2014-15 Championship- Go ahead and lump your other crappy leagues in here too I guess

[americantrotter]

And Bolton draw! Heady days for the Whites. 2-2 with Forrest. 1 point 2 games.

thankfully there's plenty of time to pull our average up to 1.25 pts per match.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Leeds bounced back with a big win against Middlesbrough, who had just signed Adam Clayton from Huddersfield. Clayton, the ex Leeds midfielder is quality, although he's probably best known for his beard.
 
Huddersfield continued their poor run by getting pasted at Cardiff City.
 
Millwall looked good again in knocking of Fulham.
 
Norwich with a big 3-0 win hosting Watford.
 
Wednesday dew 0-0 with promotion favorites Derby, in a game that Wednesday controlled but Derby had the better chances. 
That's three games and zero goals conceded for Wednesday, including games against Derby and Brighton who should be two of the better teams in this league. Derby led the league in scoring last season and really should have been promoted. Two best things about this start are that they are playing a more ground-based, controlled style of football (which hasn't been seen in Hillsborough in many years, and that they have been fielding a lineup with all of their own players. Never seen less than 3 loan players in the line up over the last few seasons...doubt we're going up this year, but it feels like the real start of something good.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Norwich 3-1 over Blackburn. 6 goals in 2 games, hold me.
 
Norwich sold Leroy Fer to QPR for a reported £8 million. We've also extended Michael Turner's contract for 2 more years and have signed former Villa and Sunderland defender Carlos Cuellar to a 1 year deal.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

Norwich 3-1 over Blackburn. 6 goals in 2 games, hold me.
 
Norwich sold Leroy Fer to QPR for a reported £8 million. We've also extended Michael Turner's contract for 2 more years and have signed former Villa and Sunderland defender Carlos Cuellar to a 1 year deal.

So, all it takes to get your offense going is to get relegated. I think your bunch ought to be a favorite to go right back up, but we know how hard that can be.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

So, all it takes to get your offense going is to get relegated. I think your bunch ought to be a favorite to go right back up, but we know how hard that can be.

 
We'll see. I think the offensive burst is primarily due to the club basically being a Championship-level team and not a Premiership-level one. We're at our level now, so maybe scoring comes easier.
 
We just signed Cameron Jerome from Stoke, too, to a 3 year deal.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Chester City 0 - FC Halifax Town 3
 
The mighty Shaymen continue their perfect start and now top the Conference with 12 points and a 10:1 GD.  

 

[dirtynine]

Brighton stringing wins together, 2-1 over Bolton. Promising. 
 
Not looking great for Fulham so far. 

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Norwich won the derby match at Ipswich 1-0. Always great to get 3 points in that matchup.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

Reading in the Guardian that the almost-sacked Dave Hockaday believes Leeds is on a "journey" that will one day have them back in the Champions League. Funny, it seems to me the route he's planning aims more toward the First Division at this point.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Well, they're spending money, but the results sure aren't there right now. They beat a pretty solid Boro side, but but have taken progressively bigger beatings aside from that. Gotta take care of winless Bolton at home this weekend.

 

[soxfan121]

A Fulham fan laments relegation.
 

So, the next time you see an American decked out in Chelsea or Manchester United gear, you can poke a little fun and laugh about their plastic-ness. But you know what? They’ll get to watch their teams every weekend this season, and every season in perpetuity. And now I’m more or less stuck watching them, too.
 

 

[cjdmadcow]

In the most unsurprising news of the day...
 
https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/505056674441613312

 

[Stanley Steamer]

It's probably not a bad idea to get rid of Hockaday so soon. The real questions are why Cellino, et al. hired him in the first place, and do they really know what they're doing.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

First loss of the year for Wednesday, falling 1-0 at home to table topping Forest.
 
Far from being disappointed, this game gives me a ton of hope going forward. Forest was very dangerous going forward, but Wednesday controlled the majority of the game, including dominating for stretches of the 2nd half, although they couldn't finish their attack off. Forest is a heavy favorite for promotion, especially given how much $$ they've put in this season (while Wednesday continue to drastically limit spending while the takeover stagnates), and Wednesday was missing their two best CM (which showed as Forest controlled the middle of the pitch.  Officiating was atrocious, but more poor and confusing all around then leaning either way.
 
