Now that we’re in the international break, Chelsea sits atop the Barclay’s Premier League as the only team to record victories in all three of their opening games.

The combination of these wins, being current holders of the UEFA Champions League trophy and the impact of new signings, has lead to early optimism that Chelsea could throw off the shackles of an abysmal 2011/2012 league campaign and challenge for the title once more. In Roberto Di Matteo the fans have a manager that they can identify with, who has delivered as both player and caretaker showing encouraging signs that he can be more than just a benchwarmer for Pep Guardiola.

The club have bought well in the summer transfer window, with Eden Hazard lighting up the first month of the new season and Oscar providing promising cameos from the bench. Marko Marin has been injured but further reinforcements are available in the form of Victor Moses and Cesar Azpilicueta; the latter adding much needed depth at right back.

Going forward Chelsea carry more of a threat than they have for years with a more free flowing form of football supported by the arrival of players more at home taking a player on than pumping the ball forward to a big man up top.

Then there is Fernando Torres who feels like a new signing as he shows signs that his fragile confidence is on the mend bagging three goals in five games that included a cracker against Newcastle. With a kind opening Premier League schedule that included two home games, three wins would have been hoped for by all but the most pessimistic Chelsea fans.

Despite this winning start only the most optimistic fan would claim that the Blues have had a flawless start to the season. Di Matteo’s men did not dominate any of these games and gifted rivals more opportunities than is sustainable. Wigan, Reading and Newcastle all found themselves left to rue missed opportunities that more talented sides will convert.

Amongst these higher quality opponents are Atletico Madrid, who thrashed the Blues in the UEFA Super Cup — a game which saw Chelsea found themselves outclassed by Atletico who were able to exploit a gap between the Chelsea midfield and back four leaving the central defense exposed and unable to cope with intelligent through-balls.

The defense were outgunned by Falcao who provided what previous opposition could not — a brilliant first touch and world class finishing that has meant that even with the transfer window shut, Chelsea are being relentlessly linked with a transfer for the hat-trick hero.

Chelsea fans must hope that this crushing defeat will serve as a wake-up call to those getting carried away by a few early victories, reminding the club that there is still rebuilding work to be done. One defeat may have changed the tone and given the start a mixed feel but there are plenty of positives to be taken and a confidence that the abysmal league campaign of last season will not be repeated.

Whether Chelsea can challenge remains to be seen but they seem more of a threat to the dominance of Manchester than they did before May 19.

Kristian Downer is the owner/editor of famouscfc.com

The John Terry trial provides further evidence of the way that social media has penetrated every form of news coverage and the integral role it can play in the distribution of information.

Reporters such as Dan Levene, or as he is known on Twitter @blueschronicle, have been providing minute-by-minute accounts of this week’s trial giving people comprehensive and instant coverage of the case.

As a blogger, access to eyewitness accounts of events in real time is a monumental development that allows us to put our thoughts into writing instantaneously without the risk of accidently rehashing the usual primary source of information —the journalists with their traditional methods of collecting news.

As a fan, Twitter gives us access to players, clubs and journalists that was unthinkable even 10 years ago.

Role of Players on Twitter

The players on Twitter offer an insight into the mind of a professional, reminding us that they are human and not necessarily as perfect as we would like to think.

There is a lot of egotism on Twitter. The players of the big clubs instantly rack up hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of followers, giving them a platform to promote themselves and boost their self-esteem.

Players such as Joey Barton and Rio Ferdinand may have grabbed the headlines in this way but they don’t hold that much interest. In my view, it is the younger players and more reserved pros where the insight and interest lies.

Some professionals still treat Twitter as a personal rather than marketing account, posting messages about every aspect of their daily lives including the football they play and watch.

The messages they post give us a perspective on their daily routine, the training pitch banter and their footballing acumen, on occasion providing unprecedented insight into a previously elusive mind-set.

This access however has come at a cost; some footballers are not especially intelligent in the messages they post to the public domain, offending their employers or sections of society.

The Trolls

Twitter is a democratic tool; anyone can use it to direct a message at another user. That means that for every message of support, there are a handful of trolls to counterbalance it with a negative comment.

Internet trolls thrive on negativity and attention — something that footballers provide in equal measure. They have driven many current and former pros away from using Twitter, and risk ruining a democratic and inclusive media.

Whilst Twitter should not just be a fan club extension for players, the emotive and tribalistic nature of football means that players find themselves abused without logic. This abuse frequently goes beyond the realms of acceptable behavior both on- and off-line.

Therefore we sit at a crossroads that is changing. I think we have already seen fewer footballers engaging in Twitter. And when they do, it is sometimes commonplace for this to be carefully structured marketing.

End of The Twitter Golden Age

Whilst the access to information is instant on the web, the trolls are winning and the golden age of Twitter for football fans is coming to an end.

This will mean that the role of journalists as the distributors of information will be slowly restored as the first-hand access to information dwindles for the man on the street.

This would be a crying shame.

About the author: FamousCFC.com (@famous_CFC) is a Chelsea fan blog written by match-going Chelsea fans.

FamousCFC.com is a fan blog for Chelsea fans and we are on our way to Munich. Here is how we are preparing for our trip of the season.

The Miracle of The Nou Camp

When Chelsea achieved what has been dubbed the “Miracle of the Nou Camp,” few fans had given much consideration to reaching the final as few garnered much realistic hope. However all that changed when Fernando Torres rounded Valdes at the Nou Camp and slotted home to send us into delirium. And suddenly all thoughts turned to Munich.

Suddenly rather than surviving the onslaught of Messi and company, we were focused on the logistics of getting tickets and sorting accommodation in Bavaria.

Getting Tickets

The Allianz Arena may hold over 60,000 people but the UEFA corporate gravy train means that Chelsea fans only received an allocation of 17,500 tickets. This equates to only around 66% of our season ticket holders and none of our members.

The club tried to balance the demand by weighting your chance of getting a ticket by how many loyalty points that you have. Whilst a noble idea, in practice loyalty points are a marketing gimmick from the club and are not really about how loyal you are as a fan. I know some people who have traveled thousands of miles to follow the Blues away from home but have not got a ticket as they did not go to the Champions League group games or Carling cup matches that award up to 8x as many points as a three day trip to Valencia or Bayer Leverkusen.

The scramble has been fierce and it is disappointing to see that touts have managed to get their hands on so many tickets (through a variety of underhanded tactics) and that some fans have been unable to resist the urge to profiteer.

Getting There

Within minutes of the final whistle in the Nou Camp, flights from London to airports in the Munich area more than trebled in price and Champions League fever was in full swing.

This year, unlike Moscow, driving to the game is a viable option though it requires dedication with a round trip of around 1,800 miles. With the airlines looking to make a profit, the car or coach is the only option for most and I look forward to seeing a convoy of Chelsea fans on the roads between the French ports and Munich.

My family has chosen to drive and we will be stopping off at Frankfurt before the UEFA Champions League Final, to ensure we are in full voice come kick off.

Its going to be a long road trip. Let’s hope it’s worth it. C’mon you Blues!

Today is transfer deadline day which means despite having had over two months to procure new players, clubs will today be scurrying about frantically delving into the transfer market.

Clubs will be hoping to complete deals that will give them the players they need, often at the last minute.

All the while the media will be trying to hype up the forthcoming deadline, whilst seemingly ignoring the fiscal irresponsibility of a host of clubs that offers little entertainment value.

Therefore whilst others will be focusing on the thrills and spills of the coming hours, I will be hunkered down eagerly anticipating the end of the transfer silly season so we can all focus on the football once again.

Sensible managers/owners in a logical market would have already procured their targets well before this deadline however this is not a sane market and the frantic activity of the run up to the transfer deadline.

This artificial deadline creates a self fulfilling prophecy of panic buying and uncertainty that can unsettle even the most organised and forward thinking managers.

Some may like the unpredictability and unnecessary drama that today will create,  but I can’t shake the feeling that such important decisions should not be rushed and the current system is not a healthy or professional way of doing business.

I may be called a traditionalist, without a sense of occasion but the way our clubs conduct their transfer business has long needed reform and the transfer deadline system is a key part of this.

Agree/Disagree? – Tell Kristian on Twitter

Last season Brighton, Peterborough and Southampton were promoted to the Championship from League One and all three have carried over their good form into the Championship.

All three have strengthened over the summer and after five games all three teams are in the top half of the table with Southampton and Brighton in the automatic promotion places, with the latter topping the table.

Although it is early in the season the encouraging starts made suggest that these sides could have more than relegation on their minds come May.

Brighton

The Seagulls could not have hoped for a better start to their first season at Falmer Stadium. After winning four of their first five league games, they top the table.

New signings Ryan Harley, Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Buckley have all settled quickly and produced match winning performances as Gus Poyet continues to build and play attractive football.

The highlights so far have been winning the first game at Falmer stadium and beating Premier League Sunderland in the Carling Cup.

