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Birmingham City
Report Card: The side from the second City were prehaps the best placed to make a return to the Premiership even before they signed Kevin Phillips in the summer and they have made quick work of pushing themselves back into the top division under Alex McLeish. The Scotsman managed to keep several of his best players and made a great start to the season by winning their opening three games and being held a drama in another. City have so far demonstrated that they are most likely to be the stand-out team in the division but that doesn't mean they are taking it for granted, and it also doesn't mean that they haven't been challenged in their pursuit for an immediate return to the Premiership.
Plus Points?
Although they are strong favourites for the title, Birmingham have not played like the pressure of expectation is weighing on their mind. In their early games they have developed a knack of scoring late goals and never knowing when they are beaten. The strength in depth of their squad demonstrates the reasons behind their favourites 'tag' and so far they have pretty much lived up to their billing. Three points away at one of their main rivals on the opening day of the season will have inspired confidence as will a victory against St Mary's which looked like the might not be able to claim. The comfortably dispatched Barnsley at home and although they didn't beat Norwich in their final game before the international break it looks like it is still plenty to comes from their squad in the remaining nine months of the campaign.
Where they need to improve?
Looking at their squad and looking at the way they started the season as if they were going to storm to the Championship title even in the early season going, they will be hoping to avoid minor blips like against Norwich when they couldn't find the breakthrough. The supporters expect to be challenging at the top of the table as do the players themselves and even results like a 1-1 draw, especially after a Carling Cup exit are potentially worrying signs. Rotating his talented squad and keeping the players happy also presents a problem for Alex McLeish.
Targets for the next term...
- Aim for the record points total of Reading and Sunderland
- Continue to score late goals
- Maintain their home form.
Reading
Report Card: Having only dropped into the bottom three during the final week of the Premiership season, Reading will consider themselves very unlucky to have been relegated in 2007/08. Despite the rumoured departure of many of their players only Dave Kitson and Nicky Shorey are conspicuous by their absense from the team sheet this season as Reading looking to get themselves back in the top division once again. Steve Coppell's men have started reasonable well suffering just one defeat in four relatively different games and currently sitting in sixth place in the fledgling Championship table, the former Palace boss can be happy with his side's start.
Plus Points?
One major plus for Coppell is that he managed to hold off bids from Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle during the final few days of the transfer window. Having seen Doyle score a hat trick in the win against Crystal Palce, he will have been paticularily pleased to keep hold of his major goal threat. The win over Palace showed Reading's determination to keep going and in coming back from a goal defecit as well as throwing one of their own away they proved they will be a force in this division. Coppell will also have been pleased with the way his side have performed despite a disapointing end to last season, as there was a severe danger that they could end up getting sucked into a mid-table battle but where they currently sit suggests that a top six finish is most probable.
Where they need to improve?
For the good performances they put in at home to Crystal Palace and Plymouth, Reading were not quite up to their best form against Charlton and on the opening say against Forest. Away from home in the Premiership, the Royals were never the most convincing and it seems as if their poor away form has followed them, something Coppell be looking to improve on. Most of Reading's goals have come from set pieces and crosses and it will be a worry to their manager about their lack of chances created from open play.
Targets for the next term...
- Improve on the away form.
- Score more from open play.
- Continue to score plenty of goals.
Bristol City
Report Card: City were probably one of the team's who's season would be most difficult to predict n 2008/09. After hurtling towards the playoffs last season and losing out to a superb volleyed goal from Dean Windass at Wembley, many outside the club may have thought that their was no way their feat could be bettered in the dreaded season season. Not that Bristol's fans will be getting complacent but it certainly seems as if the dreaded second season syndrome may not be a factors as City lie in fourth and although they made not have been as impressive this campaign they are still unbeaten and are looking in good shape.
Plus Points?
The away form of City will have impressed their manager as will their determination and spirit to keep going to the final whistle. Johnson's men triumphed in their opening game 1-0 against a tough Blackpool side and in the next game played with more style and substance against a Coventry side who were topping their league. Although they have yet to win at home, Johnson will be pleased with the way his side have created chances at Ashton Gate in tight situations, their problem seems to be in putting their chances away, though they are not short of players with this capability.
Where they need to improve?
Although City are yet to be beaten, in only one performance did they look totally comfortable - and even then that was after a debatable goal. It is fair to say that the club are aiming high but have yet to hit the performances of last season so far and at home they have struggled to get a much needed three points. If City are serious about going up or even getting into the playoffs in May then they need to turn one point into three more often on their own patch. As previously mentioned, some of their finishing has been relatively poor and they need to work more throughly on breaking teams down, who will now see getting a point against them as a good result.
Targets for the next term...
- Finish off more of their chances.
- More wins at home.
- Keep up the good away form.
