Parts One, Two & Three can be found here and as mentioned I've split this into 4 parts to make it more readable and hopeful it will give you some insight into one of the most underrated and exciting leagues in the world.
Reading
Summary of the season
After missing out on the play offs on the final day of last season Reading had high hopes for this year but they were almost immediately crushed by a complete lack of transfer activity due to the prolonged nature of their takeover. This left them with a squad short of quality players though this did not show in the early weeks as they competed reasonably well, including an away win at Middlesbrough. However a run of just 2 wins from 12 matches saw them slump down the table and by mid December Nigel Adkins was sacked with Steve Clarke taking over just 1 day later after a hammering at Birmingham. The expected upturn in form didn't really materialise and though they completed a double over Norwich it wasn't until early February that they started to string some results together to lift themselves into lower mid table. This coincided with an FA Cup run and though they had some favourable draws the highlight of the season was making the semi finals where they took Arsenal to extra time and only a horrific mistake by the normally reliable Federici cost them. With everything put into this cup run they were woefully inconsistent and though never seriously in relegation trouble their final position was way too low for many fans liking.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Steve Clarke had done well at West Brom and many thought he was unlucky to be sacked so it was a good appointment by Reading to get him. He struggled to turn their fortunes around on a consistent basis and though they had a good cup run he will be expected to perform much better next season and make them into a side that can challenge for the play offs. The key to this is their consistency as they have shown they can beat the better teams but tended to struggle against mid table sides. Clarke has shown he can be versatile with both his preferred formations and styles, with 4-3-3, 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 all used while they can be direct but also use a patient build up and the pace of the wide players.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Reading finished 19th and while most eyes were on their run in the FA Cup and they weren't seriously threatened by relegation after February the final place was too low for most fans likings. The new owners will also be looking for a significant improvement from a team that was in the Premier League just 2 years ago. A lack of consistency and a poor goal threat with Simon Cox the top scorer with just 8 goals and failing to score in 18 matches proving to be their ultimate downfall.
3 Key Players
Adam Federici - While he will be remembered for his mistake in the FA Cup final, Federici is an outstanding goalkeeper at this level and capable of making truly excellent saves. He has been left exposed on occasion by an inexperienced backline but has proven to be reliable and able to pull off spectacular stops. He does have a mistake in him as he can often make a great stop and follow this up with a howler but he has generally been one of Reading's better performers throughout the season.
Jordan Obita - Obita has grown from a breakout season last year and held down the left back spot on a regular basis this campaign. After being moved between left wing, left back and centre midfield last year he has benefitted from playing a more consistent position this year but his attacking instincts allow him to give excellent width to the team and get forward well. His set piece delivery and crossing from wide areas was one of the best sources of creativity for Reading.
Michael Hector - Originally expected to play a holding midfield role, Hector spent almost the entire season partnering Alex Pearce in the defence and proved his growing reputation as he performed consistently throughout the season. He has a good physical nature and is rarely outmuscled for a young defender but due to his previous experience playing higher up the pitch is comfortable on the ball and capable of playing forward from the keeper if needed.
Standout young player
Jake Cooper - Reading were excellent at allowing their younger players to get game time with several players getting bit part roles throughout the season. Jake Cooper managed to not only make the breakthrough but also prove himself a capable defender, keeping Zat Knight off the bench even when he was available. A towering defender at 6ft 6 he is as you would expect very good in the air and adept in both boxes.
Rotherham United
Summary of the season
Rotherham were massive underdogs - largely by their own admission - as they embarked on a first campaign at 2nd tier level for almost 10 years. A dramatic rise through the divisions had left them with a squad big on heart but short on the talent required to stay in the division and so Steve Evans had to do plenty of dealings in the transfer market in order to ultimately keep them safe. Many loan signings were brought in and there was a worry that the balance in the team wasn't right but they did more than enough to stay up and would have been safe earlier had it not been for an admin error which cost them 3 points when Farrend Rawson played when he was not registered. They avoided the drop on the final midweek of the season but the next campaign is likely to have to see them rebuild once again and it will be hard to repeat the feat.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Steve Evans is one of footballs characters - disliked by many but with a clear understanding of what he wants to do within the game. Not exactly a tactical genius but capable of getting players to play well above their own ability though a knack of motivation he also is very adept at keeping the pressure off his players by being in the spotlight - his constant gripes over penalty decisions (some of which he had justification for but many seemed to be just him giving soundbites to the cameras) and indication that "somebody doesn't want us in this division" added fuel to the fire for fans of other teams. He did a great job of keeping Rotherham up, largely sticking to a 4-4-2 for the first half of the season before switching to a 4-2-3-1 after Christmas, but he is known to jump ship when the going is tough and with Rotherham facing an even tougher challenge this year it could be the end of the road for him.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
For many teams, finishing in 21st would be a poor season but for Rotherham to avoid the drop was a fantastic achievement. They have come through the divisions very fast and were in League Two just 2 seasons ago so the ability to get players in to keep them in this league was necessary. Just 4 of the squad that got them promoted from League One last season remain and this shows the turnover in players but the fans will be happy at having the chance to prove people wrong once again.
