Kevin Phillips’ Expert Analysis: Championship Matchday Four Preview

Rating Blackburn’s Transfer Business and Where They’ll Finish

I think it’ll be tough for Tony. I don’t think they’ve probably got the depth in the squad that they would like to compete Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday. We know they had to rely on some young players last season. So bringing Sam Morsy in was a good bit of business with that experience. They’ve got Baradji, the centre-mid. They’ve got a right winger, Fevrier, from Stockport. It was a big jump for him to step up. So I’m sure Tony would have liked a few more signings.

So I think they’re probably going to lack depth in the squad and that could potentially hurt them as the season goes on. They will compete, and we’ve already seen that this season. We saw it in the first game of the season against Wolves. Very unlucky not to get something there. So I think it’s going to be a long, long slog for them. But hopefully when they do need some players, they might have some young players that they can call back into the squad that will do a job. So I think it’s going to be a tough season.

David Ozoh and Eiran Cashin Returning to the Club

I think the win and those signings will definitely kickstart the season. Really good win for them; they needed it. And now with Ozoh and Cashin added to the squad, that’ll give everyone a boost, and certainly the players. I know what it’s like when you sit in a team dressing room, and you see quality players walk through the door; it’s a great sign.

So these two players, they know the football club, and that really, really helps. Ozoh made 33 appearances last year. Cashin, as we know, has experience plus his connection with the football club. I think they’re two really, really good signings. And I’m sure John Eustace will be absolutely buzzing with that.

Will Norwich’s Performances Lead to a Playoff Push

I think you don’t want to start panicking already. It would be a slight concern, of course. I tipped them to be one of the dark horses at the beginning of the season, but it’s still very, very early. I think the promising thing from their point of view and Clement’s point of view is that they’re dominating a lot of games; they’re creating opportunities. At some point, it will click. Of course, they need to stop conceding goals. If they can do that, they know they’ve got players in that side who will score goals.

I spoke about him quite a lot last season and this season, really, Toure. He’s got himself three goals in all competitions already, so we know that he’s got goals in him. They had a really good win against Burnley, so I don’t think you need to panic. I do think they will be in and around the new playoff system now, obviously going down to eight, so they’ve got a great opportunity at that. They just need to get that next win quickly rather than later.

How Highly Rated Is Toure

Toure is a good player. People have taken notice of him already. I’m sure there are people who are watching him closely with a potential eye on something in the future. But he’s one of their main strikers and a major threat to them, and he can score goals if you keep him fit. He’s a right handful. So he’s going to be crucial. If Norwich have any chance of getting to those playoffs, they need to keep him fit. He needs to score goals. But when he’s not, I’d like to see other players in areas of the pitch chip in and score goals as well.

Isaac Price and Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s Starts to the Season

I think they both can improve on their returns last season. Obviously, Price, with a bit more experience, can certainly improve on it, and he’s got off to the best possible start, four goals already in all comps. Same with Jimmy-Jay Morgan. It’s always a slight gamble when you bring a young player to the club, and you throw him straight in, certainly up front, because the pressure’s on. But these young players now, and certainly him, having watched him this season, he just plays with that freedom. If you asked him what pressure is, he probably doesn’t know what that is. And again, I’ve said it all along, he’s playing for a manager that gives him that freedom to just go and express himself. And he’s done that. And he’s playing in a team that creates opportunities.

He’s got off to a great start. So two players that have certainly stood out so far in the Championship, and that’s credit to them. I think Isaac Price will get more than nine goals this season without a shadow of a doubt. Certainly think Morgan will be up in double figures. So you’ve got two players that are scoring double figures in the top end of the pitch. That’s a great opportunity to get into those playoffs.

Where Will Watford Finish This Season

If I had a crystal ball, I think I’d probably still get it wrong where Watford will finish the season, wouldn’t you? It’s unbelievable, really, when you watch Watford, because one week you watch them and you think, wow, they play some good stuff. And then they go and get a result that you think, how did you lose that? So unpredictable, inconsistent. And I think that’ll be how the season will go again.

So if you think about it, at New Year’s Day last year I think they had a chance to go top of the league, and then they fell apart. I think it’ll be an up-and-down season again. I would say probably mid-table, maybe challenging for around that eighth, ninth, tenth spot.

