How Our Season Predictions Are Getting On So Far..

Can you believe it has been nearly a month and a half already since the first domestic football of the season was kicked in England?

Two of our most viewed posts ever came in the form of our 2014/15 Season Previews, whereby we analysed each teach in both the Premier League and the Championship and eventually produced a final league table based on our predictions.

Anyway, despite it still being relatively early doors we thought it would be fun to see how we're getting on, and which teams are over/underachieving based on where we expected them to be.

In the tables below we have placed the leagues in their present order, before detailing the difference to our predicted finishing position, and of course how this compares with our eternal yardstick; the bookmaker. 

This is of course likely to change as teams pick up form, make crucial signings in January, change managers, and of course, suffer the dreaded injury crisis. Nonetheless, certain teams have caught the eye, some for all the wrong reasons (Fulham and Newcastle, we're looking firmly at you).

Premier League

Premier League table; accurate as of 18/09/2014

The obvious over-achiever comes in the form of Aston Villa. Despite having languished in the nether regions of the league, flirting with relegation throughout most of the last two seasons, the Villains have started impressively, alongside Swansea City.

Keane has added a winners mentality to
the Villa dressing room.

Our "one-to-watch" Fabian Delph has started the season well, earning a call up to Roy Hodgson's England side for the games against Norway and Switzerland, and you can't help but feel the presence of a certain Roy Keane is spurring Aston Villa on. No doubt such a ferocious winning mentality in the camp will have made several under-performers at the club sit up and take notice. Managing to cling on to MVP Ron Vlaar is also a huge success.

Swansea meanwhile have had a similar upturn in performance, despite also not making many changes. Manager, Garry Monk seems to have steadied the ship following the somewhat shock departure of Michael Laudrup, and is now really starting to put his own stamp on the team. The second coming of Gylfi Sigurdsson has been inspired, as the Icelandic playmaker has returned to the kind of form that sparked interest from Spurs in the first place.

Elsewhere, Newcastle the perennial underachievers, have had a shocking start to the season, with many Geordies calling for the head of Alan Pardew; who must be coming close to the end of the line. For a club the size of Newcastle to not be consistently pushing for the top six, you have to look beyond the playing and coaching staff however. 

Mike Ashley, though a shrewd businessman, does not have many fans on Tyneside, despite turning around the financial fortunes of the club. There is only so long that they will tolerate a sub-par Toon side, in a region where football is religion. We predict that we may see an "Ashley Out" campaign by the end of the season, if form does not pick up soon.

Chelsea look a cert for the title.

Otherwise the table is shaping up to represent what we thought it might. As the league picks up momentum teams will start to settle out into their respective positions, and we will start to gain a true representation of how the Premier League may look come May.

Honourable mentions for Leicester City who have started well; we predicted them to avoid the drop and they look more than equipped to do so - and Chelsea, our tip for the title, which seems to be their's to lose on current form. Can anybody stop Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas from delivering the trophy back to The Bridge for the first time since 09/10?


In terms of how we are currently faring vs. the bookies; the bookies just edge it, in a neck and neck battle. Our predictions are currently displaced by 88 positions, compared to the bookies 82. We do however take comfort in having predicted Chelsea to be in the top spot, with Ladbrokes having picked Manchester City.

Championship

Championship table; accurate as of 18/09/14

You'd be forgiven for thinking the table was upside down.

True to form, the Championship has proven difficult to predict. Several fancied teams have failed to get going; chiefly in the form of Wigan, Cardiff (as I type, it has just been confirmed that Ole Gunnar Solksjær has left the club), Brighton and Fulham who, despite being firm play-off contenders, have found themselves floundering in the bottom half. On top of this, we have already seen three managerial changes, with Huddersfield's Mark Robbins winning the sack race in bizarre fashion following the season opener.

Psycho's Forest have looked impressive in the early stages.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the table it is a different picture. Nottingham Forrest have regained their identity under club legend Stuart Pearce, whilst newly promoted Wolves have continued along the upward curve following promotion last season. Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday have also outperformed everybody's expectations and find themselves in-and-around the crucial top six positions. A mention must also go to Millwall, who have turned around a pretty desperate situation early doors, and Brentford who are currently looking good for their money to stay in the league. Derby however, have started slowly. Nonetheless, we're still confident that they will be there or there about come May.

Fulham have to be considered the out and out under-performers so far this season, and haven't even managed to pick up a win; losing six of their seven games so far - despite having poached Leeds strike partnership Ross McCormack and Matt Smith.

