Are Brighton and Birmingham the real deal this season, or will they fade away ?

[Six pints of STELLA]

Are Reading a lot better than when they were beaten by Crawley in late July?

Results, signing the likes of Vydra, players returning from Copa America and it not being pre-season would suggest that.

How much better is difficult to gauge.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/25/newcastle-united-leyton-orient

 

[HertsWolf]

Results, signing the likes of Vydra, players returning from Copa America and it not being pre-season would suggest that.

How much better is difficult to gauge.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/25/newcastle-united-leyton-orient

Yeh but you were using "before season" and "on paper" as your rationale for having a go at another club. The club I saw being shit on by Crawley.
I think if you looked at the Reading squad cold before the beginning of the season, then anything above relegation would be a positive.
Personally I think Birmingham and Brighton will both finish above Reading.

 

[Madejski]

We should have beaten Birmingham by a goal or two at St Andrews on the opening day of the season, we'll definitely finish above them. Got mightily unlucky with hitting the woodwork, goals crossing the line not given and missing a pen. We're unbeaten in the 7 games since then.

A team will have to be in the top 6 to beat us this year, as I can't see us finishing any lower than 7th/8th.

 

[The Southbank]

We should have beaten Birmingham by a goal or two at St Andrews on the opening day of the season, we'll definitely finish above them. Got mightily unlucky with hitting the woodwork, goals crossing the line not given and missing a pen. We're unbeaten in the 7 games since then.

A team will have to be in the top 6 to beat us this year, as I can't see us finishing any lower than 7th/8th.

I reckon we're in for a good shout this season. The Thais are loaded with these new sponsorship deals, and will strengthen in January if necessary. Nice to see the young players getting a look in as well.

Birmingham have been very impressive thus far.

 

[big mean bunny]

I look at that Birmingham squad and I genuinely don't believe it is worse than a side like Ipswich quality wise, I am not saying Ipswich are a bad team, it's just, regardless of what they tell me about the talented players, all I see is average to above average players, playing the Magic Mick McCarthy, nuts and bolts championship football formula.

Whilst I wasn't his biggest fan last season, TK (his name is far too Polish for a cret like me to be able to spell) is a good keeper and could be a very good keeper with proper game time like he is now getting. His issues at Wolves last year seemed to have the 'I'm filling in and a mistake could cost me' about them. Added into that the rest of the side is more than decent, another ex Wolves, but I always liked David Davis, two footed midfielder that tries to play, and was for some reason hated by a lot of our fans anytime I was at games, presumably because his haircut took more than 7 minutes.

 

[El Guapo]

We should have beaten Birmingham by a goal or two at St Andrews on the opening day of the season, we'll definitely finish above them. Got mightily unlucky with hitting the woodwork, goals crossing the line not given and missing a pen. We're unbeaten in the 7 games since then.

A team will have to be in the top 6 to beat us this year, as I can't see us finishing any lower than 7th/8th.

And we’re unbeaten in 10 going back to last season, the only match that I can recall us playing badly since losing at Watford was against Reading. Seems a bit naïve if you think that was a standard Birmingham performance. It wasn’t long ago when we beat you 6-1. I’m not ‘expecting’ a top 6 finish but I would be a bit surprised if we finished below you.

Whoever dismissed Clayton Donaldson when he was linked with Reading… he is currently top of the goals/assists table.

 

[Madejski]

6-1 was almost a year ago, we've had a new manager who has managed 39 games since then! Not to mention our team is almost unrecognisable to the team we had in May 2015, let alone late 2014.

Donaldson was all about his age tbh, £2m for a 31 year old is too much. He's got four goals for you, but so do Blackman and Sa for us.. So we're not missing him too much either. Sa only cost half the price and is four years younger too.

I do think we'll be in and around the same positions in May, but if we're behind you it won't be by much.

 

[El Guapo]

Donaldson was all about his age tbh, £2m for a 31 year old is too much. He's got four goals for you, but so do Blackman and Sa for us.. So we're not missing him too much either. Sa only cost half the price and is four years younger too.

3 goals and 5 assists, having played a game less.

£20 to charity that Clayton Donaldson will have more league goals/assists (combined) at the end of the season than either one of Sa or Blackman. Would you accept that bet?

 

[HertsWolf]

I look at that Birmingham squad and I genuinely don't believe it is worse than a side like Ipswich quality wise, I am not saying Ipswich are a bad team, it's just, regardless of what they tell me about the talented players, all I see is average to above average players, playing the Magic Mick McCarthy, nuts and bolts championship football formula.

