Part 1 can be found here and as mentioned I've split this into 4 parts to make it more readable and hopefully it will give you some insight into one of the most underrated and exciting leagues in the world.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Summary of the season
Brighton were one of the clubs expected to do well this season after appointing Sami Hyypia in the summer and reaching the play offs last season. However, if you looked at their squad it had taken a huge hit in terms of quality lost and they had failed to replace that while employing a manager without a discernable plan or style of play. They lacked goals right from the beginning of the season and that barely changed as Baldock, O'Grady, Best & Mackail-Smith managed just 4 league goals between them. Lewis Dunk, a centre back, actually outscored them all put together which gives a clear indication of where Brighton's failings lie. Once Hyypia had inevitably been sacked just before Christmas, Chris Hughton took over and steered them away from trouble and they weren't unduly worried about relegation despite a nervy end to the season. He will have a big job to turn around their fortunes as they have lost several of their better players as their loan spells came to an end.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Chris Hughton did well once he took over, making Brighton solid and difficult to beat. If they couldn't score at least they had a chance of keeping their opponents out. He will have to find a way to create more chances and get a striker in who is capable of scoring. The fans have taken to him and he should be given time to turn around the mess Hyypia seems to have created. He favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation but experimented with 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 towards the end of the season.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Brighton's 20th place finish will be seen as a very poor return on the season, finishing just 6 points clear of the drop. While a large portion of the blame will be given to Hyypia and Hughton did well to raise them clear of the drop, they did slip again towards the end of the season and if they are to realistically challenge for the play offs again next year they will be in for a very busy summer.
3 Key Players
Lewis Dunk - Dunk impressed at the heart of a tight defence. He took his place alongside Greer and formed a defence which let in the least amount of goals of the bottom 11 teams - just 54 in the season. His height and strength allowed him to be a physical presence and he would often throw himself in front of danger. He is also useful on set pieces in both boxes and was Brighton's 2nd top scorer.
Joao Carlos - Tricky and highly rated by Liverpool, the young Portuguese spent the season on loan at Brighton and became a fans favourite with his exciting play. He peaked against Ipswich in January as he was practically unplayable and scored twice and often looked the only Brighton player capable of making things happen. A broken leg in April against Huddersfield ended his season early but he will be fit and likely loaned out to a top end team next season.
Inigo Calderon - The veteran Spanish defender barely got much of a look in last season but his versatility proved invaluable in this campaign and he was deservedly voted the player of the year. He filled in initially at left back and right back but spent much of the later months on the right wing, which meant he could alternate positions with Bruno. He's been rewarded with a contract extension and his experience will be key once again next year.
Standout young player
Rohan Ince - Despite not featuring on a regular basis, Ince made enough appearances to be influential on the team and it was only when Kayal was brought in that he lost his starting spot. Tall and powerful he is capable of covering the pitch very well and though often a little clumsy in possession and lacking goals, given the right role in the team he could be the shield Brighton need in front of the defence which allows the rest of the team to become more attacking.
Cardiff City
Summary of the season
As the favourites to go up Cardiff were expected to compete at the top end of the Championship. Instead they had a season of transition, sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer early in the season after his numerous transfer dealings in the summer didn't work out and Cardiff slipped to the lower reaches of the table. With Russell Slade not being a popular appointment at the time he needed to start well and this didn't really materialise as they suffered a season of inconsistency, although ended reasonably with an upper mid table finish. The fans voted with their feet and attendances have dropped, with Slade and Chairman Tan both unpopular. The decision to loan out 3 of their better players in Le Fondre, Jones and Connolly as well as selling Brayford made little football sense and was purely to balance the books, which again didn't go down well the the supporters.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Russell Slade took over with a clear brief to reduce costs and steady them for a promotion push in 2015/16. He achieved some decent results, mainly away from home but his style is not attractive to watch and led to calls for his dismissal from the Cardiff fans. He has brought in several players which are a reduction in quality and he could be one of the first managerial casualties next season. He sticks rigidly to a 4-4-2 and rarely played anything else.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Cardiff finished 11th which is a higher position than many would feel they deserve. After being in the top 6 for the first few weeks of the season they fell like a stone and at one point looked as though they could face a relegation battle. After Slade took over the season lurched into mediocrity and the poor home form and lack of quality signings and entertaining football has seen a clear vote of no confidence from the fans.
