the 'experts' at ESPNsoccernet have their say....
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=408287&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2&cc=5901..........That George Burley is a serial loser in play-offs may not bode well for Southampton, though his brand of attractive football is usually enough to ensure his teams progress at least that far. While the precocious Gareth Bale has attracted most of the attention, the rehabilitation of Grzegorz Rasiak has been as significant. The Pole is the Championship's joint second top scorer but there should be more to come from two of Burley's other former charges, Rudi Skacel and Inigo Idiakez.
(WHAT???.....no mention of Jonesy must have been written after he started winning all their points ).................This season, few have entered the transfer market with greater vigour than Roy Keane. A radically different squad have transformed Sunderland under the Irishman's guidance and featuring a large contingent of his compatriots.
Anthony Stokes, the youngest of them, may be unproven in England but Carlos Edwards, part of Keane's Trinidadian trio, has shown himself to be a high-class Championship performer. In the shape of Dwight Yorke, Liam Miller, Graham Kavanagh, Dean Whitehead and Grant Leadbitter, Keane has acquired more central midfield options than anyone else, with the possible exception of Derby, and
Sunderland appear to be gaining the momentum required.
..........That favours Birmingham and West Brom (and, curiously, Colchester). Derby, meanwhile, have their own asset at the top, with arguably the Championship's finest manager. There have been few causes for optimism in Midlands football in recent seasons, but the three clubs looking forward to banking £30 million apiece next season could be
Derby, Birmingham and - perhaps via the play-offs - West Brom......
booooooo!!!!