In our original post we said that it is apparent Felix Magath has already underestimated English football and could look set to do it again; having been unable to avoid the drop last season despite boldly claiming it to be impossible.

We also predicted that he'd be out of work by December. With Magath visivly perplexed by the lack of form his team have shown, he has absolutely no answers to his critics - claiming to have never witnessed anything like this in his career. Hate to say we told you so Felix.

Looks like it's going to be a lean Christmas at the Magath house this year.

Felix Magath has seemingly no answers for his teams
"calamitous" start to the campaign. 

We must take off our hat to Stuart Pearce. Following a pretty poor few years with the England U-21's, we had Pearce down as a tactically inept manager, with little to offer. Forest however, have started the season strongly and look to be a shoe-in for a play-off position at least.

Time will tell how much of this is down to the feel-good factor from the return of a legendary leader, as Pearce will be forced to show his managerial qualities and improvise as the fixture schedule goes into overdrive, and injuries become more of a problem.

Before leaving you, we must address Leeds United. Having picked up various amounts of grief from angry Yorkshiremen following our Pre-Season Prediction, we feel that the season has so far, provided us with enough evidence to feel justified in our decisions.

We predicted that Leeds would finish around the mid-bottom half of the table, where they currently reside. We also said that they were in big trouble in terms of club hierarchy, following the farce last season that led to the take-over of the club, and sacking of previous manager Brian McDermott.

With the Dave Hockaday shambles now done and dusted, it is also apparent that this is indeed the case. It is time supporters of Leeds United stopped living under the pretence of a divine right to be top of the league, and start preparing for a long old season and relegation battle. As long as Massimo Cellino remains the man with the power at Elland Road, Leeds face a bleak outlook.

Dave Hockaday; one of football's nice guys, but doomed from the off.

With regards to how our predictions are faring against the bookmaker, we are afraid that the Bookies are currently in the driving seat with this one. Our displacement of 190 is somewhat lacking behind a still-struggling total of 158.

One thing is clear; the Championship is as (un)predictable as ever.

On a much more serious note: Newcastle  midfielder Jonas Gutierrez has revealed that he is suffering from Testicular Cancer. We wish him the very best and a speedy recovery. Remember to Check Your Balls fellas! 

Book Review - RED: My Autobiography by Gary Neville

The season is back, and with it, comes Monday Night Football. The ultimate indulgence for those who consider football with an air of intelligence in debate. With two absolute footballing heavyweights - in the form of Liverpool and Manchester United legends Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, sitting on the panel, the Sky punditry line up is probably the best in world football right now. 

Football analysis and punditry was getting very stale by the time Sky Sports picked up the two former England defenders. Almost to the point where Brian Clough’s famous interview with John Motson had become absolutely relevant again (watch here). Match of the Day has become one of the most boring shows on TV, and let’s not even mention the standard of analysis/coverage on The Football League show.

In taking on Carra and G. Nev, Sky Sports have added modern top level experience to their line-up, which already boasts the brilliance of Graeme Souness, Jamie Redknapp and Glenn Hoddle, taking football broadcasting to a whole new stratosphere.

This is particularly interesting in the case of Gary Neville. He has gone from being one of the most hated men in English football to one of the most respected and adored. From “Gary The Rat” and “Red Nev”, to one of the most intelligent and intriguing analysts of the game we have yet been subjected to.

Best mates

Shortly before his debut on Sky, Neville brought out his autobiography; Red - which is the focus of this article. The debut of this book was categorically the turning point for G. Nev. and his reputation amongst English fans who had previously held the former United captain with disdain.

Neville speaks to us with the frankness and intelligence that we have since become accustomed to. Although, let me announce from the off that in the build up to this post I have read several other reviews, whereby I mainly concerned myself with the poor ones - of which there are very few. The general disappointment stems from the lack of personal life that is revealed throughout. 

But they've missed the point. For Gary Neville, football is life, and this book oozes that fact. Do not read this book if you are concerned with the birth of his children, his wedding, his home... (you get the picture), as you will ultimately not find what you are looking for. If you are however interested in the inner mentality of a winner, a man obsessed with football, and in particular Manchester United, the emotion of the game on the pitch, and maybe just a bit of insight into what life under Sir Alex Ferguson was really like, then go out and pick up this book immediately.

