It’s approach too early to make severe judgements about groups and gamers within the Championship this season, however we’ll have a go anyway. Listed below are our knee-jerk reactions to the Championship season after the opening two matchdays of 2024-25.
Burnley Already the Crew to Beat
Burnley have put down a marker for the remainder of the Championship already this season. A superb 4-1 away win at Luton City on the opening matchday was adopted by a 5-0 rout of Cardiff Metropolis at residence final weekend. In doing so, Scott Parker’s aspect have develop into the primary group to attain as many as 9 targets of their opening two video games of a second-tier season since Plymouth Argyle in 1962-63 (additionally 9).
It have to be mentioned, there was a component of excellent fortune to Burnley’s objective output, nevertheless. These 9 targets have come from 20 pictures value simply 2.3 anticipated targets (xG), whereas in addition they benefitted from a comical personal objective after a mix-up between Ethan Horvath and Dimitrios Goutas to open the scoring versus Cardiff within the ninth minute on Saturday.
Burnley’s intention now will probably be to duplicate the feats of each Newcastle United in 1992-93 and Fulham in 2000-01, who share the English second-tier document of profitable their opening 11 league video games to begin a season – although admittedly they’ve nonetheless somewhat strategy to go.
Burnley (31.0%) have now moved forward of Leeds (24.9%) because the Opta supercomputer’s favourites for the league title, which is as a lot to do with Leeds’ poor begin as it’s the Clarets’ nice one.
However profitable your opening two video games hardly means you’re set for a title win. Since 2001-02 – the earlier 23 seasons – simply 4 of the eventual champions of the second tier have received their opening two video games of that season: QPR in 2010-11, Bournemouth in 2014-15, Wolves in 2017-18 and Leicester in 2023-24.
Parker’s aspect will come up in opposition to one other group with a 100% document to begin 2024-25 this weekend, as they journey to Sunderland on Saturday. That is then adopted by a difficult derby in opposition to Blackburn the next weekend. We’ll know extra about their promotion credentials after these matches.
Cleverley Provides Watford Followers Hope of a Lengthy-Time period Supervisor
Because the Pozzo household’s arrival at Watford in the summertime of 2012, the Hornets had made 20 completely different (everlasting) managerial modifications earlier than Tom Cleverley was given the prospect earlier this yr.
Cleverley had solely overseen the membership’s under-18 aspect for lower than a season earlier than being given the reins to the first-team in March following the dismissal of Valérien Ismaël. A fan favorite as a participant, the previous England worldwide performed extra video games for Watford than some other membership throughout his profession, and he would possibly simply last more than some other supervisor has on the Hertfordshire membership throughout the Pozzo reign.
The 35-year-old, who’s presently the second-youngest head coach within the Championship after Norwich Metropolis’s Johannes Thorup, navigated a difficult schedule on the finish of 2023-24 to comfortably maintain Watford within the league.
Total, since his first recreation as boss – a 1-0 win over Birmingham Metropolis on 16 March – Cleverley has misplaced simply two of his 11 video games in cost and picked up 17 factors. That tally is simply two factors off one of the best document throughout this era, set by each Bristol Metropolis and Middlesbrough (19). Six of his 11 video games have seen Watford maintain a clear sheet, too, a tally solely bettered by Sunderland (7) since his first recreation in cost.
Was the Opta Supercomputer Proper About Cardiff?
Once we launched the pre-season Opta supercomputer projections for the Championship on the eve of the 2024-25 marketing campaign, it didn’t go down nicely with Cardiff Metropolis supporters.
No group have been relegated extra usually than Cardiff within the 10,000 season simulations by the supercomputer every week earlier than the season started (49.6%), they usually haven’t but proven something to make it change its thoughts. That projected likelihood now stands at 72.3% following defeats in opposition to each Sunderland and Burnley to begin the marketing campaign.
Their final 11 Championship video games have seen them lose eight occasions and win fewer factors than any ever-present membership throughout the 2 seasons, whereas their 28 targets conceded in that interval can also be 9 greater than some other group.
Nevertheless, it’s true that seven targets conceded of their opening two video games may very well be seen as a tad unlucky, contemplating they conceded pictures value simply 2.6 anticipated targets versus Burnley and Sunderland. They’ll hope to alter their fortunes this weekend within the large derby in opposition to Swansea Metropolis.
Jack Clarke is Ripe for a Transfer to the Premier League
There aren’t many gamers as gifted as Sunderland’s Jack Clarke within the Championship. Earlier this month, we picked out Clarke as a participant able to make that step as much as the Premier League, and his opening two league performances of 2024-25 have solely strengthened that declare.
A objective on the opening weekend versus Cardiff was adopted by an help of their 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday afternoon.
Since he moved as much as the Championship with Sunderland by way of a play-off remaining win over Wycombe Wanderers in 2021-22, Clarke has been one of many main attacking gamers within the second tier.
Throughout the final three seasons (2022-23, 2023-24 and this season to this point), the 23-year-old ahead has been concerned in essentially the most non-penalty targets (42) within the Championship, whereas his tally of 160 possibilities created in open play can also be the best. His primary risk comes from carrying the ball, along with his 180 shot involvements (91 pictures, 89 possibilities created) from ball carries additionally a league excessive throughout this era.
After many high-profile outgoings at Elland Street this summer time, he’s been closely linked with a transfer again to Leeds United, whom he left as an 18-year-old in July 2019 for £10 million. In hindsight, that transfer to Tottenham got here too early in his profession.
A transfer to a different Championship membership is perhaps seen as a sideways step, with Sunderland additionally tipped to do nicely this season. Whereas he may wait it out and attempt to win promotion with the Black Cats, there’s each likelihood they is perhaps tempted by a considerable bid from a Premier League membership earlier than the switch window closes on the finish of the month.
Take a look at our new EFL stats hubs for 2024-25, with information on the Championship, League One and League Two. You must also observe our social accounts over on X, Instagram, TikTok and Fb.
