This is a funny old time of year for any team in the Championship. Depending on how you’ve fared, you could be singing, crying, or just plain tearing your hair out. Any team from the Championship can be sorted into one of these categories:

1) Promoted – this is the holy grail of this league, you’re going to be playing Premier League football next season.

2) Qualified for Play-offs – this means that you have put in a great effort to win the league or come second for automatic promotion, but face a knockout competition between 4 teams to bag the third promotion spot.

3) Mid-table – not too bad, it’s a tough league, but next year you expect to mount a serious push for promotion.

4) Bottom-half –  possibly disappointed, looking for positives, changes in staff may be called for.

5) Relegated – says it all really. very hard to come straight back up when this happens.

I find myself in the second category, in the play-offs with Birmingham finishing a very surprising 4th this year. We have had so many off-field problems, that no-one expected Chris Hughton to get us to within touching distance of being promoted back into the Premiership at the first time of asking.

If someone said to me at the start of the season that we would finish in the top half of the table, I would have ripped their arm off and taken that. I was convinced that we were going to really struggle, and find ourselves in a relegation dog-fight. If the worst had happened, had we found ourselves in League 1, I’m not sure how long it would have taken for us to get back out.

Can you imagine the stick from all of those Villa fans across the way too? It would have been relentless.

Luckily, it hasn’t come to that, we have had an awesome season, one which should be plenty for all of us Blues considering the precarious position of the club.

The problem is that now we are in the play-offs and I can taste the Premier League, and we don’t get through the knockouts, I can’t help but think I’m going to feel disappointed. I know this is wrong, but when is anything ever right in football when your heart takes over? I know that finishing 4th is fine, there’s no shame in it. But I just can’t stop believing.

As it stands, the first game of the play-offs kicked off on Thursday night with West Ham beating Cardiff 2-0 away which puts them in the driving seat when they go back to the Boleyn Ground. Birmingham were drawn away against Blackpool, a tie that we made very hard for ourselves, and ended up losing 1-0.

That game, for me, was very infuriating. Now that finishing 4th is not enough, I was convinced that we could go to Bloomfield Road and get something. Not only get something, but make relative light work of it. I was mistaken. We really did not compete for anything, we didn’t offer anything going forward, and when the ball did manage to make it to the final third, Marlon King was invariably offside or gave the ball away.

One thing I’d like to point out, where were all of the Blackpool fans? the stadium was half empty with an attendance just short of 14,000. Bear in mind that there were about 3,000 Bluenoses there, who were making more noise than the other lot.

So will that teach me for getting too caught up in the hype? In a word, no.

We are due to welcome Blackpool to St. Andrews on Wednesday night, with a sell-out crowd. This place is a fortress when it’s rocking, we have only lost 1 game at home all season. The best home record in the league. Add this to the play-off confidence boost and I’m yet again convinced that we can turn them over, and make it through to the final.

This has more logic behind it than the first leg, but not too much more. Blackpool know that they have to come at us, and peg us back. They have the staff to more than capably do this too, with the likes of Dobbie and Ince. They really hurt us on Friday, we have to keep them quiet.

The crowd will be roaring, and pushing on a depleted Birmingham team, that will be chomping at the bit to get through to the final. A lovely quote from Ian Holloway after the first leg after hearing the noise that the 3,000 strong away support was making, “Cor they love their football those Brummies don’t they? Very passionate”.

All of this being said, I know deep down that I’ll be gutted if we get knocked out, even though I know that reaching this stage in the first place is a major achievement. But it doesn’t stop me dreaming.

Damn play-offs.

You can follow me on twitter: @gianni_saw or at my blog: onacoldwindynight.wordpress.com.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The 2011-12 Championship league fixtures have come to an end and finally the automatic promotion positions have been confirmed. However, at the other end of the table, the relegation picture had been clear for some time. The bottom three teams can now begin preparation for a spell in League 1.

Below are the final league positions that really matter:

Reading - Champions
Southampton - Promoted

West Ham United - Play-Off semi-finalists
Birmingham City – Play-Off semi-finalists
Blackpool – Play-Off semi-finalists
Cardiff City – Play-Off semi-finalists

Portsmouth - Relegated
Coventry City - Relegated
Doncaster Rovers – Relegated

Promoted Sides:

Reading

Reading claimed the Championship title over a week ago, following a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. The Royals boss, Brian McDermott, held back the tears as he watched his side lift the trophy for the second time following the achievements of Steve Coppell’s side in 2005/06. Following Reading’s heartbreak in last season’s Play-off final, the fans will be delighted with their clubs return to the top flight, after a four year absence.

Southampton

Yesterday, Southampton were promoted to the Premier League after beating Coventry City 4-0, ending their seven-year exile from the top flight. The comprehensive win, completed a fairy tale rise under manager Nigel Adkins which has seen the team transform from a League 1 outfit into a team fit for the Premier League. The promotion is their second in succession, after rising from League 1 last term with a second-placed finish, behind champions Brighton & Hove Albion. Clearly this a remarkable achievement for Adkins team, hopefully this form can be carried into the top flight next season.