From the FA Youth Cup winning side of '92, to deciding to retire mid-game against West Brom, Neville takes us on a detailed account of his time as a Red, kicking off with tales of his upbringing into a working class family in Bury (which happened to yield three international athletes). We are taken inside his school playground and how life was growing up standing in the K-Stand (Old Trafford's East Stand) under the shadow of Liverpool, as well as the inescapable bust-ups with supporters of United's famous rivals. Indeed, Liverpool play a huge role throughout the book, as they undoubtably have throughout Neville's sporting life.

"As a kid, I had to suffer at their hands again and again. But that’s why every victory later in life tasted so sweet. That’s why I charged up and down the pitch celebrating every win over Liverpool. It’s why I kissed the United badge in front of them, like any true fan" 

"Now I am able to appreciate Liverpool as another true working city of the north. I can recognise the loyalty of their supporters and admire how Liverpool, like Manchester, has punched above its weight when it comes to music and football. But back then I loathed Liverpool and I loathed their success"

Fergie's Fledgelings - Then and now

Neville gives us a stark insight into what life was like growing up as part of the famed "Fergie's Fledgelings" - the hard work and commitment that was required, and of course the unenviable initiations that the apprentices were put through - often at the hands of a certain Welsh winger. Neville puts us under no illusion that it was never his footballing talent that got him where he was, very much demonstrating the type of steel that was needed to just be a part of Manchester United under SAF. 

What is starkly apparent is the sheer aggression and fierceness with which United conducted business from top to bottom in the early 90's. Fergie comes across every bit as ruthless as we imagine him to be, with youth coach Eric Harrison coming up not far behind. Second place was most certainly the first loser.

Aside from the seriousness of on-pitch affairs, we also gain priceless stories behind the "kids" who rose from humble beginnings at The Cliff to defeat the world of football and go on to win countless trophies. The book works very well as an accompaniment to the recent cinema release "The Class of '92" in this sense.

"There are a few moments you look back on - those cross-roads moments - and wonder how life might have played out differently. I wasn’t nailed on to be a professional footballer. I knew that."

Notable sections in the book also include the relationship between David Beckham and the boss, the England players' 'almost-strike' following Rio Ferdinand's drug-test ban, the treatment that Beckham received along with brother Phil from England fans following errors in the national shirt, being shit-scared of Peter Schmeichel, and of course his disappointing time in an England shirt, with some mention of the methods employed by now-Sky colleague Glenn Hoddle. 

"What are you meant to do? Smile
sweetly and jog back to the half-way
line?"

Red is a must for any fan of sport. An unflinching account of life at the top of world football, without over-zealous commentary it provides a peek inside one of the most famous/infamous dressing rooms around in a time when both England and Manchester was changing for the better.

I actually had the pleasure of being coached by Gary Neville on more than one occasion, during the time he took his UEFA Coaching Licenses, and what struck me the most about his style of coaching was first of all, he loved to have a laugh, and secondly, that he cared deeply about football as a tactical system, and how the game evolves through certain phases of play - he very much wanted to impress the importance of this on us as players (in fact on one occasion it turned out that he wanted to coach a system whereby the attacking team did so through the wing backs. As the left-sided wing back on the attacking team, he more or less spent a whole hour showing me the in’s and out’s of playing in the role he dominated for nearly two decades. It was brilliant).

It was presented to us and explained in such a way that it made learning easy, and made us thirsty for more tactical insight - and that is exactly what he is doing to the wider public now in his role as Sky pundit. His knowledge of the game is clearly exceptionally strong.

Of course, it was quite a proud moment for us who partook in his sessions when he passed his qualifications, and subsequently went on to enter the England setup under Roy Hodgson.

United celebrate the 1996/97 Premier League title; L to R - Cantona,
Butt, Giggs, Beckham, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Scholes, Keane.

Bill Shankley famously said: "Football is a simple game, made complicated by idiots”. But in the case of Gary Neville, when the game of football is complicated by men of intelligence who possess a deep understanding of the game, great things can become of it. It is important for the development of footballing intelligence amongst English supporters that Neville remains on our screens for a long time to come, whilst undoubtably providing the England setup with his winning mentality and invaluable insight.

"Being a football supporter has never just been about the team you love. It’s also about the teams you love to hate. English football is brilliant for being so tribal and there’ll always be an edge between United and Liverpool"

8.5/10

nb. I am well aware that this post has probably gone beyond the realms of just a "book review". However, given the sheer influence that Gary Neville now has over English football on both sides of the media/professional football fence, I feel it is more than warranted. 

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