As I sat in Stockholm airport waiting for my plane back to a windswept UK I had nothing better to do then take a brief look at the front runners for promotion and those who might still come through on the rails.
So, here goes:-
Burnley
Strengths – 2 in form strikers. Normally good for a couple of goals a game.
Potential weakness – depth of squad and inexperienced manager
Will they make it? Only via the play offs if they are lucky.
QPR
Strengths – so many players and ‘Appy ‘Arry. Also, money to waste if they want to.
Potential weakness – too many big time Charlie’s? Surprisingly poor results against other top 6 sides.
Will they make it? – yes, 1st or 2nd without a doubt – too much class in there.
Leicester
Strengths – strength/experience in key areas (eg the manager/ Nugent), so close last season and with a point to prove.
Potential weakness – too many 1 goal results – when the nerves start to play!
Will they make it? – Yes, possibly 2nd but via the play offs more likely
Derby
Strengths – free flowing football with the ability to grind and be patient when needed and have momentum. Goals coming from all over the pitch.
Potential weakness – lack of defensive cover at CB & LB
Will they make it? – Yes, could sneak 2nd ahead of Leicester or will win the play offs with 1 (or 2) key signings in January.
Leeds
Strengths – massive club, fortress Elland Road, manager has done it recently. Like Derby, in good form
Potential weakness – VERY reliant on Ross McCormack
Will they make it? –will get into the play offs but no more
Reading
Strengths – strength/experience in key areas and money to spend in January
Potential weakness – results very erratic so far, no real consistency
Will they make it? – not this time.
So, that’s the top 6 as it stands. Will anyone else come through the pack – here’s a very brief, yes or no!
Nottm Forest – IF Billy Davies keeps his temper under control and does what he is best at – ie getting a team to play tight football, Forest can claw themselves back into the play offs. Once there, no-one has more experience of the play offs in recent years. It’s a big IF mind you!
Brighton – NO – not as good this year as they were under Poyet. Never really got firing so far. One cylinder short of a top 6 place.
Ipswich – showing some resilience, rumours of a couple of big signings, Mick McCarthy in charge, team clearly playing in his style. Possibly top 6. No better this year but one for next season.
Blackpool – sorry Tangerines, but Paul Ince – is he really as nasty as he comes across as? You had Olly before, lovely chap, deserved his moment in the spotlight. Ince = not for me.
Blackburn – are this season what Derby have been for 4 years. Mid table obscurity. And only there because they’ve got Jordan Rhodes. If the chicken pluckers can find some money, and the manager makes some good signings (who is the manager BTW?) they aren’t too far off for a top 6 challenge. But neither will happen, Rhodes may well be sold and Blackburn could be looking down not up.
Wigan – only worth a mention because of the Uwe Rosler effect and because they are now out of the Europa Cup which is a nightmare competition for a Championship side. Why bother entering it? Have got some quality players still and just might mount a late assault on the top 6.
So, my final 6 will be:
Automatic – QPR and Derby or Leicester
Play Offs – Leicester/Derby, Leeds, Burnley and … Forest.
Oh, and
HAPPY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL!
🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄
Half Way report
posted on 24/12/13
On current form you need to go back 15 games to see Derby 2nd in that table.
THIS IS NO BLIP.
posted on 24/12/13
Regarding my team, the Mighty Rams, it all depends on the owners. Do they want their money back, that they have put into the club? If so, they need to invest in January for that final push to the Premiership. Steve Mac has proved he's a very good coach at this level. They've even been saying it on sky Sports, have Derby got any ambition, there's no better time than now, especially with us challenging for the top 2. Show us the readies GSE, you've got no excuses now, cause we're up there challenging
posted on 24/12/13
That's why I am not changing my user name until Feb.
posted on 24/12/13
Evening Derby fans, ( and those from other borders of the E. Midlands!)
It's been a while, hope you're all well. Good article Peeder. I'm curious about Leicester, second half of the season last year they fell apart a little, mentally are they stronger this year? I'd expect so, same squad of players, but from a biased point of view would like to see a relapse.
As mentioned QPR were and still are favourites for the Championship after that its a free for all really. December was the month for me that would dictate who's going to be the contenders.
This is the first time in many many years that Derby are taking at least 1.5 points per match - out of a possibly 64 points we're on 40 points which equates to 1.9 points per game so far - hope that makes sense? If we can maintain an average of 1.5 we should be in the mix. If we can get results in our next two games, even if they are draws, I would be absolutely delighted with what we've done during December, as it's a grind to be playing that many matches. It's been a very long time since we've managed that.
Left back is a priority in my opinion. Whether Sammon goes, I do not know, it seems to be a rumour that's gathered momentum....but here's another rumour to add to the mix....Mason Bennett to go out on loan to Sheff Utd and apparently Conor Wickham to come to Derby for the second half of the season, on loan. ( Not sure if his loan is temp at Wednesday or til the end of the season? Anyone got anything on this rumour?)
I'd expect that to only happen should GSE decide to cash in on Sammon - they can't be happy to see their most expensive assest play 10-15 mins football per match.
I do hope they've learned that they need to invest in Jan to have any chance of keeping the squad fresh and give the club a fighting chance to be promoted.
Also let's not forget the 'rise from the ashes' - Palace did it a few years ago, under Dowie I believe and Reading a couple of seasons ago when they looked like relegation candidates? A club that looks hopelessly lost then goes on a ridiculous run second half of the season.
Finger crossed that the club I love dearly are the ones to 'rise from the ashes' after changing manager.
1.QPR
2. Leicester / Derby ( we still owe you one for the play-off final, this would be ideal!)
Then any from Burnley, Leeds, Forest, Reading, Brighton, Ipswich, Wigan and my dark horses Bolton who had a horrendous start.
Merry Christmas to you all.
posted on 25/12/13
Derby won't make auto
Forest won't make playoffs
That's my prediction. Not how I want it to be but realistic for me. With Derby it's difficult to tell where there at. We won 6 in a row after Billy joined last season and still didn't make playoffs. However it's a very good platform to build on and confidence can go a Long way. So you just don't know. Most teams will have a great spell at some point. Which means Forest's is still to come. I think forest will continue to toil, we will add more players but as usual Billy will not play hem regularly whilst complaining he still needs more players in their position. I hope I am wrong, I hope we will sign a striker and he leads us to promotion but I can't see it right now. I think the nearly man will nearly get us here....... But not quite! Again!
posted on 25/12/13
Forest have had their 'great spell'.
They drew a couple recently.
posted on 25/12/13
Wassa, Mclaren has proved absolutely nothing yet. 7 games proves nothing. He'll have proven it if you're still challenging come season end.
posted on 26/12/13
SHH:
Seven wins on the trot is the longest winning league streak your shower have had in their entire history. It's true there are no prizes awarded at this stage of the season, but what McClaren has done is to have engineered a 14 point swing over the team managed by the Scottish Dwarf in less than a quarter of a season. Seven points behind when he arrived, seven points ahead now.
Furthermore, it's got you guys squirming and straining your necks more than you usually have to watching your insipid hoof ball.
http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy101/luckyeddie_photo/mind_the_gap-logo_zps62587301.jpg
posted on 26/12/13
Seven wins on the trot is the longest winning league streak your shower have had in their entire history.
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History? Any time you want to mull over the respective records of each club, just let us know
posted on 26/12/13
Still proves nothing duck.