Sad but true - I think your logic may be close to the mark. A random "White Knight" would be the only thing that could possibly change the likely outcome for next season.
Totally agree. We have a very young squad. We need a few older heads, and particularly those with proven experience at this level, who know their way around the Championship. There are like to be an unprecedented amount of such players available on frees.it seems wages is going to be an issue. Some are saying the Championship is going to be poor this next season, I don't see any 'freebies', and it is going to be far, far stronger than. league 1, which I thought apart from the Top Six was quite woeful.
I think doc will be ok, honeyman will charge around a lot and cover a lot of ground but there’s a question mark over him at this level. Klp untested Magennis i don’t think will make the grade, there was nothing last time to think he will be better. Elder was part of the defence that shipped goals Wilks needs to find a second gear, his laid back approach means he’ll lose the ball too easily. we only have the hope they can prove us wrong, I just don’t see it
These players have had a year playing in this system, they'll be able to look at what they did wrong both last season and the season before and correct it. When you think about it, there are currently no players (aside from Burke) who are actively trying to leave, whereas before you had players like Lopes, Lichaj and Irvine who had one eye on leaving during lockdown. That obviously created a negative atmosphere that contributed to the spiral, as well as some woeful performances. It's different this time, we're coming off the back of a very successful campaign where our players were able to excel and grow in confidence, I can't see these lads simply reverting to their previous Championship selves simply because we've gone back up a league. I think KLP will relish the challenge, as will Magennis and Elder (who is in line for an international call up if he continues his form.). I agree about Wilks, but I think Grant will be at him to do exactly what you said.
More or less along the same train of thought as myself.I read a couple of weeks ago that Docherty is relishing the challenge and seems to think his game will be perfectly suited to Championship Football.I'm not 100% sure that Magennis will be up to it but I'm more than willing to be proved wrong!
I do think we are short of real pace and not just in offensive positions... the tempo in the championship might just find this group out, initially at least... Maybe we only have Josh E, Doc and KLP, perhaps Elder with any real pace... I'mhoping he gives some of the under 23 lads a chance, im certain theres some pace in there...
When I played I always found if you play at a higher level with better players then generally you should improve. However your suggesting by dropping down a division and playing against inferior players they’ll improve....interesting I a also said we have to hope, so I’ve ever written them off. Just based my opinion on what I’ve seen
It'll be interesting to see if Magennis rises to the challenge, he looked out of his depth last time but then so did everybody else. Still, he's managed to score against the likes of Germany and Holland; if he can put goals past Neuer and Cillessen, he can score past any of the Championship keepers.
I also think there's an expiration date for when players can improve. Can't teach an old dog new tricks, sort-of thing. Players like Eaves and Smallwood have already peaked in their careers. It's why I cut the likes of Wilks and even Scott more slack compared to Eaves because the former still have time to improve.
Players can and will improve no matter their age / stage of career and to say otherwise is frankly stupid. It might not be huge improvements like a younger player who will automatically improve with experience for example. But to say there is an expiration date for when a player can improve is laughable and also disrespectful to the older players who continue to work day in day out to improve their game!
The older players get, they lose pace, become more susceptible to injuries and they even lose upper-body strength. Men's bodies peak at a certain age and slowly deteriorate after. If certain players couldn't compete at a certain level in their mid 20s, the chances of them being able to in their 30s is practically zilch. Time is harsh to athletes and a football career is a short one. If you think that's disrespectful, you need to get a grip.