3 Key Players
Kari Arnason - Arnason has been with Rotherham since they were in League Two and the step up to the Championship was a big one for him. He spent the majority of the first 3/4 of the season playing at centre back and though he was effective and did a reasonable job, he had a tendency to be caught out at times and was at fault for a few goals. In early March he was moved into a defensive midfield role and he was much better in this position, stabilising the team in front of the defence with his ability on the ball meaning that Rotherham could control the game much better through the middle.
Richard Smallwood - Smallwood was one of the unsung heroes of the team, rarely talked about but one of the first names on the team sheet every week. He was excellent at breaking up the play and another one capable of retaining possession, though his lack of vision going forward could be seen as a problem at times as he didn't create too much. In fairness, that is not what he was there to do and given the task of breaking up the play and keeping the ball he was a force in the middle of the pitch.
Ben Pringle - Pringle is another who has come through the divisions at Rotherham and he has matured into an excellent player. Generally seen as a central attacking player, he played on the wing for most of the season with his left foot able to deliver outstanding balls into the middle. His play from the wings was one of the key successes of Rotherham as he aimed for the strikers and he notched up 7 assists over the season - by far and away the most of any Rotherham player. Having decided to leave as his contract is up, he will be badly missed and not short of offers.
Standout young player
Damien Martinez - Martinez only played 8 games for Rotherham at the end of the season on loan from Arsenal but coming into the side after some high profile mistakes by regular first choice Adam Collin his signing was instrumental in Rotherham staying up. They were unbeaten in 5 of the final 6 games and many fans put this down to Martinez, he has great ability as a shot stopper but has grown in confidence since his time on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season and commands his defence much better. While it's debatable if he will ever be a regular in the Premier League he played a pivotal part for Rotherham in his short time there.
Sheffield Wednesday
Summary of the season
After several seasons bouncing between the Championship and League One and a couple of seasons fighting off relegation, Sheffield Wednesday finally had a season of mediocrity. While it doesn't sound like much to shout about, a lack of investment in the playing squad had left them with little chance of competing at the top end of the division but one of the meanest defences in the league helped to contribute to a solid mid table finish. The takeover by Dejphon Chansiri gives the fans renewed optimism for next season and after having to put up with one of the worst pitches in the division, 2nd only to Blackpool, they will look forward to having a more productive 2015/16, especially at home where they failed to consistently deliver.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Stuart Gray has done an excellent job since taking over from Dave Jones with the club fighting relegation in 2013/14. He has overseen a turn around which has resulted in a much more solid defence with Westwood outstanding in goal and the central pair of Lees and Loovens dominant in many games, even against opposition generally seen as superior. He often set them up to be quite defensive away from home and this saw them have a very good away record, which was necessary as there was often a lack of creativity when the onus was on Wednesday to attack more in home matches. He stuck to a 4-4-2 for most of the season, only changing to 4-5-1 for tough away games.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Wednesday finished 13th and while a top half finish would have been nice the mid table ending to the season was a far cry from the drama of the last couple of years when they have had to avoid relegation, sometimes on the last day. They were always in a comfortable position, and though a good run just after Christmas saw them with slim hopes of the play offs it is more likely to be over the next couple of years which sees them edging towards a return to the Premier League. Most fans would have accepted a mid table place at the beginning of the season but the pressure is on more now that they have money to spend.
