The official CHAMPIONSHIP Thread
I know, I know, its serious!
English (and other British lower league) Football Discussion
The official CHAMPIONSHIP Thread
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A lot of Championship teams supported on here. Would be quite good to have a common Champion-ship-wide thread. The championship has a lot going for it in that is is far more open than Premier League and a bit more 'real'. Weaned on teams like Burnley, Preston, Barnsley, etc etc us championship team fans wonder what all the fuss is about with Phoenix going through a bad patch. Those top-four glory hunter followers don't even know they've been born sometimes!
Anyway back to topic, starter for 10 ... Who do you support?
I'm Burnley (username gives a wee hint!). Been a Claret for over 35 years now (born & bred Kiwi though).
Who are Ya?
(Tigers, you can re-join this thread next year
)
)I know, I know, its serious!
I'll get in early Turfmoore, having supported a championship (and lower) side for all but 2 months of my 37 years of supporting the Tigers, i feel all too at home in this neck of the woods
you are right there's a fair few championship supporters in YF, have a bloody good time yakking away
having had a yak to a Preston supporter at the YF season launch i hope they do well,
and there's another Burnley supporter who used to come to the games last season (part of the 39 ) so i look out for your lot's results too
) so i look out for your lot's results tooand to all Col u fans - good luck in the miracle comeback run .. starting about now
your thread might even rouse Upside Down Blue from his slumbers, and with a bit of luck we might see the odd 'stoush' between HN and Boycie 
I support Reading in their quest to get back to where they belong (Premier League not League 1 or 2!). This is the first and last season of English Football that I'll be writing in this thread. simon_hampton2008-09-27 20:06:17
There's a better and full hooped side sitting two places above you in 4th. Da Hoopsa da da da, da Hoopsa da da da.
Ian Dowie's Blue & White Army!
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
well edited S H
actually, i've no desire to see your lot go down , just having you on
if you can retain Coppell as manager you might well do alright
No, we won't go down. I don't think we'll go up comfortably though. Might just scarpe in.
... having had a yak to a Preston supporter at the YF season launch i hope they do well ...
Yes, I've had a few chats with a Preston fan (Ian?), and met other Burnley fans in the zone. It's Burnley v Preston tonight, so plenty of Lancashire pride at stake. We made a slow start this season but have picked up (knocking Fulham out of League Cup in process). I'm kind of hoping that the Phoenix can follow suit!
I'm aware that HN supports some East Anglian outfit. Not sure which one, all much of a muchness down there
I know, I know, its serious!
1962 still rankles! And how we let your lot win 3-0 at our place earlier this season, I'll never know. It won't happen again. Not this season.
I know, I know, its serious!
We're improving at a rate of knots. Been unlucky not to win a few as new players settle in. Hopefully the results will come soon.
QPR since '78. Initial reason: the hoops and entertainers like Bowles, Marsh, Francis etc
It'll be great to exchange banter with some real fans.
We Still Love You Colin We Do!
Won't be too thrilled at the loss at home to Deby then. Bit of a surprise that.
Wolves & Brum juggernaut keeps on going. Reading looking most likely to get amongst them at this stage - another healthy home win.
Burnley's revival continues! One happy camper.
I know, I know, its serious!
Happy with 3 wins on the bounce - actually I'm very surprised following the horror start! 
Great point about some of the people here moaning at the Phoenix's start - some of them have probably only seen a dozen live games in their lives! You support your team through thick and thin - end of story. I remember Argyle being 91st in the football league!! A lot of people over here just don't have football in their blood, let's hope that changes and the numbers just grows.
I understand Plymouth is now the biggest city in Europe never to have had Top division football following Hull's fabulous achievement!! 
Indeed, Plymouth's & Burnley's form has been quite similar (hence the 0-0 dross when we met at the start of the season).
Some real good games on the horizon. Birmingham & Wolves should both face reasonable tests. I expect Wolves to fall apart at any stage!
