In short, as Reading proved, the gap between relegation woes and a very real chance of promotion is somewhat surprisingly narrow, and the inspiration for Peterborough, Barnsley and Bristol City to climb the table is certainly available.
“Everyone is capable of beating any other side on a particular day. I don’t think anyone could pick out the two teams that they’d say were favourites for the division…”
– Simon Grayson, Huddersfield Town
It has been said that the Championship is a league of inconsistency, a competition full of teams that are tactically sound but lacking the dependable quality to become a sustainable Premier League club. An element of truth lies in this statement, and perhaps the team that most embodies this sense of inconsistency is Lee Clark’s Birmingham City. An undoubtedly big club with the intent of regaining the Premiership standing that was lost in May 2011, the Midlands outfit are currently hovering a few places above demotion to League One. Their results are often surprising, and can be most effectively summarised by a bizarre 7 day period in late September. On the 22nd, the Blues were completely outplayed by relegation rivals Barnsley, being decimated 5-0 in front of a disillusioned St. Andrew’s crowd. A week later, Birmingham took 3 points off of the then Championship leaders Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex, courtesy of a defending master class and an early “Goal of the Year” contender from winger Chris Burke.
For a team consisting of seasoned second-tier veterans (Marlon King, Paul Robinson, Wade Elliott etc.) in addition to England internationals such as Jack Butland and Nathan Redmond, results as inconsistent as these point to the erratically competitive nature of the league in which the club currently resides. Combining this with the underlying financial troubles that are unquestionably crippling Birmingham behind the scenes, Clark’s team can be a viable reference as the definitive Championship club – unplayable one week, an easy game the next.
As obviously crucial as positive scorelines are, to say that the competition in the Championship is simply down to results, however, would be misleading. There also seems to be a question of club ethics.
A very real fear within the sports arena is that the ultra-rich Premier League, with all of its glamour and flair, is increasingly distancing itself from its invaluable connection with the working class society. Thus, it could be argued, the everyman demographic could now belong in the second-tier of English football, and with that comes an ethos that embeds itself in the skin of teams involved. For example, what is a more fitting representation on the working class? A wealthy London powerhouse such as Ambramovich’s Chelsea or (to a lesser extent) Arsenal, or a gutsy Midlands group with less frivolous spending options, like the aforementioned Birmingham or Derby County? The answer, certainly, lies with the latter. The spirited working class philosophy of the teams mentioned extends onto the pitch, and with that comes a level playing field, and thus appears the current scenario in which any team can beat any other, regardless of form or quality, on any given day. In the nPower Championship, there is no forgone conclusions, no certainty when it comes to results and little financial advantages over other clubs. As a result, footballing competition thrives.
In short, it appears that the Championship’s chaotic character is a vital part of the league’s allure and, in all fairness, there is very little not to like. The sheer intrigue that is generated from a league in which the leaders are often beaten by teams almost a whole division below them is vast, and whilst the Barclays Premier League is widely believed to be England’s greatest football competition, a solid argument can be made for the Football League Championship being the most entertaining as, up until May at least, it genuinely is anyone’s game.
Thank you for reading.
Comments welcome below or on Twitter: @matthewtsquires. For more articles please visit my website, Matthew T. Squires.
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