Parts One & Two 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.
Ipswich Town
Summary of the season
At the start of the season a local newspaper did a poll and as many Ipswich fans thought they would be relegated as those that thought they would finish in the top 6. The fact they were still competing for an automatic promotion spot until March gives an indication of the kind of miracle Mick McCarthy managed to work. This is all the more amazing given that probably their most gifted and influential player David McGoldrick, barely played in 2015 due to a nagging thigh injury. They had the divisions top scorer in Darryl Murphy and though their style of football isn't to everybody's taste it is very effective and plays well to their strengths. Only a complete football snob would deny that Ipswich are a good side and they came close to the play off final, as their game with Norwich was firmly in the balance until Berra's red card.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Mick McCarthy has spent very little and managed to forge a team based on playing to their strengths and a very high level of workrate and intensity. The team is very much crafted in his image and every player works hard to ensure they do their job in as good a manner as possible. They were helped by a standout season from Murphy, something which probably wasn't foreseen given his previous record but McCarthy has consistently got the best from the sum of the parts of his team. They almost exclusively stuck to 4-4-2, though they did dabble with 4-3-3 for a short spell during the season and notably in the play offs.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Ipswich's 6th place finish was more than acceptable given their angst at the start of the season about where they would finish. While the club were confident most people had them pegged as a steady mid table team and in some respects they were the surprise package, although this was lost a little bit given Brentford and Bournemouth's achievements. They were unlucky in the play offs and were very evenly matched with Norwich, a game which probably suited them more than their opponents, until they were reduced to 10 men.
3 Key Players
Darryl Murphy - Murphy had not particularly excelled in his career to date, so to finish as the top scorer in a very competitive race for the divisions Golden Boot shows the impact he had this season. Even more surprising given the number of different strike partners he has had, with McGoldrick and Sears being the main two but numerous others playing alongside him at points throughout the campaign. His height and physical power make him ideal for the way Ipswich play but he is very capable of running in behind and has a good turn of pace which often catches defenders out.
Christophe Berra - For me, the best defender in the division this season and it was such a shame what happened in the 2nd leg of the play off semi final where he instinctively stuck out an arm on the goal line and was sent off, changing the game. His performances have been outstanding all year, a model of consistency and able to play as an aggressive man marker and challenge for he ball or more astutely cover in behind Smith and read the game, he was a huge part of why Ipswich finished in the top 6.
Cole Skuse - Often maligned and playing in one of the 2 positions which rarely get any credit, defensive midfield (the other being the target man striker), Skuse was the protective shield needed in front of the Ipswich defence which allowed the rest of the side to go out and play. Often sitting deep and letting the other midfielders race forward to support the front men, he would position himself excellently to cut out any attacks. His lack of goals and some wayward passing were his only faults as he started the season as one of the crowds boo boys but finished gaining heaps of praise.
Standout young player
Teddy Bishop - A relatively easy choice as Teddy Bishop went from playing for the Under 18's to an influential first team regular. Excellent on the ball and calm in possession he was one of the few players in the Ipswich team able to put their foot on the ball and pick a man out with vision and accuracy. He had to increase his stamina to be able to fit into the high intensity game played by Ipswich but by the end of the season he looked every bit the seasoned pro.
Leeds United
Summary of the season
A season largely to forget for Leeds which saw them have 5 managers in the space of a year, lurch from one PR disaster to the next and at the end of the season see the fans turn on owner Massimo Cellino. The controversial Italian had started on the wrong foot anyway but the appointment of Dave Hockaday as manager was nothing short of laughable and he lasted 6 games. Redfearn took over as caretaker manager and moved them up the table but was passed over for Rapid Wien coach Darko Milanic - who also only lasted 6 games. Redfearn was put back in charge but disagreements over transfers, the banning of Cellino for a tax conviction in Italy and the abrupt sacking of assistant manager Steve Thompson did everything to destabilise the club and send them falling down the table at the end of the season after it looked like they would finish in the top half. Redfearn was replaced at the end of the year, with Uwe Rosler taking charge. While he is a good manager it remains to be seen how long he lasts.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
With so many managers over the course of the season I will just focus on Neil Redfearn who did an excellent job in very tough circumstances. At one point Leeds could have been in with a shout of the play offs, though they never truly came close enough to be really in the running but they were comfortable after spending the early part of the season in the relegation zone. After the sacking of Thompson Leeds went on a 6 game losing streak and Redfearn constantly seemed to not know what was happening behind the scenes which left him very vulnerable. He leaves with his head held high and should have no problem finding another role. He favoured a 4-5-1, with young exciting talent given plenty of chances under him.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
From the situation they were in at the start of the season, 15th is probably about right for Leeds. However Cellino thinks they should be contending promotion, but given the threadbare squad and sometimes bizarre signings, mostly from Serie B, they actually did well to not become embroiled in a relegation scrap. The fans are demanding and will see lower mid table mediocrity as unacceptable.
