2015-16 Championship Thread

by Fernando Tue 30 Jun 2015, 5:11 pm

First topic message reminder :

With Sky announcing their live games for the start of the Championship season i figured we could use a thread

Who do we think will head up and down this season?

August
Fri 7: Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest (7.45pm)
Sat 8: Leeds United v Burnley (12.30pm)
Sun 9: Preston North End v Middlesbrough (12 noon)
Sun 16: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Hull City (12 noon)
Fri 21: Birmingham City v Derby County (7.45pm)
Sat 22: Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday (12.30pm)
Fri 28: Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers (7.45pm)
Sat 29: Derby County v Leeds United (12.05pm)

September
Fri 11: Reading v Ipswich Town (8pm)
Sat 19: Nottingham Forest v Middlesbrough (12.30pm)
Fri 25: Fulham v Queen’s Park Rangers (7.45pm)

October
Fri 2 Oct: Rotherham United v Burnley (7.45pm)
Sat 3: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town (12.30pm)

*Other games may be added.

by Marky Tue 20 Oct 2015, 2:36 pm

His press conference suggests he's trying to get Leeds into the Premier League, course he has to say that but still.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue 20 Oct 2015, 4:09 pm

Allardyce does jobs, but hes a glamorous Steve Evans.

And Evans is a huge Kumquat

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue 20 Oct 2015, 9:51 pm

TopoftheChops wrote:We are top of the league say we are top of the league. This is town's year!

Who'd have thought not selling your journeymen strikers for ridiculous sums of money which could've been reinvested in the squad was such a bad idea.

How average clubs stay average folks

by NickisBHAFC Tue 20 Oct 2015, 10:39 pm

This start to the season is just going from one wonder story to another. Gutted to miss Zamora's winner tonight. But this season is just incredible. I have to keep pinching myself!

by Nico the gman Wed 21 Oct 2015, 2:07 pm

NickisBHAFC wrote:This start to the season is just going from one wonder story to another. Gutted to miss Zamora's winner tonight. But this season is just incredible. I have to keep pinching myself!

After 12 games its no fluke Nick top of the league on merit, and looks like you've got players prepared to battle for the points as well, always a good sign.

by Fernando Fri 23 Oct 2015, 9:19 pm

Lucao Joao loses tooth playing Rotheram....Starts crying

Rotheram fans start chanting your toothless & you know it Laugh

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Fri 23 Oct 2015, 9:20 pm

Rotherham are atrocious

by Fernando Fri 23 Oct 2015, 9:27 pm

They've actually been decent 2nd half, Wednesday been Poopie but look more of a threat.

by Nico the gman Sat 24 Oct 2015, 5:55 pm

1-0 down against Wolves, Downing comes off bench and takes Wolves apart, assist for 1st goal, puts Friend through to earn penalty, and a lovely free kick for the 3rd.
You don't leave Downing on the bench in this league too much quality for that.

by NickisBHAFC Sun 25 Oct 2015, 8:30 am

Our worst performance of the season in a dull 0-0 draw.

However still top and unbeaten. Still have to keep pinching myself.

Really missed Kayal and Stephens today. Also gutted about Bong, stretched off. Lovely of the Preston fans to boo him off.

by NickisBHAFC Mon 26 Oct 2015, 9:25 pm

David Marshall once again showing that he is a class above most keepers in this league.

by NickisBHAFC Mon 26 Oct 2015, 9:34 pm

How on earth has he managed to miss that!

by dyrewolfe Tue 27 Oct 2015, 1:05 pm

Nico the gman wrote:1-0 down against Wolves, Downing comes off bench and takes Wolves apart, assist for 1st goal, puts Friend through to earn penalty, and a lovely free kick for the 3rd.
You don't leave Downing on the bench in this league too much quality for that.

Much as it was great to see Stewie have such an influence on the game, its also a bit worrying as we looked toothless against Wolves and heading for another defeat until he came on. We were a different side for the last half hour or so.

I really hope we are not going to be that reliant on him all season.

On a positive note it ended up being a very enjoyable game and the 3 points keeps us well in the chasing pack.

by Nico the gman Tue 27 Oct 2015, 4:02 pm

dyrewolfe wrote:
Nico the gman wrote:1-0 down against Wolves, Downing comes off bench and takes Wolves apart, assist for 1st goal, puts Friend through to earn penalty, and a lovely free kick for the 3rd.
You don't leave Downing on the bench in this league too much quality for that.