Whilst I wasn't his biggest fan last season, TK (his name is far too Polish for a cret like me to be able to spell) is a good keeper and could be a very good keeper with proper game time like he is now getting. His issues at Wolves last year seemed to have the 'I'm filling in and a mistake could cost me' about them. Added into that the rest of the side is more than decent, another ex Wolves, but I always liked David Davis, two footed midfielder that tries to play, and was for some reason hated by a lot of our fans anytime I was at games, presumably because his haircut took more than 7 minutes.

Im the opposite: never liked Davis but only ever heard good things about Gleeson when he was young. We have a habit of letting good young players come back to bite us.

 

[Madejski]

3 goals and 5 assists, having played a game less.

£20 to charity that Clayton Donaldson will have more league goals/assists (combined) at the end of the season than either one of Sa or Blackman. Would you accept that bet?

No chance. Could never bet on Blackman doing well given that for the previous 2.5 seasons he's been at Reading he has been dreadful. Been incredible this season though tbf.

Mainly say no because of how many options we have up front there's no chance our players will play regularly enough to score 20+ goals or anything like that. We have far too many attacking options to just stick with the same 2 or 3 players for all 46 league games.

One of the other Reading fans on here might oblige.

 

[Rammy]

Blackman the new Daryl Murphy? Years of being crap, before having one wonder season?

 

[markwwfc1992]

For me Reading have had the best transfer window, they've signed some very good players in this division and not spent huge amounts in doing so. Leeds and Brighton have done well in that regard too.

As for Birmingham I'm on the side that they've started well, but I don't think they are good enough to trouble the top 6. Considering only a few months ago their owner at the time was languishing in a Hong Kong prison cell, I think for them to survive without going into more debt would be considered a success.

 

[El Guapo]

As for Birmingham I'm on the side that they've started well, but I don't think they are good enough to trouble the top 6. Considering only a few months ago their owner at the time was languishing in a Hong Kong prison cell, I think for them to survive without going into more debt would be considered a success.

Carson Yeung has no authority over BCFC anymore. We're under receivership of Ernst & Young and currently locked into a two-year exclusivity agreement with Trillion Trophy Asia (still unknown whether it's for the club or the parent company). Under E&Y, at least we can be assured that everything is being done by the book.

I'd imagine that most Championship clubs (if not all) are in debt. I know that Tottenham and Swansea are the only two Premier League clubs who aren't. It hasn't really impacted on the playing side... under GR, we've won 20, drawn 12 and lost just 8. I doubt we'll finish as low as 19th, as you predicted.

 

[Six pints of STELLA]

Yeh but you were using "before season" and "on paper" as your rationale for having a go at another club. The club I saw being shit on by Crawley.
I think if you looked at the Reading squad cold before the beginning of the season, then anything above relegation would be a positive.
Personally I think Birmingham and Brighton will both finish above Reading.

Not sure why Reading are being brought into this, as I was talking about Birmingham.

I totally agree that looking cold at the beginning of the season anything above relegation was a positive. Probably at the beginning of the season ours and Birmingham's first XIs weren't far off each other (lower end Championship). I have also said that I reckon we'll finish about 9th with the new signings brought in.

Anyway, back on topic to Birmingham..

I don't know what was quite so radical to say that Rowett has done a good job at getting the most out of players who have plied their trade around the lower end of the Championship/ League One. I just don't think they can keep up a promotion push with lack of depth and a slight touch of quality.

 

[TomPNE94]

I'd imagine that most Championship clubs (if not all) are in debt.

We are the only one that isn't in debt. That's only because our owner wrote off £31mil though.

 

[HertsWolf]

We are the only one that isn't in debt. That's only because our owner wrote off £31mil though.

Ummm. No you're not. Don't believe all you read in your local paper. According to the last accounts you were £0.6m in the black.....but a certain Black Country titan was £7m in the black (and Rotherham was also not in debt).

However, you did make the biggest profit of the current Championship clubs...£16.4m. (But to stress again, this was all for 2013/14, the latest available accounts). We had to make do with just £8.5m profit. The only other Championship club making a profit then was, coincidentally, also Rotherham.

 

[markwwfc1992]

When the figures are released that we were actually playing Leon Clarke 50k per week and a 5m promotion bonus, I'm sure our finances will look decent enough.

Who knows we might go on another spending spree and bid 2m for another Huddersfield Town player... exciting...

 

[TomPNE94]

Ummm. No you're not. Don't believe all you read in your local paper. According to the last accounts you are £0.6m in the black.....but a certain Black Country titan is £7m in the black (and Rotherham are also not in debt).

