2008/09 Football Season Half Term Report

Well here we are, officially half way through the football season and things are shaping up rather nicely don’t you think?

Each of England’s top leagues have there pace setters and their upsets, and this season has been no different.

This piece is basically about those teams that have excelled, disappointed or done exactly what was expected in this football season.

I’ve taken three teams from the countries top five leagues and evaluated their progress in terms of the expectations leveled at them before the start of the season and how they have faired this season.

Instead of doing marks out of ten I’ve gone with the traditional school marking system, with all teams yearning for that elusive A+.

As always add your comments to the bottom and I will do my best to reply, enjoy!


Blue Square Premier


Burton Albion (A+): In an attempt to shake off the name that will follow him for the rest of his career, Nigel Clough has turned his Burton Albion side into Promotion favorites in the Blue Square Premier.

As I write, Albion lie 13 points clear of nearest rivals Histon, with The Stutes yet to play their games in hand.

It was expected Burton would be odds on for the play-offs but to be so far ahead already has been outstanding. Greg Pearson has been brilliant this season with 16 goals, but it's been Clough that has been the real revelation.

Whether he will be tempted to make a move into the football league before the end of the season is almost certain, as Burton are willing to let him go. I’d be hesitant to say whether the move would be good for the manager whose experience at a higher level is wafer thin.

Hopefully, he can stick around to finish the good job he’s started with Burton.


Torquay United (B-): Clubs such as Burton have taken advantage of the poor start Torquay United made to the season, which was made to look as bad as it was.

One win from there first seven games was the hangover of last season's play-off heart break, but soon the mist was lifted and the Gulls went on a record breaking 17 match unbeaten run.

The run has propelled them to the top five and at one point top of the league. Paul Buckle's doubters have been well and truly silenced and the dodgy attack that I had reservations about this season has proved its worth once again.

Nicky Wroe has been in stupendous form this season, one of the buys of the season for sure. However with six defeats in the league already this season and a huge deficit to make up there is plenty of hard to be done.


Oxford United (D-): The introduction of the new owners saw a new dawn at Oxford United one that has seen the introduction of a new manager but the same old expectations.

The sacking of Darren Patterson wasn’t soon enough for most fans, who feel the season is already a waste due to the terrible start. Chris Wilder, formerly of Halifax is at the helm now and two wins from his opening three games, a sign that things can be turned on its head.

The club lie in 11th after those successive wins and the fans will believe again that promotion is a reality, but they’ve been let down before.

In-fact their current position is puzzling considering the start the club had, and Wilder certainly has the foundations and resources to mount a serious challenge for the play-offs.


Coca Cola League Two


Dagenham and Redbridge (A+): Dagenham must have looked at the new season with a little bit of haste after finishing just seven points above the relegation zone last season.

However numerous points deductions allowed the club to relax knowing another season is League two was almost assured.

Although for John Still’s men things have been have better than they could have imagined. The Daggers find themselves in 4th after a brilliant season that has seen them surge up the league after a sticky November period.

The leagues top goal scorers have the likes of Ben Strevens, Paul Benson and Sam Saunders to thank as they look to hang on to their play-off spot.

Huge wins on the opening day against Chester City and recently against Notts County have boosted the Daggers dramatically and they look a dangerous proposition to any promotion rival.


Exeter City (A-): After a steady start to the season Exeter have pushed themselves into a play-off spot, and in a very open League 2 they have every chance to being promoted at the first time of asking under Paul Tidsdale.

Promotion will now be on the lips of most City fans after the excellent first half to the season.
Matt Gill and Dean Moxey have keen key as always and with wins at the likes of Bournemouth and Bury, Exeter has shown they are no lightweights.

Continued success in the New Year could be difficult, and even a finish in mid-table wouldn't disgrace the club at all who have a brilliant season up till now.


Rotherham (A-): Mark Robins has pulled together a side that in another season would be challenging for the title, but after starting with -15 points, Rotherham have had a brilliant season.

Robins’ team have surpassed the other deducted teams Bournemouth and Luton, the as they attempt to extend the gap between themselves and the teams below. A 12-point gap has already been established, one that is sure to increase as the season progresses.

The goals of strikers Drewe Broughton and Rubin Reid have been the cornerstone to the success, but Ian Sharps at the back is considered one of the best defenders in the league, in a defense that has been particularly tight.

A top half finish looks likely for Rotherham, who will have an issue hanging on to their prize assets if they look to push for promotion next season.


Coca Cola League One


Milton Keynes Dons (A): To say MK Dons have shocked a few people is an understatement; they have simply blown people away with a few teams along the way. They lie second in the table, two points off early pacesetters Leicester City and with the best away record in the league.

Manager Roberto Di Matteo has been instrumental in their form, and with Eddie Newton alongside the pair seem to have bought in some quality players to strengthen the promotion contenders.

They are the team everyone loves to hate for obvious reasons, but Di Matteo’s turning them into a side you can’t ignore and one that is sure to be making waves in the Championship and beyond soon enough.


Colchester United (C+): Last season’s relegation has been followed by a shocking start to the season, however, with new manager Paul Lambert at the helm things could be far worse.

After having to wait till the end of November for their first league win at their new Weston Holmes Community Stadium Lambert’s men have slowly gone about their business and with a brilliant away record behind them they know where the hard work has to be done.

