The official 2007/08 Coca-Cola Championship thread

[sainter]

Didn't go but by all accounts Saints were very very good on Sat - without Basso it could of been 3 or 4. Fair play to Saints, seemed they just wanted it more.

I've never been optimistic but it seems we will have to win 3 frmo the last 4 to go up - and the way we are playing this seems unlikely! The only positive is the no-one else seems to want to go up either!

Thank you Palace and come on Barnsley and Blackpool!!!

Sounded like it was our best performance for a very long time.

We looked really solid at the back with Perry and Lucketti coming in. I think bringing in such an experienced pair is exactly what we needed to shore up our defence. Richard Wright has been solid since coming in as well. We just have to dig in and do everything we can to stay up.

We'll still probably need to win at least 1 and quite possibly 2 out of the last 4 games to survive and having to play at The Valley against a Charlton team needing to win to remain in playoff contention is probably the last place I'd want to go to achieve that next game.

Good luck for the rest of the season. Every club has a bad spell and if you can overcome your current run with even two wins it might be enough to secure automatic promotion. Unfortunately I'll be cheering on the Baggies and Hornets (and Blades) like crazy the next couple of mornings.

 

[drewie_rama]

What a win! very nice to wake up and watch that. Sinclair could prove to be a very important signing for us in the run home, that was a great bit of skill to set up Soares for the first and Fonte's strike was 1st class also. Had to get a win with Wolves having 2 games up their sleve.

Someone is going to be very unlucky to go down this season.

im just praying you dont recall freedman
superb for us so far

 

[moomba]

Caught the headlines from SSN when I was down at the shops, apparently a bit of a problem for Bristol City. Dealing with unlicensed agents, not sure if they have been charged or not but it could have consequences.

 

[pomcrow]

Caught the headlines from SSN when I was down at the shops, apparently a bit of a problem for Bristol City. Dealing with unlicensed agents, not sure if they have been charged or not but it could have consequences.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/7336633.stm

This has been doing the rounds for ages. Fine at worst.

 

[sainter]

APRIL 8

FT Blackpool 1 - 3 West Bromwich A.

FT Sheffield U. 2 - 2 Sheffield W.

-----------------------------------

West Brom have moved to the top of the table and with a game in hand over some of their rivals after a comfortable 3 - 1 win over Blackpool who remain in 17th place and in considerable trouble.

In the Sheffield derby, the game finished 2-2 although Wednesday would be disappointed after going 2-0 up and conceding a late equaliser to James Beattie. The point does move them up from 21st to 20th place and could be crucial.


STANDINGS

1 West Brom 41 70
2 Bristol City 42 70

3 Stoke 42 69
4 Hull 41 68
5 Watford 41 68
6 Crystal Palace 42 62

7 Wolverhampton 40 61
8 Ipswich 41 60
9 Charlton 42 60
10 Plymouth 42 59
11 Burnley 42 58
12 Cardiff 40 56
13 Sheff Utd 41 56
14 QPR 42 54
15 Preston 42 54
16 Norwich 42 52
17 Blackpool 42 50
18 Coventry 42 49
19 Southampton 42 49
20 Sheff Wed 42 48
21 Leicester 42 47

22 Barnsley 40 46
23 Scampaignerhorpe 42 39
24 Colchester 42 36

 

[sog35]

I think we're pretty much down. Can't see us getting anything from Watford or Hull which are our two in hand.

 

[youngsaint]

Few rumours that Crystal Palace are goin after Ruben Zadkovich.... Been on trial there and going to offer a 2 year contract.

 

[sainter]

Few rumours that Crystal Palace are goin after Ruben Zadkovich.... Been on trial there and going to offer a 2 year contract.

Would be an interesting move.

I thought he had signed with the Newcastle Jets.

Because I'm bored I went to one of the Palace forums and not only discovered that they don't rate him but they also have no interest in Colin Kazim-Richards who scored for Fenerbache against Chelsea the other night.

