Who will be in the shake up & who will be the surprise package ?
& who do we most want up this coming season from an Irish viewpoint ?
Villa flying with a Whelan / Hourihane central axis would be lovely, and not impossible, they weren't a million miles away last year.
Big year for Kelly at Reading and Manning at QPR, the breakthrough as hard as it is to achieve, bears no resemblance to the challenge set by making that eleven week in week out for the next decade or more.
Also, Cullen will get to test himself there with Bolton. Last season I watched both Hourihane and Cullen play against Peterborough and Chris Forrester, he looked better than both of them in those games, in that period there was big buzz about him, yet it's the other two who have navigated the next step and good luck to them.
Aiden O'Brien will turn 24 as a Championship level striker, and at a club where he can expect to at least be given a chance to find the level after making 43 apps last season. He hit one in two for our u21s & it'd would be great to see him do well enough to offer a credible squad option.
And as much as we'd love a breakout season in the Prem for an Irish player, it's more likely to come from this division I suppose, (Long & Rice apart) this years Liam Kelly, anyone willing to pick a name ?
Oh, and Preston Shamrocks.
Not many would have predicted Huddersfield last season but the top two were among the favourites.
It's very open this season with no obvious stand out side. Perhaps it would be best by starting with who won't be promoted:
Not Promoted: Burton, Barnsley, Bolton, Millwall, Brentford, Sheffield United, Ipswich, Bristol City, Preston.
Outsiders but could be surprise: Cardiff, Notts Forest, QPR, Birmingham, Reading.
Contenders: Wolves (deep pockets), Sunderland, Leeds, Middlesboro, Hull, Fulham, Sheff Wed, Norwich, Derby, Aston Villa.
Tip: Wolves, Fulham, Villa but could be anyone. If Owls keep their manager, would be very surprised if promoted.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Lost faith in Carvalhal?Originally Posted by OwlsFan
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
The results have been really solid though. Probably the most consistent team in the Championship over two seasons, or close enough? Obviously I wouldn't be as well up on the specifics as you though - what does he need to change?
He has spent a veritable fortune by Wednesday standards and the team is going backwards. Last season I think he spent €20+ million and yet 10 of the team that lost to Huddersfield in the semi-final was the same as that which was out-played at Wembley in the Final the season before. He has the most potent strike force in the Championship (Hooper, Rhodes, Fletcher, Winnall and Forestieri) but they get no service and he sometimes plays Nuhiu (19 goals in 142 appearances !!). The performances at the tail end of the season and this season have been poor and terrible to watch. No shot on target that I remember against Preston but perhaps he'll turn things round but I doubt it. I'd prefer the still available Nigel Pearson. It's an interesting league though where anyone can beat anyone but the standard of some games is awful.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Only 4 games in, and the bottom 5 are pretty much the ones you'd expect to be fighting off relegation (i.e. the 4 B's Bolton, Brentford, Burton and Barnsley and Millwall. Great start by Mick's Ipswich - doubt if they'll keep it up though.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
So farewell then Simon Grayson. Relegation from the "richest league in the world" can be tough for a club which has spent millions to try and stay there. Surprise though Sunderland are doing so badly. I had them marked down as contenders to go the other way. Surprises of the season Bristol City and Sheffield United. O'Dowda seems to be playing really well for the former http://www.punditarena.com/football/...o-think-about/ Think he had another assist last night as well.
Last edited by OwlsFan; 01/11/2017 at 10:13 AM.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Sunderland are a basket case. Know a few of their fans through various channels, they really want Roy Keane approached about taking over. Could do a lot worse, but doubt he'd be interested. Critical season for them all the same. If they go down again it might take decades to recover from.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Are they English Sunderland fans or Irish Sunderland fans that want Keane back ?
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
The Irish Sunderland fans switched to supporting rugby years ago.
English. Their reasoning is that the club needs a brutal dictator type to clear away dead wood, stand up to the owners and generally be a presence, even if its only to stabilise things in the short term. The anti-Moyes one might say.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
I would have thought they switched to Ipswich, and then Ireland, then Villa and back to Ireland ?
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Nah, Ipswich never got promoted.
So it's one win in 16 games for Sheffield Wednesday against teams managed my Mick McCarthy. Last minute equaliser last night (against Mick of course) by a forward (Nuhiu) who hadn't scored for 40+ games and whose total of 19 in 143 games makes Shane Long's 18 in 94 for Southampton look prolific.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Saw QPR score 2 in injury time to rescue a point last night against Brentford. Alas for half the QPR fans they had left the ground and didn't get to see it! When are fans ever going to learn that it ain't over until the fat lady sings? Had to laugh at the QPR manager though.Instead of rejoicing, he was moaning that one of the Brentford goals was offside (correct by a kneecap) and they should have had a peno (handball but looked accidental). However, if he looked a bit closer he might have spotted that both QPR goals were offside !!
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Who's next at Wednesday you reckon Owlly ? Merry go round usual suspect or a left field pick?
Would you believe that the favourite is another Portugues, Paulo Fonseca, the current manager of Shakhtar Donetsk. Not sure where that one came from. My choice would be Mick McCarthy (though he's not among the favourites) or Nigel Pearson, or of course it could be the usual where the interim manager (Lee Bullen) gets a few results and is offered the job, only to be sacked shortly thereafter when the bubble has burst.
Paulo Fonseca
2/1
Paul Lambert
5/2
Lee Bullen
5/1
Garry Monk
11/2
Nigel Pearson
6/1
Aitor Karanka
8/1
Gary Megson
10/1
Paul Hurst
10/1
Slaven Bilic
10/1
Ryan Giggs
14/1
Simon Grayson
16/1
Steve McClaren
18/1
Paul Clement
20/1
Last edited by OwlsFan; 28/12/2017 at 10:24 AM.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
See Carvahal has gone to Swansea. Not sure if that's a short-term promotion or long-term demotion. Owlsfan, how would you like Karanka? I'd prefer him over Pearson myself.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
I wouldn't mind Aitor Karanka. Alas, Steve McLaren now the odds on favourite. How is he still getting interviews? He's been sacked more often of late than there have been Harry Potter sequels !
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
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