2015-16 Championship- keep your other crappy leagues out of here.

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Wednesday with a huge 6 pointer at Birmingham today- both teams on 47 points tied for 7th. Lost our keeper and a CB in the first ten minutes, gave up a goal in the 45th, and were trailing 1-0 into the 77th minute. Gary Hooper scored an absolute bomb from 20 yards out, and then cleaned up a mess 2 minutes later and the Owls roll right up into a solo 6th place 2-1. I didn't even think my son was paying attention to the call (he was in the next room playing with dinosaurs), but when the second goal went in, I gave a yelp, and he yelled out "Gary Hooper!" Kid isn't three yet- I may be a bad parent.

Being a Red Sox fan for years taught me to fear the worst, and Wednesday fans have a similar outlook (although they don't take themselves as painfully serious). That said, it's hard to not feel optimistic. 3rd in the form table since the September transfer deadline closed. Long way to go in an unpredictable league, but I love my club and they're making a lot of us very happy right now.

E I E I E I O
It's up the football league we go
When we get promotion,
This is what we'll sing:

We are Wednesday
We are Wednesday
Carlos is our king
 
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dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
Brighton's been looking better after a shaky post-holiday period. Within shouting distance of the leaders, and a decent transfer window too. A playoff place continues to be just fine with me - but I agree there's something that's felt less than dependable about Brighton's ability to generate results. A playoff miss wouldn't surprise me, but it would be highly disappointing after the great start.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
The Skalak signing was potentially big- nice to get a player who could contribute for a few years, and it was my understanding you needed some goals. Sidwell should be helpful too.

Derby have sacked Paul Clement. Tough league to manage in.
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
It's Brighton v Leeds today. Always a good time. Brighton hanging on to hopes of an automatic spot while trying to consolidate playoff position. Leeds is kind of drifting right now aways down the table, but I'd never express anything like confidence heading into a LUFC matchup.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Pretty big game- win and you're right up there with the autos (although I still say Hull and Boro grab those). Tought stretch coming up too with 3 games in 6 days for you. At Preston could be tricky, you get Wednesday at home mid week (our away form has been piss which will help, although we could have stolen 3 from Hull on friday) and then the Friday game hosting Reading, which is one of those championship traps waiting to happen. If you guys come out of that stretch still in 3/4 and maybe bump that GD up, you'll be in great shape going forward.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Nice to get a good start and then put the hammer down. Granted there's almost a quarter of the season left, but you're 11up on 7th. It would take a Derbyesque collapse.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
An absolute pants shitter by Wednesday today, losing at home (second loss at hillsborough all season) to relegation bound Rotherham and that twat Colin warnock.

An awful second yellow to Fernando forestieri against hull has our best offensive spark out for a bit, and despite dominating the last 70 minutes, Wednesday didn't really come close.

2 points out of the last 4, and a trip to Brighton on Tuesday with Cardiff, Birmingham, and Ipswich up our ass. I thought we were closer to automatic than 7th, but we've managed to bungle this and now it's a horrible typical championship slop fest the rest of the way.

Where did the puke emoji go?
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Sounds like a good game between Wednesday and Brighton- not the most exciting as both teams played very good defense. Sounded like Brighton controlled the majority of play in the first half, but that Wednesday had the better chances in the second. Given the carnage around the rest of the league, a very good point for both teams. 2,4,5,7,9, and 10 all lost, and Ipswich (who has had an absurd amount of last minute equalizers or winners) finally got the other end of the stick giving up a PK in the 90th to drop 2 points. Rotherham beat 'Boro for fucks sake.

Edit: Wednesday announcers really liked the Brighton CB pairing, especially Connor Goldson. Sounds like there are some nice parts for the future in place.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
I heard rumors of that last night. Not pretty, especially when the team is so close to auto promotion.

Wednesday with a 3-0 win at Forest that easily could have been 6 or 7. Having Forestieri back is just so huge. Aidan McGeadys best game for us as well; I knew it would take him some time to get going, so if this is the start of it, he's going to be a big factor.