Southampton

The Saints won their first four games of the season scoring freely including a memorable 5-2 away victory at Ipswich.

Their last game did end in defeat against Leicester City but even in defeat they showed a fighting spirit that will leave them feeling that they deserved a draw.

Up front strikers David Connolly (4) and Rickie Lambert (3) are in great form with seven goals between them in just five games which could be the firepower they need to maintain their great start to the season.

Peterborough

Despite losses to Blackpool and Brighton the Posh have made a decent start to the season, with a 7-1 rout of Ipswich Town a highlight.

Posh have given their fans hope that they can have a season without the threat of relegation and possibly  push for something more than safety this season.

So we are now four games into the season and true to Championship traditions the early form shows an unexpected set of teams making the running and some of those fancied by the bookmakers making sluggish starts.

At the top a revitalised Derby side share a 100% record with newly promoted Southampton with both making flying starts to the new campaign.

They are closely followed by Middlesbrough and Brighton who are unbeaten, whilst Crystal Palace have won three out of four to allay their fans fears of a relegation threatened season.

The sides that were fancied by the bookmakers before the start of the season have not produced fireworks so far with Leicester, Reading and Birmingham in mid table after mixed starts to the season.

The bookmakers will however take some comfort from the bottom of the table with favourites for relegation Doncaster and Coventry propping up the table with just a solitary point between them.

Relegated from the Championship

Two of the relegated sides from the Premiership Blackpool and West Ham have made a decent start to the season with seven points from a possible twelve. Birmingham however are yet to find their rhythm with just one victory.

Promoted from League One

The promoted sides from League One have all made encouraging starts to the season with all three currently positioned within the top six, with two of the three unbeaten.

Southampton have won all four games, Brighton have won three and drawn one whilst Peterbrough have won two, drawn one and lost one game with a 7-1 victory over Ipswich a highlight.

Scenes from the riots in London from http://newfreephotos.com

Following the riots in London I am delighted to write that the Football League has today confirmed that all matches in London will take place at their scheduled kick off times.

The riots that started in London and have spread to other parts of England have been a shocking embarrassment to our country, leading to many to question our safety carrying out our day to day lives and making public events such as football matches seem inappropriate and unsafe.

The safety of the fans attending games is paramount, but it is a huge relief that the Football League will continue its fledgling campaign this weekend as planned, even if one fixture in the Premiership has already been postponed.

This is a tangible sign that the country will not be defeated by the acts of a few and a determination to get back to a sense of normality as soon as possible.

This serious development of thuggery and criminality is something that politicians will have to tackle but I hope that the games that do take place this weekend pass off without incident.

If you are going to a game this weekend, as always stay safe and enjoy the match.

Follow Kristian on Twitter

The first day of the Championship is over and there were goals, dramatic comebacks and late winners in a day that averaged three goals per game with Nottingham Forest and Barnsley contesting the only goalless draw.

Three players started the season with a brace, Michael Chopra and supersubs Mathieu Manset and Will Buckley starting the season with a bang.

There were opening day victories for all three promoted clubs as Peterborough, Brighton and Southampton won in front of their home crowds to continue the optimism of last season.

A Chopra inspired Ipswich cruised to a three goal victory over Bristol City whilst Leicester and Derby won local derbies against Coventry and Birmingham respectively, the latter giving new manager Chris Hughton plenty to thing about at St Andrews.

This weeks featured game though is Brighton’s first competitive game at the Amex stadium against Doncaster.

Brighton v Doncaster

The first game at the Amex stadium saw proud new owners Brighton celebrating the end of a long, complex and frustrating  struggle to find a place to call their own.

This match was highly entertaining and filled with incident and some crunching tackles most importantly for the Seagulls it heralded their first win back in the Championship.

One of the most controversial moments of the first half was when Kazenga Lua Lua went down in the area in the first half under contact from the Doncaster defence; the contact was legitimate and did not warrant a penalty. However few would have expected the referee to judge Lua Lua to have dived and book the former Doncaster loanee.

This was however his decision and this incensed the crowd and Brighton manager Gus Poyet who was quickly sent to the stands.

Doncaster were marginally the better side in the first half and took the lead through Billy Sharp after a deflected shot fell into his patch and his partially blocked effort crawled over the line by about a yard before the Brighton defence could react.

After the break and worryingly for Doncaster, goal scorer Billy Sharp was stretchered off, which seemed to trigger the start of the Brighton revival.

After 75 minutes Poyet introduced new signing Will Buckley who after just 8 minutes of his Brighton career opened his account with a drilled effort into the bottom right corner worthy of being the first Brighton goal scored in their new stadium.

The game looked to be heading for a draw but as the game entered injury time, however there were to be nearly ten minutes due to the time added to attend to the injury of Billy Sharp. Unfortunately for the travelling Doncaster fans  there was to be a dream ending to the opening of the Amex stadium.

With 8 minutes of stoppage time gone, Craig Noone put through Buckley who opened his body to slot the ball into the right hand corner and send the crowd wild and securing three points for Brighton.

The game itself was fairly even, but it is not everyday a club moves to a new stadium and the Seagulls will be hoping that every game has this level of excitement and the right end result.

Whilst the focus at this time of the season is who will be promoted to the Premier League, no one wants to consider the possibility that their side will be relegated to League One.

The Championship has shown over the years that it is has no respect for reputations with some of the most famous sides in English football having suffered relegation to League One.

Former Premier League sides, Norwich, Southampton, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, both Sheffield sides and Leicester City have all had to battle their way back from League One in recent years and all 24 teams will be hoping that they do not suffer the same fate.

Based on last season and the strength of playing squads, Crystal Palace, Coventry, Barnsley and Doncaster all find themselves tipped to be involved in the relegation battle, however every side in the league can be considered capable of being dragged into the mire.

No matter what the pre-season predictions the transfer window is still open and any of these sides will feel they can put together some results and avoid a drawn out battle against promotion.

I would be interested to know who you will think will go down, will the teams backed at this juncture by the bookmakers struggle or will we see one of the larger Championship sides once again flirt with disaster?

Note that these odds were taken from www.paddypower.com but should be used for indication purposes only with ChampionshipTalk receiving no payment for displaying these odds.

The Championship is one of the most difficult leagues to predict in English football, with 24 fairly even matched teams vying for promotion to the Premier League, who will prevail is anyones guess.

The Championship betting odds being offered by bookmakers are a barometer of expectations for sides in the league, these may not be accurate but act as almost a global opinion poll on the views of the betting public.

The market shows that there are two clear favourites in West Ham and Leicester for promotion and the title but that whilst both are strongly fancied for promotion there is little belief that either is predestined to run away with the title itself.

The grouping of the odds is significant, in the Premier League the least fancied side is 5000/1 to win the title, in the Championship the odds of this team winning the league are just 100/1.

This shows that although sides such as Barnsley and Doncaster are amongst the relegation favourites it is not seen as impossible for them to surprise people and win the league.

Odds to Gain Promotion

The key analysis of the promotion race is that no one can be backed with any certainty, with the two automatic places and the playoff route to promotion any of the top six sides could be promoted, meaning that almost every side in the league is considered in with a shot.

Apologies if this is not cutting analysis but this league is so difficult to predict.

If you do bet I reckon pick an outsider it is always more rewarding when you back an outsider and they win than when you back a side you expect.

Whatever you do it should be an exciting season.

Note: These figures were provided by www.betfred.com however may vary at other bookmakers and no payment was made to ChampionshipTalk in providing these odds.

The 2011/2012 Championship season is less than a week away and in preparation for the new season it is time to look at how Brighton, Peterborough and Southampton will fare in their first season back in England’s second tier.

All three will enter this season with confidence after a successful campaign last season and several reasons to be optimistic.

All will be to emulate Norwich and gain back to back promotions and a £90m dream ticket to the Premier League, however I am sure that all three will be happy to settle for a progressive season that stays clear of the relegation trapdoor.

Here is what you need to know about the three newly promoted Championship sides starting with Brighton and moving on to Peterborough and Southampton in the build up to the season.

Brighton Hove Albion

After years of fighting the Seagulls will start the season in the brand new 20,000+ capacity Falmer stadium, with the first game against Doncaster will be the end of an emotional journey and a defining moment in the history of the club.

Brighton dominated League One last season and under former Tottenham and Chelsea player Gus Poyet they have developed into an attacking force with an attractive style of play.

This will be assisted by their star capture of proven striker Craig Mackail Smith who will provide the Seagulls some real firepower.

The Championship is an impossible league to predict but Brighton come into the league with a competent manager with players equipped for the step up.

I would back the Seagulls to stay up comfortably and feel that a tilt at the play offs is not out of the question after a frantic summer of comings and goings in the transfer market.

