The time when I pay more attention to the Championship to see what players are coming up to the prem.
This is essential to a fantasy league devotee like myself. It is useful to know next season's potential goalscorers. And if you think the Premier League is close, the Championship is offering up another three horse race of equal excitement. Leicester for many months were streets ahead, but the wheels have come off somewhat in recent games and their lead is cut to three points. Ipswich were in control of second spot for many weeks but a wee wobble at the start of February has let Leeds take second. Ipswich are a further one point behind Leeds. Four separating the top three and if Southampton win their game in hand they will only be two behind Ipswich. So, potentially a four horse race.
I watched Leeds away to Sheff Wed on Friday night and they seem to have the momentum. After duffing Leicester at the end of February, they ran Chelsea close in the cup. On Friday night they won 0-2 at Hillsborough. Their young talent, Gnonto, scored the second goal with the ever reliable Paddy Bamford getting the first. Gnonto is one of those players with bags of energy and talent, but with huge question marks regarding focus. Summerville is their current top scorer and I had him in my fantasy team last season and he was somewhat of a disappointment. One year on and a drop to the Championship seems to have helped him find some form. I think most neutrals want Leeds to get straight back to the EPL. With Radrizzani gone and new owners in place, they may stand a better chance of staying up and establishing themselves in the top flight where they belong.
It would also be great to see Leicester get straight back. With Pep's old number 2 at the helm they may do alright. The biggest nightmare for any team in the Championship is to finish third as the third place team almost never win the play-offs. Though I would love to see an East Anglian derby between Ipswich and their eternal enemy, Norwich.
Norwich currently sit in 6th.
Of the current top 3, Leeds have the easiest run-in, but we all know that with 9 games remaining it is still all to play for in this notoriously difficult league. At the start of April, Ipswich face Southampton and Norwich in back-to-back games as they desperately try to take back second place. Leeds and Leicester, with easier fixtures, will be hoping they drop points. The rewards for promotion are immense and at this stage it is just too close to call.
This is essential to a fantasy league devotee like myself. It is useful to know next season's potential goalscorers. And if you think the Premier League is close, the Championship is offering up another three horse race of equal excitement. Leicester for many months were streets ahead, but the wheels have come off somewhat in recent games and their lead is cut to three points. Ipswich were in control of second spot for many weeks but a wee wobble at the start of February has let Leeds take second. Ipswich are a further one point behind Leeds. Four separating the top three and if Southampton win their game in hand they will only be two behind Ipswich. So, potentially a four horse race.
I watched Leeds away to Sheff Wed on Friday night and they seem to have the momentum. After duffing Leicester at the end of February, they ran Chelsea close in the cup. On Friday night they won 0-2 at Hillsborough. Their young talent, Gnonto, scored the second goal with the ever reliable Paddy Bamford getting the first. Gnonto is one of those players with bags of energy and talent, but with huge question marks regarding focus. Summerville is their current top scorer and I had him in my fantasy team last season and he was somewhat of a disappointment. One year on and a drop to the Championship seems to have helped him find some form. I think most neutrals want Leeds to get straight back to the EPL. With Radrizzani gone and new owners in place, they may stand a better chance of staying up and establishing themselves in the top flight where they belong.
It would also be great to see Leicester get straight back. With Pep's old number 2 at the helm they may do alright. The biggest nightmare for any team in the Championship is to finish third as the third place team almost never win the play-offs. Though I would love to see an East Anglian derby between Ipswich and their eternal enemy, Norwich.
Norwich currently sit in 6th.
Of the current top 3, Leeds have the easiest run-in, but we all know that with 9 games remaining it is still all to play for in this notoriously difficult league. At the start of April, Ipswich face Southampton and Norwich in back-to-back games as they desperately try to take back second place. Leeds and Leicester, with easier fixtures, will be hoping they drop points. The rewards for promotion are immense and at this stage it is just too close to call.
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| Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports |
Peter, I really feared that we would drop points to a resurgent Wednesday at Hillsborough on Friday night as I expected fatigue to kick in after four games in less than a fortnight. The Wendies certainly tested us but we passed with flying colours demonstrating our new found capacity to see games out away from Elland Road. For the umpteenth time this season, Meslier in goal and Ampadou and Rodon in central defence came to our rescue. Not to mention the third generation of Elland Road royalty, Archie Gray, and, of course, the revitalised Bamford and Gnonto.
ReplyDeleteWe may have the easier run in but at least two of our remaining fixtures are against relegation strugglers namely Millwall (this Sunday) at home and QPR away. The squad is now the finished article but until we open up a gap of at least four points to the the team in third place I will put any visions of the Premiership next season on hold. Southampton hold two jokers in their hand as they play Ipswich and us (on the last day).
Leicester face a possible points deduction if they return to the top f;light due to alleged violation of FFP regulations; you have heard of such things, Peter!
Marching on Together!
I think this Leeds side can do it. At the star of the season I hoped for it but knew it would be a hard campaign. But they are in a good position now
DeleteBarry
DeleteDon't get me started on FFP ffs! City were never going to "do a Ridsdale". The establishment don't like an upstart.
With any luck, the Saints game will be a dead rubber for yous, as you'll already be promoted ;-)