2011/12 Championship Preview

By Tony Alvarez & Laurie Fitzgerald

It’s been a summer of restlessness for many football fans, with no World Cup or European Championships to fill the void, and many of us having to spend more time with our loved ones!

But fear not, because on Saturday the football season is officially back underway as the three divisions of the Football League kick-off.

Over the next few days, the SFTS lads are going to be previewing the Npower Championship, League One & League Two. Today, we focus on the Championship:

Which signings have impressed you this summer?

Tony: Matthew Mills has been the stand out signing for me, I saw quite a bit of him at Reading last year and am shocked he is not a Premier League player. Kevin Nolan is obviously an impressive signing and has always worked well under Allardyce, while Craig Mackail Smith was a great buy for Poyet I’m shocked he’s not plying his trade in an already established side with genuine promotion ambitions ( no disrespect to Brighton).

Laurie: I think Mills could be the crucial piece of a heavily-invested jigsaw for Leicester, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better centre-half outside the Premier League. Mackail-Smith is definitely the coup of the summer, while Paul Jewell may have found a cracking strikeforce in Michael Chopra and Nathan Ellington.

Who will be the favourites for automatic promotion?

Tony: It is clear from the above statement that Leicester are without a doubt in my mind the CLEAR favourites for the title and it will be a travesty if they don’t come up. According to the bookies, West Ham have the same odds as Leicester for coming up but i think Leicester have a better chance because they will not have the culture shock of coming down a division. I think West Ham will come second but they won’t have things all their own way as some fans and pundits seem to think.

Laurie: Leicester would only be able to justify automatic promotion come May with their outlay this summer. The test for Sven Goran Eriksson is making sure the new arrivals gel, but with his experience in management there shouldn’t be any worries regarding this. West Ham are the other standout team, but the only thing that may work against them is that they haven’t strengthened a defence that was poor last season, with both Upson and Gabbidon going. But they have a shrewd operator in Sam Allardyce.

Who could be this season’s dark horses?

Tony: Southampton could cause some shocks if people think “they have just come up they will just be looking to survive” then surprises will be in store. They won’t challenge for the title, but they are easily capable of a mid-placed finish if not better. I’m tipping them to do the best out of the promoted sides – Peterborough still leak goals and have lost their 2 main goal threats from the last time they were in this division and Brighton for me have moved to a nw ground at the wrong time, it always takes time to settle in at a new ground and with them being new to the division they will have to settle in to that too which could prove tricky.

Laurie: Brighton are definite dark horses. A new stadium, an ambitious owner and manager, and a vibrant attacking outfit that is only strengthened by the additions of Mackail-Smith and Will Buckley. Securing the loan deal of Tresor Lua Lua is another big boost.

Who could struggle?

Tony: Doncaster are favourites for relegation every year, they are written off and every year they surprise us. I don’t think they have the quality and would tip them to go down but who knows their spirit could see them through.

Laurie: I worry about Watford, who have lost key players in Buckley and Danny Graham as well as their manager Sean Dyche, although bringing in Chris Iwelumo could be a smart deal. Coventry also struggled at the back-end of last season, and could face a difficult campaign this time around.

Who could be the player of the season?

Tony: Signing of the season is always tough to call it generally goes to a player who can find the net. If a team surprises and they have a regular scorer they will get it. If Carlton Cole adjusts to life in the Championship and doesn’t sulk my moneys on him. However, if Ipswich have a good season then I can see someone like Chopra getting it.

Laurie: Kevin Nolan got Championship Player of the Year for Newcastle 12 months ago, and if he has a similar effect with the Hammers, then his leadership abilities and goal-scoring exploits from midfield should make him a serious contender once again.

Which young player should we look out for?

Tony: I am not sure if he comes under a Young player but i think Jack Collison is an outstanding player and if injuries are kept to a minimum he could be the standout player in the whole division, I don’t think he would win player of the year because that goes to goal scorers usually but he could be a big driving force in the division.

Laurie: Last year Scott Sinclair was outstanding for Swansea as he finally began to realise his potential. This year I think Jack Cork could have a similar effect for Southampton. Already an England U-21 international, Cork will play a pivotal role for the Saints in their first season back in the Championship.