Chances of Survival in the Premier League

This season, the promoted Swansea, Norwich have drastically exceeded expectations. Both teams sit in mid table positions, a situation they could only dreamed of 12 months ago. No doubt, Reading and Southampton will look to emulate this success. Both teams have the advantage of large financial backing. I expect both managers will look to bring in new talent once the transfer window opens in July. However, this alone will not ensure their survival come next term. QPR have been a clear example of this, despite amounts of spending, the London club have struggled for points this year against other top division teams. McDermott and Adkins will look to sustain the core of their team, whilst bringing in a few quality new players. The likes of Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert will be vital for the Saints next season, whilst Reading will rely on Harte, Kebe and various other key players. As long as both teams move positively into next season’s fixtures, playing their own style of football, I’m confident they will do well.

Play-off Position Round-up

This season the play off finals will be a very tough contest. The road to Wembley now begins as Blackpool, Birmingham, West Ham and Cardiff will battle for the final chance of promotion to Premier Division.

West Ham United had to settle for third place even as a Carlton Cole brace sank Hull 2-1 at Upton Park in the final league game of the season.

Cardiff City wrapped up the final Play-Off spot, but made their fans sweat first before beating Crystal Palace 2-1.

Whilst, a 2-0 win, against Reading on the final day, lifted Birmingham into fourth place above Blackpool, who were held 2-2 at Millwall.

Personally, I would love to see Blackpool back in the Premier League. Ian Holloway is such an entertaining manager and this is even seen by the way his teams play on the pitch, pure attacking football! The Seasider’s were unlucky to be relegated a year ago as they suffered defeat to Man United on the final day of the season.

However, West Ham are the side most likely to go up. Sam Allardyce has arguably the strongest side of the six. The Hammer’s fans will be expecting play-off success.

Championship Play-off Semi Finals confirmed as follows -

1st legs

Cardiff City v West Ham United – Thursday 3rd May 2012 kick-off 7.45pm

Blackpool v Birmingham City – Friday 4th May 2012 kick-off 7.45pm

2nd legs

West Ham United v Cardiff City – Monday 7th May 2012 kick-off 4.30pm

Birmingham City v Blackpool – Wednesday 9th May 2012 kick-off 7.45pm

Final

Teams TBC – Wembley 19^th May 2012

Relegated Sides:

Coventry and Portsmouth were both relegated to League 1 after losses last weekend. For Portsmouth, relegation is the latest chapter in a turbulent recent history and in a season in which the club has endured administration and a 10-point penalty. While it has been 29 years since the south coast club were in the third tier, Coventry, another club with off-field issues, were last in the old Third Division in 1964. Meanwhile Doncaster finished bottom of the league with just 36 points.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for these sides. In the last 5 seasons, many clubs have displayed the resilience to bounce back from relegation. Both Norwich and Southampton are the good examples of this. These sides have won consecutive promotions and now find themselves playing in the Premier League next season. If Portsmouth can sort out their financial issues I’m sure they will take a similar course. The clubs prestige and history will be enough to keep them afloat and see them through a tough year in League 1. Leeds, Charlton and Sheffield United are further examples of clubs that have ended a period of decline. These 3 teams have all recovered following a short spell in the lower leagues. They now find themselves climbing back up through the divisions. There’s no doubt fans of the newly relegated sides should be optimistic going into next season.

For similar articles, visit my blog chrisslinnell.wordpress.com and follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/ChrisLFootball.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

This Premier League season has been a memorable one, with the title race again going down to the wire and potentially being settled by a Manchester derby, the new arrivals Norwich and Swansea reminding everyone that the gap in class between the Premier League and the Championship actually isn’t all that great, and the relegation battle is probably one of the tightest battles there has been in the Premier League since it’s inception 20 years ago.

With all of this going on, there has been one club that has really caught my eye this season, and most probably not for all the right reasons, that club is Aston Villa.

As a Birmingham supporter, this would probably seem a little bit strange. I mean, I always like to keep one eye on the Villa scores, and find myself quite often supporting anyone that they are up against. We all know that this is a little bit immature, but I like to wind up my Villa mates anyway. No harm done really.

But the connections between the club, and I don’t just mean the geographical proximity of the clubs, has naturally led me to follow them with avid interest for most of this season. Now that they are embroiled in a serious relegation dog fight, myself and other Birmingham fans have our Bluenoses pressed firmly up against those Villa windows, waiting to see what will come of their season.

This tiny obsession began when Alex McLeish scurried across no-man’s land, and was appointed as the Villa manager. I’m going to be really honest and say that at the time I was a little disappointed by his departure, even more so that he wanted to go to our rivals. I thought that he’d given us Blues some great times. Granted he got us relegated twice, but the first time I wouldn’t pin the blame firmly on him alone, and last season I accepted the bitter pill of relegation, even if I did call some his tactics and selections into question, with the sweet taste of the Carling Cup win, and the chance to go and play in Europe.

Trouble is though, I don’t know of any Villa fan that was happy to see him arrive, and after speaking to a few of them, it wasn’t just the Blues connection either.

