Part of the problem is that supporters of P.L. Clubs have expectations that their owners will only make "marque signings". Average players now command 8 figure fees. Those players then expect huge salaries, etc. The merry go round gains momentum, season upon season. The wheels must surely come off the wagon and some sanity return to the game. It can't happen soon enough for me. I do so detest the P.L. There's precious little "premier" about it.
I might follow my co season ticket holder mate's lead & go and watch when City are not playing, Merthyr who he says play good old fashioned no nonsense 4-4-2 with some decent players but with no quarter asked, no prima donna's and no diving. Like football in the 70's
It's strange Vetch - apart from the top half dozen clubs, 90% of the club supporters don't really like it up there, whereas 90% of the club supporters outside that league still want to get there. There's a moral in that somewhere.
You could always head East up the M4, to Rodney Parade, and watch The County. Don't forget to take your water wings though.
Or your bucket and spade. The pitch is like Ninian and the Vetch by February each year in the 70's. The drainage was upgraded for half the pitch (why only half?) about 4/5 years ago then they were supposed to have done the rest in summer 2015. No noticeable improvement but having a football team and 2 rugby sides using the same pitch, which is at river level, week in week out cannot help. They can't afford to lay the new style pitches with artificial grass weaved in or the lighting needed to encourage grass growth. I was at the Liberty this morning for an early meeting and watched the lights slowly travelling across the pitch - like something from Close Encounters!!!!
The P.L. is made up of the "half dozen clubs" you refer to, plus I feel, another two. These eight are more or less secure in their tenure. That leaves us with a mini League of twelve clubs, of which 25% will be relegated, and that reality is what drives the P.L., i.e., the fear of failure, of going back to the dreaded Championship. Your one season in the P.L. was, I suspect, not a very enjoyable experience, as the fear of failure grew, game on game, until the inevitable realisation of that failure sank in. I seem to recall Cardiff beating Man. City on the opening day, and it must have seemed oh so easy at 5 p.m. on that first day. But things soon changed and the fear took over. That fear now grips the Swansea followers. Relegation is a distinct possibility for the first time in six seasons, and games are no longer enjoyable experiences.
I'd like to see the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, et al, trying to ply their trade on those mud heaps that were Ninian Park and The Vetch Field.
True vetch, been there, done that and still have the tee-shirt. Until Colin arrived there was a similar feeling of dread this season. Not out of it yet but a lot more hopeful. We should have a clearer idea by the end of January with Wurzels away, Burton and Preston home and a difficult trip to Reading. 7 or 8 points as a minimum from those should see as start to climb. Not counting chickens though. Play like we did against Villa then achievable, play like against Fulham then back to the bottom 3!!!! Over to you Colin!!! I see we have just rearranged Brighton away for Tuesday 24th January. Not hoping for much there.
No game is easy to predict in this league. Newcastle have lost to Błackburn twice. Błackburn were comfortably the worst team seen at CCS this season. Plenty of twists and turns to come.
as a Predictor of the Champ games in a few sites it would have to be the most unpredictable league I have seen, form seems to go out the window every second week, anyway, good luck guys (not this week as I have tipped 2-1 to Bristol) which means you will win
4 goals in the last 15 minutes? anyway good luck, I thought we would have had the match on TV here but sadly no, had to watch spurs v wba. good result, ffs reading, norwich and brighton lose, total raffle isn't it
The one team currently outside the top 6 to get a playoff spot that I'd have a few bob on ( and I have been known to have a little flutter now and again ) would be Fulham. That's not becasue they beat us last week - Newport could have done that on the day - I just think they've got some great youngsters on board that will take them upwards.
watched PNE a few times here on telly, def smokey. Fulham seem to have an attitude, if you score 2 we will score 3, don't lose too many but draw a lot but another def possibility. Last 6 matches the form sides are Leeds, BHA, Sheff Wed, Hudd, Newcastle, Reading, Fulham, Cardiff, PNE and Wolves. Nightmare for a punter to pick isn't it
If Fulham can sort out their defence, notwithstanding they kept a clean sheet albeit fortuitously v Barnsley then they've got a good shout at top 6. Incidentally when is Leeds bubble going to burst?