Coca-Cola Championship Thread

[Manly]

Saturday was boring.
I don't agree with the 'good advert for the Championship' stuff they're saying. I'm sorry, I've been going for about 8 years now, and although I can't remember most of the games to compare, the ones I do remember were a lot better than this.
What I can't understand is why Magic waits so long to make substitutions; at 60 minutes most fans were calling for Jordan Rhodes, the youngster who has scored 40 goals at Reserve and Youth levels this season, and who Magilton himself describes as 'the most natural finisher at the Club'. SO WHY BRING HIM ON WITH 6 MINUTES LEFT, EH?
And another thing, Gary Roberts was booed as he waited to come on on Saturday, and there is no way you should boo your own team. Ever. No matter how bad he is, there is no place for it. Booing is acceptable at opposition players, players who are overrated and refs.
Which brings me on to my next point: why does the Championship get such crappy refs? Every week Town get crappy refs, and it isn't just me saying that with bias. They are truly terrible. We should've had two pens in the game on Saturday, and hell, Matthew Connoly handled the ball PAST the line and we got squat for it!

<>End rant<>

 

[treva]

Most refs are poor to be fair. I would say about 5% of refs are quality. I know it's a hard job but that's still not a good excuse for it. Umpires have hard jobs, but yet they seem to get a high percentage of decisions right. Every game, every week has at least 2 or 3 bad decisions. You hardly see 1 bad decision in a few sessions of cricket from an umpire. Obviously the better refs are pushed into the top flight, but still they've got to have some decent refs that will referee not just the championship but league 1 and 2 as well.

But if you think about it I think luck comes back around. Each team is getting decisions for them and against them, even if fans just highlight the unlucky moments. To be honest, although I don't think the standard of refs is good enough, it doesn't really effect the final standings as the decisions pan out evenly.

 

[PhilD123]

Which brings me on to my next point: why does the Championship get such crappy refs? Every week Town get crappy refs

The sad fact is that it doesn't get too much better in the Premiership, I mean look at refs like Styles, Clattenburg and Rennie, they're awful.

 

[thesweepmaster]

Bringing up Rennie, did you see the red card he gave to Kabba for a TRIP!! how on earth can he be fit to referee any kind of football? I know Watford were 3-0 down at the time but those awful decisions kill games, hell even the Hull players were complaining about the decision.
To be honest to you most referees aren't that bad in the Championship but the media love to print "Referee decision ruins game!" and that's why we remember the bad decisions more than the good decisions. What most games need is a ref that doesn't blow up for everything and that's why I enjoyed the last West Brom game I went to which was Hull at The Hawthorns. Even though Albion lost, I stood up and clapped after watching an end-to-end, free flowing football match which players weren't afraid to slide in because the ref decided to be very lenient, infact if Rennie was refereeing that game, he probably would have sent off at least 6 players.

 

[Skater]

I'm watching Stoke vs Crystal Palace, and despite the score, I have been very impressed with Stoke. They do give their opposition a physical examination, and you have to be right on top of your game when you play against them from set pieces, especially the long throw in. Sidibe nearly scored from one again in this game, like he did against Norwich last month. It takes quite a bit of skill to head it in without looking like he does.

Sinclair has looked really good for Palace, a run he made in the first half was top class. The way he set up the goal by running at Pugh and putting the cross in was brilliant. He reminds me a lot of Shaun Wright Phillips, in his Man City days. He is Premier League quality, he will struggle to get in the Chelsea team as it is though.

The way Stoke play could well get them promoted, and also give them a good chance of staying up. The question remains though, after a few games, will the better sides find them out and become wise to their style.

 

[treva]

Well Stoke snatch 3 points late on and Hull grab a point in the last minute. Was looking a good result for Bristol City until those late goals. Best possible result between WBA and Watford though. It really is going to go down to the wire...

 

[Manly]

I have foregone my ticket for the "Old Farm" derby tomorrow; would rather go play rugby instead, because I can't see us even snatching a draw...

Prove me stupid boys

 

[H0wZ4T!]

Had a fair day with Southampton, but I am certain we ain't going up. Andy Gray finally scored, but we missed Nicky Weaver a lot. We are four points outside the play-off places with three games left, no chance to be honest.

 

[Skater]

I have foregone my ticket for the "Old Farm" derby tomorrow; would rather go play rugby instead, because I can't see us even snatching a draw...

Prove me stupid boys

Really? With your home record and Norwich's inability to have any consistency, I am fully expecting an Ipswich win. Anything better will be a bonus.

 

[Leicester Fox]

I watched Leicester today, embarassing really. They were pretty awful, well they were terrible, the fans were brilliant but one ran on the pitch and threw his ST at the players. Leicester did have what seemed like a good goal disallowed and then went behind, they got it back to 1-1 which could keep them in the division (unlikely given how crap they are) and then the keeper came up for the free kick at the end nearly costing them 3 points, I just laughed but everyone else went mental. Anyway I have man flu so my eyes were watering and I kept sniffing so it seemed like I was crying to everyone we got out, and people understood why, they were that bad

 

[thesweepmaster]

I have foregone my ticket for the "Old Farm" derby tomorrow; would rather go play rugby instead, because I can't see us even snatching a draw...

Prove me stupid boys

Well they proved you stupid didn't they?? nah I'm only joking, well played to Ipswich they deserved their win apparantely. Norwich though deserve credit aswell, they have come along way under Roeder and really I believe that he should still be Newcastle manager.

Anyway onto my beloved Baggies, unlucky, more dropped points but the important thing was Bristol City, Hull City and I suppose Watford also dropped points. It was a shame that Stoke won against Coventry but other than that I can't ask for too much, otherwise people will think i'm greedy but the thing is that's all West Brom have to do now, do the same as the other teams and then we are back where we belong...










That's right another tough and exciting season in the Championship. (Not what you expected was it)

 

[treva]

Went to the Stoke - Bristol City game yesterday afternoon, and although the result was a bad one, I enjoyed the game. We definitely deserved more from the game and I dunno how we didn't equalise in the 2nd half. We were very poor 1st half and at 60 minutes in I thought we may as well have stopped the game there and then. But they rallied back and managed to create a lot of chances, just our finishing let us down. Need a point from our next 2 games to guarentee a play-off space, which is all I think we can hope for now.

West Brom will win the title, no doubt after their win at Norwich, although I understand they were holding on for most of the 2nd half against a pretty poor side (sorry Lee). Need Stoke to really slip up now if us or Hull have any chance of getting that second spot...

 

[Skater]

West Brom will win the title, no doubt after their win at Norwich, although I understand they were holding on for most of the 2nd half against a pretty poor side (sorry Lee).

The frustrating thing is Norwich are not a "pretty poor side". We have a squad full of very good players, a squad that should be in the play offs. A full season of Glenn Roeder in charge and I think we might realise our potential.

We certainly deserved at least a point out of the game yesterday, we were scared to score, they were treating the goal like a glass window they were afraid to break. Everything about us was "close", "nearly" and "just". It has been the story of our season.

 

[treva]

Hey, the way in which a side is judged is on results, and by results you are a 'poor side'...

 

[Skater]

Today is a huge day - a win for Norwich at home against Queens Park Rangers and we are safe from relegation!

I will be heading to Carrow Road in a while to be there. I hope the players pull their fingers out today. If we lose, it will all go down to the last game of the season, away at Sheffield Wednesday, who are also trying to save their bacon!