In – Craig Mackail-Smith, Romain Vincelot, Kazenga Lua Lua (on loan), Roland Bergkamp, Will Buckley, Will Hoskins

Out – Francisco Sandaza, Gary Hart, Jim McNulty, Elliott Bennett, James Tunnicliffe, Glenn Murray, Agustin Battipiedi

After a seemingly endless summer, the start of the Championship season is now less than a week away and I for one cannot wait for the greatest league in England to begin.

With the weather still warm, the frustrations and failings of the previous season can be forgotten whilst victors can bask in their achievements for just a little while longer.

This is my favourite time of the season as a pundit as it feels as if anything can happen and for anyone something which makes this league so fascinating.

Unlike the Premier League where only four teams have won the competition since its inception this feeling is legitimate with little to choose between any of the teams on their given day.

Last season Norwich showed that back to back promotions are possible and the season before Blackpool proved that no matter how unlikely any team can find a path to the Premier League.

This week is a time for optimism, every team has a clean slate and fans can hold onto the hope that this is the season their team will come good.

Although obviously some will have a stronger chance than others, there is no way to rule out any team competing in the Championship next season from achieving promotion.

Over the coming days we will look at the upcoming season in detail and what the season could entail for each side, but if you don’t watch Championship football now is the time to start, you would be a fool to miss it!

Hull will host the opening game of the season with newly relegated Blackpool travelling to the KC stadium for a game that will be shown live on SkySports.

By Conor Diggin

This week I will be looking at how each of the new Championship teams will fare starting with those relegated from the Premiership. With the new season fast-approaching, Birmingham, Blackpool and West Ham fans are all hoping to see their team go straight back up in the first attempt.

Share your opinion of this documentary on Facebook or Twitter

Last night the Channel 4 showed a powerful documentary about wealthy businessmen and consortium buying football clubs in England.

‘Dispatches – How to buy a football club’ featured an undercover reporter claiming to represent a wealthy group of investors in a journey that took the reporter to the brink of buying a League One football club.

The documentary also focuses on the murky and confusing ownership structures in the Premier League and Championship the true state of English football and the lack of transparency that will disturb many English football fans.

The documentary tells the story of London Nominees and the ‘Football Fund’ two intertwined investment vehicles the latter fronted by Bryan Robson, and their involvement and scheming to buy upto three football clubs through complicated ownership and investment schemes.

The individuals involved were portrayed to have a well connected structure within the English football and Asian political structures with the documentary featuring the marketing, business model and structure of the proposed takeover.

The London Nominees consortium held meetings in Thailand with the Dispatches reporter, to discuss the purchase of a football club,  in which  former England captain Bryan Robson is at the forefront as a figure of power and connections for the group which view clubs as a commodity to be bought, developed and then sold.

The former England captain at the heart of the opening scenes comes across as brash, slightly greedy but not overtly dishonest, even seeking assurances that any investment would not involve asset stripping a future investment for ground development rights.

Robson however is quickly exposed as mainly a figurehead in the group designed to add respectability, the power residing with businessmen and owner of Manchester United’s Bankok bar Joe Sim, a man who claims connections across the footballing community.

During negotiations with the Dispatches reporter Mr Sim continuously leverages a relationship however fleeting with Sir Alex Ferguson, to convey an image of respectability and power and it becomes clear that Mr Sim is the driving force behind London Nominees.

Mr Sim claimed to have a personal relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson that seemed credible during the interactions between the reporter and Sim, the reporter even speaking to the Scotsman on the phone during a dinner between the pair.

Whilst the extent of this relationship is not clear Mr Sim certainly leverages any contact for indirect  financial gain and this raises interesting questions, it is important to note that Sir Alex Ferguson has been quick to distance himself from Mr Sim and his investment operations.

As the documentary unfolds both Sim and Robson make bold claims of the potential of future deals that could occur due to the pairs connections, they talk of exploiting connections and the English loan system to develop not just one but potentially three clubs fully aware that this breeches Football League rules. 

The consortium is filmed indicating that it is prepared to operate a complex shell game with the authorities, plotting to hide their true intentions and power from the governing bodies and overcome fair competition rules.

This is an eye opening and disturbing documentary showing how the influx of money in the game has opened the game up to prospectors who are willing to bend/break the rules to turn sport into profit, whilst unsuccessful on this occasion it is almost impossible to know if Mr Sim or the Football fund actually already own one or more clubs in the Football League.

Whilst it may not be surprising that some are willing to be dishonest, it is startling how deep this apparent conspiracy goes and how little say/control the average fan has over the actions of businessmen often plotting thousands of miles away.  

This documentary is a must watch for any fan of English Football

This documentary can be viewed on 4OD – UK ONLY

I am sure that had Awana been in a pressure situation he may not have been quite so outrageous but at 5-2 up you can afford to focus on entertainment rather than results. However I am sure that there are some managers that would have been pulling their hair out whatever the score.

Let us know what you think

Having summarised the completed deals in the Championship last week, during my review of how much was being spent I found myself struggling to work out how much each club has been spending on their new players this transfer window.

This is because over the last decade the practice of publishing the details of the value of a transfer seems to have become almost extinct. With clubs instead preferring to keep an air of mystique by refusing to disclose how much they are buying or selling their players for.

This seems unfair and unworkable to the fans, who have a direct interest in the club’s finances as they are intertwined with the club’s success.

 I feel that clubs in the Football League should be duty bound to report how much they spend on individual transfers in a process which should be as transparent as possible.

Whilst the ‘undisclosed fee’ is now firmly entrenched in the transfer process I think it should be clear how much a club has recouped for selling a star player or how much the club is gambling with its financial future when splashing the cash.

Some may find it trivial or unimportant to want this information as long as the right players sign but surely with all the financial aspects of the game transfer fees should be made public?

Join The Debate With Kristian on Twitter

Last week this site featured a guest post by Connor Diggin who ignited the debate about the role of money in football, by suggesting that investment by teams such as Leicester was ruining the game.

This is not an attitude that I share as I believe that this nostalgic ideal is out of touch with modern sports, particularly football where the pressure to achieve has transformed the game from a national pastime into a global obsession.

With revenue and investment being pumped in from across the globe the romantic ideal that teams compete on a level playing field is unrealistic and has actually never really existed in English football.

Indirectly money has always been a factor in the success of different teams with fanbase, attendances and reputation giving sides with these assets a distinct advantage.

The influx of artificial money in recent years, has allowed some sides to override some of these limiting factors and give themselves the opportunity to achieve beyond traditional expectations/limitations.

Clubs such as Wigan and Hull have leveraged modest investment of their owners to reach the Premiership in the last ten years after spending most of their recent history in the lower reaches of the Football League.

Heavy investment gives clubs the challenge of retrospectively building their clubs revenue and fan base to match their level of spending.

This can be dangerous and has led to clubs struggling once the money dries up or fails to materialise whatsoever. Notts County and the now defunct Scottish club Gretna are examples of when chasing the dream can have a devastating impact.

These examples aside, every club dreams of having the money/resources to compete and I doubt that many fans would be able to say no to huge outside investment.

It is important not to forget that money is not the only factor in the success of a professional football club even if it helps.

It took Queens Park Rangers a few years to gain promotion despite the combined wealth of their owners and Blackpool achieved greatness on a shoestring budget to prove that money is not everything.

The key point I would like to make is that domestic football fans want to see the best players producing the best football and results for their team. A lot of talk may be made of the ethics or how clubs achieve this but in reality to the average fan winning will always be the most important factor and money is just a sideshow.

If your team has been given high levels of investment, good luck and keep living the dream. If your club has not been so fortunate try not to be self righteous you never know when a Billionaire may come knocking on your club’s stadium door.

Follow Kristian on Twitter

Last week ChampionshipTalk published research on the average cost of a season ticket in the NPower Championship.

Further research shows that the headline figures hide the complex ticket pricing strategies employed by clubs can mean that determining how much the person in front of you paid for their seat is difficult to fathom.

Attempting to decipher the various price plans and strategies ChampionshipTalk found that in general the price of your season ticket depends on several factors which include;

• You age
• If you are a new season ticket holder
• If you pay for your season ticket in installments
• If you renew/buy your ticket early
• The stand/area of the ground you sit it

Buying In Advance

Almost every club sought to boost their summer bank balance by offering a discount for fans buying their ticket before a certain deadline.

This is a great strategy for both parties as fans get cheaper tickets and the clubs are able to budget more effectively and have cash available during the lean summer months.

Loyalty

Many companies effectively punish their ‘customers’ for their loyalty, however nearly a third of clubs in the Championship shunned this approach to reward fans for renewing early with cheaper season tickets.

At Bristol City this could equate to upto a 25% discount which shows that fan loyalty is still something that is valued and rewarded by some clubs despite the modern era being bereft of such principles in other areas.

Focus on Young Fans

The most significant savings on the headline price could be found in the under 16 pricing category.

Most clubs have offered substantial discounts to under 16’s accompanied by a paying adult, with discounted adult season tickets in these sections typical there is amazing value available for children looking to watch live football in the Championship.

