Triple Threat

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CHAMPIONSHIP

There is a very talented and healthy mix of homegrown and foreign managers in the Championship, many of whom would flourish in the Premier League, and over 2016-17 the professionalism, consistency and quality of football has been as good as I can remember in this league.

This season predictability was the winner as the top four remained pretty constant and no one was overly surprised at the three clubs to be relegated. Teamwork shone through rather than individual stars, so managers and club owners took centre stage.

Of the relegated Premier League teams, Newcastle’s title win was met with a collective shrug by the rest of the league but Rafa Benítez’s quiet dignity in completing the job belies the question of why Mike Ashley seems so adept at smashing the Championship yet so inept in the Premier League.

QPR boss Ian Holloway was heard asking a Norwich fan “how on earth haven’t you been promoted?” as the Canaries stylishly thrashed his team 4-0 at Carrow Road on the last day of the season, a not uncommon question asked by myself and fellow fans across Norfolk. Lack of any structure to support the inexperienced and eventually sacked Alex Neil, and more goals conceded than anyone except Forest and last placed Rotherham, is the answer.