Cardiff’s Standout Players So Far

Yeah, I think young Jack Moylan, who came from Lincoln City, on the wing there, he’s got himself a goal. It’s always hard when you step up to the Championship and make a name for yourself, certainly in a team that’s probably expected not to win too many games. I think he stood out.

His manager has spoken really highly of him, and to stand out in a team that has started okay, considering they’ve only lost one and they’ve drawn three. So I think he’s probably been their most consistent standout player so far this season, a new signing, of course, which is great news for the manager. And it looks like he’s relishing the opportunity to be playing in this league. So he’s certainly going to be a big player for them moving forward this season if they want to stay in the league, for sure.

How Big a Loss Is Zian Flemming

I think it’s a big blow. Certainly, when you are one of the favourites to go back up, and everybody’s there to beat you, you’re there to be shot at. And then you go and lose your top goal scorer from last season, your major threat up top; it’s a big blow. And it can really hurt you. Unfortunately, I think that might just hurt them this season.

He scored 13 goals last season, so he’s a big, big asset to them. But it’s an opportunity for someone else to step up. So it’s been a tough, tough start for the new manager coming in. The pressure’s on, and it’ll only ramp up even more now, having sold arguably your best player.

Is It Panic Stations for Burnley and the Manager

It’s not quite panic stations yet; I would say it’s more the pressure. It’s Burnley, out of the Premier League; they’ve got that history of going straight back up, but they’ve brought in a manager that hasn’t managed in the league. So the pressure’s on, and they’ve lost their top goal scorer. The fans will be edgy. So it’s not been the start that you’ve wanted, but they are in a bit of transition.

I suppose you have to give them a little bit of leeway: a new manager, new system. It’s new dynamics. And sometimes it can take a while to get going. So I don’t think it’s time to press the panic buttons, but it’s certainly an area of concern because the results haven’t been what they wanted. So a good result against Boro, that could give them a bit of confidence moving forward going into this game.

Could Swansea Be a Dark Horse This Season

The way they’ve started, wow. And having watched them, watched highlights, they look exciting going forward. They’ve got some really offensive areas. They’ve got some players that can hurt you and score goals. And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Wrexham will be there or thereabouts; they’ve got the quality. Great win last out. We know the quality they’ve got.

When you’re talking dark horses, I did say Norwich, but perhaps Swansea will be. We always get one team every season that comes out of the blocks. But why can’t Swansea keep that going? They kept last season’s top goal scorer, Vipotnik, but they’ve also got other players, Opoku and Idah, who’ve chipped in with some goals. They’ve got exciting players. So if they can keep that consistency going, there’s no reason why they couldn’t be there coming into the season.

The Importance of Home Form at St Mary’s

Any team that’s got aspirations of getting promoted, home form is crucial. You have to make your home ground, it’s the old cliché, a fortress, and St Mary’s can be that. It can be deafening down there. I was there last season in the playoff games, and it’s intimidating.

Especially when you’re playing against good players, and you know that they’ve got goals in abundance in them, certainly at home, so that can only help. But it’s games like this; Southampton drew in their last game, a tough 1-1 draw. It’s games like this where you can’t slip up if you do want to get promoted. But yeah, certainly your home form at St Mary’s, the atmosphere is awesome when it gets going there, and as I say, it’s really intimidating.

Stoke vs Charlton

Yeah, Charlton have started brilliantly, haven’t they? Good result for Stoke last out, so I think this will be a tight game. So I’m going to go Stoke one, Charlton one.

Millwall vs Bolton

Yeah, tough for Millwall, losing against Wrexham. Bolton, newly promoted team. But I think Millwall will bounce back, certainly at home. So I’m Millwall 2, Bolton 1.

QPR vs Middlesbrough

Yeah, good start from both teams. So again, don’t see a lot in it. Never an easy place to go, Loftus Road, really tight ground. So I’m QPR 1, Middlesbrough 1.

Birmingham vs Wolves

Woah, I’m at the game at the weekend. So I’ve got a bit of history with both teams. So really looking forward to it. Again, I think it’ll be a tight, tight game. I don’t see a lot in it. So I’m going to sit on the fence and maybe say a draw. But I’m going to actually say I’m going to go with Birmingham 2, Wolves 1.