It’s all over!

 

 

The Premier League is often tagged as ‘the most exciting league in the world’, well whoever came up with that has obviously never seen a Championship match!

 

Quality may not come as a priority for teams in the second tier of English football, but passion and commitment are paramount.

 

As the final day of the Championship season drew nearer, it became evident that of the 24 sides competing, still 14 teams had something to play for. Be it promotion, or avoiding relegation.

 

Now, after an action filled final day, full of drama, tears and late goals, we finally know where everyone stands.

 

I’ll give you my own hellish experience from a final day that saw my team, Coventry, in real danger of the drop. Away at Charlton Athletic the Sky Blues needed just a point to secure safety. I decided to go to the match in more hope than expectation, wary that an escape from the drop would be much easier said than done.

 

Blackpool were above us on goal difference while Southampton, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday were all below on lesser points, however just two points separated the five sides.

 

So on we go, and before I knew it Coventry were 3-1 down and Sheffield Wednesday were 3-1 up. Brilliant. Relegation was now a three horse race between Leicester, who were away at Stoke, Southampton, who were at home to Sheffield United, and of course, Coventry.

 

I now found myself in the horrendous territory of relying on other teams do us a favour. It’s an awful situation, being at a game and not knowing what is going on elsewhere in the league. Instead, I had to do with vague, and somewhat worrying, votes of confidence from friends via text, “Not looking good is it mate? hahaha” to quote a particular chum of mine.

 

Then before I knew it, bang, Southampton were 3-2 up and Coventry had conceded yet again, 4-1 down and relegation’s ugly face had poked around the corner.

 

Suddenly we had a two horse relegation race on our hands between Coventry and M69 rivals Leicester. I’d long since given up hope of a Sky Blues revival,  I suspect even Paul Daniels would have had a struggle on his hands bringing four goals out of the hat to give us a 5-4 win!

 

So a Leicester victory would have meant curtains for Coventry. Ironic really, my entire season relied on Stoke bloody City to hold on!

 

I began hearing worrying rumours that Leicester were coming ever closer to scoring, cue another text from a so called friend falsely claiming that Leicester were indeed one nil up! Charming.

 

Fortunately, Stoke did hold on, relegating Leicester in the process. Cue mass relief from all Coventry fans. Those 20 minutes of hell will live with me for a good while yet.

 

Having watched the highlights, it seems that the Potters did their best to cause me untold misery and it began to dawn on me how close Leicester really came to winning the match. Had it not been for the post and Carlo Nash’ right hand I would probably be on anti-depressants right now.

 

In terms of promotion, big congratulations to both West Brom and Stoke City who went up via the automatic places, while Hull, Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Watford will battle it out in the play-offs. 

So while the multi-million pounds of the so-called ‘promised land’ dominates our back pages, don’t be afraid to delve into the murky depths of Championship football. In terms of excitement and support, it cannot be faulted. The Daily Mail reports that ‘on the final day of the season, two Championship games attracted crowds in excess of 30,000 and seven matches in all were watched by more than 20,000 fans’. Not bad at all.

No more hiding…

As a huge Coventry fan, I am preparing myself for the possibilty that the Sky Blues really could get relegated this coming Sunday. The league table doesn’t lie, and it does not make pretty viewing right now.

Pos	Team	Played	GD	Pts
18	Blackpool	45	-5	53
19	Coventry	45	-9	53
20	Sheff Wed	45	-4	52
21	Leicester	45	-3	51
22	Southampton	45	-17	51
23	R Scunthorpe	45	-23	45
24	R Colchester	45	-24	37

Southampton are in big danger of the drop and their minus 17 goal difference means that even if they end up on level points with another team, they are likely to go down due to their abysmal defensive record, and with their final match against the in-form Sheffield United, they are the 1/1 favourites to go down

Leicester have the best goal difference out of the five teams that could be relegated, but they are away to Stoke City, who know that a win would seal their promotion to the Premiership. You can get odds of 6/4 on Leicester to go down, but their impressive goal difference (considering the circumstances) really could prove vital.

