Post by QPR Report on Dec 24, 2008 21:25:02 GMT
As far as I see, QPR not actually mentioned!
Paul Fletcher BBC Blog -
A happy Christmas at your club?
Christmas is, so the old saying goes, the season to be merry.
But for some of us this is only possible if we blank out the current position of the club we support, while for others it in itself is a reason for festivities.
The Championship season recently passed its half-way point, while League One and League Two lag just a couple of rounds behind.
By now we have a very good idea of which teams are shaping up to be Christmas crackers and which have the look of a bit of a turkey.
This is my take on the lay of the land in the Football League - be sure to let me know what you think.
My star performers in the Championship are Burnley. Huge credit must go to manager Owen Coyle, who in 13 months has transformed the famous Lancashire club not only into a side challenging at the top of the division but has masterminded victories over Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal as the Clarets have reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
His club do not have the most money or the biggest crowds but his squad has a blend of youth and experience and a couple of shrewd additions in January could ensure they have the necessary staying power.
Somebody by the name of spiritual wolf regularly comments on the inadequacies of my blogs.
He is obviously a Wolves fan and has suggested that any person or club I profile then experiences a dip in form - and could I please, please, please leave his side alone.
Well spiritual wolf, I could hardly talk about success stories so far without mentioning your club.
Manager Mick McCarthy, ever the Yorkshireman, likes to play down his team's position but they too have exciting young players who express themselves with freedom and the men in gold currently have a handy lead at the top of a very fierce competition.
Interestingly, at a time when we often see congested midfields in the Premier League, both Burnley and Wolves operate with old-fashioned wingers.
Mention must also go to Doncaster. They are bottom of the division but remain true to Sean O'Driscoll's footballing principles and if they do return straight to League One they will at least have done so playing eye-catching football.
I sometimes wonder whether they should start to scrap and battle to pick up some points, but I'm not sure there is any guarantee that would work any better than the formula that won them promotion.
Fellow strugglers Charlton could definitely do with a little cheer, perhaps in the form of Santa delivering a manager who can haul them up the table. They have been terribly disappointing and, as with Southampton, the Premier League seems light years away.
And what sort of Christmas is it for Blackpool fans when their manager walks out on them days before the 25th?
Simon Grayson did a cracking job at Bloomfield Road but the timing of his departure has definitely taken the ho, ho, ho out of the festive season.
[LEAGUE ONE]
Just about every manager and player you speak to in the Football League comes back to the importance of consistency in such a tight and congested landscape. League One leaders Leicester seem to have developed the winning habit. They have a big squad packed with experience, draw big crowds and play in a stadium worthy of the Premier League.
The Foxes looked very well placed compared to the division's other big hitters Leeds, who are outside the play-off places, struggling for form and on Sunday sacked Gary McAllister. Chairman Ken Bates did not waste any time in appointing Grayson and it will be interesting to see if they now start marching on together.
Supporters of MK Dons, Peterborough and Stockport have plenty to feel smug about, with back-to-back promotions a distinct possibility, while Millwall, after finishing in lower mid-table last season, are looking pretty good in second.
Stockport in particular work on a modest budget and play in front of modest crowds but Jim Gannon is an innovative young manager who has some excellent players in the likes of Tommy Rowe and Anthony Pilkington and it will be interesting to see whether the Irishman can keep his squad together in January.
Hereford were the fourth team to win promotion from League Two last season. Graham Turner did it by working the loan market in a manner many applauded - and some felt to be an abuse of the system. The Bulls have found life in League One a different proposition, but not as difficult as Crewe. Dario Gradi is back in temporary charge, but whether the experience of Turner and Gradi can keep their respective teams in the division remains to be seen.
[LEAGUE TWO]
Talking of wily old foxes, Peter Taylor knows all about promotion in the lower divisions and his Wycombe side are top of League Two.
But top marks must also go to Bury boss Alan Knill. The Shakers seem to be one of those clubs that are permanently minutes away from going bust despite the best fundraising efforts of a certain Neville Neville and many others at the club. The rest of us might be reeling in this uncertain economic climate but the credit crunch arrived at Gigg Lane years ago.
However, they have become an extremely competitive proposition on the field and sit second in the table.
Exeter are fifth and Aldershot sit just outside the play-off zone - and both are making a very decent fist of their first season back in the Football League, while Dagenham & Redbridge boss John Still working well on a limited budget.
Down at the bottom end it will be a desperate few months as team scramble for their Football League survival.
It will be a very cold Christmas for Luton fans.
The Hatters have been in the Football League since 1919 but are the only club that remain on minus points after suffering a deduction during the summer. They are currently 18 points from safety. Put another way that amounts to six wins - the same number of league games they have won all season.
Bournemouth - a club that permanently seems to have financial troubles - are six points adrift of third-from-bottom Rotherham. Again, it is not a situation to inspire much festive cheer.
I imagine that Notts County fans are feeling far from bullish as yet another season appears to have mediocrity written all over it, but then again fellow blogger Gavin Strachan is in a much better position to talk about that.
Not, I guess, that anything is actually decided at Christmas and I'd like to sign off on this blog by wishing you a very Merry Christmas. Don't drink too much, whether you are celebrating or drowning your sorrows.
