The most annoying thing for me is that the Allams have not done what any good owner would have done, and that is build on the success. with what money has been generated, I don't mind being a yoyo club for 2 or 3 season, but get stronger each season, to then become a regular EPL side such as Burnley/West Brom & Stoke. That hasn't happened and it is looking as if the Allams a missed a golden opportunity in their mismanagement of the club, and going to leave the club in a piss poor position.
I probably need to re-phrase it a little. When I say this is our level, I mean we're essentially a tier 2 club who might get promoted now and again, but be relegated after a season or two. We might even get relegated to league 1 again, but bounce back after a year or two. In essence though, in terms of the potential of the club...much as I love it...we're Championship. For whatever reason, be it the disgruntlement with Allams or whatever else, despite having the third smallest stadium in the Premier league, we had the lowest attendances as a percentage of capacity. Someone on here used to finish every post with the signature 'We Are Massive'. We weren't, we're not, and we probably never will be. Sorry if it all sounds a bit negative, but meh...
Burnley, West Brom and Stoke are not regulars in the top flight, by the way. The only clubs who are truly permanent fixtures in the top division are Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Everton, with Chelsea and Man City heading that way (and mebbe Everton heading out...) Every single other club are potentially only a run of injuries or poor form away from facing a relegation struggle any given season.
What's always mystified me is how clubs like Stoke, Watford and Bournemouth managed to avoid dropping out the top flight with such average players (Stoke's midfield until quite recently was Rory Delap and Glenn Whelan ffs). They go on these horrendous runs but pull it round every season with a few wins against the top six in March. They then buy 1 or 2 quality players every window and slowly get better. Why didn't we model ourselves on that*? The last two promotions we've had a solid core of players but we've jumped the gun and tried to bring in players that aren't the right fit. Our qualification for Europa League qualifying should have been a solid platform to attract players and build, but we squandered the opportunity and the result is a knackered club that will take years to recover. I hope we serve as a lesson to clubs like Burnley and Huddersfield (if they survive) on how not to be a set of ****ers when in the top flight. *rhetorical, the obvious answer is the ****tards don't know what they're doing.
Sorry to disagree, but my view of regular is a club that spends most of it's time in any division. Of cause club have the possibility to go down, but they have done a far better job in getting themselves established as a regular EPL than we have. Stoke have been there since 2008 and West Brom, having been relegated on 2008/9 returned to the top flight 2009/10 since then have been in the top flight. My point was that if you strengthen a team year on year then the chances of staying up increase, we certainly have not done that, we sold the family silver rather than invest it is the team.
You can add to that the difference in money between Premier league and Championship these days is huge, those yoyo clubs who manage it well will be there or there about's, those who never had the money or wasted it will never get there without a rich sugar daddy owner.
If the club is managed in a good way, the money you make in the time you are in the EPL or even if relegated the parachute money is used to strengthen the team, then clubs in the position should have a much better chance of bouncing back than others. Sadly this is not happening, the profit and parachute payments are finding their way into the Allams pocket.
Burnley Bournemouth are great examples of a group of 11 playing as a team .. enhanced by managers who understand this concept .. while we lost our quality players .. those brought in and the existing squad left are capable of playing at a much higher standard then we have seen. For me Slutsky has to take some blame for this.. his team selections at times are bizarre and he just doesn't seem to be able to learn from his mistakes .. having to make change at half time or just thereafter are a sure sign you've got it wrong .. how many times already this season have we seen him do this. Pairing Larsson and Henriksen in centre midfield was a disaster.. but to do it again shortly after is unforgivable .. Ehab has made sure we lack quality .. but the manager should be getting more out of what we have. I suspect he still doesn't know his strongest team despite all of his tampering
Better pick up something tonight...Lose tonight and at Sheff and the bottom three will be sucking us into the quagmire.
Maybe the players at Stoke, Watford and Bournemouth were a bit better than 'average'? The fact they managed to stay up would suggest as much.
They weren't in their first season, when they came up they didn't have anything better than we did. They've just built on the success they've had and added a few quality players over the course of the following seasons to solidify. Which is what we should have done.
I previously posted we would be mid to lower table this season. Time to get real about this season and coming seasons ........ I now think we seriously could be relegation candidates. The club is falling apart by the week, and it could soon get a whole lot worse. And I honestly doubt we will ever see PL football again. Never. Allams had the chance to establish us as a PL club and a well supported one, but they have totally blown it. It was always only about legacy, ego and money for them. They will leave with money in tact.
Ronaldo leave it out......Has been. I'd have Bale in a heartbeat..Not sure about De Gea....Oxley is doing okay at Southend.
As much as Slutsky looks like a decent sort of bloke, I can't help but believe someone like Warnock or Allardyce would have us top 10 rather than looking over our shoulders. But I suppose the poor bloke is trying to polish turds in a lot of positions.
