2014/15 Championship Thread

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

Read an awful article on top 50 managers under 50. Katanga higher than Howe and Dyche, to name just two.

[Fernando]

Boro: Dimi,Whitehead,Ayala,Gibson,Friend,Clayton,Leadbitter,Adomah,Vossen,Tomlin & Bamford

Bench: Ripley,Woodgate,Amorebieta,Forshaw,Reach,Nsue,Kike

Nodge: Ruddy,Whittaker,Martin,Bassong,Olsson,Redmond,Howson,Tettey,Johnson,Hoolahan & Jerome

Bench: Rudd,O Neil,Dorrans,R Bennett,E Bennett,Hooper, Grabban

[Fernando]

Nodge hit the bar through Bradley Johnson...

[Fernando]

Jelle Vossen hits the bar from 20 yards seconds later on the volley

[NickisBHAFC]

Brilliant. 2 fantastic efforts both hitting the bar. Great game so far and we're only 10 minutes old.

[Fernando]

Norwich 1-0 Middlesborough - Cameron Jerome

[NickisBHAFC]

Poor defending by Boro. Jerome with another goal for Norwich. He's been a fantastic signing for them.

[Fernando]

Norwich 2-0 Middlesborough - Nathan Redmond

Well as i said easy money

[NickisBHAFC]

2-0 Redmond. Almost there Norwich.

[Fernando]

20 years since a 2-0 lead been turned over in play off final.

[Fernando]

HT Middlesborough 0-2 Norwich

Nodge cruising to the Premier League. Middlesborough choking harder then a prostitute with a c*ck in her throat.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

We're gonna screw this up I can feel it in my bones

[Fernando]

It's in the bag olly Boro been epically Poopie.

[Fernando]

Nsue on for Whitehead for Middlesbrough.

Gunna lose 3-0 now

[Fernando]

Jelle Vossen booked for a dive although he was tripped.

[GSC]

The Championship Playoff final has generally gone down to the wire in recent times

[GSC]

Boro need a spell of sustained pressure, test out the nerves of Norwich. Man for man thy're outclassed otherwise.

[GSC]

As for Norwich how brave do they want to be. A goal kills off this game.

[Fernando]

Kike on for Jelle Vossen.

It's not been much of a contest Middlesbrough just keep lumping it and Bamford is too Poopie & small to hold it up.

Martin should of wrapped it up.

[GSC]

Kike is dump

[GSC]

Its going to be pretty entertaining watching Cameron Jerome manage 5 in 35 next season

[Fernando]

Neither are good enough to stay up but Nodge have the best chance out of anyone id say tbh.

Grabban/Dorrans for Jerome & Hoolahan.

[GSC]

The problem I have with Norwich is they have a team of players who didn't cut it last time, augmented by some players who are Championship super stars like Jerome.

[Guest]

its essentially the same side that failed miserably 12 months ago in the PL

[GSC]

Ayalas header cleared off the line.

You would suspect it just isn't going to happen for Middlesbrough today

[Fernando]

Pretty much I worry for Boro when their loanees go just leaves them with Kike up top really.

Gary O'Neil on for Redmond

It's over and done with, Boro have bottled it barring a 15 min spell.

[GSC]

Mmm, will be hard to pick a winner next season. Norwich had a loaded squad for this level and they're up, so not really a clear favorite

[GSC]

Gary O'Neill is going to beat Patrick Bamford in a playoff final for the 2nd year in a row

[Fernando]

Mmm, will be hard to pick a winner next season. Norwich had a loaded squad for this level and they're up, so not really a clear favorite

If Hull keep their squad together should be an easy year tbh. Think Wolves could do well too if get a decent midfield pairing...

[GSC]

Eh, I don't fancy Hull.

[GSC]

And I like Jackett but I'm not sure hes the manager I'd back to take a side out of this division

[Fernando]

If keep Huddlestone/Dawson/Hernandez/Jelavic & N'Doye they should have enough considering even Jerome is good at that level

Goals win titles and Wolves with Afobe/Dicko will get play offs at the least

FT 2-0 Nodge and that's an easy £25 won

[NickisBHAFC]

Norwich back in the Premiership. Well done to them. Alex Neil has done a fantastic job there.