On average the cost of an accompanied under 16 is under two pounds per game highlighting how important clubs view recruiting the next generation of their fanbase.

This is a clever marketing strategy that is likely to have tangible long term benefits combined with immediate indirect revenue from concession stands and merchandise, both of which are highly lucrative in the under 16 demographic.

 Getting children interested in watching football is important and should be encouraged; in the days where football tickets are increasingly expensive it is encouraging that in the Championship there is a focus on getting young fans watching live football.

Whilst the pricing strategies of the different clubs are difficult to compare due to their complexity, it is clear that clubs regardless of their total price are targeting certain demographics and attempting to build a friendlier more cooperative image.

It will be interesting to see how this translates into sales and attendance in the forthcoming season, but the omens are good.

A Full List of Championship season ticket prices can be found here

FOLLOW KRISTIAN ON TWITTER

Whilst some such as Derby have already signed a gaggle of players others have yet to get going in the market even though we are now well into pre-season.

This may appear worrying but in reality there is sound budgetary reasoning for delaying your spending, spending later keeps your cashflow buoyant over the low revenue summer months and can save tens of thousands in wages paid to players yet to kick a ball in anger.

Below are the links for the confirmed purchases I wrote about last week.

Barnsley to Bristol City (written on 5th July)

Cardiff City to Doncaster Rovers (written on 6th July)

Hull To Middlesbrough (written on 7th July)

Millwall to Portsmouth (written on 8th July)

Reading to West Ham United (written on 13th July)

Are these enough or does your manager need to get his chequebook out?

The series looking at the completed deals thus far in the Championship is concluded in a rather quiet fashion with few of the alphabetically challenged teams that active in the transfer market thus far with more players going out that coming in. 

However as per the rest of the series here are the confirmed deals I am aware of, however please feel free to update me if you know of any others.

Reading

None

Southampton

The 37 year old  striker has instead joined Blackpool on a one year contract continuing a career that has seen Phillips rise from the non-league football to play for seven different clubs.

Prolific at most of the clubs he has played for it was at Sunderland where his star shone brightest, earning 8 England caps and scoring over 100 goals at the Wearside club.

To highlight the arrival of this veteran at Bloomfield road here is a video showing some of the goals that he has scored over a long and varied career.

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The chance to write about football is great as I get to talk about something that I have a true passion about to people that share this with me. 

Sadly between watching and writing about football I am obligated to spend 7.5 hours each week day working a day job, which cuts into the time I can spend watching football. 

The world of work however is not all bad and I am fortunate that the two are not always mutually exclusive, as my diverse workplace provides many opportunities for football based banter. 

As my job can involve travelling and socialising, a socially awkward individual such as myself is often able to use the game as social crutch in times of need.   

This is one of the beautiful things about football, even if you have never met someone before if they have an interest in the game then this gives you instantly something in common and to talk about. 

I am obviously careful, there is nothing more unprofessional than a full blown argument about the merits of a certain style of play in the middle of a packed room but generally it passes the time and makes things more bearable.

Obviously this will not save me on every occasion but I am often able to talk football with people from across the globe and share perspectives something that is not always easy in England as interest in the foreign game can be quite low. 

This week I was in Budapest and was able to enjoy talking about Corinthians with a Brazilian and US college ‘Soccer with an American and learn a lot about both. 

This is the amazing thing about football that is whilst it can cause arguments it is something that millions of people around the world in common and can share. With a world seemingly continuously in conflict we could do with focussing more on things we have in common.

So if you ever see a socially akward gangly man with glasses reading the sports pages in the airport terminal it could be me, feel free to come over and let me know what you think of the reluctance of Fabio Capello’s failure to drop some of England’s underperforming superstars or some other piece of football opinion.

Follow Kristian on twitter.

We continue our round up of the transfers that have been agreed in the Championship so far, whilst not exhaustive these are done deals and feel free to comment if you think I have missed any important transfers.

Cham­pi­onshipTalk is now has a page on Face­book and you can fol­low Kris­t­ian Downer on Twit­ter!

Millwall

Darius Henderson (Sheffield United) – Undisclosed

Ryan Allsop (West Bromwich Albion) – Undisclosed

Jordan Stewart (Skoda Xanthi) –Undisclosed

Nottingham Forest

Andy Reid (Blackpool) – Free transfer

Peterborough

Craig Alcock (Yeovil Town) –Undisclosed

Nicky Ajose (Manchester United)  – Unknown

Portsmouth

Luke Varney (Derby) – Undisclosed

Jason Pearce (Bournemouth) – Undisclosed

David Norris (Ipswich) – Free

No signings for Middlesbrough but plenty of players reported to be heading for the exits

Our summary of confirmed deals rather than speculation continues today covering Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester and Middlesbrough.

Remember these are confirmed purchases rather than a rumour I heard from my mate Paul who claims to be best friends with Alex Ferguson’s best friend’s sister’s aunties cousin’s babysitter.

Cham­pi­onshipTalk is now on Face­book and you can fol­low Kris­t­ian Downer on Twit­ter!

Hull

Joe Dudgeon (Manchester United) – Undisclosed

Jack Hobbs (Leicester) – £850,000

Dele Adebola (Nottingham Forest) – Free

Ipswich

Nathan Ellington (Watford) – Free

Aaron Cresswell (Tranmere Rovers) – Tribunal

Michael Chopra (Cardiff City) – £1.5m

Ivar Ingirmarsson (Reading) – free

Leeds

Paul Rachubka (Blackpool) – Unknown

Leicester

Kasper Schmeichal (Leeds) – £1.5m

David Nugent (Portsmouth) – Free

Sean St Ledger – (Preston North End) – Undisclosed

Neil Danns (Crystal Palace) – Free

Lee Peltier (Huddersfield) – Undisclosed

Middlesbrough

None confirmed

Cardiff City

Don Cowie (Watford) –Free Transfer

Craig Conway (Dundee United) – Free transfer

Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough) –Free Transfer

Robert Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest) –Free Transfer

Coventry City

Chris Dunn (Northampton) – Free Transfer

Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe) – Free Transfer

Crystal Palace

Glenn Murray (Brighton) – Undisclosed

Kagisho Dikacoi (Fulham) –£600,000

Derby County

Jason Shackell  (Barnsley) – Undisclosed

Nathan Tyson (Nottingham Forest) – Free Transfer

Craig Bryson (Kilmarnock) – £350,000

Frank Fielding (Blackburn Rovers) – Undisclosed

Jamie Ward (Sheffield United) – Undisclosed

Theo Robinson (Millwall) –Undisclosed

Doncaster

Tommy Spurr (Sheffield Wednesday) – £200,000

Kyle Bennett (Bury) – Undisclosed

James Baxendale –(Leeds) – Undisclosed

A this time of year the tabloids morph into a machine of unadulterated speculation with very little footing in reality, churning out transfer speculation in the hope of shifting a few extra copies.

Suddenly every journalist has inside sources that they just cannot reveal and the inside scoop on who is moving where, working on the principle that if you throw enough mud some of it will stick.

At this time of year the media churn out enough hot air to solve the forthcoming energy crisis.

It is for this reason that over the next few days I will be summing up the deals that have ACTUALLY happened in the summer transfer window so far rather than what could happen.

Whilst not exhaustive (sorry if I have missed any)Today I have waded through the speculation to outline the players that have actually been signed by Championship clubs starting with Barnsley through to Bristol City. 

Barnsley

Rob Edwards (Blackpool) – Undisclosed

Miles Addison (Derby) – Loan

Jimmy Mcnulty (Brighton) –Undisclosed

Scott Wiseman (Rochdale) – Undisclosed

Matt Done (Rochdale) – Undisclosed

Birmingham City

Adam Rooney (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)

Blackpool

None

Brighton Hove Albion

Craig Mackail-Smith (Peterborough United) – Undisclosed

Will Buckley (Watford) – £1m

Will Hoskins (Bristol Rovers) – Undisclosed

Bristol City

Ryan Taylor (Rotherham United) –To be decided

Neil Kilkenny (Leeds United) –Free Transfer

Burnley

None

This week marks the start of pre-season training at clubs across England as the wind up to the first game of the season which is now just one month away.

Whilst in the Premiership this increasingly means far flung tours to regions such as South East Asia or North America chasing the money, the Football League still adheres to more traditional fixtures and preparations

General Principles

Compared to the increasing farce that is the global Premier League pre-season the build up to the start of the season is centred closer to home and  generally more sedate in the Football League.

Fixtures tend to be based in the UK or Europe with the lower stature side hosting the higher stature side giving the smaller team the financial benefit of gate receipts which can often be higher than an average league game (depending on the opposition).

Whilst it is not uncommon for Premier League teams to meet each other in pointless trophies such as the Asia Trophy whilst on pre-season tour, it is rare for a Football League team to arrange a friendly with a rival from the same division.

To highlight a typical Championship side pre-season calendar I have looked at the pre-season campaigns of Watford and Nottingham Forest to give a very brief flavour of what pre-season can entail.