3 Key Players
Kieren Westwood - Westwood was the outstanding goalkeeper in the division and rightly took his place in the PFA team of the season at the end of the year, the first Wednesday player in almost 25 years to achieve this. His initial signing was met with surprise as Kirkland had been a more than adequate number 1 for a couple of seasons but having watched Westwood the difference in quality is apparent and he had a big hand in Wednesday keeping 17 clean sheets - tying a club record. His ability made confidence flow through the defence and one of the clubs biggest tasks will be to fight of potential suitors over the summer.
Tom Lees - Lees came from Leeds with his reputation in tatters. Having played for the club for his whole career he was roundly turned on last season and none of their fans rated him. Wednesday picked him up very cheap and he immediately set about repairing his reputation by turning in some excellent performances alongside Loovens in the heart of defence. He is a towering, commanding defender who was handed the captaincy towards the end of the season and it was a well earned achievement for somebody who should go on to be a key player for Wednesday for many years to come.
Lewis McGugan - While McGugan only featured in 15 games in the back end of the season, his creativity in midfield and eye for a pass is exactly what Wednesday had been missing. A lack of goals had seen the strikers regularly become targets for the boo boys but the introduction of McGugan seemed to breathe new life into the team once he had settled into the side. His set piece delivery created a slew of chances and when he missed the last 3 games of the season it was evident as Wednesday missed his quality.
Standout young player
Caloan Lavery - Lavery recovered from a bad knee injury suffered in pre season to finish in the side and as one of the brightest prospects to come out of the Academy in years. He had shown flashes of his skill last season and scored his first goals in the 6-0 win over Leeds so big things were expected of him but it took him until March to get back anywhere near fitness after a loan spell at Chesterfield. He scored twice in 9 games and while not a stellar record his movement and willingness to run into the channels while holding the ball up brought a better dimension to Wednesday's play that had been missing after Will Keane's injury. He has recently been called into the Northern Ireland side and fully deserves his call up.
Watford
Summary of the season
Watford had a turbulent season that eventually ended in success as they were promoted back to the Premier League for the first time since 2007. Despite 4 wins in their opening 5 games there were rumours of discontent amongst the players and Beppe Sannino handed his resignation in after a 4-2 home win over Huddersfield. Little did they know it was the start of a merry go round which would first see Oscar Garcia take over before he had to resign due to health problems and Billy McKinlay take charge for just a week before Slavisa Jokanovic took over in early October after some patchy form. Watford were still well in contention for the play offs and though Jokanovic got off to a good start a run of 4 defeats in a row during November left them on the fringes of the play offs. They turned things around and won 12 of their next 16 games with the firepower they possessed up front incredibly hard to stop and this saw Deeney, Vydra and Ighalo finish with a combined 57 league goals between them. They were eventually promoted as their consistency saw them win 5 of their last 6 after Easter and a win over Brighton on the penultimate day sealed their return to the top flight.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Jokanovic took charge for the majority of the season and must be given great credit for the promotion achievement. He took over at a difficult time as though results were good the feeling of the fans was not and Watford were being judged by the rest of the football world due to the managerial changes. He did well and adapted Watford's style to be able to play more direct and get the best out of their forward players, whereas before they had been a team that could pass the ball and attack quickly but were often short on ideas if a team sat back. He tended to favour a 3-5-2 or 4-3-1-2 formation which allowed the full backs/wing backs to provide width and get forward in support while being able to control the game through the midfield.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Watford's 2nd place finish left the fans in dreamland and finally achieved what the Pozo family had intended 2 years after taking over. Watford had come close under Gianfranco Zola but struggled to maintain those heights last year so the hope was they could at least make the play offs this season. At times even that was in doubt but an excellent run of form after Christmas helped them be the most consistent of the teams at the top and the only tinge of disappointment for the fans was Sheffield Wednesday's equaliser in the 92nd minute of the final game which robbed them of the title. Never the less it was without doubt a successful season.
3 Key Players
Troy Deeney - Troy Deeney capped a remarkable season by firing the winner in the penultimate game which sealed Watford's promotion. He has had 3 successive seasons scoring 20+ goals and his leadership of the team is excellent. He is a new breed of forward, strong and capable of holding the ball but also with the pace to run in behind and the flair and finishing ability to worry the keeper from any position. He had previously been linked with a big money move away but that is unlikely now he has been promoted and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the Premier League.