Tony’s predicted final table:

1. Leicester
2. West Ham
3. Birmingham
4. Forest
5. Cardiff
6. Hull
7. Reading
8. Ipswich
9. Leeds
10. Burnley
11. Bristol City
12. Middlesboro’
13. Blackpool
14. Southampton
15. Pompy
16. Millwall
17. Brighton
18. Derby
19. Watford
20. Coventry
21. Crystal Palace
22. Peterborough
23. Doncaster
24. Barnsley

 

Laurie’s predicted final table

1. Leicester
2. West Ham
3. Reading
4. Ipswich
5. Nottingham Forest
6. Leeds
7. Millwall
8. Brighton
9. Cardiff
10. Blackpool
11. Bristol City
12. Middlesboro’
13. Birmingham
14. Southampton
15. Portsmouth
16. Burnley
17. Hull
18. Doncaster
19. Barnsley
20. Derby
21. Watford
22. Coventry 
23. Crystal Palace
24. Peterbrough

So what do you think? Will your team fare well this season? Let us know your thoughts.

Who has been the Championship signing of the summer so far?

New Leicester signing Matt Mills could prove to be inspirational for Sven and the Foxes

By Laurie Fitzgerald

It’s less than two weeks before the start of the new Npower Championship season, and all 24 clubs have been working hard to finalise their squads in time for the new campaign.
 
The likes of West Ham, Blackpool, Reading and Cardiff are set to be among the favourites when it all kicks off on August 6th – but who has made the best signing of the summer so far?
 

Shouts from the Stands looks at the pick of the pre-season deals so far, from the big deals that look set to pay off to the bargain deals that could prove their weight in gold:
 
Kevin Nolan (West Ham United) – There has been no bigger signing in terms of stature and experience than that of Newcastle United skipper Kevin Nolan. When Sam Allardyce was appointed the new manager at Upton Park following relegation in May, there was one man he wanted to be the lynchpin in the Hammer’s push for promotion back to the Premier League.
 
When 29 year-old Nolan was not offered the five-year deal that he wanted to see out his career at St. James’ Park, Allardyce seized his opportunity. Not only does the midfielder have an excellent pedigree at this level (he was Championship player of the Year in 2009/10) but he had an excellent season back in the top-flight last year, with 11 goals to his name. His leadership and battling qualities will help make West Ham the favourites going into the opening game.
 
Matt Mills (Leicester City) – After a strong second half to the season under Sven-Goran Eriksson, there’s no doubt that the Foxes have been the big spenders this summer. The likes of Neil Danns, Sean St. Ledger and David Nugent have joined the Kingfisher’s revolution, but it’s the signing of centre-half Mills that could prove pivotal to their chances this season.
 
The Reading captain didn’t come cheap, costing Leicester a club record fee reportedly in the region of £5 million. But what they get with the 25 year-old is one of the best defenders in the Championship. His no-nonsense style of defending, along with his very good reading of the game and ever-improving leadership skills, could provide the backbone for a successful promotion push for Sven and the ambitious Midlands club.

 

Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton & Hove Albion) – When Peterborough announced following their promotion to the Championship that their prolific striker was to be leaving London Road in May, Craig Mackail-Smith attracted the attentions of some of the top clubs in the division. So when newly-promoted Brighton secured the Scotland international’s services, it was the transfer coup of the summer.

 

It’s easy to see why the Seagulls worked so hard to beat the likes of West Ham, Leicester and Premier League newboys QPR to his signature. The 27 year-old scored 34 goals for the Posh last campaign, but it’s his staggering work-rate – he doesnt give the opposition defence a second’s rest – that shows why manager Gus Poyet wants to build a team around him as they prepare for their first season in their new stadium in Falmer.

 

Chris Iwelumo (Watford) - The summer got off to a nightmare start for Watford: the fans saw two of their best players sold in Danny Graham and Will Buckley, and then witnessed manager Malcky Mackay make the move to Championship rivals Cardiff City. But since Sean Dyche has come in to steady the ship, he may have pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the signing of experienced marksman Iwelumo.

