Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Championship ...

It's difficult to tell too much from just one round of contests, but I'd say Norwich should be a stronger favorite to go back up than Toons. They roasted Owen Coyles's Blackburn side 4-1, still have a number of strong players, and recent experience on how to go about it. Unless they get decimated by injuries, I see them earning promotion before Newcastle. Their problem has been sticking once up in the PL.

 

And speaking of Owen Coyle... Resplendent, as ever, on the touchline in his training pitch shorts, which he'll no doubt be sporting in mid January...if he's still around.

 

David Stockdale, Steve Sidwell and their Brighton teammates spanked Pajtim Kasami and Notts Forest 3-nil Friday night. And Stekelenburg starts in goal today for Everton. A bit surreal.

 

Kasami has always impressed me. Still don't know why he was left off the Swiss Euro side this summer, unless it was through injury. Wish we still had him. And he's only 24. I just wonder if Olympiacos are truly interested in keeping him, or if the loan is a shopping move.

 

I may have spoken too soon about Toons. Rafa appears to have righted the ship, at least for now. They've won four in a row since losing to Huddersfield at St. James' the week after we beat them opening weekend at the Cottage. They appear to have done some good recent transfer bidness, and gotten some injured players back. They've got resources, plus the relegation cash, so the pundits may yet be proven right. To be honest, I really don't care, as long as we finish 1st or 2nd.

 

I have no words for this...

http://deadspin.com/soccer-player-not-allowed-to-give-away-shirt-takes-of-1790233745

 

Tells you how much I was following the transfer window of our competitors. Really bummed to see Sheffield Wednesday swooped up Jordan Rhodes on loan from Middlesborough and he immediately paid dividends by scoring in their 3-0 win over Birmingham. That's the kind of signing that is good on multiple levels; the guy can score a bushel of goals at this level, his presence alone lifts the confidence of the entire locker room, and their supporters have to be buoyed that the club is 'going for it'.

 

Sheffield Wednesday won..again dammit. However, not all is gloomy. Cauley helped out by scoring in Burton's 2-1 win over 7th place Norwich. Neither Barnsley nor Preston jumped us (the former lost, and PNE only managed a draw v Wigan). The team now tied on points w/Wednesday is Leeds, (9 points more than FFC) who drew w/Ipswich today. We need to jump 2 teams to get to 6th, we're only 2 points behind Norwich and 9 behind Leeds, but we have 2 games in hand on both of them. Keep the Faith!!!

 

The fact that we didn't play today and still didn't lose any places is a good thing. Wednesday did put some distance, but at least Leeds had a draw. We can pass Norwich playing at our current level, but we will need either Leeds or Wednesday to start playing worse over the remainder of the season in order to have a realistic shot at catching up. Good start on that today from Leeds, keep it up. Next Saturday Leeds and Wednesday play each other, so we'll like whatever the result of that one is.

 

Coupled with a win we will.

 

A good Tues. night for our team. Reading loses to Huddersfield (what a job ex-USMNT player David Wagner is doing up there, they got a legit shot at getting automatically promoted), Brentford beats Wednesday which keeps them 9 points ahead, and Burton goes to Derby and works a nil-nil draw which keeps them behind us. COYW!!

 

The scoreboard watching continues on Saturday w/the most important result being known before our match. Leeds is hosting Sheff W in the early (4:30 pst) game. Brighton can do us a huge favor by beating Reading at home. I think the top 3 teams are out of reach, so its okay if Huddersfield beats Barnsley. Norwich hosts Ipswich on Sunday, probably too much to ask for the Tractor Boys to draw, but you never know.

 

Leeds beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0, would've preferred a draw, but Fulham has a chance to get closer to 6th.

 

Need Birmingham City to help us out Friday at home v Leeds. Reading likely to beat Wolves at home. The other big match Saturday besides ours is Sheffield Wednesday hosting Norwich, hoping for a draw, but if someone has to win let's pull for the Canaries.

 

Norwich City sack Alex Neil. Wait. It's Friday. Whaaaatttt??????

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11709/10797248/norwich-city-sack-manager-alex-neil

 

Cauley with the match winner for Burton as they are pulling away from the relegation zone.

 

Has Rotherham been relegated yet?