Readers Comments at www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2008/12/a_happy_christmas_at_your_club.html#051847
Paul Fletcher BBC Blog -
A happy Christmas at your club?
Christmas is, so the old saying goes, the season to be merry.
But for some of us this is only possible if we blank out the current position of the club we support, while for others it in itself is a reason for festivities.
The Championship season recently passed its half-way point, while League One and League Two lag just a couple of rounds behind.
By now we have a very good idea of which teams are shaping up to be Christmas crackers and which have the look of a bit of a turkey.
This is my take on the lay of the land in the Football League - be sure to let me know what you think.
My star performers in the Championship are Burnley. Huge credit must go to manager Owen Coyle, who in 13 months has transformed the famous Lancashire club not only into a side challenging at the top of the division but has masterminded victories over Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal as the Clarets have reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
His club do not have the most money or the biggest crowds but his squad has a blend of youth and experience and a couple of shrewd additions in January could ensure they have the necessary staying power.
Somebody by the name of spiritual wolf regularly comments on the inadequacies of my blogs.
He is obviously a Wolves fan and has suggested that any person or club I profile then experiences a dip in form - and could I please, please, please leave his side alone.
Well spiritual wolf, I could hardly talk about success stories so far without mentioning your club.
Manager Mick McCarthy, ever the Yorkshireman, likes to play down his team's position but they too have exciting young players who express themselves with freedom and the men in gold currently have a handy lead at the top of a very fierce competition.
Interestingly, at a time when we often see congested midfields in the Premier League, both Burnley and Wolves operate with old-fashioned wingers.
Mention must also go to Doncaster. They are bottom of the division but remain true to Sean O'Driscoll's footballing principles and if they do return straight to League One they will at least have done so playing eye-catching football.
I sometimes wonder whether they should start to scrap and battle to pick up some points, but I'm not sure there is any guarantee that would work any better than the formula that won them promotion.
Fellow strugglers Charlton could definitely do with a little cheer, perhaps in the form of Santa delivering a manager who can haul them up the table. They have been terribly disappointing and, as with Southampton, the Premier League seems light years away.
And what sort of Christmas is it for Blackpool fans when their manager walks out on them days before the 25th?
Simon Grayson did a cracking job at Bloomfield Road but the timing of his departure has definitely taken the ho, ho, ho out of the festive season.
[LEAGUE ONE]
Just about every manager and player you speak to in the Football League comes back to the importance of consistency in such a tight and congested landscape. League One leaders Leicester seem to have developed the winning habit. They have a big squad packed with experience, draw big crowds and play in a stadium worthy of the Premier League.
The Foxes looked very well placed compared to the division's other big hitters Leeds, who are outside the play-off places, struggling for form and on Sunday sacked Gary McAllister. Chairman Ken Bates did not waste any time in appointing Grayson and it will be interesting to see if they now start marching on together.
Supporters of MK Dons, Peterborough and Stockport have plenty to feel smug about, with back-to-back promotions a distinct possibility, while Millwall, after finishing in lower mid-table last season, are looking pretty good in second.
Stockport in particular work on a modest budget and play in front of modest crowds but Jim Gannon is an innovative young manager who has some excellent players in the likes of Tommy Rowe and Anthony Pilkington and it will be interesting to see whether the Irishman can keep his squad together in January.
Hereford were the fourth team to win promotion from League Two last season. Graham Turner did it by working the loan market in a manner many applauded - and some felt to be an abuse of the system. The Bulls have found life in League One a different proposition, but not as difficult as Crewe. Dario Gradi is back in temporary charge, but whether the experience of Turner and Gradi can keep their respective teams in the division remains to be seen.
[LEAGUE TWO]
Talking of wily old foxes, Peter Taylor knows all about promotion in the lower divisions and his Wycombe side are top of League Two.
But top marks must also go to Bury boss Alan Knill. The Shakers seem to be one of those clubs that are permanently minutes away from going bust despite the best fundraising efforts of a certain Neville Neville and many others at the club. The rest of us might be reeling in this uncertain economic climate but the credit crunch arrived at Gigg Lane years ago.
However, they have become an extremely competitive proposition on the field and sit second in the table.
Exeter are fifth and Aldershot sit just outside the play-off zone - and both are making a very decent fist of their first season back in the Football League, while Dagenham & Redbridge boss John Still working well on a limited budget.
Down at the bottom end it will be a desperate few months as team scramble for their Football League survival.
It will be a very cold Christmas for Luton fans.
The Hatters have been in the Football League since 1919 but are the only club that remain on minus points after suffering a deduction during the summer. They are currently 18 points from safety. Put another way that amounts to six wins - the same number of league games they have won all season.
Bournemouth - a club that permanently seems to have financial troubles - are six points adrift of third-from-bottom Rotherham. Again, it is not a situation to inspire much festive cheer.
I imagine that Notts County fans are feeling far from bullish as yet another season appears to have mediocrity written all over it, but then again fellow blogger Gavin Strachan is in a much better position to talk about that.
Not, I guess, that anything is actually decided at Christmas and I'd like to sign off on this blog by wishing you a very Merry Christmas. Don't drink too much, whether you are celebrating or drowning your sorrows.
Readers Comments at www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2008/12/a_happy_christmas_at_your_club.html#051847