Leicester City continues to smash century-old records, standing head and shoulders above the clubs who have recently sacked their managers. Meanwhile, Crysencio Summerville is showcasing his exceptional talent at Leeds, cementing his status as a standout player.
TEAM OF THE ROUND
Leicester City
Leicester City’s dominance shows no signs of waning, and it’s becoming increasingly challenging to choose a different team for our “Team of the Round” segment. However, we strive to reflect the Championship accurately and avoid predictability in this column.
Leicester has emerged as the superior team since their relegation, and their record-breaking performances are nothing short of extraordinary. With 11 wins out of 12 games, they have established an incredible 11-point lead over third-placed Leeds, who are in decent form themselves.
Their most recent achievement saw them secure their sixth consecutive away win at the start of a Championship campaign. This remarkable feat has never been accomplished in the 121-year history of the second-tier league. Despite conceding an early goal against Swansea, Leicester showed their resilience, equalizing before halftime and ultimately securing a 3-1 victory.
If they manage to defeat Sunderland midweek, they will reach 36 points from the first 13 games of the season, placing them among the best second-tier teams in history. Comparisons can be drawn with Bury and Bristol City, teams from over a century ago. Given their current trajectory, Leicester has the potential to create history throughout the season.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND
Crysencio Summerville (Leeds United)
I distinctly remember watching Leeds United’s match against Ipswich, eagerly anticipating the unveiling of their formidable attacking lineup. Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter, Willy Gnonto, and Luis Sinisterra impressed me with their quality, each scoring a goal and warning Championship defenses about the challenges Leeds would present this season.
Unfortunately, Sinisterra departed for Bournemouth shortly after the game, meaning we may never witness that extraordinary attacking quartet again. Nevertheless, Leeds possesses an abundance of talent, with Crysencio Summerville leading the charge.
Summerville’s performances have reached new heights, making him a strong contender for the player of the month award in October. He scored the winning goal against QPR, provided an assist in the victory against Bristol City, and showcased his brilliance with two outstanding goals in the second half against Norwich, leading Leeds to another three points on the board.
Despite Norwich being aware of Summerville’s tendencies to cut inside from the left and curl shots with his right foot, they were unable to prevent him from finding the back of the net twice. Summerville’s current form aligns with Leeds’ upward trajectory, making him a player to watch in the coming matches.
TALKING POINT OF THE ROUND
Fresh Starts for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, and Millwall
This weekend, we witnessed new faces in the dugouts of Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday, and Birmingham City. However, these clubs were unfortunate in not securing victories. Wayne Rooney made his managerial debut for Birmingham, but a late goal from Morgan Rogers sealed a 1-0 win for Middlesbrough. Meanwhile, Michael Carrick’s Boro extended their winning streak to five matches.
Sheffield Wednesday’s new boss, Danny Rohl, also faced disappointment as his team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Watford due to Yasser Asprilla’s 82nd-minute strike. Wednesday’s winless streak of twelve games in the 2023/24 season continues, with only one goal scored in their last eight matches.
Turning the tide for these struggling clubs presents an immense challenge for their new managers. Big Val Ismael is attempting to do just that at Watford, and this victory pushed the Hornets out of the league’s bottom five.
Lastly, Adam Barrett takes charge of Millwall as caretaker manager following Gary Rowett’s departure. Despite falling behind to an early goal from Mads Frokjaer-Jensen, Millwall managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Preston, which is a commendable result given the circumstances. Preston, on the other hand, has not won in their last five matches, dropping out of the top three.
LOANEE OF THE ROUND
Ryan Fraser (Southampton on loan from Newcastle United)
Ryan Fraser’s goal for Southampton against Hull ignited a multitude of storylines in the world of football.
