Re: Championship rivals thread 2017/18

by deadbuzzardalive Sat Nov 04, 2017 8:14 am

Have to say I watched the second half and Wolves looked really impressive, I expect they'll be right up there until the end of the season unless they suffer injuries to key players.

by AstonThriller Sat Nov 04, 2017 9:58 am

deadbuzzardalive wrote:Have to say I watched the second half and Wolves looked really impressive, I expect they'll be right up there until the end of the season unless they suffer injuries to key players.

I have to disagree tbh. I saw the whole game and Fulham passed rings around them for the most part. But my word how powderpuff were they? Absolutely no punch upfront and when they had set pieces in promising positions they pissed around and went backwards. They also didn't have the ability to switch things up. They play that tiki-taka stuff like it's going out of fashion and just put themselves under huge pressure when teams press high against them. Their defence was also pathetic at defending set-pieces and it's no surprise considering they left one of their best defenders (Kalas) on the bench and replaced him with a wingback at the heart of the defence. Cairney being rested also hurt them in the creative department. So all in all, it was Wolves taking advantage of a team who are low in confidence and had nothing to hurt them upfront. The blueprint of how to beat Wolves is well established. Bully them, close them down quickly and sit deep to deny them the counter-attack, that's it. They will be there or thereabouts, that's clear because Mendes is manipulating his players into going there, but make no mistake about it, we can catch these if we just keep chipping away.

They have to go to Cardiff, come to VP, go to Boro, Play Leeds twice, Go to Reading which I think from a tactical pov could be very hard for them, go to Bristol, play Brentford again who played them off the park in their previous meeting etc. So let's just wait and see how they get on in those fixtures before we write off first place lads Very Happy

And lastly, my only concern today is that second place spot!!..we could potential be two or three points behind them this evening, that's all that matters right now imo.

by deadbuzzardalive Sat Nov 04, 2017 10:19 am

There's definitely a good side somewhere within Fulham you could see that even last night. I think they just need a bit of fine tuning and better decision making, our victory over them, probably traumatized them somewhat and they haven't recovered yet, having previously been on a good run.

Often in the Championship there's a team that go on late run, I wouldn't be surprised if it's Fulham this year.

by achilles Sat Nov 04, 2017 10:35 am

If Wolves are still up there after the Xmas and New Year period then I will accept that they are perhaps the real deal but I just wonder how the Portuguese lads will react without a mid-season break!

by AstonThriller Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:17 am

deadbuzzardalive wrote:There's definitely a good side somewhere within Fulham you could see that even last night. I think they just need a bit of fine tuning and better decision making, our victory over them, probably traumatized them somewhat and they haven't recovered yet, having previously been on a good run.

Often in the Championship there's a team that go on late run, I wouldn't be surprised if it's Fulham this year.

Word is they are only two or so points worse off than they were this time last year. And I still maintain that the side they had last season was the best team I've seen since we came down to the championship. But losing Malone, Aluko and Martin seems to have hurt them badly tbh. Last season Cairney and Johansen were scoring goals for fun, Sessegnon was running riot, Fredricks and Malone were getting forward at will and getting assists, Ayite was scoring etc, but they just didn't look confident last night at all and made so many poor decisions it was ridiculous. and despite that they still missed two sitters!!..Mccdonald had an open goal almost and put it over the bar and Kabano had just the keeper to beat and dragged it wide. Wolves are grinding out results which is good for them...but that winter period will be how I judge them. Pass it with flying colours then fair play, they'll most likely stay where they are. Slip up though and I think we'll hunt them down and then some.

by AstonThriller Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:19 am

achilles wrote:If Wolves are still up there after the Xmas and New Year period then I will accept that they are perhaps the real deal but I just wonder how the Portuguese lads will react without a mid-season break!

Yep, that's another thing to take into account. Neves, Boly, Jota, Bollotini etc have never played a season without one so they may tire down the stretch.

by **De Kuip** Sat Nov 04, 2017 12:04 pm

Hoping for a Bristol v Cardiff draw in the midday game - both dropping 2 points would be the preferred outcome I think.

by deadbuzzardalive Fri Nov 17, 2017 7:55 pm

Chris Coleman resigns as Wales boss, and is expected to takeover at Sunderland. Looks like they'll be getting a new manager bounce just in time for our game.

He can't lose really they shouldn't be where they are in the league, and as long as he helps them avoid relegation he'll probably be seen as an hero.

by deadbuzzardalive Sun Nov 19, 2017 3:26 pm

Middlesbrough lose to Leeds, so we stay Fifth, not only that but it puts and end to their little winning run that they were on. Also means that if Derby win their game in hand it will be them that drops out of the top six rather than us.

by **De Kuip** Tue Nov 21, 2017 1:39 pm

Tonight/tomorrow, I think it will be something like this (after games played):
Wolves/Leeds draw - Wolves move to 39/Leeds to 27.
Sheff U win, move to 39
Cardiff win, move to 37
Bristol draw, move to 32
We win, move to 32
Ipswich lose stay on 25 (but Sheff Wed move to 27)
Boro draw move to 27
Derby win move to 29

Looks like us and the scum can do each other a favour if we both win.

