The Championship 07/08, part 2
Sorry it’s late!
With 2 weeks until the opener (because these things take time, y’know), here’s a countdown of all of the runners and riders, the movers and shakers, and the wingers and strikers the Championship has to offer. Here’s Part 2…
Cardiff
Last year: 13th
Prediction: Dave Jones’ rollercoaster year last season saw them set the early pace, blazing a Michael Chopra-induced trail across the division, before crashing and burning spectacularly towards the close and finally settling at 13th place. Things are never dull with our Dave. However, with their 22-goal frontman departing for the Royvolution at Sunderland and the deficiencies of a small squad fully evident by the end of 06/07, Dave Jones has moved quickly on his recruitment drive. High earners such as Robbie Fowler and Trevor Sinclair have arrived, wiping out much of the £5m raised from Chopra, and raising expectations even further. However, while these ageing stars move in, the team has been based on solid roots – players like Stephen Thompson or Riccy Scimeca are proven Championship performers, while Joe Ledley and Paul Parry provide inconsistent flair. The signing of Peter Whittingham, long admired by Jones, will also add a sweet left-foot to the flanks. However, I feel that much rests on the fitness of the squad, particularly its elder statesmen, if Cardiff are going to provide the mooted Playoff push.
Key player: Robbie Fowler – High hopes, high wages, high class, high risk. ‘The best natural finisher in England’ ™ needs to justify investment with goals. If he stays fit, you wouldn’t bet against him
One to watch: Chris Gunter – Everton target who is already a full Welsh international, and winner of the Apprentice of the Year Award. Plenty of potential in his 15 appearances thus far
Charlton
Last year: 19th (Premiership)
Prediction: Charlton’s relegation masked a distinct upturn in their play, if not their fortunes, following the appointment of Alan Pardew. While Darren Bent’s departure progressed as expected, the £16.5m windfall surprised many, and has allowed Pardew to hold on to much of the rest of his squad. Additions like the prolific (last season) Iwelumo and Varney, alongside Todorov and the other Bent, mean that Charlton’s forward line is the envy of the division, while a midfield comprising of Andy Reid, Matty Holland, Darren Ambrose and Jerome Thomas should hold enough quality for the top two. However, relegated teams have consistently failed to adapt to the Championship quickly, while the club’s winner of the player-of-the-season gong for the last 3 years have all departed this summer (Bent, Young and Carson). Their defence continues to look as flaky as a bathtub chocolate bar, and it remains to be seen whether Nicky Weaver is actually that good, despite plaudits at Citeh last year. On paper they should make the top two.
Key player: Andy Reid – the chubby midfielder showed flashes of inspiration last year, and his supply route will be essential for the massed ranks of the Charlton forward line
One to watch: Yassin Moutaouakil – French fullback signed for half a million pounds was a reputed target for Lazio and Celtic, among others
Colchester
Last year: 10th
Prediction: The surprise package of last season bar none, the U’s are looking to upset the odds again, based on their form at the fortress-like Layer Road. However, Geraint Williams has had to deal with the exits of star players Jamie Cureton, Chris Iwelumo and Wayne Brown, depriving the squad of goals and defensive rocks that were so important last year. Star signings have been few, though the mercurial Teddy Sheringham has brought his octogenarian talents to the club, alongside gambles like Platt, Yeates and Guttirdge. The defence should continue to be solid, with Duguid and Watson supplemented by Arsenal talent Matthew Connolly and Danny Granville, while Dean Gerken has made the keeping position his own. It is goals that seem to be the problem for the forthcoming season, with much of Colchester’s previous success based on the prolific nature of their strikeforce. Without further investment, I’m struggling to see that, over the course of the season, they will score enough…
Key player: Clive Platt – Everyone knows what they’re going to get from Teddy, but he is unlikely to hit 20 in a season. That leaves a goalscoring burden on the former MK Dons man, and he’ll want to prove his 18 goals last year weren’t simply a flash in the pan
One to watch: Dean Gerken – Newly contracted and highly rated, 21 year old stopper Gerken has finally made the gloves his own after a string of fine, Ray Clemence-watched, performances at the tail end of last year. The youngster has the class to continue that form into the new season
Coventry
Last year: 17th
Prediction: It’s all change for Iain Dowie’s Sky Blues this year, as protracted takeovers and a revolving door transfer policy has seen upheaval at the Midlands club. Coventry lost their star players Stern John and Gary McSheffrey to promoted teams last year, and had struggled to perform without those leading lights, ultimately finishing in a disappointing position. They’ve smartened up their defence with the long-in-the-tooth but good-at-the-back Arjan de Zeeuw, and have been busy trying to add quality to a workmanlike squad. Julian Gray is a good addition, while Leon Best and Robbie Simpson are young and highly-rated. Depth in the squad is an issue Dowie must be worried about, especially should injuries (or bigger clubs) blight Coventry’s steps again. The club’s potential new management won’t be patient in waiting for success, so this season must be an improvement on the disappointments of 06/07.
