They were the chosen three last season, but what lessons can this season's crop of Championship hopefuls learn from the example set by Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton? Tribalfootball.com's Championship expert offers his insight on the promoted trio...
1 - Boss Bravery
It's not unreasonable for fans and pundits to champion familiar managers, but it is unreasonable for them to rule out other potential names on the basis 'He doesn't know the League'. Hopefully Vincent Kompany's success at Burnley last season is the antidote, maybe Leicester have already followed suit with the hire of Enzo Maresca?
2 - Keep Calm
I'm sure Rudyard Kipling didn't have the Championship in mind when he wrote 'If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs', but it does apply to Sheffield United last season. Other clubs hired and fired, bought and sold and tripped themselves up in the process, on the inside there were ownership issues but Paul Heckingbottom kept calm and his eyes on the prize.
3 - Succession
Yeah it's a great TV show, but was also key in Luton continuing to thrive despite losing key figures along the way. The Hatters did not want to lose Kal Naismith, James Bree and especially manager Nathan Jones, but in a well oiled machine parts can easily be replaced. If you're not one of the privileged few departures are inevitable, it's who's up next that's the important thing.
4 - Treasure Hunting
In a world where every club knows every player, outthinking the opposition is key. There's value anywhere if you can extract it and if your Belgian manager has just come from working in Belgium then exploiting that market might just prove to be very smart. I'm not saying everyone should be buying from Belgium, but Burnley beautifully found an angle that worked for them and leaned right into it.
5 - Beg, Steal And Borrow
It's standard practice for Championship clubs to use loan players to gain promotion and last year was no exception. Luton's borrowed keeper Horvath played over 50 times and Nakamba and Drameh were vital January additions. The Man City pair of McAtee and Doyle had more and more influence at Sheffield United as the season went on. At Burnley, Maatsen, Tella and Harwood-Bellis were at times the best players in the side. They're out there, just got to get the right ones.
6 - Love The Road
The Championship is a grind. Muscle memory is key, especially during the three game weeks and the cold winter. Too many draws won't work in the long run so showing up and getting the job done on the road can be the difference in the promotion race. It'll be no surprise to anyone that last year's three promoted sides also had the best away records in the division.
7 - Substance (Part One)
Despite all playing in very different ways our three promoted teams conceded the fewest goals in the Championship. Revealingly they were the only three sides under 46 meaning on average everyone else conceded a goal or more per game. Seven sides scored more goals than Luton, Boro 27 more. Goals win games, defences win promotions.
8 - Substance (Part Two)
If you're not going to win then don't lose. I know I said too many draws don't work, but those unbeaten streaks can have a huge psychological impact on opponents when that hint of invincibility builds. Along with the best away and defensive records the longest unbeaten streaks also belong to the three promoted teams. Sheffield United 10 games, Luton 14, Burnley a huge 22 games.
9 - Stay The Course
Sheffield United and Luton both lost in the play-offs the season before they went up meaning we can give a two season points total of 161 to the Blades and 155 to the Hatters. If play-off losers don't throw the baby out with the bath water and stay the course the winning habit often continues. Take note Boro, Coventry and Sunderland!
10 - Penalties.
When the door opened and the Premier League was there for the taking in a penalty shootout, Luton were ready and waiting. Some people call penalties a lottery, they couldn't be more wrong. In the game of nerve and technique the Hatters hit six out of six and there's probably no coincidence that three of their scorers entered the game as extra time substitutes.
Every promotion season is unique in its own way but it does feel as though the blueprint has been set over many years now. In the Championship we know that tactical innovation and technical excellence will fall flat if it's not coupled with a robust mentality and huge stamina.
Recruitment is vital, with the Premier League growing in size and scope the loan system is becoming more and more significant in bridging the gap. The underpinning Championship pre-requisite would seem to be resilience, whether that be Burnley's bold reset, Sheffield United's in bouncing back from play-off defeat, or Luton's in the face of key personnel departing and the club.
Lessons will be learned, trends will be followed and new examples will be set by whoever the three sides that emulate Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton in reaching the Premier League this coming season.
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