Much as it was great to see Stewie have such an influence on the game, its also a bit worrying as we looked toothless against Wolves and heading for another defeat until he came on. We were a different side for the last half hour or so.

I really hope we are not going to be that reliant on him all season.

On a positive note it ended up being a very enjoyable game and the 3 points keeps us well in the chasing pack.

Maddo commentating said we had only tested the Wolves keeper once until Downing came on, and has you say heading for defeat.

The captain may have scored from the spot but he is not having a good season.

Stats in our local rag last night, assists on all our goals this season, Leadbitter and Clayton zero, not good enough for 2 midfielders, while I appreciate Clayton is a more defensive midfielder, no excuse for Leadbitter, my opinion is both are far too similar and when things are going wrong neither are creative enough to influence and change the game, I would play Forshaw.

by dyrewolfe Wed 28 Oct 2015, 1:19 pm

Not a bad call, though I have to say I've not seen much of Forshaw and what little I have seen hasn't been particularly great.

Not really surprising we struggle to score, playing 2 defensive CMs and a lone striker.

Might not be a bad idea to have Forshaw train with Downing - could help him develop the sort of skills we are so often crying out for.

by Nico the gman Wed 28 Oct 2015, 4:01 pm

dyrewolfe wrote:Not a bad call, though I have to say I've not seen much of Forshaw and what little I have seen hasn't been particularly great.

Not really surprising we struggle to score, playing 2 defensive CMs and a lone striker.

Might not be a bad idea to have Forshaw train with Downing - could help him develop the sort of skills we are so often crying out for.

The 3 reporters in the local paper said Forshaw was the outstanding player in the pre season friendlies and very unlucky not to be in the 1st eleven at start of season,Forshaw was given man of the match by Maddo in the cup win against Wolves, he has 4 goal assists from very limited appearances that says it all really, more attack minded.

Forshaw is definitely worth a start IMO but Karanka will drop everyone around Leadbitter and Clayton(Downing, Adomah, Fabrini, Kike, Nugent), when sometimes the problem is staring you full in the face, you can't whack a bit of stubbornness and tunnel vision.

Read last night Stuani out for 5 weeks with double tear,stupid friendly internationals waste of time.

by Guest Wed 28 Oct 2015, 10:48 pm

Mike Williamson to Wolves on loan. What a donkey of a signing.

by dyrewolfe Thu 29 Oct 2015, 12:32 pm

What a result against Man Utd!

And what a graceless twerp van Gaal is, saying we were "lucky". picard

We had the same number of shots on target as Utd, had a goal ruled out for offside (even if it was an o.g. by Blind) and kept our composure better in the penalty shootout.

Everton at home on the QFs...I fancy our chances of making the semis.

Nico the gman wrote:
The 3 reporters in the local paper said Forshaw was the outstanding player in the pre season friendlies and very unlucky not to be in the 1st eleven at start of season,Forshaw was given man of the match by Maddo in the cup win against Wolves, he has 4 goal assists from very limited appearances that says it all really, more attack minded.

Oh well, I'll have to take your word for it. I don't take any notice of pre-season friendlies and missed the cup game against Wolves.

Aw crap - this doesn't sound good...

Wayne Rooney: Laser shone at Man Utd striker investigated

The Football Association is investigating a laser being shone at Manchester United's Wayne Rooney during the League Cup defeat by Middlesbrough.

Television footage showed a green light appearing on Rooney's face as he prepared to take his penalty.

The striker's effort was saved by Boro goalkeeper Tomas Mejias and United were beaten 3-1 in the shoot-out after the game finished 0-0 following extra-time.

The FA said it is aware of reports of the incident and is looking into it.

The penalties were taken at the end of Old Trafford housing the away supporters.

by Nico the gman Thu 29 Oct 2015, 1:32 pm

dyrewolfe wrote:What a result against Man Utd!

And what a graceless twerp van Gaal is, saying we were "lucky".

We had the same number of shots on target as Utd, had a goal ruled out for offside (even if it was an o.g. by Blind) and kept our composure better in the penalty shootout.

Everton at home on the QFs...I fancy our chances of making the semis.

Nico the gman wrote:
The 3 reporters in the local paper said Forshaw was the outstanding player in the pre season friendlies and very unlucky not to be in the 1st eleven at start of season,Forshaw was given man of the match by Maddo in the cup win against Wolves, he has 4 goal assists from very limited appearances that says it all really, more attack minded.

