New year is the time to round things up and now, on more than a half season, top rated players in Coca Cola Championship will best illustrate everything achieved so far in the season. So, just like we did for the Premier League, we are announcing the best 11 for the best second league in the world for the this season.
Keeper: Radek Cerny (QPR)
He may not be the one to concede least goals (it was close) but his performances are most consistent and he looks the safest of all his colleagues. The reason more for choosing him is the fact this is his first season in the Championship since he has arrived from Slavia Prague this august and is without much experience in the “hell”. He is the reason why former irreplaceable Hoops’ goalie Lee Camp has ended up on the loan to Nottinghma Forest. Also, he played every single game so far. His colleague Marcus Hahnemann (Reading), who was my second pick, is injured for three rounds now, but because of Reading’s better defense, he has less work to do than Cerny. Maik Taylor (Birmingham), Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United) and the “beast” Brian Jensen (Burnley) have also been in the tight competition.
Right-back: Kevin Foley (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Stats say he is the second most valuable defender in the league, excellent on the right wing and he has also scored one goal. Irreplaceable in Ireland national team with Giovanni Trapatoni, this lad is in his best years (24). We will certainly hear a lot of great news about him in the future. Second pick for this position would’ve been the excellent Tony McMahon if only Middlesborough hadn’t brought him back from loan from Wednesday. But now, second pick for this slot is old Premier League chap, Liam Rosenior (Reading), and also Nicky Hunt (Birmingham – Bolton) who had to come on St Andrews because of the excellent Steinsson, who took his place in his home club Bolton.
Left-back: Daniel Fox (Coventry City)
Another young hope, only 22 years old. Although his team is not flying high this season, Fox has twice been the player of the week, he has excellent statistics and he also scored three goals in three straight rounds at the end of November and at the beginning of December. Fox is the product of Everton’s youth academy, he has been the member of Sky-Blues since January 2008 where he had come after three excellent seasons spent at Walsall in League One. First replacement for him: great Jordan Stewart (Derby) our old acquaintance from Watford’s best days, while Callum Davidson (Preston) was also in the tight competition.
Center-back: Michael Mancienne (Walwerhampton Wanderers)
What new can we say about the boy who fought his place in the national team with Fabio Capello while playing in the second league? His home club is Chelsea, he spent his earlier seasons wearing QPR shirt and has been with the Wolves since the end of October. His loan with Wolves has been extended until the end of January, but since the boy is on the roll, we wouldn’t be surprised if Chelsea called him back. First replacement: Damion Stewart (QPR), Loftus Road favorite for several seasons now, is irreplaceable in defense with many managers while he also scored three goals this season.
Center-back: Roger Johnson (Cardiff City)
Thanks to this boy, Cardiff’s defense is rock solid although the strongest link in it last season, experienced Glen Loovens went to a sudden move to Celtic at the beginning of the season. Johnson is Ninian Park’s pet and surely the next Blue Birds’ skipper also in his best vintage years (25). As the first replacement for him I suggest experienced (37 years) Graham Alexander (Burnley) who is according to stats the best defender in the league. “Alexander the Great” is having his second youth wearing a shirt of excellent club from Lancashire.
Right midfielder: Michael Kightly (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
The fiercest competition was right for this slot because Chris Eagles (Burnley) is nothing less of a hell of a player than him. Still, Kightly is with a slightly better perspective, a year younger scored two goals more, plays in the better team and is expected to make a career in a big club. This exactly is the fact Eagles failed to use in his Man Utd days. Jimmy Kebe (Reading) and Jamall Campbell Ryce (Barnsley) were also excellent in this position.
Left midfielder: Stephen Hunt (Reading)
According to MVP index, Reading’s power engine and our old acquaintance from Premier League is the best midfielder in the league. He continues his merciless fight in Royal shirt, but we will always remember him as the man who had almost killed Peter Cech. Ross Wallace (Preston-Sunderland), Lee Cook (QPR), Stephen Quinn (Sheffield Utd) i Jordi Gomez (Swansea) were all next in line for this slot.
Central midfielder: Lee Carsley (Birmingham City)
Everyone wondered what had happened to this man when he wanted to trade his Everton first team place for second league outfit Birmingham. Well, he was dissatisfied with Everton’s new offer, Birmingham is his home town etc. It didn’t stop him from putting on brave, hearty, positive and energetic performances in another blue shirt. Huge power engine. First replacement Owen Garvan Ipswich) second league’s Steven Gerrard. Whenever I look at him I get the impression there is some family relationship involved. Competition for this place: Karl Henry (Wolves) i Nick Carle (Crystal Palace), and would’ve been the old Gary Speed (Sheffield United) hadn’t he been injured with an uncertain prognosis about the recovery.
Central midfielder: Brian Howard (Sheffield United)
He had a lot of problems, opened the season in Barnsley, but hadn’t play because they wanted to sell him. Finally, he ended being loaned to Blades where, after the slight period of fitting in, he started playing great. It is a real joy to look his style and attitude on the pitch. He is the genuine playmaker and future leader of this team. He may not have the best of stats, but he is definitely the right choice for the future. Right behind him there is also the old chap from Premier League Nigel Quashie (Birmingham-West Ham), then Tommy Smith (Watford), Ben Watson (Crystal Palace), while Ferrier Bode (Swansea) would’ve definitely been the first pick hadn’t he suffered a harsh ligaments injury that will put him on the sidelines until the end of the season.
Striker: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wovlerhampton Wanderers)
What is there to be said about this young man that we hadn’t previously mentioned. Agility, skills, speed, future… Manchester United have made a huge mistake letting him go, while the Wolves will make a huge profit out of him both on the pitch and of the sale. He has scored 14 goals by now and is the second scorer in the league. First after him is the old Kevin Phillips (Birmingham). It is enough to say he is the team’s first choice among the strikers such as James McFadden, Marcus Bent and Cameron Jerome, scoring 11 golas already. Also, another youngster, Martin Paterson (Burnley) and another veteran James Beattie (Sheffield United) are close behind.
Striker: Kevin Doyle (Reading)
this regular Irish national team member hadn’t left the club despite the relegation to Champinship and he still keeps netting. He is the reliable asset for any coach. He is the top scorer in the league for now with 16 goals so far and his excellent partnership with Noel Hunt, Stephen Hunt’s brother is highly prolific. Noel Hunt is even competing for the best rookie in the league. Doyle’s first replacement is definitely Chris Iwelumo (Wolves) who is league’s third top striker and Ebank-Blake’s excellent partner. Close behind them are lined Dexter Blackstock (QPR), Ross McCormack (Cardiff) and Jason Scotland (Swansea). Also, Heidar Helguson (QPR – Bolton) who is still “fresh” in the Championship since he has recently come from Bolton on loan is showing a huge quality since he scored 3 goals on 4 games already.
We will also specially mention hard injured but extra-talented striker Ian Hume (Barnsley) who is this season’s biggest jinx since he had earned the skull fracture in a duel with Chris Morgan, and could’ve been on this list. We wish you quick recovery Ian, hope you will be back on the pitch…
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