Currently topping the Championship and looking not far from England’s Promised Land is Southampton. Nigel Adkins’ men have bossed the league for the majority of the season, looking convincing with every win they tuck under their belt.
Ricky Lambert, the powerful striker from Liverpool, has been imperative for Saints’ success and looks like he will continue to do so; he is only behind Jordan Rhodes of Huddersfield as the highest scoring Englishman in the Football League.
Reading, having recently overtaken and beaten West Ham so that they sit in second place have had a virtually unstoppable surge of late; after going on an incredible unbeaten run (8 of which were straight victories) and being largely helped by the experienced Jason Roberts, the club who may soon be taken over by a young yet incredibly rich Russian (Anton Zingarevich) looks to have a bright future ahead-providing they don’t do a QPR. However, the brilliant Brian McDermott will surely see that they don’t.
Contention for the play-off places are also ridiculously tight going into the season’s final chapter; only 11 points separate 3rd from 8th. Consistency is pivotal here as not every team has the ability to simply dominate the league like Southampton and West Ham have done between them.
The Championship season is exerting and arduous. Teams need to be dynamic and vary their play if they are to have the advantage over 23 other teams, twice a season.
One example of how not to approach the Championship season is how West Ham have done. Yes, they may be 3rd in the table but the fans at Upton Park seem bored at the style of play that is Sam Allardyce’s trademark: the dreaded long ball tactic. On top of having inconsistent goal scorers like John Carew and Carlton Cole, teams are working the Hammers out-as their results would suggest. 5 straight draws of late (before their defeat to Reading) and many others littered throughout the season are evidence for why West Ham have slipped from the top of the tree leaving Southampton or The Royals to seem favourites for the title.
Given how tight the places are for the play-offs, West Ham would have a battle on their hands if they are not to gain automatic promotion. Teams like Birmingham, Brighton, Middlesbrough, Cardiff and Blackpool are all in and around the play-offs and will prove tough opposition for Allardyce’s team.
Looking at the present it is obvious; looking at the future it’s probable: the difference of quality between the top of the Championship and the bottom 10 of the Premier League is not the wide gap people thought anymore-if teams take being in the Premier League for granted, or believe that the Championship is easy, then a rather large shock is awaiting them.
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