Oh well, I'll have to take your word for it. I don't take any notice of pre-season friendlies and missed the cup game against Wolves.

Aw crap - this doesn't sound good...

Wayne Rooney: Laser shone at Man Utd striker investigated

The Football Association is investigating a laser being shone at Manchester United's Wayne Rooney during the League Cup defeat by Middlesbrough.

Television footage showed a green light appearing on Rooney's face as he prepared to take his penalty.

The striker's effort was saved by Boro goalkeeper Tomas Mejias and United were beaten 3-1 in the shoot-out after the game finished 0-0 following extra-time.

The FA said it is aware of reports of the incident and is looking into it.

The penalties were taken at the end of Old Trafford housing the away supporters.

It was up to ManUtd to break us down they weren't good enough and in fact were lucky to get to extra time, get over it Van Gaal your out end of.

With regard to Forshaw he's out injured for a month, must have tripped over a large Parmo on a night out Laugh

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Thu 29 Oct 2015, 7:57 pm

Lol Leeds

by NickisBHAFC Thu 29 Oct 2015, 8:25 pm

Losing 2-0 at home to one of the worst sides in the league with Steve Evans in you're dugout. Another fantastic chapter in the history of Leeds united.

by dyrewolfe Fri 30 Oct 2015, 12:35 pm

Bit harsh to judge him after just 1 game...but to be fair I don't see him lasting much longer than the previous 5 managers.

by NickisBHAFC Sun 01 Nov 2015, 11:09 pm

In November and we're still unbeaten and top. This is just mental.

by dyrewolfe Mon 02 Nov 2015, 1:16 pm

Hell of a start, no doubt Nick, but all that counts is where you are come May. Wink

Fairly routine win for us over Charlton. Given how dominant we were, surprising it took us an hour to open the scoring. Still, it gives our GD a nice boost and keeps us in touch with the top two.

Looking at our fixture list, December is going to be the reckoning time for us...brutal series of games. If we can come through that and still be about where we are now, I'll be quite happy.

1st - Everton (H) [LC QF]
4th - Ipswich (A)
12th - Birmingham (H)
15th - Burnley (H)
19th - Brighton (A)
26th - Blackburn (A)
28th - Sheff Wed (H)

Shocked

by NickisBHAFC Tue 03 Nov 2015, 8:36 pm

Burnley currently going top of the championship. Andre Gray proving to be one hell of a signing for them.

by westisbest Tue 03 Nov 2015, 9:17 pm

Good to see Weiman score.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue 03 Nov 2015, 9:33 pm

westisbest wrote:Good to see Weiman score.

Getting to know the place Westi? Wink

by NickisBHAFC Tue 03 Nov 2015, 9:44 pm

Fantastic point at Sheffield Wednesday tonight, means the unbeaten run continues.

MK Dons on Saturday let's hope for 3 points.

by Marky Tue 03 Nov 2015, 10:09 pm

Steve Evans working his magic at Leeds

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue 03 Nov 2015, 10:22 pm

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:
westisbest wrote:Good to see Weiman score.

Getting to know the place Westi?

I'm looking forward to our return to the championship in 2016.

Enjoy the football much more in this division, much more entertaining

by westisbest Tue 03 Nov 2015, 10:46 pm

Olly wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:
westisbest wrote:Good to see Weiman score.

Getting to know the place Westi?

I'm looking forward to our return to the championship in 2016.

Enjoy the football much more in this division, much more entertaining

Very strange olly.

Ha no Dolph.

We will be very lost if we do go there.

by NickisBHAFC Tue 03 Nov 2015, 10:49 pm

Marky wrote:Steve Evans working his magic at Leeds

Not sure what will come first, his sacking or him having a heart attack

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Wed 04 Nov 2015, 7:33 am

westisbest wrote:
Olly wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:
westisbest wrote:Good to see Weiman score.

Getting to know the place Westi?

I'm looking forward to our return to the championship in 2016.

Enjoy the football much more in this division, much more entertaining

Very strange olly.

Ha no Dolph.

We will be very lost if we do go there.

I've always found the championship far more entertaining and watchable than the premier league - and I much prefer watching Norwich in this league. Dunno why, just do!

by NickisBHAFC Wed 04 Nov 2015, 12:06 pm

Chris Powell sacked by Huddersfield. Incredibly harsh.

by westisbest Wed 04 Nov 2015, 1:22 pm

Olly wrote:
westisbest wrote:
Olly wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:
westisbest wrote:Good to see Weiman score.

