Football League Championship Review Part One

First of all apologizes due to my lack of posts for the last month and a half, I'll try to make up the number of posts over the next few weeks.

As the football league season comes to an end with fans all over the country embroiled in title challenges, European qualification, promotion, play-offs, relegation... or like me you can sit back, relax knowing that a topsy-turvy season leaves you in mid-table with nothing really to play for. Today saw the cultimation of the Championship and once again it has proven to be unpredictable, exciting and at times frustrating. So here's what I make of the efforts made by the members of the 2nd tier. Please note, maybe certain amount of bias here.

Promotion Winners

At the start of the season I was fully expecting Newcastle United to roll over, continue to feel sorry for themselves and have a similar first season to Leeds when they finished mid-table. Step forward Chris Hughton without a doubt manager of the season. He's made a totally selfish squad play as a team and although at times they had many a lucky 1-0 win they deserve the title. For example, how many times have Man United won titles based on those scrappy 1-0 wins away at the likes of Bolton.

Throughout this season I've been wholly impressed with West Brom. Moving to university has meant I haven't been able to sit in a stadium much this season but I got to go to WBA v Sheffield United in January. Let's not beat about the bush, they trounced us, 3-1 result with a performance of pure class. A group of players always dangerous on the attack who play good, entertaining football. I hope they can stay up next season although I will be sad about the lack of 'away' trip for the Blades in the West Midlands.

Play Off contenders

To be honest, I can't say I want to see any of this year's 4 play off teams in the Premier League next season. Forest have a big rivalry with United, Cardiff don't have the best following off the field in terms of behaviour, Leicester have had a great season but could 'beat' Derby's worst points tally and Blackpool are particularly my favourite side due to my soft spot for Preston North End.

Nottingham Forest would probably be the side I would most like to see in the top flight simply because they've been very impressive this season and I am a traditionalist at heart who likes to see the classic clubs have some success. They will of course fear the curse of 3rd place, not many a side have finished 3rd and gone on to win the play offs and Forest are a side who have suffered a lot in the play offs in both the Championship and during their time in League One. Forest and Cardiff played out on of my matches of the season, covered by the BBC it ended in a 1-1 draw. It was end to end stuff and Forest scored in the 91st minute to secure a point. Forest's spirit was something I was impressed with but they will need to muster it again to ensure they win that 3rd promotion spot.

Cardiff had to do well having spent so much money and their new ground has been possibly the toughest place to visit apart from Newcastle. But I am not the only one who would rather see the Bluebirds stay in the Championship. With a poor record of fan trouble I don't think many Sunderland supporters will fancy potentially being held in the Cardiff away end for the best part of an hour, to give an example. Cardiff are probably the most desperate to gain promotion so they could have a bit of that TV money, their efforts could be boom or bust, especially having had Peter Risdale in charge.

Leicester and Blackpool have for me had similar fortunes based on great team spirit, the same way as Burnley achieved promotion last season. Leicester impressed me from the off when they refused to roll over to the sides expected to beat them and hit the ground running, they kept in there and probably have the best goal celebration tune in the league, anyone for a bit of 'I'm on Fiiiiiire'. Ian Holloway has led a side tipped for relegation to the play offs in a very similar manner to Owen Coyle's Burnley side from last year. Instead of having my nerves torn to shreads I decided that I'd watch their final game with my Bristol City supporting friend Matt today who were the Lancashire sides opponents today. City took the lead against the run of play and Blackpool could easily have got the wobbles and caved in, but it only seemed to spur them on. They dominated with a solid display with great awareness all over the field and some talent that sadly may go a-wandering if they fall short over the next few weeks.

My play off prediction is that Forest will meet Leicester at Wembley, I don't really mind who succeeds but my head, sort of, tells me Leicester will be back in Premier League come August.

Rest of the top 10

Starting with Swansea, a lack of goals has let them down. It's a real shame as the rest of the eleven could all probably slot into the sides in the 6 places above them, but they haven't replaced Jason Scotland which of course they will look to do in the summer, perhaps getting him back as he hasn't particularly been as big a success at Wigan Athletic.

Now onto my own side, Sheffield United. Having lost the play off final last season and then brought in big players like Ched Evans and experience in the likes of Glen Little, our hopes were high but of course 8th place wasn't what we wanted. Being a Sheffield United supporter though has taught me a lot about hindsight. We have to be the unluckiest side in the league with two injury-crisis ridden periods also contributing to poor runs in form, namely the runs from the Bramall Lane win at Wednesday (19 Sept) to a win against Peterborough (21 Nov) with no wins, cue symbolic beardage to make sure my sister changed my United calendar from September to November, those in the know all know that her lack of competence of turning a page was the real reason for all those frustrating results which put us on the back foot for the rest of the season. As I look back on the season I think I can be pleased. 8th place for a side which had to make 17 loan signings over the season, had to sell 3 quarters of the defence from the play offs and had loan signings Kyle Walker and Mark Bunn cruelly recalled before games by their Premier League owners. At times I did feel Kevin Blackwell's time was up but the effort of the cobbled together side towards the end of the season, plus the return of Paddy Kenny after his ludicrous 9 month ban for the same offence commited by Fabio Cannavaro gives me hope for the future. Warnock built our promotion squad was built on free transfers and they will be needed as not many players are on the books for next season, hopefully KB can do more signings like Richard Cresswell who has been a revalation. Until then I will be care free in the knowledge that once again Sheffield United are Yorkshire's top side. Here's to 2010-2011.

Anyway back to normality and Reading who I reckon could be back up there for next year. They continued the poor form from the back end of 08-09 and were in deep trouble for while. Yet their form has seen them finish 9th, it's a new era for them from now on. The Coppell days may have gone but under Brian McDermott they will be tipped as contenders next season. Haven't seen much of them in full games this season, although I was quite shocked how much of a shadow of their former selves they were when the Blades visited them early in the season. A potentially dangerous transitional season has been tamed and they are rising again.

Bristol City have been added to my soft spot list along with Preston, Hull, Everton and Tottenham. It has been interesting to follow them this season as their season has mirrored Sheffield United's is several ways. Play Off Final losers with a manager under threat for great parts of the season and a limited number of players at the disposal of the coaching staff. The big difference was that Gary Johnson eventually lost his job unlike Kevin Blackwell. Nicky Maynard has been the most terrifying prospect for defenders not wearing a black and white shirt sponsored by a bank. His goal today against Blackpool wasn't the first strike that made my eyes go wide and the word BOOM come out of my mouth. He will possibly attract attention but with Steve Coppell now appointed as Gary Johnson's successor I think he will stay, Matt was telling me today that City has been linked with many of the squad that Coppell had great success with at Reading. With a chairman who knows what he's doing and the best World Cup bids outside
the Premier League clubs they will spend in the summer, not large and outlandish, but cleverly and I share the optimism of the Robins, they will be a good shout for play offs next season.

Part Two coming in the next few days, I promise