2014/15 Championship Thread

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

Read an awful article on top 50 managers under 50. Katanga higher than Howe and Dyche, to name just two.

[Nico the gman]

To be honest if we don't go up not bothered who goes up, couldn't give a toss about any team but my own.

One things for sure if we do go up our brilliant chairman Steve Gibson ( born and bred Middlesbrough lad) will back our manager to the hilt in the transfer market, he alway's does.

The chairman has already stated that he 's astounded the progress we've made under Karanka, Gibbo already has plan B ready if we don't go up, We were told that months ago..

[westisbest]

Would like to see Bournemouth go up.
Great for the town. Have friends who support them.
Lads at work.

Watford to come second, have a couple of mates who support them.

Ipswich to win the play offs. Always liked them when they were in the prem. Like MM, has done a good job there.

Failing Ipswich, then Brentford as a new team and would be a great achievement.

[Nico the gman]

I feel Brentford may just miss out, if that happens forget about them next year, its now or never for them IMO.

The 3rd placed team doesn't have a very good record in the play offs.

[GSC]

Ipswich going up would be the biggest waste ever

[westisbest]

Why is that?

[Fernando]

Cos none of their side is good enough for the PL & their budget wouldn't be enough to do anything about it so would come straight back down.

[GSC]

They'd come straight back down, be perennially dull and nobody would really care

[westisbest]

Fair enough.

I'd like to see them go up, see how they do.

[TopoftheChops]

They'd come straight back down, be perennially dull and nobody would really care

don't be jealous

[TopoftheChops]

Cos none of their side is good enough for the PL & their budget wouldn't be enough to do anything about it so would come straight back down.

Same was said in 2000, when town finished 5th in the prem

[TopoftheChops]

Fair enough.

I'd like to see them go up, see how they do.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

They'd come straight back down, be perennially dull and nobody would really care

And we've seen it many times now that Mick McCarthy is a failed premier league manager

[Nico the gman]

Ipswich going up would be the biggest waste ever

Mick McCarthy decent bloke but same style of football at every club managed, physical team with a big lad up front, good championship manager but can't hack it in the big league, where more finesse is needed, McCarthy's job will be under threat by Christmas if Ipswich go up.

[Fernando]

Cos none of their side is good enough for the PL & their budget wouldn't be enough to do anything about it so would come straight back down.

Same was said in 2000, when town finished 5th in the prem

If that happens i will give £50 to a charity of your choice. There are many more established teams then there was then im afraid

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

To say I'm excited about the game later would be an understatement - these sort of games don't come along too often, just massive.

Am a little worried by Boro - they will come and defend and look to score on the counter - we've been most vulnerable against those sort of teams this season.

[westisbest]

They'd come straight back down, be perennially dull and nobody would really care

And we've seen it many times now that Mick McCarthy is a failed premier league manager

Bit like Pauline then

[westisbest]

I think Norwich will win. Going for 3-1.

[Nico the gman]

If we play the same system we did against Bournemouth and Watford, Bamford on his own up front chasing shadows, then this game will be over by halftime, Norwich defenders will have a  day off, and our manager should give his head a shake.

If Reach comes in for Adomah then we're playing Norwich with 10 men before we even kick off.

I'm alway's honest, if I was a neutral I would fancy a Norwich win, our away form is shocking of late.

[TopoftheChops]

UTB

[Fernando]

Norwich: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin (c), Bassong, Olsson; Howson, Tettey, Dorrans, Johnson; Hoolahan; Jerome.

Bench: Rudd (GK), Grabban, Hooper, Redmond, R Bennett, O'Neil, Odjidja-Ofoe.

Middlesborough: Dimi, Kalas, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Tomlin, Vossen, Bamford.

Bench: Ripley, Whitehead, Kike, Reach, Amorebieta, Nsue, Forshaw.

[Fernando]

Norwich 0-1 Middlesborough - Tettey OG/Adomah it's close

[Fernando]

That is an absolute shocker from Jonny Howson. Per Mertesacker could of scored that.

[Fernando]

Wes Hoolahan done for diving

[Fernando]

Vossen off for Forshaw

Bamford struggling with an injury expecting Kike on soon...