Sheffield Wednesday have arguably the easiest game of the lot, at home to Norwich who have nothing to play for but pride. However, saying that it’s an easy game means nothing - Wednesday still have to do the business on the pitch. Odds of 13/2 are good very good value. 

So we come to Coventry, just two points clear of safety, and with the second worse goal difference of the five. We are away to Charlton, but with Addicks boss Alan Pardew saying that he’s ready to give “the kids a run out” that could spell disaster for Chris Coleman’s men - young, hungry teenagers willing to prove a point.

I can only hope and pray that results go our way, because I can’t see us winning. Coventry are actually the outside bet to go down at 25/1, which is superb value, and well worth a quid or two (even if I say so myself!). 

I’m even half tempted to put £10 on Coventry to go down myself, that way, even if we are relegated I’ll have enough money to drown my sorrows!

Meanwhile, 18th placed Blackpool face play-off candidates Watford, at home, in a far from easy clash. Despite odds of 22/1 to go down, I wouldn’t say that Blackpool are totally safe. Anything could, and probably will happen.

See you on the other side…

(All odds courtesy of http://www.bet365.com)

 

Welcome back Derby, but who’s next?

 

A year is a long time in football, just ask Derby County. Just under 12 months ago they were celebrating an unlikely, but all-the-same impressive victory over West Brom in the play-off final at Wembley.

Now, with a new manager at the helm and having won just one league match since that date, they are back in the Championship.

Some will say that they are in a much better state financially, but is a few quid really worth seeing your team thrashed week in, week out? I’m not so sure!

So with Derby having secured the bottom of the league spot, two more spaces remain.

I would like to see both Reading and Fulham make the drop down - not because I don’t like them, but because I feel that they are both clubs who could compete at a decent level in this division.

Roy Hodgson has gone some way to sorting out the mess that Lawrie Sanchez created in his short spell as Fulham boss, while Steve Coppell has more than enough Championship experience in order to master-mind a Reading promotion charge.

We was robbed!

As if Southampton don’t have enough problems!

Unfortunately it has emerged that several members of the playing staff from both Southampton and Burnley football club were the victims of theft during Saturday’s clash at the St. Mary’s Stadium.

Rumours are circulating that up to £2,500 was taken as well as other personal belongings.

One question must surely be asked… Where were Bradley Wright-Phillips and Nathan Dyer during the robbery? Do they have solid alibi’s? Because let’s face it, their track record isn’t exactly wonderful!

“Police were called to St Mary’s Stadium shortly after the end of the match against Burnley on Saturday.

Five home and nine away players had cash stolen from their belongings in the changing rooms during the second half of the Championship match.

Hampshire Constabulary said it was investigating whether the doors were unlocked and was studying CCTV footage.”

Let’s hope that the culripts are caught, but in the mean time, Southampton will be hoping that that they aren’t robbed on the pitch during their vital next match against table toppers West Brom.

Tough at the top, tight at the bottom

Well, what a superb weekend of Championship football. Things are getting uncomfortably close for teams both vying for promotion and dreading the drop.

West Brom moved one step closer to finishing within the top two while Leicester climbed out of the bottom three with Sheffield Wednesday taking their place.

Stoke moved in to the second automatic promotion spot with a 2-1 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City at the Britannia Stadium.

Mamady Sidibe grabbed both the goals for Stoke and in doing so doubling his season’s goals tally! One wonders if ‘Big Mama’ will make the grade in the Premiership, should Stoke get there.

Elsewhere Coventry boosted their survival hopes with a thumping 5-1 win at relegated Colchester while Southampton remain in big trouble after a 1-0 home defeat to Burnley. Coventry’s win took them from 21st in the league to 17th. What a difference an hour and a half makes, hey.

Hull missed the chance to cement their place in second spot after a 2-0 defeat at 10-man Sheffield United and Crystal Palace boosted their play-off hopes with a 2-0 success at Watford. Any of the teams down to 9th placed Wolves still stand a chance of promotion.

