THE CHAMPIONSHIP 2018-19

[blahblah]

If you have a "functional" style you'd better be running away with the division or you won't stick around for long.

Yep, and we rarely agree on this?

For 20 years at Forest I’ve been saying, I’d rather play the Clough way but I’ll take [boring manager X] if he gets results. None of them have done though

So you have turned?

I’d still take success at any cost. But certain types of manager seem to be finding it harder to come by these days.

Tbh, I was surprised Colin got them up - hopefully Pullis fails this season.

Still, young managers aren’t necessarily doing better, as I’m sure you will have noticed... Ipswich, Shrewsbury and Macclesfield are an example of the managerial food chain where everyone loses.

I'd like to think that we are in transition post Fick Mick

Loads have been a bit Katy (firework) with only really Howe having any longevity? It does tend to loop back to the history of "footballers" abstaining from education because they were going to be footballers....? And picked\bought\played by similarly mentally challenged managers?

[forestfan]

Hard to believe Howe is the longest serving manager in the Premier League, he’s barely into his 40s...

There’s a few one-season or one-club wonders around, nobody jumps out as the next great British manager, the top clubs are likely to keep looking abroad despite a few big name players of recent years dipping their toe in the water.

[blahblah]

Parkinson was one a few years back, and there is usually one or three?

[forestfan]

Parkinson was one a few years back, and there is usually one or three?

See the "crap managers..." thread for those who made a career out of one brief (lucky?) period of success...

[blahblah]

Parkinson was one a few years back, and there is usually one or three?

See the "crap managers..." thread for those who made a career out of one brief (lucky?) period of success...

Yep, but not quite the same as the handful with all the Prem jobs, imho.

I quite the Brentford bod (Noades?) ideas of it being like a business post.....

[TheTon]

Liquidfootball,

I’m an Aston Villa fan, lifelong, former season ticket holder, watcher of all games

Bruce, in my opinion, was in a finite list of managers that could help us stop the rot. He did that, and all Villa fans will always be grateful, despite the ‘vitriolic’ stuff we’ve seen of late.

I can’t open debate with you on this, I just need you to trust me...it was his time to go. I have counter arguments to everything you’ve said, and I’m confident I could get you to understand, but for now I just ask you to trust a knowledgeable fan of Aston Villa, it was his time.

[jimmy ching]

When your club goes through a manager turnaround, it always ends up with a hit and hope. Here's me hoping.

Bielsabub Babes 28

Brentford use to give me nightmares when I was younger. It was that repetitive advertising slogan of ‘Brentford Nylons’. It didn’t stop there. They were responsible for torturing all those young boys who had to wear those indestructible nylon underpants. Rashes and sweaty wotnot’s complaints were totally ignored by our fix and save parents. It still lingers on today as some mums for some reason keep on buying them for boys. Dad’s, step up to the plate, get yourself to the shops and insist on cotton underwear for your son.

Dallas is back to face his former club. It looks like he’ll be taking the Douglas position. Maupay, is the sting in the Bee’s tail. He is the horse that fooled me. Playing for one of my local clubs, Brest, I wasn’t convinced he could cope with the Championship. Proved wrong again. 9 goals is a pacesetting haul.

Leeds trail the head to head by 7 to 6. They usually go with home advantage. Brentford haven’t managed an away win since April as their home form is keeping them up there. It’s an early kick off,as the Bielsa project is picked again for TV coverage. Not too happy about this but hey, with a little promise, this might increase the fan base.

Expecting a free flowing game and both teams scoring. I’m going 2-1 home win.

[sibrown4]

Pulis v Karanka today. Aitor held in nice regard on Teesside as you would expect and will get a warm reception

Get your money on a 0-0.

[forestfan]

I'd take that, despite our vast number of draws already this season...

[jimmy ching]

I'd take that, despite our vast number of draws already this season...

So will I

[bluenosey]

I'm enjoying your blog Jimmy. Keep it going

[jimmy ching]

............and the last one before the international break

Bielsabub Babes 29

Plenty of talking points today.

Maupay’s ability to pick out the contact lens of Klich was something to admire. Daniel’s save from Phillips chest down was exceptional. The ref had a bit of a Brentforder. He fell hook line and sinker for Watkins swan dive as BPF’s naivety showed again. It didn't take long for the fans to sing, 'One nil to the referee'. Alioski’s over enthusiasm took him in to the oppositions dug out and naturally Canos being a white knight decided on a fake head butt right in front of the cameras. All handbags but no doubt the FL will have something to say about it.
Ayling and Roberts were booked for being mouthy, of which Luke saw red at the death.

Bielsa’s mini squad theory is now down to it’s bare bones. Tyler failed to score meaning it looks like Roofe will be straight back in after the international break.

