On July 29 2013 18:29 Jockmcplop wrote:Show nested quote +On July 29 2013 18:14 MagickMan wrote:+ Show Spoiler +On July 29 2013 05:14 Jockmcplop wrote:The SkyBet Championship 2013-14Seeing as i support a team in the Championship i thought i would do a write up in this thread for you lovely guys. If anyone has anything to add, correct or complain about please PM me. I would highly recommend watching games from this league if you get the chance. The standard of football can vary from excellent (top tier level football is available almost every week) to very poor, but it really hots up towards the end of the season. Last year there were 14 points between Leicester (6th place - in playoffs) and Peterborough (relegated to League 1). 5 wins difference. The league itself+ Show Spoiler +Known as being one of the highest quality 2nd tier leagues in the world, the SkyBet Championship is a very unique league. In terms of excitement, it is almost unrivaled because on their day, any team could beat any other team, and there is usually a great balance to the league. Its not rare to find clubs that have been promoted from League 1 the previous season getting promoted again without huge investments (ie Southampton, Norwich); while clubs relegated from the EPL struggle (Wolves last season got relegated for the second year running, Blackburn and Bolton struggled for large parts of the season).
I don't think any other 2nd tier league in Europe has so many teams who have been involved in the European Cup/Champions League football.
This year is as stacked as any in this regard. Clubs with huge histories in this league include:
Leeds United (won the league 3 times, runners up in the European Cup in 1975)
Nottingham Forest (won the league once 1978-9, won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980) (My team. The greatest team in the world)
Blackburn Rovers (runners up in the league 93-94; won the league 94-95)
Middlesborough (runners up UEFA Cup 2005-6)
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1: Reading
2: Watford
3: QPR
4: Nottingham Forest
5: Charlton*
6: Bolton
7: Leicester
8: Doncaster
9: Leeds
10: Blackpool
11: Middlesborough
12: Derby
13: Huddersfield
14: Burnley
15: Brighton & Hove
16: Blackburn
17: Wigan
18: Sheffield Wednesday
19: Bournemouth
20: Barnsley
21: Birmingham
22: Ipswich
23: Milwall
24: Yeovil
*Charlton is the biggest surprise in here. They put together a great run of form towards the end of last season, and have stability and a great manager. I think they could win the playoffs and get promoted this season.
(contains almost purely opinions) + Show Spoiler +Barnsley FC+ Show Spoiler +Barnsley have done some good business so far this summer, having signed Nyatanga, M'voto, and Cofie (former Man. U striker). Although this seems to have improved their squad, they really struggled to put together a decent run of form last year, and at one point picked up only two points from eight games. Their form picked up a little bit towards the end of the season, but only enough to barely save them from relegation. I predict a similar fate for them this year.
Prediction 20th A mid-table finish last season was pretty much as expected for Birmingham. They have made a few cursory signings, but nothing that will really bolster their team. I think the increased quality of the Championship this season will see Birmingham struggle, as IMHO they have not really kept up with the rest of the league in terms of signings. There is unhappiness growing among their fans right now, which can be disastrous for a teams chances in the league.
Prediction 21st Blackburn fans have had a torrid time of it recently. Huge instability, unrest, changes of manager and fan protests. Relegation from the EPL had a massive effect on this club right from the top to the bottom, and their extremely poor performance last year led to Kean, Berg and Appleton all being sacked from their managerial roles. This year, they have made a big signing in DJ Campbell, but he has recently been injured (confirming that BRFC fans are very unlucky) and faces a 2 month layoff. They still have some quality, but unless they can stabilize i can't see them threatening the top of the table this year.
Prediction 16th Blackpool play exciting football. Anyone who remembers their season in the EPL knows that. However, in the Championship, a leaky defence is almost a death sentence, and this was their problem last year. They have bolstered their defence with the addition of MacKenzie from MK Dons. They have also signed Chopra, a striker who has quality but is up and down in terms of form. I think they will improve on last year's 15th, and they might even get into the play-offs, but it really depends on their defending and whether the addition of MacKenzie really improves things.
Prediction 10th Bolton just missed out on the play-offs on the last day of the season last year, which was heartbreaking for their fans. Their squad has alot of quality, as was shown by their fantastic form in the mid-late part of last season. The addition of Jermaine Beckford will bolster their chances this season. Good teams improve their squad even when it seems that they don't really need to, and Bolton have done this over the summer. They should do well this season. Like Blackpool, however, they need to be careful of having a leaky defence.
Prediction 6th - *playoff place
Bournemouth had a brilliant season last year, coming 2nd in League 1 and winning promotion. Their club edict is one of stability and improvement and this has really shown both on and off the pitch. Their most notable addition this summer has been Coulibaly. The Senegal born winger/forward has alot of quality and will really boost their attack against the more physical and organized defences of the Championship. I think they will survive the year, but without threatening the top half of the table. Look out for them upsetting some of the bigger teams throughout the season though.
