I've been harbouring a desire for some weeks now that we can finish the season as the best promoted side. Don't think Reading will be a problem, but I would give anything to finish above West Ham....anybody think the same way?
We've been playing nicer football than West Ham but they've been far more consistent. Let's not forget that they're capable of making some pretty big signings too, and they also have the ambition to be playing in Europe, so I'll wait until we're above them before I make the claim that we're better. West Ham are a very big team.
We came a close second to Brighton and Reading in our promotion seasons when we were really the better side. West Ham got their points early and we've caught up a bit. All I will say is that I would rather watch Southampton.
Trouble is this is always going to be true. I was watching Saints serve up some truly awful football when I was living in East London and West Ham could boast Hurst, Peters and Moore! West Ham will always be top of my "favourite other team" list because of the '66 World Cup, but Saints are just in my DNA. Of course I'd love us to finish above them, but I'd like us to finish above Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea et al even more. Maybe not this season though.
I wouldn't say West Ham have been more consistent than us. I'd say they were quicker to adapt and found an effective way to win football matches that got them points on the board early. We started slowly, but have been fairly consistent with our level of performances, just not results. We play the most attractive football but don't always get the results to justify the tag of best promoted side, not quite yet anyway.
I've predicted we will finish above West Ham, so I'm bound to say we will end up the best promoted side.
I'm not too worried about finishing above West Ham. I mean, I want to finish above as many teams as possible obviously but West Ham is not a particular target for me. I still think we are "the best promoted side" regardless in that we have young players who should improve and a good wage structure. I don't think Carroll staying at West Ham is a done deal quite yet, is it? And if he stays that will be 15-20 million pounds spent just to maintain their team from this year. They are a decent size club and it seems like their financial issues may be behind them but still. It seems like West Ham will be fine, but I feel like at this point the level of talent in both squads is pretty similar (we just had a tougher PL transition). And I''m not sure what our plans are this summer, but I think we would be a better team without even doing anything just from players improving. And we have money to spend ourselves. With 1-2 astute signings it is possible I think for us to finish top 6. I mean, they would have to be *really* good signings so I'm not exactly counting on it, but it's entirely possible. So I would rather be us than them.
West Ham also had a quicker return to the PL...their team was PL standard. We came up with a well put together League 1/Championship side.
Saints now 6/5 on Betfair to be top promoted team. West Ham 8/11 I still think we'll end up above them. I backed us at 9/4 at the start of the season. Wish I'd backed us at 20/1 mid season... Vin
Fulham are beating QPR 3-1 right now and although they'll be several points [I think it would be 5, without checking] ahead and a game or two, I reckon we could get past them. QPR have missed a penalty..!
I've got 2 bets on this season. 1) finish highest out of the 3 promoted teams. 2) finish top 10. Had a bet on saints to get promoted from day 1 last season