 

[sog35]

Could be a tonking tonight - no Super Bri, heartbreaking Semi loss plus Watford with the chance to go top. Is it too much to ask for two Red victories in a day?

 

[sog35]

Get in KO. 1-0 Barnsley.

 

[sog35]

2-0 to the Super Reds. Stephen Foster heads in early in the second half.

Kozluk clears off the line. Watford obviously pushing on now.

 

[sog35]

I honestly don't believe this. Kayode with the third. Peach of a finish from the radio report.

Up to 18th. Shouldn't drop the points from here but still a long way to go.

 

[sog35]

And it ends 3-0. Incredible result considering Watford had the chance to go top. We haven't won away since Mid September 2007, coming off a heartbreaking result on the weekend, with a striker leading the line who has only scored twice this season (once in the league).

Come on You REDS!!!!

 

[ShearMagic9]

Cracking result for Barnsley that is

Not the best result for Sainter and his Saints though.

 

[jefffff34]

STANDINGS

1 West Brom 41 70
2 Bristol City 42 70

3 Stoke 42 69
4 Hull 41 68
5 Watford 42 68
6 Crystal Palace 42 62

7 Wolverhampton 40 61
8 Ipswich 41 60
9 Charlton 42 60
10 Plymouth 42 59
11 Burnley 42 58
12 Cardiff 40 56
13 Sheff Utd 41 56
14 QPR 42 54
15 Preston 42 54
16 Norwich 42 52
17 Blackpool 42 50
18 Coventry 42 49
19 Barnsley 41 49
20 Southampton 42 49
21 Sheff Wed 42 48

22 Leicester 42 47
23 Scampaignerhorpe 42 39
24 Colchester 42 36

Updated.

 

[RoosterLad]

Nobody wants to get promoted do they. Unbelievable result for Barnsley though.

Cardiff led 1-0 only for Ipswich to draw level and that's how it finished.

By all reports Aaron Ramsey was superb again for the Bluebirds.

 

[The_Flying_Egg]

And it ends 3-0. Incredible result considering Watford had the chance to go top. We haven't won away since Mid September 2007, coming off a heartbreaking result on the weekend, with a striker leading the line who has only scored twice this season (once in the league).

Come on You REDS!!!!

Its unbelievable What a fantastic response to such a dissapointing weekend, especially from Odejayi. After what would have had to have been the most dissapointing day of his career, after so much criticism, to score a brace at Watford takes balls.

Gives a bit of credibility to the theory that the FA Cup was ruining our league form too Gotta keep getting results though, one wins not gonna keep us up

 

[Corrosion]

Far out! We were lethal today. We bossed Watford around IMO. After giving a performance like this, I think it showed that the nerves got the better of our players in that FA Cup semis. Our other game in hand is against Hull, we are big show in the game, too. Get 3 points in that game and we could be as high as Norwich on the table.

Come on you Tykes!!!

 

[sog35]

Saw the goals before going to bed last night.

Great flick by Leon to Macken to give OJ a simple tap in.
Second one was another great header at the back stick by Stevie Foster. Player of the Season, Man of the Year, Buy of the Centuary. He's going on the back of the shirt next year. A class defender.

The third was a result of a peach of a through ball from Leon, OJ shrugs off his marker and then curled it past the keeper. Beautiful stuff.

From all reports Diego Leon bossed the game, strolled round like he owned the joint. Think the middle of the park is where he is best suited. Might be the replacement for Super Bri if someone comes in for him in the summer.

Today we got the luck in front of goal that we were missing at Wembley. Could have been the change in formation. We played with 3 across the back and wingbacks (Van Homoet and Kozluk.)

Another 3 big big games in the next 10 days - Preston, Hull, Leicester (my last game for the season ). 3 points out of the first two and any sort of result against Leicester and I think we may be ok. Like they say 2 wins on the trot in a relegation scrap often means you're safe or close too.