Watford FC

Watford have scheduled what can be described as a traditional and low key pre-season.

Shunning any pretence of glitz or glamour this pre-season sees the Hornets stay in England facing only lower league or non-league teams.

Kicking off their pre-season against non-league opposition, the will gradually work their way up the football pyramid before facing League One side Colchester United.

Nottingham Forest

Forest have a slightly more varied pre-season facing Premier League and European opposition.

They will start their pre-season against what is likely to be a youthful Tottenham Hotspur XI before facing Northampton Town as Sixfields.

The stand out fixture of the campaign is a prestigious home tie against PSV Eindhoven before finishing their preparations against local non-league side Lincoln City.

The new Brighton Stadium

The old season is now well and truly behind us and as we start looking forward to the new it is time to welcome the six teams that will be playing in the Championship next season following promotion from League One or relegation from the Premiership.

A rollercoaster final day of the Premier League last season saw Blackpool and Birmingham relegated along with West Ham United who fell through the trap door the week before.

This season will be a transition for these sides as both West Ham United and Birmingham have changed manager during the close season with Sam Allardyce and Chris Hughton respectively given the responsibility of managing their clubs back to the Premier League.

On a more upbeat note  Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton and Peterborough have been promoted back to the Championship following successful campaigns in League One.

Brighton & Hove Albion will start their season in a new stadium having finally completed a long and complicated journey from the Withdean Stadium to the brand new 22,000 capacity Falmer Stadium.

So commiserations if you are a fan of a relegated side and congratulations to those promoted best of luck in the Championship next season.

Speaking about the approach from Aston Villa acting Birmingham chairman Peter Pannu was adamant that ‘It will cost you as he’s still our manager as far as we are concerned’

This means the next few days could be an interesting power tussle between two clubs that already share a bitter rivalry that will no doubt be fanned by the current state of affairs.

In the days where sacked managers are entitled to hansom payoffs, this should work both ways should a manager wish to leave to further his career. 

The last few days have seen McLeish and Aston Villa attempting to take a short cut and renege on the deal he signed in good faith and this should not be allowed.

This stand by Birmingham is entirely justified with McLeish still under contract at St Andrews, if Birmingham were willing to retain McLeish then they have the right to retain him unless another club makes a formal approach and pays the appropriate compensation.

With his cards firmly on the table, McLeish may be in an akward position if the Aston Villa move does not materialise. If this happens and he feels his position is untenable then he should be allowed to leave, but made to complete a reasonable period of gardening leave before taking another job.

Ultimately if McLeish wants to join Aston Villa or any other suitor then he will be able to, however this must be on terms that are agreable to both him and his soon to be former club.

Let me know YOUR thoughts on TWITTER

Now is the time for England fans to forget the 'wally with the brolly' image of Mclaren

Nottingham Forest have punished Billy Davies for failing to get the team promoted or toeing the line with Chairman Nigel Doughty by sacking him with immediate effect.

Davies had always had a tumultuous relationship with the club’s board and it is the timing rather than the decision that is surprising after the club failed to achieve promotion.

It looks likely he will be replaced at the City Ground by Steve McClaren the former England manager who left the isle in disgrace tagged the ‘wally with the brolly’ as England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

The lined up replacement will first however have to win over the fans, who given his last headline job as manager of the national team have given his potential appointment a very mixed review.

McClaren would join a club which craves Premier League football and expectations are unlikely to give a new manager especially one who any headway at a club that craves a return to the Premier League.

Despite some scepticism this could be a very good appointment for Forest. Despite some colossal failures with England and Wolfsburg, McClaren has in general shown himself to be a very adept manager, overachieving at Middlesbrough and FC Twente.

His previous work at Manchester United and England means he will have a vast network of connections that he can bring to bear in both the transfer and loan markets.

Although he will need to tackle the club’s infamous ‘transfer acquisitions committee’ his connections could lead to some real transfer coups which would leave the club buzzing with excitement.

The bad feeling around his stint at England also masks his ability as a man manager and tactician, he took an average Middlesbrough side to the UEFA cup final and FC Twente to the Dutch League title.

A controversial choice amongst the fans, this could be the appointment that helps Forest achieve their Premier League ambitions.

Let me know YOUR views on TWITTER

The Football League has voted in principal to follow the UEFA financial fair play rules during the League’s annual general meeting in Cyprus.

This signals an acceptance those that owners of Football League clubs that the era of gambling with a club’s future is coming to an end and ambition should be tempered to realistic expectations.

The UEFA target is that clubs will genuinely be breaking even within three years regardless of their financial backing or position in the league.

This can only be seen as a positive as any move that could prevent clubs going out of business or suffering bleak periods of financial hardship can only benefit the game.

Sanctions on clubs would not be popular but this seems remote but the runaway spending of clubs with limited incomes must be tempered.

The UEFA fair play rules have received a mixed response in the media and will be difficult to enforce, however as a principal it is prudent for the Football League to follow a principle that signals a step in the right direction.

Entrance to the Norwich & Peterborough Stand Carrow Road, could it do with a spruce up?

Like parents watching their children grow up and leave the house for the first time it is with great pride, joy and a tinge of sadness that ChampionshipTalk must say goodbye to the promoted sides from the Championship. 

It is time to say farewell to Norwich, QPR and Swansea, as these teams can now proudly call themselves residents of the Premier League. 

We would like to leave you with our best wishes and some friendly advice on what to expect in the next 12 months to help make sure you do not return with your pockets empty and tail between your legs.

Have Fun

The most important thing is to enjoy yourselves, after years of scrapping in the Football League you have made it to the nation’s top table.

Enjoy travelling to places like Old Trafford and the Emirates but make sure you are not overawed, there is nothing worse than the manager taking pictures for the scrapbook from the dugout.

If you have not been in the Premier League before (Swansea) you may find it a little overwhelming, but you will soon get used to the gaze of the football world being on you.

You may even enjoy the constant interviews, attention and spotlight just don’t forget to express yourselves and remember where you came from.

Fix Up Look Sharp

With the spotlight on the club and more than a few additional local hitchhikers looking to join your adventure now is the time to spend some of the additional revenue you will receive to make a good impression.

A lick of paint never goes amiss, maybe some fancier biscuits for the Directors and the media (biscuits go a long way). Or if you have the space, try and squeeze a few extra seats in when no one is looking (Norwich) or renovate your existing facilities.

Don’t Spend All Your Money At Once

The summer will feel like all your Christmas’ coming at once. No doubt you will be making your transfer wish list, but make sure you check it twice and avoid the urge to spend all your money at once.

I would like to urge caution and balance and remind you that whilst you need to spend, what looks like a must have Uruguayan striker with bags of potential today, can quite easily turn into next seasons glorified ball boy holding a ticket to administration.

Don’t Come Back

Finally we just want to wish you luck, we know that you have the potential to upset the apple cart and establish yourself at a higher level. In the nicest possible way we hope to never see you again.

 Congratulations and Good Luck!

FOLLLOW KRISTIAN ON TWITTER

Banner on Burnley FC website promoting season ticket sales

This week as part of the ‘Football and the Fans’ series we will be looking at the cost of watching football for fans of club’s in the Npower Championship next season.

If you are a new season ticket holder willing to sit in the cheapest seats in the house the average cost of a new season ticket at a Championship club now stands at just over £400.

This simplistic statistic masks the complexity of the pricing process that means the cost of a season ticket at a club can depend on a number of demographic or financial factors that will be featured later in the series.

Season ticket prices vary dramatically across the league with Leeds the most expensive at £25 per game, whilst Cardiff fans can become a new season ticket holder for just £8.93 per game.  

Buying your ticket early would reduce the cost of buying your ticket as will paying up front, however for Ipswich fans who renew for two seasons there could be a rebate should the club get promoted.

Many clubs such as Derby have frozen their prices for 2011/2012 absorbing the rise in VAT to entice fans to renew or take the plunge for the first time.

Here is a full list of season ticket prices as advertised on the 8^th June 2011

Source:  Club promotional literature

Note: Prices shown indicate the cost advertised for a first time adult season ticket holder in the cheapest area of the ground purchased after any early purchase discount

The parties in Swansea may have ended but the smiles on the faces of their fans are probably still as broad as they were the moment Scott Sinclair sealed his hat-trick on Monday.

The pain of defeat however can take longer to heal and Kristian Downer was able to cajole one Reading fan Russell Hammat sharing his thoughts on the game, his experiences watching from Wembley and his hopes for the future.

Hi Russell firstly commiserations and thank you for your time, after a few days to recover how are you feeling?

Not as bad as i thought i would – getting in the playoff’s this season was above expectations really especially after Gylfi was sold so on reflection it wasn’t a bad season.

I’ve also had a chance to watch the highlights and that’s actually made me feel a bit better because we had a lot more chances than i thought we did but i also saw that both penalties were the right decision – the first one was right in front of me but with only one split second chance (and a fair few pints) to see it was hard to tell but clearly it was the right decision – 2nd one was other end of the pitch so we couldn’t really tell but again it was a stone wall penalty.

