The Alternative Championship Team of the Season – 11 who could’ve made it in

Monday morning saw the Sky Bet Championship Team of the Season revealed. Given the plethora of talent in the league this season, the announcement naturally saw several worthy inclusions miss out – Newcastle fans, for example, were surprised to see Ciaran Clark and Matt Ritchie fail to be included.

In light of this, 48 hours on, we have devised an ‘alternate’ Team of the Season, including 11 Championship stars from 2016/17 who were unlucky to miss the cut on Monday.

So, without further adieu, here’s our ‘reserve’ line up!

Striker

Tammy Abraham (Bristol City): The young striker, on-loan from Chelsea, has an outstanding 19 goals from 32 appearances for relegation threatened Bristol City this season. I was shocked to see his exclusion from Monday’s team, given he’d scored 1 more goal than the selected Glen Murray, who plays in a far superior Brighton side. All things considered, he undoubtedly earned a place in the official team of the season.

Midfielders

Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United): The summer signing has often been the heartbeat of the Newcastle United side this season. Ritchie has been superb, being effective offensively with 9 goals & 7 assists and a real workhorse defensively too. He’s given his all and has never hid when the chips are down. Quality and work-rate are two things rarely found in modern day wingers, but he has shown he has both this season.

Helder Costa (Wolves): The ex-Benfica winger has lit up the Championship at times this season, in an otherwise poor campaign for Wolves. With 9 goals and 8 assists, he’s had a an impressive first season in England, showing the sort of quality that justified the £13m spent by Wolves in January.

Tom Cairney (Fulham): The Scottish midfielder has been a revelation this season for Fulham, with 9 goals & 9 assists in the league. He ran the show in Fulham’s recent win at St.James’ park recently & was another one who was extremely unlucky to miss out. Rafa Benitez is said to have been impressed by the 26 year-old this season and it’s easy to see why. Also, he’s scored countless long range strikes this season, which have not gone unnoticed:

Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa / Barnsley): The driving force behind Barnsley’s early season form. With 13 assists (most in the division) and 7 goals this term, Conor Hourihane has been involved in huge number of goals this season. Should he have stayed at Barnsley, or taken his form at Oakwell to Villa Park (following a January move), he would’ve been a nailed on pick for the Team of the Season.

Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield): Huddersfield have been a superb attacking force this season, however the midfield workhorse has done the dirty work expertly for The Terriers. Hogg may have gone under the radar in David Wagner’s side this season, but has been instrumental in their push for automatic promotion. His importance to Huddersfield was highlighted in last Friday’s hammering at Bristol City. Hogg suffered a horrific neck fracture in the first half and was stretchered off. At the point of his injury it was 0-0, however Huddersfield appeared to crumble without him, going on to lose 4-0.

 

Defenders

Charlie Taylor (Leeds United): The 23 year-old left-back has attracted Premier League interest over the past few years and his displays this seasons show just why. The attacking full-back has notched 3 assists, also playing his part defensively, with Leeds boasting the 3rd best defensive record in the league.

Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United): Perhaps one of the biggest surprises on Monday was the omission of this man. Clark has been superb since signing from Aston Villa in the summer & has played a huge part in Newcastle’s countless gritty away wins, forming a solid partnership with Jamaal Lascelles. Given Newcastle have conceded fewer goals this season than any other side, it’s a shock to see no Newcastle defender present in the official team of the season.

Kyle Bartley (Leeds United): The Leeds United Captain has been an inspired signing by Gary Monk last summer. While his centre-back partner, Pontus Jansson, was selected in the official team of the season on Monday, I believe Bartley has been equally as good. The 6ft 4 centre-back has played a huge part in his side conceding just 12 goals in 20 home league games at Elland Road, also contributing 4 goals and 2 assists in the process.

Bruno (Brighton): Despite the Brighton skipper turning 36 last year, the right-back played every minute for the Seagulls in their opening 16 games this season, helping them to clean sheets in 11 of them. Brighton have kept the most clean sheets in the Championship this season (19 in 38 games!) and the experienced Spaniard has been a big part of that, missing just 3 league games.

