With Birmingham doing well in Europe, does this reflect well on the strength and quality of the teams in the Championship, and could city also hold their own in such company?
I think it reflects well on Birmingham and worrying for the rest of us when they play their games in hand.
BOTH. i dont see Birmingham as anything that special really. also, apart from the next international break the Blues are playing 2 games a week upto and incl. when they come to the KC. they have a small-ish squad and if they get a few injuries or suspensions they are in trouble. i expect a fresher and hungry tigers to beat them on the 7th dec.
I hope so, same goes for the match tomorrow, Watford playing mid-week, hopefully they will be a bit jaded!
I think you are right, I just hope we can score in the first 15 minutes, then I think we can go one a get more. If we do score early, then predict 3-0, if 0-0 half time then will win 1-0.
I think it shows (a) that most leagues in Europe are pretty weak once you get outside the top 2/3 teams (some are weak even with that) (b) if the past showing of English teams is anything to go by, weakened sides are often fielded. (c) the top end of the Championship and bottom half of the Premier League aren't that far apart in standards. Still, congrats to Birmingham for doing well in the competition so far.
The Championship is the 5th best supported league in Europe, receives decent TV money, parachute payments and benefits from players being filtered down by the PL clubs having so many foreigners. I think this shows the NPC in a good light, as it should.
