The Championship 09/10 – Half Season Roundup: Newcastle, Nottingham Forest & West Brom in Three-Horse Race

by Saxon Durrant

Half term is here for the respective clubs and divisions around the world. Its the time for clubs to stock up on essential supplies and get some popcorn for the exciting last few months of the season. These last few months are hugely significant for every single team, whether its the need to hold on to top spot, the mad dash for the play offs, or to consolidate their spot in the league itself. The Coca-Cola Championship has 24 teams battling it out and with Christmas over each club is carefully thinking ahead to the next few months, planning new tactics and looking for that late Christmas present to bring to their chairmen. Whilst I cannot see the future, I make up for it with the ability to analyse the past. Who are the winners, the losers, the surprises, the shockers and the players that have made the Championship such an interesting place over the past 5 months?

The good

We start off with the winners and first to the Toon. Newcastle United haven’t disappointed anyone with their dominance of England’s second tier. Its quite clear that with a 5 point and 1 match lead at the top they are keen to be gracing the top flight of English football once again next season and if they continue in current form I have no doubts that they will. This is mostly due to players like Steve Harper, Peter Lovenkrands, Alan Smith and Kevin Nolan who really are Premier League standard. A slight stutter in form over the past few matches has seen them open up to several teams though, including Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion.

After just getting beaten and sent packing to third spot by Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich Albion are hurting. But in my mind they are still major contenders for the title itself. The Baggies have several players of Premier League standard but you could argue not to the extent of Newcastle. Names to rustle papers include Scott Carson, Ishmael Miller and Roman Bednar.

Running behind them in the playoff spots are Cardiff City, Leicester City and Swansea City. Leicester are surprise candidates in the mix but as it stands would have to face the play off hardened Welsh squads of Swansea and Cardiff. Leicester have had an incredible season and are almost staring into the impossible of football these days, a back to back promotion. Matty Fryatt and Steve Howard were the backbone of the Foxes’ charge up into the Championship, but this season has seen the young Martyn Waghorn take Steve Howard’s place. Goals have still come aplenty though with eleven from Fryatt and five from Waghorn.

The question remains if they can hold on to a playoff spot? At the time of writing Leicester have a game in hand on the rest of the chasing pack. This doesn’t make it easy however as the pack includes high quality teams like Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, QPR and Middlesbrough, surprisingly in 11h position.

The bad

It can’t be all good in the Championship though, and there are a few teams that haven’t performed to expectations. Middlesbrough are one of the major disappointments of the season so far. Whilst they were predicted to finish quite easily in the playoffs, they find themselves 19 points off from 1st place rivals Newcastle. Gordon Strachan has an able squad to work with; names like Justin Hoyte, Leroy Lita and Gary O’Neil should serve the Championship with great moments. Though they haven’t yet, they are one of the teams to watch in the second half of the season to be sure.

Now I may be biased here but I’m glad to say as a Norwich fan, Ipswich Town are another underachiever in the Championship this season. Roy Keane’s side took ages to get going, and have been rooted in the relegation zone for much of the season. And, if I may, the relegation zone is where they deserved to be. A recent pickup in form has seen Ipswich win their last three games in all competitions and move four points clear of the bottom three. Roy Keane will hope that Jonathan Walters and Grant Leadbitter will continue to be instrumental to their success. A team to keep your eye fixed on in the last few months.

The Coca-Cola Championship looks to have a fantastic finale if the first half of the season is anything to go by. The race for the Premier League is still wide open, virtually half the league in with a chance. The title looks like becoming a two horse race between Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion but if these two don’t watch behind them they could be in trouble. Then we have the battle to stay in the second tier. It’s a shame for me that Ipswich have picked up in form, but honestly I think they will survive. Ipswich aren’t the only big name under threat; Reading, Derby County and Plymouth are also down in the depths and need to pick up form. Peterborough and Alan Irvine’s Sheffield Wednesday will have to fight for every point to avoid the drop it seems at the moment. But who knows? The season could well take a turn on its head and that’s what is so great about The Championship, the unpredictability of it all.

English Championship, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich Albion