Getting to know the place Westi?

I'm looking forward to our return to the championship in 2016.

Enjoy the football much more in this division, much more entertaining

Very strange olly.

Ha no Dolph.

We will be very lost if we do go there.

I've always found the championship far more entertaining and watchable than the premier league - and I much prefer watching Norwich in this league. Dunno why, just do!

The championship is an exciting league no doubt.
So tough to predict who will win it.

Just found it odd that you wouldn't mind Norwich going down, losing games.

Aside from watching Villa games, i must admit i do watch more championship than premiership games.

Would I want Villa to go down to the championship. Hell no.

by Nico the gman Wed 04 Nov 2015, 4:56 pm

Olly wrote:
westisbest wrote:
Olly wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:
westisbest wrote:Good to see Weiman score.

Getting to know the place Westi?

I'm looking forward to our return to the championship in 2016.

Enjoy the football much more in this division, much more entertaining

Very strange olly.

Ha no Dolph.

We will be very lost if we do go there.

I've always found the championship far more entertaining and watchable than the premier league - and I much prefer watching Norwich in this league. Dunno why, just do!

Any Boro fan will tell you we would change places with you in a second, I would always want to play in the top league against the best players, you find out how good your club, manager and players really are,and who can cut it and who can't in the Premier.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 04 Nov 2015, 9:41 pm

QPR have sacked boss Chris Ramsey.

by sportform Wed 04 Nov 2015, 10:13 pm

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:QPR have sacked boss Chris Ramsey.

He should have never have got the job in the first place. He was tactically inept, he couldn't set up the team and he spouted nonsense after every defeat. He was utterly clueless as a coach. We did learn anything from Norwich bringing in their youth coach as manager the year before. I said when Ramsey was appointed that he will be gone by Christmas with us in the bottom half of the Championship.

I just hope now, for once, we can do a proper managerial search and not just appoint Neil Warnock on a whim. I would like to see us go after Gary Rowett. If not, I think Chris Powell would do a good job. He did well to get Charlton promoted from League 1 and thought his sacking from Huddersfield today was a bit harsh considering their squad. Tim Sherwood could be another possibly. I felt he ended up in a bad situation at Aston Villa. They sold their best players and didn't give him much options in bringing in players.

by NickisBHAFC Wed 04 Nov 2015, 11:11 pm

Yeah rightfully sacked. He seems like a good coach but not a good manager. Suspect Sherwood may link back up with him in the future.

Nigel Pearson would be an obvious appointment for QPR.

Wouldn't be surprised if they just give Warnock the job till the end of the season.

by westisbest Thu 05 Nov 2015, 9:37 am

sportform wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:QPR have sacked boss Chris Ramsey.
He should have never have got the job in the first place. He was tactically inept, he couldn't set up the team and he spouted nonsense after every defeat. He was utterly clueless as a coach. We did learn anything from Norwich bringing in their youth coach as manager the year before. I said when Ramsey was appointed that he will be gone by Christmas with us in the bottom half of the Championship.

I just hope now, for once, we can do a proper managerial search and not just appoint Neil Warnock on a whim. I would like to see us go after Gary Rowett. If not, I think Chris Powell would do a good job. He did well to get Charlton promoted from League 1 and thought his sacking from Huddersfield today was a bit harsh considering their squad. Tim Sherwood could be another possibly. I felt he ended up in a bad situation at Aston Villa. They sold their best players and didn't give him much options in bringing in players.

I can see Sherwood at QPR

by Nico the gman Thu 05 Nov 2015, 1:11 pm

westisbest wrote:
sportform wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:QPR have sacked boss Chris Ramsey.
He should have never have got the job in the first place. He was tactically inept, he couldn't set up the team and he spouted nonsense after every defeat. He was utterly clueless as a coach. We did learn anything from Norwich bringing in their youth coach as manager the year before. I said when Ramsey was appointed that he will be gone by Christmas with us in the bottom half of the Championship.

I just hope now, for once, we can do a proper managerial search and not just appoint Neil Warnock on a whim. I would like to see us go after Gary Rowett. If not, I think Chris Powell would do a good job. He did well to get Charlton promoted from League 1 and thought his sacking from Huddersfield today was a bit harsh considering their squad. Tim Sherwood could be another possibly. I felt he ended up in a bad situation at Aston Villa. They sold their best players and didn't give him much options in bringing in players.