 

Goalkeeper

Ali Al-Habsi (Reading): Named Reading’s player of the season last year, the 35 year-old stopper has played every minute of Reading’s current campaign, contributing to the 13 clean sheets and saving 2 penalties. As Newcastle found in their 0-0 draw at Reading earlier in the month, the experienced goalkeeper can be hard to beat. While Newcastle’s Karl Darlow is a contender to replace him, Al-Habsi justifies his place, given he’s made more saves this season than any other Championship goalkeeper, which look set to secure Reading a place in the play-off’s.

 

Alternate Manager of the season

Gary Monk (Leeds United): Gary Monk has done a superb job at Leeds United since taking over at the beginning of last summer. There’s no denying Leeds United remain a big club despite their fans facing disappointment, season after season, with the club failing to make the Championship play-off’s over the past 10 years. Monk has galvanised the club, signing well in the summer window, motivating his players and delivering results on the pitch. Leeds currently sit in 4th position, looking nailed on for a play-off position and refusing to give up yet on automatic promotion. While it was hard to argue with Huddersfield’s David Wagner being awarded the manager of the season, Monk would’ve been a worthy winner.

So, that’s our ‘reserve’ team and manager for the season!

Thoughts? Is there anyone we haven’t included, who wasn’t picked on Monday or included in this alternate 11, that deserves a mention?

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

27 thoughts on “The Alternative Championship Team of the Season – 11 who could’ve made it in

  1. From the last thread. The arrogance of Pardew knows no bounds. I saw him on the Keys and Gray show the other week, who are literally and figuratively in the desert – they are broadcasting from Dubai. He said that he didn’t know why he was sacked. He has also said he is “the King” when taking his assistant Manager’s dinner because he didn’t like his own saying “I’ll ‘ave that” because “I am King”. His nickname is “Chunky” for the benefit of the ladies. I don’t know if this is an urban legend or not but the nickname cums from the fact that he used to eat pineapple chunks so his cum would be sweater for the ladies.

  2. It really is kind of amazing that anyone was able to put up with him as long as he’s been at any of his former clubs. It’s also amazing that he was able to bring as many quality players as he did at Palace, given his personality.

  3. A sort of new look England take on Germany, helmed by a totally unqualified and overpaid coach. He can certainly do no worse than Mr. Roy though, who let Rooney run the time whilst he went sightseeing instead of watching Iceland in their lead-up game. So, even a big defeat to Germany would be better than going out in a major tournament to a team led by a part time dentist. At least Harry Kane is injured so he can’t take corners.

  4. Oh, and Troy said England would win the Euros before backtracking and saying we would make the final. Does that qualify for being 250% wrong?

  5. Are there any more horrific words in the English language than “part-time dentist”? Part-time surgeon and bon vivant? Joey Barton?

  6. KIM just read a report that Bristol is the best place in the UK to live.
    You lucky girl 😆

  7. The only player in tonight’s England squad left in the Champions League is Jamie Vardy.

    This tells you all you need to know about how English football has fallen into the doldrums.

  8. Andy Magpie:

    Soon there will be many as the money is in the PL. Ronaldo and Messe are getting old.

    The great managers are in the PL. The best footballers will follow. Not China.

    It will be Europe great teams like Bayern and Barca against the money of the PL.

  9. Talk that toon are in talks with Walcott for next season and that he would come if we go up

  10. Wolcott is an upgrade on what we have. I would take Giroud as well. They are not top, top players (copyright Redknapps) but we are not a top, top club.

  11. Nice to see some players giving back some of cash they kinda earn.
    O. Martins has paid for 5,000 wheelchairs and 3,000 crutches to help disabled sports people he has also given a children’s home money and paid some medical bills for those that cannot afford them,good on you well done

  12. Good on Oba.

    Decent performance by England tonight. Looks like Southgate has been stressing the importance of pass and move.

  13. These International breaks are doing my head in! I can’t think of one good reason why England couldn’t have played Lithuania last night instead of a useless Podolski testamonial, which cancels the English game for a fortnight. Rubbish.

    Anyone notice Ritchie wasn’t in the 20 strong Scots squad last night? Another knock maybe?

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