The Football Championship Review – October 21st 2009

www.footballwinners.co.uk

gazandpete@footballwinners.co.uk

Most clubs have now completed 13 games. Last year we saw Wolves, Reading and Birmingham setting the early pace.  This year early pace setters Newcastle have fallen away and opened up the league with the first 20 teams all within 3 wins of top spot.

fW reviews all the teams, current for and prediction over the coming months.

Barnsley - picked up some great results since Mark Robbins took over the managers reigns.  Lost game 13 at inform Nottingham Forest.  Still 20^th , but within touching distance.  We predict a difficult next 10 games for Barnsley.  The honeymoon period is over.

Blackpool – Ian Holloway has made a great start to the season with Blackpool.  Excellent home record will ensure mid table.  Not convinced they have enough in the tank to maintain top six position.

Bristol City – One of five teams yet to win away this season.  If City are to challenge for promotion will need to start getting points away.  Great home record has kept them in touch with the top.  Predict a strong period over the next 10 games cementing their position in the top six.

Cardiff City – One week Cardiff are brilliant and the next week rubbish.  They are definitely strong enough for top six finish.  Need to sort out the inconsistency.  We predict a strong next 10 games.

Coventry City – Had an okay start to the season.  Don’t see Coventry doing much more that mid table.

Crystal Palace – Terrible first six games, then a good run which end in defeat against Leicester.  Mid table at best for horrible Neil Warnock

Derby County – Clougie has not managed to get Derby going this season.  He needs some results quickly or could find himself out of his post.  We don’t see things improving in the coming weeks.

Doncaster Rovers – Another one of the pack just above the relegation zone.  They have had some fantastic results followed by some howlers.  We believe that this will continue throughout the season.

Ipswich Town – 13 games and no wins for the great Roy Keane (well at least that’s what he calls himself).  How long before he jumps (or will he get pushed)?

Leicester City – A fantastic and consistent start to the season for Leicester.  We predicted that they would do well and they haven’t disappointed.  Still think top six will be difficult but definitely strong enough for top 10.

Middlesbrough – Southgate has been sacked after 13 games in charge.  Lying in forth position but 4 defeats (more than any of the top 12) after 13 games could be the reason for the sacking.  We are not surprised.  Next 10 games will prove very difficult for Middlesbrough.

Newcastle United – Great start to the season but what a terrible last four games have managed just 2 points.  Not champion material.  We still think that Newcastle are the team to beat. 

Nottingham Forest - They have won their last five games taking them to the brink of the top six.  This is as good as it will get for Forest.  Watch them slip back down over the next 10 games.

Peterborough United – Will young Ferguson get the same amount of time as old Ferguson got at the Red united?  We hope that he does get the support.  He is a good manager taking his time to find his feet in this Division.  Unfortunately, we do not believe that Posh have what it takes to survive at this level.  Next time around.

Plymouth Argyle – Never go back!  Paul Sturrock is not going to make it to the end of the season.  Plymouth will not escape relegation this time.

Preston North End – Another one that has had a topsy turvey start to the season.  They are still top six and only 2 points off automatic.  Preston should do well over the next 10 games.

Queens Park Rangers – Last two games they have won 4-0 and 4-1.  On that form promotion awaits.  A lot is expected of QPR.  Will they start to deliver?  The next six games will be telling for the ‘super hoops’.

Reading – What a different 12 months make.  Reading has not managed to win at home since the beginning of 2009.  Who wanted to be a season ticket holder at Reading?  They may be the surprise relegation this year (with Ipswich).

Scunthorpe United – Beat Newcastle in their last game.  What a fantastic result.  They have great manager with a small, tight squad.  Scunthorpe should just have enough for survival.  Every game is cup game for Scunthorpe.

Sheffield United – A lot of people’s favourites for promotion.  How long before the board get itchy and start to look for changes?  Kevin Blackwell had better watch out.  Still good enough for top six finish, if not top 2.

Sheffield Wednesday – Like most teams in this league not able to put together a consistent run of results.  Will survive, the question is will they do better than mid table.  In this league anything is possible but we don’t see it.

Swansea City – The only thing wrong with Swansea so far this term is they are short of goals.  They have only scored 9 goals from their 13 games.  This is fewer than any other in the League.  If they can address this, then they will be fighting for a top six finish.

Watford – One week they look great and the next ordinary.  Not performing as well at Home as they do away.  No better than mid table for Watford.

West Bromwich – Some poor results for West Brom in their last six outings but still is managing to hold on to the top spot.  They will be in the mix at the end.  Not sure if they are good enough to secure one of the automatic spots.

We still more than 30 games to go, so loads more twists and turns. We will revisit the Championship after 25 games when it should start taking shape.

We would love your thoughts on the Championship so far.

Who do you think will make the top six and who will be relegation fodder?

www.footballwinners.co.uk

gazandpete@footballwinners.co.uk

fW predicts.......

Spain?...Brazil?....Holland?....Germany?....Argentina?...
Uruguay?.....Paraguay? or Ghana?

We would love to predict Ghana but we fancy that we will get this one right.

Not African so is it going to be South American or European?

We felt from day one that Spain would be the one to watch.  A slip up against Switzerland did not deter.....so we back SPAIN all the way to win the 2010 World Cup.

Final prediction Spain v Brazil

Spain to win 3-1 in normal time.

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