The strongest early spotlight falls on the clubs dropping out of the top flight. West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers arrive as obvious promotion contenders, and both appear to have enough quality to make an immediate push.
There is already noise around Wolves. Other reports say they opened with a 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers, with Jimenez rescuing a point through a stoppage-time penalty. That does not change the broader picture: squads with proven quality are expected to stay in the race.
Burnley also fit the classic bounce-back profile. The club has gone up in each of its last four Championship campaigns, making it difficult to ignore in any promotion conversation.
The Championship rarely belongs to the relegated sides alone.
That depth matters. A fast start can create separation; a slow one can turn pressure toxic before autumn.
In League One, Leicester City are viewed as the early favourites, helped by squad depth and the sense of a reset after a poor campaign. Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town, now under Jack Wilshere, also look like clubs trying to turn upheaval into momentum. Bradford City are another side to watch.
League Two remains the hardest division to call. Heavy squad turnover is common, and promoted York City will be one of the first tests of whether last season’s momentum can survive a higher level.
The first few rounds will not decide anything, but they will reveal plenty. The next storyline to watch is simple: which big names settle early, and which ones feel the weight of expectation by the end of the month?