Fulham’s 1-0 Victory Over Swansea And Their 3rd Position Shows Just How Poor The Championship Really Is

My pre-season prediction of West Brom and Leeds for auto-promotion seem to be heading in the right direction.

A normal stutter from Leeds should have witnessed the bunch of sides below them when the gap in points dropped, with Fulham actually in a position to take second spot above them.

It wasn’t to be, as the teams chasing the leading two all threw wobblies at the same time. I am astonished how Fulham have still managed to hang on to third place, with some very sloppy performances. With their remaining fixtures left, I feel that they will be lucky to end in the top six, however, nerves have taken hold of many of the rest of the chasing pack too.

Out of the all the Championship teams this season, West Brom seem the most likely to stand any chance of holding their place in the Premier League next year, although I predict it will be a struggle. Leeds may find it tough to survive and will be in the relegation dogfight. Whoever makes it in the
Play-Offs will also struggle.

All in all, the Championship is more exciting than the Premier League as any team can beat any other team. Who has the best manager often determines the sides that get promoted. I do not believe that Scott Parker, in his first full season with Fulham, is the right boss to get the side back in the top level.

West Brom and Leeds, in my opinion, have the Championship’s best managers this season. That is why they should get automatic promotion. The third-place could be any of the chasing sides. Who holds their nerve the most, will get the final place.

Fulham would do better to remain in the Championship for at least another season. Whether we lose our top players and have to rebuild once again, is something we will address if and when it happens. The question mark would be if the Khan’s want to give their support to Scotty for another bash or bring in a proven manager with Premier League experience. If that was to happen, I would love to see Parker kept at the Cottage to work alongside the new gaffer, to gain some more vital experience.

When should Fulham get promoted?

I think we will all know when our team looks like a side capable of holding their own in the Premier League, managed by someone that knows what it takes to keep a team mid-table, and not fighting relegation once again from day one.

Although all Fulham fans want success and playing regularly in England’s top division against the elite teams is an exciting thought, surely we never want another season like the last one, when at times we looked a push-over. Let’s get back there when we build a squad and obtain the services of a manager the way Wolves have done.

For the first time since the 1960s when I first became a Fulham supporter, I would rather they did lose a few of the next matches and finish out of the Play=Off positions. It would save a lot of stress for me, the players and fans alike watching our team struggle to get to Wembley, as they do not seem ready this time around.

If we did end up getting promoted, how would things alter following our last showing? You cannot buy a new team overnight. You need an experienced manager on board and tactics that would work with the players you have. Quite honestly, would you not prefer another promotion fight next season, rather than another relegation scrap?

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