Key player: Arjan de Zeeuw – He is slow and can barely pass the ball, but Wigan’s former captain is a born leader and shouldn’t be exposed for pace too often at this level
One to Watch: Robbie Simpson – The 22 year-old’s transfer tribunal overshadowed his move to Coventry from Cambridge, where he scored 15 goals over the second part of the season to seal Dowie’s interest
The Championship 07/08, part 1
Excitement is growing. Pre-season is winding down. The new season is just around the corner. And The Championship is the place to be.
Well, quite clearly, it isn’t. Everyone in The Championship has one eye on the prize but, newly patronised, The Championship always delivers passion, surprises, and surprising amounts of skill. Everyone can generally beat everyone else, and often do, with excitement rarely at a premium.
So, with 2 weeks until the opener (because these things take time, y’know), here’s a countdown of all of the runners and riders, the movers and shakers, and the wingers and strikers the Championship has to offer. Enjoy…
Barnsley
Last year: 20th
Prediction: Another struggle is likely this year, after losing 9-goal Daniel Nardiello to QPR and the club’s longest serving player, Antony Kay. At times they were woefully naïve last time around, shipping 4 goals or more on their travels a scary six times, culminating in a 7-0 tonking at the hands of the Baggies. It was only the fact that Leeds were quite so inept that Barnsley aren’t in League 1, so inexperienced manager Simon Davey must be looking to tighten his defence. Goals also didn’t come easily, though a full season for István Ferenczi should go some way to alleviating that pain, especially if either of the unknowns that are Miguel Mostto or Kayode Odejayi come off. Faced with little money, the outlay on Mostto in particular needs to be repaid, while Kozluk and Ricketts are both solid Championship players, if little more. Organisation and a keen work ethic seem to be the watchwords for 07/08.
Key player: Paul Reid – the captain has to marshal the defence better this year
One to watch: Miguel Mostto – The biggest Barnsley price tag since Neil Shipperley in 1999, the Peruvian must make good on Davey’s confidence in him
Blackpool
Last year: 3rd (League One), Playoff winners
Prediction: The Tangerines will be looking just to survive after their promotion at the expense of Yeovil last year. While there haven’t been any big signings, and their squad is filled with little-known names, Blackpool can at least count on their strikers to earn them some points. Both Andy Morrell and Keigan Parker scored over 15 goals last year, and have formed a handy partnership. Morrell in particular will be aiming to prove himself, following an unconvincing spell in the Championship with Coventry. The real star of the show is manager Simon Grayson though. Since his retirement from playing, he has turned a struggling team of battlers into a free-flowing, ten-game-in-a-row winning side, notching up two manager of the month gongs on the way. While budgets are tight, and Grayson may be set for bigger things, ‘Pool may well surprise more than a few established teams this year.