The low of the season came when second from bottom Hereford United recorded a 2-1 win at the new stadium, while highs include the side’s victory at Bournemouth in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The club were expected to challenge higher up the league, but last seasons disappointment hasn’t lifted and the U’s have had to endure a season of consolidation.


Carlisle United (E+): Here’s another side whose disappointment of last season has caught up with them in the new season, as Carlisle continue to struggle in League one.

Having spent large periods of the season in the bottom four, manager John Ward was surpass to requirements and replaced by Greg Abbott who has steadied the ship after an awful start to the season.

They did pick up five wins from their first six games, however defeat at Scunthorpe was the catalyst for a 12-match streak without a win, devastating for the club.

Ward was soon replaced by Abbott, whose eleven-match reign has included four wins, The form is encouraging but not what the expectant supporters were after.

Climbing out of the relegation zone was the short term goal, now that has been achieved the fans will want to finish as high up the league as possible, with the expected promotion well out of reach.


Coca Cola Championship


Reading (A): After loosing a number of influential players over the last two years, you could be forgiven for thinking Steve Coppell’s job to reclaiming Reading Premiership place would be a difficult one. Far from it, for the Berkshire club this season.

The likes of Steve Sidwell, Nicky Shorey and Dave Kitson have departed in the last few years but that’s done nothing to change the ambition of this club who are enjoying a brilliant season in the Championship.

This side is playing some of the best football I’ve seen from any club this season with impressive wins at the likes of Birmingham City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bristol City.

Kevin Doyle is quickly developing a reputation as being one of the most potent strikers in the country let alone the league he applies his trade.

Fans may well be wary heading into the transfer window, but with the tress that Reading are pulling up why would anyone want to leave this ambitious club.


Swansea City (A-): After last season’s relatively easy promotion the real work starts here in the Championship, and Swansea have gone about there business brilliantly, putting plenty of sides to the sword.

Of all the teams promoted from last season they have made the transition look the most smooth, still playing decent football, with the same star names as last season.

The likes of Ferrie Bodde and Jason Scotland have excelled, with Bodde in particular attracting attention from the Premiership.

Roberto Martinez has done a brilliant job at the Liberty Stadium, and whatever you say about resources given to some managers; there are many who waste them away, not this man.

The mark of A- isn’t derogatory to Swansea themselves, they have impressed me in games as well as in their results and the second half of the season should produce more.


Norwich City (E): To often we’ve seen sides relegated from the Premiership, get stuck in the Championship and become engrossed in a relegation battle, Norwich City are going down that alley.

On the plus side it’s been good to see Glen Roeder given some time, and even though results have been poor, I have faith in him that he’ll pull through eventually for the Canaries.

He must turn the trust that the board have put in him into wins, especially away from home where just two wins have been recorded. In-fact their away record is so bad it’s the worst outside the bottom three, an area they dangle just two points above.

If there is money available then Roeder is sure to be delving into the torturous January transfer window, but as many club are looking to loan signings that might have to be the former West Ham managers’ route.

Clubs like Charlton and Southampton are in similar positions and it’s left to be seen whether this former top-flight club can avoid the duo’s almost inevitable fate.


Premiership


Hull City (A-): I feel that to often this season Hull City’s progress has been undermined by where they were five years ago when they when they were away at Farnborough or another Division Three club.

I still feel that many see them as the same Division Three club presiding within the Premiership. I feel they should be appreciated as a top-flight club, because they’ve made enough of an impression through the first half of the season to suggest they could be around for some time.

Their form has been most intriguing on the road, where they have recorded four wins including a memorable win at the Emirates Stadium where Giovanni and Daniel Cousin helped the Tiger towards a 2-1 win.

Results have expectantly leveled out, with one win in the last eleven games but that’s done nothing to dampen the mood at the KC Stadium, while Hull are finally being able to make there own stamp on the Premiership.


Fulham (A): The turn around at Fulham under Roy Hodgson was put under full scrutiny last weekend, when the club met local rivals Chelsea at Craven Cottage.

Their progress was confirmed as they salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw.

This result has proved the influence Hodgson has had at the Cottage, and after saving the club from relegation he’s been able to push on into what has been a fine season.

It’s no secret that the club live on a shoestring budget wise, and that relegation would be devastating for the club off the pitch as well as on.

The side’s home form has been the main strength, as with previous years with wins over Arsenal, Tottenham and Middlesbrough.

The form of Jimmy Bullard has been pricking the ears of many Premiership clubs. It’s no coincidence that the return of the midfielder from injury last season has been the catalyst for the clubs change in fortune.


Newcastle United (C+): The beginning of the season was a mess for the Magpies. Losing Kevin Keegan was one thing, Mike Ashley then putting the club up for sale was another.

Ashley has since turned on his decision, by taking the club off the market and putting full backing behind new manager Joe Kinnear, who has had to deal with his own critics of a different nature.

Many believed the former Wimbledon manager, whose medical restraints ended his tenure at the Dons several years ago, wasn’t up to the pressures of Premiership management. And his heart, and his abilities as a manager have proved everyone wrong.

He’s turned Newcastle from relegation candidates into a decent mid-table side. The club have always had problems spending the available money wisely, and Kinnear will have the task of bringing in some new recruits.

Keeping the likes of Michael Owen and Shay Given will be at the top of the list though, as the big boys come calling for some of the North East’s elite.