If he's played in competitive fixtures for both us and shelbourne, then I'm not sure how their wierd season timings could affect 3rd club eligibility this season.
Not really, no. Competition is gonna be intense. On the one hand it's there for anyone who can be consistent. On the other hand there's about 10 clubs realistically looking at the league the same way trying to find the same elusive consistency. Just the inherent nature of the league. One thing I would say is that with a relatively new squad there's no reason why with a couple of additions we can't improve on the first half of the season in the second. But again there are plenty of others in the same boat and it's inevitably going to come down to very tight margins. More like nip and tuck as opposed to wide open.
You’re assuming everyone has the same expectations as yourself. I wouldn’t be devastated if we don’t reach the playoffs. I believe it has been suggested on here we have a top eight budget, and I’d be totally happy with that, which we are on track for, with a possibility of improving second half of the season, so yea we could sneak in there anyway. But it is far too soon, there are teams much better than us, so would be highly unlikely we would go up (and if we did, stay there), with the concern of the following season hangover which affects many teams. For me, although the progress has been fantastic since Rosenior took over, we don’t have the foundations in place as is obvious with the lack of strength in depth. That will take time. I have found it really exciting watching a young team develop under a young manager, who are clearly learning together. The whole club has a clear identity and a refreshing brand of football. The added bonus is that we are playing in a fantastic league. We clearly have the funds to invest now, but can’t spend it as we are hamstrung by the Allam malaise affecting our average turnover. That situation will improve too. You mention the experience of our previous premier league teams, but that didn’t help when we got there. And having said all that, after the initial novelty our previous seasons in the premier league, I didn’t particularly enjoy the premier league anyway, the journey was far better than the destination. Plus add VAR to that, when (because I believe we will if we remain patient with Rosenior) we do go up, I want us to be strong enough to have the chance to establish ourselves and to be playing exciting football.
One key difference if/when we do get promoted then we have stronger financial backing to make use of the increased budgetary headroom thet PL football brings, where we couldn't really afford to bring in what we needed in forward areas to stay up before. That said if we go up with a solid core of players to add to, as opposed to buying a whole new squad that's going to be more sustainable with a better chance of success. Realistically, we're not even 2 years into the new ownership yet, and only 3 transfer windows from points deductions making championship survival more comfortable than it otherwise should have been. We just need solid progress year on year and we'll get there if we're patient and keep progressing.
I don't particularly like us in the prem either and really prefer us being competitive in the championship, but Acun wants the prem, biscuit man ( sorry can't remember his name ) wants the prem, that's their expectations. Do you think they'll be happy not being in the prem within the next couple of seasons? And this season is a real opportunity with the correct investment, if we can do it this season, why would we want to wait? We could lose a number of players in the summer due to either end of loans or being sold. So we'd have to start again anyway....so why not do that with the riches of the PREM in the bank? Do you know what I think probably be best for us and the long term development you speak of..... Going up (it's never to soon) this season, using some of the money to bring in players who will give long term value, use the rest of the money to invest in a proper training ground set up. If we then come down again straight away then so be it ( we then have parachute payments etc to help build for promotion again ) but if we do stay up then we build from there. The prem might not be for you, but it's definitely best for us long term and it's definitely what our owner and his team want ASAP
It is, but Acun has reiterated both in pre season and a couple of weeks ago on the Rosey annivesary 1904 pod that his expectations are top 10 this season. Specifically said if we don't get playoffs or promoted this year then 'that's OK, It just means we're not ready yet'. The fact he's also tying the manager down to an improved deal also shows he has faith in the current process. I agree you take promotion when you can get it, but if we fall short then we're not underachieving in any way just we build and go again. Acun is being realistic enough to realise Rome isn't necessarily built in a day. Despite being ambitious. Oh, and the biscuit man is Murat Ulker. He also knows that they can't just spend without increasing headroom first and it's realistically going to take time.
I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say. Philogene is better right now but I think Delap has more tools to be an elite player. Elite level physicality for a number 9 already, dribbling, link up, ball striking. Everything about his game is premier league except decision making id say.
Saying Delap is better in every way than Philogene is a ridiculous comment if it was meant seriously.
I think the exact comment was he was a 'rung above' and had 'absolutely everything' so maybe conflating the two.
Compare Delap now to Kane at 20. Wouldn't like to guess who'll go further between Jaden and Delap though.
I also don't think the league is as wide open this season as some think. We're almost halfway through the season, I don't think Ipswich are dropping out of the picture. Both they and Leicester are having record starts - if you can still call it a start - to the season, Leeds and Southampton are continuing to pull away too. The league may be open in terms of making the play offs but in terms of needing to make huge changes to our squad to get there I think that's overblown considering we're literally sat level on points with 6th place with what we've had so far. A few savvy additions will hopefully give us a great chance of getting 5-6th in the table and who knows from there, but I'd be shocked if it's not three of Leicester, Ipswich, Soton and Leeds going up.
I'd go further. I'd say the current top 5 will all likely be in the top 6. Squeezes the opportunity for the chasing pack to get that last spot even further.