3 Key Players
Bruno Manga - After a difficult start to life in England (OK, Wales!) the Gabonese international grew into the team and gave some excellent performances at the back. He was highly rated and commanded a large fee but it wasn't until the turn of the year that he showed his worth and his reading of the game and physical presence, coupled with a good turn of pace saw Cardiff become much better defensively and grind out a lot of points, especially away from home.
Craig Noone - Noone didn't have the best of season but his inconsisyemt form hid a talented player, capable of beating his man and creating many chances. With Cardiff being direct the style didn't really suit him but when he could get the ball wide and put crosses in to the target men in the middle they looked a lot more dangerous. Started the season with an injury and maybe needed a full pre-season to show his true form.
Peter Whittingham - Whittingham splits opinion but he is clearly a valuable player for Cardiff. His composure on the ball and ability from set pieces is key to the team and he created many chances from corners and free kicks, ending the season with the most assists with 8 as well as 6 goals. His negatives are usually his reluctance to drive forward and his lack of mobility which when playing with Gunnarsson in midfield can leave them either short of attacking options or exposes their defence if they do push forward. Maybe needs to play with another man in the middle to get the best out of him.
Standout young player
Mark Kennedy - An exciting capture from Everton he was a surprise hit in a wide role after initially being thought of as a striker. He has good pace and enthusiasm and towards the end of the season had a decent run in the team where he won a couple of man of the match awards. He failed to regularly hold down a starting spot but big things will be expected of him next year.
Charlton Athletic
Summary of the season
Charlton started the season well under new manager Bob Peeters and were the last football league side to lose their unbeaten record, including some excellent victories over Derby, Watford and Norwich gave them a healthy start, though too many draws prevented them reaching too high in the table. They then went on an awful run of 14 games without a win, during which time Peeters lost his job and was replaced with the unpopular choice of Guy Luzon. After 5 terrible games it looked like he may follow Peeters quickly out of the door but he turned things around and Charlton finished the season reasonably - they were however the draw specialists of the division with 18 which killed any hopes of a play off push and will hope for better things next season.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Guy Luzon adapted well after initially struggling and changed Charlton from a slightly more direct team to one which was solid and played a nice passing game. They utilise the wingers heavily and the counter attacking style they played got them several important away wins under Luzon, otherwise he might not have lasted the season. A bad start is likely to see him come under pressure again. Changed things to a 4-4-2 and stuck with that after initially starting with a 4-2-3-1.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Finished bang in mid table in 12th place, something which was an improvement on the previous season but ultimately disappointing after an encouraging start. Too many draws meant they never realistically challenged for the play off places and if they suffer another season of mediocrity next year the fans are likely to demand change from the owners.
3 Key Players
Johann Gudmundsson - Gudmundsson was a bright light for Charlton and though he lacks the pace to be the type of winger who gets to the byline, he has an excellent left foot and created many chances and goals with his inswinging crosses from the right. Even more dangerous were his set pieces, which helped him get 10 goals and come 2nd only to Vetokele for the top scorer for the team. Likely to see some interest from clubs in the summer and Charlton may struggle to hold on to him.
Stephen Henderson - Charlton's dip in form coincided with Henderson suffering a bad shoulder injury which kept him out for 3 months. While not the sole reason behind the run of losses it played a big part as first Nick Pope and then Neil Etheridge failed to live up to his standards. An above average all round keeper, he is solid at making saves but commands his defence well and is good in the air, instilling confidence in those around him.
Roger Johnson - While Ben Haim and Bikey did a reasonable job in the first part of the season it was clear some leadership was lacking at the back and Roger Johnson's free transfer signing coincided with Charlton regaining some solidity at the back. While he lacks pace he makes up for this in his positioning and his physicality and aggressive nature allowed him to win plenty of balls that he had no right too. Surprisingly released at the end of the season.
Standout young player
Jordan Cousins - Cousins has gone from a bit part young player over the last 2 seasons into one of the first names on the team sheet and is likely to court interest from bigger clubs in the summer. Started last season at right back and played for long spells on the left wing which helped his development, though he fared much better in his natural position of the centre. An excellent passer and able to drive the team forward but also adept at breaking up the opposition play for Charlton.