It's also so nice to have a manager that brings on more attackers before the 88th minute when the team is losing. Gray switched to a 4-3-3 at around the 65th minute, and the went to 3 in the back for another striker in the 85th. It didn't work, but it was nice to see the aggressiveness and willingness to go for it.
 
I feel foolish saying this in August, but if Wednesday can avoid too many injuries, they may be battling for a playoff spot down the stretch.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Happy Birthday to the Wednesday Football Club. 147 years old.
 

 

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Norwich scored 4 second half goals at Cardiff yesterday to comeback from 0-2 down to win 4-2. I dont think we scored 4 goals in the entire second half of last season.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

And 3 more in the second half yesterday against Brentford. I don't even recognize this team these days. Wow.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

From everything I've seen, Norwich and Forest have been the two best teams...Watford has run it up against some crap sides.
 
You *should* be looking pretty good for promotion, but the Championship is such a grind. Getting points when you can is huge, and with the exception of that nonsense to open the season, you've gotten all the points you've deserved. I'd be thrilled with how things have progressed.
 
Wednesday left 2 on the table vs. Millwall (95th minute equalizer), 2 vs. Forest (1-0 flattered NFFC), and 2 vs. Bolton (The crappiest side I've seen all season...just awful). Been a great start to the season (only one goal allowed from open play), but it's haunting to think about what those lost points could mean in April and May.
 
Big game at Hillsborough against Reading on Saturday...Royals have been a pretty solid squad the last few years (parachute $$ helps), but Wednesday beat them by a combined 7-2 last season. I'm hopeful that's a matchup issue that continues.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer quits as Cardiff's manager after only 9 months on the job. While his results have been poor this year, primary reason given is differences with Big Stein wanna-be Vincent Tan. Quelle surprise.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer quits as Cardiff's manager after only 9 months on the job. While his results have been poor this year, primary reason given is differences with Big Stein wanna-be Vincent Tan. Quelle surprise.

One wonders where that leaves Ole's career prospects. He was billed as an up and comer, and managing in the PL with Cardiff seemed like a stepping stone for him. Now he's suffered a relegation, has struggled to win in the Championship, and has quit. Sure Vincent Tan is a nutbar, but who next hires Ole?

 

[DLew On Roids]

He can always go back to playing Watson on Sherlock.
 

 

[soxfan121]

One wonders where that leaves Ole's career prospects. He was billed as an up and comer, and managing in the PL with Cardiff seemed like a stepping stone for him. Now he's suffered a relegation, has struggled to win in the Championship, and has quit. Sure Vincent Tan is a nutbar, but who next hires Ole?

 
Tan is a known crazy person. Quitting is better than being fired and I don't think it'll hurt his career very much. 
 
Worst case, he ends up in Russia doing a fake signing with Bart Simpson.

 

[Infield Infidel]

Adebayo Akinfenwa (5'10" 225 lb) with two goals for AFC Wimbledon yesterday. BEAST MODE
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuHIxJplGVk&list=UUYVQL8cG2bwoH9wx35if0Gw

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Another Stevie May goal gives Wednesday the 1-0 win at home against Reading (who was as rough and cynical of a team as I've seen in a while). Same story as Tuesday- poor, disorganized first half gets corrected at the half and Wednesday control play from there on out. Another clean sheet gives them 7 on the season and they're actually sitting in the playoff zone right now. Going to be tough to continue with some injuries and no $$ for depth, but so far so good. We just need to finish in the final 3rd better. Off to Manchester on Tuesday.
 
I broke down and got the Dishworld app for roku and picked up the international sport package ($10 a month). Gives you 2 Bein sport channels (they have at least 2 Championship games every week) as well as some other European football. Watched the Watford and Bournmouth draw and thought the visitors were clearly the better side. Watford's in fourth but they didn't really impress at all, despite a nice equalizer in the final 10 minutes.
 