Many Villa fans associated McLeish with a very dour brand of football, where his style of play wasn’t based around technical passing, using wide men, and playing attractive football, but more of a percentage game, and very quick to get the ball into the danger areas. It was about getting players to the ball, not the other way around.

This is not the Villa way, I’m told.

I also get told that his managerial record did not install a sense of belief either, and that when he managed Rangers, he was credited with one of their all-time worst league performances. I’m not sure if I should take this with a pinch of salt, because during his time at Rangers he also achieved a fair few major successes also. Not to mention that before Rangers, he’d had some success with Motherwell and Hibs.

Then I get reminded that McLeish had relegated Birmingham twice. Which in all fairness, you can’t really defend, he did.

Some of the football and tactics we saw at Birmingham were questionable when we were languishing in the drop zone of last season, and now I can see all of those symptoms and characteristics happening over at Villa Park. It’s almost like some foggy flashback! The only difference is that he made Birmingham quite a tough team to beat, it seems that Villa don’t even have that small bit of safety.

But what should Villa do? McLeish is on a 3 year deal that will cost a club that is already trying to cut its cloth accordingly, a large chunk of cash to pay off. Or, do they stick with a manager who is proven in getting relegated clubs promoted? Just in case?

It seems that there is no real strategy at Villa, no communication of what the plans are. The only real plan they seem to be talking about is cutting wage bills. I think that they thought that by offloading a few players, saving a few pennies, and taking the hit to sit mid-table for a few seasons before mounting a serious push for the top 6 as they enjoyed under Martin O’Neill.

What has actually happened is that they massively underestimated the impact of the wage cuts and player sales, and are now stuck fighting for survival. If the club is so strapped of cash-flow and investment, if they did go down, I can’t see them coming straight back up.

The board also, with their track record of managerial appointments isn’t exactly filling anyone with belief either. They wheeled out an old, ill, quite obviously past it Gerard Houllier, and then looked across the road at McLeish and conducted a relatively messy managerial transfer? This is a cause for concern.

I’m not defending McLeish with this piece, far from it. All I’m saying is that before you make McLeish your scapegoat, take a closer look at your club, and what is happening because after McLeish goes, if he goes, and you find yourselves with yet no more improvement, you will have no-one else to blame.

You can follow me on twitter: @gianni_saw / or at my blog: onacoldwindynight.wordpress.com

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Building on our previous post about the most efficient football clubs across Europe’s top four leagues this season, here we do an historical analysis of the Premier league and the best performing clubs in the last three years (2009/2010 to 2011/2012).

The chart below shows some fascinating visual data about Premier League teams in the last three years – from succintly pointing out Arsenal’s #1 issue to highlighting the massive statistical improvements United have made this season to why Liverpool and Wigan are at the wrong end of the tables.

Make sure you click on the image below to enlarge and view the full data, then share your thoughts in the comments below.

The most efficient Premier League clubs in the last three years

Talking Points:

• Wigan’s continued Premiership survival has been nothing short of miraculous given their tendency for wayward shooting and calamitous defending.
• Arsenal are below the average defensive efficiency line for all three years. Their 2012 team has the fifth worst defense overall in the last three years and the second worst this season, ahead of only Blackburn. Someone should show Wenger this chart before he buys any other players (if he buys them, that is).
• United’s ridiculous position at the top left for 2012 shows how they have made the most of their attacking chances and held their ground (despite that 1-6 scoreline) defensively as well. The only comparison – defensively – is City from 2011 and Villa from 2010.
• From the chart it would seem that United were the better team than Chelsea in 2010 – but that’s the nature of football, where it’s not just your overall numbers but your ability to win key games, which United failed to do that season.
• Liverpool have the second-worst attack this season behind Wigan, and the fourth-worst attack in the last three years. Only Wigan (twice) and Portsmouth have done worse. One of them was relegated and the other might join them this season. How soon before Liverpool sue Evra for costing them a Champions League place / financial losses?

Research done by Matthew Wood. You can find more of Matthew’s statistical work at Balanced Sports.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

With 6 games to go in the season, the race for promotion to the riches of the Premier League is hotting up.

It is seemingly a three-horse race for the two automatic promotion places on offer. Southampton and Reading are the two clubs currently in the driving seat but a strong West Ham United side are lurking close behind in third.

The race for the Play-Offs also looks set for an intriguing finish as a number of sides look to seal their place in the top 6 and be in with a chance of promotion to the “big-time.” 3rd spot looks likely to be taken by one of the top 3 but the positions of 4th, 5th and 6th are still up for grabs with Birmingham, Blackpool and Brighton currently occupying these all important play-off spots.

The teams just outside of the play-offs such as Middlesbrough, Cardiff and perhaps even Hull will be looking to string together a few good results in the last six games to ensure that they get the chance to be in the play-offs. The big question on every fans lips is who will be in the Top 6 of the Championship come the 28th April when all the teams’ fates will be decided?

