Two months into the new Championship season there have been three managerial exits, new hopes and new worries. Sunderland and Sheffield United have been setting the pace, closely followed by Burnley and West Bromwich Albion, while Portsmouth are still searching for their first win and Cardiff and Queens Park Rangers have struggled to find points. The international break is a chance to catch breath and reflect on the opening nine matches, and Midlands football writers Leigh Curtis, who covers Derby County, and Andy Turner, who follows Coventry City, - plus Stoke City reporter Pete Smith - have given an insight into what’s gone right, what’s gone wrong and what’s been the biggest surprise so far.
Pete Smith: Dramatic. Two head coaches, the youngest ever Stoke starting XI, 10 signings, a flood of exits, big wins, deflating defeats, ridiculous referees. We’re pretty glad of a chance to catch our breath in the international break to be honest, but it does feel like the last week has been the start of it all settling down under new boss Narcis Pelach.
He was brought in to provide clear organisation and get the best out of a young group of players as a team and he’s evidently going to be busting his gut and theirs to make it happen. Andy Turner: Stutteringly disappointing, to say the least! Buoyed by some exciting summer signings to complement and enhance last season’s new-look squad that got to within a toenail VAR decision of the FA Cup final, the Sky Blues looked grea.