 

[sainter]

Wow, impressive win to Barnsley. Great way to make up for the disappointment of Sunday night.

It's now official that no team in the league wants to go up. How can Watford lose 3-0 at home to a team in the relegation zone when they have a chance to go top of the league?

It's interesting to look at the amount of points that the champions scored in the last four seasons:-

2003/04 - 94 (Norwich)
2004/05 - 94 (Sunderland)
2005/06 - 106 (Reading)
2006/07 - 88 (Sunderland)

Unfortunately the major consequence of that is that it's far more competitive at the bottom end of the table as well. For the previous two seasons, the third bottom team finished with 42 points (Crewe and Southend). This season it could be as high as 53-54 points.

I suppose you can never underestimate a team in a relegation scrap.

I hope we can do a similar thing at The Valley on Saturday, though I'd take a draw in a heartbeat.

 

[Deledinho]

The Barnsley result has confirmed Colchester's relegation - they can still get to 48 points but Sheff Wed and Leicester still have to play each other - giving one at least 49.

 

[sainter]

APRIL 12

Live scores:

21' Bristol C. 0 - 0 Wolverhampton W.

21' Burnley 0 - 0 Sheffield U.

21' Cardiff C. 1 - 0 Blackpool

21' Charlton Athletic 0 - 1 Southampton

21' Coventry C. 0 - 0 Stoke C.

21' Crystal Palace 0 - 0 Scampaignerhorpe U.

21' Hull C. 0 - 1 Queens Park R.

21' Leicester C. 0 - 0 Colchester U.

21' Preston North End 0 - 0 Barnsley

 

[sainter]

HALF TIME SCORES:

HT Bristol C. 0 - 0 Wolverhampton W.

HT Burnley 0 - 1 Sheffield U.

HT Cardiff C. 1 - 0 Blackpool

HT Charlton Athletic 0 - 1 Southampton

HT Coventry C. 1 - 0 Stoke C.

HT Crystal Palace 2 - 0 Scampaignerhorpe U.

HT Hull C. 0 - 1 Queens Park R.

HT Leicester C. 0 - 0 Colchester U.

HT Preston North End 0 - 1 Barnsley

-------------------------------------------

Absolutely rapt that we're winning. It seemed to come from a comical mix-up at the back for Charlton but we'll take it any way we can. Charlton have a horrible recent record at home but having looked at their line-up they are good enough to be winning the league. Huge second half coming for us. COME ON THE YELLOWS!

Of the other teams in the relegation battle, Barnsley and Coventry are both in front. Leicester are so far being held 0-0 at home to Colchester. If the U's can do as a favour and either win or draw that would be huge. If Cardiff can retain their lead over Blackpool it would be much appreciated as well.

 

[sainter]

62' Bristol C. 0 - 0 Wolverhampton W.

62' Burnley 0 - 2 Sheffield U.

62' Cardiff C. 2 - 0 Blackpool

62' Charlton Athletic 0 - 1 Southampton

62' Coventry C. 1 - 1 Stoke C.

62' Crystal Palace 2 - 0 Scampaignerhorpe U.

62' Hull C. 0 - 1 Queens Park R.

62' Leicester C. 0 - 0 Colchester U.

62' Preston North End 0 - 2 Barnsley

17:20 West Bromwich A. ? - ? Watford


Cardiff have scored a second against Blackpool, Stoke have equalised against Coventry, Barnsley have added a second against Preston and Leicester are still being held 0-0 against Colchester so at the moment it's advantage Southampton and Barnsley. Having said that we're completely on the back foot and haven't kept an early lead since 2003 but that's life.

YELLOW! YELLOW! YELLOW!

 

[sainter]

1-1 at the Valley.

I'll take a draw now.

In the other games that matter (in my opinion) Cardiff are up 3-0 over Blackpool and Preston have got a goal back but still trail 1-2 to Barnsley