So although we lost there are positives to take from both the game and the season as a whole.

Where did you watch the game?

I was in Wembley about 4 rows back from the goal sat almost right behind it. It was a phenominal experience, i’ve been to Wembley before but it has never been an atmosphere like that.

Can you explain the atmosphere inside the ground, for those of us watching on television?

Incredible, i’ve never experienced anything like it. Before the game we were at a Reading designated pub where spirits were high with lots of singing and laughter.

Then on the way to the ground there was just a feeling of hope running through the fans, before kick off it was unreal hearing the 80,000+ crowd in full voice (even Sir John was dancing!), it was electric.

Feeling the highs and lows with 40,000 other Reading fans was something i’ll never forget.

What were your thoughts on the start to the game, Reading started brightly but the goals were a killer, did you have any hope at half time?

From the moment i heard Jimmy Kebe was starting we thought we had a chance, his pace provides such a fantastic option and the first 10 mins made it look like we had a real chance, even after the penalty was given we still held hope.

Then 2 minutes later hope slow started draining away, 2-0 down looked like a mountain to come back from.

By half time it was one of the worst possible positions to be in but still there was faith amongst most of the Reading fans – we’d beaten Doncaster 4-3 after being 3-0 down and drew with Norwich 3-3 after being 3-0 down however those games were at home and clearly not the same magnitude as this match.

Yet we knew that if Swansea could get 3 in one half there was no reason we couldn’t do it again, even if that was only a small glimmer of hope.

The second half saw a stunning comeback, you must have felt after the Mills goals you were unstoppable, what were the emotions you felt during the game?

The come back was incredible, when Noel Hunt scored there was this feeling of ‘we can’t – can we?’ and when the second goal went in that was it, the Reading fans were flying high and we were believing again, 30mins to score 1 goal was more than possible and momentum was clearly with us.

By that point emotions were undescribable, just sheer joy at the fact we were back in the game and had a fighting chance. Then Jem Karacan hit the post and there was just a feeling that was the chance to pull it level. If that had gone in then things could have been very different

In general what were your thoughts on the match, did the better team on the day win?

The match was great although there was a feeling 1 rash tackle and it would all kick off, i was surprised it didn’t when Joe Allen sycthed down.

 Noel Hunt, but the fans were fantastic.

It’s hard to say if the better team won – Swansea finished 3rd so probably deserved it over the course of the season (they beat us twice in the league as well) but when you look at some of the figures for the game – 11 shots on target for us to their 4, 8 off to their 2 and 16 corners to 4 shows we had the better of the game really.

However it kind of defined our season – we didn’t take all our chances, we had lots of corners and yes scored 2 from them but the other one’s were wasted.

Looking at the figures you could say Reading should have won but watching the game it was 2 silly individual mistakes that gave away the penalties and cost us the match, so i guess Swansea did deserve it?

Finally are you proud of your team and what are your hopes for next season?

Beating Cardiff 3-0 in Cardiff made me proud no matter what happened in the final, just getting that far was an excellent achievment for the season, and in reflection i’m very proud of the players, the fans and the club.

 Next season is going to be very tough, esepcially as Long & Kebe are almost certain to leave meaning we’ll have to bring in a new striker and possibly a winger.

We’ve signed Leigertwood which is a good start because he’s been fatastic since joining on loan in Jan but we are going to need some new defenders as Harte & Griffin are both short of pace and not getting any younger and i’d be amazed if we signed Zurab on his wages – hopefully Matt Mills will stay though.

It all depends on who we buy and who stay’s – if we invest wisely we could push for a place in the top 2 again, if we sell but don’t invest then mid table mediocrity beckons i think-maybe sneak in to the playoff’s again although i wouldn’t want to go through all that again!

Thanks for to Russell for takin the time to speak with us and give us your thoughts, best of luck for next season.

The transfer silly season is upon us and no matter who you support your club is involved

With all of the different news, blog, and sport sites available on the internet, sifting through the pile for worthwhile material can be a nightmare.

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Packed full of easy to navigate information, it really is the perfect tool for an avid football fan.

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Losing however is painful and haunting and can affect the mood and emotions of even the strongest fan for weeks.
Therefore I would like to extend my commiserations to the supporters of Reading Football Club who must be inconsolable after falling heroically at Wembley.

The message from the Reading fans I have spoken to has been one of disappointment but pride in their side who battled hard in a memorable season that almost ended with gaining a place in the Premiership.

Royals fans would also be forgiven for pondering what might have been on a day where they showed tremendous character but could have won if key moments in the game gone their way.

Reading hit the post when trailing 3-2 and in the first half Shane Long missed a chance that would have on another day found its way into the net.

Defeated but not embarrassed Reading will be looking to bounce back and strive for automatic promotion next season.
I know it is little consolation but thank you for being part of one of the best finals in football and I would like to wish you the best of luck next year.

Swansea overcame a slow start to blow away the Royals in the first half with three shots resulting in three goals for the Swans to end the half three goals to the good.

Reading left the field for half-time disheartened but lucky that Khizanishvili did not receive a second yellow card for his foul that led to the penalty for the first goal.

Pundits and fans alike knew that a comeback would be an unlikely but not impossible given the first half performance that did not deserve to see Reading behind by three goals.

Brian McDermot had a huge task at half time, however he rallied his team and Reading responded by finally taking their chances.

Powering into life Reading scored just four minutes after the restart to put the Swans under pressure.

Reading poured forward and with over half an hour to play Matt Mills scored for to bring the deficit back to a solitary goal and give Reading fans hope of a mesmerising comeback.

A romantic comeback was not to be and after half an hour of Reading pressure Swansea were gifted a goal as Andy Griffin hauled down Fabio Borini to allow Scott Sinclair to score his second penalty and complete his hat-trick.

The score stayed the same and despite testing the nerves of their fans Swansea were victorious.

This was a thrilling play-off final, commiserations to Reading whose performance added to a great spectacle that lived up to the pre-match billing.

Finally congratulations to Swansea and there is sure to be one hell of a party in parts of Wales tonight as Swansea become the first team from outside of England to play in the Premier League.

Despite a three goal margin the final was not as clear cut as the score line suggests, for 78 minutes the game was goalless and looking like heading to extra time.

Then Peterborough stunned Old Trafford with three goals in seven minutes to seal victory with Tommy Rowe, Grant McCann and Craig Mackail Smith on the score sheet.

Commiserations to Huddersfield who will feel that on another day they could have been toasting promotion.

At Peterborough Darren Ferguson will now take Peterborough into the Championship for the second time in his management career and the Posh will be hoping that this time they can establish themselves in the division.

Stadium: Madjeski Stadium

Average Attendance 2010/11: 17,840

Top Scorer: Shane Long

The Royals will be aiming to return to the top flight after three seasons in the Championship following relegation in 2008.

Manager

Brian McDermott has been at Reading in some capacity for over ten years,  working closely with his opposition manager Brendan Rodgers for many years.

Having taken over from Rodgers at the end of 2009, McDermott has built stability at the club and claimed some Premier League scalps in the cup competitions. His quite yet confident nature and style of play have earned him a great deal of respect across the game.

Season Analysis

After a poor start Reading seemed destined to finish the season in a mid table position, by March the Royals were well off the pace in the league.

A run of eight wins in a row starting in March saw Reading storm up the table and put them in sight of automatic promotion. This levelled out after Easter but allowed the Royals to take their place in the play-offs.

Key Players

Ian Harte has seen it all in a long and varied career and has been almost ever present for Reading this season.

Having played in a Champions League semi-final the experience of the Irishman could be a key factor as the pressure of the occasion tells on both sides.

In attack Shane Long will be the focus for Reading with the Irish striker in fine form scoring 24 goals and having the ability to cause Swansea real problems.

Long has been in fantastic form and this is likely to attract a swathe of interest from Premier league clubs should Reading be defeated on Monday.

Review

Despite being slight underdogs for the final Reading will enter the game full of confidence after seeing off Cardiff in the semi finals.

The game is likely to be decided by one or two key moments and it is just a question of whether it will be Reading or Swansea that dominate these moments.

Follow Kristian on Twitter

Stadium: Liberty Stadium

Average Attendance 2010/11: 15,687

Top Scorer: Scott Sinclair

Flying the flag for Wales in the play-off final Swansea will be aiming to become the first Welsh club to play in the English top flight since the Swans were relegated from the old First Division in 1983.

Manager

In his first season at the club manager Brendan Rodgers has built on the attacking flowing football mantra of former managers Roberto Martinez and Paulo Sousa.

The former Chelsea reserve and youth team manager started his coaching career at Reading after his playing career ended aged just 20. He then went on to work for Chelsea under Jose Mourinho before starting his management career at Reading.