Prediction 19th Brighton have some trouble over this Summer. Hugely popular manager Gus Poyet was given the sack (apparently while doing a live TV broadcast he found out from a BBC researcher just before going live for half time analysis - although the club say he knew before this) for comments he made about his future with the club. They have since hired former Barcelona midfielder Oscar Garcia. Its a big risk hiring someone with little managerial experience, and just because it has worked once, it doesn't mean it will again. For this reason its hard to predict how they will finish this year, but i can't see them getting promotion, or anything even close
Prediction 15th
A disappointing run of form led Burnley to finish 11th last season, and they have done little to boost their squad this summer. A few players have been picked up on free transfer, and a few have been released or free transferred away. Their biggest dilemma right now is their star player Charlie Austin. He scored over 20 goals last year, and was all ready to transfer to Hull but failed a medical, disrupting their preseason preparations. They need the money from his transfer to get a good replacement, but without him its hard to see them doing well this year.
Prediction 14th A scintillating end of the season last year led to Charlton finishing 9th in the league, after a poor start. They have let their best player go (Bradley Wright Phillips, who as transferred to New York Red Bulls), but they have a fantastic team spirit, and despite an apparent lack of quality they showed at the end of last year that they have a great ability to win games despite some poor performances. This is hugely important in a close league, and i can see them using these qualities to achieve a good finish this year. They could even be dark horses for promotion through the play-offs
Prediction 5th *playoff place *its hard for me to give an objective view of Derby, because i hate them more than any other team in the world, but i will try.* + Show Spoiler +Nigel Clough, son of legendary manager Brian, has an interesting job in Derby. He has been building their team on a budget, signing many players from lower divisions and getting them to play together as a team pretty well over the last few years. He has done a good job reducing their wage budget by a huge amount, but their league position has not improved significantly over this time. I can't see them ending up anywhere but mid table this year.
Prediction 12th Doncaster contributed the most dramatic moment of the entire English football league last season. It was the last minute of their final game of the season when they lost a penalty, which if scored would have dropped them into the playoffs. The penalty was saved, however, and form the resulting counter attack they scored, which put them top of League 1 and won them the title. Classic stuff. Most of their transfer business this summer has been in free transfers (picking up ex Real Madrid and Manchester United playes). Doncaster are known for playing footbal 'the proper way', playing a passing possession style. I can see them doing better this time around in the championship, with their more modern style being better adapted to life in this league.
Prediction 8th A poor performance last year led to them finishing 19th in the league, although it could be said that they were just trying to consolidate their position after being promoted the year before. Huddersfield have made some good signings over the summer, specifically Adam Hamill from Wolves, and James Vaughan from Norwich. These players have dramatically improved the balance and quality of their first team, and i can see them doing much better this season. Although i have predicted a mid table finish, a good run of form and i wouldn't discount them hitting the play-offs.
Prediction 13th Mick McCarthy's Ipswich have done alot of business over the summer, after their 14th finish last year. It was a mediocre season, but an improvement. Their summer dealings have seen them bolster their defence, but they have also lost their 'best' striker in terms of quality, Michael Chopra. Now relying solely on McGoldrick (hilariously nicknamed McGoalDrought by some former clubs) for their goals, i can really see them struggling this year. McCarthy is known for the defensive setup of his teams, but he needs to get another striker IMHO or this season could be a very long one.
Prediction 22nd *Relegation Where to start with Leeds. Dirty, dirty Leeds as they're known across the UK (a relic of the time when they won the league by combining the art of football with the art of MMA) have suffered massively in recent years. Every time it has looked good for them, their best players seem to all leave at once. The much despised Ken Bates has been blamed for their misfortune, and accused of all sorts of dodgy dealings behind the scenes. He has left Leeds United over this summer though, and that could signal good times ahead. They finished mid table last year, but have bought some quality players in (Noel Hunt from Reading could be a HUGE signing for them). An improvement, i think, this season but not quite enough of one for promotion. Look out for them in years to come though.
Prediction 9th Leicester City have been spending big over the last few years in a desperate attempt to get back into the EPL. They got into play-offs (pray-offs) last season but couldn't quite make it. This summer they have been awarded Category 1 for their youth academy, showing that they are serious about improvement from top to bottom. A lack of transfer business this summer is probably a good thing for Leicester, as they are in need of some team spirit and stability due to their high spending actions in recent years. Still, with the injection of quality from the EPL relegations this year, i can't see them improving their performance. Play-offs or theereabouts for me.