Also, Wiziwig (which can be sketchy sometimes) seems to have links to every Championship game...I've seen all but 2 Wednesday games this season on decent streams mostly. Worth checking out for any other Championship (or lower division) fans on the board.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

Massimo Cellino-- who is this guy? I'm happy with his investment intent, but he seems like a first-rate nutjob when it comes to football operations. Appointing Hockaday was bizarre enough, but what do I know. The team is finally coming together and getting results under interim manager Neil Redfearn. So Cellino finds his man in Slovenian Darko Milanic, coaching at Sturm Graz in Austria, and has asked Redfearn to return to leading the academy. Dubious maybe, but possibly okay. Yet at his presser, he again refers to his managers as "watermelons-you don't know what you get until you open them". There are more gems, referring to his choice as "a cool guy", and "good-looking".
I remain somewhat optimistic about the team, but it's starting to look like an accident waiting to happen. I hope he's smart enough to keep people like Redfearn around and involved.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Just a reminder to my Championship friends- wiziwig has been streaming just about every game so far this season. Worth checking out if you have a block of time to watch your team.
 
Edit: Games

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Watford's coach Oscar Garcia has stepped down because of health related issues. His team gave up two late goals to tie Blackburn 2-2.
 
Wednesday lost 2-1 at Cardiff- Probably deserved to be winning after the first half, but instead found themselves in a 1-0 hole. Cardiff looked greatly improved in the 2nd and came out with the deserving victory. Injuries, a lack of creativity in the midfield, and their defensive left side are starting cause problems. Hosting a pretty solid Ipswich side tomorrow.
 
SJH's Canaries sit atop the table after thrashing bottom dwelling Blackpool 3-1. A bit of a slow start by Norwich, but Blackpool scoring first sparked them to a 3 goal run. Haven't had the toughest schedule yet, but they're banking points, which is huge.
 
Fulham won their first game 2-1 at Birmingham City. Sitting on 4 points with a -12 goal difference though. Ugh.
 
While Massimo Cellino undoubtedly provided a boost by watching from the away stand at Brentford, Leeds still lost 2-0.
 

 
Norwich/Charlton and Wednesday/Ipswich are probably the important games tomorrow, although Brighton could really use three points from the game against Cardiff.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Yorkshire Derby tomorrow, Wednesday at Leeds, 7:15 EST on Sky Sports. 
 
May we get a repeat of last season. Really hopeful one of Keiran Lee or Sam Hutchinson is back in the middle, their creativity is missed. Tom Lees is out so our line is a bit more suspect than usual.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgQsNJP325I

 

[Stanley Steamer]

You don't want that, DH. You may think you want it, but you don't want it.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

I was going to go to NYC for this one; the Football Factory has a fairly large Wednesday contingency that gathers there for games- it also happens to be frequently visited by the New York Whites supporters group.
 
Getting from Boston to NY for a 7:15 am game ain't happening though...

 

[dirtynine]

Watching Brighton-Watford on Wiziwig. Thanks for the tip. Awesome back-and-forth match so far.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

AFC Wimbledon came back to upset MK Dons 3-2 in their latest grudge match and win the all important Johnstone's Paint Trophy.  Good stuff.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

AFC Wimbledon came back to upset MK Dons 3-2 in their latest grudge match and win the all important Johnstone's Paint Trophy.  Good stuff.

I don't think it was the final.

Always good to see Wimbledon win that match though.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Big early season match at Hillsborough on Satuday as Norwich comes to town. Both squads are struggling for points recently and really need to pick up three.
 
SJH- any thoughts on what we'll see? I know you controlled Leeds last game but couldn't pick up the extra two points. I've only seen the Canaries once this season, but was impressed by Jerome and Redmond. I know you've been scoring a bunch (albeit not recently).
 
Wednesday is a bit of a mess- got Sam Hutchinson back after 6 weeks and he got hurt 7 minutes in and is now out for another 6 weeks. Semedo can be a poor man's version on the defensive end, so that's ok, but we lack creativity in the midfield. We're down 2 LB and will likely move a midfielder back there...we've been defensively brutal down that side all year though, so I'd watch for Norwich to take advantage of that.
 