3 Key Players
Marco Silvestri - One of the few shining lights to come out of the transfers from Italy and will surely be sought after by many teams after often keeping Leeds in the game for long spells. One particular match that stands out was the away win at Middlesbrough when he was a one man barricade to prevent the home side equalising. A good shot stopper, his command of his box was sometimes lacking and forced the defence to drop too deep but this is one of very few faults he has.
Alex Mowatt - Mowatt grew in stature after his breakout season last year, his culture on the ball and vision in being able to play killer balls into the strikers was often key for Leeds attacks. He is excellent on set pieces and of his 9 goals many came from direct free kicks. He has already been looked at by clubs in a higher division and it could be tough for Leeds to hang on to him this summer.
Sol Bamba - Bamba arrived in January from Palermo and already had experience of the division having played for Leicester. He settled in very well and his bravery and willingness to tackle and block was key in Leeds good run at the turn of the year. Despite his ungainly stature and often clumsy nature he is a solid no nonsense defender. One of the minor gripes is that he didn't score more goals as he is a huge threat on set pieces with his aerial power.
Standout young player
Lewis Cook - By head and shoulders the most surprising and promising thing was the emergence of Cook. At just 17 years old he was holding down a first team place and was one of the first names on the team sheet for much of the season. He is very composed on the ball for one so young and though he plays in a deeper role to Mowatt he is capable of playing forward with the ball. Already watched by several Premier League clubs, he signed a new contract in May but the sacking of Redfearn may make him regret his decision.
Middlesbrough
Summary of the season
Middlesbrough grew in strength as the season went on and were constantly in the top 6 for most of the campaign. This was mainly down to the new style played by Aitor Karanka who has turned them from an outfit with a lot of potential to a solid, resilient unit who conceded the least goals in the Championship but also play a possession based game which is capable of opening up any defence in the league. With some astute loan signings, helped in no small part by his relationship with Jose Maurinho, Middlesbrough just fell short and this could be blamed on a very tough run in which saw them face 6 of their rivals for promotion in the final 10 games. Though they did well in these they ended up in the play offs where they will be confident of taking on a Norwich side and returning to the big time.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Karanka has already achieved what none of his predecessors could do and got Middlesbrough into the play offs. They have been a side which has flattered to deceive in recent years and though they have always been well funded they have always fallen short. While the job is far from done currently they have their best opportunity since falling out of the Premier League in 2009. His approach work and eye for detail before every game is above the normal levels and he has implemented a passing style which has won many admirers. He is surely destined to manage in the top flight in England or Spain, whether it's with Middlesbrough only time will tell. Very rarely moves away from the 4-2-3-1, often playing players out of position in order to keep the shape.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
While some Middlesbrough fans will be disappointed at only finishing 4th, having been top with 3 games to go after beating Norwich away, the top end of the division was very competitive and key defeats to Bournemouth and Watford in their run in proved to be too much. It will only be clear whether 4th was good enough after Monday's play off final but they have certainly had a good season and if they don't go up will be on of the favourites next year.
3 Key Players
Grant Leadbitter - A key component in Middlesbrough's midfield, the captain had a stellar season, particularly in the 1st half when he not only anchored a very capable midfield but also chipped in with 11 goals, though the last of these was scored in January. His passing range is excellent and his composure on the ball was needed in a relatively young team. Along with Clayton he often allowed the front 4 to play without fear as they always had the reliable figure of Leadbitter behind them.