Key player: Andy Morrell – needs to convert League One dominance into a solid Championship season. Double figures is essential
One to watch: Wes Hoolahan – the young winger will need to get over the legal wrangling of his move from Livingston to show again the form that made him part of the League One team of the year
Bristol City
Last year: 2nd (League one)
Prediction: Another team looking to its inspirational manager, Bristol City will need lots of luck and graft to avoid a relegation nailbiter this season. 2007-08 will be the first season in almost a decade that has seen Bristol City playing at this level of English football, and there has (in the past) been a reason for that – inconsistency. While players like Enoch Showunmi, Steve Brooker and Louis Carey are all solid pros, none could be said to have the sparkle needed to separate League One and Championship. For that very reason, the dual signings of Ivan Sproule and Michael McIndoe are already under pressure. McIndoe has already shown promise during his time at Wolves, though Sproule’s capture raised eyebrows among the Robins faithful. City fans keep high hopes for Cole Skuse and, particularly, Richard Keogh, two young defenders who have already caught the eye of rival scouts.
Key player: Michael McIndoe – excellent left foot helped Wolves to the playoffs last year: his departure was a shock
One to watch: Richard Keogh is a 20 year old with 40 games under his belt last year, and has already captained the Republic’s U21’s
Burnley
Last year: 15th
Prediction: Dark horses early on in last year, Burnley tailed off in mid-table mediocrity by the end of the season. While Steve Cotterill’s men are guilty of some terrible inconsistency, the squad has been trimmed and trained into a handy Championship side. There should be no worry of relegation this year. Up front, Andy Gray and Robbie Blake are both tricky goalscorers, while highly-rated youngsters Kyle Lafferty and Besart Berisha should provide support. The defence has been bolstered since Steven Caldwell’s recruitment, though the midfield still looks light on quality. Joey Gudjonssen has slipped slowly down the leagues as his career has continued, while the same could be said for Alan Mahon.
Key player: Returning hero Robbie Blake should fire the goals to keep Burnley midtable
One to watch: Besart Berisha is an upstart Albanian with true quality
Cap’n Hand
So Mick’s delaying his decision on our on-pitch leader. In my opinion, the best leader we have is Karl Henry. However, Henry is not guaranteed a starting role, with Potter and Davies both pressuring for a berth. Potter seems the more favoured of the two, and was a captain himself at times.
My choice, therefore, would be Craddock. He’s not our best player, nor the most boisterous, but he’s been a stalwart for Wolves over the years. Henry should definitely be vice captain, with senior roles given to Murray, Breen and Edwards.
Not Djimi, Not Djimi, Not Djimi
Looks like we’ve given up on Mancienne, which is a shame. Apparently we can’t offer him guaranteed first team football, which Mourinho is insisting on for his loanees. Fair enough – he’d be a great signing, but we shouldn’t be guaranteeing anyone a spot, let alone a youngster that is unlikely to be around a year from now.] Of more interest now should be Armand Traore – the only one of my wishlist that seems to be actually coming true, though we did try for Billy in the end. He’s quick, skilfull, and will need games to progress now Bacary Sagna has signed for l’Arse. He’s a perfect fit, though I’m sure we’re not the only club that thinks so. Wolves also stepped up their pre-season with a comfortable 4-0 win in Ireland against Bray. Freddy Eastwood netted his first two goals in the old gold, but the game was more notable for the contribution of 60th minute sub Jay Bothroyd, who scored two pearlers and made another. Matt Murray also came through the game unscathed, while Stephen Elliott saw his new team for the first time. The game was decided when Kightly and Bothroyd replaced Jarvis and Keogh, with 2 immediate goals putting the result beyond Grays.
Lowest of the low
I’ve been thinking about this subject for some time – the most abhorrent, vile man in football. We’ve all got our figures of hate. Some are due to allegiance (I despise Lee Hughes for example), some due to performance (that bloke that always scores against you), and most due to their thoroughly disgusting habits (Bowyer, Barton, Thatcher etc.). Even managers cop some stick – bad ones, myopic ones, red-nosed ones, dodgy ones, fat ones, excessively arrogant ones. And it’s basically a referee’s job to be hated by one set of fans or another. But there’s a set of people within football, often behind the scenes that are worse. Agents.
