Well taking a step back all three promoted sides have changed managers. Norwich and Swansea seek new ones and have been the victims of their own success. I hope they both make it with new people in charge but they will need good appointments. I do fear a little for Norwich as their board seems a millions miles away from ours on the idea of progression. I hope a lot of fans from these clubs now understand what a disruption we had to go through but made it by the skin of our teeth. So my discussion point is progression and how to handle it ... I sense we are going about it the right way and in the boozer last night i got into a discussion and most thought we will make it next year easily and Norwich and the Swans are going to sink as the three coming up all have momentum and progression. IMO its exactly what got us here and just goes to show what happens if you fiddle with it ... money doesn't always work and in MH we have someone that knows this ... sort of puts the fans who want to know dismantle our team into place. MH has said he has his targets and we have the people to get these targets ...thats progression whereas the Swans have put a block on Liverpool buying their players and Norwich will only pay £15 a game plus petrol money. Holt served them well and looks doubtful he will remain and IMO will drift back into Championship football without a team that may have lost that momentum ... All this proves that my team spirit thing was right after all and to those who thought i didn't know my footie i say ... keep guessing as Football Business at QPR is now being done correctly and should highlight that NW's panic buys were well ... exactly that. Progression ...i now have a £100 on that we will finish above Liverpool
I don't think anyone would disagree with that DT but for Norwich and Swansea if they appoint the right man then obviously they have the ability to stay up and progress. Finding the right man is the problem. We've had 546 managers in the past 6 years and until warnock got his gameplan going we were all over the place. The problem for swansea and Norwich is that they really need managers who can influence and bring in the right players. I see Swansea are contemplating monk as player / manager - could be disastrous at this level
I'm far from comfortable with all the assumptions flying around. Things like we'll be okay whilst others like Norwich, Swans, WBA and certain of the promoted teams won't. Dodgy ground imho. Of course I'm much happier with our potential for progression atm than at this time last year. What a dry desert that was - and what efforts and luck it took to recover sufficiently from the Goon Show to stay up in the end. At least we now have directors and a management team in place and all on the same page. No doubt that that is progression in it's own right but whether we're able to create a squad / team capable of amassing 50 to 60 points next season remains to be seen. As for our competitors, God only knows if and how they are likely to progress. I'd have thought Swans and Canaries would've seen they'd have little chance holding their successful managers and would've had sure fire replacements in mind... All I know is that any reasonably knowledgeable football fan would rather be in our current position than their's or West Brom's. Not so sure about other clubs though.
I never thought norwich and swansea were in it for the long haul. They had the equivalent of beginners luck last season but they are no longer the surprise packets. The fact that their respective managers left to join sinking ships shows their ambition. Without investment and a clear plan, it's only a matter of time before they get into a perpetual relegation scrap. I'm just glad we stayed up to watch the drama unfold.
17th when Colin left, 17th at season end after a huge lay out January. There's been a lot of hot air coming from HQ but no new players or anything concrete yet, that gives me any reason to expect more than survival again at best next season.
No problem there Sooper - wasn't expecting anything much more just yet! I'm just saying nothing has really happened so far to warrant tipping us half way up the table, and really for all we know now Norwich and Swansea could start the season rejuvenated with new management and better squads than they have now, even if this is not the most likely scenario right now, there is still more than 2 months to go.
I think thats's a bit harsh on Swansea 12man! I thoriughly enjoyed their style of football. They showed you can go up, play carpet football and succeed. Now Rodgers has gone, I fear for them. The team spirit issue is a vital one too. In the end it was the Mackie, Hill and Derry type players who did most when the chips were down. From his past record MH is all over that - he'll look at personality and team unity before he offers anyone a contract. We are in no position to indulge any 'Flash Harry's. Progression takes patience - Ive been a fan since 1976 - I have loads and it's been a long old time since I've been this confident.
We improved massively since he left but so did others like wigan who hit top 6 form, wed have been down without that improvement. If we replicate that form, we will be safe over a season.