1st – SOUTHAMPTON
Manager: Nigel Adkins
Played: 40 Points: 78 GD: +34
Current Form: DWWWWL

The Saints have been the frontrunners nearly all season for automatic promotion and have set the pace right from the off. Unlike other sides in the promotion mix, they have been consistent from the start and are deservedly top of the Championship with six games to go. The question is can Southampton hold their nerve for the final run-in to complete unexpected back-to-back promotions and a return to the Barclays Premier League?

Their home form this season has been extraordinary having only dropped 8 points at St. Mary’s all season. This form coupled with a number of crucial goals from star-striker and top scorer Rickie Lambert has seen the South-Coast club stay ahead of the pack at the top of the Championship.

Southampton’s remaining fixtures don’t look tough on paper as they have to play rivals Portsmouth & Coventry who are threatened by relegation and Crystal Palace & Peterborough who are sitting in mid-table with nothing to play for. But no results are set in the stone and if they underestimate such opposition, Southampton could be left red-faced. A home clash against second-placed Reading on the superstitious date of Friday 13th April will have a huge bearing on the race for automatic promotion.

Our Prediction: We think that Southampton will have enough left in the tank to see out the remainder of the campaign and be sitting in one of those two automatic promotion places come the end of April. Adkins is a firm manager who won’t allow for any complacency in the final run-in and will still expect the best from his players to ensure that the Saints achieve their aim of promotion. There is no reason why Southampton can’t continue their excellent form which they have shown all season for the crucial final six games.

Rickie Lambert's goals have been instrumental in Southampton's promotion bid

2nd – READING
Manager: Brian McDermott
Played: 40 Points: 76 GD: +24
Current Form: WDWLWW

On the 21st January after a sloppy 1-0 home defeat to Hull, the Royals sat in eighth position in the league. However, three months later and Reading are flying after a remarkable transformation which has seen them claim a phenomenal 34 points out of a possible 39. Reading’s rich vein of form is in no doubt down to the players, who really stepped up to the mark in this crucial period, but also to their manager Brian McDermott who they managed to keep hold of despite strong speculation of interest from Premier League side Wolves. The much-admired manager then signed a new contract to keep him at the Madejski until 2015 as he made a statement committing himself to the Royals.

At the start of the season, many would never have said that Reading would be in such a strong position with a matter of games remaining as many questioned whether the squad would be strong enough to claim promotion back to the top-flight. However the likes of Noel Hunt, goalkeeper Adam Federici and veteran Ian Harte have all contributed towards Reading’s surge up the table in the past few months. Last Saturday’s crucial 4-2 win at Upton Park against third-placed West Ham really emphasised their dominance and the strides that they have made in order to be in contention for automatic promotion.

Our Prediction: Reading should feel confident of winning their three remaining home games but tough away games against Southampton, Brighton & Birmingham will be decisive in determining Reading’s fate. We think it will be close between West Ham and Reading as to who can grab that all important second place but we believe that West Ham won’t be able to claw back a four point deficit after defeat to the Royals on Saturday, and that Reading will be celebrating automatic promotion. We even think that Reading could overtake Southampton and pip the Saints to the title come the 28th April.

Brian McDermott has earned the plaudits this year but can he lead Reading to a return to the Premier League?

3rd – WEST HAM UNITED
Manager: Sam Allardyce
Played: 40 Points: 72 GD: +21
Current Form: DDDDWL

After a disappointing campaign last year that concluded with West Ham being humiliatingly relegated from the Premier League, everyone associated with the club was keen to see the Hammers return to their rightful place in the top division. They managed to secure a reputable, experienced manager in Sam Allardyce and brought in the likes of Matt Taylor & Kevin Nolan in the summer and Nicky Maynard & Ricardo Vaz Te in January to ensure that the aim of automatic promotion could be achieved.

However, despite all the money being ploughed in to the club from the backing of the owners, things haven’t gone as smoothly as many expected this season for the London-based club. Despite the Hammers sitting in the top two for most of the season, they now find themselves in third place and four points adrift of second placed Reading after a recent erratic run of form which has seen 5 consecutive frustrating draws.

There is no doubt that West Ham have the personnel capable of automatic promotion but in recent weeks they have struggled to string together a good run of results. If the Hammers are to stand any chance of overtaking Reading then they need to look at possibly gaining maximum points from all of their final remaining games which is a tough ask from the players.

Our Prediction: As disappointing as it will be for West Ham, we think that the Upton Park club will have to settle for third place in the Championship and look at gaining promotion through the play-offs, and they should be confident of booking their trip to Wembley for a chance to return to the top-flight.

The Hammers will have to work hard to secure automatic promotion as the play-offs look the most likely option.

4th – BIRMINGHAM CITY
Manager: Chris Hughton
Played: 40 Points: 66 GD: +23
Current Form: LWLDWW

Although Birmingham have played 55 games this season already due to League & Cup commitments, the Midlands club still remains on course for a stab at promotion in the play-offs, despite indifferent form at the start of the season. Since relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season in May, the future of the club has been clouded in uncertainty after money laundering from Carson Yeung and having to sell a number of its Premier League stars.