[Fernando]

Grabban on for Dorrans

[Fernando]

Johnson & Hoolahan off for Hooper & Redmond

[Fernando]

Bamford screws up an easy chance, Could of squared it to make it 2-0

Been pulled off for Kike

[Fernando]

7 mins added time.

[Fernando]

Amorebieta on for Tomlin

[Fernando]

FT Norwich 0-1 Middlesborough

Norwich looked toothless in the final 3rd for all their possession didn't lead to many chances and Boro closed them out with ease with their 20th clean sheet of the season.

[owen10ozzy]

Get In There!!! Not one for defensive performances but I will gladly take that. Being honest thought we would be steamrolled....but think we put in a highly polished performance..pushed for a goal in the 1st half...took the sting out in the 2nd. As Nando said...Norwich were toothless in the final 3rd relying on long diagonals or crosses in the last 15; you need bit more than that to get past the Boro defence..especially when we have Ayala at the back.

Great Great win to follow the Wolves result...but will mean nothing if we don't go on to win our last two; mind I don't see Watford or Bournemouth dropping anymore points this season...so it all may mean very little anyway

[Guest]

FT Norwich 0-1 Middlesborough

Olly, you're invited to my Norwich staying in the Championship celebration party. So glad you lost.

[Fernando]

FT Norwich 0-1 Middlesborough

Olly, you're invited to my Norwich staying in the Championship celebration party. So glad you lost.

I think that's provided Bournemouth & Watford win really and now you said that like usual when you do this they will lose every time you mock it often backfires like Palace's 3-2 win

[NickisBHAFC]

Bourenmouth removed from the top, great work boro

Bourenmouth and Watford with straight forward games tomorrow, if both screw that up they don't deserve to go up.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

FT Norwich 0-1 Middlesborough

Olly, you're invited to my Norwich staying in the Championship celebration party. So glad you lost.

Long old way to go yet old chap

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Ain't got no complaints about that - brilliant defensive performance by Middlesbrough, as I said earlier on the thread that's the way you beat us.

Now hoping for a trip to Wembley - against Ipswich would be pretty tasty

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Although the Boro fans singing songs about Justin Fashanu leaves a sour taste in the mouth

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Do we get to start calling Norwich the Derby of the automatic promotion race?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Do we get to start calling Norwich the Derby of the automatic promotion race?

Probably pushing it to compare a team that's won 5 of the last 6 to Derby's run of form

[Derbymanc]

Hey, we just beat Blackpool, means we're back and ready to storm to the top again

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hey, we just beat Blackpool, means we're back and ready to storm to the top again

We're gonna lose to Fulham final day of the season anyways - better to make it meaningless (we ain't beaten Fulham for like 30 years now)

[FootballLight]

Big win for Middlesbrough last night. Puts them back into the top 2. I hope its Bournemouth and Middlesbrough that end up in the PL along with one of Brentford or Norwich. I don't like Ipswich or Derby that much personally and Wolves I just don't think will make it, although they still have a chance. Whoever finishes 6th I think will go up. I only said Norwich because they are consistent and they are a good team. So its Norwich or the team who finishes 6th.

[Nico the gman]

Great result,our defence was brilliant, Ayala and Gibson were unbelievable, only lost one game since October with Ayala in defence, tells you the type of season he's had, Steve Gibson must be proud of his nephew Ben the season he's had.

Clayton put himself about all over the pitch, Leadbitter after a 2 week suspension break was bloody awful, never won a tackle or made a decent pass out of character for him thought he'd be recharged.

Bamford won't be with us next season already negotiating new contract with Chelsea, the kids been top notch regardless of where we finish.

I wont be counting my chickens yet, Watford and Bournemouth still have it in their hands.

[Nico the gman]

Good result for Ipswich, looks like Wolves play off hopes have just about petered out.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hey, we just beat Blackpool, means we're back and ready to storm to the top again

*after a poor first half at huddersfield

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This league man

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I love Bournemouth

[Fernando]

2-2 Sheff Wed pen in 94th min

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

YES WEDNESDAY

[Fernando]

FT Bournemouth 2-2 Wednesday

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