The Last Word - Sports Blog (Sean Simara)

The Championship this season looks harder than ever. Some heavy hitters and big names now clog up second tier of English football. With so many teams that have tasted top flight football, whose looking like they will make a return to the top flight. Here's my preview of what should be a very competitive season. From the teams relegated from the Premier League last season Newcastle look the most likely to make an instant return. I would be shocked if Newcastle doesn’t win the league by at least 8 points. Rafa has the skills to do one job and focus on one thing, get them back up. They have enough about them to bounce right back to the top flight. Some smart Championship buys in Grant Hanley, Matt Ritchie & Dwight Gayle they should win the league quite comfortably. Then it’s just the massive scrap for the rest. Aston Villa also went down last season they were pretty horrendous from start to finish. Players were not focused and enjoyed more of their holidays, smoking, drin...

After a quarter of the way into the Football League season, the top of the Championship is happy viewing for every QPR fan. Rangers explosive start to the season saw them win the first 8 of their 10 league games. Boss Neil Warnock has made QPR a team now full of confidence and determination. They had a player sent off in their last two games, but still got points out the game, last season that simple would not have happened. The Superhoops are still unbeaten in the league and take their decent away form to Nottingham Forest this weekend. Cardiff City are only one point behind the Londoners, City blew two great chances to go top against vicious rivals Swansea, and away to Reading. Cardiff do go to Loftus Road later this month and whoever wins there could have the confidence to go on and succeed a lot this season. In League One Brighton hold top spot, eight points clear of Huddersfield. Undefeated at home, Poyet has put together a very good footballing side. However, League One has some ...

The football league is back!!! A week ahead of the Premiership, the teams and fans of the football league sides start their campaigns for glory. The Championship round-up starts with, Cardiff City’s 4-0 victory at their brand spanking new stadium over Scunthorpe. Cardiff if you remember missed out on the Play-Offs by one goal last season. Newcastle United put the turmoil of the summer behind them and drew 1-1 at West Brom. These two teams will be there or there abouts come May. Goal of the weekend was Clinton Morrison opener against Ipswich Town. His curling lob over the keeper and two Town defenders is a contender for goal of the month already. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid29318049001?bctid=32823450001 In League 1 Colchester put on the best show. An amazing 7-1 win at Norwich was a perfect way to start any season. This overshadowed Gillingham’s 5-0 win over Swindon. League 1 this year will be tight with fans of Leeds, Millwall, Charlton, MK Dons and Southampton look...