Down at the bottom, things are equally, if not more tense:

Pos	Team	Played	GD	Pts
15	Preston	44	-3	55
16	Blackpool	44	-2	53
17	Coventry	44	-9	52
18	Norwich	44	-10	52
19	Barnsley	44	-13	52
20	Leicester	44	-1	51
21	Southampton	44	-17	50
22	Sheff Wed	44	-6	49
23	R Scunthorpe	44	-24	42
24	R Colchester	44	-23	37

With six points still left to scrap for eight teams still face the prospect of relegation. Looking at the table now, I feel that Southampton will have to work very hard to secure their Championship status and with games against West Brom away and Sheffield United at home, they will do very well to grab a win against either.

Sylvain Ebanks-Blake (Charlton v Wolves, 2008)

A definite contender for goal of the season this one. Ebanks-Blake shows unbelievable presence of mind to score this great goal for Wolves in their 3-2 victory over Charlton.

from www.youtube.com posted with vodpod

Best stadium in the league?

The Championship boasts 24 teams all playing their home matches at venues fit for kings. Well, perhaps just Marlon King, but that’s beside the point.

In fact, just six of the 24 grounds offer venues seating over 30,000 spectators, but maybe that’s no bad thing. From experience, I can tell you that at one of those grounds, Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, attendances barely reach the 20,000 mark most home games.

Whist trying to forge an opinion towards the ‘best stadium’ in the league, there are several key elements that need to be considered, such as:

1) History - What has the stadium got to offer in terms of history. By that, I mean is there a stand that has become almost as famous as the ground itself, such as Anfield’s ‘Kop‘ or Manchester United’s ‘Stretford End‘? Or maybe this stadium was the first in the land to offer Balti Pies?

2) Facilities - First and foremost, are there toilets? Yes? Good. Other facilities that need to be considered are whether or not the fans are guaranteed a good view, no matter where they sit. Access to suitable pie and pint vendors is also vital.

3) Aesthetics - What does the ground look like from the outset? Is it a horrible blotch on the landscape? Or perhaps a delighfully picturesque landmark.

Personally, I would suggest that as an away fan, I tend to prefer the old fashioned grounds. The new plasticky styles don’t really whet my appetite (see here for what i mean). So I guess that rules out Southampton’s St. Mary’s Stadium, Leicester’s Walkers Stadium and Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

What I do like is a ground that offers an experience. A ground that you can almost smell the passion from the fans.

Burney’s Turf Moor is a good example of passionate fans creating an intense atmosphere, but the best in the league? Not quite. From the Midlands, both Molineux and The Hawthorns are always good for a day out, but again is the history really there? I’m not so sure.

So, after heavy debate, albeit with myself, I have conclusively decided that the best stadium in the division belongs to relegation candidates Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough.

Not only is it the largest ground in the league, housing near 40,000 fans, but it undoubtedly oozes character, and from my visits to the away section, I can promise you that the passion shown by the Wednesdayites is second to none. The facilities are arguably a little dated, but you soon forget that. I urge you to take a visit to one of the country’s most historical and beautiful grounds.

It doesn’t matter who you go and watch play and i’m no connoisseur but i’m sure you would have a great day out. Although i’ve been reliably informed that Sheffield Wednesday vs Crystal Palace is quite delightful at this time of year!

Want to learn more about The Championship stadiums? Click here.

Let the relegation battle commence

Just three games remain of the 07/08 English Championship season and remarkably still nine teams face the possibility of playing League One football next campaign.

Unfortunately both Colchester and Scunthorpe already have their fate’s decided and will be plying their trade in England’s third tier of football come August.

A quick look at the table shows that Leicester currently occupy the dreaded 22nd position, but they have games against both Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday which if won, would surely see them clear of trouble.

