The Sideways Sammy Season Review 2020/21 OpeningOpening Words Words An absolute slog of a campaign is finally experiencing bigger away followings and over. Having been so desperate for more iconic stadiums than in our eight football to return back in September, this year sojourn in the bottom two divisions season has, at times, been a test of how – that was promised upon promotion last much football one can take. year. Fans not being able to attend has been a Even better, we are going to experience it huge factor in limiting the enjoyment of in Coventry. If there is one positive to this season. The experience of logging in come out of this terrible year, it’s that the to iFollow a couple of minutes before wider situation has, seemingly, forced a kick-off rather than the build-up of return to the city that had looked travelling to games, taking in the sights impossible for much of the past two and smells of the stadium, chatting to the years. How much of a difference it will regulars around your seat, catching sight make, we just don’t know at this stage, of the players, the sound of the away fans, but it has made the prize of survival feel the noise when the players come out, the infinitely sweeter than simply staying up flow of songs, that pause between the ball would do on its own. going into the net and the celebrations, This season review will hopefully make getting annoyed by referees or opposing sense of this morass of a season, highlight players, how visceral it all feels, it’s where things have gone right and wrong, completely incomparable. where improvements can be made and It hasn’t helped that this has been a attempt to put a full stop on this challenging campaign for the Sky Blues, campaign before we never have to think where the quality of football produced has about it again. often been quite low. It has been hard not Just a note that any statistics in this are as to feel quite a few games blend in with accurate as possible as of the 8th of May others. Memorable moments and 2021. performances have been few and far between, instead, it’s been a seemingly Also, any feedback and shares on social never-ending scrap for points. Any media are gratefully appreciated. It shows satisfaction from victory has been me that I’m not completely writing these temporary, in the knowledge that yet things into the void and it also helps another game is around the corner. spread the word in case there is anyone else out there who would enjoy this work. The most important thing is that Coventry City have stayed up, which Thanks in advance for reading this. means that fans can finally enjoy the Dominic prize of truly experiencing Championship football – from seeing better players to The Sideways Sammy 2020/21 Season Review 1 Contents 3-31 Club-By-Club Reviews 102-108 Part Five A look at the seasons of each Jeopardy Championship club. 6th March 2021 – 10th April 2021 32-70 Player Reviews A look at every senior Part Six 109-113 Coventry City player that was Staying Up part of the squad this season. 15th April 2021 – 8th May 2021 Story of the Season 71-113 The Manager A part-by-part review of how 114-116 A look at the work Mark the campaign unfolded. Robins has done this season. 72-82 Part One 117-118 Most Important Player Welcome To The The most prestigious Sammy Championship award. 5th September 2020 – 7th November 2020 119-120 Most Improved Player The second-most prestigious 83-88 Part Two Sammy award. Getting To Grips th th Looking Ahead… 20 November 2020 – 12 121-124 December 2020 A look ahead to next season – a preview of the season preview. 89-84 Part Three Hitting The Skids 16th December 2020 – 19th January 2021 95-101 Part Four Muddling Along 27th January 2021 – 2nd March 2021 The Sideways Sammy 2020/21 Season Review 2 Club-By- Club Reviews The Sideways Sammy 2020/21 Season Review 3 Final Table Versus Predictions Brentford Norwich City Watford Watford Bournemouth Brentford Stoke City Swansea City Norwich City Barnsley Millwall Bournemouth Derby County Reading Blackburn Rovers Cardiff City Barnsley Queens Park Rangers Swansea City Middlesbrough Bristol City Millwall Cardiff City Luton Town Preston North End Preston North End Nottingham Forest Stoke City Luton Town Blackburn Rovers Coventry City Coventry City Middlesbrough Nottingham Forest Rotherham United Birmingham City Birmingham City Bristol City Queens Park Rangers Huddersfield Town Sheffield Wednesday Derby County Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers Huddersfield Town Rotherham United Reading Sheffield Wednesday The Sideways Sammy 2020/21 Season Review 4 Barnsley Final Position: 5th Top Scorer: Cauley Woodrow (12) Most Assists: Alex Mowatt (7) Clean Sheets: 14 Their risk-taking, high Overview What I Said defensive line forced “Barnsley are going to