The Coke Season Preview
The Coca Cola Championship kicks off tomorrow. Since none of you Premiership lot gives a toss about the Coke, I'm going to initiate the discussion of the Championship on the blog and hopefully Blubber will chip in about his beloved Tractor Boys. Here's how I'm predicting the Coke will break down this season:
The Contenders:
*Birmingham - Newly relegated but has shed a lot of dead weight.
*Coventry - Micky Adams will lead his side at least to the playoffs.
*Derby - New manager Billy Davies took PNE to the playoffs last season.
*Leeds - Rob Hulse is gone, but several new canny signings have come in.
*WBA - Most likely to yoyo; haven't sold many players; John Hartson in.
Bubbling Under:
Crystal Palace - New boss Peter Taylor needs a year to organize the side.
Ipswich - New manager Jim Magilton; no new players in.
Leicester City - Statis; another season in the Coke.
Preston - Lots of changes over the summer after a playoff campaign.
Sunderland - Bottom relegated side last season; new boss Niall Quinn.
Also Rans:
Barnsley - Newly promoted; managed by Andy Ritchie.
Burnley - Good at home; not so good away from Turf Moor.
Cardiff - Lots of new signings this summer, but little quality.
Hull City - Lost Peter Taylor to Palace over the summer.
Luton - Will feel the loss of Kevin Nicholls to Leeds.
Norwich - Much hope pinned on new striker Robbie Earnshaw.
Stoke City - Very little happening on the market.
Wolves - Chaos over summer with sacking of Hoddle; Mick McCarthy in.
Relegation Battlers:
Colchester - Newly promoted; sold off most of the side.
Plymouth - Will need to be organized in order to stay up.
QPR - Struggled to stay up last season.
Sheffield Wednesday - Struggled in Blades shadow last season.
Southend - Two successive promotions! Too much, too soon.
Come on you Leeds boys!
posted by gatorbob @ 10:08 AM
21 Comments:
Good Luck this season you Sheepshagger!
Saw you picked up Geoff Horsefield today. Youth policy being packed in?
Yeah, yeah....the official line out of Elland is that Horsfield is "a proven goalscorer at this level." (sigh) I really don't know about this cosiness with the Blades - it seems as if most of the deals this summer have been between Leeds and Sheff Utd. Weird.
i think you missed one, where you putting Southampton? They're one I see heading back up. George Burley always seems to get his teams playing well and he should have a bit of cash following the sale of what's his name (you know the one the can't get a game in but still gets pick for England).
The only argument I have with you regarding the tractor boys is how high you've place them. I can't see them finishing above the mid-point -- their only saving grace is they supposedly have some good youth players coming up. Oh well -- come on you Blues!!!
Hey Blubber, good to hear from you. You're absolutely right. I did have Southhampton as a contender with George Burley on board and the fanatical support at St. Mary's. They're tough to beat at home.
I'll stick with my prediction of Ipswich bubbling under - top ten probably - given their youth development policy. Norwich, though, they're gonna get a beating today from the lads.
Best of luck this season Bob and Greg.
I hope you both come up but Bob's chances are much better. Without the Prem, the Coke is available on Five Live. I listened to a little of the Luton/Leicester match in between listening to the cricket.
Leeds vs Norwich live on Five Live as I type.
Cheers, Dave. I appreciate the nod for Leeds. We're starting against Norwich with new signing Geoff Horsfield pairing David Healey...and Horsfield has given away a foul inside the first minute!
Luton are top of the table after that early kickoff win against Leicester.
I've just noticed that the Canaries have Darren Huckerby and Robbie Earnshaw up front. Blimey, that's not a bad front pairing for a Championship side. Why aren't Norwich better?
Cheers, Dave, the Five Live coverage is fab. Enjoying it as I type. It's magic just to have the crowd noise from Elland Road.
Ooooh, could have been 2-0 to Norwich.
Come on Leeds, get your finger out
OFF THE POST. Earnshaw could have scored three. COME ON LEEDS
Penalty to Leeds after a foul on Stone....
And we're one up! Wooohoooo!
Of course, it was a Man Utd product that did it for you
So, both Leeds and Ipswich in at half time leading 1-0. Nice one.
Now Town are two one down.
Come on Leeds, hold on.
What on earth is happening to me. I am rooting for the Whites
I don't think Healy should have come off
Why? He's done his job. I'm keen to see (or rather hear) how this new signing from Brighton Seb Carole gets on.
They need another goal. Don't sit and hold on. Is that guy on?
Yeah, Carole nearly scored with his first touch. I'm reasonably happy with the performance, although Horsfield sounds too static a frontman. I'd prefer Robbie Blake alongside Healey.
Way hay! Off to a winning start. Norwich aren't half bad, though. They pushed us hard and were unlucky not to get at least a draw. I might have to revise my prediction for them up into the "Bubbling Under" category.
Well done. You guys are in the promotion places.
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