Season Analysis

This  attacking style has been most successful at home with nearly two-thirds of the club’s points won at the Liberty Stadium. This home fortress only succumbed to three defeats in twenty three games.

Unfortunately away from home results have not been as impressive, with the 11 losses the difference between the play offs and automatic promotion.

It will be key that the Liberty Stadium Swansea turns up at Wembley if the Swans are going to be toasting Premier League football next season.

Key Players

The managers Chelsea links have paid dividends with top scorer Scott Sinclair and loan sensation Fabio Borini both being sourced from Rodgers days as reserve team manager.

In recent months the pair have been unstoppable with Borini showing the full range of tricks and skills he learnt under the tutelage of Didier Drogba including a deadly free kick.

In defence the key man is goalkeeper Dorus de Vries who has been a key part in the Swans team since the club was in League One and who made some world class saves in the play-off semi final win against Nottingham Forest.

Review

After finishing third the Swans will believe that they have what it takes to deserve promotion.

With a strong squad and a deadly arsenal of attacking talent they enter the final as slight favourites.

Those released include former Arsenal player Sebastian Larsson and Lee Bowyer both of whom are likely to seek moves back to the Premier League.

The announcement today could also signal the end of Kevin Phillips football career. The striker who will be 38 in July may decide that now is the time to bring down the curtain on a career that started at the non-league level nineteen years ago.

The club balanced this news with the confirmation that Stephen Carr and injury hit Enric Valles have had contract extensions activated with the club going on to note that talks are ongoing with James McFadden.

Having retired from football in December 2008 Stephen Carr has been one of the Blues most consistent performers since Alex Mcleish talked him out of retirement in February 2009.

The confirmation of his contract extension will be a key part of providing continuation at the club as the summer months are sure to bring more upheaval.

Players Released

Sebastian Larsson

Maik Taylor

Lee Bowyer

Stuart Parnaby

Martin Jiranek

Kevin Phillips

Contract Extensions

Stephen Carr

Enric Valles

Link to series homepage

Figures from www.soccernet.com 

Top Three 

Bottom Three 

At the top of the table there is little comparison between the actual table and the attendance table with Leeds United and Derby boasting the highest attendances but finishing outside of the promotion/play-off shake up. 

The bottom of the tables do bare resemblance to each other with relegated sides Scunthorpe and Preston finishing in the same place in each table. 

The anomaly at the bottom is Sheffield United who were relegated with the eighth highest average attendance, underlining that great support cannot prevent disaster on the pitch, a hard truth that has hurt both Sheffield sides. 

We can conclude from these tables that whilst fans can impact the morale/performance of a club, a large attendance is not necessarily going to guarantee success. 

Obvious I know but the anomalies should give fans of smaller sides hope that they can overachieve and do a ‘Blackpool’

If you have a view or would like to contribute to this series contact Kristian_uk@hotmail.co.uk or add me on TWITTER

ChampionshipTalk will be doing a series of articles in the next few weeks looking at the relationship between football fans and the clubs they support. 

Looking at the impact of the contrast between the economic downturn and the increasing costs of running a football club this series will aim to provide a balanced review of the situation and how it may evolve. 

Since the Taylor report introduced in the early 90’s the reduction in hooliganism and growth of the game has in general seen football attendances rise year on year. 

This year has seen this rise come to an end with the average Championship attendance falling by 2.8% compared to 2009/2010 to just under 17,500. 

Over the next few weeks ChampionshipTalk will look at the current cost of tickets in the Championship and the economic, social and logistical reasons that could affect the league in the next few years. 

This will start  with a look at what the 2010/2011 Championship table would have looked like if it was the fans in the stands rather than points won that determined the final positions. 

A full list of articles in the series will be listed on this page as they are published. 

• 2010/2011 Championship Table by attendance

If you have a view or would like to contribute to this series contact Kristian_uk@hotmail.co.uk or add me on TWITTER

Now with relegation confirmed the questionof  who will be leaving Upton Park this summer comes into focus as the board try and decide who they can convince/afford to stay and fight for promotion.

The drop in division will affect many of their players with England ambitions who may feel that a move away is the only way to ensure they stay in the England reckoning.

However with a bloated and expensive to maintain playing squad there will need to be significant changes in personnel regardless of who wants to leave.

Here are some potential players on the move and likely destinations.

Robert Green

Despite a horrid 2010 World Cup the goalkeeper is still held in high regards by many and it is likely that the former Norwich player will want to move to keep any faint England hopes alive.

This means that a move is likely to only be possible if he can find a club where he will be instilled as the number one.

Unlikely to be trusted by any of the main sides he may have to settle for one of the more mediocre or newly promoted sides in the division.

Likelihood of Leaving: If the right club can be found he will be out the door

Potential Clubs:  Hard to predict but clubs of stature of Stoke

Scott Parker

The Football Writers Player of the Year is almost certain to leave with interest from a clutch of Premier League clubs guaranteed.

With passion, drive and ability almost every club in the Premier League will have Parker on their wish list this summer.

Likelihood of Leaving:  Guaranteed, deserves a higher level of football and the club cannot afford to keep him

Potential Clubs:  Tottenham, Liverpool

Matthew Upson

The towering England defender will have a tough decision to make over the next few weeks, remain loyal to West Ham (provided they can afford to keep him) or seek a move to enhance any lingering England ambitions.

As captain this is likely to be tough but a desire to play in the top flight and stay in England contention combined with the financial implications of relegation mean that Upson could be on the move.

Likelihood of Leaving:  Fairly likely, finding a club willing to take him on should not be difficult

Potential Clubs:  Norwich, QPR, Play-off winner, Stoke, Newcastle

Thomas Hitzlsperger

The former Aston Villa midfielder has only been at the club for one season, but his potential availability may attract attention from a host of clubs.

The key question as with most players may be finances, unfortunately any guess at the cost of the German would be speculation but if his contribution to the wage bill is sizeable the Hammers may be forced to put Hitzlsperger up for sale.

However after making only 11 appearances due to injury the German may feel that he has something to prove at West Ham and want to stay which would be a real boost to the club.

Likelihood of Leaving:  50/50 if the club can afford to keep him then he could be the kind of player they need in the Championship.

Potential Clubs:  Unknown

Carlton Cole

Like Matthew Upson England and financial considerations may prove the key factors in Cole’s future plans.

If Cole is to stake a claim for a regular England place then Premier League football is vital and should Cole wish to leave there is likely to be a fair amount of interest.

Therefore it is likely the former Chelsea striker could be leaving over the summer.

Likelihood of Leaving:  Almost certain should there be interest from the right clubs.

Potential Clubs:  Bolton, Fulham, Sunderland

Keiron Dyer

As one of the highest earners at the club, even a fit and healthy Dyer would be likely to leave this summer when his contract expires. With a seemingly endless string of injuries the 32 year olds career may be at an end with his signature likely to be a gamble for any suitors.

Likelihood of Leaving: 100% Guaranteed

Potential Clubs:  QPR or retirement

Robbie Keane

Only on loan for the second half of the season, could have made this permanent if relegation had been avoided.

After a poor spell on loan he will go back to parent club Tottenham unsure of his future.

Likelihood of leaving: A move that both sides would like to forget, he is certain to leave.

Potential Club: Parent club and then possibly onto a mid-table Premier League side

Other players likely to leave include;

Wayne Bridge (on loan from Manchester City)

Victor Obinna (on loan from Inter Milan)

Frederic Piquionne

Demba Ba

Already AFC Wimbledon have won a historic place in the football league and the League One and League Two play offs are set to reach their conclusion at the weekend.

On Sunday either Huddersfield or Peterborough will become the final team in League One will win promotion to the Championship.

Both sides emerged victorious from high scoring and tense semi finals and will be looking to finish the job at Old Trafford.

Peterborough had to overcome a first leg deficit to edge out MK Dons and Huddersfield played out a scintillating 3-3 draw before winning the tie on penalties against Bournemouth.

ChampionshipTalk would like to take a few moments looking at the prospects of both sides.

Huddersfield

After a long campaign Huddersfield finished eight points ahead of fourth placed Peterborough.

Managed by former Newcastle midfielder Lee Clark, the Terriers boast a blend of experienced former Premier League players and young talent a mix that will be key during the game on Sunday.

During the final the Terriers will be relying on the experience of Gary Naysmith and Kevin Kilbane, the latter earning himself the nickname of ‘Zinedine Kilbane’ on Twitter during the semi finals.

These veterans are supported by the firepower of two young strikers Anthony Pilkington (22) and top scorer Jordan Rhodes (21) who have provided a breath of fresh air to the Galphram stadium this season.

With a strong side confidence levels must be high amongst both the fans and the players.

Peterborough

After an ill fated spell at Preston former manager Darren Ferguson returned to the club in January helping to guide the Posh to the play-offs.

Spearheaded by their star players goal machine Craig Mackail-Smith and the safe hands of Joe Lewis the Posh can be a match for any side in the division on their day.