George Friend - With Adomah a regular on the right side of midfield but a lot of changing on the left Middlesbrough could have been in danger of being lop sided, but the quality of George Friend meant this was barely noticed. In the latter part of the season Tomlin played on the left side but he almost always came infield, allowing plenty of space for Friend to exploit on the overlap. He showed excellent defensive qualities as well, with his pace and ability to recover and stop the crosses coming in a key reason why Middlesbrough conceded so few goals.
Patrick Bamford - Bamford was voted the player of the year in the Championship, something I disagree with. Despite this, he is clearly a very talented player and was key in Middlesbrough's play. With the team only conceding 37 goals, one was often enough to take all 3 points and with Bamford scoring 17 goals - a large majority of these single goals which proved to be game winners - he was a massive weapon in Middlesbrough's arsenal. He does lack some skills and had a tendency to drift badly out of games when he didn't see the ball, struggled to hold the play and often became frustrated but he has the flair to win a game on his own at times.
Standout young player
Ben Gibson - Gibson was one of the most impressive young players in the division and his positional awareness for such a young player is outstanding. He made the central defensive position his own after battling with Omeruo for the early part of the season and was deservedly called into the England U21 squad for the European Championships. He is able to play as the covering defender, win vital aerial duels and be more aggressive in his challenges to prevent the opposition playing into the strikers.
Millwall
Summary of the season
Millwall started the season reasonably well but it ended with managerial changes and relegation. With 3 wins and a draw from their first 6 games Millwall were in a very safe position but the early table was a huge false dawn and they fell into a rut of defeats, though they never gave up and showed some excellent fighting spirit with some outstanding comebacks. 3-3 after being 3-0 to Wolves and 2-2 with 10 men after being 2-0 down against Blackburn were amongst the highlights but their biggest failing was their home form as they failed to win a game at the Den between late October and early April. Ian Holloway paid the price for his constant tinkering and was sacked and though Neil Harris failed to save them from the drop he at least showed signs of instilling the traditional Millwall spirit and has been appointed on a permanent basis for next season.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
It seems only fair to dedicate most of this section to Ian Holloway. Always good for a soundbite but seriously lacking in any kind of tactical nous, his usual trick seems to be hope Plan A works and if not throw up to 5 strikers on the pitch to try and rescue the game. Some utterly baffling decisions such as to throw a youth team player into a vital game without them having featured in the squad at all, sub them at half time and then not see them again for 3 months when he'd do the same thing became the norm, as did constantly changing the side. He attempted to fix things by ditching half the squad in January - most of which were his signings - and bringing in a lot of new players but this didn't work and Neil Harris had to pick up the pieces. He favoured 4-2-3-1, though did sometimes go with a flat 4-4-2. Harris showed signs of improvement and at least got them playing in a more disciplined way though he couldn't save them from relegation.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Millwall finished 22nd and in all honesty had it not been for Rotherham's points deduction they would have suffered the drop well before the final midweek of the season. A disastrous campaign for much of the year, they fans became resigned to the drop well before it was confirmed and only the slight hope of Holloway's sacking and Harris' appointment lifted spirits. They will rebuild and will be one of the stronger teams in League One next year but may find it tough to bounce back at the first attempt.
3 Key Players
Shaun Williams - Williams is one of the few Millwall players who could accurately and carefully pick a pass and his role playing in front of the back 4 was one which was necessary due to the prolonged injury to Nicky Bailey. Versatile and also capable of playing anywhere across the back line, Williams has an excellent free kick on him though by scoring only 2 goals this is an area he needs to improve. An injury ruled him out of the last few games and this was one of the final nails in Millwall's coffin.
Lee Gregory - Gregory faced a difficult start to life at Millwall having made the jump from the Conference with Halifax last season. It was big step and one he struggled to handle until he grabbed his first goal against Birmingham at the end of September but he only registered 4 goals in 18 games before Christmas. He grew into the role he needed to play much more after this and after fighting with Fuller for a starting spot he made it his own for the last few months. Although the goals didn't exactly flow for him he became a key part of the team as he has the pace to run the channels but can also hold the ball and he should have a successful season in 2015/16.
