The official CHAMPIONSHIP Thread

tbh the fact you are on here supporting the Phoenix means any East Anglian animosity is long forgotten.  I love Ipswich but they are a long way behind the Phoenix in my heart.

That result sure is gonna look interesting on my fantasy team, I have Chopra and Smith from Ipswich and Lallana from Southampton..

Southampton seem to be tearing everyone a new one at the moment.Azevo2011-08-17 19:59:52

There used to be a highlight package for this league on a Monday or Tuesday night.

Ran into my workmate last night at Highbury & Islington, who'd just got back from the game at Watford (his team). He was none too pleased.

Touche.

Yes, I believe they call that a woopin...

Was pleased with that, I have Robert Green and Reid in my team, both will have clean sheets and no goals against them. Thanks for the points Watford!

I'm picking a three-peat Yorkshire promotion this season. Hull, Leeds and Barnsley.

I suspect you'll be thrice disappointed tbh.

Of that lot, Hull may have a half decent season - maybe on fringe of playoffs. I think Pearson is making the transition to his own team from that of the tanned one and has an decent mix on board. Leeds, I think will border on ordinary. Not a big Leeds fan by nature, but they have a few probs to deal with. Good manager, superb fans (hurts me to say so, but their away following is impressive), but the team just doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Maybe not such a good manager then. Barnsley will do well to survive.

As for who will go up. I think West Ham will yo-yo. Big(-ish, in WHU's case) teams have the potential to implode or rebound (see Newcastle, Leeds, Saints, even Norwich in recentish years for the formaer), but having BFS reduces the implode potential. I had Reading and Ipswich as my quiet achievers, but the first few weeks don't look that promising in that regard.

Pleased to see Leicester stutter - Big spending, big names ... meh!

As for Burnley, it's all been a bit traumatic with a clear out of the bigger names (and bigger salaries) and general angst about who's coming in (sound familiar?). But we could be there or thereabouts with a new young team (including manager). But, a draw and a loss against favourites to struggle thus far, so a wee way to go.

Oh, I wish they would get that Championship show back on the telly on Monday nights.

I think West Ham will blatantly bounce back up.

There is a round preview thing for the league 2,1 and championship somewhere, I usually see them in a player on the footymad websites.

Hard news it must be harder by the week to keep supporting ispwichwith another woopin this morning 7-1!!! And by Peterborough for god's sake! 

Highlights Show was just on, next one Wed 00.30am SS highlightsEverton FC2011-08-23 14:58:03

Might have to get rid of Tommy Smith on my fantasy team if this form keeps up. Would of had 32 points had Ipswich not had a smacking..

I asked Sky this via Twitter and they responded saying it will return SS1 Mon 29th of Aug at 8pm, but I watched a 25min highlight package on SS3 yesterday afternoon about 230pm from the weekend just gone.

Probably the wrong team to ask about home form

Whats the story with the Olympic Stadium debacle between Hotspur and Westham?

I read that West Ham are first choice, but that choice is under scrutiny?

Bullard to Ipswich? I don't get it.

I know a 7-1 thumping at Posh is likely to distort reality, and that he was popular in his spell at Portman Rd last year, but this could get ugly - he won't be cheap on a week by week basis and he'll get an awful lot of time getting acquainted with the masseuse.

Strange one.

Plus Sonko and Murphy.  Been a busy day.

The Saints still seem to be trotting ahead of everyone after stomping Leicester 3-2 this morning.. Quite surprised really.

Saints actually lost at Leicester this morning. Brighton at the head of the pack now.

Early days.

Relieved to see the Clarets get first win of the season. All part of the under the radar tactics of our young refreshed squad.

Ah right, am slightly pleased that two teams from down on the south Coast are putting up a decent effort so far. Would love to see one of em promoted.

Guess the sites table is out of date, Pompey v West Ham will be one I am hoping to watch, don't rate our chances against them, Pompey still have a very meh squad, I expect another mid table finish this season, not enough recruitment and the aimless trip to the U.S... Least we are not playing as much Cotterball we use to. Of course you can probably recall some fine Cotterball when he managed Burnley hehe.Azevo2011-08-28 21:35:54

Ahhh, Cotterball. Yes he served up some dire stuff, but recruited well on a limited budget, so there is some respect for him at Turf Moor.

