2015-16 Championship Thread

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

With Sky announcing their live games for the start of the Championship season i figured we could use a thread

Who do we think will head up and down this season?

August
Fri 7: Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest (7.45pm)
Sat 8: Leeds United v Burnley (12.30pm)
Sun 9: Preston North End v Middlesbrough (12 noon)
Sun 16: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Hull City (12 noon)
Fri 21: Birmingham City v Derby County (7.45pm)
Sat 22: Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday (12.30pm)
Fri 28: Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers (7.45pm)
Sat 29: Derby County v Leeds United (12.05pm)

September
Fri 11: Reading v Ipswich Town (8pm)
Sat 19: Nottingham Forest v Middlesbrough (12.30pm)
Fri 25: Fulham v Queen’s Park Rangers (7.45pm)

October
Fri 2 Oct: Rotherham United v Burnley (7.45pm)
Sat 3: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town (12.30pm)

*Other games may be added.

[GSC]

I prefer Brighton purely because Boro are now going to be the latest team to benefit from FFP being set up to hurt the teams that overspend and don't get promoted.

[NickisBHAFC]

Indeed.

[NickisBHAFC]

The Boro fans on here seem alright though. The ones with no life's what so ever (most people are on the dull in Boro) posting homophobic abuse on Twitter and trolling the north stand chat forum.

Thought 90% of the Boro fans were absolutely class on Saturday, seems I had the statistic very wrong. Shame.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Except it's not a fact - it's pretty much the exact opposite of a fact

Think you may need a dictionary pal

It's a fact that we are the 2nd best team in the Championship, looks like we choked for the 2nd season running get your play off final DVD out sonny, and a mouthful of sugar to take the taste of the sour grapes out of your mouth.

What exactly have I got sour grapes about?

[westisbest]

I don't love or hate Boro.
Congrats to them for going up and Burnley.
Hard luck to Brighton, but at least they have another go.

In fairness I wasn't bothers who went up or who didn't.

The way I see it, the 2 that went up deserved it and whoever wins the play offs deserve it(cmon Derby).

Every team has a bit of luck now and then.

The 3 that come down to championship deserve to.
Certainly Villa.

That's the way I look at it.

[westisbest]

Oh, and good luck to Walsall in the play offs.
Be good to see them in championship next season.

Just needed Donny to score yesterday and they would have taken second.

Villa Wolves Blues and hopefully Walsall.
Some good local derbys there.

Then our East Midlands friends Forest and maybe Derby.
Burton to.

[dyrewolfe]

The Boro fans on here seem alright though. The ones with no life's what so ever (most people are on the dull in Boro) posting homophobic abuse on Twitter and trolling the north stand chat forum.

Thought 90% of the Boro fans were absolutely class on Saturday, seems I had the statistic very wrong. Shame.

Thats why it pays to do a bit of research before you go making yourself look silly...




Dunno why but a lot of people seem to think Middlesbrough is some kind of desolate wasteland...




...populated by strange and scary creatures...

[dyrewolfe]

I prefer Brighton purely because Boro are now going to be the latest team to benefit from FFP being set up to hurt the teams that overspend and don't get promoted.

FFP was put in place for a good reason...it gives clubs a strong incentive not to spend beyond their means. Boro have invested heavily in their youth academy, providing top notch facilities, giving us more time to spread the cost of our debts.

Plus a lot of the deals we did had promotion-dependent clauses. We got Downing, for example, for a nominal fee of £5m, with a further £1.7m payment only being triggered if we went up.

You could say we've pushed the rules a bit, but we certainly haven't gone beyond what is permitted by FFP.

Also, while we did make some "big name / big money" purchases, we also got some bargains. The best defence in the league cost us a grand total of £500k:

Konstantopoulos - free transfer
Nsue - free transfer
Gibson - youth academy graduate
Ayala - £400k
Friend - £100k


So you prefer Brighton because their owners didn't have the foresight (or wherewithal) to plan their finances, to enable them to spend more on transfers? Okay, fair enough...

[Nico the gman]

I'm sorry, didnt realise this was the Boro thread on the Boro forum where we only take interest in our own teams.

It clearly is as you've been antagonising many a folk throughout the season. And no, being a season ticket holder doesn't give you a divine right to be a demanding fan.

Karanka has done a wonderful job and if he had listened to the fans you wouldn't have gone up. I certainly will remember that like I remember Southgate being sacked by the perfect chairman.  

And I reserve the right to comment fairly on any football I want. If you don't like it, basically that's tough

I didn't say I have a right to be a demanding fan, I said I have a right as a season ticket holder( who puts money into the club)to praise or criticise as I see fit, totally different so don't spin it to suit yourself.

As for the sacking of Southgate he was given a full season in the Premier and given ample transfer funds including nearly £14 mill for a striker and he  took us down.

Gibson is highly regarded by many football pundits and the like as one of the best chairman in English football, but no doubt you'll dispute that as well.

My interest is in my own football club, what I don't do is come on here and try and wind other fans up about their club, as for antagonising others tell me when, if you don't like what I post about my team its simple, you don't need to reply to it, problem solved.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

This is rather pointless and going one way so let's just agree that you like your club and that I don't like the way a couple of you on here go about liking your club.

[dyrewolfe]

This is rather pointless and going one way so let's just agree that you like your club and that I don't like the way a couple of you on here go about liking your club.

