Sky Bet Championship 2016-17 Thread

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

With Sky announcing games and reaching page 20 limit figured open a new one.

FRI 5TH AUGUST

Fulham 19:45 Newcastle United
Championship, Sky Sports 1 HD (19:00)
SUN 7TH AUGUST

Queens Park Rangers 12:00 Leeds United
Championship, Sky Sports 1 HD (11:30)
Sheffield Wednesday 16:30 Aston Villa
Championship, Sky Sports 1 HD (16:15)
FRI 12TH AUGUST

Brighton and Hove Albion 19:45 Nottingham Forest
Championship, Sky Sports 1 HD (19:00)
SAT 13TH AUGUST

Norwich City 17:30 Sheffield Wednesday
Championship, Sky Sports 1 HD (17:15)
SAT 20TH AUGUST

Derby County 17:30 Aston Villa
Championship, Sky Sports 1 HD (17:15)
SUN 21ST AUGUST

Ipswich Town 12:00 Norwich City
Championship, Sky Sports 2 HD (11:30)
FRI 26TH AUGUST

Burton Albion 19:45 Derby County
Championship, Sky Sports 1 HD (19:00)
SAT 27TH AUGUST

Newcastle United 17:30 Brighton and Hove Albion
Championship, Sky Sports 1 HD (17:15)
FRI 9TH SEPTEMBER

Reading 20:00 Ipswich Town
Championship, Sky Sports 1 HD (19:00)

[Guest]

Not sure how I've got a whining reputation? But anyway.

I'll come back on here at Xmas & see how things have unfolded with the toon

[Guest]

You'll be flying by then, John

[westisbest]

Id be surprised if Newcastle 'walk' this leage, expect them to go up but not easily.

Fair few teams that will give them competition.

Champioship will be good to watch tonight.

Big game for us tomorrow.
Hopefully we get off to a winning start.

I'm actually buzzing about this season, will be very tough, but exciting all the same.

[GSC]

3 teams scored 4 goals on the opening day, our game had 7 goals in all. Gotta love this league.

Hope Burton go well this year, looked a good outfit in spells.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hopefully Norwich can take the 'favourite' tag now, not sure why our new squad warranted the tag in the first place

I'm not sure why we're not more fancies tbh - squad has done it before, clearly full of players who are very good at this level and have the experience. Neil didn't do well in the prem, but he was magnificent in the championship last time too

[Guest]

Norwich are my favourites, but it's the supposed Benitez effect & money spent, which has made us favourites.

Norwich are a club built for the championship. Squad stability, experience & a proven manager, whereas we're going through a complete rebuild, new signings (the majority being average) needing to gel & a manager adjusting & learning the league. Those reasons already put Norwich at a distinct advantage. If you actually look at the £40m spent, a good half of it has been wasted, the only signing which has negated the loss of Wijnaldum or Townsend is Matt Ritchie. The rest are pretty so-so & have not improved our stripped PL squad of any quality, to deserve such a favourites tag. But that seems to have been generally ignored. As the Fulham game showed, we lack quality, creativity, dynamism in midfield & we lack physical presence up front. We also haven't got a decent left back (possibly Brendan Galloway from Everton) & no alternatives to Aarons or Ritchie out wide......but this season will be a cake walk  

I know it's still early, but Benitez has got a hell of a job on, in my opinion.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Should be, John. If it isn't then Rafa has screwed up.

[GSC]

QPR finally seeing some return on the Rob Green signing

[Guest]

I wonder if Gary Monk will make it to October?

[Guest]

If Rafa keeps playing Anita right wing & two holding midfielders, he won't make it to September

[Guest]

Sheffield Wed 1-0 Aston Villa - Welcome to the Championship, Westi

[westisbest]

Thought a draw would have been a fair result, but if people say wednesday i wouldnt argue all the same.

Played well in patches.

A mistake and a bit of luck costing us.

Very early days though.

[Fernando]

Having a quality forward makes the difference in the Championship it's where 0-0 games turn in 1-0's that's get your side promoted.

#NoreStaatComments

[NickisBHAFC]

Finally back in the country. Busy week.

Big blow in missing out on Pritchard, but just one of those things, case of been offered 22 grand or 30 grand a week really. But happy with the signing of Norwood from Reading.

Good point at Derby, sounds like we played really well and were unfortunate not to win.

Colchester tonight, hopefully a defeat. Forest on Friday night, a game completely over shadowed by Southern Railway. Club have been brilliant in trying to sort out the problems, but its still going to be hell on earth trying to even make it to the game!

[Geordie]

If Rafa keeps playing Anita right wing & two holding midfielders, he won't make it to September

Add in Dummet at Left Back aswell.

[NickisBHAFC]

Faultless performance tonight, showing no sign of a play off hangover.

Excellent in all aspects of the game. Sidwell and Kayal bossing it in the middle, Knockheart causing havoc everywhere (not going anywhere Newcastle) and Murray showing the magic touch that we have missed for 5 seasons.

Rotherham Tuesday night, no easy game in this league.

[NickisBHAFC]

Solid performance last night, didn't even get out of first gear and came away with a 3-0 win. Knockheart and Murray scoring again. Dunk and Bruno outstanding at the back and Hemed with his first of the season.

Onto Reading away on Saturday. My first away day of the season and probably the worst one!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Ipswich away Sunday - going and officially buzzing already

[Guest]

We're up & running thanks to a 4-1 victory over Reading. Thank **** for that. My mate is a Wolves fan & he said Reading were dire last week, so not surprised to see us take the win. Rafa made some big calls tonight, dropped the captain & shuffled the pack, but still not convinced by us & clearly Rafa doesn't know his best XI either. Goals have mainly come from free-kicks & penalties, which has suggested we still lack creativity & the ability to really break down the better sides. As for Ciaran Clark, he is diabolical & tonight he proved what we all feared.

