May 16 2006

The Football League

For the definitive review of every Championship team during the season, read the Saint's verdict.

Luton Town

Final Placing: 10th

Last Season: Champions – League 1

Manager: Mike Newell

One to watch: Steve Howard

My Prediction: 21st

How will we do? : 6/6

How did we do? : 0/6

What I said: “Steve Howard scored goals for fun last season and formed a good partnership with Rowan Vine, so Luton should be able to score goals. But I think that we have a considerable bonus in playing them 1st. We need to set a standard and it will be a good measure of how we are going to cope this season, by how many we put past Luton. If we fail to win, it would be a major boost for Mike Newell and a major downer for us.”

Luton surpassed possibly all their own expectations by finishing in the top half of the table and should they be able to keep hold of Mike Newell, can go even further next term.

Being champions of the league below can sometimes be a boost coming to the division above, as initially you would want to prove that you can mix it with the bigger boys. Luton did just that, beating us on the opening day and added another 3 wins and a draw in August, to be 2nd in the fledgling table. They carried on their good form into September and October; their good start keeping them in the top half of the table.

But it was at this point their form started to betray them and defeat to Liverpool in the most entertaining of FA Cup games, ended their season. Following this, their only highlight was ending Readings’ long unbeaten run in February, but this was one of 4 victories until the end of the season.

As predicted, Rowan Vine and Steve Howard managed to score goals at this level, as their 24-goal partnership was the main reason Luton never worried about relegation. Whether they can do so again next season, we will have to wait and see.

Lutons’ long suffering fans though have had a season which they flirted with the idea of the playoffs and after 5 years of playing in footballs relative backwaters, can enjoy another season of Championship football next season. Keeping Newell at Kenilworth Road will be key however, as it has been his astuteness that has got them there.

The fact Luton did the “double” over us tells you a lot about the talent in this squad, although our own John Harbin did a good job of getting them all whipped up to beat us on opening day with some inflammatory comments. We were beaten comfortably at Kenilworth and Luton beat Reading too, but they will have to start to turn some of those 19 defeats into draws if they are going to progress next season.

Cardiff City

Final Placing: 11th

Last Season: 16th

Manager: Dave Jones

One to watch: Jason Koumas

My Prediction: 17th

How will we do? : 6/6

How did we do? : 3/6

What I said: “However having a solid defence and a midfield maestro is one thing, not having a striker is another problem entirely. This is the main problem, they wont get a huge amount of goals. All of Jones signings have been confined to the defence and midfield, with no strikers coming in who can make the difference between upper midtable and playoff hopes, to lower mid table and relegation worries. I believe that the latter will be the case this season, once again”

It was a season of consolidation at Ninian Park and while Dave Jones presided over what was a very turbulent summer, Cardiff were in the top half of the division for most of the season and this is credit to his management skills. He always got the best out of his teams, be it at Southampton, Wolves and Stockport and he is doing the same thing at Cardiff.

It was a case of looking from within, as Cameron Jerome became the star turn at Cardiff. I said that their main problem will be not having a striker, Jerome answered this problem emphatically as his 18 goals pushed the Bluebirds into playoff contention.

An inauspicious start in August, led to 3 months of consistent results and good football as Cardiff were in an around the chasing pack of clubs, intent on going into Christmas with a good position, with which to lead a charge to a playoff place. Jason Koumas was playing well, Jerome was scoring goals for fun and the future was very bright.

But it was at this point that Cardiff found the going tough and with only 6 wins in 2006, fell away from the playoff picture. Their win at Plymouth was the last of the season, in March and a run of only 1 win in 8 matches, was relegation form as they slipped to their final placing of 11th.

Cardiff were buoyed by a settled backbone to the side as 5 players made 40 appearances or more. Neil Alexander, Darren Purse, Jason Koumas and Cameron Jerome all were consistent forces and aided by players like Alan Lee, Joe Ledley and Kevin Cooper, this was the main reason for Cardiff doing so well at the beginning of the season.

Which is when they beat us with a Michael Ricketts (remember him?!?) goal back in October but by February, we managed revenge with a scrappy win of the same score line at Selhurst. It all seems to be looking up at Cardiff though and if Dave Jones can add to his squad during the close season, while retaining the services of Koumas and Jerome, there is no reason why Cardiff cannot improve on their 2nd half of this season.

Whether they do or not, is another matter entirely.

Southampton

Final Placing: 12th

Last Season: 20th (Premiership)

Manager: Harry Redknapp/George Burley

One to watch: Ricardo Fuller

My Prediction: 13th

How will we do? : 4/6

How did we do? : 4/6

What I said: “Mid table is all I foresee for Saints this season and it will get a lot worse, before it gets a lot better. Southampton have a lot of rebuilding to do and I cant see them starting well. Only time will tell if the Harry and Clive show will work out, but I fear that one of them will be out of work before the seasons end and I wouldn’t bet against Harry walking out just before Christmas, to emerge somewhere else come next year. It’s happened before, after all.”

It took a long time before things got better. Southampton were drifting into Championship obscurity, under Redknapp when hey presto, he quits! Southampton started well, winning 3 games in August but the main problem was winning games after this, as there were only 5 wins between September and the end of March.

But back to Redknapp and I don’t think that anyone would have believed the way that this has panned out. Redknapp, unhappy with the arrival of a continental style director, walks out on Portsmouth who were halfway up the Premiership table and categorically states that he wouldn’t move to Southampton. 2 weeks later, he is at St Mary’s.

Taking Saints down into the Championship, trouble was only around the corner as Clive Woodward joins as Performance Director. He was also taking his coaching badges; Redknapp was not happy but did state in a press conference with Woodward that there was no rift.

Yet almost a year to the day he arrived, he quit before the home game with Burnley. 2 wins in 15 matches had left Saints needing a mountain to climb if they were to make the playoffs. Shockingly Harry ended up back at Portsmouth, but the damage at the club had already been done. Having lost a plethora of stars before the season even started, Saints fans turned on Rupert Lowe when their latest star Theo Walcott was allowed to join Arsenal for £5 million. It seemed that things couldn’t get any worse.

George Burley stepped in and he became the lifesaver as Southampton lurched to 1 win in 15 matches between December and February.While Burley cannot be blamed for the situation he found when he took over, he quickly made his own mark, bringing in players like Gregorsz Rasiak and Richard Chaplow. However with 40 players being used this season, it has been one of change down at St Marys.

Ricardo Fuller top-scored with 9 goals, which tells it’s own story. Burley has managed to agree the £2 million transfer when the window opens again of Rasiak, he netted 4 in 12 and with Kenwyne Jones, Saints might start to get a forward line to replace the players that left the previous summer. Andrew Surmans’ emergence also has been a boost and with Burley given the summer to preside over a stable pre-season, Southampton could be back on their way up.

We managed to get 4 points out of 6, with a home win and an away draw. Southampton, like Wolves, drew too many matches and with a more stable side, this could change next season. George Burley is a very talented coach and should Saints deceive again next season, he could be on his way to a bigger club. Rupert Lowe is facing a power struggle as well and this could undermine whatever happens on the pitch. Come August, if there is no stability, Championship football could be a regular attraction on the South Coast.