THE CHAMPIONSHIP 2019-20

[theo29]

the JC Entertaining Seven deserves a response. X X 1 1 X 2 1 is mine. (in the same order as his listing.) Anyone else forecasting ?

[theo29]

no other forecasts from the FISO ranks but will the wet conditions come into play ? The Trent is high and postponement is a possibility.

[forestfan]

Stoke appoint O’Neill... no, not that one. A bit of a gamble, no English club experience as far as I’m aware?

[jimmy ching]

Stoke appoint O’Neill... no, not that one. A bit of a gamble, no English club experience as far as I’m aware?

Not a bad choice. He's not quite made a silk purse but he's not bad at it.

[jimmy ching]

the JC Entertaining Seven deserves a response. X X 1 1 X 2 1 is mine. (in the same order as his listing.) Anyone else forecasting ?

I'll go 1 1 1 1 1 1 X

[forestfan]

Stoke appoint O’Neill... no, not that one. A bit of a gamble, no English club experience as far as I’m aware?

Not a bad choice. He's not quite made a silk purse but he's not bad at it.

Chris Coleman was a half decent international manager as well...

[SUZYKINS]

Stoke appoint O’Neill... no, not that one. A bit of a gamble, no English club experience as far as I’m aware?

Think he was the only one to take the Kings (Coates) Shilling

[forestfan]

If Ms Coates can pay herself £0.25bn salary, surely they could afford to bring Pep and Messi to the Potteries...

[forestfan]

Another El Cloughico in the bag... a game in hand away from second place now. A gift of a goal, but on the balance of play we deserved it.

Tom Lawrence got plenty of stick from the Forest faithful. Cocu the Clown moving closer to the exit door?

[bluenosey]

Stoke appoint O’Neill... no, not that one. A bit of a gamble, no English club experience as far as I’m aware?

Think he was the only one to take the Kings (Coates) Shilling

Good start Suzy

[bluenosey]

Another El Cloughico in the bag... a game in hand away from second place now. A gift of a goal, but on the balance of play we deserved it.

Tom Lawrence got plenty of stick from the Forest faithful. Cocu the Clown moving closer to the exit door?

Hasn't Keough been sacked now ? Have to respect Derby for that but yeah, good result for Forest.

The Albion seem to be getting a bit of momentum now but still very close.

[forestfan]

Another El Cloughico in the bag... a game in hand away from second place now. A gift of a goal, but on the balance of play we deserved it.

Tom Lawrence got plenty of stick from the Forest faithful. Cocu the Clown moving closer to the exit door?

Hasn't Keough been sacked now ? Have to respect Derby for that

Not when they didn’t sack the other two, who actually committed a criminal offence, because they’re younger and have more market value.

[jimmy ching]

Bielsabub Babes 117

The midday game allowed Forest to move level on points with Preston, Leeds and Swansea. Bielsa and Mowbray both sent out unchanged teams.
After twenty minutes there wasn’t much happening. It was like watching boxers unsuccessfully testing each other out. There were some poor passes creeping in to the game. Ayling being the culprit a couple of times. Then Roberts chips an inviting ball to the box, Adarabioyo the Blackburn defender got his legs tangled and Ayling was brought down. Penalty! That must be the quickest decision a ref has made to give Leeds a penalty this season. Many others have been denied.
Bamford stood up to the plate. I don’t normally feel nervous for everyday penalties but this was a highly important one, for Patrick. Leeds had missed 5 of their previous 8.
He placed it home. 1-0.
Within five minutes, the crowd were treated to the best goal Leeds have scored all season. Phillips was in his own half, he sent a wonderful pass up to Bamford, who with one touch controlled, then laid it perfectly off for Harrison to curl in off the far post. 2-0. The crowd were sitting back in expectation of an emphatic win.
Unfortunately five minutes later, Ayling fell asleep at a corner to allow Williams to power in a header. 2-1. Leeds finished the half with the lead, achieved with minimal efficiency.

Blackburn were looking good for the first five minutes of the second half, then Costa started to influence. He had one run in the game where he could have gone down about four times, yet he kept on his feet and drove forward. Phillips was sending in teasing crosses and passes. Harrison was starting to look tired on the hour as Bennet was getting the better of him. It didn’t stop him from getting a couple of shots in though.
The game started to wander again. Confidence wasn’t shining through for either side. Cooper was replaced by Berardi on the 70th. Leeds were losing concentration. Phillips picked up a yellow for kicking the ball away. Why, oh why?
The Whites had ten minutes to hang on. Blackburn lined up a free kick, it was hit in to box only for it to drift out for a goal kick. It summed up their game. This was one of those days at work where you robotically get through the day.
Harrison should have finished off in the 82nd minute. Roberts forced a save. Bagatelle in the Leeds box followed before Leeds broke and Bamford shot wide.
Leif Davies made a last minute appearance for the second week running and running he does.
Overall a good performance with room for improvement.
At the final whistle, it was clear from the other results, it was a bad day not to get a win. WBA, Preston and Leeds all managed it to keep the top three places. Forest could join the group if they win their game in hand. The international break is upon us, so it’s time for some reflection.