Evil troll Neil warnock continues his magic run, as Rotherham scored 3 goals in the last 5 minutes to draw even with Derby. Of course that could just be derby collapsing, but relagation bound Rotherham has taken 7 of 9 points from top 6 teams in the last 2 weeks. Warnock is a cunt but he sure can craft a game plan and get crap teams playing respectable.
 

thehitcat

Member
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Nov 25, 2003
2,376
Windham, ME
OK dirtynine your Gulls are in the firing line. After my Royals got knocked out of the FA cup (it was an excellent run) we will now focus on the league (HA!) I do love that Reading is the definition of mediocrity this year in the championship. 35 played for 44 points and an GD of exactly zero. I'm a little disappointed that we're only in 15th we really need to be 12th where Leeds and their -5 GD sits three minuscule little points ahead of us. The three points I assume we will take from the Amex on Tuesday. You have been warned DN :)

Edit: Also I agree Neil Warnock is a cunt of epic proportions, think he wants to come to Reading next year? I'd like to get promoted again someday... sigh
 

thehitcat

Member
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Nov 25, 2003
2,376
Windham, ME
Never really in doubt sadly. Fairplay to your boys dirtynine. Couple of good chances went begging for both sides and while I don't know the 1-0 was a fair scoreline it was always going to be Brighton. Good luck the rest of the season. hope you stay in the auto spots and go up. You might make a little noise.
 

dirtynine

Member
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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
Good match on what was reportedly a tough night (cold, midweek - not quite the old Stoke cliche but close enough).

Brighton now in an auto-position, and beneath them #3 & #4 have a game in hand... but against each other! Here's to Boro & Hull splitting the points on Friday.
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
And good luck the rest of the way, hitcat - Reading know how to do this whole "promotion" thing, the jury's still out on Brighton...
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
I'm getting excited for Palace-Brighton next season.....let's hope my guys don't screw it up.
You and me both. It'll be way more fun if we pull it off and you're there waiting. That said, and truly no jinx meant, I think you'll be ok. Points, games and goals are all in your favor.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Some big games tonight as we wind down (7-8 games left for everyone).

1. Burnley 76 pts +30 GD 7 games to play
2. Boro 73 pts +26 GD 8 games to play
3. Brighton 72 pts +17 GD 7 games to play
4. Hull 69 pts +31 GD 8 games to play
5. The Wednesday 65 pts +21 GD 7 games to play
6. Derby 64 pts +15 GD 7 games to play
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Cardiff 62 pts +9 GD 7 games to play
8. Ipswich 59 pts +2 GD 7 games to play
9. Birmingham 56 pts +5 GD 8 games to play
10. Preston 56 pts +2 GD 7 games to play

Burnley Cardiff
Boro Huddersfield
Wednesday Rovers
Birmingham Brighton
Preston Fulham
Derby Hull
Ipswich Charlton
 

fletcherpost

sosh's feckin' poet laureate
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Jul 15, 2005
12,139
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i am officially rooting for Wednesday now. My Cousin has a season ticket at Hull, and it's hard not to root for Burnley, but I would love to see Wednesday in the top flight. Top two seems a stretch to say the least, but the play-offs are doable. With Villa going down, the EPL needs a sleeping giant from the North - and Super Leeds are shite.
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
Very fun last few weeks coming up. 5 matches left for pretty much everybody.

Boro are now top of the table after this pinball last-gasp goal against Reading.

Burnley are next (2 points back), and then Brighton (4 back). Those three are going to fight over the two automatic promotion spots; there's an 8-point gap from Brighton down to the other playoff contenders. Hull, Derby and Wednesday all have a nice claim on those last spots.

All of which makes Burnley v Boro next Tuesday very spicy indeed. As a Brighton fan, a draw would do nicely. Brighton also play at Boro on the last day of the season. Unless the PL gets a little less predictable, this will be the league to watch for last-day title drama. (Relegation, on the other had, looks pretty clear-cut. Bolton is down already; MK Dons and Charlton have only the tiniest chance of saving themselves.)
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
I can see that Brighton/Boro game being for the last automatic spot.

Wednesday hosts Ipswich this weekend then Dons on Tuesday. They then travel to Derby (who owns us) that Friday. Host Cardiff after that. Could all go wrong quickly.
 

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
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California. Duh.
(Relegation, on the other had, looks pretty clear-cut. Bolton is down already; MK Dons and Charlton have only the tiniest chance of saving themselves.)
AFC Wimbledon are currently in a playoff spot in League Two. It would be hilarious if MK Dons were relegated to League One the same season Wimbledon were promoted into it.
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
Burnley and Boro draw. Brighton smash QPR.

Only goal difference is is keeping BHAFC out of an auto promotion spot. 3 games to play. I'm getting a tingling feeling.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Your form is incredible right now. I'm frankly stunned and haven't given Brighton enough credit. You deserve one of those two top spots for sure. I haven't seen it all year, but there's no doubt now.

Boro in great form as well, taking the Karanka drama and using it for good. There's a lot of talk that it was a desperate motivational ploy by him that has worked...now that things have been fabulous since the dust up, seems easy to say, but either way, they're almost certainly going up.