Watford
Report Card: The inept way in which Watford ended last season didn't really inspire confidence that this was going to be their year. It has seemed like much longer than two season for most since the Hornets were playing football and after selling a string of their best players, Aidy Boothroyd is still under pressure from supporters to deliver. Currently sitting in 8th place and through to the Carling Cup 3rd round, Hornets fans will be relieved that their team seem to have started well and put their inconsistent form of last season behind them.
Plus Points? So far their whole season barring the unfortunate defeat against Forest has been a relative success. With supporters and the media pretty low on optimism about the club's chances this season, it has been an extremely good effort for them to get into eighth but with just four games gone, the job is nowhere near done. The attacking play with which Watford have started this season has been extremely encouraging considering they longer posess the talent of Ashley Young or Marlon King but in Tommy Smith they have an excellent player at this level who can cause anyone problems. Their home form will paticularily please Aidy Boothroyd considering their struggles at Vicarage Road last term.
Where they need to improve? If Watford are intent on getting back in the Premiership then they could do without losing games like the one they did against Forest. Scoring two goals away from home should be enough to guarentee a victory and their defending will have to improve if they are to pick up vital points away from home. Although Watford have won both their home games, they will face tougher challenges and will probably not be able to sneak victories over the 'top' teams in this division by just a single goal margin.
Targets for the next term...
- Score more goals at home.
- Be consistent.
- Aim high.
QPR
Report Card:Although Rangers transformation from mortal to meg-rich began to take place towards the end of last season, the impact of Flavio Briatorie's money has, as expected, begun to work in their favour this campaign. Nothing but also-ran's in the last camapaign, QPR are genuine contenders with ambitions to be in the Premiership and are so-far beggining to live up to their chairman's expectations. The West London side have added the likes of Emmanuel Ledesma to their team who has so far been a revelation, and inspired by the Argentine forward QPR have made a strong start to the campaign.
Plus Points?
Their start to the season was extremely impressive at home as they dispatched both Barnsley and Doncaster, two potentially difficult opponents, at Loftus Road. Away they picked up a vital point against City with ten men and the game could have been much different had they not had a man disadvantage.
Where they need to improve? All the money that Briatore has brought with him has been tied to an unfair pressure to get promotion, this in-turn has piled the pressure on their manager who's job was percieved to be under threat after they lost one game. Although they recovered with a second round Carling Cup victory and a win in the league, QPR are expected to steamroller their way to the title which will not be possible in a strong field of Championship teams. Each victory for them this season will be overshadowed and they are in a no-win situation when it comes to playing the so-called 'lesser' sides. Although they picked up a valuable point away at Bristol City, they were hammered by Sheffield United, who they would consider Championship rivals and will also miss their talisman for a couple of games after he was dismissed at Ashton Gate.
Targets for the next term...
- Better away form.
- Less reliance on Ledesma.
- Prove that they are serious contenders by spending all season in the top six.
Charlton
Report Card: Charlton's position of 10th in the league may not look that great but considering all the problems their manager has had to work with they can be pleased with a solid start from the first four matches. Pardew was unfairly under pressure before the season after he admitted that he will have to sell his best players unless the club gets investment but supporters are starting to realise now that long-gone (for now) are the days that Charlton were a top eight Premier League side.
Plus Points?
Their victory against Reading proved they at the Valley they have the ability to beat even the top side's in the Championship and their performance's elsewhere will give them confidence. They came through a tough task against Swansea on the opening day which will have settled the nerves and they will know that if they keep taking it a game at a time they could be outsiders for a playoff position.
Where they need to improve?
A defeat to Preston just before the international break proved that while Charlton are making progress, other teams around them are doing the same. Like with so many other Championship sides their home form will get them out of trouble but it is their away form which will be the key to them succeeding higher up the league and it remains to be seen exactly what ambition the Addicks have to finish in the top ten.
Targets for the next term...
- Better away form.
- Bounce back from defeat quickly.
- Hold onto their best players as long as possible.
Blackpool
Report Card: 15th in the Championship looks like a lofty position for Blackpool after they came into the season as favourites for the drop back down to League One. In truth the Seesider's have not started too promisingly but a victory in their final game a couple of weekend's back left them looking down on nine other teams in the division which is what they will be hoping to do by the end of the season.
Plus Points?
A victory in their last match against Southampton was a trmendous boost for so many reasons. Firstly, the three points puts them in a much better position than they were before. Secondly, because it was away from home and they certaibnly deserved it and thirdly because if they are honest Southampton are the kind of team they will be battling to stay in front of this season. Blackpool have put in some reasonable performances but unlike at St Mary's they have not quite found the right result. A draw with Norwich was their only other point, which again away from home was a positive result and proved that they have the battling qualities to stay afloat.
Where they need to improve?
Blackpool's four points so far have been picked up on the road and although that is a positive for Simon Grayson he will be worried about the stat that shows that 'pool have only scored one goal at home and won neither game. If theya re to stay out of trouble, they need to base their season on solid home form and pick up points away from home where they can.
Targets for the next term...
- Ensure they beat the teams likely to be around them.
- Improve home form.
- Continue to defend well away from home.