[GSC]

Norwich promoted to the Premier League. Made it harder work than it should've been really.

Shame for Boro, they ran into a side that man for man outclassed them today

[GSC]

Wolves had their momentum year this year. Wouldn't surprise me if they ended up back around midtable

[NickisBHAFC]

Hull on paper should do well in this league. Burnley will challenge. Wolves, Brentford, Boro, Derby will all challenge again. Think Bristol City will do well.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Its going to be pretty entertaining watching Cameron Jerome manage 5 in 35 next season

THE RETURN OF THE WOLF!!!

Seriously tho we were magnificent first half, the second goal was awesome. Second half was the best we defended all season, we rose to the occasion brilliantly. Alex Neil - exceptional job, 68% win ratio in his 25 games so far, got these players playing to their potential.

Boro were poo

[Dolphin Ziggler]

All about the window now, not a side you' be confident in backing. They're 4/5 to be relegated and I'd sense thats a good price. I think the right team went up, was a squad that should be winning the Championship but has no real upward movement to be a problem in the Prem. They took a risk on Neil Adams and it was a bad risk. Not sure he'd have got the job if Hughton hadn't been sacked before the season's end so it was a naive decision.

Think Bruce will get Hull up, but if he goes I doubt they'll be a lure to any better managers. Forest will sort themselves out this summer I reckon, Brentford will be very interesting. Burnley will likely only lose one or two. Ipswich will be up and about it too.

[GSC]

Nah, half the defense will be injured by christmas, Antonio will be replaced by Jamie Ward who will be completely dire before he goes off on loan in January and Freedman will fall out with Fawaz by November.

Someone else will inspire a short reversal of form in January/February before we finish 12th

[GSC]

For Alex Neil, I'm not sold. Either he did an exceptional job and Neil Adams an average one or he did a decent job and Adams was out of his depth. Ultimately Norwich had a squad filled with quality at this level at just about every position and he had the luxury of fielding a superior side in roughly every game. The same wont apply at the top level

[GSC]

Don't get me wrong, actually delivering on the quality you have is a tough ask in this league, and easier said than done.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Steve McLaren's finally been sacked by Derby. Paves the way for him to go to Newcastle now as Ashley won't have to cough up any compo.

[GSC]

Sounds like the Newcastle speculation was blamed for their choke job.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

For Alex Neil, I'm not sold. Either he did an exceptional job and Neil Adams an average one or he did a decent job and Adams was out of his depth. Ultimately Norwich had a squad filled with quality at this level at just about every position and he had the luxury of fielding a superior side in roughly every game. The same wont apply at the top level

Think the reality is he did a job somewhere in between exceptional and decent. He certainly seems to have something about him as a manager - works hard, prepares the team well and makes good in game decisions. I'm a little concerned that he's going into his first transfer window and his ability to recruit as it's yet to be proven either way.

Still I don't think it's that outrageous to say we have a better squad than the two other promoted sides

[GSC]

No I don't disagree with that.

The issue is for me Norwich have a decent amount of players that dont cut it at premier league level but excel at Championship level. The other 2 are unproven and as such has greater urgency to recruit internally.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

No I don't disagree with that.

The issue is for me Norwich have a decent amount of players that dont cut it at premier league level but excel at Championship level. The other 2 are unproven and as such has greater urgency to recruit internally.

Indeed but I do think some of the players we have were misused in that relegation season, and others have progressed (Redmond, Johnson in particular).

We need to invest in a good right back and centre half, another winger and striker (assuming RVW doesn't make the comeback of all comebacks!)

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And I'm happy to confirm Dolph's statement - going up via the playoffs >>>> automatic (despite the two years it takes off your life)

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Its a hell of a day. Nothing like seeing your team win at Wembley, whatever the contest. Chuffed for you, Olly. Now, OTPC (On the p*ss City)

[GSC]

Mmm, even if the playoffs this year were pretty crap by their own high standards.

Id take either at this stage

[Guest]

Id take either at this stage

Forest won't be troubling either route for quite some time. Pretty dire club, basically stagnated & going nowhere fast. Fans are arrogant too, from my experience

[GSC]

Should I take the bait?

Vote now

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