Wednesday hit the woodwork 4 times and got a couple of shit cards (including a red to Ross Wallace) and only drew with Dons. They're going down and doing so without a bit of class. Fuck them and have fun in L1 again. Fortunately Brentford popped two late in th 2nd half to beat Cardiff, so the gap between 6th and 7th is 6 points with 3 to go. Wednesday have @derby, Cardiff, @wolves. Cardiff has Bolton, @Wednesday, Brum. Cardiff basically needs to win out, but going into Hillsborough could be tough. I'd expect a MASSIVE crowd...tickets are so expensive, but if they could get the old barn banged out, it would be an incredible atmosphere.

 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
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9-0 aggregate over the last two matches. And doing stuff like this:

With their last match against Boro, Brighton control their destiny now. Win out and they're in the show.
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
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Just an aside: Ulloa, who's been so clutch off the bench for Leicester this year and who I'm guessing will help cover for Vardy while he's out, was a mainstay for Brighton the past few seasons. Watching him play a key role on a possible EPL title-winner is also incredibly satisfying in its own way. The gap between the Championship and the Prem is as small as it's ever been, in my opinion.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
25 years since a non-top flight squad won silverware in England. 4/21/91 League Cup Final.



Spot the Yank Abroad!
 
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Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Burnley won at Preston today, putting them in first. Now Brighton (at Charlton) and Borough (Ipswich) need to follow suit. Brighton would love Boro to drop points, otherwise they'd remain in third on GD (unless they drop another 4-0 thrashing). Wednesday are at Derby (a horror show game traditionally), which is the BeIN game. A win essentially clinches the last playoff spot, barring Cardiff erasing a 12 goal gap in GD.

Aside from who gets the two automatic slots, the league is essentially decided.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
1-1 draw at Derby. A fair result given the quality of play from both teams, but disappointing when you're giving up the equalizer in the 82nd. 7 points on Cardiff (8 with the GD)
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
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Charlton equalize and Brighton answer almost immediately. 1-2 Albion, 56'. Boro / Ipswich is still scoreless.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Burnley (33) Boro (32) and Brighton (30) all tied atop the Championship with 87 points. Huge GD penalty by Brighton in the 90+

Hull and Derby are tied at 77 points for 4-5 (Hull with a game in hand).

Wednesday remains 4 points up (+12 GD) on Cardiff with two to go after 10 man Bolton concede a 94th minute penalty at Cardiff. Cardiff coming to Hillsborough next Saturday with the last playoff spot on the line.

Dons, Charlton, Bolton all going down.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Only need one point at home today and the playoffs are clinched.

Should be around 35000 in Hillsborough today.

Edit: thrashed Cardiff up and down the pitch- 3-0 win and a trip to the playoffs. 32000, but they only let owls fans into 3 of the stands.
 
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dirtynine

Member
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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
Middlesbrough vs Brighton final match of the season will be epic.
Burnley could win today and be promoted, because only one of Boro or Brighton will be able to get enough points from the final game to catch them. If that happens, Brighton would have to win at Boro because of latter's better goal differential. A draw or win for Middlesborough would put them up and send Brighton to the playoffs.

If Burnley loses or draws today - especially if they lose by 2 goals or more - it becomes much more chaotic and almost every scenario between the three teams is evenly realistic.

So yeah, epic!
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Wow...didn't realize they were early games. Bank Holiday?

So here's where we stand then:

1. Burnley 90 pts +34 GD (@ Charlton)
2. Boro 88 pts +32 GD (Brighton)
3. Brighton 88 pts +30 GD (@ Middlesbrough)
4. Hull 80 pts +30 GD (Rotherham)
5. Derby 78 pts +24 GD (Ipswich)
6. Sheffield Wednesday 74 pts +22 GD (@ Wolverhampton)

Burnley going up- best team in the division start to finish. Sean Dyche is great.
Boro only needs a draw at home against Brighton, but Brighton is the in-form team in the division. Loser of this battle plays Wednesday.

Playoffs are as follows:

5/13 Brighton/Boro @ Wednesday
5/14 Derby v Hull (lower seed hosts).
5/16 Wednesday @ Brighton/Boro
5/17 Derby v Hull (higher seed hosts)

5/28 Playoff Final at Wembley
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
Brighton's draw today (with a goal in the 94') didn't change the promotion calculus (once Burnley won), but it does mean that they can win the league outright if they beat Boro. Promotion is obviously the goal but doing it as champs would be pretty special.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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Sep 9, 2008
42,271
AZ
Even after Leicester City's championship, I'm predisposed against believing in football gods. That said, there does seem to be some kind of weird gravitation pulling Joey Barton toward the top flight.

Also, it appears BeIn will carry the M'Boro v. Brighton game.
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
Boro deservedly up at halftime, Brigton needed 2 in the second half. A guided middle of a header just provided one. Half hour left. LetsgoLetsgoLetsgo