Fun/Games Will They, Won’t They: The Championship’s Nearly Men

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The Background:

The Championship is a funny league. Widely regarded as exciting and competitive in its own right (Every season, the Championship title race is one of the most interesting elements of European football), but all too often it is just thought of as a stepping stone to the Holy Grail of the Premier League.

Stand-out players in the league are often picked up by the bigger sides, either those already in the top flight or those nailed-on for promotion. Even the promoted teams risk losing some of their star men in the January transfer window, with high performers often labelled ‘a Championship player come good.’

However, there is a group of players, who, for whatever reason, have never made it big in the top flight, despite being widely regarded as the cream of the Championship crop. Some have had a go and not lived up to expectations. Some are loyal to their club, hoping that they will make the Promised Land together. And some – well some just can’t be explained.

The Premise:

I have selected five players who I think meet the brief above, and will place each of them with a Premier League side who I think matches their skill set, and then…we see what happens! So without further ado, the five men and their new clubs are…:

• Ross McCormack - Watford
• Jordan Rhodes - Middlesbrough
• Peter Whittingham - Burnley
• Tom Ince - Leicester
• Chris Gunter - Swansea

Here I will take these nearly men and put them in the Premier League for at least a season. Will they thrive? Will they bomb? Time will tell. Follow this thread to see how they all get on.

[BatiGoal]

Looking at it from an AI manager's perspective I'd say Jordan's got the best chances of getting regular football. My money's on him.

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Ross McCormack:

Despite his recent troubles at Aston Villa (and now subsequent move to Nottingham Forest), McCormack has been one of the best strikers in the Championship over the past decade with 133 goals in 368 games or just better than one in three. The reason I’ve put him with Watford is that the Hornets have struggled for goals this season, with last year’s key players Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo not firing, so much so that they have just bought two more strikers in M’Baye Niang and Mauro Zarate. Perhaps if they had McCormack, they wouldn’t have needed to…let’s see.

An excellent finisher with good stamina, leadership and teamwork, his strength and decision making are close behind. Certainly good enough for the top flight in my humble opinion.

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Jordan Rhodes:

Rhodes is something of an anomaly on this list, considering he was playing for a Premier League team as recently as last week. After starting his career with Ipswich in the second tier, he moved to Huddersfield in League One, forging a goal record better than one every two games. A move to Championship Blackburn followed, and for the next four years it seemed that he was moving on in every transfer window. He finally moved to Championship rivals Middlesbrough a year ago, and despite their promotion, he failed to settle on Teeside and has dropped back to the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday. Maybe he can make a top-flight success of himself in-game?

A solid striker, with good stamina and finishing. He isn't the quickest, but his movement and aerial ability are both solid enough. Does he have the goods to make it?

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Peter Whittingham:

I won’t lie – Whittingham nearly didn’t make this list due to combination of his age (32) and the fact he has spent some time in the Premier League already – however 88 top flight appearances in six seasons compared to 368 Championship appearances in nearly 12 seasons and the fact he is only just 32 mean he scrapes in. I’ve chosen Burnley as they and Whittingham seem to suit – hardworking and gritty, but with a little bit of flair when needed. Does he have it left in him to make a Premier League success of himself?

A creative central midfielder - strongest in technique, creativity and decision making, his crossing is also decent for someone who can play in the centre.

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Tom Ince:

Ince was the hardest player for me to place with a club. I think he has the sort of skills that most Premier League clubs would like to have in their ranks, but finding where he would actually fit in is a different matter. I’ve plumped for the champions Leicester, who have lost both Nathan Dyer and Jeff Schlupp from their title winning team, and who haven’t seen the best of Riyad Mahrez this season. Ince has 15 fairly disappointing Premier League games under his belt from spells at Crystal Palace and Hull, but after four years down in the Championship, he should be ready for another crack at the big time.

Another creative player, Ince excels at dribbling, with his crossing, shooting, technique and movement not far behind. He isn't a great team player and isn't the strongest, but he makes up for that.

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Chris Gunter:

You may be surprised to see Chris Gunter on this list, but considering he has played nearly 340 Championship games, has 77 international caps and is still only 27, I think he more than deserves a place. After bursting onto the scene with Cardiff, he earned a move to Tottenham aged only 18. He failed to make the breakthrough at Spurs and moved back to the second division with Nottingham Forest, and then Reading, establishing himself as a regular at both. A key member of the Wales side which impressed so well at the 2016 European Championships, Gunter has been linked with many sides, but none more than Swansea. Let’s see what would happen if he did return to Wales.

Solid across the board - works well in a team and has  great engine. Enough to see him slot in to a side in my view.