However, you did make the biggest profit of the current Championship clubs...£16.4m. (But to stress again, this was all for 2013/14, the latest available accounts). We had to make do with just £8.5m profit. The only other club making a profit was, coincidentally, also Rotherham.

I don't read that shite

Was going off this
http://www.insidermedia.com/insider...-football-finance-championship-debt-hits-11bn

 

[Super_horns]

Brighton were pretty solid at the back last season - just couldn't score.

Seems like they have at least found a goal scorer or two now.

 

[M Dogg]

Sounds like Nottingham ''In big big trouble this season'' Forest outplayed and outfought a decent Birmingham side last night.

 

[Ed Phelan]

Happy for us (Brighton)to be written off by everyone as long as we stay up there

 

[Turkey]

These lot won't last around for long. Rowett looks a good manager, but the players are lower end Championship standard and will fall away to midtable.

Brighton's goals will soon dry up with Hughton's approach, but they could find themselves around the outer play off positions.

Gospel.

I think Hughton has an unfair reputation as a defensive manager. We're playing the most attacking football we've played since our promotion to this level. 4-4-2 with (usually) two wingers. We're averaging 16 shots a game at the moment.

Looking pretty strong at the back too. £5m+ rated Dunk can't get in the team. Uwe Hunemeier who we signed from Paderborn has been really impresive.

Please don't confuse these comments with getting carried away. I have no doubts the pack will catch us. I just don't see any reason to suggest Hughton's approach will see the goals dry up.

 

[Munkiki]

Don't think it's unfair, it may not be applicable now but he worked incredibly hard to earn that reputation. It'd be grossly unfair to take that away from him just because he's now in the best division in world football. It should be of no surprise to anyone that this league gets the best out of him (afaik he also played attacking football in this division with Newcastle).

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Lovely free flowing football at this stage of the season is one thing. Doing it in February-March onwards when the pressure bites and the opposition find ways of grinding you down is another!

Regarding Brum, I have loads of respect for Rowett, think he's an excellent manager.

 

[El Guapo]

Sounds like Nottingham ''In big big trouble this season'' Forest outplayed and outfought a decent Birmingham side last night.

Outplayed? I thought it was a really poor game all round to be honest. You sat quite defensively and scored against the break, which has worked well for us in previous games. It just showed the fine margins, only takes one moment or mistake (the slip from Caddis) to change it.

 

[Ed Phelan]

An interesting stat from the main Brighton forum is that of the four other teams in Championship/Div one history to have 19 points after 7 games, all ended the season as champions!

Now I'm not going to read too much into that but whisper it quietly, there is a sense that all the elements are there.

We've built on what was already a solid defence (we had the fourth best defensive record in the division last year), we've added solidity (Kayal & Rosenior) and flair (Murphy & Manu) to the midfield AND we now have goals up front with the league's joint top scorer Hemed, a rejuvenated Baldock and club hero Zamora waiting in the wings. Not to mention some of the promising young talent we've got around the place such as Jack Harper, Vahid Hambo, Connor Goldson and homegrown James Tilley.

Combine this with a manager who knows how to get out of the division and a patient chairman who's backed him...

On paper it looks like Albion are the real deal.

But I've been following this team a long old time and I can tell you we never do things the easy way

 

[Madejski]

or you'll finish below Reading.

 

[HertsWolf]

But I've been following this team a long old time and I can tell you we never do things the easy way

I think that's quite unusual. Most other Championship clubs have solid reputations for always doing things the easy way.

In fact, if Wolves started doing shit inconsistently and the difficult way, I'd go back to supporting Birmingham City, who always do things the easy way too. Or Shrewsbury, for the same reasons.

 

[Letsby Avenue]

Brighton I think will be Top Six, Chrissie H has not yet unveiled the over-cautious gene that he has.
He hasn't needed to yet ~ but, when he does, Brighton will be pegged back I reckon.

Blues ?? Mainly down to Rowett's ability + the financial sanity now in place ~~~ blimey we spent a transfer budget of nearly £350 k this summer ~~~ stuffed the squad with players for whom acne is more threatening than injury.
Top half would be a respectable placing. We've punched above our weight under Rowett ~~ it can't go on forever ~
although it's become enjoyable to watch.

 

[Turkey]

Lovely free flowing football at this stage of the season is one thing. Doing it in February-March onwards when the pressure bites and the opposition find ways of grinding you down is another!

Regarding Brum, I have loads of respect for Rowett, think he's an excellent manager.

Hasn't been lovely free flowing football from us.