Not surprised to see Norwich & Brighton leading the way either, clear favourites for this league.

[westisbest]

Did Clark play full back? Not his position.

Not the best of nights for Shane Duffy. Two own goals and  a sending off.

[Guest]

Clark played CB, instead of the dropped Lascelles. Horrifying first touch & gave a penalty away. Just dire stuff.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Welcome back John

[Geordie]

I have to laugh when I see some of the other forums...Newcastle fans two days ago were lambasting the side...now after one win the titles in the bag....deluded fools.

Good win...not great performance.

Dummet is diabolical, Clark woeful. Laschelles needs to just stay in the team! He needs games to simply learn his trade and improve.

There will be much more difficult games than this one.

On the positive...isn't Mitrovic available now? That will be a big boost!

[Guest]

Agree, score-line flattered us. What looks good on paper, hasn't translated onto the pitch for some reason, so was not surprised to see Rafa make changes & bring in fringe players, like Gouffran & Clark. The only players to really impress have been Hayden, Gayle & the standout, Matt Ritchie. You can pretty much give him the club's POTY award already, he's a level above everyone else.

Mitrovic is back for the League Cup game against Cheltenham next week, I think. First league game could be at home against Brighton. We've also been linked with Sebastien Haller

[Geordie]

Ive been quietly impressed with Hayden...I think with some work he could develop in to a nice cultured DM.

And I had Hayden down as top scorer for the league this season. Nice to see him putting a few away.

[dyrewolfe]

Ive been quietly impressed with Hayden...I think with some work he could develop in to a nice cultured DM.

And I had Hayden down as top scorer for the league this season. Nice to see him putting a few away.

You're not forgetting about Will Grigg, are you? He's on fire apparently...

[Guest]

Bristol C 0-1 Newcastle - Gayle FT (one place outside the play-offs)

[GSC]

2 home games, 14 goals. We may not be better than Freedmans team but at least we arent boring I guess.

[NickisBHAFC]

Didn't play very well yesterday. Still we got 2 goals and a point away from home and we will take it.

Knockheart outstanding again.

Oxford away in the cup, hopefully a defeat and then its the big one away at Newcastle, really looking forward to a trip to St James and more importantly the night out in Newcastle.

[Geordie]

Ive been quietly impressed with Hayden...I think with some work he could develop in to a nice cultured DM.

And I had Hayden down as top scorer for the league this season. Nice to see him putting a few away.

You're not forgetting about Will Grigg, are you? He's on fire apparently...

Ah I must have been miles away...I meant Gayle as top scorer not Hayden.

[westisbest]

Top scorer will be interesting.

Likes of Gayle, Grigg, McCormack, Gestede, Hemad, Murray, Mitrovic,
Jerome, Assombalonga, Forestieri and Hooper to name a few.

Will be a good battle.

From that list I'll say Murray, if he stays fit.

[NickisBHAFC]

Hemed won't be close,more so if we sign another striker.

Gayle or Murray for me. Id love to see Grigg get it though.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Derby County - the ultimate bottlers

[GSC]

Scenes at Burton. Bet Clough jr enjoyed tbat

[westisbest]

Off to Bristol in the morning. Unfortunatly in home end as  villa end sold out. Not been to Bristol for pints.
Few in a mates bar and hopefully meet up with other Villa fans.
Then out to celebrate the win(hopefully).

Will be tough, but fancy us to win 2-1.
McCormack and an Elphick bullet header.

Its a sell out, read its the first time they have sold out Ashton gate in years.

Well not surprising when the Villa roll into town.

[Guest]

Newcastle 1-0 Brighton - Lascelles

[Guest]

That's a peach of a header.

[Guest]

Newcastle 2-0 Brighton - Shelvey

[NickisBHAFC]

Comfortably beaten by a strong Newcastle side on Saturday, there looking like there getting the hang of the Championship and i can't see them losing too many games now until the end of the season.

Still a great trip, cracking stadium, support from the away fans was outstanding and a cracking night out.

International break, hopefully we will have 1 or 2 more additions when we return.

[Guest]

Gouffran has certainly found his level

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Solid start to the season for nodge - haven't got anywhere near to top form yet

[NickisBHAFC]

Awful display. Think last season was the best its gonna get.

[GSC]

Derby will no doubt turn it around, but it's funny while it lasts

[Dolphin Ziggler]

GWAN BARNSLEY

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Villa averaging a point a game so far this season

Certainly making a better fist of survival this year....

[westisbest]

The most one sided game I've seen in a while.
Should have put them away by half time.

Bunn should be saving that.
Great to come back to 2-1.

As I said to the guy next to me in the bar.
Just watch Forest come back and score.

They need to change the rules. That Forest kid being sent off for celebrating with the fans.
Crazy.

Never been a fan of that rule.
Fair play to Forest though. Well done GSC.

On the plus side we were great going forward and on another day could have scored 4 or 5.

After 6 games would have hoped we would be in top 10, but still very early.

Couldn't fault the players today.
Will be tough to go back up, but play like that today take our chances and a bit of luck, hopefully we will be up there.

Great contest by two former European cup winners.

Now back to the Spanish sunshine.

[GSC]

Villa looked good, remain unconvinced they'll be the in the mix for the top 2

[westisbest]

Maybe not top 2, would be surprised and obviously disappointed if we didn't make play offs.

[Guest]

https://twitter.com/SSportsToon/status/775784556842651649

absolutely dismantling QPR tonight

[westisbest]

Even Clark scored. Good man.

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