[Archived] The Championship 2013/14

[K-Hod]

Were there riots then?

One fan got on the pitch, and a load started mobilising when a Derby player took a throw in.

[Guest Norbert]

Lovely. It seems the only decent Milwall fan is Danny Baker.

[Audax]

Nottingham Forest seem a bit jinxed, snakebitten like Cardiff City was when it comes to promotion. The wikipedia article details how close they've come in recent years: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottingham_Forest_F.C. Must be disappointing. But a lot of neutrals are for them.

Must have been a bitter pill for Cardiff City who were challenging for years to see Swansea go up instead of them. I'll bet Bellamy played a big part in Cardiff going up.

[cn174]

Reading vs Brighton does not make for a good super sunday game!!

[Salgado Is A Hero]

Nottingham Forest seem a bit jinxed, snakebitten like Cardiff City was when it comes to promotion. The wikipedia article details how close they've come in recent years: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottingham_Forest_F.C. Must be disappointing. But a lot of neutrals are for them.

Must have been a bitter pill for Cardiff City who were challenging for years to see Swansea go up instead of them. I'll bet Bellamy played a big part in Cardiff going up.

He wasn't nominated for their player of the year. He certainly wasn't nearly as good for them as he was for us or at times for Man City.

[Audax]

He wasn't nominated for their player of the year. He certainly wasn't nearly as good for them as he was for us or at times for Man City.

Looks like he hasn't played for many clubs as well as he did for the Rovers.

All the same, I think he's been Captain in some of these matches, looks like he didn't play for Cardiff yesterday. So, I think he's significant for being in the leadership role.

http://uk.soccerway.com/players/craig-bellamy/2982/

Maybe he's retiring, he's not even listed in the box score in the game vs. Hull: http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2013/09/14/england/premier-league/hull-city-afc/cardiff-city-fc/1483490/

[rovers11]

Rovers had the second highest away following in the championship this weekend.

Of course, it was a derby but still nice to see such strong support. Would be nice to see a few more returning to ewood in weeks to come.

We've got a manager and group of players we can really get behind now.

[Bucksrover]

Rovers had the second highest away following in the championship this weekend.Of course, it was a derby but still nice to see such strong support. Would be nice to see a few more returning to ewood in weeks to come.We've got a manager and group of players we can really get behind now.

Agree with this. We sold more season tickets than last year so hopefully fans are realising we can make a difference by attending games and supporting.

There was a lot of noise suggesting fans stay away in the dark kean days to force the muppet out, but there isn't such a vocal movement to get people back to ewood now common sense seems to have returned. I suppose people get more passionate about things which make them angry

[chaddyrovers]

the Championship is the most open league I've ever seen in Football.

I'm very surprised with Blackpool start this season but I can't see them staying near the top of the league cos the squad isn't big enough when they start get injuries and suspensions during the next couple of months when you are playing 3 games a week

Think most fans thought Nottingham Forest and Leicester City would be up in the top 6 and they are. I didn't think QPR would have started aswell as they had. thought they would take time to adapt to this league and struggle early on(first 10 games) but they have adapted very quickly.

It will be very interesting to see how Wigan go now with the Europe league this is starting this week for them and will go for it in Europe or play a reserve side in it and focus more on the league and getting promotion.

I thought Bolton would struggle this season and it looking like they are going to do so. the defence look weak and very slow and don't have the depth in the squad to change it a lot starting 11 wise. if they lose the next couple of games then maybe Freedman will be sack.

Millwall appointing Lomas in the first place was very strange appointment cos of him playing for West Ham in his playing career. But they did and fans didn't want him and have been unhappy about it from day one. I think Kean was on their shortlist according to media reports and would he been doing any better, I don't think so.

I think the 3 clubs who might be sacking their managers in the next couple of weeks are Millwall, Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday unless they can starting picking up better results asap

[booth]

I don't think Blackpool will stay up there because Paul Ince is a terrible manager.

