Fans view: Shocks and surprises abound as Yorkshire clubs eye path to glory

No matter whether it is the Championship, League One or League Two, few weekends have passed without at least one huge shock of a result.

All three divisions, in fact, have seen top v bottom clashes go the way of the struggling side in the past three weeks.

Peterborough United started the trend by winning at Cardiff City, a victory that was made all the more remarkable by Malky Mackay’s side having previously won all 10 league games at their own stadium this season. The one-time Bluebirds have also beaten Crystal Palace and Millwall, both sides who went into the new year with genuine hopes of winning promotion, since that defeat to Posh to underline just what an incredible result that was on December 15.

A similar description can be given to Hartlepool United’s triumph over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on the final Saturday of 2012. Not only had the North East side not won any of their previous 22 games but the Blades also boasted the only remaining unbeaten home record in League One at the time.

Completing the trio of top v bottom clashes that ripped up the formbook in December was Barnet’s shock triumph at Gillingham on Boxing Day.

Where else in the footballing world could that happen in not one but all three divisions of a League?

Yorkshire, as Blades fans will wearily attest in the wake of that defeat to Hartlepool, has been no different with every one of the county’s 11 sides enjoying up and down fortunes during the opening half of the season.

In the Championship, Hull City and Middlesbrough seem to offer the best hope of bringing an end to a Premier League without a White Rose representative but even those two have suffered their setbacks along the way.

Leeds United, too, have managed to follow a winless run of seven games with a nine-match run that has yielded 18 points, while Huddersfield Town have fallen from occupying a play-off place as recently as mid-November to looking nervously over their shoulders at the bottom clubs.

Barnsley may prop up the Championship but a 5-0 win at Birmingham plus victories over Boro and Millwall shows that South Yorkshire has not been without its surprises, either.

Here, the Yorkshire Post’s Fans Panel give their verdicts on the season so far.

Barnsley - Paul Gallagher

Verdict: I am certainly glad to see an end to 2012. It has not been very good, with the team performing dismally. I was a supporter of Keith Hill at the beginning of the season, but after more bad recruits, baffling team selections, an inability to fix our leaky defence, the offensive comments about our club and fans and the treatment of one or two of our valued players, I was happy when the Barnsley board finally ended his 18-month reign.

Are Barnsley exceeding expectations or under-achieving? We are bottom of the table – enough said.

Best player: David Perkins.

Biggest disappointment: Mido. Has never looked close to being fit enough to play. A waste of a (top) wage.

Best moment: 5-0 away win against Birmingham on Sky in September.

Lowest moment: Too many to choose from, but the derby game against Wednesday was one of the poorest in many years, along the way to our worst home record in 50 years.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? We might not be bottom of the table had Hill recruited slightly fewer players, but with more Championship experience.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window? We need an experienced management team the fans can unite behind. A centre forward and an experienced centre-half are also must-haves.

Advice to manager: Good luck. You are going to need it.

Key for remainder of the season: The board’s choice of management team.

Where will your team finish? Fourth from bottom would do me.

Huddersfield - Jamie White

Verdict: It has been a bit of an up-and-down season so far, as we started excellently and actually occupied a top-two spot at one point. However, recent results have seen us slip down the table. To be on 30 points, though, at the halfway mark was pleasing as it meant we were well on our way to survival.  

Are Huddersfield exceeding expectations or under-achieving? So far, exceeding expectations.

Best player: Adam Clayton. Very consistent in midfield and looks 10 times the quality of any midfielder we saw under previous manager Lee Clark.

Biggest disappointment: Adam Hammill. Came with a lot of promise from Wolves, but has yet to hit the levels we expected from him.

Best moment: Beating Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Lowest moment: 4-2 home defeat to Leeds. Poor choice of line-up and tactics meant that we were easily outplayed.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? A very good start meant that we picked up the bulk of our points in the opening 10-15 games and sent us well on the way towards the magic 50-point mark.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window? Send back the under-performing loan players like Hammill and Simon Church and ship out some of the dead wood. Plus, plug the holes in the team with a dominant centre-back and a regular goalscorer.

Advice to manager: Sort out the team’s discipline.

