2015-16 Championship Thread

[Fernando]

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.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I presume this is about the time someone comes to moan about Karanka not playing two up top?

Something something negative negative sit on leads

[dyrewolfe]

I presume this is about the time someone comes to moan about Karanka not playing two up top?

Something something negative negative sit on leads

Actually I thought we played the game about right for most of the time.

Showed attacking intent from the start - even if our execution was often lacking. Also defended well for most of the game. Really wasn't much to separate the teams.

Only criticism I have of Boro is that we sat back WAY too much for the last 10-15 minutes and just invited Burnley to have a go at us.

Now I know we have the best defence in the league but even we can't soak up constant pressure for that amount of time. We didn't even try to keep possession and get forward - we just kept hoofing the ball up the field straight back to the opposition. It was just a matter of when, not if they scored.

We should have pushed for a second goal and tried to keep Burnley on the back foot.


Having said that, a draw keeps us top and maintains a gap to Burnley and Brighton - albeit a slender one. Would have been happy with a draw before kick-off, but a bit disappointed knowing we could and probably should have secured all 3.

Still provided we can beat Ipswich and Birmingham and come away with at least a point against Brighton, we will go up...so its not all doom and gloom...

[NickisBHAFC]

Another incredible night at the AMEX! Only disappointment was those idiots couldn't hold out at Burnley.

Whatever happens, this has been the best Brighton season in a long long time! Thank you Chris Hughton!

Also I would advise any football fan to Czech out Skallaks goal tonight, an absolute ping!

[GSC]

Britt <3

[dyrewolfe]

Another incredible night at the AMEX! Only disappointment was those idiots couldn't hold out at Burnley.

Whatever happens, this has been the best Brighton season in a long long time! Thank you Chris Hughton!

Also I would advise any football fan to Czech out Skallaks goal tonight, an absolute ping!

Lol! I think Karanka wanted to keep things interesting for you. You're rolling over everybody just lately, so we may as well make it all to play for on the final day, eh?

Just hope it doesn't come back to bite us on the @$$...

[NickisBHAFC]

Ched Evans wins appeal.

In other news

Preston vs Burnley tomorrow night, that's the only game I can potentially see Burnley slipping up in.

[Nico the gman]

Ched Evans wins appeal.

In other news

Preston vs Burnley tomorrow night, that's the only game I can potentially see Burnley slipping up in.

Never fancied Preston to upset Burnley to be honest, and with crud like QPR and Charlton to play, looking like its us two scrapping it out, last game at the Riverside, and whatever will be, will be Nick, I can't stand Dyche and Barton.

[dyrewolfe]

Typical Boro - we're dominating the game and missing chances. Should have buried Ipswich by now.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Looks like it's Middlesbrough vs Brighton final day winner gets promotion

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Hell of a finish this, its usually the playoffs and relegation but theyve both gone and got dull

[dyrewolfe]

If we can't beat a team with nothing to play for at home, Brighton will come to the Riverside and walk all over us.

We just don't have any composure in the 18-yard box or in front of goal. We're snatching at / fluffing chances we would have buried earlier in the season. 15 shots at goal but just 4 on target. 8 corners to Ipswich's 0 and comfortably more possession, but we still couldn't score...

The pressure is mounting and we don't seem able to deal with it. Won't be at all surprised if we blow it and end up finishing 3rd.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Don't seem to be able to deal with the pressure....

Yet are in 1st place after 44 games of the season

Sure.....

[Nico the gman]

If we can't beat a team with nothing to play for at home, Brighton will come to the Riverside and walk all over us.

We just don't have any composure in the 18-yard box or in front of goal. We're snatching at / fluffing chances we would have buried earlier in the season. 15 shots at goal but just 4 on target. 8 corners to Ipswich's 0 and comfortably more possession, but we still couldn't score...

The pressure is mounting and we don't seem able to deal with it. Won't be at all surprised if we blow it and end up finishing 3rd.

Should have been winning comfortably at half time, Karanka's subs, take Downing off, and switch our most dangerous right sided(right footed) player Adomah to the left, take Ramirez off( most creative and talented player) and keep 2 defensive midfielders on, in a game that had we won would have put us top, we have a defensive minded coach who has one way of playing and that's negative.

[NickisBHAFC]

Another win! Do feel sorry for the players, keep winning, keep scoring but still only in 3rd place! Gotta love the championship!

Skallak scoring another lovely goal. Hemed and Baldock as well adding to there impressive rates.

2 games left. Incredible that were taking this to the final day, madness stuff!

[dyrewolfe]

Don't seem to be able to deal with the pressure....

Yet are in 1st place after 44 games of the season

Sure.....

Erm...what table are you looking at? Boro are 2nd on goal difference...and there are only 3 goals separating Burnley, Boro and Brighton. It could very well come down to GD.

As for dealing with the pressure...when one of the players openly admits in an interview that the squad are nervous, it doesn't exactly fill you with confidence. Even less so when you see how we've played the last couple of games.

