SkyBet 2017-18 Championship Thread - The Steve Bruce Pension Scheme

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue 01 Aug 2017, 3:34 am

First topic message reminder :

Days away now, excitement building.

by GSC Mon 02 Apr 2018, 1:25 pm

Was kinda surprised it's that wet, wasn't that bad here.

But our season is already over anyway

by Guest Fri 06 Apr 2018, 9:42 pm

Cardiff could do with some penalty practice Laugh

Wolves pretty much wrapped up the title

by GSC Fri 06 Apr 2018, 9:51 pm

Wolves could be promoted on Tuesday before they play again.

by westisbest Fri 06 Apr 2018, 10:11 pm

What an end to a game.
We have to make it count now tomorrow

by GSC Sat 14 Apr 2018, 6:39 pm

Looks like Sunderland are almost gone, 6 points off survival with 3 games to play, 2 against Wolves and Fulham.

Burton also highly likely to join them despite upsetting Derby. Sunderland vs Burton next week should be a real all or nothing clash, point isnt good enough for either.

1 of Barnsley, Bolton or Birmingham to complete the 3, with an outside chance of Reading to be pulled into it.

by GSC Sat 14 Apr 2018, 6:45 pm

At the other end, Wolves are all but promoted, to be sealed tomorrow probably.

Probably either Cardiff or Fulham for the second automatic spot, with Cardiff holding a 2 point lead with 4 to go. Villa probably too far at 4 points behind having played a game more than both to make it up. Final 2 playoff spots likely between 5 teams.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sat 14 Apr 2018, 7:37 pm

Fulham, overly backed due to a good undefeated run, draw and give Cardiff an open shot

by westisbest Sat 14 Apr 2018, 8:22 pm

Wolves up and well done to them. Great season.
Could really have done with Norwich winning today for us to have a slight chance of second.

Be interesting to see who goes down/stays up.
Also the spot for 5th/6th is interesting and could go to the final day.

by No name Bertie Sun 15 Apr 2018, 12:44 pm

I'd be interested in knowing what happened to Sunderland - I mean why are they in this position. They are certainties to be relegated again. David Moyes tried to keep them in the Premier League but when he took on the job he obviously must have known something because he said it would be a difficult task to keep them in the Premier League ... and when they were relegated he decided it best not to stay - suggesting he felt they had little chance of getting back to the Premier League. Results this season suggests the situation was even worse - and Sunderland had the advantage of the parachute payment. I guess they must be heavily in debt (?) and were contractually liable to pay premiership wages for most of their players this season.

Burton have a very slim chance of avoiding relegation - and they look to be certainties to follow Sunderland. It seems that Burton are just too small a club for the Championship Division. Perhaps the best they could hope for is being a yo-yo club between Division One and the Championship.

Then it is one from Barnsley, Bolton and Birmingham. Reading have enough of a gap that they are almost certainly safe.

by Lowlandbrit Sun 15 Apr 2018, 3:12 pm

No name Bertie wrote:Sunderland had the advantage of the parachute payment.

I think people wildly overestimate the effect of those.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sun 15 Apr 2018, 5:13 pm

Lowlandbrit wrote:
No name Bertie wrote:Sunderland had the advantage of the parachute payment.
I think people wildly overestimate the effect of those.

Especially when £120k a week of it is going to Jack rodwell and Lee Cattermole

by GSC Sat 21 Apr 2018, 5:04 pm

Sunderland are relegated as Burton and Bolton play in a massive game next week and one is guaranteed to reach 41 points. Sunderland led 1-0 with 5 minutes to go and lost to Burton somehow at home.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 21 Apr 2018, 5:43 pm

Amazing. Jog on sunderland, awful club, awful fans, wouldn’t be surprised if they continue this slide

by Guest Sat 21 Apr 2018, 5:45 pm

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Amazing. Jog on sunderland, awful club, awful fans, wouldn’t be surprised if they continue this slide

+1

by westisbest Sat 21 Apr 2018, 9:07 pm

Ed Sheeran at Portman Road today.