Kean didn't do too badly last season and he was a charlatan riding his luck too.

[Stuart]

I don't think Blackpool will stay up there because Paul Ince is a terrible manager.

I actually think Ince can be decent with lower league type players who don't have massive egos. His man management skills are bawling at players and old school discipline - that's just not going to wash with the modern PL player. He's like an early 90s Ferguson.

It probably helps that his best player - and likely biggest ego - is automatically onside.

I don't think they'll go up but with a league as tight as this, it can just take that bit extra motivation that makes all the difference.

[Guest Norbert]

You might be right Stuart. Sadly. Ince is hardly a tactical genius and relies on 'passion' and 'heart' so a team like Blackpool, who constantly sell decent players and replace them with freebies would suit him.

[thenodrog]

the Championship is the most open league I've ever seen in Football.

I didn't think QPR would have started aswell as they had. thought they would take time to adapt to this league and struggle early on(first 10 games) but they have adapted very quickly.

Pretty nailed on that they would do well imo. Plenty of quality available and a top manager who has spent plenty of time in the lower leagues.

[Al]

My wish for this season is to beat Burnley with a last minute Dunny goal in the playoff final and therefore go into the PL leaving them in the Championship. That would be so sweet and would totally devastate the Dingle fans who would then go on the rampage in London.

[Guest Norbert]

My wish would be to go up, and for them to go down, with us beating them 10-0 in March.

I can see where you're coming from though Al, and that would be good.

[MarkBRFC]

I'm very surprised with Blackpool start this season but I can't see them staying near the top of the league cos the squad isn't big enough when they start get injuries and suspensions during the next couple of months when you are playing 3 games a week

This time last year, we were top.

I wouldn't read a great deal into early season form.

[booth]

My wish for this season is to beat Burnley with a last minute Dunny goal in the playoff final and therefore go into the PL leaving them in the Championship. That would be so sweet and would totally devastate the Dingle fans who would then go on the rampage in London.

My heart just wouldn't be able to take that. I'd be cheering one minute then being carted off on a stretcher the next.

[Neil Weaver]

Pretty nailed on that they would do well imo. Plenty of quality available and a top manager who has spent plenty of time in the lower leagues.

Too wordy Gord. Amended so it's nearer the mark.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

My wish would be to go up, and for them to go down, with us beating them 10-0 in March.

I can see where you're coming from though Al, and that would be good.

I was thinking about this today. Whether I'd want another 5-0 or a last minute winner.

I came to the conclusion that I want a 4-3 win after being 3-0 at half time with Dunny getting the equaliser in stoppage time just before Williamson gets the winner.

I'd rather they think they're gonna win rather than knowing they're not going to for most of the game.

[darrenrover]

I was thinking about this today. Whether I'd want another 5-0 or a last minute winner.

I came to the conclusion that I want a 4-3 win after being 3-0 at half time with Dunny getting the equaliser in stoppage time just before Williamson gets the winner.

I'd rather they think they're gonna win rather than knowing they're not going to for most of the game.

Ha ha, like it.

Salgado, out of interest do you have any ancestors who were blond, blue eyed, six foot tall and have a passion for cabbage? May have also walked rather straight legged as well.

[booth]

I'd rather us score 3 in the first 5 minutes then have them die watching 5 more goals go in over the following 85 minutes with a 9th in injury time from the shin of god just to remind them what they could have won at their place.

Alistair Campbell to undress and lie in the middle of burnleys goal after the sixth goal in an attempt to stop the match.

Dyche to dismember one of his own players after the 8th goal in an attempt to stop the match.

Directly after the 9th goal a contract drawn up by the Burnley board to "please stop it" in return for a blue and white Jack Walker statue sticking the v's up outside of Turf Moor.

[Guest Norbert]

That's the spirit Booth.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Dingles one up already....

[Proudtobeblue&white]

3-0 at the moment v Brum, good result for us then?

[DE.]

Incey starting to work his magic on Blackpool now