 

The Scotland international has proven to be one of the best strikers in the Championship in recent seasons, having got goals at Colchester, Wolves and Burnley before making the switch to Vicarage Road. At the age of 32, Iwelumo may not prove to be a long-term answer, but he can be the talisman to push Watford on from a promising campaign last time around.

 

Michael Chopra (Ipswich) – There has been interest for quite some time from the Tractor Boys in Cardiff striker Chopra, but this summer they’ve finally got their man, and with it a forward with a proven track record at this level approaching the peak of his career.

 

The 27 year-old has scored 41 goals in the last three seasons with the Bluebirds, and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. With Nathan Ellington also linking up with his former manager Paul Jewell, Ipswich may have potentially stumbled upon one of the best strikeforces in the league as they look to make further strides under the former Wigan boss.

 

So what do you think? Who has been the best signing of the summer so far in the Championship? Is there another signing that you feel deserves more recognition going into the new campaign? Let us know your thoughts. 

FA Cup Preview: Burnley

Eddie Howe has become one of the best young managers in the Football League

By Laurie Fitzgerald

Burnley will go into this weekend’s fifth round tie at West Ham United believing that they have every chance of making it through to the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time since 2003.

The Clarets find themselves in a good run of form since the arrival of Eddie Howe as manager, with just one defeat in their last seven games in all competitions.

It has been an eventful season at Turf Moor, with Howe coming in to take on a managerial position made vacant by the sacking of Brian Laws following a 2-0 defeat at home to Scunthorpe at the end of December.

Having been unable to keep them in the Premier League last campaign, Laws was given the opportunity, as well as the money, to get Burnley back into the top flight at the first time of asking.

Chris Iwelumo, Dean Marney, Lee Grant and Ross Wallace were all brought in to add to a squad that was largely retained from the season before, with plenty of experience amongst the ranks from their promotion in 2009.

However, despite finding themselves just two points off of the play-off places going into the new year, Chairman Barry Kilby wasn’t satisfied with the club lying in 10^th position, and decided on finding a new man for the job.

That man was Howe, but even that had its own drama. The 33 year-old had carved out a reputation for being one of the best young managers in the Football League, taking Bournemouth from the relegation zone of League Two to the automatic promotion spots in League One.

Both Charlton and Crystal Palace tried to persuade Howe to become their new boss, but his heart seemed set on finishing the job he started at Dean Court, as he stated at a press conference that he was going to remain with the Cherries.

But the next day saw another twist, as Burnley were given permission by Bournemouth to hold discussions with Howe, and he was eventually appointed their new manager on a three-year deal.

The change looks to have paid off; despite having five of their past six league games away from home, they’ve secured wins against Portsmouth, Norwich and Watford.

The Lancashire side are now in eighth, and building momentum for a push for the play-offs.

The attention for the time being now turns to the Cup, and they will want to continue a run that has seen wins at home to lower league opponents in Port Vale and Burton Albion

While they will go into Monday night’s game as the underdogs, they have plenty within the squad to get Avram Grant’s side concerned.

Burnley have some of the best midfield options in the Championship. Jack Cork has continued to mature throughout his loan spell from Chelsea alongside Wade Elliott, while Marney seems to have stepped up a level since the managerial change.

But the standout player has been Chris Eagles. The 25 year-old has had an excellent campaign, creating opportunities for the likes of Iwelumo and local lad Jay Rodriguez and scoring 11 goals in the process.

Eagles has had an excellent season for the Clarets

Ability-wise, he is as good as anyone else in the division and as he showed last year that he would not look out of place at a Premier League side.

Add the threat of full-backs Danny Fox and Tyrone Mears, and Burnley will make sure that the Hammers have their work cut out if they want to earn a place in the Quarter-Finals.

As for the rest of the season, and with two exciting young talents in Marvin Bartley and Charlie Austin joining to add strength in depth, Howe’s side have plenty to play for this season.

They might need a very strong end to the campaign, but with all the drama that has unfolded so far at Turf Moor, the fans will be prepared for anything.

So what do you think? Burnley fans, how do you think you will do on Monday evening? What are people’s thoughts on Eddie Howe? Can the Clarets go up this season? Let us know your opinions