Jos Hooiveld - Hooiveld arrived in January having spent the first part of the season not featuring much for Norwich where he was on loan from Southampton. He seemed much more at home at Millwall and his debut against Reading marked the start of 7 points from 4 games for Millwall. His composure and leadership style was key in helping a leaky defence to become tighter and his aerial ability was useful in both boxes. He grabbed the late winner against Charlton in April which finally ended their home drought and had he not been injured for the final few games of the season they may have snatched the points they needed to put pressure on Rotherham.
Standout young player
Sid Nelson - Nelson was very highly rated in pre-season and fancied to make the jump to the first team but a broken hand forced him to wait until the turn of the year to make the squad on a regular basis. He was sent off on only his 4th appearance in the league but came back stronger and alongside Hooiveld played a part in their desperate battle against the drop. He is an old school defender but also capable of playing out with the ball at his feet and his physique will stand him in good stead for the rigours of League One.
Norwich City
Summary of the season
Norwich were many people's pre-season favourites to go up and their early form seemed to justify this. They started the season with 7 wins from their first 9 games and led the table for spells but rookie manager Neil Adams never seemed fully confident and after this they went on an awful run of just 1 win in 10 games. This ultimately led to them being well outside the play offs and struggling and though their form did pick up a little just before Christmas the loss to Preston in the FA Cup ultimately forced their hand and Adams stepped aside. Very few people had heard of Alex Neil and he was a surprise choice but turned into an inspired appointment as Norwich won 15 of the 22 league games he was in charge for and only missed out on an automatic spot, mainly due to the home defeat to Middlesbrough in late April. They face the same team in the play offs after overcoming local rivals Ipswich and will be confident they can bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Alex Neil has proven himself to be a very astute and forward thinking manager. He prefers Norwich to pass the ball and control the tempo of games but is not averse to playing a more direct style when needed and in Cameron Jerome they have an excellent outlet up front. He is confident in his ability and seems to have the midas touch as his record at both Hamilton and Norwich show so far. He rarely rotated the side, preferring to stick with a core group of players and favoured a 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1 formation. One of the brightest up and coming managers and should be one of the favourites for the manger of the year award (although Eddie Howe will probably win)
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Norwich's 3rd place finish did have a tinge of disappointment around it. They had come from outside the play offs in January to put together a phenomenal run and almost catch the top 2 until a defeat to Middlesbrough knocked them out of the favourites role. Had they won that game they would almost certainly have take one of the top 2 spots, so the fans have a slight right to be disappointed . They will go into the play off final with renewed confidence having beaten Ipswich for a 3rd time this season and look to avenge matters against Middlesbrough, but it remains to be seen whether the season is seen as successful if they don't go up.
3 Key Players
Russell Martin - It's quite hard to pick just 3 players from a very talented Norwich team but the clear leader at the back was captain Russell Martin. Adaptable enough to switch between right back and centre back in the early part of the season. He finished the campaign playing every minute of all but 1 match and led the back line in a comfortable manner, capable of being the aggressor in defence or covering behind and allowing Basing to challenge as their partnership developed well in the latter stages of the campaign.
Bradley Johnson - Johnson played a varied role and though the first half of the season was good, his 2nd half was outstanding as he found a new lease of life under Alex Neil to finish the campaign with 15 goals. His long range shooting was excellent but so were his late runs into the box which were very tough to track, especially when he often came from a wide left position inside the full back and on the blind side of the central defender. He is capable of being a combative midfielder and with Olsson always looking to overlap it allowed him to come inside without Norwich losing their width.
Cameron Jerome - Jerome is key to the way Norwich play as his all round style allowed him to play the different kinds of role needed for the way Alex Neil likes to play. Strong and able to play comfortably with his back to goal, you only need to look at the way he shrugged off Tommy Smith to lay on the opening goal in the 1st leg of the play off to see how able he is to hold the ball. He also possesses a very good turn of pace and though he sometimes lacks a clinical edge to his finishing he still topped Norwich's scoring charts with 19 goals.
