The Championship is the league that just keeps on giving.
Arguably the tightest league in Europe with the top constantly changing. Sheffield
United lead the way ahead of Yorkshire rivals Leeds while the play offs are
made up of Middlesbrough, West Brom, Derby and Norwich. While struggling
Ipswich, Hull and Reading make up the bottom 3. We also saw the managerial axe
fall twice with Aston Villa and Ipswich making the change of manager during
October and no doubt November will continue to see the axe begin to fall
further.
One man who is firmly untouchable is Chris Wilder who continues
to do a sensational job at Sheff Utd
with the Blades sitting top 2 points clear of their nearest rivals. 3 wins and
a draw from their 5 games during October has seen the Blades nick top spot.
Billy Sharp is in top form as always for Sheff Utd notching a hattrick in
United’s most recent game against Wigan. Sheff Utd work as unit and are proving
a difficult side to play against this season. Leeds have lost top spot during a mixed October. Despite losing
just once, Leeds struggled to 2 wins and 2 draws with performances dropping
from the opening 2 months of the season. While Bielsa will be encouraged with
their league position, he will not be too satisfied with their performances. Injuries
have hit them somewhat with top scorer Kemar Roofe only recently returning from
injury while they’ve lost Luke Ayling for the next 2 months after an injury
sustained in the draw with Nottingham Forest. Bielsa will want more assured performances
during November to keep Leeds’ momentum going. The rest of the top 6 is made up
of Middlesbrough, West Brom, Norwich and Derby. Like Leeds, Middlesbrough suffered their first dip
in performances during October with Boro winning twice but suffered a poor home
defeat to Nottingham Forest. Pulis’ sit 3rd after an excellent start
overall but they are winless in their last 2 games and Pulis will demand improvement
going into November starting at his former club Stoke. Another side enduring a
dip in displays is West Brom despite
sitting in 4th spot. The Baggies won just once in October smashing
Reading at the Hawthorns. 2 draws and 2 defeats have seen West Brom drop off
the pace somewhat and no doubt Darren Moore will demand more during November. In
contrast, one side full of momentum is Norwich
with Daniel Farke’s winning 3 on the spin seeing off Nottingham Forest, Aston
Villa and Brentford and overall the Canaries have won 7 of their last 10 games
and are looking imperious at the moment. Derby make up the top 6 after a string
of excellent results against Sheff Utd, West Brom and Middlesbrough. The rams
remained unbeaten during October and Frank Lampard will be delighted with the
football they are playing right now. Big summer signing Jack Marriott has also
found his feet with the striker 3 goals during October as well as an excellent
goal in the recent cup defeat to Chelsea. Derby have good momentum and no doubt
Lampard will want to build on that as November draws near.
Other sides enjoying their October include Birmingham, QPR and Preston. Both
Birmingham and QPR won 4 of their 5 games in October and remained unbeaten in
the process. The Blues are flying under Garry Monk after winning 4 on the spin
and are unbeaten in 11 matches. Monk has found a winning formula and a run of
consecutive draws for much of August and September. Monk has also unlocked
Lukas Jutkiewicz with the striker arguably enjoying his best scoring run in a Blues
shirt including scoring his first senior hattrick against Rotherham. The big
striker has 8 league goals overall and he will want to keep his rich run going
in November starting against Derby. The Hoops are also enjoying their best run
of the season under Steve McClaren. QPR
have certainly turned a corner and are enjoying their season finally after a
dreadful start to the season. The Hoops won 4 of 5 games in October and have
lost just 2 of their last 10 overall so very much improved. McClaren has made
them much harder to beat with the Hoops drastically improved at the back
highlighted in their recent success over Aston Villa. Despite hovering above
the bottom 3, Preston enjoyed their
best run of the season remaining unbeaten throughout October winning 2 and
drawing the other 3. The season kickstarted with a comeback draw at Aston Villa
and a thunderous derby win over Wigan. Preston are scoring goals and are slowly
improving defensively, and Alex Neil will be delighted with his sides recent performances
but knows there is still room for improvement.
