Championship 2018-19

At the risk of alienating some, it’s time to talk about who we’ll probably be playing against next season. Denial is not a river in Egypt, blah, blah, blah.
Norwich City and Leeds United currently occupy the top two spots, but, as they say, there’s a lot of soccer left.
Three through six looks like this:
3. Sheffield United
4. West Bromwich Albion
5. Middlesbrough
6. Bristol City
Derby County are seventh, but tied with city on points with 50 each.
Down at the bottom are Reading, Bolton and Ipswich Town. Rotherham are a point clear of Reading, but -20 GD vs. Reading’s -12. The others relegated from the Prem last season, Swansea and Stoke, appear to be staying put. as do Derby and Aston Villa. As an aside, Luton Town (hello Hatter!) are leading League 1 by a healthy 6 points.

 

There were five matches yesterday, five more today. Leaders Norwich are at PNE, 2nd place Leeds host Swans who, according to the Daily Mail (shields up, red alert) have significant administration issues. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/a...spute-threatens-engulf-ownership-Swansea.html. Bolton won yesterday to boost them within 2 ponts of safety. Not much change elsewhere. Bristol beat the 'Ha's and Brentford host Villa today.
From a purely historical standpoint, I'd really love to see Leeds back in the top flight. They just seem like they belong there.

 

After today’s (Sat, 3/2) results, Norwich City and Leeds United are 1-2, followed by Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough and Bristol City. Derby is 3 points behind the Robins for that final playoff spot, followed by 3 clubs 4 points out of sixth: Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Hull City. Huddersfield Town are almost a dead lock cinch to join us there next season and, after today, Cardiff sure look a good bet to do the same.

 

This is just crazy. I guess it's still good that they separate the fans.

http://www.espn.com/soccer/english-...ult-on-aston-villa-player-in-birmingham-derby

 

After match day #40, it looks like Norwich City is pretty much a cinch to win the league. Won their sixth straight against the ‘Ha’s today at Carrow Road 4-nil. The Canaries are 7 points clear of Sheffield United at the top, +4 on goal difference. Sheff U are 1 point ahead of Leeds United, who have faltered a bit but have started to right the ship a bit after leading the league early in the season. West Brom are 4th with 70 points, Aston Villa 5th with 63, and Bristol City are 6th with 62. They and Derby County, who are 7th with 60 points, have played one less match than the rest, along with Swansea and Milwall. Difficult to say how many teams below them still have a shot at the final playoff spot. Middlesbrough are 4 points behind Bristol, but lost their 6th straight today at Swans. Notts Forest, Preston North End and Hull City are all at 57 points and could conceivably challenge for 6th. PNE are the most likely, having won 3 straight. Sheffield Wednesday might be out of it at 56 points, having squandered a 1-nil lead at Hillsborough today, surrendering 3 unanswered from Villa. With six matches left (seven for some, as noted earlier), things can and will probably change. I think you can bank on Norwich to go up. The rest is still up for grabs. As for promotion, Don’s Luton Town Hatters are even better bets than Norwich, 8 points and 12 goals better than Barnsley. They and Sunderland, Portsmouth, Charlton and Doncaster will fight for 2nd and the playoffs.

 

Ever since the Birmingham fan attacked Jack Grealish Aston Villa has been unstoppable. They have now won 8 straight matches - the same number they won in September, October, November, December, January, and February combined. In those 8 matches they have only given up 5 goals and have climbed from mid-table into 5th place with 5 points between them and 7th place Middlesbrough who will likely fight with 6th place Bristol City and 8th place Derby for the final playoff spot. They still haven't beaten any of the teams above them, so the playoffs will still be a challenge, but like Fulham of last season you have to like being the hot team coming into the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Ipswich has been officially relegated to League One. Quite a turn for a team that fancied promotion after a hot start last season. Bolton will be next to go down, but Rotherham still has a shot at getting past Wigan or Millwall to stay up.

My main wish for the Championship now is that Leeds wins promotion - at least then we could go another season without having to play them.

 

Aston Villa in the middle of some craziness again...

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=26625042

 

Oh, and that result confirmed Sheffield United’s promotion.

 

Already relegated to League 1, Bolton hasn’t paid the staff March wages, the players are boycotting, what a mess.

http://www.espn.com/soccer/bolton-w...s-to-boycott-rest-of-season-over-unpaid-wages

 

You really should watch the Villa highlights of that game starting from 4:40 in (which this clip will jump to):


Villa put the ball out for Leeds (while they were in the attacking half!) just a few minutes prior to the controversy. Later during the moment of controversy you can see the Leeds player motion to the player who is down as if he is going to kick the ball out, but then he sends it on. Then the Villa video shows that the red card given for an elbow to the face NEVER HAPPENED. The Leeds player gets brushed in the chest and then clutches his face that was never touched. Plus watch the give and take on the sideline after the Villa goal was given, that didn't entirely smooth things over.

As I read about this I thought it all sounded like typical Leeds - until the part when the manager did the sportsman-like thing and ordered them to give up a goal for Villa. I imagine fans and ownership will be disappointed with the manager for not representing the values of the club.

In the end, the results didn't matter much here because even with a win Leeds would have needed to overcome 3 points and a 13 goal difference in goal differential in the final match to win automatic promotion.

There is a good chance Villa and Leeds will see each other again in the playoffs and wouldn't that be fun!

And as I say to the kids I coach in youth soccer ALWAYS PLAY TO THE WHISTLE!!!

 

The second legs of the semis for the right to advance to Wembley begin tonight at The Hawthorns. Villa lead WBA 2-1 after Saturday's first leg at Villa Park. Wednesday night at Elland Road, Derby County will try to overcome a 1-nil deficit against Leeds United. I watched the highlights of the first Villa-Albion match and I must say they appear pretty even. I think Villa's experience from last season will carry them through, although WBA has every chance to pip them. I haven't seen any of the Leeds-Derby action, so I have no idea who might be favored to advance. For me, the second semifinal at the Cottage last season was even more dramatic than the Wembley result. We HAD to score, and we had to prevent them from scoring to have any chance at all. Odoi's header was a bloody prayer that was answered, because he knew Sess was chronically short on corners and he compensated. Anyway, should be some captivating action with the prize a date at the Big W. We know the feeling. As an aside, Middlesbrough won 4 of their last 5, but missed out on the final playoff spot by a single point. In case you're wondering, Norwich City and Sheffield United have won automatic promotion to the Prem, so we won't be going to Carrow Road or Bramall Lane next season, unless it's in a cup competition. .
Whom do you like?

 

And into extra time at West Bromwich Albion with the hosts down a man!

 

Deep into kicks from the spot!
Albert Adomah had a chance to send Villa through to Wembley at 2-3, but sent it over the bar.

 

Villa are through on penalties, the clincher from Tammy Abraham after their keeper, Jed Steer, saved the first two penalties to give them the upper hand.
Leeds United and Derby County tomorrow afternoon for the right to face them at the arch on May 27th...a year and a day after we beat them there (sigh).

 

Derby County will supply the opposition and the coveted 20th spot in the Premiership at Wembley on May 27th.
They stormed back from going down 2-nil on aggregate away to beat Leeds United 4-2 (4-3 agh).

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...p-play-off-semi-final-second-leg-match-report

 

I'm so sad we'll have to face Leeds next year. Was really hoping for a least a two year break! It was nice getting to see Johansen playing for West Brom. I'm glad he seemed to have a productive second half of the season with them so hopefully he can hit the ground running for Fulham.

I have to give the edge to Villa in the final after the run they went on to close out the season and Derby's habit of blowing it in recent years.