An Early Review of Championship Surprises and Woes
BIRMINGHAM, UK - AUGUST 26, 2023: In a moment of triumph, Plymouth Argyle supporters erupt in joy as Ryan Hardie marks the scoreboard with the team's opening goal. The scene unfolded during the Sky Bet Championship clash with Birmingham City at St Andrews Stadium.
Only the Championship can throw surprises like we are witnessing currently. Teams who are supposed to be top are languishing at the bottom and teams who are supposed to be midtable or lower midtable are topping the table.
Of course, it is still very early into the season. Only 5 matches have been played but it looks like another tight race for a top 6 spot. If people thought the clubs that have come down from the Premier League would breeze through then they are in for a shock.
So how are some of the teams faring early on?
The Underdogs Shine Bright
Preston
Preston has had a brilliant start to the campaign. They are unbeaten in 5 games. The Lilywhites have won four and drawn one game. Preston has pleasantly surprised everyone especially their own fans this season.
Will Keane, who was bought from Wigan, has made a huge difference early on. Preston has always had a solid defense and a good midfield but lacked a proper forward in recent times. Keane has already scored four goals this season and if he continues his form then who knows this might finally be the year for Preston!
Current Position: 1st
Ipswich Town
Now this is a fairytale start. Probably not for the Ipswich fans because quietly they knew what their team was capable of. Kieran McKenna is one of the brightest upcoming managers and his style of play has already generated quite a buzz.
The Tractor Boys have started the season on fire with four wins and the sole defeat came against a recently relegated Premier League side – Leeds United. Ipswich were unfortunate to even lose that game as they gave the former Premier League side a proper scare.
The Blues have a lot of mettle and resilience in their side, and it was evident last weekend when they came from 2 nil down against Cardiff to win the game 3-2. Ipswich needs to keep their consistency going because if the start of the season is anything to go by then anything can happen come the end of the season.
Current Position: 2nd
Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth has had a decent start to the campaign. They are not exactly lighting up the campaign but they aren’t struggling either. Pretty sure everyone would have put Plymouth down as one of the favorites to go straight back down to League One but the Pilgrims are defying the odds right now.
Plymouth is coming off a 3-0 win against Blackburn Rovers, a Blackburn side who themselves keep blowing hot and cold but a typically dangerous attacking side. Plymouth got a win against one of the top sides in the Championship and their performances early in the season have been consistent and encouraging.
There is nothing as of now that can suggest the Pilgrims will go straight back down, in fact, they are going to cause a lot of problems to every team in the division. On early accounts, Plymouth is here to stay.
Current Position: 10th
Strugglers: Who's Having a Rough Start?
Middlesborough
Again, it is way too early to write anyone off. But, it will be worrying Boro fans that their side that was expected to hit the ground running straight away after the way they ended last season are clearly struggling early on.
Middlesbrough have lost four games and drawn one of their first five games. It’s not like they are not playing well and we expect them to start picking up points soon. It is not the same side that ended the last season. There have been a good amount of incomings and outgoings and that has affected their flow.
Michael Carrick knows that this team needs time to gel. Once they gel they have the capacity to turn into a juggernaut side. Only time will tell when Michael Carrick’s side will hit the ground running but it has to be sooner rather than later.
Current Position: 24th
Sheffield Wednesday
With everything that has gone on in summer, Darren Moore departing Wednesday after getting them promoted to limited spending, Sheffield Wednesday was bound to struggle. But it is alarming how much they are struggling to cope with the Championship considering most of their players have actually played in the Championship before.
The Owls just look like a very poor side with the exception of probably Barry Bannan. They needed some quality in the off-season and all they could muster were some free signings and players who demanded miscellaneous fees.
Again, nothing is guaranteed in the Championship but looks like Sheffield Wednesday will keep struggling till the end of the season. They are currently odds-on to go straight back down.
Current Position: 23rd
Leeds United
Despite their very clear struggle early into the season, there is nothing but immense respect for the job Daniel Farke is doing at Leeds. It is not easy to go to a team whose entire squad’s future is up in the air.
For the majority of the window, Farke did not know if his best players were staying or going. Then there was the Gnonto situation where the player flat-out refused to train. Despite all of that Leeds have been somewhat decent. Now that the window is closed and all the drama behind them, Leeds fans will want to see some upturn in their form.
Despite the season being only 5 games old, Leeds have already dropped important points. Time to put things right for Farke and his men.
Current Position: 15th
The Enigma of Southampton's Start
Southampton
Southampton are doing OK right now. 10 points from 5 games is not a bad start. The Saints are also expected to be around the top two positions or thereabouts come the end of the season.
Southampton is just outside the play-offs spots right now and that has more to do with the quality of their squad. They need to do better and be more dominant in games if they are to achieve that automatic promotion that everyone expects of them. If not then there are many clubs in and around them that will gladly take their place.
So, basically, Southampton need to buck up!
Current Position: 7th
2 thoughts on “An Early Review of Championship Surprises and Woes”
Comments are closed.