Living with the Championship nightmare and holding on to the Premiership dream
LISTENING in with interest to the end of the Premiership season on Sunday I finally got to learn which three teams would be making a trip to the Ricoh next season
All of them would rather be not coming at all but the matches will add to the experience of the season to come.
West Ham might be thought of as a strong opponent but it seems likely that many of their best players will be plundered by Premiership teams. In a sign of things to come they featured in the last game ex Coventry City loanees Freddie Sears and Zavon Hines
As most people expected this time last season Blackpool are returning to the Championship. As brave as the performance was against Manchester Utd to me the defeat seemed inevitable given the class gap between the teams
Their return will bring back for me a low light of the Chris Coleman reign, when we were so intimidated by them we packed midfield to frustrate them in our home game
Birmingham's relegation despite winning the Carling Cup seems incredible.It may be they will be able to hold on to their best players. If so they will be formidable opponents
At any rate Scott Dann's return to the Ricoh after leaving to better his career will remind him of the fickle fates of football
Some clubs of course held on to the Premiership dream. We wont be seeing Wolves next season and in some ways that's a big occasion we'll be missing out on
Blackburn also saved themselves in the same game. I was pleased for Steve Kean in this case.
He began a season as Coventry City assistant manager supposedly wanted by Chelsea and ended it as scapegoat for Chris Coleman's failings
In guiding Blackburn away from relegation he's proved his abilities.
Wigan also survived. I was pleased for another little club who can survive to compete with the big boys. On a selfish note if they had gone down it may have been easier to get one of their players
This time last year we brought back an old Coventry City hero in Gary McSheffrey. It seems very likely Keiren Westwood will be moving on.
With him no longer first choice at Wigan trying to bring back Chris Kirkland seemed a potential idea
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I don't see the Championship as a nightmare and the Premier League as a dream.
The Sunday Times featured an article by one of their sports correspondents at the weekend saying the exact opposite. The Championship is a fantastic competition where anyone can win the league and anyone get relegated. The Premier League is very predictable - we could all name the top four and bottom six for next season with a fair amount of accuracy.
Was it great fun fighting relegation in the Premier League every season? No, it was depressing.
On another note, Steven Kean was Coleman's drinking buddy and a seemingly bad influence. Him being done for drink driving this week shows nothing has changed!
I've read quite a few articles on here now, and I find myself disagreeing with you every time.
Steve Kean for starters has done a less than satisfactory job at Blackburn and can't be described as having a positive impact here either. Don't rate his abilities at all.
I disagree again about Scott Dann, who it was reported this week, has a number of admirers from clubs within the top six. Can't see him coming to the Ricoh next season unless we draw Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Birmingham have too many stars also and will have to cut their budget back, added to that the distraction of European football I can see them struggling.
West Ham will keep hold of a decent starting XI and push all the way, too big a club not to.
You also comment on our performance against Blackpool, which I remember well, we drew 1-1 and it took a Bannan wonder goal to earn them a draw. Look at the midfield they had that day 'Coleman, Adam, Vaughan, Bannan', and you wonder why we packed our own midfield to stop them...
Rich-I haven't seen the Sunday Times article you quote.But I don't mind betting the fans of Wolves and Wigan are thrilled to still be in the premiership and the fans of the bottom three are far from positive just now
Adam-Like Rich you don't think much of Steve Kean. The jury's still out on him as a manager,but surely he achieved the first aim at Blackburn to save them from relegation.
Im speculating about Birmingham and W.Ham. It seems to me Birmingham have more committed cash rich backing to resist there team being plundered. Ive heard the paper talk about Scott Dann too but it may be just that
If you followed my previous blogs you'll know I thought Chris Coleman was a very negative manager who chose to pick his sides to contain the opposition rather than having the self confidence of Andy Thorn's "let them worry about us " prior to his first game. Im not intimidated by the players you mention and our manager shouldn't have been
I note you disagree with my blogs often. This is the first comment I recall. I look forward to more in the future. Better still why don't you get in touch with the Telegraph and blog yourself