2013 - 2014 Football Thread - Page 636

PL GD PTS
1 Leicester 32 27 71
2 Burnley 32 24 63
3 Derby 32 20 61
4 QPR 31 12 56
5 Forest 32 18 55
6 Reading 32 13 50
7 Wigan 31 8 49
8 Brighton 31 6 46
9 Blackburn 31 3 46
10 Ipswich 32 6 45
11 Leeds 31 4 43
12 Watford 32 5 42
13 M'borough 32 5 40
14 Hudd'sfld 32 -4 40
15 Sheff Wed 31 0 36
16 Birm'hm 32 -2 36
17 Bournmth 31 -14 36
18 Blackpool 32 -15 35
19 Bolton 32 -12 33
20 Doncaster 32 -20 30
21 Millwall 32 -29 28
22 Charlton 29 -14 27
23 Barnsley 31 -21 26
24 Yeovil 31 -20 25

Leicester have been the best team in the Championship by a long way this year. Ten points ahead of 3rd place right now, it would be unwise to bet against them getting automatic promotion. Their form right now is incredible, as they are unbeaten in 13 games, and they truly have a Premier League standard squad already.

Key player: LLoyd Dyer. Dyer has had an absolutely incredible season so far, contributing 9 goals and 6 assists from the wing. His skill and pace have been tearing defences apart all season, its not just the goals and assists, he is key to the way Leicester attack, and he is the key to all of their big wins. Of course, their team is built on a very strong defence and midfield, so even without him they are more than able to win games.

Burnley have been a revelation this year, and IMO its all down to their manager Sean Dyche. He has his team playing in an organized way, defending very capably, whilst dominating games in midfield and allowing their start strikers, Danny Ings and Sam Vokes, to get alot of goals. Ings sits on 19 for the season, while Vokes has 17. This is incredibly impressive from both players, and it is Burnley's exceptional midfield that has allowed this to happen. Marney and Arfield have both shown that as part of Dyche's system, they can flourish and completely take opponents out of the game. For a squad that was assembled for a meager sum, they have proved that in the right system, players can play way above their pay grade.

Key player: I would like to put Dyche here, but he's a manager lol. Dyche's team has been consistent all year and that's down to him.
As for players, i think Dean Marney in their midfield has been absolutely key. You can go on and on about how many goals their strikers have scored, but last year they had Charlie Austin, who scored over 20 goals. Ings barely got a look in. When Austin left for QPR many thought that Burnley had lost their key player, but it turns out their goals were coming from their system, and their midfield's ability to dominate, rather than individual brilliance. Marney is a solid midfielder. He has all aspects of the game down to a tee, from his tackling ability, his ability to lead and organise, and his decision making. You won't see him spreading passes around Xavi style, but that's not the Burnley way. He keeps it simple, and ensures that Burnley are organised and able to take the opposition out of games, and in the Championship that is where your battles are won.

The sacking of Nigel Clough (son of the greatest manager England never had) earlier this season has proven to be the wisest decision their board ever made. Under Clough Derby were showing very little progress year to year, and their young players were not developing as they should. In schteps Schteve LOL!!! Mclaren. Having achieved either tremendous success or hideous failure at every club he's managed at so far, it sure was a gamble, and one that has turned out to pay off for them. What many considered to be a 'honeymoon period' for Derby has continued long into the season and made Derby a wildcard for automatic promotion. Their style is counter attacking and slick, rather than the more dominant style of Burnley, relying on pace and individual skill. They also have a couple of in form strikers , which can never hurt, including the recent loan signing Patrick Bamford of Chelsea.

Key Player: Chris Martin. Martin has been strong for Derby this year, has contributed with goals, and seems to have that ability to get a goal out of nothing, which has won Derby many points this year.

Something has happened to QPR since the start of the season, and it ain't good. Hit by injuries quite badly during November/December (including one game where they had no strikers fit), they have struggled to really regain automatic promotion form. A brief look at their forums shows that there is alot of unrest amongst the fans (as there always is with football fans), and much of this is due to the quality of their squad. They have some of the most expensive players in the Championship, but many of them have not been performing well at all this year. Assou Ekkoto (i think that's how you spell it) has been extremely poor, with performances ranging from disinterested to downright calamitous.
With the January transfer window, however, 'Arry had a chance to sort things out, and went out and signed 4 strikers and an attacking midfielder. These players are going to be key for the rest of their season, but it remains to be seen whether it is too late, or whether they can mount a late challenge for automatic promotion.

Key player: Junior Hoilett. Another 'something from nothing' player who can win games on his own, this is exactly the sort of player who is going to be able to push QPR on late in the season, as games get tighter, and upsets start to spring everywhere. Hoilett has immense skill and scary pace, two things that are incredibly advantageous when a lack of team spirit and mental toughness seem to be bringing you down.

Something appears to be going slightly wrong in Nottingham. Saturday was their first loss in 14 Championship games, convincingly destroyed 3-1 by Burnley, the depth of Forest's injury crisis is really beginning to reveal some problems. The loan market seems to be the only out right now, with 5-7 (depending on your view) first team players on the injury list, including the entire back 4 and midfield 3. Forest are having to make do with players who are average at Championship level and its really showing. Despite the signings of Vaughan (now injured), Hobbs (also now injured) and Olympiakos star Djebbour in the January window, Forest are below strength and are playing way below par. Djebbour, however, still needs to acclimatise to the faster, more physical pace of the Championship and is yet to make an impact (while still showing that he could have potential to be a real star for Forest). Loan signings are going ot be the key to a promotion push for Forest, without them they could be resigned to missing out on the playoffs and trying again next season.

Key Player: Andy Reid. Possibly the most talented midfielder in the Championship, Reid has been at the heart of everything good about Forest this year, and is playing the best football of his career, which has led to an international call up for Ireland. I don't have enough praise for this man. With a bit more pace he could walk into most Premier League sides, especially with his new found fitness (he was always derided for being fat and unfit, but no more - i promise you) and his ability to captain and lead the team.