I can see Sherwood at QPR

I hope so, that's one club we'll be able to eliminate from a championship challenge, if talking won matches Sherwood would be Real Madrid coach.

by GSC Fri 06 Nov 2015, 9:26 pm

YAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

by NickisBHAFC Fri 06 Nov 2015, 9:46 pm

Think Salford vs Notts county is a better watch than Forest vs Derby.

by GSC Fri 06 Nov 2015, 9:47 pm

I'm sure Derby fans agree

by NickisBHAFC Sun 08 Nov 2015, 8:55 am

Still unbeaten.

Was a classic Sven Goran Erikson performance today, first half good, second half not so good. Important 3 points though and a wonder goal by Solly March.

by Derbymanc Mon 09 Nov 2015, 5:59 am

Good win for you lot on Friday GSC and totally deserved too. Thought you played really well and Dougie got his tactics hundred percent spot on. Makes the return a lot more juicier and hopefully we'll both be up there fighting for promotion

by GSC Mon 09 Nov 2015, 9:30 am

We're midtable at best this year bud. We're a real mess off the field.

Your players just didn't seem up for a derby, we were snapping into challenges and you just never responded to that. Gonna be days in this league where you need a plan b to patient probing.

by dyrewolfe Mon 09 Nov 2015, 1:28 pm

Horrible performance against Hull. Started okay and looked vaguely threatening for the first 15-20 minutes. After that though we were never really in the game.

AK got it spot on when he said we need to be more ambitious. We can't dominate games just with pretty passing. We need to use our possession. Another prime example was how we failed to finish off Rotherham after taking an early lead.

Unless we can find another gear and start being more ruthless, it'll be the play-off lottery at best for us (again).

by Nico the gman Mon 09 Nov 2015, 3:27 pm

dyrewolfe wrote:Horrible performance against Hull. Started okay and looked vaguely threatening for the first 15-20 minutes. After that though we were never really in the game.

AK got it spot on when he said we need to be more ambitious. We can't dominate games just with pretty passing. We need to use our possession. Another prime example was how we failed to finish off Rotherham after taking an early lead.

Unless we can find another gear and start being more ruthless, it'll be the play-off lottery at best for us (again).

Its not just that we lost against Reading and Hull its the mannerism of how we have lost we have been beaten comprehensively without hardly troubling the opposition keeper, its worrying.

Karanka talks about being more ambitious yet starts every game with 2 defensive midfielders, the team is setup not to lose rather than to win and there lies the problem. This system is the reason we find it hard to come back when we go behind.

Nsue has been excellent in recent weeks particularly when going forward and linking up with Adomah yet finds himself on the bench against Hull, Downing is our only creative midfielder, and starting the season with only 3 strikers was a huge mistake now Stuani is out injured, also sending both Caryaol and Windschut out on loan has left us short on options.

by **owen10ozzy** Mon 09 Nov 2015, 7:08 pm

Spot on Nico; I am beginning to find AK's post match interviews rather cliched now, he is churning out the same stuff but then seemingly doing very little to actually fix the issues you assume he is spotting. As you stated, it's great saying the team need to show more ambition but as a manager he then needs to breed that from his team...setting up with 1 up top week in week out does little to achieve that...

I, like a fair few, have said from very early on that 1 up front is not enough when you lack the creativity we do. It frustrates me that in Downing we have a player who created the 4th most amount of chances in the premiership last season, yet we effectively throw away that effectiveness by playing him back out wide; when last year he was exceptional through the middle. Add to that he has now been here for almost 2 years and has still not settled on a solid & consistent spine of a team (never mind a starting XI)...it's little wonder we seem to be struggling to click as a team especially in the final 3rd.

Watching teams, more so the top teams, against us is akin to watching Blackpool in the Premiership few years ago...they tried to play football and they liked to keep the ball...but ultimately teams weren't too fussed because they knew they couldn't really hurt them. That's what happens when we face the top teams in this division.

We have now lost to Cardiff, Reading & Hull....alongside our draw with Derby...all teams that are in and around us...yet we have looked levels below them when facing them. Based on how these games have gone and the fixture run in during the festive period I'd imagine we will be out of the running for automatic promotion come mid January and playoff's will be our best chance....and even then I fancy we will be shown up again should we make it to Wembley.

by Sponsored content