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West Brom and Stoke - any chance of staying in the Premier League?

They’ll be dancing in the streets of Hanley and Newcastle-under-Lyme after Stoke City bagged themselves the second automatic promotion spot on Sunday. The Potters have done magnificently this season, coming from behind on several occasions to land wins or draws against Championship opponents and it’s hard to argue that they don’t deserve their place in the Premier League next season.

Quite whether they’ll stay there for longer than a season is another matter. Many have commented that this season’s Championship has been bereft of quality, with West Brom winning the league with the lowest points total for over two decades. Not that the Baggies or Stoke care at this particular moment in time, with the BBC reporting Tony Pulis, the manager of the latter, in a bullish mood.

“I have to say a special ‘thank you’ to the chairman. Peter showed a lot of character to buy this club and spent a lot of money on it.

“This is a great day for this club and an opportunity for us to build and push on for next year.”

However, the fun starts next week when Pulis and Coates have to start planning for next season. With just eleven points on the board this season, Derby County have demonstrated how promotion to the top flight can go terribly wrong and while the Rams will be much richer for their season in the big time, it’s obvious that the promoted three will be desperate not to disgrace themselves in such a manner.

The new boys will take heart from Sunderland’s efforts this season, a team who were floundering in mid-table of the Championship when Roy Keane took over and have now completed a successful season of consolidation in the Premier League. Birmingham too have shown that the gulf between the teams at the bottom of the top flight and the top of the second division isn’t that great, while the Baggies and Potters will also be confident of finishing above at least one other team - the one who is promoted through the play-offs and has less time to prepare for the new campaign.

Watch West Ham live online

Watch Birmingham live online

Can Robins Premiership Dream Still Fly?

Everyones favourite little overachievers Bristol City are in danger of running out of steam before the finishing line. The previous Championship toppers have finally fallen into the play-off spots. With 2 games to go, 4 points between them and automatic promotion and their horendous playoff record, the Robins look set to miss out on the big time and spend another year in Championship. West Brom and Stoke are leading the way and Hull are sitting in 3rd blocking City’s path. All three are looking like they have come into form just at the right time, just as the Robins fall on hard times.

However, although they have only won once in the last nine games, it is not all doom and gloom at Ashton Gate. Last year they were in the League One, trapped in a division they should have escaped on several occasions over a 7 year period. Will fans be dissapointed if City fail to reach the ‘promised land’ or will they simply reflect on the outstanding achievement of a newly-promoted team, seemingly lacking in goalscorers? (City have a goal difference of -1)

I personally think Gary Johnson has done amazingly well to get City out of League One, let alone challenge for promotion to the Premiership. I think next season will be more of a reality check for Robins fans. Yet, not everyone agrees with me. Defender Bradley Orr seems to think promotion is still possible.

I’m not going to say ‘we can’t', we’ll go right to the end and see what happens. We’ve just got to go and do the job that we can do, affect the games we can and hope other people do us favours. We’ll go right to the end and see where it takes us.

The last two games are going to be exciting and we’ve got to get over this disappointment [Losing to rivals Stoke] and go again.

Thoughts?

Sunday’s Football Gossip & Transfer Rumours Part 1

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley could face the chop after a recent string of crapulous results. (Observer)

AC Milan, still sore from the beating they received at the San Siro at the hands of Arsenal, will try a cheeky bid for Gooner midfielder Matthieu Flamini. (Sunday Mirror)
….And Arsene Wenger will offer Cesc Fabregas a jewel encrusted contract, offering the Spaniard a whopping £130,000 a week. (Various)
…And Wenger will try and bring 18-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Ignacio Camacho to Arsenal. (Various)

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to strip Sporting Lisbon of their two best plaers, Bruno Pereirinha and Miguel Veloso. (Sunday Mirror)

Liverpool’s lanky striker Peter Crouch will turn his nose up on any new contract offer, and won’t sign unless gaffer Rafa Benitez is given the chop. (News of the World)
… Liverpool gaffer Rafael Benitez is keen to bring in Mallorca’s 20-year-old striker Oscar Trejo on loan. (The People)

Bolton are waiting by the Anfield exit door with arms wide open, they plan to whisk 34-year-old Sami Hyypia away as soon as his contract runs out in the summer. (News of the World)

Sven Goran Eriksson wants to snap up Juventus defender Georgio Chiellini and bring him to the Eastlands in the summer. (News of the World)

Both Hull and Ipswich are sniffing around Fulham striker David Healy. (The People)

…Now that Fulham’s Jimmy Bullard has recovered from his gammy knee, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough have both shown an interest. (The People)

Everton are looking at Lyon’s 25-year-old Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom, known as Kongo-Kim (!) to his buddies, who is also infamous for his extremely strong shot. (News of the World)

Chelsea want to bring in Blackburn’s David Bentley for £10m in the summer and they haven’t finished there. The Stamford Bridge outfit also want to bring in Atletico Madrid’s 19-year-old Argentine superstar sensation striker Sergio ‘Kun’Aguero for the princely sum of £20m bid. (The People)

Newcastle’s Executive Director Dennis Wise has been casting a wily eye over some potential signings and will have a whisper in Kevin Keegan’s ear about bringing in Saint-Etienne’s 22-year-old goalscoring machine Bafetimbi Gomis and France U-21 Nice ‘keeper Hugo Lloris. (Observer)

Watch Chelsea live online

Watch Liverpool live online

What was the biggest FA Cup shock of the day?

