That new Palace boss is a talented chap
Crazy stuff at the business end of the championship! Southampton losing again after their amazing run of form , Ipswich grabbing a winner after being hauled back to 3-3 in stoppage time. 2 pts and a little bit of goal difference between 2nd and 4th place.
All this before Leeds v Leicester on Friday night at Elland Road. Can’t wait!!
RM.
Bonkers - as a Leeds fan, I was following tonight’s games almost as much as I usually do ours. But, never mind the final scores, we are now 2nd and it’s in our hands - it’s been a couple of months since we’ve been in that position. Fingers crossed we don’t blow it all on Friday night.
The Berkshire Behemoth has moved from the depths of despair to mid table obscurity. The fightback has begun.
You gotta love the Championship!
Ipswich grabbing a winner after being hauled back to 3-3 in stoppage time
A night of mixed emotions folliwing the live feed last night.
Thank God Ipswich built up a 10 point cushion before the traditional new year collapse.
Thank God Ipswich built up a 10 point cushion before the traditional new year collapse.
Ipswich were always going to struggle with their squad in the Championship – they just don't have the strength in depth that the likes of Leeds/Southampton/Leicester have. Whatever happens this season from now on in, it does have to be looked at as a success.
Depending on what happens at the weekend, the entire top 4 in the championship could be separated by 8 points which is mental when you think Leicester were what, 15 points clear or something at one point and Ipswich similarly flying. Unlucky for Rotherham last night - I doubt there have been many games this season that they've scored 3 goals but to score 3 against a top 4 side and then lose... thats harsh.
Friday night at Leeds is going to be proper tasty...
The Championship surely has to be the most bonkers league in the world? Its certainly the hardest to get out of. Teams are up and down like yoyo's. Makes for entertaining football though as its so competitive
Friday night at Leeds is going to be proper tasty…
Yep - I am looking forward to and dreading it in equal measures right now. Unfortunately Bamford is still out and he is exactly the sort of player we need for this sort of game. Still, we have some in-form players at the moment.
Ipswich were always going to struggle with their squad in the Championship – they just don’t have the strength in depth that the likes of Leeds/Southampton/Leicester have. Whatever happens this season from now on in, it does have to be looked at as a success.
I was hoping to finish fourth from bottom snd stay up. Anything better is a bonus.
I agree with you there Morecashthandash. I couldn't help but get excited in November and therefore feeling disappointed earlier this year but the reality is that this has already been an amazing season and it's far from over yet.
Reading's natural home is the championship, league one is for market towns with other competing sports.
The Championship should be sponsored by Rentakill, it really is like rats in a sack.
The Championship surely has to be the most bonkers league in the world? Its certainly the hardest to get out of. Teams are up and down like yoyo’s. Makes for entertaining football though as its so competitive
I absolutely love the championship. It all feels a little bit more "real" vs the premiership with its oil money, VAR, plastic fans, idiots like Danny Murphy commentating etc but ultimately gaining promotion from the championship is the goal. When Leeds got relegated last season, at no point did I think "oh god, not the championship again" - as a fan, I looked forward to that far more than another season of playing at massive, silent stadiums with fans politely applauding stuff, Chelsea fans singing "Chelsea, Chelsea" for 10 minutes of a 90 minute game etc. Smaller, packed stadiums full of atmosphere and sometimes raw hatred with some really good football being played.
When Leeds got relegated last season, at no point did I think “oh god, not the championship again”
Yeah, I absolutely agree with that sentiment. However, now we are in a position where we could get promoted again, I would be disappointed if we fail to achieve it.
I've said the same, the first season (ever) reading made it into the Premier League was magnificent, seeing superstars week in week out, and we were decent and even in with a shout of Europe until quite late on. Sir Steve Coppell in charge, upsetting other teams because of a refusal to play the game and roll over for their big names.... a great time
Second season - not so much. We got found out and countered, we lost some key players and it was a struggle. By autumn, it was just avoiding getting badly beaten against the top half, try to get something against the 11-15, and then you're in a mini survival league where you had to win, or at least avoid defeat against 16-20. A real dirge of thinking where could we get 3 points out of the next 12 on offer, and then maybe we'll still be in touch for a couple of 'easier' games.
Of course, would love to be back, but can't quite make out why?
Tuchel to leave at the end of the season as part of "a sporting realignment" at Bayern.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68301718
Now where is that angry Pepperami Tuchel meme?