Kinda harsh, considering we've had a 7-year wait to get promoted, including 5 years of joyless mediocrity and a play-off final heartbreak. I would have thought we'd be entitled to display our happiness, just for a few weeks at least.

I know I've personally posted quite a few negative comments about the club over the last few years (being as fickle as most fans) and no-one's had a problem with it. However, they've not done much wrong over the last couple of seasons, so I don't see the problem in showing our pride at their achievement.

Gibson's said he's prepared to give Karanka a decent transfer kitty so we've a fighting chance of staying up, but we all know thats no guarantee.

You might all be having the last laugh, come the end of next season...

[NickisBHAFC]

My hate for the FA gets stronger by the day

[Fernando]

[dyrewolfe]

Very decent of him.

Ah well, commisserations to the Toon. If they can keep some of their better players (and by some miracle persuade Rafa to stay on) I'd say they have every chance of bouncing straight back.

[NickisBHAFC]

Play offs.

It's a complete lottery. The bonus if we do stay down is there is some cracking away days in store for next season, Burton Albion and Newcastle the first two that spring to mind. Villa and Norwich. Wigan is always a cracking day out. Brentford and Fulham still around.

[Nico the gman]

Play offs.

It's a complete lottery. The bonus if we do stay down is there is some cracking away days in store for next season, Burton Albion and Newcastle the first two that spring to mind. Villa and Norwich. Wigan is always a cracking day out. Brentford and Fulham still around.

Seriously good luck Nick

[NickisBHAFC]

Cheers mate. Comfort of my own home tonight as I've got work incredibly early tomorrow. Feels strange haha!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Poor supporter

[NickisBHAFC]

Hemed hits the post and seconds later stockdale makes a world class save.

End to end stuff.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Outrageous refereeing utterly outrageous

[NickisBHAFC]

Terrible officiating. But it's what we have at this level.

[NickisBHAFC]

Hang on. Hooper doesn't touch the ball, therefore it's 100% offside.

[NickisBHAFC]

Hemed and Goldson off. Time to panic.

[NickisBHAFC]

3-0 defeat.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Andre Marriner totally out of his depth in a championship game, truly one of the worst refs going. Case in point, Wallace gets a yellow for a slide tackle on Kayal, Forestieri does exactly the same and gets nothing

Brighton haven't turned up yet

[westisbest]

Cracking goal.

Have done Derby or Hull to go up, if they dont then would like to see Sheff Wedd back in the prem.

Great support.

Also would like to see Westwood in the prem again.

[NickisBHAFC]

3 injuries are you kidding me.

[NickisBHAFC]

Make that 4. What on earth is happening.

[Marky]

What a hoot

[GSC]

I want Wednesday to go up. Be a fresh change.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Sure the injuries were hard luck but Brighton were being thoroughly outplayed by Wednesday anyways. Wednesday will be disappointed to not get a 3rd and have put it to bed

Want the winner of this tie to go up, would prefer sheff weds too

[NickisBHAFC]

We're not done yet, but it's more looking like championship football next season.

It's the players I feel for, missing out by 2 goals on promotion and now 4 injuries in one game.

[Nico the gman]

Don't see Sheff Wed blowing this now, Kevin Phillip said he felt the team that didn't go up automatic might find it hard to lift themselves for the play offs, it looks like he may be right.

Obviously not over yet, but if Brighton turn this around nobody could begrudge them winning the final and going up.

[NickisBHAFC]

All 4 players missing Monday. Chances of winning are slim. Very slim.

Stockdale
Bruno Dunk Greer Bong
Murphy Kayal Crofts Lua Lua
Baldock Wilson

Maenapa
Calderon
Roseinor
Towell
Skallak
Manu
Harper

[dyrewolfe]

Wow - looks like you cashed in all your bad luck chips at once.

Hemed and Knockaert were two of your most dangerous players against us. Goldson was also a real thorn in our side. If not for the injuries I'd have backed Brighton to score 3 or more at home.

No mention of Zamora in your line-up I notice. Is he injured too?

[NickisBHAFC]

Yep. Gonna retire at the end of the season I understand.

If we can someone get him on the bench, will be a huge boost to all involved.

[Gregers]

Very unlucky on injuries but Wednesday out played us. Great decision by the linesmen last night, great to see the offside rule applied properly for once

[GSC]

That is some truly cack goalkeeping

[westisbest]

Dear me Derby.
Got both these teams on my bets, have to hope the others come through.

[Guest]

Well my Derby/Brighton final prediction looks fooked.

[westisbest]

Derby seem to be a bit lost of ideas here.

[GSC]

Seen it before, they're a one dimensional team. Against well organised, well marshalled teams they get frustrated.

[GSC]

Anyway they have ten minutes to try and salvage something, because I wouldn't want to go to Hull needing to overturn a 2 goal deficit.

Well I wouldn't want to go to Hull anyway, but point stands

[Guest]

0-3 to Hull

[GSC]

Priceless. Simply priceless

Hull good value for 3-0. Derby appalling.

[GSC]

Scott Carson has 4 England caps

[Guest]

...and a CL winners medal. The boy done good.

[GSC]

If he was wearing it, he might've gotten down quicker to 2 of the goals today

[westisbest]

Not looking like Walsall will be going to Wembley sadly.
Did them on a treble with Hull, looking good and Plymouth, still in it.

Another treble, Derby, oh well, Millwall & Pompy.

Think those bets maybe gone.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Derby - forever choking on the big stage

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