Upsets left right and centre in today’s FA Cup action. But what was the biggest shock?Coventry somehow managed to obliterate Blackburn 4-1, whilst League One Huddersfield beat Birmingham 2-1. Special mention should also go to Sheffield United who booted out Bolton with a 1-0 win lowly and injury ravaged Oldham, who beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park.

So what was your upset of the day?

Here are today’s 3rd round results in full:

Barnsley 2-1 Blackpool
Blackburn 1-4 Coventry
Bolton 0-1 Sheff Utd
Brighton 1-2 Mansfield
Bristol City 1-2 Middlesbrough
Charlton 1-1 West Brom
Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff
Chelsea 1-0 QPR
Colchester 1-3 Peterborough
Everton 0-1 Oldham
Huddersfield 2-1 Birmingham
Ipswich 0-1 Portsmouth
Norwich 1-1 Bury
Plymouth 3-2 Hull
Preston 1-0 Scunthorpe
Southampton 2-0 Leicester
Southend 5-2 Dag & Red
Sunderland 0-3 Wigan
Swansea 1-1 Havant and W
Swindon 1-1 Barnet
Tottenham 2-2 Reading
Tranmere 2-2 Hereford
Walsall 0-0 Millwall
Watford 2-0 Crystal Palace
West Ham 0-0 Man City
Wolverhampton 2-1 Cambridge Utd
Manchester United LATE KICK OFF Aston Villa

Watch Blackburn live online

Watch Aston Villa live online

From Barnsley to West Brom, via Hull City: BBC to broacast Football League matches

It’s not been a great year for Auntie, what with losing a load of funding, being found out to be dirty rotten cheats ripping of quiz contestants and Gary Lineker still smirking at the camera. So it with a smile on our face that we bring you better news from White City, the Beeb will be broadcasting Football League matches from 2009. Well, it worked for ITV Digital.

So, what are the details?

The BBC will show Football League and Carling Cup matches from the 2009 to 2012 seasons after winning the contract in a joint bid with Sky.

Oh yeah, the Carling Cup too, we forgot that.

It means Championship matches will be screened live on the BBC for the first time, with 10 first-choice games per season exclusively live on the BBC.

And what’s more…

The Carling Cup final will be simulcast live with Sky, and two semi-final legs shown exclusively live on the BBC.

No, we don’t know what that means either. So, is this a step forward for the Championship or just another sign that BBC sport ain’t what it used to be?

Barnsley and Hull compete to sign the most forgetten striker

Who is the Premiership’s most fogettable target man? Andrea Silenzi? Sean Dundee? That guy who played for, you know… with the hair… oh no it’s gone? Well Hull and Barnsley would like to offer up a couple of names for your consideration. First let’s look at Hull’s entry.

Hello Hull, who is that you have just rejected for not being quite good enough? Why it’s Malcolm Christie, once of Derby and Middlesbough. I forgot he even… oh you get the picture, so what are they up with him then? They are not offering him a deal after a trial spell. Hull manager Phil Brown saying:

“We had a good look at Malcolm but have decided not to give a deal.”

What a quote, throw us a bone here Phil.

And Barnsley, who might this be? Jon ‘£4m’ Macken, once of Man Ciy reserves. And he will be signing for them till January because he just can’t force his way into that strong Derby forward line.

Who wins, you decide! Or is there an even more forgettable striker to have graced the Premiership?

Who is the best player outside the Premiership?

For a while it was Kevin Phillips, for ages it was Jason Koumas, there was even some rubbish talked about Robert Earnshaw at some point. But who is currently the best player outside the Premiership? Well, here are some options, but feel free to pick your own?

Kevin Phillips (West Brom) - Is he past it? Probably, but a bit of expeience never hurt anyone.

Darius Henderson (Watford) - Scores a shed load of goal, but is he just a flash in the pan?

Zolton Gera (West Brom) - Top class midfielder, who really should be playing in Premiership soon.

Robbie Fowler (Cardiff) - Stop laughing at the back, he used to be the next Jimmy Greaves, that’s got to be worth something.

Jimbo Beattie (Sheff United) - The only good thing about Bryan Robson’s reign?

Peter Halmosi (Plymouth) - An outsider for the title, this Hungarian winger is leading Ollie’s Argyle revolution.

Any better suggestions?