I find football depressing these days, the money, media and governance is just daft now, every year it gets more about how to squeeze a few more quid out of it, rather than improving it throughout, i struggle to watch a game start to finish as well these days, especially cup games as they just seem pointless these days.
so Liverpool, Bayern and Barcelona all looking for a manager at the same time.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/Q2UBMS3S4MUXR6OPF7JJ2KYPPE.jpg)
A ‘sporting realignment.’ You what??!! They’ll be needing David Brent.
Reckon Alonso can pick between Liverpool, Bayern and Barca, assuming he leaves. Surely Barca third choice given his Madrid links and then being pretty shambolic off the park.
I can't see Klopp at Bayern, that's like going from Celtic to Rangers. They really don't like each other and why spoil his legacy?
If Klopp went to Bayern it would make his return to Germany pretty stressful, not something you'd expect for a guy taking a step back to enjoy life, i doubt Liverpool fans would be happy either that he went straight into another gig.
Is Tuchel a bit toxic or something? I couldn't figure out why on earth Chelsea got shot so quick after winning the CL and now Bayern are doing the same after winning the Bundesliga last year. Yes they're behind Dortmund but is that really a reason to not keep him on given how successful a manager he is?
Jesse Marsch, tactical genius, is still out of work...
Yes they’re behind Dortmund
Behind Leverkusen, Dortmund are 4th
Tuchel is a bit of a tool by the accounts that have come out of every club he's been at. Also he was Dortmund manager, why take the Bayern job knowing about the rivalry?
I don't think he won the Chumps league at Chelsea thru tactical acumen - Pep lost it by bizarrely not playing Rodri or Fernandinho in CM. WTAF ?!?!?!? Any game decided by a Havertz goal must be a bit of shitshow plus Rudiger's shithousery - it wasn't a classic but they rarely are.
I see uniteds savour is now testing the water about the return of Mason Greenwood.
If you're into some top shithousery then Porto is giving a master class. 20 years ago Celtic was beaten by the same 'housery.
Wish the beeb had asked Ratcliffe why he tried to buy Chelsea. Yes, comments on Greenwood pretty vague, something about United’s values…….
Porto Arsenal possibly the dullest game of the season, bar the goal in the last minute. Not sure I like Euro games without away goals, it just seems to add something for me.
Just seen on twitter, too good not to share
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68369214
Stoke City: Ricky Martin sacked as technical director after 15 months in the job
Apparently he's livid he's leaving Stoke-a
Well, well, well…
Battered for 80 minutes, then win 3-1. MOT
Great game for the neutral, real drama and entertainment!
Leicester fans must feel robbed.
Been following it on the BBC sport app (dont have sky sports) Feared the worse after the first half and would've happily taken a point but over the moon with 3!
Leicester fans must feel robbed
A bit, but we can't hit barn door with a ****ing banjo at the minute. We should have been at least 3-0 up and out of sight.
Leeds were a bit lucky but they didn't stop playing, and they actually scored!
Quite the night at Elland Road, always happy to get 3pts but man I’ve no clue how! Leicester had so many chances and were managing the game well, but seemed to completely lose the plot after we scored. I still think Leicester will win the league.
RM.
Pretty sure Leicester, Leeds and Southampton will go up, probably in that order.
Been a great season for Ipswich already, comfortably exceeded expectations.
Just watched Jim Ratcliffe's interview on the BBC and I think he is going to get rid of Ten hag. He seems very non-commital anytime he speaks about him. Let's wait and see. You can't spend £400 million and play this dross football. Personally, I would give De Zerbi a go.
I can’t see TH still being in charge by the start of next season. Not when it looks like 5th is as good as it’s possible to get this season, with his signings (particularly Antony) looking like absolute donkeys
Apparently our squad last season was the most expensive ever assembled in world football at £1.2 billion, yet most of the time looked like a pub side.
I know that Ratcliffe has big plans, but the elephant in the room is that those ****ing parasites still have a controlling stake in the club and all these big ideas could still end up coming to nothing
Bit unfair on pub sides there.
No binnerant after yesterday's result? I'm disappointed.
Think yesterday was weeks of getting away with poor play coming home to roost, keep saying it, but Ten Hag doesn't fill you with confidence, i can't see improvement in any of the players who were there already, and his signings are struggling as well, he'll have until the end of the season to prove himself though.
The only positive for ManU just now is that it's Tottenham they're fighting for fifth with, and we know what happens to Spurs when the pressure is turned up 😂
Roy Keane used to be captain of Man Utd. And Bryan Robson. I wonder what they make of modern captaincy
https://twitter.com/WestHam_Central/status/1761672286606622841
Roy Keane was a cheating, violent, coward and bully. Absolute prick.