However, the club under the guidance of manager Chris Hughton has been able to compete successfully in the Championship with a small squad of players and are deservedly in the mix for a spot in the play-offs. Players such as a rejuvenated Marlon King, Chris Burke and talented youngster Nathan Redmond have all helped the Blues climb up the table. A win against Burnley in their game in hand last night helped to consolidate Birmingham’s position in the play-offs and moved them to only 6 points off third placed West Ham.

Our Prediction: We are more than certain that Birmingham City will be in the top-six come the end of April and we believe that they have enough in the tank to overcome the opposition in the play-offs and make it to the final at Wembley. Personally, we think a clash between West Ham & Birmingham City in the play-off final is looming but as we know anything can happen in football!

King has spearheaded Blues' attack this season and contributed with 16 goals.

5th – BLACKPOOL
Manager: Ian Holloway
Played: 40 Points: 63 GD: +13
Current Form: LLWDLW

Ian Holloway’s so-called “Tangerine Army” earned their praises last year after a hard-fought campaign last year saw them go down on the final day of the season to break the hearts of all Blackpool fans. However, ‘barmy’ manager Ian Holloway stayed with the club and has led them to be in the hunt for the play-offs with six games remaining as they look for an unlikely immediate return to the Premier League.

Vital goals this season from old-timer Kevin Phillips have helped the Seasiders to many crucial points along the course of this campaign as the likes of Matty Philips have also been give a chance to shine this season. Blackpool famously clinched promotion to the Premier League last time out with an epic performance in the play-offs but can they secure their place in the top-six once again to have a chance to repeat their heroics once again?

Our Prediction: Over course and distance this season, Blackpool have looked stronger than the likes of Brighton, Middlesbrough and Cardiff who are behind them in the table and waiting for the Seasiders to slip up. Therefore we think that come the end of the season, Blackpool will be in the top six and fighting for promotion via the play-offs.

Kevin Phillips has shown that he's still got the ability to score goals at the ripe age of 38.

6th – BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Manager: Gus Poyet
Played: 40 Points: 63 GD: +8
Current Form: DWLWDD

Considering this is Gus Poyet’s first managerial role, the Uruguayan is doing very well for himself after securing promotion from League One last year. Many expected the Seagulls to struggle in the Championship but Brighton have defied the odds and after just one loss in the League in 2012, Brighton have climbed up the table to leave themselves firmly in play-off contention with only a few matches to go.

However, the last six games will prove to be a serious test for Brighton’s promotion credentials as they have to face Reading, West Ham & Birmingham in the final run-in which could make or break their season.

Our Prediction: We think it will be close between Brighton and Cardiff but in the end the Seagulls fans will be celebrating come the end of the season as we believe that they will just pip Cardiff to 6th place.

Gus Poyet will be hoping that his side can hold their nerve and claim a spot in the play-offs.

7th – MIDDLESBROUGH
Manager: Tony Mowbray
Played: 40 Points: 63 GD: +3
Current Form: LLDDDD

After a great start to the season, Boro were lying in 2nd position at the end of 2011 as hopes were high that the Yorskhire club could reclaim its place among the best in the Premier League. However,a dodgy 2012 so far has seen Middlesbrough slip back down the table as they now find themselves just outside the play-offs on goal difference after recent erratic form has seen the Northern club winless in 6 and facing the prospect of missing out on promotion after what seemed to be a promising start to the campaign.

Goals from Marvin Emnes have played a pivotal role in Boro’s success so far this campaign and the fans will need to see the Dutchman score a few more goals if they are to overtake Brighton and claim a spot in the play-offs.

Our Prediction: Unfortunately for Boro fans we think that Middlesbrough just won’t have enough left to secure that all important play-off spot as the club will ponder what could have been after a bright start to the season.

Emnes' goals have been crucial in this season's campaign.

8th – CARDIFF
Manager: Malky Mackay
Played: 40 Points: 61 GD: +7
Current Form: WLDDDD

In the past few years, Cardiff have been one of those sides that have always missed out on play-off glory as they are still looking for their ultimate quest to be part of one of the 20 sides in the Premier League. The Welsh club, who are now sitting in the shadow of their arch-rivals Swansea who are impressing in the top division, had hoped that they would be sitting higher in the league after a successful start to the campaign; but a run of just one win in 8 after the Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool has seen the Bluebirds slide from 4th to 8th in the league.

However, in spite of their recent miserable form, the side from South Wales are still in contention for a place in the play-offs as they only lie two points behind 5th placed Blackpool and are therefore still in with a shout of reaching the play-offs.

Our Prediction: Cardiff have an easier run-in of fixtures compared to many others as they don’t have to face any of the top-six in their final run of games and they will compete with Brighton for that last play-off spot. However, ultimately we think that they will just miss out on the play-offs as fans will have to wait another season for a chance at making it to the Premier League.

Cardiff's recent dip in form has made it difficult for Malky Mackay's men to achieve promotion.

So fundamentally, we believe that there will be no change to the current top six in the final six games as Southampton & Reading will gain automatic promotion to the Premier League and West Ham, Birmingham, Blackpool & Brighton will battle it out in the play-offs. Nonetheless, as we know a lot of things can change in six games and there are bound to be plenty of shocks and surprises still left in store as the Championship campaign reaches its all important climax.