Brentford were playing German tactics, getting in professional fouls when necessary as the game wore on. Jack Clarke made his debut substitution and immediately felt the Brentford tactic. For the time he was on, he was positive.
One big notice was Allioski’s change to full back brought the better out of him.
Overall, the 1-1 result was fair but a little expensive in card terms as far as Leeds are concerned.

[forestfan]

Well, 2-0 was more than we could have ever hoped for from El Karankico... despite Dawson injury and a red card. A big leap into the top six, a bit early to say things are starting to gel (particularly given a lot of changes again) but the firepower and quality is there.

[get_on_my_cocker]

What a time to be alive...Ipswich finally manage a win!! Against all odds, and with last season's on-loan wonderkid Bersant Celina scoring what looked to be the final goal in yet another draw for Town, big Trev Chalobah steps up and scores the winner! Could this be the turning point? Personally, I doubt it and expect Hurst to be out on his ear before Christmas, but I'd love him to prove me wrong.

[blahblah]

What a time to be alive...Ipswich finally manage a win!! Against all odds, and with last season's on-loan wonderkid Bersant Celina scoring what looked to be the final goal in yet another draw for Town, big Trev Chalobah steps up and scores the winner! Could this be the turning point? Personally, I doubt it and expect Hurst to be out on his ear before Christmas, but I'd love him to prove me wrong.

TWTD, my friend

The dodgy Semi's against WHam and Citeh, 78 against my father's Arse, Spurs kicking shit out of our small squad in 81 leaving us with just one of the treble etc Robson following Alf (I'm not that old to remember the "Prem" title) and the players effing off and shit managers until GB.

We will take a while to recover from pinocchio how long of shit managers. Magic was the only kinda OK one since Burley.....

[liquidfootball2]

Cardiff knew what they were, and it worked. Not that it was necessarily likely to work at a higher level (though I thought they might just end up being Stoke of 10 years ago, maybe it’s just that the Icelandic Delap has been injured...) but they had an identity and a team spirit.

They still have that spirit and identity, it's one where they look like a particularly limited side completely out of their depth, specialising in old-fashioned park type challenges as they struggle to cope with teams who can actually play football.

They seem a desperate team, technically out of step atm to me.

[blahblah]

Cardiff knew what they were, and it worked. Not that it was necessarily likely to work at a higher level (though I thought they might just end up being Stoke of 10 years ago, maybe it’s just that the Icelandic Delap has been injured...) but they had an identity and a team spirit.

They still have that spirit and identity, it's one where they look like a particularly limited side completely out of their depth, specialising in old-fashioned park type challenges as they struggle to cope with teams who can actually play football.

They seem a desperate team, technically out of step atm to me.

Doesn't say much about Spurs, who were very lucky to get 1, let alone 3 points yesterday.

BTSport have just said something about an incredibly odd couple going to Villa: Terry and Henry, yes John and Thierry.

[liquidfootball2]

Thierry 1/5, such a price can often mean something more than just the normal big movements in a thin market so maybe something more substantial to it.

[blahblah]

I think it was reported as pretty much done, and Keown was a tad surprised re them getting on.

It seems to have been leaked\broken an hour ago: https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... RAGAJeJx34 which is when I heard it on BTSport.

The origin does seem to be The Mail though and Keown's response is here https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/ ... y-15248824

[forestfan]

Cardiff knew what they were, and it worked. Not that it was necessarily likely to work at a higher level (though I thought they might just end up being Stoke of 10 years ago, maybe it’s just that the Icelandic Delap has been injured...) but they had an identity and a team spirit.

They still have that spirit and identity, it's one where they look like a particularly limited side completely out of their depth, specialising in old-fashioned park type challenges as they struggle to cope with teams who can actually play football.

They seem a desperate team, technically out of step atm to me.

It does seem similar to the last time Colin took a team up, his Palace side looked like the weakest promoted team for years, they got rid of him and stayed up comfortably. I don't know if the owners are looking at that bit of history as they consider their options... he just doesn't seem to have the tactical ability to cut it in the top flight. Plenty of teams that look like average Championship sides on paper have come up and stayed up.

[blahblah]

Didn't he say he wasn't going to stay on in the Prem?

Did he take QPR up too?

[jimmy ching]

I think it was reported as pretty much done, and Keown was a tad surprised re them getting on.

It seems to have been leaked\broken an hour ago: https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... RAGAJeJx34 which is when I heard it on BTSport.

The origin does seem to be The Mail though and Keown's response is here https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/ ... y-15248824

So Terry want's to learn Henry's discreet handling skills. Marriage made in heaven.