“You’ve only come to see the Villa,
Come to see the Viiiiiila”.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 23 Apr 2018, 12:58 pm

Wessi is leaving Norwich at the end of the season

Hold me. My heart is broken Sad

by No name Bertie Thu 26 Apr 2018, 4:50 pm

Here is an insight into one of the things happening behind the scenes at Sunderland - a player who doesn't want to play for Sunderland, but who refused to leave because he didn't want to leave his lucrative wage deal of £70,000 a week. He has a year left and seems happy to run his contract down so he can leave on a free while collecting his weekly pay check.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43905840

by GSC Thu 26 Apr 2018, 6:43 pm

Sunderland signed him to that contract, why shouldn't they expect to have to honor it?

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Thu 26 Apr 2018, 10:01 pm

Why would you actively give up earning 70k a week to go earn like 20k a week?

by Guest Fri 27 Apr 2018, 1:14 pm

Please let this happen. Lolz galore.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5664183/Ipswich-Town-set-interview-Sol-Campbell-vacant-managers-position.html

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 27 Apr 2018, 5:49 pm

FreekShow wrote:Please let this happen. Lolz galore.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5664183/Ipswich-Town-set-interview-Sol-Campbell-vacant-managers-position.html

To be honest, as annoying as Sol is, if Barton can get the Fleetwood job then Sol can get Ipswich

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 28 Apr 2018, 11:49 am

I’ve already blubbed at the videos the club have put out thanking Wes today - I’m gonna be a wreck come 4:45/5. Can’t believe this is it!

by Guest Sat 28 Apr 2018, 11:50 am

Be strong, Olly.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 28 Apr 2018, 11:53 am

by westisbest Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:48 pm

Now he scored

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 28 Apr 2018, 8:21 pm

The perfect match, the perfect end for the perfect player. It's never going to quite be the same now he's gone

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 29 Apr 2018, 1:23 pm

Sunderland sack Coleman then announce new ownership - the soon to be former owner of Eastleigh

by Steffan Sun 06 May 2018, 2:38 pm

Bluebirds

by GSC Sun 06 May 2018, 10:13 pm

Fair play to Warnock. What happens after tends to be a struggle but can't doubt his ability to get out of this league, which is no small feat.

Also fair play to Bolton, down there last year and no picnic, though we werent quite as dramatic.

by GSC Sun 06 May 2018, 10:17 pm

As for the playoffs, Villa vs Boro should be one for the neutrals. Probably fancy whoever comes out of that tie to do a job at Wembley.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sun 06 May 2018, 10:19 pm

Not only were we on the beach, our prized asset Maddison has (likely) done his ACL which means nobody will buy him for £25m odd this summer, which means we’ll have no money to bring in players (£14m of the “Maddison money” was needed to fill a deficit anyways), and it also means our best player is likely out for the rest of 2018 at best.

Today could’ve gone better.

by GSC Sun 06 May 2018, 10:31 pm

Should be an interesting summer. Karanka already showed what he thought of the squad on deadline day when a bunch of players were cycled in/out on a days notice after a particularly poor performance. Now they've sent him off to chew on that performance.

By all accounts a bunch heading out, not sure theres that much money lying around before any sales.

by Cardiff Dave Mon 07 May 2018, 7:38 pm

Steffan wrote:Bluebirds

Hooligan.
Been doing the Ayatollah?

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Wed 09 May 2018, 11:31 am

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Not only were we on the beach, our prized asset Maddison has (likely) done his ACL which means nobody will buy him for £25m odd this summer, which means we’ll have no money to bring in players (£14m of the “Maddison money” was needed to fill a deficit anyways), and it also means our best player is likely out for the rest of 2018 at best.

Today could’ve gone better.