Standout young player
Nathan Redmond - Norwich played a very experienced team throughout the season, with Redmond being the only player under 23 to get significant minutes on the pitch. In fact the other players under 23 played a combined total of 30 minutes across the whole season - this shows how much Neil decided to go with experience. Redmond was the exception to this and though he flitted in and out of the team in stages he is a very exciting winger and capable of beating his man with pace, skill or directness. He can use either foot, so is capable of going both ways and the only thing which lets him down slightly is his lack of awareness at times as he could look up and find a team mate in a better position instead of shooting. Still, he gained 13 assists so is clearly capable of setting up chances as well as his return of 5 goals.
Nottingham Forest
Summary of the season
Forest suffered a bitterly disappointing season after things began so brightly. Up until the end of September they were top of the league and under fans favourite Stuart Pearce everything looked to be positive. However, an awful run of form which saw them win just 3 out of 21 games left them struggling badly and without a hope of even making the play offs. Pearce had been given a lot more grace than most managers would have got in the same situation due to his links to the club but patience wore thin and Dougie Freedman took over. He began very well and Forest even looked like they may just challenge for the top 6 but 1 win in 10 to end the season saw them once again end on a sour note.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Both managers had up and down spells, Pearce is an excellent motivator and it's no lie to say that every single Forest fan wanted him to succeed. Unfortunately when things got tough he struggled to turn them around and even a win away at local rivals Derby only bought him a little more time. Freedman managed to give the team a confidence boost and propel them back up the table as he stuck to the basics and made them a little more tricky to beat. However, his one dimensional tactics and longer style came unstuck as the season progressed and Forest went back into a rut. Freedman rarely strayed from a 4-2-3-1.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Forest's mid-table finishing position was a huge disappointment to a club which had spent that much they had been forced into a Financial Fair Play imposed transfer ban midway through the season. Spending big on Britt Assombalonga and Michail Antonio they should have been competitive throughout the season as a team packed with experience failed to consistently challenge at the right end. Though the fans were very patient they have a right to be angry that the team fell away so badly and with Darlow and Lascelles both leaving to return to parent club Newcastle and question marks over the fitness of Reid, Cohen and Assombalonga they could struggle again next year.
3 Key Players
Michail Antonio - Antonio showed glimpses of his true potential at Sheffield Wednesday but never managed to produce it on a consistent basis so both sides seemed happy with the deal which took him to Forest for almost £2m at the start of the season. It turned out to be an inspired move on Forests part as he became the pivotal player in the squad. Often playing from the left, he had an excellent knack of arriving on the back post in the early weeks of the season to chip in with several goals but as the season wore on he would pick the ball up deeper and drive at the defence. His pace and power are difficult to stop although doesn't always look in full control of the ball but scored some fantastic goals to lift Forests flagging spirits.
Karl Darlow - Darlow has been Forest's first choice goalkeeper for a number of season's now and it was somewhat of a shock that he was sold to Newcastle in the early weeks along with Jamaal Lascelles. Allowed to remain on loan for the season, he continued to develop and grow in confidence. There are no doubts about his shot stopping qualities but he improved his aerial ability and command of the box during the season and he will be badly missed next season with Freedman's first task to secure a new keeper.
Britt Assombalonga - Assombalonga settled into life in a higher division straight away after his £5.5 million move from Peterborough. He was always amongst the goals and regularly the focal point for Forest's attacks. His pace allowed him to play on the shoulder of the back line but his height and strength meant he was also a feasible target for more direct balls from the back. He had recorded a very good return of 15 goals from 27 starts before a terrible knee injury suffered in March means he will be out for around 12 months and is likely to miss the majority of next season. With Reid also doubtful to ever return from a persistent groin problem and Cohen facing a recovery from a 3rd ACL operation the loss of another key player is a huge blow to Forest.
Standout young player
Ben Osborn - Osborn had been around the squad for spells last season, showing good vision on the ball and a very capable left foot. He was in and out of the team for most of the 1st half of this season but almost became a hero overnight with his 90th minute winner at Derby. He had proven himself very capable before this, playing as part of a central midfield 2 or 3 or playing a wider left sided role, though not a true winger. He will be looking to nail down a regular starting spot next season and he has the talent to play at a higher level.
I'll be publishing the 4th and final part of my Championship review soon.
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