nPower Championship Run-In Watch

Table:
http://www.skysports.com/football/league/0,19540,11687,00.html

All to play for in the Championship where there's eight rounds to go. Which three clubs will get to try their wings in the Premier League next season and which three will have to push that dream into the distance by getting relegated to nPower League One?

Cardiff look set to win the league title - although you can never be a hundred percent sure in this league until the fat lady has sung - but after them it's tighter than an elf's arse at both ends of the table.

At the moment it looks like it's between Hull, Watford and Crystal Palace to battle out the second automatic promotion spot - with all of them having lost their previous matches - and a handful of teams vying for space in the play-off places. One of the league's heavy spenders and an early-to-mid-season title favorites, Leicester, have suffered an appalling loss of form, so characteristic for this league, having won just 2 out of last 10 and just about clinging on to the final play-off spot before this weekend's games. Middlesbrough another club that looked hopeful of making it back to the Premier League after a few years absence have suffered a similar lack of form and are headed for a midtable finish once again - or are they?

In the relegation battle it's Wolverhampton Wanderers who are seemingly following the age-old principle of 'all publicity is good, even negative publicity' by looking to achieve the impressive feat of back-to-back relegations when still enjoying the Premier League's riches in form of parachute payments. How you build such an underachieving team with that sort of money compared to your division rivals must take some doing.

Not happy to let Wolves have all the unflattering publicity, there's of course the managerless Blackburn firmly in the mix of that low-table roasting while some of the best-form teams can actually be found among those ones who have been steadily in the relegation places throughout the season; how exciting is it to have them put up a real battle for survival? Thrilling stuff and we'll see which of them can paaaaar-ty after the final day of the season.


Anyway, I'll be updating this thread for the Championship run-in and pop in if you have any interest in what goes on in this division

Its a shame about wolves, I always liked them as a club but they made a massive mistake getting rid of Mic Mac.

They have just finished building a massive extension to their ground also.

I hope Forest goes up.

That club is one of the 6-7 biggest clubs in England and has beaten pretty much every big club in Europe and has a rich history.

Championship looks very competitive.

Nottingham Forest seem to be in good form so they could challenge Hull for the 2nd spot. Cardiff should finish 1st.

AltoZ wrote:I hope Forest goes up.

That club is one of the 6-7 biggest clubs in England and has beaten pretty much every big club in Europe and has a rich history.

Anyway i didn't want Cardiff up.... 1 welsh team is too much matter about 2

From the 2 remaining spots i would like Leicester and Watford.

No surprise Boro's form plummeted when that lanky bellend from the North joined them.

Gil wrote:No surprise Boro's form plummeted when that lanky bellend from the North joined them.

He's only played two games and scored and assisted in both games....

Boro plummeted a long time before he joined them.

Would like if Cardiff, Watford and Brighton somehow got up and not Hull Shitty. Wouldn't mind Crystal Palace either.

I would have liked Palace before they hired that c*nt Holloway.

And yeah Brighton is good too.

I have a lot of Forest friend fans as I currently live next door to the hellhole

So I'd love for them to get promoted and relegated next season

They're actually on an impressive run now they've brought back Billy Davis, but they usually end up bottling it in the playoffs.

Wouldn't mind Brighton going up since It's right next door to my hometown and I like how they play.

Ideally I'd want those two and Watford to make it. Though I hear Watford just had some crippling decision given against them due to all the whining from other Championship clubs over them using tons of loanees (Pozzo family )

Really don't want Hull to come back up.

Watford would be brilliant in the PL with Zola. Best team to watch in the championship along with Palace and Brighton.

Swansea-Cardiff derby in the PL next season

Hopefully Brighton gets in the playoffs

I'd like:

1. Cardiff - Welsh derby in Premier League.

2. Crystal Palace - Ian Holloway.

3. Brighton - have been playing great football under Poyet.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

Gil wrote:No surprise Boro's form plummeted when that lanky bellend from the North joined them.

He's only played two games and scored and assisted in both games....

Boro plummeted a long time before he joined them.

Assumptions. I didn't mention any names.

From the clubs behind Cardiff I, too, would like Watford because of Zola. It would also be interesting to see what they'd do in the summer if they got promoted, I don't think they can use so many loaned players in the Premier League but would need to do some shopping.

As I wrote that, Burnley just equalised to make it Watford 3 - 3 Burnley.

Umm, I've been impressed with Hull, how they have gotten their act back on track after it looked like they won't be returning to the PL anytime soon.

But if I had to put money on it, I'd say it's Cardiff, Watford and Nottingham Forest who are going up.

Why are you laughing, Suprenuce?

2 European Cups, one of only 3 english teams with multiple EC/CL titles. Had one of the GOAT british managers in Brian Clough.

They have beaten Barcelona and other major clubs in their history.

What has Newcastle done LOL?

Really really really hope Brighton can get promoted. Like someone else mentioned, they've been playing some top football.

That was all in a 2 year period outside of that they have 2 trophies in their entire history.

Many many clubs have won more trophies than them and are much bigger.

They had a fantastic 2-3 year period but that is it.

Also what have Newcastle done? 5 leagues, 6 FA Cups and 1 Uefa Cup.

Not much to brag about but still won more leagues and FA Cups than Forest has.

A 2 year period does not make them a massive club, it makes them a club who enjoyed the services of a GOAT manager for a limited time.

Crystal Palace taking a 0 - 4 reverse against Birmingham at home, now who saw that coming...

It's well funny, Palace were 2nd (I think) when Holloway took charge and were hardly losing any games, just winning or drawing. Ever since Holloway stepped in they've been repeatedly dropping points you thought were theirs. I think Palace fans will be quite disappointed if their team doesn't get promoted and they are well in danger of not even making the play-offs unless they improve immediately.

Fergie

Come on Watford!

Leicester lost at home to Millwall, Brighton have now got a chance to knock them out of the play-off spots. Bolton are on a late-season surge and probably fancy their chances of being up there competing for the play-off spots during the last few games of the season.

Nott Forest v Brighton
Peterborough v Cardiff

those two the biggest games today.

Birmingham City going on a great run when its already too late gtfo

also mole shaaaanneeee feeerrrrguuuussssoooon what a goal

Leicester continued their slide with a 1 - 0 loss to Barnsley.

Wolves decided they aren't completely hopeless by winning their both Easter games and climbing out of the drop zone.

And it really is tight down there. Peterborough find themselves second-to-last even though they are 5-3-2 in last 10 and unbeaten in 6.

Last season the last surviving team in 21st place had 48 points.
Now, with 7 games left, the team in 21st place already has 47 points. It is just a fantastic season in the Championship!

Leicester lost 2-0. They were topping the championship not long ago and looked like they'd easily get promoted. Not sure what happened to them.

Steve Bruce back to the Premier League with Hull.

I don't mind Steve Bruce but Hull