Only out for two months as he doesn't need surgery, we're not totally screwed!

by Guest Wed 09 May 2018, 4:21 pm

Steve McClaren to QPR picard

by Guest Wed 09 May 2018, 4:43 pm

Don't really know what they expected from Holloway. They finished higher that they probably should have.

by GSC Wed 09 May 2018, 6:51 pm

Redknapp, Holloway, McClaren.

Whens Alan Curbishley rocking up

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 09 May 2018, 7:58 pm

Pardew for QPR 2019

by dyrewolfe Fri 11 May 2018, 2:15 pm

GSC wrote:As for the playoffs, Villa vs Boro should be one for the neutrals. Probably fancy whoever comes out of that tie to do a job at Wembley.

Think Villa have to be favourites for this (especially over 2 legs)...which is hard to say as a Boro fan. Sad

by **owen10ozzy** Sat 12 May 2018, 5:39 pm

On the end of a hiding at this rate...Shotton is crap....basic defending is put a man on back post. Midfielders far too one paced..except for Traore who has speed but that's useless if you use it to run into traffic every time. Very poor from Boro thus far

by **owen10ozzy** Sat 12 May 2018, 5:56 pm

Grealish.....does anyone complain to ref as much as that lad...shut up and get on with it!

by **owen10ozzy** Sat 12 May 2018, 7:14 pm

And our form against the bigger sides shows again...terrible record hence many of us dont feel we can win these playoffs.

The game encapsulated our season as a whole both under Pulis and before him Monk. Lots of huff...very little puff. Our midfield is seriously lacking from a creative stand point and it showed again today...the top teams know they can sit in and just put bodies behind the ball knowing we have very little penetration.

Will say we looked much much better when Fabio came on...showed Traore how to play that wide position. Speaking ot Traore....god willing we sell him for the £25-30 million thats been touted about. Good on his day but far to many flaws in his game for my liking.

If we are to get a result in 2nd leg need to flood midfield and id be tempted to play two wing backs and drop Traore. Certainly dont want to see Shotton at RB regardless. Id also go with Bamford whose playing off the shoulder will trouble Terry and Co far more than Assam who matches up easily for the Villa defence

Credit Steve Bruce and his Villa team, got the away goal and then effectively went about shutting down the game. Grealish was excellent today and the full backs kept Traore out of the game very easily.

by westisbest Sat 12 May 2018, 7:48 pm

Decent display first half and could have been 2 up at half time, but for a good save from Randolph.

Second half defended well enough to see out the game.

Hopefully see it out now Tuesday night.

Attack them from the off and hopefully score early to settle any nerves.

Good result at the half way stage.

by GSC Mon 14 May 2018, 9:42 pm

Fair play to Fulham.

Suspect Pulls/Bruce ball will win the day at Wembley but that was an assured performance

by Duty281 Tue 15 May 2018, 8:39 pm

Sleep-inducing stuff this evening. Villa playing right into Middlesbrough's hands' with this slow and decrepit performance.

by westisbest Tue 15 May 2018, 8:42 pm

Should be leading this

by **owen10ozzy** Tue 15 May 2018, 9:15 pm

It's not into Boros hand...perfect way to play against us. Said that after 1st Leg. We can't break teams down for toffee...Besic...Clayton...Howson are about as unimaginative midfield 3 as you could play.

Pulis has got this horribly wrong...furious Shottin started, he provides nothing...Traore should not have started; Villa know how to deal with him as shown in 1st Leg. Same old Boro story sadly...one paced...No creativity...

by **owen10ozzy** Tue 15 May 2018, 9:18 pm

20 mins to go.....barely a white shirt in the box...pathetic!

by **owen10ozzy** Tue 15 May 2018, 9:32 pm

Sadly won't have the funds but need to do away with our entire midfield next season...it's absolutely atrocious. If anyone offers £15 million let alone the £25 reported for ill pick him up and take him there myself. As much of a club icon Downing is he needs putting on the scrapheap.

by **owen10ozzy** Tue 15 May 2018, 9:33 pm

What the Frak...that's a red!!!!

by Sponsored content