Key for remainder of the season: Getting out of this ‘rut’ and stringing a few good results together. Getting past 50 points is the priority.

Where will Town finish? 14th.

Hull City - Gareth Richardson

Verdict: I wasn’t expecting too much from this season and the first game of the season, when we beat Brighton, didn’t change that thinking. I got home and my Dad, who gave up his season pass after 30 years in the summer because he’d been bored by Nigel Pearson and Nick Barmby, asked what we’d played like and I replied, ‘No difference from the last two years with the same boring football’. But things have changed hugely since then and I have been really impressed with Steve Bruce, not just for the football but also how he doesn’t try to hide behind excuses after a defeat.

Are Hull exceeding expectations or under-achieving? Definitely exceeding expectations.

Best player: Everyone says Sone Aluko but I’m going to go for Stephen Quinn. He has brought energy to the midfield.

Biggest disappointment: Nick Proschwitz. He hasn’t scored the goals and has hardly played.

Best moment: The first half against Millwall when we were 4-0 up – it was the best 45 minutes I’ve seen from us.

Lowest moment: Losing 2-0 to Middlesbrough at the Riverside or Burnley 1-0 at the KC.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? The signing of Ahmed Elmohamady and Stephen Quinn in late August turned the season round.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window? Keep our best players and let’s have another striker.

Advice to manager: Keep doing what you are doing.

Key for remainder of the season: Take our chances when on top in games.

Where will your team finish? If we can take our chances, I believe the top two is definitely achievable.

Leeds United - Paul Taylor

Verdict: We’re doing okay. We are within touching distance of the play-offs with a squad, by and large, that is pretty thin on quality, albeit in a poor quality but competitive division. We look one-paced but we have compensated, to some extent, with pure graft. The initial euphoria regarding the takeover has now been replaced with “wait and see” so, in terms of a proper assessment of where Leeds are at, it might be best to come back to me after the transfer window.

Are Leeds exceeding expectations or under-achieving? Living up to them, nothing more or less.

Best player: Luciano Becchio. You can’t argue with his goals tally, but Paddy Kenny, Sam Byram and Alan Tate have also been impressive.

Biggest disappointment: Lee Peltier has not impressed and Ross McCormack is not fully fit.

Best moment: The long overdue win at Huddersfield Town.

Lowest moment: Conceding six at home to Watford.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? We are still playing catch-up after failing to strengthen adequately in the summer. Oh, to have a couple of players of the quality of Robert Snodgrass or Max Gradel.

Advice to manager: You have survived Ken Bates, the rest should be plain sailing.

Key for remainder of the season: Keep Alan Tate and add three players to provide a “spine” of quality and/or speed.

Where will your team finish? With a fair wind, sixth. But more likely eighth, ninth or 10th.

Middlesbrough - Graeme Bandeira

Verdict: The team is doing exceedingly well and we are in a better position than last season, when we tailed off towards the final hurdle. I am yet to see a better footballing team.

Are Boro exceeding expectations or under-achieving? Going to plan.

Best player: Grant Leadbitter.

Biggest disappointment: Marvin Emnes.

Best moment: Beating Blackburn after a dismal showing at Blackpool.

Lowest moment: Playing Leeds off the park last month but losing.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? Tony Mowbray is doing a great job and will take us all the way to Premier League.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window? Not much really.

Advice to manager: Utilise Nicky Bailey more.

Key for remainder of the season: It is vital that we get that crucial second goal, which so often decides games at any level.

Where will your team finish? We are going up as champions.

Sheffield Wednesday - Karina Hercock

Verdict: After a great start, everyone’s expectations were raised but then Dave Jones started changing the team a lot and we got frustrated. A mid-table finish would be a good first season back in the Championship.

Are the Owls exceeding expectations or under-achieving? We are about where I thought we would be, consolidating in the Championship.

Best player: Anthony Gardner. He has had his injuries, but as captain he has been a rock and helped out with the younger players.

Biggest disappointment: Rodri.

Best moment: Rhys McCabe scoring at Hillsborough against Charlton. Terrific volley in a 2-0 win and his first goal in professional football.