October saw the managerial axe fall with Steve Bruce at Aston Villa being the first to go after
1 win in 9 matches. The final straw for Bruce came after Villa threw away a 2-0
lead to then bottom of the table Preston. Defensive frailties, fan unrest and
poor decision-making cost Bruce and the entire coaching staff their jobs. Villa
spent large parts of the international break getting Bruce’s replacement in and
have a new manager in Dean Smith who they have pinched from Brentford. Smith a lifelong
Villa fan no doubt is fully aware of the task ahead. Smith has won 1 and lost
the other 2 games he has had so far after 3 games in 6 days hasn’t allowed much
time for Smith and his two assistants Richard O’Kelly and John Terry to drill
their ideas into the players. Smith will desperately want November to be the
month where Villa’s season really takes off starting at home to Bolton. Smith
has been encouraged so far but knows results must start to arrive to save Villa’s
failing season. So, with Smith departing it meant Brentford needed a new boss and have appointed Smith’s assistant
Thomas Frank as their new manager. The Dane initially arrived at Griffin Park
as Smith’s assistant in 2016 having managed in his native Denmark at Brondby as
well various levels in the Danish FA. However, Frank has had a very tough start
losing all 3 of his games so far. Prior to his takeover at the club, The Bees
were winless in 5 so Brentford in a sticky patch. Narrow defeats to Bristol City,
Preston and Norwich for Frank so far and like Smith at Villa, he will hope
November can be the month to kick start Brentford once again starting with a
tasty London derby against Millwall. The second axe to fall was on Paul Hurst with
Ipswich winning just one of their
opening 15 games. Defeat to Leeds cost Hurst his job with former Norwich boss
Paul Lambert given the task of saving Ipswich from relegation. A shoe-string
budget and a host of new signings have seen Ipswich suffer. Hurst completely
changed the squad and his experiment ultimately failed and the Tractor Boys have
collected just 9 points from their opening 15 games. Lambert has excellent
Championship experience having managed Norwich, Blackburn and Wolves at this
level and has Premier League experience with both Aston Villa and Stoke.
Lambert knows this division well and knows he must start well to win over the
Ipswich faithful due to his Norwich connections.
Other sides in poor form and managers feeling the heat include
Hull, Reading and Bolton. Times are
tough in East Yorkshire right now with Hull
desperately struggling for form and confidence. Despite winning their most
recent game against Bolton at the end of the month, The Tigers form overall is dreadful
winning just 2 of their last 11 matches. However, with a takeover of the club
at very advanced stages, Adkins knows he must get the team going to have a chance
of keeping his job at the club. Like Adkins and Hull, Paul Clement and Reading are also on a very poor run with
Reading losing 4 of their 5 games in October and the pressure is increasing on
Clement who only took over in March this year. Reading are struggling for an
identity, confidence and form and are slowly sinking down the Championship
table. While speculation has linked the likes of Steve Bruce to the Reading
job, Clement remains in charge for now but Reading must improve starting
against Bristol City otherwise the managerial axe could well for a 3rd
time this season. While the axe might not fall on Phil Parkinson, Bolton are desperately struggling after
winning 3 of their first 4, the Trotters have won just 1 of their last 11 games.
They are struggling for goals and creating chances is also proving a problem
for Parkinson’s side. 4 defeats in 5 during October has left Bolton down in 18th
place. Bolton must improve and fast otherwise another relegation battle looms.
October brought us brilliant goals and excellent football
and no doubt November will do the same with some mouth-watering and crucial games to come
including Stoke vs Middlesbrough, Ipswich
vs Preston, The first steel city derby of the season between Sheff Utd and Sheff
Wed, QPR vs Brentford, Derby vs Aston Villa, Reading vs Ipswich, Nottingham
Forest vs Stoke, West Brom vs Leeds, Swansea vs Norwich, The first second city
derby of the season between Aston Villa and Birmingham, Swansea vs WBA, Aston
Villa vs Nottingham Forest and Stoke vs Derby. November can be the month
where the league really starts to take shape and the pressure on managers
increase further. The most unpredictable league in the world will no doubt
continue to deliver in November.
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