[Hogmeister]

Mood has certainly changed a bit down at the Madstad

Most Royals supporters were pretty underwhelmed when Mark Bowen, our erstwhile DoF, was appointed after the (premature?) sacking of Jose Gomes... but the comfortable 3-0 win over Luton yesterday makes it 10 points from Bowen's first 4 games Points which have lifted us away from that relegation zone and have got people starting to look up the table rather than down. Just about everything Bowen has done seems to have worked - bringing back the ostracised Baldock (who is suddenly our most potent striker) and McCleary (scored from the subs bench yesterday), plus a few key changes ("play a bit faster, harder, and don't be afraid to go direct if needed") has transformed the side in the space of a few weeks.

Early days (remembering Solsjaer's start, for example), but we are now looking like (at least) a solid mid-table team.

Next up after the international break is Brentford away, then the rather tasty mid-week visit by Leeds to the Madstad. We should have a better idea of how good (or not) we really are after those two.

[SUZYKINS]

Stoke appoint O’Neill... no, not that one. A bit of a gamble, no English club experience as far as I’m aware?

Think he was the only one to take the Kings (Coates) Shilling

Good start Suzy

[jimmy ching]

Another El Cloughico in the bag... a game in hand away from second place now. A gift of a goal, but on the balance of play we deserved it.

Tom Lawrence got plenty of stick from the Forest faithful. Cocu the Clown moving closer to the exit door?

Lawrence was lucky not to be sent off.

[jimmy ching]

Cardiff are now looking for a new manager.

[blahblah]

And a new legal team after having to pay for "Always a Bluebird", who they claimed never was....

[forestfan]

And Colin’s now looking for another “last” club

[forestfan]

Another El Cloughico in the bag... a game in hand away from second place now. A gift of a goal, but on the balance of play we deserved it.

Tom Lawrence got plenty of stick from the Forest faithful. Cocu the Clown moving closer to the exit door?

Lawrence was lucky not to be sent off.

Luckier to not be behind bars and to still have a football career...

[blahblah]

And Colin’s now looking for another “last” club

It could be Forest

[forestfan]

And Colin’s now looking for another “last” club

It could be Forest

He’s turned us down at least once before... anyway, we’re going well, the job won’t be available for a few months at least

[jimmy ching]

I see the EFL have got another Monk on. Wednesday have been charged with misconduct. Any advice from Birmingham fans on here? All clubs will be watching.

[theo29]

particularly Reading and the Rams ! Viewing events at Wembley yesterday was the Returned Rooney. Will he be able to revive them from the lower reaches of the Championship ? After the narrow loss to Forest and the 'drive home drinking' saga, Cocu will be hoping for an upturn in fortune. Perhaps it might come with a Cup run, starting with a Rooney goal against a high flying Prem outfit. Who knows ?

[theo29]

at least Cardiff did not leave us to wait too long to fill the NW vacancy. There should be a full house of managers before action resumes at the end of the week. Where will the next action be ? Is it really possible that WR could be waiting in the wings at Pride Park ? The Rams badly need a win v PNE this Saturday to move away from the cellar zone.

[forestfan]

Just been on the NFL thread, so initially read “WR” as wide receiver... and yes, the (Los Angeles) Rams do need a win

[theo29]

nice one forestfan to have the far away Rams on your mind. WR just might be a thorn in your side in the Cup and the Pride Park league game. Meanwhile Keogh is trying to salvage something from the A6 event with the help of the union. Will they succeed ?

[blahblah]

I always think of him as Wooney.....

He'll need to not be as stupid as he sounds if he is to be a Manager

[theo29]

the Special One may have returned to the Prem but tonight it is a 'local event' between Fulham and the Rangers which gets the action going again. No more international distractions until March. By then Spurs just might be thinking who they will be playing in the 20-21 season.

[forestfan]

I always think of him as Wooney.....

He'll need to not be as stupid as he sounds if he is to be a Manager

He’d be a bit slow to be a (NFL) WR as well