Seriously though, The Championship is globalising. The famous are starting to come to the party. It's hard on the likes of the French FA. They produce the goods yet we use them, week in, week out. The Dutch, the Belge, the Portuguese and swathes of Eastern Europe must look on and question their own set ups. The Germans, the English, the Spanish and the Italians produce what the fans want.

The surprise is the pull of the English 2nd tier.

[blahblah]

I think it was reported as pretty much done, and Keown was a tad surprised re them getting on.

It seems to have been leaked\broken an hour ago: https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... RAGAJeJx34 which is when I heard it on BTSport.

The origin does seem to be The Mail though and Keown's response is here https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/ ... y-15248824

So Terry want's to learn Henry's discreet handling skills. Marriage made in heaven.

Seriously though, The Championship is globalising. The famous are starting to come to the party. It's hard on the likes of the French FA. They produce the goods yet we use them, week in, week out. The Dutch, the Belge, the Portuguese and swathes of Eastern Europe must look on and question their own set ups. The Germans, the English, the Spanish and the Italians produce what the fans want.

The surprise is the pull of the English 2nd tier.

Not after Brexit

[forestfan]

I think it was reported as pretty much done, and Keown was a tad surprised re them getting on.

It seems to have been leaked\broken an hour ago: https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... RAGAJeJx34 which is when I heard it on BTSport.

The origin does seem to be The Mail though and Keown's response is here https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/ ... y-15248824

So Terry want's to learn Henry's discreet handling skills. Marriage made in heaven.

Seriously though, The Championship is globalising. The famous are starting to come to the party. It's hard on the likes of the French FA. They produce the goods yet we use them, week in, week out. The Dutch, the Belge, the Portuguese and swathes of Eastern Europe must look on and question their own set ups. The Germans, the English, the Spanish and the Italians produce what the fans want.

The surprise is the pull of the English 2nd tier.

Not after Brexit

I'm sure football will negotiate a few exemptions...

The quality of football certainly isn't the attraction of the Championship... more the prospect of the Premier League and perhaps the presence of a number of sleeping giant clubs familiar to European football followers. There's not many second tier teams in Spain or Italy that you would look at and say "they can be a real force again, if they get things right" but the Championship has teams with glorious European histories.

[liquidfootball2]

Fulham making a real go of it too.

5 points from a possible 24

They struggled to even look second best against Arsenal, almost managed the impossible and were third best.

[forestfan]

Fulham making a real go of it too.

5 points from a possible 24

They struggled to even look second best against Arsenal, almost managed the impossible and were third best.

In attacking terms they should be a top half side... seem to have forgotten about defence though.

Very different issues to Cardiff, but Joker will come under pressure if they don’t start picking up results soon.

[blahblah]

Fulham making a real go of it too.

5 points from a possible 24

They struggled to even look second best against Arsenal, almost managed the impossible and were third best.

In attacking terms they should be a top half side... seem to have forgotten about defence though.

Very different issues to Cardiff, but Joker will come under pressure if they don’t start picking up results soon.

Congrats on stuffing Pullis, btw

Apparently Fulham haven't fielded the same defence twice this season, or something daft. Their match was on a higher level than the Spurs\Cardiff one, imho, and if\when they sort out their defence Fulham should be fine; and they have played 3 of the Top 6, which is more than a few of the probable survival battlers.

[liquidfootball2]

Yes Fulham can't cope with the top teams but are hardly alone in that, what's far more disheartening though is that they've conceded an average of two every game against lesser opposition - Palace (at home, lost, 2 conceded), Burnley (h, won, 2), Brighton (a, draw, 2), Watford (h, draw, 1) and Everton (a, lost, 3). 21 goals from 8 games is an horrendous start.

While meeting Burnley after one of their early season Thursday night Europa games was good timing, and accounts for three of their five points gained so far, having to score three or four to get a positive result isn't likely to keep them out of the relegation zone for very long.

[liquidfootball2]

With Henry undecided over his future with the Villa link and reports from France of Jardim on the verge of losing the Monaco job, so he's perhaps now being seen as less likely to take over at Villa and more likely at Monaco, and with reports in some papers that the Villa players seemingly want John Terry back as the new manager, the betting odds have changed dramatically.

Thierry Henry has drifted from what looked a fairly certain bet and a best of 1/5 a day or two ago, and now is being priced only among the bunch of possibles again, with a best of 4/1 in a sign that they really have no overwhelming favourite anymore.

Terry 6/4, Faria 3/1, Henry 4/1, Rodgers 11/1...

The market will be very thin and wild fluctuations expected on any newspaper reports, perhaps they're still undecided or better at keeping it away from the headlines

If Henry goes to Monaco I've a sneaking suspicion based on nothing at all but my own speculation, that Rodgers could be coming back to the Championship.

[liquidfootball2]

'Henry out of Villa running'

http://www.skysports.com/share/11522631