Over the course of the season, yes we've done well, but not decisively so - as the table shows. In the end its coming down to the last few games - forget eveything that went before. Its a mini tournament with winner takes all.

Right now Brighton are scoring for fun, annihilating their opponents, while Boro have looked less than assured.

In this context, no we are not handling the pressure well. Not for a team with aspirations for automatic promotion and PL football next season.

Like I said, Ipswich had nothing to play for and we couldn't find a way past them. What are we going to do when Brighton rock up with a place in the PL at stake? Right now I know who my money would be on.

[NickisBHAFC]

Come on Birmingham!!!!

[NickisBHAFC]

Boro are 100% winning this.

[westisbest]

1-0 to the noses.

to powerfull for the keeper.

shouls probably have parried it away with 2 hands.

[Guest]

Awesome goalkeeping.

[westisbest]

oh dear, who is that blues keeper.

[westisbest]

keepers have made worse mistakes than that.

[Guest]

Great wing play.

[dyrewolfe]

Linesman wants shooting - Ayala was never offside. Should have won this 3-2.

Disgusted.

This is why video appeals should be brought in.



Well, there go our promotion hopes. You have to figure Burnley and Brighton will win tomorrow and we'll do well to get a point against Brighton in the season closer.

[NickisBHAFC]

I love Birmingham. My favourite night out and there football team are heros. That linesman deserves a beer or 2 as well.

4 points and its premiership football next season. Unbelievable.

[GSC]

If Burnley win and Brighton don't they're promoted.

[westisbest]

I love Birmingham.  My favourite night out and there football team are heros. That linesman deserves a beer or 2 as well.

4 points and its premiership football next season. Unbelievable.

Agree its atop night out.
was there last weekend.

Not sure about the heros bit though.

Boro v Brighton should be some game next week end.

[owen10ozzy]

I love Birmingham.  My favourite night out and there football team are heros. That linesman deserves a beer or 2 as well.

4 points and its premiership football next season. Unbelievable.

In the words of Ron Burgundy; stay classy ey Nick

If we were beat fairly then I've no problem with gloating...but when its clear for all and sundry to see that we may have just been cost promotion by an absolutely horrificly bad decision then it's pretty pathetic really....especially since in the grand scheme of things football wise it has ruined what could have been a terrific advertisment for football come next weekend.

Had all three teams won then we would be having a belter of a weekend with everyone going out to win....as it stands a point does us very little favours and we must now chase againt Brighton, assuming they beat Derby (I hope just for the gloating they get absolutely turned over now)...

That being said....we were the creators of our own downfall once again tonight and it was the epitomy of our season all in one game....clear cut chances missed which could have seen the game dead and buried by the hour mark...and then even when we took the chances we sat back and attempted to soak up the pressure. The 10 minute spell after Ramirez had put us ahead was shocking...we just sat in behind the ball and allowed Birmingham all the possession in the world! I simply cannot fathom why managers think this is a good idea....fair enough 10 mins from the end...but we had over half hour to play! Idiotic strategy from Karanka.

Once again when the crunch time comes we have choked....3 draws in a row simply isn't good enough especially when two of them were against teams with very little to play for.

Onto next week now and the decider....the team with the best home record in the league against the team with the 2nd best away record...we rolled over them once this year lets cross every fibre of our body that we do it again.

[NickisBHAFC]

No pressure on us. We've got a play off spot. Job well done. Derby are firm favourites.

[westisbest]

Derby firm favourites.

Come on now, be serious.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Probably should've put the game to bed and not allowed a refereeing decision to get in the way eh boro fans

Still it's in your hands - win next week and you're up no matter what Brighton do tomorrow

I'd take that going into the final weekend and a home game personally

[dyrewolfe]

If we were beat fairly then I've no problem with gloating...but when its clear for all and sundry to see that we may have just been cost promotion by an absolutely horrificly bad decision then it's pretty pathetic really....especially since in the grand scheme of things football wise it has ruined what could have been a terrific advertisment for football come next weekend.

Had all three teams won then we would be having a belter of a weekend with everyone going out to win....as it stands a point does us very little favours and we must now chase againt Brighton, assuming they beat Derby (I hope just for the gloating they get absolutely turned over now)...

That being said....we were the creators of our own downfall once again tonight and it was the epitomy of our season all in one game....clear cut chances missed which could have seen the game dead and buried by the hour mark...and then even when we took the chances we sat back and attempted to soak up the pressure. The 10 minute spell after Ramirez had put us ahead was shocking...we just sat in behind the ball and allowed Birmingham all the possession in the world! I simply cannot fathom why managers think this is a good idea....fair enough 10 mins from the end...but we had over half hour to play! Idiotic strategy from Karanka.

Once again when the crunch time comes we have choked....3 draws in a row simply isn't good enough especially when two of them were against teams with very little to play for.