Prediction 7th - a little harsh, but i dislike the club xD
Middlesborough were a comfortably mid table team last season, with very little to write home about all year really. Some good results, but they never really put together a run of form, or had the consistency necessary to challenge at the top of the table. They have improved their squad by signing experienced former Stoke City midfielder Dean Whitehead, but i can't see them doing too much better than they did last season. One run of form could change things however, and boss tony Mowbray will be hoping that the added consistency given by a player of Whitehead's quality and experience could do it for them.
Prediction 11th Millwall finished just outside the relegation places last season, and have since had quite a dramatic overhaul of their playing squad. However, most of their new players are free transfers, and have been released by other championship clubs, which leads one to believe that that their biggest problem, their lack of outstanding talent, is going to continue into this season. A team that fans love to hate, due to their own fans' reputation for being 'a little bit rowdy', i can't see Millwall doing well at all this year. They might bother mid table, but i highly doubt it unless they can bring in some real quality before the transfer window shuts.
Prediction 23rd *relegation *I am a fan, not a journalist, and i love Nottingham Forest, and everything about them, so don't expect impartiality here.* + Show Spoiler +After a disappointing end of last season, missing out on the play-offs on the last day, Forest are gearing up for a promotion push this season. A number of signings have improved their squad over the summer. Plugging the leaky defence and getting a winger and goalscorer have been the main goals. With Hobbs and two right backs, the defence is pretty much sorted, and the biggest signing so far has been Algerian international winger Abdoun. With rumours going around about a possible transfer of Charlie Austin from Burnley, we are nearly set up for a big push.
Come on you reds!
Prediction 4th *play-off place QPR are a controversial club, with a controversial manager. 'Arry Redknapp was known as something of a specialist at saving clubs with a budget from relegation, but last year QPR proved to be too big of a job for him. With the predictable exodus of some of their best, and highest earning, players over the summer, nothing is set in stone for QPR at the moment and their season could go either way. They still have a number of extremely good players, and are apparently looking to sign more in this transfer window (look out for this being a massive issue between 'Arry and the owners if it doesn't happen). A prediction is very difficult, as i can see 'Arry leaving before the summer is out, but they still have a very good team with very good players.
Prediction 3rd *play-off place Another relegated team, Reading are odd in that they have much the same squad as before they got promoted to the EPL, with some improvements. You could say that they are the polar opposite of QPR. This stability puts them in a very good place for this season, given that much of their team has experience of playing in, and winning promotion from, this league. They have added quality players this summer too, the highest profile being former Real Madrid player Royston Drenthe. I think they will not only win the league, but do so by some margin.
Prediction 1st *promoted as champions
Wednesday have had a torrid time recently, bouncing between the top of league one and the bottom of the championship. They have added a couple of players this summer, but still lacking in quality experienced players, they are probably going to struggle again, following their 18th place finish last year. Manager Dave Jones has had very little success in the championship, and i really can't see this changing much this year. They sealed their place in championship by avoiding relegation on the last day of the season last year, look for something similar to happen again this season.
Prediction 18th Watford Football Club, otherwise known as Udinese B team, are a team with a great manager in Gianfranco Zola, and an insane amount of quality young players. With their owners basically moving players around at will between Udinese and Watford, they are at a big advantage before this season has even started. You can't deny quality, however, and i can't see a scenario in which they don't finish in the top 6. Last season there was speculation as to how they would integrate so many Italian players into their team and do well, but they managed it, just missing out on promotion in the play-off final. You have to give it to Zola, he has got some man management skill, and its this, above anything else, that will see them promoted this year.
Prediction 2nd *automatic promotion Wigan are a difficult team to write up. They have been relegated, and as such 7 of their first team players have left, and they have rebuilt mostly from free transfers, with a couple of exceptions. They might encounter great difficulty this year in the championship, however, because they have changed their style and manager greatly since they were last here. This can be signified by the fact that they have spent £2m on massive bruising striker Grant Holt from Norwich. I think this stylistic change is going to cost them, because adapting that quickly and changing the whole ethos of a club overnight is not easy, and you need quality, not only strength, to do well in this league. A surprising prediction, maybe, but i think they struggle.
Prediction 17th After their surprise promotion last year, Yeovil are probably going to face a long difficult relegation battle this season. They have addded a few players over the summer, but no-one of note really, just a few free transfers from championship and league 1 teams, and one paid transfer from a lower league side. I predictably predict that they will have a terrible year, but i think they could bounce back and in 5 years time they could be a regular side in the championship.
Prediction 24th *relegation Support a team in a lesser known league? Why not do a write up, i'm always up for knowing more about football  I would very much like to see Ipswich come 22nd. Norwich fan?
Yep
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EPT
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