No One Cares About The EFL English Football League in Australia, that’s what we said every week since we launched our new weekly Football League bit, and so far we aren’t wrong with our weekly preview under-performing even worse than our website in general. More reason to continue we say.
Despite the fact that No One Cares About The EFL English Football League in Australia we will continue to bring the Football League bits and pieces, even if no one reads it, because sometimes that is exactly what happens. It’s not us, it’s you.
Why not impress friends and work colleagues with some of the tidbits of Football League we offer up below.
For those interested in better stuff than ours, why not follow the link to the high quality Totally Football League Podcast, made by some of the ex Guardian Football Weekly players. It is a great listen for those who care about English Football teams 21-92.
Onto our thoughts of all the Football League for this weekend because No One Cares About The EFL English Football League in Australia.
BEIN SPORTS – FOXTEL TV GAMES FOR THIS ROUND
Football League is on Foxtel right where it belongs, and even though they took their sweet time, it’s great to have it back. More Football League gold coming this week, and it’s all ours. Time in Normal Aust East time and Cow Time.
SAT 5:40am / 4:40am – CH514 BEIN SPORTS 2
LEEDS UTD v SHEFFIELD UTD
Both of these big clubs with big support have spent time in the third tier, Sheffield United as recently as last year. They are currently third at the first attempt and just two points from the top. Leeds are 4th and looking as good for promotion in more than a decade. Pity it’s the Saturday morning game.
SUN/SAT 12:55am/11:55pm – CH514 BEIN SPORTS 2
CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL
Cardiff are sitting nicely in second with the currently unfashionable old school manager Neil Warnock in charge. Millwall sit 15th in a gaggle of 8 teams separated by 3 points in the bulging midfield pack.
SUNDAY 7:40am/6:40am (Delay) – CH514 BEIN SPORTS 2
HULL CITY v NOTTINGHAM FOREST
A classic Championship midfield scrap between two side who are the amongst 20 odd teams who think they should be playing EPL.
SUNDAY 10:55pm/9:55pm – CH514 BEIN SPORTS 2
BIRMINGHAM CITY v ASTON VILLA
The next of what seems to be an endless run of Championship derbies. This time it is the two Birmingham teams going head to head. In case you didn’t know Aston Villa now features John Terry and a good run of recent form has seen them climb to 5th. Across town Birmingham are fourth last, one point from relegation and have already sacked Harry Redknapp.
OTHER GAMES WE WISHED THEY HAD
NORWICH CITY v DERBY COUNTY
LUTON TOWN v COVENTRY CITY
THE BEST OF FOOTBALL LEAGUE TEAMS OF LAST WEEKEND
Who are the teams going well? Impress your friends at your next get together with
WOLVES – Top of the Football League and took Manchester City to penalties midweek in the League Cup.
BRISTOL CITY – Knocked out EPL side (although looking likely to rejoin this division) Crystal Palace in the League Cup and sit 7th in the League.
NORWICH – Defeated Ipswich once again in the Old Farm derby last weekend, and took Arsenal to extra time in the League Cup.
SHREWSBURY TOWN – Still the only unbeaten Football League team left after 1/3 of the season.
OLDHAM – Unbeaten in six games and still only 18th. Shows how bad things were.
LUTON TOWN – Top of League Two – unbeaten in 9 games – the second best current streak in the Football League.
FOREST GREEN ROVERS – Won two in a row and off the bottom of League Two.
THE BLURST FOOTBALL LEAGUE TEAMS IN TROUBLE
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY – A favourite for promotion and one of our tips, sitting 16th and equal last with Bolton and Sunderland on last 6 form.
SUNDERLAND – Second last, no wins in 11.
CHESTERFIELD – last now thanks to Forest Green Rovers form boost.
SACKED MANAGER COUNT
A nice side interest of following the Football League is The Sack Race for the next manager given the boot or leaving by “mutual consent”. Given the Football League usually dispose of about half of the 72 managers that start the season as a minimum, the next one is always around the corner.
We have the details below, including the new managers this week, for the all important new manager bounce for betting purposes.
In a week where it the EPL has seen another manager get the arse making it three of 20. It is interesting to note that the EFL have gone a month without a sacking.
Total for season: 6 (8% of Football League managers)
Championship: 1
League One: 4
League Two: 1
This week: 0
New Managers this week: 0
Find the full list of Managerial Casualties at the Sack Race here.
OUR SUREFIRE BEST O FOOTBALL LEAGUE MULTI
We don’t mind the occasional 50 cent wager here at The Gurgler, and we always want to share in case we do win. We of course no responsibility if we lose and you invested.
So here’s is our pick of the week’s best bets for each division of the Football League’s big day out for Leagues One and Two..
CHAMPIONSHIP
NORWICH to beat Derby
PRESTON to beat Brentford
WOLVES to beat QPR
IPSWICH to beat Burton
CARDIFF to beat Millwall
FULHAM to beat Bolton
Pays $31 for a 50c investment.
LEAGUE 1
PLYMOUTH to beat Rochdale
ROTHERHAM to beat Gillingham
OLDHAM to beat Scunthorpe
SOUTHEND to beat Walsall
DRAW – Wigan v Blackburn
BRADFORD to beat Portsmouth
Pays $193 for a 50c investment.
LEAGUE 2
ACCRINGTON STANLEY to beat Barnet
FOREST GREEN ROVERS to beat Morecambe
LUTON to beat Coventry
WYCOMBE to beat Cheltenham
NOTTS COUNTY to beat Newport
PORT VALE to beat Swindon
Pays $58 for a 50c investment.
ADEBAYO AKINFENWA aka THE BEAST WATCH
Our favourite footballer in any division or team around the footballing world is the man known as The Beast. Adebayo Akinfenwa is a Man Mountain that looks like he should be playing some kind of rugby. But you can’t deny his goal scoring touch and silky skills for a big man.
2017-18 STATS
No goals last week but 7 Goals so far this season has seen him lead Wycombe Wanderers into fifth place on the League Two table. He isn’t far off the top of the goal scoring list.
COMMENT TIME – WHO CARES ABOUT ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE? YOU DO. MAYBE.
We’re always ambitious here at The Gurgler, and nothing says ambition more than putting a comments section on a page that may not get read.
If you are a football League fan and want to banter, why not start below. It may be the only place in Australia left who cares.