Surprised that you get pleasure from Saints doing well. One of the fieriest rivalries around. They've got a decent squad (with the help of some silly money) and a good manager so could still be thereabouts at the end.

I never lived in England, but my old man did (he supported Pompey Though he was from Aylsebury, figure that one out haha), he told me of stories about the rivalry with the Saints and to an extent, Brighton.

He told me about all the sh*t he got into when he was younger during derbys, haha but he always said to me that I should ignore that sh*t and respect the club/players rather than the douchebag supporters that cause a lot of problems (like he did when he was younger)

Steve is an odd one, he has made some good signings for us, but the football still isn't as pretty as it could be with what he has at hand. He seems to be called in when a club is in a bit of crisis from what I have heard.

I cannot believe we're top. This is going so much better than our last two visits to this division.

Brighton really are causing some trouble for a lot of teams, I like that Craig Noone kid you guys have, very classy player, remember seeing him in a few matches last season.

Stoked! Am able to watch West Ham v Pompey on bet365, one of the bigger matches for boys this season, thats for sure.

Saints and Brighton still on top, I am still quite surprised at this.. Wondering how long it will last.

Well, I got to seem some lovely Cotterball again this morning, in pompey v West Ham, my lord does that man have to go, I don't think Lawrence getting carded helped us out either, but still, very lucky for the hammers, ref was a whore for giving out cards as well.

Football League Show on at 10.30pm tonight, Sky Sport 2 on after the Premier League Review.

Cmon Boro..second at seasssn end would do me nicely...Southampton can have the Championship title.

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/jimmy-bullard-decides-freekick-duties-with-rock-paper-scissors-15430737/

Man, Forest are in a heap of trouble right now.  Cohen out for the season was tough, but with McClaren and other staff resigning we're going to need another guy like Billy Davies to step in and turn things around.  I think the board got too up their own arses with the results Forest were getting and saw an ex-England manager on the market and just jumped for him. I think Billy Davies was amazing for the club and had them playing out of their skin. With the shakeup around the club, perhaps they can get him back but it seems unlikely he'll want back in unless the board opens up the coffers like he's been wanting. Nickel2011-10-03 10:06:21

Definitely surprised at the poor start for Forest, I am thinking they won't be relegated this season, what happened to Greening? Thought he was one of Forests best signings for this season?

Am surprised at Southampton's long stay at the top, thought they would of started to slip by now, but Lallana and Lambert is just to much of a terrific force for clubs to deal with up front it seems.

Disappointed in Pompeys slip at the moment, Cotterball still in force force at Fratton, really wondering if he should pack his bags soon.. Such a piss poor start to the season.

Greening's playing, the team as a whole just doesn't seem to gel at the moment.  It's highly unlikely that they'll get relegated, if they get a solid manager in they should still be able to push for the playoffs... but it's probably more likely they'll end up mid-high on the table.

Interesting to see Forest are interested in Cotterill, he really is a mixed bag, at the moment at Fratton the football he is directing is not pretty to watch, i.e "Cotterball", I believe at Burnley he also had mixed feelings about his tactical prowess (or a seemingly lack of). I don't know if he would be the kind of manager who can hit this "untapped potential" in Forest which seems to be a term thrown about in the media a lot.

I think the one thing is very good at is picking the right players to work together and working within constraints, I really commend him for that.Azevo2011-10-13 16:13:47

Boro to go top after weekend and never look back........please.

WestHam have four games left in October uiron2011-10-16 05:46:02

Jeez, that is a handful. Beating Southampton is key.. Reid and Green have so far been decent in my fantasy team, especially when Reid charges forward and gets the odd assist and even goal a few a rounds ago.

So whats the deal with the Olympic stadium chatter going on? Heard that West Ham have to redo their proposal?

In other news, rumours are Steve Cotterill is gonna be leaving Pompey and going to Forest, with the deal being finalised sometime today (UK Time)Azevo2011-10-14 21:11:35