Pos	Team	Played	GD	Pts
14	QPR	43	-2	55
15	Preston	43	-3	54
16	Norwich	43	-9	52
17	Barnsley	43	-12	52
18	Blackpool	43	-3	50
19	Southampton	43	-16	50
20	Sheff Wed	43	-5	49
21	Coventry	43	-13	49
22	Leicester	43	-2	48
23	R Scunthorpe	43	-25	39
24	R Colchester	43	-19	37

Coventry look a side in real danger of the drop. A goal difference of -13 is far from ideal and with games against play off candidates Wolves and Charlton, an easier run in would have been much the preferred option for manager Chris Coleman.

In reality, it is impossible to call. It really will go down to the wire. From a personal point of view, I believe that 52 points will be the benchmark for safety. But we’ll see…

Cup joy for the Bluebirds

Cardiff City are currently celebrating their superb achievement of reaching the FA Cup final after a hard fought 1-0 victory over Barnsley.

The players and manager Dave Jones can rightly be proud of their achievement and anticipate another grand day out at Wembley on 17 May when they face Portsmouth.

Supporters will also revel in the glamour of the competition and the chance to write another chapter of history to stand proudly alongside that previous FA Cup success of 1927.

But once the excitement on the pitch has subsided - although it will no doubt build fiercely until the final - everyone involved with the South Wales club can take their thrills from the much less exciting world of ledger sheets and player contracts.

The FA Cup run has already placed an extra £900,000 in prize money alone into Cardiff’s bank account .

Whilst this may be merely a few weeks wages for the likes of Mr. Beckham, £900k will secure Cardiff’s short-term future, and with a further £1 million pounds on offer to the eventual winner of the competition, the Cardiff players will surely be made aware of the importance of that money.

The Bluebirds are in deep financial trouble at present and any money coming through the door will be gratefully received.

So, on behalf of the Championship, best of luck to Cardiff!

Interview: Coventry City’s Jay Tabb

From a season that has delivered very little for Coventry City, one bright spark has certainly emerged. Midfield maestro Jay Tabb is one of just a few Sky Blues players who can feel that they have given their all this campaign. Tiresome displays week in, week out have won the fans over and the diminutive 24 year-old is an early front runner for the fans player of the season.

I caught up with Tabb as he reflects on his career as well as what the Championship has to offer.

Q. Jay, How do you think this season has gone for Coventry?
A. The season has been a bit of a disappointment on the whole, we’ve had some really good games but we’ve been too inconsistent.

Q. Did you think that Iain Dowie had achieved all he could with the Sky Blues?
A. No, I think that had he been given more time then he would have turned it around and got the best out of us again. He was a really good manager, but these decisions have to be made.

Q. Are you pleased with the appointment of new boss Chris Coleman?
A. Yes I am. He’s a big name manager who is definitely going to move the club forward, he’s still a young manager but has already done a lot in his career.

Q. How do you rate the Championship compared with League One, where you played at Brentford?
A. The standard is higher and the expectation to do well is more too. League one was good but the Championship is definitely a step up.

Q. Where is your favourite away Championship ground?
A. I’d say West Broms ground, The Hawthorns. That’s a lovely stadium.

Q. How do you rate Coventry’s home ground, the Ricoh Arena?
A. The Ricoh is a great ground to play in when it’s full and we’re playing well, but when things aren’t going so well and it’s half empty it can be a bit of a lonely place!

Q. Who do you rate as the best Championship player?
A. That’s a tough one as there are a lot of top players in the Championship. I’d say Filipe Teixeira from West Brom, he has been class when we have played them.

Q. Who is the best player you have ever played against?
A. That would probably be Anderson when we played Man United this season.

Q. Having played against, and beaten, both Manchester United and Blackburn this season, do you think that you could cope with the step up to the Premiership?
A. I’d like to think that one day I could play in the Premiership, but at the moment I still have a lot to learn and there are more areas of my game that I can develop in the Championship.

Q. And finally, which three Championship sides do you think will go up this season?
A. I think the three sides that will go up are Bristol City, West Brom and Crystal Palace.

Many thanks and best wishes to Jay for sparing a few minutes to answer the questions.