Three Things You Learned From The Weekend’s Championship Matches?

It was back to the rat-race for Championship players at the weekend and they looked more than happy about it; turning in some great performances.

Sheffield Wednesday continued to get their season back on track with a impressive win at Stoke while Watford continued to steamroll their way to the Premiership as Marlon King grabbed another goal against Hull. Meanwhile, Neil Warnock almost got off to a winning start before Palace returned to their usual form and Man Utd’s Lee Martin proved to be a wise loan signing for Plymouth with a man of the match performance.

But here’s your chance to tell everyone what you learned from the weekend’s Championship results, and to see what others thought as well. Sort of a lower-league love-in, only not quit as disgusting.

Barnsley 1-1 Burnley

Blackpool 1-1 Palace

Colchester 3-2 West Brom

Norwich 1-3 Bristol City

Plymouth 1-0 Coventry

Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Ipswich

Scunthorpe 0-0 Leicester

Sheffield United 1-1 Preston North End

Stoke 2-4 Sheffield Wednesday

Watford 1-0 Hull

Wolves 2-0 Charlton

Championship Prediction Mania

Like the first day back at school after half-term, domestic football returns tomorrow and it doesn’t look too appealing. But wait, don’t run off to MFI to buy that decking for garden just yet, their are some appealing fixtures in the Championship. How about Neil warnock’s first game in charge of Crystal Palace? Then, of course, there is the battle of the B-ley teams at Oakwell (ok, we’re stretching it here). What will happen is anyone’s guess, but why not show your guess is better than ours by challenging our predictions, below:

Cut and paste into the comments with your own predictions, or just put down a few thoughts:

Barnsley v Burnley - away win

Blackpool v Crystal Palace - draw

Colchester v West Brom - home win

Norwich v Bristol City - home win

Plymouth v Coventry - draw

QPR v Ipswich - home win

Scunthorpe v Leicester - away win

Sheff Utd v Preston - draw

Stoke v Sheff Wed - home win

Watford v Hull - home win

Wolves v Charlton - draw

Southampton v Cardiff - away win

Charlton vs Hull Punch Up: Alan ‘Nutter’ Pardew Does It Again

In the gold trunks, with a record of ten fights (all against relegation) and no knockouts… It’s Hull City!

In the red trunks, with a record five fights (mainly against Simon Jordan) and three knockouts… It’s Charlton Athletic!

Seconds out, round one.

At last night’s game it was a split decision, with an almighty brawl leading to one red card a piece. ‘Doesn’t sound that bad’, I hear you say. Well, it did involve players, subs, coaching staff and Alan ‘Arsene Killer’ Pardew. While it lit up a rather dull evening at the KC (Charlton predictably won 2-1), Pardew took time to point out he didn’t want to cause any trouble:

“I went on to the pitch just to get in between Dean Windass and Jon Fortune because I could see them squaring up.”

Sure you did Alan, just like you went over to Wenger to offer him a piece of your Mars Bar. The FA will decide on those motives when they file some sort of humourless report on it in about 6 months when we’ve all forgotten about it.

Midweek Championship Predictions: Charlton, Southampton, Hull, Cardiff Cit and more

With a full programme of Championship games this week, it is time for punters to show that they know their stuff outside the Premiership by beating Caughtoffside at our predictions game. Simply go for a home win, away win or draw.

Here are the fixtures, check out our picks and cut and paste into the comments to show your own:

Barnsley v Bristol City - draw

Burnley v Ipswich - home win

Coventry v Blackpool - home win

Hull v Charlton - draw

Leicester v Wolves - away win

Norwich v Scunthorpe - home win

Plymouth v Crystal Palace - draw

Preston v Southampton - away win

Sheff Utd v Cardiff - draw

Watford v Sheff Wed - home win

The winner will get a pat on the back and a firm handshake. And maybe some crisps… but probably not.

Most Likely To Be Upset By A Champioship Club: Aston Villa, Manchester United, Everton, Manchester City, Chelsea or West Ham?

Like Ziggy and Chantelle’s Big Brother relationship, cup matches were once about romance until the chance to make big money came along. It might seem quaint now but at one time cups were not just the domain of the big four and even teams from outside the top flight stood a chance (no really). But can this week’s league cup (that’s its real name and we won’t accept otherwise) provide a few surprises and renew our flagging faith?

The answer is probably not. But if it does it will take an almighty performance from a Championship club and, well, a lazy, disinterested performance from the Premiership opponents. And here are the places it could happen:

Manchester City v Norwich

Aston Villa v Leicester

Hull v Chelsea

Manchester United v Coventry

Sheff Wed v Everton

West Ham v Plymouth

Using the CaughtOffside calculator and the following equation we can see which of these are most likely to result in an upset:

Premiership crisis club + Handy Championship club - rested Premiership stars x home advantage for Championship club = Upset possible

Hull it is then, bad news for Roman and his best childhood mate new manager.