Oh, and still no idea why we've changed to Tuesday home games??

by **De Kuip** Thu Dec 21, 2017 9:28 am

I wonder if Barnsley are going to be the New "moneyball" team of the Championship as they've just been bought by a chinese-billionaire-led consortium that includes Baseball legend Billy Beane, played so well by Brad Pitt in the film Moneyball.
It will be interesting to see what this does for Barnsley's championship future and whether they'll buy big in Jan and become a rival in the second half of the season.

by Gordonsleftboot Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:14 am

De Kuip wrote:I wonder if Barnsley are going to be the New "moneyball" team of the Championship as they've just been bought by a chinese-billionaire-led consortium that includes Baseball legend Billy Beane, played so well by Brad Pitt in the film Moneyball.
It will be interesting to see what this does for Barnsley's championship future and whether they'll buy big in Jan and become a rival in the second half of the season.

The new owner has said it will be slow and safe investment. The point is though that they now have a 'direction of travel' and this is Barnsley! It just gets tougher!

by deadbuzzardalive Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:23 am

It might be a bit too late for them to challenge this season, but them being taken over can only make it more difficult for us next season, should we still be in the Championship and their owners willing to spend. If promotion doesn't happen it will be interesting to see what happens to the club, hopefully not as bad as some make out, having to spend a third season outside the topflight will be bad enough in of itself, without financial meltdown.

Can actually see Barnsley trying to sign Hourihane back.

by AstonThriller Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:31 am

Barnsley will most likely follow the Brentford model more than anything else. Their owners have already made it clear that they will not be spending silly money. Much like what the West Brom "billionaire" owner said and they've stayed true to their word. IF we don't make it to the promise land this season then I'd expect massive changes to be made in the boardroom and with the coaching staff. So either way, it should be exciting to see.

by **De Kuip** Sun Dec 24, 2017 8:17 am

Surprised to see Boro have got rid of Monk as I thought they were an improving side under him. I wonder if there's more to it behind the scenes?
I'd rather have him at Villa than Bruce, but that's more an indictment of potato head than a recommendation for Monk.

by **De Kuip** Tue Dec 26, 2017 12:08 pm

De Kuip wrote:Surprised to see Boro have got rid of Monk as I thought they were an improving side under him. I wonder if there's more to it behind the scenes?
I'd rather have him at Villa than Bruce, but that's more an indictment of potato head than a recommendation for Monk.

Looks like there was a deal being sorted as Pulis has been appointed. He can continue his obsession with Villa from the same division now the Welsh c.unt.

by deadbuzzardalive Mon Jan 08, 2018 5:16 pm

Karanka seemingly going to Forest.

by deadbuzzardalive Mon Jan 08, 2018 6:12 pm

According to Alan Nixon Stoke's main target isn't Rowett, but it's someone already at another club and that club isn't too much of an hindrance... could it be Bruce, probably not, but did make me wonder when taken into consideration with Xia's latest display of unhappiness.

Stoke fans are asking themselves the same question on their forum, looks like most of them are hoping for Benitez though.

by Saunders82 Mon Jan 08, 2018 7:22 pm

So Aitor Karanka has gone to Forest, first match Aston Villa, just what we wanted.

by Dazzle Mon Jan 08, 2018 7:47 pm

deadbuzzardalive wrote:According to Alan Nixon Stoke's main target isn't Rowett, but it's someone already at another club and that club isn't too much of an hindrance... could it be Bruce, probably not, but did make me wonder when taken into consideration with Xia's latest display of unhappiness.

Stoke fans are asking themselves the same question on their forum, looks like most of them are hoping for Benitez though.

I think I’d fall off of my fucking unicorn if Stoke wanted Bruce

by deadbuzzardalive Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:13 pm

Well Stoke fans seem to be hanging off Alan Nixon's every word on twitter, which probably isn't very wise to be honest, given his track record, but he's said that Stoke's first choice target isn't Rowett, the club he's at wouldn't put up a big effort to stop leaving, it's an 'ok' name, and he's not managing a Premier league team but has in the past, based on that a lot of their fans are now worrying that it is going to be Bruce.

I think if any Premier team was to go for Bruce it would be Stoke, but I doubt he'd be interested in leaving us for them, unless we advised him that it's best if both parties moved on.

by Guest Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:45 pm

If they take Bruce I'm gonna make 9th of Jan. a fecking flag day in my house

by Guest Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:29 pm

Rowett signed a new deal with derby. Bet they will start falling down the table now. Would be typical.

by deadbuzzardalive Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:30 pm

Rowett's has now signed a new deal with Derby County. Looking on a Stoke forum they seem to think it's either going to be one of Bruce, Coleman, or O'Neill, but all that is just based on Alan Nixon's tweets, although to be fair he was right about Rowett.

by deadbuzzardalive Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:52 pm

Reports that Wolves have bid £30m+ for Andre Silva, a lot of Villa fans having a meltdown about it on twitter and questioning Xia.

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