Derby County
Summary of the season
For 7 months of the season Derby were quite rightly one of the best teams in the division. Many people's favourites to go up after their heartbreaking loss to QPR in last seasons play off final, they started well, losing only 1 of their first 13 games and continued this excellent form up until February when they sat top of the league. Then the unthinkable happened as they lost Chris Martin to a hamstring problem and with no direct replacement they were forced to play Darren Bent. While Bent is a quality striker he doesn't have the same qualities and then with his injury in late March Derby had no recognised front man and suffered badly for it. They dropped out of the automatic spots and on the last day of the season, with their fate in their own hands, slumped to a disastrous 3-0 loss to Reading which dumped them out of the play offs. The whole club seemed shocked and it may signal the break up of one of the Championships best sides over the last 2 years.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Steve McLaren has done an excellent job of rebuilding the reputation damaged while he was the England manager and for long spells of the season he showed himself to be one of the best managers outside the top flight. His man management, style of football and approach to games won Derby many admirers and his signings also proved to be good acquisitions. He did let himself down by not sourcing a replacement for Martin and this ultimately led to their downfall, along with his reluctance to switch to anything other than 4-3-3, though they were forced to play 4-2-3-1 due to a lack of available players for most of the last 6 weeks of the season. Could be sought after by Premier League clubs over the summer.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Derby's 8th placed finish was a disaster for a team which led the league for long spells. Their dramatic fall away was unexpected and they even looked to be a certainty for the play offs with a handful of games left so to miss out completely was nothing short of a shambles for a club which would have been aiming for automatic promotion this season. Fans will demand change and the boos which greeted their 3-0 loss to Reading are reflective of what happened over the final 2 months.
3 Key Players
Chris Martin - So key to the way Derby play and to lose him for the final 2 months of the season was the nail in Derby's coffin. It wasn't just his goals but his all round game which Derby missed, he often held the ball up to allow their quick counter attacks and to get the wide players and attacking midfielders into advanced positions. The fact he scored 18 goals despite barely featuring after being injured in mid February speaks volumes about him.
George Thorne - Thorne was another key player Derby lost to injury and didn't adequately replace. He was actually injured in pre season and only managed 3 appearances over the entire season before being injury again, so his inclusion here may seem odd. It was more the lack of a player to fill his role which makes him key - with Eustace and Mascarell not doing the job well enough to be considered ahead of him when he did come back from injury.
Tom Ince - Ince was a bright light in the side after Martin's injury and though he had failed to do much at Hull or Nottingham Forest he was excellent for Derby. Often played on the right and inverting to cut across onto his left foot he was a regular supply of goals but his individualism didn't always help Derby's team play. Scored some stunning free kicks and Derby would like to get him back permanently from Hull in the summer.
Standout young player
Will Hughes - Has been a regular now for some time and his creativity and vision make him stand out as one of the most talented young midfielders in the country. Lacked in options going forward at times and a lack of goals (only scored twice all season) is an area he needs to improve. It could be said he's reached his peak at Derby and could be one of the players to leave in the summer.
Fulham
Summary of the season
Any thoughts Fulham had of spending their way out of the division were soon brought to a crashing halt. Felix Magath came to the club with a stellar global reputation and it was something of a surprise that he stayed on after relegation from the Premier League but nobody could have anticipated he would oversee 1 draw and 6 defeats from their first 7 games. Club legend Kit Symons took over and immediately improved their fortunes but his inflexibility to change things and lack of width saw Fulham remain predictable and in relegation trouble until the final few weeks of the season when an upturn in form saw them steer clear of relegation. With many big earners still on the wage bill they are in for another summer of upheaval and Symons could be one of the first casualties to get the sack.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Symons was hero worshiped when first appointed and took Fulham from rock bottom into the safety of lower mid table. While they were very inconsistent after his initial honeymoon period they started to drop off badly and went through an awful run which saw them once again come too close to relegation and his reluctance to play anything other than the midfield diamond was heavily criticised. Often way too open and with players forced to play in positions they were not used to.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Fulham 17th placed finish would seem like a disaster had you offered it to them before the season started but after picking up 1 point from their opening 7 games it is not a bad return. They could have finished higher had it not been for a drop in form from February and March and they struggled badly. A similar story next season will see Symons get the sack and attendances drop off and with FFP rules only allowing them 1 more season of massive expenditure they could suffer badly.