Lowest moment: Losing 4-1 at home to Watford.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? Jay Bothroyd got injured, which made us change the team around. And the recent arrival of experienced coach Stuart Gray has helped the side defensively.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window?

Like every team in the Championship, we need a striker.

Advice to manager: Go for quality rather than quantity in the January transfer market.

Key for remainder of the season: Anthony Gardner staying fit and building a strong partnership with Miguel Llera at the heart of Wednesday’s defence.

Where will your team finish? 14th.

Doncaster Rovers - Stephen Waddington

Verdict: An excellent mid-season report. A number of inspirational summer signings have seen Rovers line up as a team of giants, adopting a successful ‘win ugly’ direct approach.

Are Rovers exceeding expectations or under-achieving? As a team in transition last summer, we are exceeding.

Best player: David Cotterill.

Biggest disappointment: Kyle Bennett: has the talent, but must be consistent and work harder.

Best moment: Last-gasp win away at leaders Tranmere.

Lowest moment: The 4-1 defeat at home to Coventry.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? Solid defence with more height from set-pieces.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window? Get a creative midfielder and a striker, with some pace.

Advice to manager: See above.

Key for remainder of the season: James Coppinger’s return to the side.

Where will your team finish? 3rd.

Sheffield United - Jim Blackburn

Verdict: Following the play-off disappointment, the team have rallied and have been solid defensively without ever convincing. Having said that, we are in the top two and optimistic.

Are Blades exceeding expectations or under-achieving? We should be in the top two.

Best player: Nick Blackman.

Biggest disappointment: John Cofie.

Best moment: The 5-3 win over Bournemouth at home.

Lowest moment: Losing to Hartlepool.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? This division is there for the taking if we have the bottle.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window? The team is crying out for width.

Advice to manager: Let’s not be left wondering ‘what might have been?’ come the end of the season.

Key for remainder of the season: Steering clear of injuries.

Where will your team finish? 2nd.

Bradford City - Mike Harrison

Verdict: The cups are what everyone is talking about and beating Arsenal on penalties was stunning. But the league is what this season has to be all about and we have done well.

Are Bradford exceeding expectations or under-achieving? Definitely exceeding.

Best player: Gary Jones.

Biggest disappointment:

No one.

Best moment: The League Cup run.

Lowest moment: Losing 4-0 at Rotherham.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? Excellent recruitment.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window? I still feel we are a bit light on numbers at the back.

Advice to manager: Keep calm and carry on.

Key for remainder of the season: As long as we don’t get distracted by the three big cup games in January, we should be fine.

Where will your team finish? Got to be top three.

Rotherham United - Lee Rowbotham

Verdict: Steve Evans was right when he said: “It’s going to be a rollercoaster ride, strap yourselves in tight and enjoy the ride. “

Highs against Bradford and Cheltenham plus two superb

FA Cup shows but lows against Port Vale, Southend and Dagenham.

Are Millers exceeding expectations or under-achieving? Slightly under-achieving.

Best player: Ben Pringle.

Biggest disappointment: Nicky Hunt.

Best moment: Beating Bradford City 4-0 at the New York Stadium.

Lowest moment: 5-0 away-day defeat against Dagenham.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? Inconsistency.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window? Sign a ‘fox-in-the-box’ striker.

Advice to manager: Getting our recruitment right in January could be the difference. Play two up front.

Key for remainder of the season: Avoiding injuries.

Where will your team finish? 3rd.

York City - Andrew Briggs

Verdict: We have eight wins, 10 draws and seven losses, which suggest a lack of consistency. Most fans accept we are currently a mid-table side that needs strengthening.

Are York exceeding expectations or under-achieving? Just about where we deserve to be.

Best player: Prior to his injury, Michael Coulson.

Biggest disappointment: Without a doubt, Jonathan Smith.

Best moment: The first half against Bristol Rovers.

Lowest moment: The very poor performance at home to Wimbledon.

Where has this season gone right/wrong? We’ve done well away but not at home.

What needs to be done in the January transfer window? We urgently need one, if not two, centre-backs.

Advice to manager: Please sort out the defence.

Key for remainder of the season: Improve the home form.

Where will your team finish? Mid-table.