Wiziwig (or Wiz1) should have a live stream...I'll link it here if I get one.
 
Edit: Just saw I wrote this on 9/29: Injuries, a lack of creativity in the midfield, and their defensive left side are starting cause problems. 
At least we know what the problems are. Jesus.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Well Hoolahan just got hurt so he's going to be out for a while. On the other hand Hooper is finally back so hopefully that will pick up the slack in scoring. Josh Murphy has just worked his way into the starting lineup; he was a huge part of the U21 team's run to the FA Youth Cup a couple of seasons ago.
 
Basically lately we've been playing well but not getting the 3 points. That's frustrating, but hopefully they can get it turned around. Jerome has been a real revelation, he's been pretty awesome.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Any Championship fans can possibly find a stream here.
 
Wednesday v Norwich
 
CB and captain Glenn Loovens will slide over to LB. Looks like you'll get the standard 4-4-2.  Edit: Looks like a diamond, with Semedo in front of the back 4 and Mcguire (not Lee?) in the middle.
 
Westwood
Palmer-Lees-Deilna-Loovens
Helen-Lee-Semedo-McGuire
Nuihu-May
 
 
Canaries listed as: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Olsson, Tettey, Howson, Johnson, Odjidja, Jerome, Grabban.
 
Solid first half, pretty even. Thought Wednesday probably had more control/better possession, but the Canaries had the two best chances. 
contrary to pre-game speculation, it was Deilna who slid out to LB, and he's actually looked pretty good going forward, which surprises me.
 
Edit2: FT- Like kissing your own damn sister. Norwich with the better second half, looking real dangerous going forward. Not really what either team wanted, but points are points.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

After failing to win any of the 6 games under Darko Milanic, Leeds' Cellino has opted to relieve him of any further obligation to the club.
Neil Redfearn gets the job again, somewhat permanently, whatever that means. It can't get much worse.
If coaches are like watermelons, some people in this world like a lot of watermelons.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Any Championship fans can possibly find a stream here.
 
Wednesday v Norwich
 
CB and captain Glenn Loovens will slide over to LB. Looks like you'll get the standard 4-4-2.  Edit: Looks like a diamond, with Semedo in front of the back 4 and Mcguire (not Lee?) in the middle.
 
Westwood
Palmer-Lees-Deilna-Loovens
Helen-Lee-Semedo-McGuire
Nuihu-May
 
 
Canaries listed as: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Olsson, Tettey, Howson, Johnson, Odjidja, Jerome, Grabban.
 
Solid first half, pretty even. Thought Wednesday probably had more control/better possession, but the Canaries had the two best chances. 
contrary to pre-game speculation, it was Deilna who slid out to LB, and he's actually looked pretty good going forward, which surprises me.
 
Edit2: FT- Like kissing your own damn sister. Norwich with the better second half, looking real dangerous going forward. Not really what either team wanted, but points are points.

 
A 0-0 tie is where hope goes to die. I'll take a point away, as always, but egads, that was a bit of a muddle.

 

[dirtynine]

Brighton hovering near the relegation zone.  Not the start I was picturing. 

 

[fletcherpost]

After failing to win any of the 6 games under Darko Milanic, Leeds' Cellino has opted to relieve him of any further obligation to the club.
Neil Redfearn gets the job again, somewhat permanently, whatever that means. It can't get much worse.
If coaches are like watermelons, some people in this world like a lot of watermelons.

 
He's killing the club this King of Corn...i feel sorry for my Super Leeds Fan friends...do we have any Leeds fans here...I'd love some insight. They are a fuckin great club being made a mockey of...i really want to see them in the Prem again, i didn't think it would be this long and counting.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Stanley Steamer is out resident Leeds fan.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

 
A 0-0 tie is where hope goes to die. I'll take a point away, as always, but egads, that was a bit of a muddle.

The more I think about this match, the more pleased I am. Norwich is one of the promotion favorites and probably the best offensive team in the championship. To snare a clean sheet against them is impressive. Westwood was outstanding, a clear MOTM, but I thought the D played well in front of him. Redmond was a huge difference maker as a sub- Wednesday's tired players couldn't handle him at all. that's a good squad you've got SJH.
 
