Championship - 2023/24

Me neither but that is how I read it

 

It’s been an odd season statistically. With a decent enough away record we would have expected many more wins at home but we have regularly been terrible there. Despite a lowly league position, if we avoid defeat at Middlesbrough, Leicester will have been the only team to beat us home and away, while we have done three ‘doubles’. This is down to the number of teams we have only taken one point against (often away).

 

I don't think that Norwich will be taking it easy against Brum. I certainly hope they won't be, and really it wouldn't be sensible of them to do so.

Although they're almost certainly in the play-offs, you'd think they'd much rather finish 5th than 6th, considering that if they fell to 6th they'd have to play either Ipswich or Leeds over two legs in the play-offs, which would be much more worrying than Southampton.

 

Szmodics somehow put this into Row Z for Blackburn yesterday that could've kept them up (and cost me a goal bonus since it was from a set-piece )

 

After the last several games under Tom I've been pondering on the "actual" strength of our squad and whether he can really get things going next season vs we will finish no better than this season.....
I feel that:
- the team had gradually shut down and lost complete confidence over the season. The confidence thing doesn't magically change overnight but we've seen some improvement. Tom has done as well as could be expected.
- yes we drew a lot of 0-0 games recently but one of the oldest adages was "start by being hard to beat" and we can tick that box finally.
Personally I feel that many of our problems revolve around our midfield (don't protect our defence and don't very often get to grips with the middle of the park) so I would like to see some tougher players put into midfield next season.
I'm hopeful Tom will get us playing a lot better next season.

 

Yeah, top scorer in the league and would've guaranteed Blackburn play in the Champ next season. Guess the pressure got to him!

 

I don't think Bayo would be anywhere near it .
It is more Andre Grayesque !

 

Congratulations to Leicester, it might feel to them a bit like our promotion in 20-21, but if life has taught me anything, it's that you should enjoy these moments while you can, because you have no idea when you'll get to celebrate again!

 

This match could have an indirect bearing on the relegation battle this coming weekend - based on their performance tonight, Preston seem to have their minds on their holidays already and Hull can't expect them to do them a favour at West Brom as Hull play at Plymouth in a game they have to win to have any chance of getting a play-off spot. Which means Hull probably won't bust a gut against a side who need the points more, especially if WBA go into a comfortable early lead.

Which probably also means that Norwich won't be that bothered about winning or even drawing at Birmingham, unless they are that keen to avoid a tougher tie against Leeds or Ipswich. So Wednesday and Blackburn will have to prepare to get the point they need to guarantee safety, and not just play for a draw. Though it's possible Hull might go for goals at Plymouth if Norwich are losing in the unlikely event for overtaking them on goal difference...

 

I would've thought despite some grumblers earlier that most Leicester fans are quite happy with the manner of their promotion, certainly they're doing it more convincingly than we did.

I'd imagine Newcastle fans felt the same with their bounce-backs in 2010 and 2017 and didn't feel that they were just achieving what was expected of them from day zero, even though in the former season Newcastle's away form was a bit shaky and some were unconvinced by Hughton's tactical ability. But there are always some feelings of uncertainty among the fanbase after their team gets relegated, however low the odds are of them getting promotion!

 

Seen some of them were properly panicking a few weeks ago when they lost to Plymouth, and not without reason (even Southampton were brought into the race then!), so I can understand the criticism of Maresca, although they are still on course for 100 points. Think the prevailing view is that he's done enough to steady the ship, but might not be enough to do anything with them in the Prem, but it'd take a brave man like Pozzo in 2015 to get rid of a promotion-winning manager!

 

Norwich should be bothered though - when Leeds or Ipswich are in the mood they can bag loads of goals in one game, making beating them over a two-legged tie on aggregate not ideal. None of the three are in particularly great form, but Southampton have now lost 3 on games on the bounce. It would definitely be preferable for Norwich to go two legs against Southampton and then hope they catch Leeds or Ipswich on one of their off-days in the final.

 

They did beat Ipswich recently though, so I don't think they'll fear their nearest (well, least far away!) and dearest

 

Is there still any kind of rule that tries to force clubs to put out their strongest team? For instance, tonight Ipswich are at Coventry who have nothing to play for so might fancy filling their team with young players to give them experience for the future. Leeds would be pretty miffed if they effectively handed Ipswich the three points and promotion.

 

A team that got thumped at QPR can't really complain about another teams effort or team selection
Control what you can control

 

Liked because it’s about Leeds.

 

Last time I remember anyone getting punished for that was Ian Holloway's Blackpool, when he argued that you're asked to submit a 25 man squad for a reason (say what you like about him, but he had a point!). With Coventry's fixture pileup over the last few weeks, they can play whoever the hell they like as far as I'm concerned

 

We beat QPR 4-0 and they lost 4-0 to them, so why the hell did we not beat Leeds 8-0? Clevs OUT!

 

I believe Leicester have now equalled the record for most wins in a second tier season, and can therefore break it in their final match.

 

Leeds in the playoffs then.

 

Ipswich really have been a joy to watch this season. Whilst they arguably didn’t play well against us in either game, they’ve played some lovely attacking stuff for most of the season and I think they’ll surprise a few next season.

McKenna appears to be a top manager in the making too.

 

Full credit to Coventry for having a real go in this match which has nothing hanging on it for them.

 

Shame they didn’t make the play-offs, as a club they’ve been an inspiration to so many others in the Football League (and maybe some Prem clubs who might be interested in Robins) - progressive and long-serving manager (I thought he was the longest serving in the Prem and FL not counting Simon Weaver of Harrogate who’s mostly managed in non-league, but to my slight surprise I found Klopp and Guardiola have managed even longer), sixth biggest stadium in the Championship with decent attendances, good recruitment, play good football with some of the best players in the Championship. But for the second season running they’ve started slowly (couldn’t really be helped TBF with Callum O’Hare out at the start) and have had to play catch-up, a task just beyond them this time with their incredible FA Cup run and more points needed to get in the play-offs. But if they spend the money from the Gyokeres transfer well and have at least a decent start, they could be a real force next season, although they could face stiff competition if both Leeds and Southampton don’t go up and Forest go down.

 

Yes surely only really needed a point tonight.

 

And yet plenty of Leicester fans have been calling for their manager to be sacked over the course of the season. Same at Leeds and Norwich.

 

It often feels the way. Lose a play off final, fail to even make the play offs the following season.