Please let us know your thoughts on who you think will triumph and who will be in the top six come the end of the season.

This article was written by Alex Grove and originally published on The Tactician.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Newly compiled data from Hotelclub has thrown up plenty of interesting conclusions regarding Britain’s greatest football derbies. The company, who help football fans find cheap hotels in Manchester for the Manchester derby, get people into accommodation for the Second City Derby and give Fulham fans somewhere to hide after another thrashing from Chelsea, have looked at the last 20 matches played in these massive fixtures, noting the number of goals scored, and runs of wins and losses along the way.

Here are the most interesting outcomes:

1. The Second City Derby has only been played 20 times since 1987

Given that Birmingham won the Carling Cup only a year ago, it feels like this derby should be more common than it has been. After all, under Alex McLeish (before he eventually got them relegated) Birmingham became something of a force; and under a number of managers since the departure of Martin O’Neill (McLeish included), Villa have become something of a farce.

To that end, you’d expect that the two had played each other, in cups or leagues, much more often than that. After all, the teams have mostly been kind of as good as each other. But before Birmingham entered the Premiership in 2002, the two hadn’t met since a second round League Cup match in 1993. And before 2002, the last league match between them had been in the Old Second Division, as long ago as 12 December 1987.

If Brum fail in their promotion bid this season, it might be a similar period before they play regularly again. But then, with Villa struggling too, who knows if they won’t meet, sooner or later, in the Championship?

2. Since Manicni took over at City, only one league game in the Manchester Derby has been decided by more than one goal

And it was Manchester City’s 6-1 win. Mancini has worked some magic at the Etihad, that’s for sure. You’ve got to wonder if next time, the margin will be as big.

Still, Fergie’s boys can take comfort in their 19 league titles and the fact that, even with Mancini at the helm of City, they’ve picked up more wins in all competitions.

3. Since 1974 Nottingham Forest only have one more win in the Nottingham Derby than their rivals

Notts Forest is one of English football’s big teams. Maybe not now, but Clough’s men were First Division winners in 1978, adding the European Cup in 1979 and again in 1980 ­– one of only seven teams to do so.

They might not be that team now but even so, it’d be expected that when it came to playing their rivals Notts County, the score over 20 games would be a bit less even than Forest 7 – 6 County.

Even more amazingly, Forest didn’t beat Notts County during their period of dominance. While they racked up a 4-0 win in the League Cup, the first game between them since they both re-entered went the way of County, with Notts Forest winning the following year, in 1982.

Of course, if you take a longer view, it’s even more surprising that Nott’s County – the world’s oldest club – have faded to obscurity.

4. Everton have not won two Merseyside derby games in a row in almost a decade

Which speaks as much to their decline as to Liverpool’s success, which has been mixed at best. They won the league twice in the ‘80s (only a few years before Liverpool won the most recent of their 18 titles) but since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, things haven’t gone quite so well.

In its first decade the club only finished in the top half twice. Since David Moyes took the helm, things have drastically improved; they finished 4th in 2005, and 6th in 2007, achieving 5th in the next two seasons. But in the last two years that’s slipped to 8th, and 7th last season. And with 12 games to go this season, they’re 13th.

So Liverpool remain the dominant team in the Merseyside Derby, even when Everton are doing well. Although with some turbulent seasons at Anfield in recent years, Liverpool aren’t faring much better…

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The draw for the group stages of this season’s Europa League has thrown up a number of difficult and interesting challenges for England’s representatives, with qualification through to the knock-out stages far from assured. This term it will be up to Tottenham, Fulham, Stoke and Birmingham to do the nation proud, and test their wits against some cultured European opposition.

Tottenham were drawn in Group A, and have been given one opponent on their doorstep, and two on the other side of the continent. Shamrock Rovers, Rubin Kazan and PAOK FC will look to further frustrate Spurs fans after their slow start to the campaign, and will have taken comfort in Harry Redknapp’s men being outplayed and beaten by both Manchester clubs in the space of six days.

The Russians will provide the most difficult opponent, and were unlucky not to make the Champions League; Kurban Berdyev’s side lost out narrowly to Lyon in the qualifiers. The Tsentrainyi Stadion is a hostile environment to enter, and a host of Russian internationals and familiar face Obafemi Martins will make the away tie in particular increasingly difficult. PAOK are not the force of past decades, but, like the Russians will make the away leg uncomfortable. The Irish champions will be sure to put up a fight in the emerald isle, but may find similar treatment to that distributed to Hearts in the qualifying round forthcoming at White Hart Lane.

Stoke have arguably got the most difficult task in front of them, with their fans looking for all inclusive holidays in the far-fetched lands of Israel, Turkey and Ukraine; Maccabi Tel Aviv, Besiktas and Dinamo Kiev lie in wait. Tony Pulis will be happy he has Wilson Palacios and Peter Crouch at his disposal, in what should be a tricky campaign. The Turks have European calibre and experience, and will look to capitalise on Tony Pullis’ outfit’s lack of past action in the continent. Stoke’s direct style of play will be countered by a technically gifted midfield trio of ex-Real Madrid playmaker Guti and Portugal international duo Ricardo Quaresma and Simao Sabrosa.