Now, I don’t know any agents. I don’t mind that they “act in their clients’ best interests”. Fair enough, though I’m reasonably sure they’ve got the PFA for that too. These boys earn megabucks and barely scrape a GCSE between them – someone should probably put their affairs in order. But agents are always on the lookout for the next move and, more importantly, their next 10%. That’s not looknig out for your client’s best interests, that’s looking out for your own.
So here’s my one man. The most vile man in football, in my humble opinion. Willie McKay. His client list is a who’s who of players who have gone on strike from their clubs, been touted around, or have had more moves than John Travolta. Joey Barton, Henri Camara, Scott Brown, Pascal Chimbonda, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Nicolas Anelka. What a lovely stable of boys you’ve got there. McKay has already prompted a ‘Kick McKay out of football’ campaign from Wigan fans. I’d like to second it.
And, just for journalistic purposes, here he is. Along with his mobile number, weirdly.
Back to school
Reports the Express & Star today that we’ve given our young un’s a clean slate, and that we’re looking at the play-offs as an “absolute minimum”.
As much stick as old Merlin gets around the rest of the grounds in the country, the man has yet to put a single toe out of line at the Mol. He’s continually promised little to deliver more, and has given our youngsters the motivation to challenge again – even Gobern or Davies who both seem to have been overlooked in the run-in last season.
I’d still like another couple of defenders, one definitely left-sided, and another striker if possible, but I’ll defer to Mick. Mick knows…
Also in Wolves news, Steve is going to meet the fans parliament.
Now Arsenal are at it…
Seems paying over the odds is in fashion. Dudu by name??
<<EDIT>> It seems Zagreb’s confirmation of a £16.25 million fee may be wide of the mark, in the updated BBC Sport story. £7.5 million is apparently more likely – still, seems pretty steep for the boy…
No celeb signings for sour Sam
It seems to be a tradition at the Toon. Employ a manager, plucked at random, spunk millions on attacking ‘talent’, watch as 20,000 bare-chested Geordies crowd into the stadium to see said signings wave a scarf, forget to buy a defence. Then, like clockwork, results disappoint, the manager drops crowd favourite, crowd turns and manager is sacked. Repeat as necessary.
Only, not this time. This time, Newcastle have taken the strange tactic of bringing in a (very) hungry, but already proven, boss, whose tactical approach was underlined by its defence, rather than undermined by it. It’s heartening to see how Sam Allardyce has reacted to the perceived ‘step-up’ to a big club. He’s done away with the traditional influx of headline signings and instead brought in players who are proven performers, who will incrementally improve the squad.
Sure, he’s taken a risk or two – most notably on Joey ‘The Jailbird’ Barton – but it wouldn’t be a Sam Allardyce close season without them. And Barton’s on the pitch pedigree is hard to fault. If Big Sam can get Anelka and Diouf to knuckle down, I’m sure Barton and Viduka won’t present a terrible challenge. Sam has also done the smart thing and got rid of the obvious deadwood. Titus Bramble has been a Premiership joke from start to finish, and Olivier Bernard has been little better. That both were still in the pay of a club that escaped relegation is almost baffling.
Sam’s still got problems, but they’re nowhere near as bad as when he joined. Owen AND Martins are unlikely to both stay, but with Viduka and Ameobi to fill in, the loss of one of those players will be tempered. A potential masterstroke is the slate cleaning afforded to Albert Luque, the much maligned £12 million man whose tenure has been riddled with injury and poor form. However, Allardyce has a reputation for squeezing every last bit from any player, much like he would a tube of jelly – to get every last bit that’s there. Luque is already considered a lost cause, so any good he can coax from him will automatically be seen as a success.
While there may be no signings to warrant a glamorous unveiling this summer in the Toon, they very well might be a lot better off for it.
Current
Currently reading: Memoirs of a Geisha
Currently listening to: Les Savy Fav / LCD Soundsystem / Elliott Smith
Just so you know…