Next Week's Fixtures
Tuesday 30th September
Bristol City v Plymouth
Ipswich v Barnsley
Burnley v Watford
Preston v Swansea
Cardiff v Coventry
QPR v Blackpool
Crystal Palace v Charlton
Sheffield Wed v Nottingham Forest
Derby v Birmingham
Southampton v Norwich
Doncaster v Sheffield Utd
Wolves v Reading
Saturday 4th October
Barnsley v Doncaster
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace
Birmingham v QPR
Plymouth v Sheffield Wed
Blackpool v Cardiff
Reading v Burnley
Charlton v Ipswich
Sheffield Utd v Bristol City
Coventry v Southampton
Swansea v Wolves
Norwich v Derby
Watford v Preston
Please forgive the Claret & Blue shading
I know, I know, its serious!
If Wolves are going to fall apart it will have to be against us. And then we'll hammer Burnley no problem.
You'll be over-confident by then! 
(hopefully like Bling today)
(hopefully like Bling today)I know, I know, its serious!
Pos
Name
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
PTS
1
Wolves
8
7
1
0
23
7
16
22
2
Birmingham
8
6
1
1
11
5
6
19
3
Reading
8
4
2
2
20
10
10
14
4
Preston
8
4
2
2
11
10
1
14
5
QPR
8
4
1
3
10
9
1
13
6
Bristol City
8
3
3
2
11
7
4
12
7
Coventry City
8
3
3
2
7
7
0
12
8
Burnley
8
3
3
2
9
10
-1
12
9
Sheffield Wed
8
3
3
2
11
14
-3
12
10
Sheffield Utd
8
3
2
3
10
7
3
11
11
Cardiff City
8
2
5
1
8
7
1
11
12
Plymouth
8
3
2
3
8
9
-1
11
13
Blackpool
8
3
2
3
6
8
-2
11
14
Charlton
8
3
1
4
10
10
0
10
15
Norwich City
8
2
4
2
7
8
-1
10
16
Ipswich Town
8
2
3
3
10
9
1
9
17
Derby County
8
2
3
3
7
8
-1
9
18
Swansea City
8
2
3
3
7
12
-5
9
19
Watford
8
2
2
4
9
12
-3
8
20
Southampton
8
2
2
4
8
11
-3
8
21
Doncaster
8
2
1
5
4
11
-7
7
22
Crystal Palace
8
1
3
4
7
11
-4
6
23
Barnsley
8
1
2
5
4
8
-4
5
24
Nottm Forest
8
1
2
5
7
15
-8
5
Charlton cost me last night!
Had a trebel bet on Aston Villa, Wolves & Charlton
Had a trebel bet on Aston Villa, Wolves & Charlton
Just thought I would open discussion to Sp*rs fans as well....
She wore a yellow ribbon
Wolves v us (Reading) will be a crunch game, we have been dreadful away and thrashed everyone at home. Can't afford to let them get 9 points clear of us. My pick is a 1-1
Just thought I would open discussion to Sp*rs fans as well....
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
Imagine if somebody had, say...been planted in a time-capsule for the past 5/10, or 15 years.
Maybe even 3 separate people. In different time-capsules. 3 separate time-capsules. Or maybe even the SAME ONE.
AND survived, to this day.
Pretty hard-out eh.
THEN imagine if that someone gets re-introduced to the world via the Championship table.
Ever hard[er]-out.
Ever hard[er]-out.
Bottom 3 - Forest, Barnsley, and the Crystal Palace. Wolves, Ipswich, Norwich...the list goes on.
It's almost as if there's some kind of system where if teams under-perform at a higher grade they're dropped down to one of a lesser-standard...
We've got Blackpool at our pace this morning. Be an interesting game with Nardiello & Rehman visiting Loftus Road for the first time since their departure.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
Very interesting! Down to the wire.Turfmoore2008-10-01 09:40:53
I know, I know, its serious!
Wolves 0 Reading 3! League leaders downed on their own turf! I have a good feeling again about this season! In our promotion season we lost our first game and never lost again.
Cmon URZ!!
... I expect Wolves to fall apart at any stage! ...
You heard it here first!
Turfmoore2008-10-01 11:00:47I know, I know, its serious!
Hope we can carry it through to Bunley - do u see that in your crystal ball?
I do, we're at home, in top form, we should hammer them. I'm picking 2-0 Reading.