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End of Season One:

So, how did our nearly men get on? As we can see, they have all survived, with none of their teams being relegated:

So how did they do individually? Let's work our way down the league:

Spoiler

So, Ince's stats shoot right up. His dribbling is up by four, while crossing, shooting, decisions and movement have all taken a big leap. However, that hasn't translated into performances, as Ince took part in 11 league games with a fairly poor rating of 6.63. His 6 cup performances aren't much better, although he does do well in his one international performance. Maybe next season will be better - if he stays.

Spoiler

Helping Swansea to an impressive eighth place is Chris Gunter. His attributes don't change too much, with only his tackling and decision making going up, and his performances indicate he isn't a key player for the Swans. An average rating of 6.00 dead in the league and the cup, compared to 7.00 for Wales, indicate he is more of a country than a club player.

Spoiler

Here's a man with some more success - Jordan Rhodes has an impressive 18 goals and four assists in 34 league games, meaning that he scores more than one every two games and is also a key player for Boro. His shooting has improved by one, while creativity, dribbling and decisions are up, meaning he is a lethal forward. His average rating is still surprisingly low, but he now has international caps to his name, and I can't see the Teesiders letting him go soon.

Spoiler

Here's a man who has had a poor season. Just eight appearances overall, with no goals in any of them, and a total average rating of 6.28 indicate that maybe the Premier League isn't for McCormack. Most of his stats are actually in decline, including crossing, dribbling, passing and shooting, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him move on in the post-season.

Spoiler

Maybe I was right initially - it's too late for Whittingham. While he's made a respectable 18 league appearances, his average rating is 6.00 and not at all good enough. His stats are also in decline and he is no longer good enough, in my opinion, for this division. But will the AI of Burnley think the same?

 

[BatiGoal]

On 1/2/2560 at 23:34, BatiGoal said:

Looking at it from an AI manager's perspective I'd say Jordan's got the best chances of getting regular football. My money's on him.

You may as well mention I know what I'm talking about

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2 hours ago, BatiGoal said:

You may as well mention I know what I'm talking about

Looks like you do mate! Although it's not over yet...

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Season Two:

So, another season under our belt - and it looks like we could be set to lose at least one of our stars from the experiment...

That's right, both Jordan Rhodes and Ross McCormack have been relegated, so unless they get a transfer, they are OUT of the experiment. You'll also notice Leicester aren't featured - while they finished in a respectable eighth position, Tom Ince spent the season on loan, bizarrely, at Dundee, and cannot be included. So, starting with the highest finish, here we go:

Spoiler

Another fairly disappointing season for Gunter, with relatively few appearances made, although his overall form is better than that of the previous season. While he's suffered some injuries, he just can't displace Kyle Naughton even when fit. Somewhat surprisingly, considering the amount of games played, his stats have increased - such as tackling, teamwork and stamina - and he seems happy enough in Wales. Another Premier League season awaits.

Spoiler

It's clear to see that Whittingham is in decline - a lack of appearances, and the few he has made have been mainly off the bench, while his league form is quite frankly poor. His stats are in freefall and if he stays with the Clarets, I just don't see him featuring much, if at all.

Spoiler

Another poor season for McCormack, although he has featured in two more games and scored two more goals than last season. His form is poor and he is on the transfer list, by request. I can't see him getting a move back to the big-time from relegated Watford, so I think we are saying goodbye to the Scotsman.

Spoiler

Rhodes is another on the transfer list by request, but he wants a move to a bigger club and I can see him getting it. His goals per game ratio has dropped from 1 in 2 to nearly 1 in 3, but his form is still good and his stats are still worth a Premier League club taking a punt on. I expect to see him back!

 

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Season three:

The end of season three, and to my surprise Jordan Rhodes did not come back to the Premier League, meaning we are left with three candidates.

So all three survive again, did they perform well personally? Let's see:

 

Spoiler

After a highly productive loan at Dundee last season (which doesn't count for this experiment!), Ince has returned to the Premier League with distinctly average results. Playing in less than a third of the team's league matches, and with a relatively poor rating, you have to wonder why considering his stats. Maybe next season will be better?

Spoiler

The old man of the experiment survives another season! Just six total appearances for Whittingham, and while he impressed during them, there really isn't much to go on here. At 34, his time must nearly be up. Surely?

Spoiler

Gunter's Swansea retained their top flight status by the skin of their teeth, but he hasn't had much to do with it! A healthy 7.5 rating in the league, accompanied by solid cup performances and an average showing in his internationals, it seems to me that Gunter is nothing more than a successful squad man for the Swans.