After an eventful first tranche of fixtures, with co-favourites Wolves dropping points and Championship newbies Bolton Wanderers overcoming seasoned campaigners Preston, clearly the reputation of the English Football League’s second division as one of the toughest in world football to escape is earned for a valid reason.
Anyone expecting an easy ride for fallen Premier League side West Ham – fans included – is clearly in for a massive wake-up.
Speaking to SkySPORTS, West Ham’s captain Jarrod Bowen made it clear that the Championship will be no pushover and it is not a given that the Hammers will carry all before them this season.
When asked if the objective has to be automatic promotion, Bowen responded:
“Not really, I think just getting back into the Premier League. If it’s through the play-offs, then it’s through the play-offs.
The worst thing I think you can do as a club is try and walk into this league and think ‘we’re the biggest side and we’re going to go straight back up’.
Promotion via the play offs: Significantly easier in 2012
I’ve experienced the Championship before – it doesn’t happen like that. You see many sides that think they can bounce straight back and it’s not happened. For us, As long as we’re in the Premeir League, I don’t care how we do it.”
Supporters would rather avoid the white knuckle ride of a play-off campaign, especially in its more expanded version that will increase the jeopardy the season. A nice, boring, record points tally and automatic promotion would be lovely but Bowen, for one, isn’t banking on doing it the easy way.
What can I say! Bring it on! Wise words from Jarrod that’s for sure the team, coaching and supporting classes need to stick to their titles if your a supporter give WHU everything. We have the players give your support for the whole season, not until the next set back. One draw, one loss is not the end of 26/27 the team has real strength they will show it all season. COYI. Nuno is our coach and he has shown with the performances that he got from our first team after receiving a club destined for relegation and divided that he can lead a club to ultimate success.
Every game is going to be a FA cup and how often do underdogs take the spoils.
Nuno needs to drum it in that complacency could very much end in tears.
Going in with the thought we can’t be beaten could be a rude awakening.
Need to play until the final whistle with complete concentration.
Do we need Carabao cup it would be nice but not at expense of returning to premiership.
Super photo. Sam Allardyce and his hand-picked Captain Kevin Nolan. Men with a plan.
Determined to get us back and get us back they did! Great times.
COYI
Good words from Bowen keeping it as humble as possible. Best that no players or Nuno says anything that could be understood as big time Charlie talk to add to us being more of a target.
Watched Boro, Lincoln. The football is non stop and energetic as everyone says, with skill and talent. I think a big difference is that there are many less top internationals, so levels are up and down, but of course still very high, well trained, disciplined, etc.
Personally, I think because you do not have clubs bank rolled like City and soon to be Liverpool with Bezos, it is a more egalitarian league and matches are much more competitive between clubs. Lincoln for example, were very good against Boro and deserved a point – Boro scored winner in extra time.
I know should wish to be in the PL playing at the top and all this, but I’m honestly looking forward to watching some exciting matches where anything can happen and you can really enjoy the football on the pitch. Much less rolling around on the ground (which completely ruins a match) as no VAR and reminds you of good games you’ve watched in the past. Even last season was already watching some C games when I could.
It’s not going to be easy that’s for sure especially when you have a manager that doesn’t seem to understand it’s 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
This first week’s fixtures show that like the PL anyone can beat anyone and the ride could be bumpy if we don’t control the games and get enough goals.
We have to play with more intensity than we did last year in the PL, we need to run and fight more, Alvarez would be good in midfield alongside Orford and Engels/Kante whoever controls the middle of the park will have a better platform, if we play with a front 3 of Solomon, Bowen and Castellanos then we will give ourselves a decent shout.