Kiev are top of the Ukranian Premier League currently have attacking options that could be the downfall of the side from the Britannia, with Andriy Shevchenko and international team-mate Andriy Yarmolenko sure to cause Ryan Shawcorss and company problems. Tel Aviv meanwhile will be the least threatening member of the trio, but the distance to the away leg will ensure a win is not guaranteed.

Fulham have a mixed group comprising Twente, OB Odense and Wisla Krakow. The Dutch side crashed out of the Champions League qualifiers at the hands of Benfica, but have a strong team; despite this a deadline day move saw Bryan Ruiz swap De Grolsch Veste for Craven Cottage, which could be the difference between the sides. OB were unlucky not to make the group stage of the top tournament, as they were eliminated by Spaniards Villarreal, despite winning the first leg. Krakow offer up an unpredictable element, but should not be underestimated as they are Poland’s current champions.

Birmingham may find the going tough especially with a squad depleted after relegation and will most likely focus on their domestic fixtures in an attempt to make it back to the English top flight, rather than a European adventure. Club Brugge and last year’s defeated finalists Braga should be too strong for The Championship side, who will target the fixtures against Slovenian outfit Maribor as winnable games.

The English sides will travel to the four corners of the continent in this year’s group stage, have drawn difficult opponents, and will have to be at the top of their game if they are to progress.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Looking beyond the city rivalry, there’s plenty of ammunition for Villa fans to suggest that ‘Big Eck’ is not the right man for the job.

Alex McLeish has won just 26% of his games as a Premier League manager, so far no Aston Villa manager with more than five games in charge has posted such a low percentage. Of the seven permanent managers to have held the post since the introduction of the Premier League, John Gregory boasts the best win percentage (41.22%) while Graham Taylor endured the worst spell of the seven – the former England manager won just 29.41% of his PL games at Villa.

Aston Villa managers in Premier League history

Managers with more than five Premier League games in charge

Comparing McLeish’s record with the PL career records of the two most recent Villa managers – Gerard Houllier and Martin O’Neill – again does not make for good reading for the former Rangers supremo. McLeish’s 26% win record is inferior to those of both his potential predecessors at Villa Park.

McLeish compared to Gerard Houllier and Martin O’Neill – Premier League

It would be unfair to judge the Scotsman only on his Premier League record, however. McLeish successfully oversaw promotion to the top flight with the Blues and was given the difficult task of integrating them into the Premier League, something he successfully achieved in 2009/10, and despite relegation this season, he also lead Birmingham City to Carling Cup glory; their first major trophy since 1963.

Alex McLeish’s managerial career – all competitions

How do you rate Alex McLeish as a manager? Do you think Villa’s owners are genuinely settling for mid-table obscurity by selling their top stars and bringing in a manager specifically to ‘maximise’ limited resources?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Alex McLeish has kept his job at St. Andrew’s, despite Birmingham’s last-day relegation to the Championship, but has been told by the board that he must lead the side back to the Premiership.

The Blues went down, due to a defeat against Tottenham at White Hart Lane and other results not going their way, and there were rumours that Birmingham City owner Carson Yueng would sack the Scotsman. However, a club statement issued by acting Blues chairman Peter Pannu has quashed rumours of Alex McLeish’s exit, as long as he leads the Midlands outfit back to the Premier League.

In response to the criticism that owner Carson Yueng did not give ‘Big Eck’ enough backing in the transfer market to improve the squad, Pannu said:

The board will take stock of what went wrong this season despite Carson Yeung’s promised injection of £40m in funds – not £80m as the media wrongly assumed – and will closely discuss and implement appropriate procedures to ensure a speedy return to the top flight.

A lack of top quality players seemed to be the big issue for Alex McLeish’s side this season, with the biggest signing coming from goalkeeper Ben Foster to bolster a strong defence. When Scott Dann picked up a hamstring injury in the League Cup triumph in January, McLeish’s defence buckled without the solid central defensive partnership of Dann and Roger Johnson and their decline ensued, slipping down the table and into the relegation battle where they remained.

McLeish staying at the club will offer a huge boost to the Blues fans, who will wonder what new players will be brought in to the club and who will exit. There are a number of players whose contracts are expiring, midfielders Lee Bowyer and Seb Larsson and defender Stephen Carr included, who will surely leave St. Andrew’s for pastures new and there is rumoured interest from Liverpool in central defender Scott Dann.

Yueng has to give McLeish transfer funds and trust the manager with the decisions and not get involved in the dealings within the squad, because McLeish is a good tactical manager and given a correct transfer budget and the ability to bring in some better quality of players, Birmingham City will be a top flight club sooner rather than later.

