Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. Back in June 2015, with Gary Rowett at the helm having taken them from 21st place in the Championship the previous October to a league finish of tenth, the outlook was rosy for Birmingham City. The investment vehicle Trillion Trophy Asia had just taken-over, ending the troubled reign of 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. There is unlikely to be too much festive cheer in the air for Mick McCarthy over the Christmas period as he tries desperately to solve his Ipswich team’s issues with consistency. The Tractor Boys, who missed out on the play-offs by five points last season, have not managed to 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. In the midst of a busy schedule under a manager seemingly intent on fighting the world, Manchester United are wrapped up in their own challenges at the moment but it would have been interesting to know if anybody at Old Trafford took more than a passing interest in Wigan’s 

Continue Reading

The high rise and now fall of Joe Hart from Manchester City is one that is unfolded during the summer transfer window of 2016 with a loan move to Torino being made following the arrival of Pep Guardiola for the season. The same applied with Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere with veteran-Gunners manager Arsene Wenger willing 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. An eye-watering twenty different managerial combinations have taken charge of Queens Park Rangers since Ian Holloway departed the club in 2006, but now, in case the headlines his opinions generate have been missed, he is back at Loftus Road aiming to “restore pride”. Holloway referenced the excess of Flavio 

Continue Reading

Jose Mourinho was so very angry, He thought Manchester United should’ve had a penalty. They nearly won their game with Arsenal, But the game finished 1-1 - instead of 1-0. Gareth Southgate is now England’s new boss. He should be paid on results - so he’d be working for a loss! The England dummies gave 

Continue Reading

The Championship has been described as the hardest, the toughest and the most competitive league to compete in. Whilst the Premier League has evened up in the last seven years, the Championship has over a dozen clubs each year who legitimately believe in their chances of promotion. This had led to a merry-go-round of managers in 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. For the first time since 2011, when Arsenal travelled up to Yorkshire for an FA Cup tie, Elland Road will be a sell-out on Sunday for when Leeds United welcome Newcastle. Both clubs have gone through difficult recent periods, but this weekend the 39,460 seater-stadium will be packed with 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. Simon Grayson was being realistic after he saw his team thrashed 6-0 by Newcastle in their midweek EFL Cup tie. The Preston North End manager even had time for a laugh when asked if there would be a different outcome when they host the Magpies in the league this 

Continue Reading

Fernando Forestieri has had a tumultuous start to the 2015/2016 Championship campaign. The young Italian has shown so much potential, but almost scuppered his progress after a spat with Sheffield Wednesday. A goal against Wigan and Aston Villa means he is slowly beginning to find the form that saw him light up the Championship. What 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. Five months ago, Alan Stubbs was holding aloft Hibernian’s first Scottish Cup for 114 years after defeating Rangers in the final. Now, after leaving to take charge of Rotherham back in June, he is without a job, wondering what possessed him to move south. Stubbs lasted just 13 league games 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. “I relish the challenge of trying to take the club where it wants to go and needs to be” said Steve Bruce while Steve McClaren said “I am very motivated to put things right for the club and supporters.” Two managers were being unveiled at respective new clubs, Aston 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. Coming hot on the heels of the sting that brought down the now former England manager Sam Allardyce in the Telegraph’s investigation into football corruption are the revelations that eight Premier League managers- both current and former- are alleged to have taken bungs. The allegations were made in a 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. It was billed as something of a coup when, almost a year ago, Jack Grealish chose England ahead of the Republic of Ireland, the country of his grandparents. 12 months later Grealish has yet to play for his country and his hopes of doing so must be as distant 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. With the vast riches of the Premier League now more alluring than ever, few have tried harder to jump up from the second tier than Derby County. Since Steve McClaren directed them to a heart-breaking play-off final defeat to QPR in 2014, Mel Morris, the co-founder of the tech 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. Oliver Burke scored and made two more goals in the 4-3 defeat of Burton Albion on the opening day of the season. He then netted twice as Nottingham Forest beat Wigan Athletic by the same score-line before bagging another as Leeds United were seen off 3-1. The exciting Scotsman 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. Only 45 minutes before kick off in Blackburn’s EFL Cup second round game with Crewe on Tuesday night and the scene was dispiriting. Ticket prices were reduced to £12 with children priced at only £2, yet interest was scarce and the walkway around the stadium resembled a ghost town. 

Continue Reading

Adam’s latest “The Championship Corner” column. Aston Villa were heading for a second home win in a week when goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini lined up a clearance with four minutes to go. However, they did not foresee Huddersfield defender Michael Hefele charging the kick down to deflect it in from 30 yards for a freak equaliser. 

Continue Reading

The second installment of “The Championship Corner” column by Adam Gray. Arriving with a big profile, Jaap Stam remained humble and reticent over Reading’s chances in his first managerial opportunity. “Of course, when you play football yourself you can think you want to become a manager but it does not make you a good manager”, 

Continue Reading

After a summer of real change at Villa Park, Aston Villa are ready to slog it out in the Championship this season. Former West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has been brought in, not only to steady the ship, but to guide Villa back to where this famous old club belongs. Although 

Continue Reading

UK football has now commenced today, The Championship is underway as the teams come out to play. Also in Division One, the teams will all do battle. To kick off another season - players running round like cattle. There’s also Division Two - where lesser teams are based. But they all play for promotion - 

Continue Reading

The first installment of a new column about everything English Championship by O-Posts mainstay and top football writer, Adam Gray. It will be up and going for the entirety of the 2016/17 campaign. Enjoy! Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle present a daunting task for Fulham in the season opener on Friday night but after finishing off pre-season 

Continue Reading