3 Key Players
Ross McCormack - Although he didn't hit the high standard he would have set after his £11million transfer last summer he eventually settled in after a tough opening few months. The pressure seemed to get to him and he was declared unfit by Felix Magath but his clear skill and creativity was badly what Fulham needed. Finished the season with 17 goals for a bottom 8 side so clearly has the ability and could be on the move again this summer.
Marcus Bettinelli - Before the season Bettinelli was probably preparing to be 3rd choice, but with Stekelenberg joining Monaco and Joronen not cementing a place he got the nod and his consistency proved to be key to playing 39 games over the course of the season. He was not infallible and made some mistakes at times but his agility and positivity in the area helped behind a regularly changing Fulham back 4.
Scott Parker - Parker's experience was often key, though his endurance is no longer there. Struggled to keep up with the rigours of the Championship and couldn't often play the midweek round as well as games on either Saturday but organised the midfield at the base of the diamond and protected the defence well. Though he was often guilty of slowing down the play instead of playing forward, he rarely lose the ball and was missed when out of action.
Standout young player
Lars Vigen Christensen - Christensen was another player who wouldn't have expected a lot of game time but proved to be one of the best finds of the season. He has great vision and ability to run with the ball and was one of the few players who regularly made things happen in the difficult early stages of the season. A bad hamstring injury after Christmas meant he didn't feature much in the last couple of months but will be one of the key men next season.
Huddersfield Town
Summary of the season
Huddersfield's season started about as bad as it could possibly have, losing 4-0 on the opening day and with Mark Robins leaving his position as manager. After that early upheaval and the appointment of Chris Powell, things settled down and they turned in some decent performances and were in lower mid table for much of the season. They had a bad run of home form in the final few months and their away form carried them to safety. Too many draws over the season meant they struggled for any consistent run of form.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Chris Powell was very well liked at Charlton and fits the ethos of the family run club such as Huddersfield. He did well to take over in difficult circumstances but his lower mid table finish and lack of ambition for anything higher could harm them in the longer run. If they are to challenge for the play offs he will need to take the shackles off some of their better players. Switched between a 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 - often during games - as the lack of a genuine left wingers often forced Scannell to play as a wing back to balance the side.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Officially Huddersfield have finished 16th, though this is mainly due to the disgraceful decision of the Football League to only award them a single point from he game with Blackpool. They would consider finishing above Leeds a successful season, though they never really looked like finishing anything other than lower mid table and the fans are beginning to get used to the mediocrity.
3 Key Players
Sean Scannell - Scannell showed his usefulness and versatility by often switching between an attacking ring wing role and that of a right wing back, due to Huddersfield's need to balance the formation. He finished the season with 7 assists, though his return of only 4 goals will disappoint him. Usually led the break away on Huddersfield's swift counter attacks and his ability to travel with the ball was one of Huddersfield's biggest threats.
Mark Hudson - Hudson was brought in as a solid stopper to bring experience to what is a young squad. He immediately took over as captain and proved to be an excellent addition to the team, barely missing a game after signing. His organisation qualities and effective communication has seen Smith progress as a player and he provides a good threat on attacking set pieces.
Jacob Butterfield - Butterfield was the makeweight in the transfer of Adam Clayton to Middlesbrough and has had a very good season for his new club. He is very talented with the ball at his feet, though was often played on the left of midfield and his lack of pace saw him come inside to make a midfield 3. Created many chances for the strikers with his through balls and his long range shooting was spectacular, if not always effective.
Standout young player
Harry Bunn - Bunn was not expected to feature much after joining last season and barely getting a taste of first team football but under caretaker manager Mark Lillis he was handed a start and never looked back. A constant danger on the left when cutting in and equally capable of playing with the strikers he chipped in with 9 goals and was badly missed for balance after a hamstring injury cut his season short in March.
Thanks for reading, I'll be publishing the 3rd part soon.
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