In 2007, Birmingham City went down to the Championship and McLeish proved his managerial qualities by bouncing them back up to the top flight in the following season, so the credentials are there for the owners and the fans to trust in the 52 year old Scotsman’s ability.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

This weekend, three of Europe’s more famous clubs – Sampdoria, Frankfurt and West Ham – were condemned to the second divisions of their respective countries. Perhaps the smallest reverberations came with West Ham’s demotion: the Hammers struggled all season long under a hangdog, lame-dog manager and if the same the lack of spirit shown by several senior West Ham figures is reproduced next year, it could indicate a lengthy stay for the club in the second tier. Popular expectation is that the squad will be gutted as several key players depart: Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year Scott Parker, the out of contract Matthew Upson and goalkeeper Robert Green are likely to lead the exodus.

But all is not lost: they still plan to take over the Olympic Stadium after 2012 and Messrs Gold & Sullivan have committed to funding the club through it’s lower-league jaunt. With such basic groundwork established reasonably, West Ham now face the prospect of rebounding straight back into the Premiership. There are several steps that the Hammers should follow in order to make their second-tier spell a short one – here’s a Moe handful of suggestions as to how the Hammers can escape the Championship sooner rather than later.

1. Sign a manager with experience and patience

Chris Hughton, while only having eighteen months’ worth of head-man experience, not only has a smart and lucid football brain, but is used to the pressures of having to succeed on a threadbare budget. While Newcastle United threatened to go Chernobyl last season after being relegated, he successfully kept the dressing room together, made shrewd Championship-elite signings and encouraged the club’s youth to prosper. He fully entrusted Andy Carroll with the centre-forward role and helped develop Nile Ranger into a player of promise. The Understated One is also used to dealing with larger-than-life owners, having spent sixteen months under the devious direction of Mike Ashley and Derek Lambias.

Other possibilities include Sam Allardyce (though whether he’d develop the youth or even be willing to take a second-divison job is questionable) or Steve McLaren.

2. Expunge the deadwood

While Pablo Barrera hasn’t lived up to post-World Cup expectations, he still could prove a good player. This is in direct contrast to many of ex-manager Avram Grant’s transfer dealings, remarkable only in their ineffectiveness. None of Winston Reid, Frederic Piquionne, Robbie Keane or Wayne Bridge lived up to expectation while Victor Obinna was as spotty a painter with the DT’s.

As for Kieron Dyer, Julien Faubert, Benni McCarthy or Luis Boa Morte? Puh-lease. While Obinna, Keane and Bridge are all loan signings and (most probably) will not be retained, the squad will need pruning in order to refresh and strengthen again. The squad wasn’t the worst in the Premier League so Hammer fans should start 2011-12 with expectations of at least a playoff finish.

3. Expurgate any useless footballing philosophies

It’s been a West Ham tradition for years to play attacking football, replete with creative wingers and forwards like Paolo Di Canio and John Hartson able to capitalise on their jinking runs. The West Ham board’s first priority should now not be footballin gstyle but to yo-yo from the second tier to the first. To do so may require dispensing with any preconceived notions about “the West Ham way” and focus on results. This comes down to giving a manager who achieves results – Allardyce, anyone? – a free hand to implement his tactics, a measure of trust of which Gold and Sullivan have some repute.

4. Light a fire under the forwards

While Cole’s struggled through a fair-to-poor season and appears unlikely to be at Upton Park next year, if he is he could dominate the Championship. The same applies to Demba Ba. While Newcastle United Kevin Nolan (and Andy Carroll, Jonas Gutierrez and Fabricio Coloccini) did it last year with startling success and for the Hammers to not only retrieve EPL status but remain there, they’ll need goals. Sears has the potential and Cole has the comination of size and speed to become lethal in the Championship. Piquionne, if he’s not sold, could also dominate in English football’s lower reaches. Ba’s seven goals in 10 Premiership starts are encouraging figures.  If Danny Graham can  muster 23 goals playing at up-tempo Watford, then a possible combination of Ba, Cole and Sears should combine for forty.

5. Get value for exiting players

Scott Parker deserves better than the Championship, so he’ll go. He’ll have plenty of suitors, too. Robert Green would be an upgrade over at least half a dozen Premeirship custodians so is likely to sought after as well. Any influx of cash could be directed in several ways – but is likely to find it’s way either into reducing the club’s remarkable debt or investment in the squad. All of Ba, Tomkins and Cole will have suitors as well.  The secret to success – and admittedly this is easier said than done – is to pry top-tier divisional talent away from mid-table Championship squads.  Stick to this principle and they’re on the right track.  Sort of.  The Guardian has penned an interesting piece on this very subject.

6. Free the club’s youth

All of Sears, Zavon Hines, Frank Nouble, Junior Stanislas, James Tomkins and Jordan Spence came through the club’s youth academy. All played some part in this Premiership season or seasons past, albeit relatively small roles. They now have a chance to cement a position in the West Ham first-team squad, for better or worse.

The only recent yo-yo promotions have been by Newcastle, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, none of whom invested heavily upon relegation.  While this crop of youngsters aren’t currently Premiership standard, they all have the ability to be that good – the chance to really stamp a position as their own should excite many of Hammers’ youth.

For more commentary and analysis, shoot across to Balanced Sports.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News