England's Secret Gems: The EFL Championship

Written byAlex Martinez   Follow @avfcthreads
June 22, 2024
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Introduction

Many football fans belive that the EFL Championship is one of the most entertaining leagues in the world, and for good reason. Whether it's promotion final drama, or out of this world moments, there's never a dull moment within the Championship.

In this article we'll explore why the Championship matters so much, and some gems being forged there currently.


Championship Alumni



If you want to know just how influential the Championship is, 73% of Englands Euro's squad (19/26) has played half a season or more in Englands second division.

Most notably, one of the best players in the world, Jude Bellingham was first noticed playing for Birmingham City in the 2019/2020 season; resulting in Birmingham retiring his shirt after only one season and a world record fee for the 17 year old. And from there, the rest is history. A move to Real Madrid at just 20 years old, and a Champions League win in his first season as a Galactico cemented his status as one of the worlds best.

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Then you have Adam Wharton, whose quality stood out so clearly in the Championship that it earned him a mid-season move to Crystal Palace, where in only six months he shined so bright he earned an England call-up.


The Championship's Diamonds

Many people discredit the Championships due to it being Englands second tier, but the quality of players in the Championship is brilliant. As noted before, Bellingham and Wharton are famous alumni but others such as Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, Ollie Watkins and even England captain Harry Kane have all played in Englands second tier.

Here are two more Championship talents who I believe have the quality to make it to the top.


Jacob Greaves

The first player I want to talk about is Jacob Greaves. Jacob is 23 years old and currently plays for Hull, who came 7th last season. Jacob caught the eye of many fans for his ball playing ability at such a young age. And an added bonus, he is left footed.

Standing at 6"4, Greaves is an aerial beast, achieving the highest Aerial duel win rate in the Championship this season (74%). This can enhance many teams as a strong physical frame especially at a young age is what many teams need. At the time of writing it's been reported that Ipswich are on the verge of signing Greaves, meaning we will get to watch him in action in the Premier League next season.

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Next, his ball playing ability and progression of the ball.
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Another impressive aspect is his dribbling ability. As stated before, Jacob is 6"4 and possesses a large frame, so when he does get moving, it's hard to get the ball off him. Jacob again ranks above average for dribbles per 90 (1.05), and succesful dribble % (62%), when compared to every championship CB. He also ranks an outstanding 6th for dribbles attempted in the Championship.

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Hayden Hackney


Twenty-two year old Hayden Hackney is one of the most talented players in the Championship currently. Playing for 8th place Middlesbrough, he has got suitors in the likes of West Ham and many other top level sides. The midfilder only stands at 5"10, but is tenacious either in a single, or double pivot in Micheal Carricks system.

The first quality I want to talk about is his passing ability. As you can see in the image below, he is a genuinely oustanding passer. He ranks in the top 20 in the league for every passing stat, and he ranks 1st in passes into final third, and 3rd for progressive passes.

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The next thing I want to touch on is his duel winning. Like mentioned before, Hayden is only 5"10 which compared to others in the middle of the park isn't the tallest, but his tenacious desire to win the ball back overcomes the height difference. As you can see below, he's won 43% of his aerial duels, which is just above average for the Championship. He also contests 8 defensive duels a game, winning 55% of them.

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To conclude, the Championship is a hub of bright new talents in every position, everywhere you look, and it shouldn't be overlooked as some top quality players have all been produced in Englands second division. Some players I mentioned are exceptionally talented, and I wouldn't be suprised if they were performing week in week out at some big name clubs in the next 3-5 years.


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