With a league bursting with quality and rising talent I present you with the best eleven from the Championship so far this season.
GOALKEEPER: Robert Green (QPR) – The QPR and former England No.1 has been in fine form this season only letting in 6 goals and keeping 8 clean sheets whilst also keeping Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar on the bench. Is it too late for him to make that plane bound for Rio?
RIGHT BACK: Sam Byram (Leeds) – At only 20 years of age Byram has already forced his way into Leeds’ starting XI. He’s quick, can get past a player and has the ability to cross the ball. Although critics want to see him playing more in midfield there is no doubt that Sam is a talented young prospect.
CENTRE BACK: Jason Shackell (Burnley) – Although it’s only his second season at Burnley, Shackell has established himself at the heart of the team. The 30-year-old has captained his side to top of table whilst his side also have the second meanest defense in the league.
CENTRE BACK: Emmerson Boyce (Wigan) – The 34 year old is one of the most experienced players in the division and is one of the handful of players who has years of experience playing in the Premier League. He has a good physical presence and is aerially dominant and he’s even chipped in with a goal as well.
LEFT BACK: Aaron Cresswell (Ipswich) – A competent young left back who has 2 goals and 6 assists already so far this season. A defender who has as many assists as some midfielders in the league, it is no wonder he has had reported interest from Everton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace over the summer, amongst others.
RIGHT WING: Tom Ince (Blackpool) – The 21-year-old is comfortably one of the fastest and most talented young players in this division. He’s Blackpool’s top scorer so far with 6 goals and has the ability to terrorise any defense. Paul Ince, the gaffer and also his father, did well to keep him at the club this summer.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: Danny Guthrie (Reading) – The 26-year-old, former Newcastle and Liverpool midfielder, is having his best season yet. Perhaps it’s the comfortable drop in standard from the Premier League. Nonetheless, he has been a stand out player for me this season; he’s scored 4 goals from 4 shots already, including 2 free kick goals against Birmingham. He’s a pleasure to watch and is a vital player for Reading who hope to be pushing for automatic promotion this season.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: Henri Lansbury (Nottingham Forest) – The former Arsenal youngster has much to prove in the Championship this term after a satisfactory performance last season. With the transfer of Lewis McGugan to Watford during the summer giving him more scope to take a grip on the Forest midfield, he has already scored 5 goals this season and looks as if he is maturing as a player.
LEFT WING: Jamie Ward (Derby) – Although a Derby regular we haven’t seen much of the little man until recently. He’s scored 4 goals this season and is a direct, skilful and extremely fast player.
STRIKER: Danny Ings (Burnley) – The young 21-year-old, who was tasked with filling the void left by Charlie Austin following his move to QPR, is now the League’s top scorer with 12 in all competitions. He’s been in exceptional form and if he continues in this vein he can easily beat the 30-goal mark.
STRIKER: Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn) – The 23-year-old striker had a phenomenal debut season in the Championship last season scoring 27 goals following his exceptional scoring record in the lower reaches with Huddersfield. He has continued his goal-scoring exploits this season and has already scored 10 times in the league.
NOTICEABLE PLAYERS:
Manuel Almunia (Watford) – An experienced pair of hands who reached last season’s play off final having saved a penalty in the semi’s.
Grant Hanley (Blackburn) – A strong and ever maturing Scottish defender who Sir Alex Ferguson tried to bring in at United.
Kieran Trippier (Burnley) – Extremely unlucky not to make the starting eleven, Trippier has been a breath of fresh air down Burnley’s right flank and is a key reason why they are exceeding expectations in such spectacular fashion. Strong in the tackle and always willing to join in the attack, he is sure to draw the attention of Premier League scouts between now and January.
Josh McEachran (Watford) – On loan from Chelsea and only 20-years-old McEachran brings flare and youth into the league.
Royston Drenthe (Reading) – A strong, fast, skillful attacking player who has experience playing for Everton and Real Madrid.
Will Hughes (Derby) – The youngster with the shock of white hair is making more than just the Derby supporters sit up and take notice. Comfortable in possession and oozing technical quality, it is surely only a matter of time before the scramble for his signature heats up once more.
Sam Vokes (Burnley) – With 8 goals in the league he forms a formidable partnership with fellow striker Danny Ings.
Adam Le Fondre (Reading) – A player, praised for his natural scoring ability and impact as a substitute, will inevitably have an exciting season.
James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town) – Another player unlucky to find himself on the notable others list is ex-Everton striker Vaughan who has continued in the same form as last season after making his loan deal a permanent one. His 9 Championship goals this term have been crucial to Huddersfield’s progress into the top half.
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