Almen Abdi - Abdi is a cultured playmaker and his absence for much of last season was one of the key reasons Watford struggled to badly. His vision and passing accuracy when playing behind the strikers helped create so many chances that it is no wonder the front 3 scored so many goals. He is calm and composed and a big factor in why Watford keep possession so well and has great ability from dead balls, both within shooting range and when playing the ball in from wide.
Gabrielle Angella - Watford's defence was not their strongest area, but Angella and Cathcart were the corner stones of the run in the final few months which helped Watford secure promotion. Angel tended to play in the centre of the 3 when they started 3-5-2 and though he has a tendency to be rash and overplay with the ball at his feet, he covers the other defenders very well and his reading of the game often makes up for his errors. He is strong in the air but will need to improve against better players in a higher division.
Standout young player
Tommy Hoban - Hoban had featured sporadically in the defence in the previous season but been unable to hold down a regular starting spot. That changed in 2014/15 and he eventually became one of the first choices in defence, both in the centre and at left back. Though he was not a natural in the wide position, he was excellent defensively and often provided balance to the attacking full back on the other flank. He has a good understanding for such a young player and his positional ability and covering play when part of a 3 belied his age.
Wigan Athletic
Summary of the season
Wigan started the season as one of the favourites for promotion, mainly due to the outstanding run they had put together last season under Uwe Rosler which propelled them from lower mid table into a play off position and they were unlucky not to get through to the final against QPR. After a big spending summer they did look a little suspect, Delort and Riera had been signed to play up front and neither had experienced the rigours of the Championship before. It proved to be the case with just 1 goal between them before both returned to their home countries on loan in January. Goals were a problem all season with McClean finishing as top scorer with 6 and after Rosler was still somewhat surprisingly sacked in November the controversial appointment of Malky Mackay heaped further pressure on the club. He failed to win a home game during his 6 month tenure and after a huge upheaval in personnel during January he was sacked too in April with Wigan staring relegation in the face. Gary Caldwell took over and though he restored some pride he couldn't prevent the inevitable and they were relegated when Rotherham secured a midweek win before the final game of the season.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Rosler was highly rated when he took over and spent big in the summer, so their position under him can be seen as a huge failure as they failed to ever get going but that was nothing compared to the disaster that happened under Malky Mackay. He favoured a 4-4-2 but would also switch between a 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 at times but they lacked any kind of finishing touch, had no control over the midfield and constantly made costly individual errors in defence. For such an experienced team to make the kind of errors they did is unthinkable. Gary Caldwell only managed the final few games, he lacks experience but has been given the role for next season and he has a huge rebuilding job to do.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Many people had Wigan as one of the pre season favourites to go up to the Premier League, so their eventual relegation was a huge shock. All season long they flattered to deceive and on paper they actually had a very good team. The fact they failed to make it work should partly be attributed to the coaching and partly to the players themselves as they struggled to be motivated at times and played well below their best. The fans have every right to be angry and the 23rd place finish was in all honesty sealed well before they were eventually relegated with a spell between 30th August and 18th April without a home win too costly for them to come back from.
3 Key Players
James McClean - It was incredibly tough to pick 3 standout performers for Wigan this season, with only James McClean performing anywhere near like he can. He was by far and away Wigan's best player and often looked like he was having to do it all himself. That he finished as top scorer with just 6 goals and was also the top assister speaks volumes. Regularly switching between a left wing role and a striking role, sometimes playing as the lone striker, he did show his versatility though he had a tendency to drift out of the middle and towards the left wing when he was playing up front, which left Wigan short of options in the middle.
James Perch - Perch was a regular starter and his versatility allowed him to play in a number of positions. He usually filled the right back spot but also played on the right of midfield, central defence and had a spell in a midfield 2 during the latter months of the season. He was never fantastic but was consistently good, which is much better than some of the players alongside him and it was he who scored the goal which eventually broke their home hoodoo. That all 3 managers over the season picked him consistently shows his worth.
Emyr Huws - Huws came with a big reputation and a big price tag from Manchester City. He had excelled in a loan spell at Birmingham last season with a history of hitting long range goals. After initially struggling to settle into his new team and their playing style he suffered an ankle injury with Wales which kept him out for a while and when he tried to make his comeback he suffered the same injury again which ended his season. Wigan had intended for him and Forshaw to anchor their midfield which would have given them plenty of quality but as both were out, Huws injured and Forshaw sold they had little control in the middle.
