It used to be fun in the top league when it was Division One, even though we never stood a chance, then the Premier League era started and clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, got what they wanted and it got worse and worse and now it is ****. Even if we go up and do very well, there will be the celebration of finishing 10th, being called Plucky Southampton, every player who is rather good instantly wanting to play for Liverpool et al and of course the inevitable slide down the table to fight relegation. Not to mention the hammerings - even better clubs than us get hammered in that league. Losing at home to Millwall and Hull is dire and it will always be dire, top middle or bottom of the table, but there is no way that we will ever see a 25-game unbeaten run in the top division, (we might not win for that many games in the top division though) and it was the Championship that made that run possible, a bit like the 9-0 defeats and the Premier League.
Championship without VAR is brilliant, but have to remind you we were in play offs the first season we went down the last time we were relegated…and we all know what happened after that. Financially it’s better to go back to EPL even if relegated again, but we might have to suffer a dreadful time like last season. I plan to enjoy whatever happens. Promoted is the best thing ever. Not getting promoted is best thing ever. See…happy either way.
Very true. I don’t really see is plummeting toward relegation, rather mid table obscurity with occasional play off interest
I feel relatively confident about next season if we fail to gain promotion. We’ll lose good players, but we’ve shown to be shrewd with the loans and we’ll make some good money to be able to afford good replacements
Our least experienced player on the pitch, never understood that tactic, but then I was miles away listening on the radio.
Scored an OG, was caught offside multiple times and missed the first pen in the shootout. Not bad for coming on in like the 60th minute from memory. Didnt we release him that summer or was that a season later?
We really do need to get promoted this season to avoid decline, sure the Championship will probably be more balanced next season, but imagining this team without: Kyle Walker-Peters Taylor Harwood-Bellis Flynn Downes Ryan Fraser Che Adams (has been so so, but he will be big to replace. We can’t rely on Ross Stewart really.) Is pretty horrific and we would have to have the best transfer window since Koeman’s first season just to stay still.
Add Adams, Brooks, Sulemana, Rothwell to that list as definite. Then possibly Bazunu, Bednarek, Adam Armstrong too. It won't be pretty.
Went to Coventry that summer. £650K. He's been about a bit. Just unfortunate for him to be in that situation re playoffs, as you say you score an own goal and then asked to take the first penalty. ????
Adams - Stewart will be an upgrade (if fit) Brooks - One good game (?) Sulemana - Largely ineffective all season Rothwell - One good game Bazunu - Probably staying Bednarek - 50/50 Adarma - I'd say almost certainly staying (he's captain, which Prem team would want to buy him?) Even before we buy, or loan, we will have an attack that includes; Stewart, Adarma, Fraser (I reckon he'll sign permanently), Alcaraz, Edozie, Stuie, Dibling, Amo, Aribo. That's still damn good for the Championship. At the back, THB, KWP, and Downes will all be big losses. But Bree and Stephens are already Championship-level, and we'll recoup a fair wad of money from the players we sell.
You are starting to make me want to stay down. I don’t want to pack the team with loans next year. Let’s be brave and give youth a chance. We need a midfield enforcer from somewhere, but we have a wealth of attacking talent who can’t get in the team. And Meghoma should be starting next year.
I was just including loans to highlight the overhaul that will be needed. Not sure what you've seen from Stewart to suggest he will be an upgrade on Che though. He has had a great year in league 1 followed by one good run of form in this league but not played since. Adams is proven in the championship and has been alright in the prem.
I'm a big fan of Che (sometimes it feels like I'm the only one), and he does the hold-up stuff well at times. But from what I've seen/heard of Stewart, he seems to be the aerial presence in the box that we have so sorely missed this season. Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe he won't even get fit. But regardless, I don't think it's out of the question for us to find someone who is equal to Adams. KWP on the other hand...
I would like to think that Fraser would stay next season, if we were to still be in the Championship. Newcastle don't want him, and I'd be dubious if (m)any other PL would either. Might get competition from relegated PL clubs, but his time here this season would give us a big advantage. Retaining Rothwell would probably be an option too. Whether or not we would want to is a different matter. I know that we don't have Perraud this season, but I'd like to think he'd be back next year if we were to go up. But probably not so if we don't. So in a sense he's someone else who we would lose if we don't go up. (In theory you could make a similar argument for ABK. But he'd need to actually be fit for us to miss him.)
I really wish we did have Perraud this season. Was just thinking earlier how he's a big miss - would be great in this league.
Was there any chat when he left that he wanted to go or was it because of Mannings arrival? Quite funny reading the Saint Manning thread about him being an upgrade
