EFL 2022-23 Review: Another wild season in the books

The biggest criticism of the Premier League is that it is predictable, especially at the top. However, that is something that you cannot accuse the English Football League (EFL) of being.

The Championship, League One and League Two are all incredibly competitive and exciting divisions that are very hard to predict. Now that the play-offs are wrapped up, we’re taking a look at which sides have been the biggest disappointments and which clubs have surpassed our wildest expectations!

The Championship

It’s fair to say that this Championship season was an unpredictable one. Watford and Norwich City, two of the favourites that we tipped for an immediate return to the Premier League ended up firmly in mid-table in eleventh and thirteenth, respectively.

That left the door wide open for Burnley to romp to the Championship title this season. Vincent Kompany’s first season as a manager in English football couldn’t have gone better, as the Clarets amassed over 100 points and only lost three times in a 46-game season.

Sheffield United were also back to their best after a disappointing start to the 2021-22 season and falling short in last season’s playoffs. The Blades return to the top flight after two seasons away and could upset a few if they continue to beat top sides like Spurs like they did in the FA Cup.

The play-offs were as dramatic as ever, as nobody would’ve expected Coventry City and Luton Town to be fighting it out for a place in the big time. Penalties decided the tie in the Hatters’ favour and the Hertfordshire club will be in the top flight for the first time since 1992!

Both Coventry and Sunderland (who Luton knocked out in the semi-finals) can take immense credit from this season as not many would’ve tipped them for a top six finish this campaign.

At the bottom, both Reading and Wigan Athletic face uncertain futures as they were dumped out of the second tier amid points deductions and financial turmoil. Blackpool also had a poor campaign and The Tangerines will be playing third tier football again in August.

League One

The standard required for automatic qualification in League One was quite frankly ridiculous this season. Plymouth Argyle accumulated over a century of points, while second-placed Ipswich Town got 98. After a very poor few years, the Tractor Boys will be in the Championship next season.

Argyle has been simply sensational, though. It wasn’t that long ago that the Pilgrims were on the brink of dropping out of the Football League, but they confirmed a return to the second tier for the first time in over a decade.

In the Play-offs, Sheffield Wednesday ensured that both Sheffield sides tasted promotion champagne in 2022-23. Despite losing the first leg 4-0, The Owls came back twice to take the second leg to penalties at Hillsborough. Penalties went the way of the South Yorkshire side.

While they may have made a pig’s ear of the regular season in embarrassing fashion, Wednesday eventually came out on top in the last minute of extra-time at Wembley. Barnsley heroically almost held on to force penalties, but the extra man (thanks to a very controversial red card) proved decisive in the end.

Forest Green Rovers were the whipping boys of League One this season, only claiming 27 points. They’re joined in League Two by Accrington Stanley, Milton Keynes Dons and Morecambe, who suffered the first relegation in the club’s history this season.

League Two

In League Two, the Orient express keeps chugging on, as Leyton Orient are back in the third tier for the first time in eight years. Despite being in non-league and facing an uncertain future, the side from East London never looked like missing out on promotion.

Stevenage avoided dropping out of the Football League thanks to Bury’s demise in 2020 and Boro have seen the fruits of their labour this season. Stevenage are joined by Northampton Town, who are back in League One after two seasons away.

In the play-offs, Stockport County, who were playing sixth tier football just a few seasons ago, were denied by Carlisle United in the final on penalties. Carlisle finished 20th the season prior, so this showed huge progress by the Cumbrians.

At the bottom, Rochdale’s over century in the football league came to an end with a whimper. The Dale will be joined by Hartlepool United in the National League, who only survived for two seasons before dropping to the fifth tier again.

On a side note, we’re really looking forward to seeing how both Wrexham and Notts Country fare in League Two next season after both topped 100 points in the National League this season.