Barnsley were touted as a opponents onto the back be a team this year potential dark horse this foot. In a congested fixture that no-one is going to season for one key reason – list, such a style shouldn’t look forward to their then-manager, have been possible but playing.” Gerhard Struber – it would Ismael’s belief in every have been unthinkable back member of his squad gave in September that Barnsley Barnsley the ability to would go on to better things The Manager constantly rotate in order to were Struber to leave, that is maintain fitness levels. Valerien Ismael: Arrived in exactly what they have done In Barnsley’s bid for a top October with the team near under Valerien Ismael. six finish, the injection of the bottom of the table and Whereas Struber had cut a quality that came in January struggling for goals. frustrated figure over the was crucial. Forwards Transformed Barnsley into summer and early part of Carlton Morris and, most an energetic and intense the season over an inability notably, Daryl Dike, gave pressing unit that choked strengthen the squad to his Barnsley an extra cutting the life out of opponents and demands, Ismael was edge in attack to put surged into the play-offs. content to work with, and cowering opponents to the Key Player improve, the players he had sword. In addition, Barnsley available. While it was less have been incredibly Alex Mowatt: The oil that surprising to see players effective from set-pieces, keeps the machine that is such as Cauley Woodrow, scoring the majority of their this Barnsley side running. A Alex Mowatt and Callum goals in the final months of player that can do Styles form the basis of a the campaign from dead ball everything in central strong Championship side, situations. midfield, tackling, passing, the transformation of fringe creating, and scoring goals. players such as Brad Collins, Promotion to the Premier A class act at Championship and Romal Palmer into League would transform a level and, out of contract effective performers football club that has done this summer, will have his highlights Ismael’s ability as the right things for several pick of clubs in this division a coach. years now. They are the to sign for if he chooses to team that no-one will want Ismael turned the intensity leave. to face but may just lack that of Barnsley’s pressing style touch of quality to make it up to an incredible degree. over the line. The Sideways Sammy 2020/21 Season Review 5 Birmingham City Final Position: 18th Top Scorer: Lukas Jutkiewicz (8) Most Assists: Ivan Sanchez (7) Clean Sheets: 14 Championship players to Overview What I Said their expected performance “My worry for Years of poor management levels. With a solid defensive Birmingham City this both on and off the pitch at unit, possessing Neil season is that Karanka’s Birmingham City looked set Etheridge in goal as a style of football isn’t to be rewarded with powerful backstop, the pace quite what the owners relegation this season. are looking for.” and skill of wide-men, Ivan Appointed in the summer Sanchez and Jeremie Bela, with expectations of and goals in attack via both eventually taking the club The Manager Scott Hogan and a towards the Premier League, rejuvenated Lukas Lee Bowyer: Instantly lifted performances under Aitor Jutkiewicz, Birmingham a lifeless Birmingham City Karanka were uninspiring eased away from the drop side that looked destined for and the results even worse. with little fuss under the drop. Loved at the club It could almost be said that Bowyer. for his playing days, survival Birmingham were fortunate The question now is just has only enhanced Bowyer’s that the situation on the what Lee Bowyer may be reputation at St Andrew’s. pitch was so bad that it capable of at Birmingham Key Player forced the board to act and City over a longer period. remove Karanka from his The feelgood factor behind Neil Etheridge: If there is position as manager at a him should only be just one player who deserves time where the season could enhanced by the return of credit for keeping still be saved. Another stroke fans, but Bowyer will still Birmingham in the of fortune was the have work to do to sort out a Championship, it is availability of Lee Bowyer as bloated, ageing squad. Etheridge. The tall, agile Karanka’s replacement, a goalkeeper’s shot-stopping hero at the club for his Dark clouds loom over the and authority between the committed performances as horizon, with issues over a sticks kept the team in touch a player and an excellent decaying St Andrew’s that of safety under Aitor man-motivator, with prior has been sold to a Karanka and then played a experience of a club, in mysterious third-party, key role in better Charlton Athletic, in staying up won’t solve the performances under Lee disarray off-the-pitch.