Onto next week now and the decider....the team with the best home record in the league against the team with the 2nd best away record...we rolled over them once this year lets cross every fibre of our body that we do it again.

Can't argue too much with that.

For a team with the best defensive record in the league, the number of soft goals we've conceded lately is ridiculous.

I don't think we sat back and invited pressure tonight - not nearly as much as we did against Burnley, but we continually gave the ball away cheaply and our marking / defensive play was shambolic at times.

We had no-one within 5 yards of the guy who got their equaliser to make it 2-2 and it was only a last-ditch sliding tackle by Ayala that stopped them scoring a 3rd. Whatever happened to our ability to keep clean sheets (no one in the league with more IIRC)?

In all honesty, I'm resigned to us failing in the play-offs again. As you say, Karanka's tactics have to be questioned in some of the games lately. Seriously, why leave it until the 87th minute to bring Nugent on tonight? However, the players have to take their share of the blame for some of the headless chicken displays they have put in.

[Guest]

Probably should've put the game to bed and not allowed a refereeing decision to get in the way eh boro fans

Still it's in your hands - win next week and you're up no matter what Brighton do tomorrow

I'd take that going into the final weekend and a home game personally

This. Now's not the time for negativity.

You'd probably still have to give Boro the edge, being at home and all that.

Fascinating fixture. Good luck to both teams

[westisbest]

Shocking decision by the linesman.
Hope that doesn't cost Boro.

All well and good saying should have done this that, but when such a poor decision goes against you, it's tough to take.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Nick has the right to be happy about that.

I was.

[GSC]

I'd like to see Burnley, Brighton and Sheff Wed go up. Freshen up the PL.

[dyrewolfe]

Nick has the right to be happy about that.

I was.

So he has the right to make sarcastic gloating comments too?

I stand by my original statement...which you conveniently deleted...



What makes it even funnier is that he was conspicuous by his absence when Brighton were on their losing streak earlier. Once they started wining again, lo and behold, he's back, spouting his idiotic drivel!

Nothing but a pathetic, juvenile troll.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I "conveniently" moderated.

You've overreacted. And you're about one more biting comment away from a day off

[westisbest]

I would rather Burnley and Boro go up, just cos I would like to go to Brighton away next season.

Play offs would like to see Derby go up.

Can understand Nick being happy as he's a Brighton fan, in fairness.

But he has worded it wrong.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I'd be loving that Lino if he gave my team an easier path to promotion! Can't see how it's anything but honest and hasn't laughed at Boro not attacked a poster.

That just isn't really gloating. In fact he's readily agreed with you that the linesman got it wrong. He's not come on and said "f*** the Boro, Lino was right, we are going up!!"

Unless this is actually all annoyance because you lot don't rate Birmingham as a night out

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

It is quite funny to see Boro choking away promotion for a second season in a row tbf

[westisbest]

Isn't that what you said about Brighton a few months ago olly.

Boro are still top of the league, hardly choking.
Win next week and they're up.

Just out of curiosity olly, why is it funny to you.
You don't have any affiliation Boro's rivals do you?

Maybe is a youth thing to laugh at other clubs.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I only want Burnley up of the three, but prefer Brighton over Boro of the pair.

[westisbest]

The way I look at it now we are in the championship is who would I rather villa avoid.

Doesn't really matter I suppose as they will all be tough games.

[Nico the gman]

It is quite funny to see Boro choking away promotion for a second season in a row tbf

Lets hope we go up, its a long trip to your place if we stay in the Championship.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Isn't that what you said about Brighton a few months ago olly.

Boro are still top of the league, hardly choking.
Win next week and they're up.

Just out of curiosity olly, why is it funny to you.
You don't have any affiliation Boro's rivals do you?

Maybe is a youth thing to laugh at other clubs.

I harbour a slight dislike of Boro due to the playoff final last year - their fans were not particularly quiet about how they were gonna beat us in the build up...

I like Dolph have a preference of Burnley, Brighton then Boro.

I only say the stuff about Brighton to try wind up young Nick

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

It is quite funny to see Boro choking away promotion for a second season in a row tbf

Lets hope we go up, its a long trip to your place if we stay in the Championship.

[Nico the gman]

I love Birmingham.  My favourite night out and there football team are heros. That linesman deserves a beer or 2 as well.

4 points and its premiership football next season. Unbelievable.

I didn't realise you'd already beaten Derby, but no probs, the Riverside's always an easy place to take points the rest of the top 6 will vouch for that. You know what you have to do so do we.

[Nico the gman]

It is quite funny to see Boro choking away promotion for a second season in a row tbf

Lets hope we go up, its a long trip to your place if we stay in the Championship.

At least you've had a decent season in the PL.

[Nico the gman]

No pressure on us. We've got a play off spot. Job well done. Derby are firm favourites.

Wears the wellies I can smell  lot of BS.

[Nico the gman]

We are Boro super Boro no one likes us WE DON'T CARE

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