Burnley also on a run of form 2 points after 4 matches and now into 4th place (4 wins and a draw over last 5 games).
So should be on for a good game, although I don't think we've ever done that well at Madjeski.
Come on you Clarets!
I know, I know, its serious!
Another Clarets fan here.
Can't quite believe we're up to 4th after the start we had!
Having said that, Owen Coyle looks a certainty to get manager of the Month for September, which in all likelihood means we'll be rubbish this month.
Aye. Manager of the month does for performance about the same as '100% board backing' does for job security!
Have we met Grimsdale? I'm close to the aisle 22 entrance.Bit shocked by the Clarets turnaround myself. Hope for the Phoenix!
I know, I know, its serious!
Don't think we've met, but I believe our paths have crossed a couple of times on the Clarets Mad messageboard.
I'm actually quite optimistic that we'll grab a point this weekend which I'll be more than happy with.
(Simple) Table & Tonight's Fixtures:
Teams
P
GD
Pts
1
Wolverhampton
9
13
22
2
Birmingham
9
6
20
3
Reading
9
13
17
4
Burnley
9
0
15
5
Sheff Wed
9
-2
15
6
Sheff Utd
9
5
14
7
Cardiff
9
2
14
8
QPR
9
1
14
9
Preston
9
-1
14
10
Bristol City
9
4
13
11
Ipswich
9
4
12
12
Plymouth
9
-1
12
13
Coventry
9
-1
12
14
Blackpool
9
-2
12
15
Swansea
9
-3
12
16
Southampton
9
-1
11
17
Charlton
9
-1
10
18
Derby
9
-1
10
19
Norwich
9
-3
10
20
Crystal Palace
9
-3
9
21
Watford
9
-4
8
22
Doncaster
9
-9
7
23
Barnsley
9
-7
5
24
Nottm Forest
9
-9
5
Blackpool v Cardiff 12:30
Birmingham v QPR 12:45
Barnsley v Doncaster 15:00
Charlton v Ipswich 15:00
Norwich v Derby 15:00
Nottm Forest v Crystal Palace 15:00
Plymouth v Sheff Wed 15:00
Reading v Burnley 15:00
Sheff Utd v Bristol City 15:00
Swansea v Wolverhampton 15:00
Watford v Preston 15:00
Coventry v Southampton 17:20
Key matches appear to be:
- At the top: Reading v Burnley (although I would say that) & both Wolves & Birmingham have tricky encounters.
- At the bottom Forest v Palace & Barnsley v Doncaster both crucial.
And any other match involving the team you support of course!
I know, I know, its serious!
Don't think we've met, but I believe our paths have crossed a couple of times on the Clarets Mad messageboard.
I'm actually quite optimistic that we'll grab a point this weekend which I'll be more than happy with.
to continue the "Grimesdale stalking" ,
, are you the Burnley fan, who last season answered to the call of "Oi, Burnley" and was part of the '39' who went down the away end v Queensland??
Not me, Tigers. There's a few of us about it seems.
You just can't resist checking out the old Championship eh! Old habits die hard. Mind you, I guess you have spent a lot of time tormenting the Arsenel threads over the past week!
I know, I know, its serious!
must admit (tragic though it may seem) i react more quickly to the word "Championship" than i do to "Premier League"
hopefully, I'll get the hang of the new world order before 'normal transmission' is resumed
on the other point you make, I can't be to bothered hassling people after we beat them (he who laughs last, and all that)
having said that, the next time England beat France brother "Arsenal" of YF might get a wee post or two directed his way
Kevin Phillips sneaks in with another goal poachers finish!
Brum 1-0 QPR at halftime, now watching all the funny UK adverts
Brum 1-0 QPR at halftime, now watching all the funny UK adverts
3-1 Reading over Burnley - the march is ON!
The catalyst seems to be Noel Hunt, Stephen's brother who has the same never-say-die approach as well as exciting youngster Jem Karacan and Andre Bikey. With the ego squad of Kitson, Sonko and Lita (out on loan) gone it seems to me a far more fluent and settled squad.
I just hope we keep Doyler!!
Reading132008-10-05 12:13:49