Although slight underdogs if both players perform on Sunday then the Posh will fancy their chances of promotion.

Prediction

As with all play-off finals predicting the victor is virtually impossible. However after their league finsh and blend of experience and youthful talent it is Huddersfield who will enter the final as slight favourites.

Good luck to both sides and we will see a lot more of one of these sides in ChampionshipTalk next season.

This site talks a lot about the great qualities of the Championship yet this is going to be scant consolation to fans of three different clubs in terms of size, budget and history.

Birmingham and West Ham come down to the Championship after a few years in the Premier League boasting attendances that will put them amongst the best supported in the division.

Birmingham also inherit the unwanted honour of being a Championship club playing in Europe next season.

Blackpool are the only side promoted last season to come straight back down after a fairly unique campaign playing a brand of attacking football that endeared them to supporters across the league, that fell at the last hurdle.

West Ham and Birmingham are likely to endure a long summer as their management try and balance the books and ensure a sufficient calibre of player is maintained to push for immediate promotion.

Blackpool are the smallest of the relegated clubs, but they have the least expensive squad meaning that there is likely to be less upheaval at Broomfield Road than at St Andrews or Upton Park.

Finally commiserations to Blackpool, Birmingham and West Ham United, best of luck in the Championship next season.

Two of the five teams will be relegated and featuring in ChampionshipTalk regularly next season is unlikely to provide much consolation in what is one of the cruelest moments in football

Birmingham, Blackburn and Wolves are currently outside of the relegation zone and if they better the results of Wigan and Blackpool then survival will be assured.

Here is what each team needs to do to ensure survival.

Birmingham (39 points)

Birmingham are out of the relegation zone at the start of play by a single goal, this means that even victory does not guarantee survival should Blackpool or Wigan win by a bigger margin.

Birmingham face Tottenham on the final day at White Hart Lane, the scenarios that guarantee Birmingham’s survival are:

• Equalling or bettering the results of Blackpool and Wigan
• Winning against Tottenham  and Blackburn and Wolves draw

Blackburn (40 points)

In the strongest position of the teams in danger, Blackburn can guarantee survival with a win. A draw is also likely to be enough as long as one of the club’s on 39 points fails to win.

Today they face Wolves in the stand out game of the day in what is likely to be a game to close to call with the result required to stay up likely to change on a regular basis.

Blackburn will survive if:

• They beat Wolves
• If they draw but two of  Blackpool, Wigan and Birmingham fail to win

Blackpool (39 points)

Ian Holloway’s team travel to Old Trafford in what has to be the toughest fixture imaginable with survival on the line.

The Tangerines will be hoping that Manchester United will be in party mode and unconcerned by the result.

With the worst goal difference of the sides involved in ‘Survival Sunday’ victory may not ensure survival if all the other side’s involved win.

A draw may be enough should Birmingham and Wigan lose, here are the full scenarios that would see Blackpool survive.

• Beating Manchester United and at least two other teams failing to win
• Beating Manchester United by at least two more goals than a Wigan and Birmingham win their fixtures
• Drawing against Manchester United with Wigan and Birmingham losing

Wolves

Wolves are in a similar situation to Blackburn with the same number of points and facing their Lancastrian rivals today.

Mick Mcarthy can guarantee survival with a win but as with Rovers a draw or in the right circumstances a loss may be enough.

With home advantage Wolves should be slight favourites of those involved to avoid the drop.

Wigan

Wigan travel to Stoke today in an intimidating fixture that the Latics will feel they must win.

In a similar position to Blackpool a win may not be enough but a draw in right circumstances may be enough.

•  Beating Stoke and at least two other teams failing to win
• Beating Stoke by at least two more goals than Blackpool and Birmingham win their fixtures
• Drawing against Stoke with Blackpool and Birmingham losing

ChampionshipTalk Prediction:

This Sunday will be as memorable as the 2004/2005 season where Norwich and Southampton were the victims in a similar scenario.

Unfortunately for Blackpool and Birmingham I think that they will lose today in their tough away fixtures condemning them to the Championship next season.

Who do you think will survive today? Tell Kristian on TWITTER

Of those in the relegation fight there is one team amongst the five threatened teams that has caught the imagination of the neutral this season and will be roared on by millions who cannot help but admire the team’s spirit or how their manager has told them to go about their business.

This team is of course Blackpool and there are many reasons they have become the pin up side for neutrals and fans of teams not involved in the relegation scrap.

Ian Holloway

Madder than a box of frogs the manager from the West Country is a cult figure that has his own unique style of management.

He is famed for his honest and entertaining press conferences that are guaranteed to produce at least one noteworthy quote in an age filled with bland media interactions.

The Premier League needs managers that are characters and can provide more than the stock clichés when talking to the press and Holloway is certainly a character.

If you don’t believe me search for some of his videos on YouTube such as the one below.

Style of Play

As well as being charismatic off the pitch Ian Holloway has encouraged his players to express themselves on it with a mantra that involves outscoring their opponents rather than nullifying their threat.

In his BBC press conference about this Sunday’s game Holloway espoused this and admitted that his side were “no good at shutting up shop” comparing his team’s goal to the Kwik-E-Mart as it was never shut.

This attacking football has to be admired even if it has cost the club points that could have ironically avoided the situation they face on Sunday.

Goals however make football entertaining and with an average of 3.4 goals per match involving Blackpool there is little argument that the Tangerines are not providing value.

 Blackpool the Underdog

The romance of the underdog is a big part of English football and survival for Blackpool would fit the bill having reached the Premiership after playing in League Two as recently as 2001.

The club has a long and at points distinguished history but is a small club with the smallest ground in the Premier League but a set of fans who make up for their lack of number in volume.

With a squad assembled with a budget that equates to less than Man City have paid recruiting and paying Yaya Toure the club was expected to sink without a trace from the Premier League.

Instead players that have in general either failed to make it at a higher level or have stepped up from the lower leagues have held their own in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.  

Fourth from bottom is not normally a coveted position but to Blackpool it would be a fairytale.

Therefore, because I would like to see Ian Holloway on Match of the Day every weekend after his team of underdogs have played each week, I would like those without a team in the relegation dogfight to join me in being a honourary Blackpool fan for the day on Sunday.

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The winner will gain a place in the Premier League next season competing against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.

The loser will be quickly forgotten and have to cope with the mental pain of falling at the final hurdle.

Apart from the prestige the game has a huge financial implication for each of the clubs, with the winner expected to pocket over £90m in additional revenue, the final has been touted as the most lucrative game of football in the world.

Swansea

After overcoming Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, Swansea will be aiming to make history and become the first Welsh club to play in the Premier League.

Playing an attacking brand of passing football the Swans will enter the tie as slight favourites.

 With a quality goalkeeper and balanced side, the Swans will be hoping that their attacking prowess will give them the edge.

Brendan Rodgers side boasts three of the most talented attacking players in the league in Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair and Fabio Borini all of whom are likely to be playing at a higher level next season regardless of the play-off result.

Reading

Swansea will face a Reading side full of confidence having finished the season in a rich vein of form having surged up table late in the season to secure a play-off spot.

In the semi-finals Reading overcame Cardiff with an impressive away victory in the second leg to give themselves a shot at promotion.

Relegated in 2008 the Royals will be looking to their star players including the highly rated Shane Long to return them to the Premier League.

As the game approaches ChampionshipTalk will be looking at what this would mean to both sides and how their fans are preparing for Wembley.

Tonight Swansea City and Nottingham Forest will play the second leg of their play-off semi final at the Liberty stadium.

The tie is currently evenly balanced with even the smallest of factors potentially the difference between success and failure.

Therefore Swansea fans will hope that the small things are with them in a fixture which may define the season of both clubs.

Home Advantage

Swansea had the best home record in the Championship last season and they will be hoping to draw on this tonight.

Brendan Rodgers side have lost just three of their 23 league games conceding just 11 goals turning the Liberty Stadium into a fortress.

With away goals not relevant in the play-offs this could be a defining factor.

First Leg Performance

Swansea’s play-off campaign seemed to be in freefall after going down to ten men with just 56 seconds on the clock during the first leg.

Rather than implode the Swans stood tall and controlled large parts of the game, creating chances with Nathan Dyer and Fabio Borini causing endless problems with their creativity and never say die attitude.

The Swans did not win the match but will take a moral victory into the deciding game.

Fabio Borini Fitness Boost

Since arriving in January the Chelsea striker has been in top form, scoring goals and displaying a set piece prowess straight from the Didier Drogba playbook.

Many feared the worst after he hobbled off during the first leg that his season was over, but reports suggest he is fit to play. If he is then he could do some real damage to the Forest defence.

Overall both sides are evenly matched and the fixture is difficult to call but after the performances in the first leg and home advantage, Swansea must be considered ever so slight favourites.

This is an intriguing fixture and should produce an entertaining 90-120minutes of football.

Kick off is at 19:45 BST

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