too surprised to see the gold and black get close to the play-offs. They've got work to do, though, as they are seven points away from sixth place.

Burnley - Does anyone south of Lancashire not have a soft spot for the Clarets? The work that Sean Dyche has done there on limited resources is exceptional and sometimes managers find the team that's right for them. In this case Dyche and Burnley fit hand in glove. Having bought Andre Gray in the summer, Dyche bought well and Gray is their current top scorer, but the likes of Vokes and Darikwa have also had the Premier League teams taking notice. Burnley currently sit fourth, just five points off an automatic promotion place. The team in second place, Hull City, beat them 3-0 on Boxing day and that's why I have them as hopefulls.

And here are the three teams pretty much 'nailed on' for a return to the Premier League...

Middlesbrough - Consistent, hard to beat and with talent in abundance. They also have the spending power to buy in January and Karanka is a very safe pair of hands. They've just missed out in previous seasons, but not this time. With 50 points and a game in hand over Hull City, they will open the gap and not get caught.

Hull City - Steve Bruce is another manager with the right team. After the disappointment of relegation last year, Bruce has done well to galvanise a distraught side and get them up to second. They only stand a point clear from third placed Derby and in November, lost 2-0 at home to Derby. I think as sound as they are, they will finish as play-off Champions.

Derby County - I like Derby and I thought they might win promotion last year, but faded away in the end. Under Paul Clement, they have excelled. It was a little dodgy at first, but with the European experience that comes with Clement and the skills of Ince and the prowess of Blackman and Martin, they really look good to me. Forget the game against Reading, but look to the match on the January 25 when Derby go to Burnley. For me - it's the Rams in the Premier League next year. They'll be hoping to do better than the last Premier League experience.

Right or wrong, the Championship is just as exciting, if not more so than the Premier League.

[ad_pod id='writeforus' align='center']