Standout young player
Tim Chow - Chow had been told he would be released by Wigan by Malky Mackay in early March but Mackay's sacking and Caldwell's appointment - he had previously been the youth team manager - gave Chow a chance in the first team. He grasped it with both hands, scoring within 11 minutes of his full debut and starting the final 3 games of the season. He could have a big role to play next year as he has now been kept on and as Wigan look to rebuild they will need more players from their academy to push for the first team.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Summary of the season
Wolves came up from League One with optimism after putting an end to a horrific 2 years which saw them drop through the divisions out of the Premier League and into League One. They were not expected to struggle but few saw them capable of challenging at the top end of the table. However, they produced consistently good form and narrowly missed out on the play offs, ultimately finishing with the most number of points to not finish in the top 6 since the division was changed to 24 teams. That they only missed out on goal difference and on the final day looked capable of beating Millwall by any score shows how close they came, with the triple threat of Sako, Dicko and Afobe a constant menace throughout the season.
A bad week during April is what ultimately cost them as they lost to local rivals Birmingham and Middlesbrough before only drawing with Ipswich - had they taken a point from either of their defeats they would have faced Norwich in the play offs.
Manager Assessment & Usual formation
Kenny Jackett has been well liked wherever he has gone and has done well at Wolves since leaving Millwall. He managed them to promotion last season and has gone from strength to strength this year. A manager who truly knows his preferred starting XI, they had very little rotation throughout the season with 6 players making over 40 appearances (including as a sub). Had it not been for injuries to Ikeme, Dicko and Golbourne the chances are this number would have been higher. He generally went with a 4-4-2, especially as they chased down the play off pack later in the season but had been going with a 4-2-3-1 at times before this.
Finishing position and was it acceptable
Wolves finished 7th, only missing out on the play offs by goal difference as they had +14 to Ipswich's +18. It was an outstanding effort and they were constantly written off throughout the year as people expected them to fall away. The signing of Afobe was a masterstroke as he scored 13 goals in 21 games to fire them so close to extending their season. While they were disappointed to miss out on the top 6 the signings they are making and the basis of the squad, which has a solid core but is packed with young hungry players, should see them make another attempt at promotion next year.
3 Key Players
Benik Afobe - Afobe was an instant hit at Wolves, this was something of a surprise. While he came with a hefty price tag (rumoured to be over £2m) he had scored plenty of goals for MK Dons in the first part of the season. However, if you analysed these goals a few had been penalties and he had a knack of scoring when games were already won. He proved the doubters wrong at Wolves and often took the lead role off Dicko as the season progressed. Strong, quick and excellent with his movement and finishing, he does a lot of work outside the box but the majority of his goals come from in the area. Will certainly be one to watch next season.
Bakary Sako - Sako has stayed with Wolves through tough times and grown into one of the best players in the division and one of the most wanted. Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and West Brom all were linked with him, so for Wolves to keep him was a major boost. He is very direct and strong and capable of ghosting past his full back from the left side with ease. He is not a traditional winger and doesn't cross the ball too much but instead comes inside to link with the strikers and this led to him chipping in with 15 goals over the course of the season to be top scorer. He has elected not to sign a new contract and will be missed next year.
Danny Batth - There were plenty of candidates for the 3rd key player spot, including Kevin McDonald as a lynchpin in midfield, but Danny Batth led throughout the season as an example along the back line. He has improved immensely and a run of 90 consecutive league starts was only ended but a broken foot late in the season. His positional sense and skill in winning the ball back, either via tackle or stepping in and intercepting has come a long way since Wolves were relegated and he is now one of the first names on the team sheet, forming a formidable partnership alongside Stearman.
Standout young player
Dominic Iorfa - This could have gone to Iorfa or Kourtney Hause, both of who have had breakout seasons but I went with Iorfa as he forced his way into the team on merit, while Hause took advantage of an injury to Golbourne. Such was Iorfa's rise that club captain Sam Ricketts was forced to leave to get game time and starting right back Doherty couldn't get back in the team. Iorfa, who can also play at centre back, was excellent defensively and often got into very advanced positions to provide width down the right. He is also in the England youth set ups and Premier League clubs will be keeping a close eye on him.
I'll be publishing my Team of the Season blog post soon.
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