My one complaint is that Stuart Grey, who has been brilliant with substitutions this season, screwed up on Saturday. His subs not only took out an effective player (I liked what I saw from Nuihu), but it changed their formation. I thought Norwich was a lot more effective on the attack through the middle in the second half, and I think that had to do with the move away from the diamond.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

[QUOTE="fletcher]
He's killing the club this King of Corn...i feel sorry for my Super Leeds Fan friends...do we have any Leeds fans here...I'd love some insight. They are a fuckin great club being made a mockey of...i really want to see them in the Prem again, i didn't think it would be this long and counting.
[/QUOTE]Yeah, fuckin' tell me about it. Nothing but a succession of clowns and shysters for more than a decade now. I can't pretend to be a super Leeds fan, living here in North America, but when I first started following them, they were top 5 in the league much of the time. I always figured with their support and tradition, they'd find a way back up, but now I don't know what to think. There's never any momentum, no consistency. I agree the PL is better with them in it, even if it's cos most people hate them. When we'll see that though is anyone's guess. If they get relegated again, I'm gonna follow cricket.

 

[dirtynine]

Saw on Twitter:
 
"Five years ago today, Southampton were 22nd in League One."
 
Today that's Yeovil. 

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Saw on Twitter:
 
"Five years ago today, Southampton were 22nd in League One."
 
Today that's Yeovil. 

That's really incredible.
 
They were given a boatload of $$ (For League One) and used that cash to rocket up the League, continuing to spend at each level. They also had some pretty good young homegrown players (Lallana is one that springs to mind) and certainly some good management. Obviously that's a formulas for success, but it's much easier said than done. 
 
edit: Forgot about Shaw and Chambers, but those guys came later.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

I haven't seen anyone mention the Ched Evans situation here.  For those that don't know, Evans is a Welsh striker that played for Sheffield United from 2009-2012, scoring 42 goals in 103 appearances.  In April 2012 he was convicted of raping a woman who was deemed to drunk to consent, and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.  He was released last month, and has continued to deny the charges.  The Professional Footballers' Association asked that Sheffield United allow him to train there, as they were his last club before his conviction.  They have agreed to let him train, but it's unclear if they are interested in re-signing him.  Many prominent supporters have urged the club to drop Evans, with Jessica Ennis declaring she would demand her name be removed from one of the stands if he is signed.  In addition, many club sponsors have come out and said they would end or re-evaluate their relationship with the club.
 
The Football League has said they value the re-integration of reformed criminals back into society, so any club signing him will not have any punishment, but anyone that does will obviously face fan and sponsor backlash.  I'll be curious to see if the PFA continues to back him, and whether a club will actually be desperate enough to bring him in if he proves he can still play.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

I didn't comment on the Evans thing because I'm horribly biased. He got a lot of pretty gross support from United fans at the time, as he was their best player in a huge promotion push season. It's an ugly scene all the way around. 
 
In Championship news, Forest, Rovers, and Leeds have been busted for breaking FFP and have a transfer embargo in the next window. Blackburn and Forest are sitting in 8th and 9th, 4 and 5 points out of a playoff spot respectively...Leeds in in 19th, 5 up on the relegation zone. Wednesday is sitting in 13th, 10 points above relegation and 10 points from 3rd. This division is always such a mess.

 

[dirtynine]

Sami Hyypia just resigned/got pushed out at BHAFC. They're in the relegation places and losing daylight quickly, so not a huge surprise; still, it's only been a few months since his appointment.  
 
Getting the ball cap ready. Tony Pulis is the favorite to succeed him. 

 

[candylandriots]

Sami Hyypia just resigned/got pushed out at BHAFC. They're in the relegation places and losing daylight quickly, so not a huge surprise; still, it's only been a few months since his appointment.  
 
Getting the ball cap ready. Tony Pulis is the favorite to succeed him. 

 
Wow, Pulis must really want to stick it to Crystal Palace...

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Neil Adams abruptly resigns as the Norwich manager. I did not see that one coming, even though results have been very mixed this season. No word yet on a possible replacement.