I think even the most optimistic amongst us would have to admit that our three year stay in the Premier League is rapidly drawing to a close following Sunderlandâs decisive victory yesterday. I wonât give up â hopefully we will still have a chance going into the final game of the season â but I think its now very likely that we will be, though perhaps not mathematically, relegated going in to the Arsenal game due to goal difference.
So where do we go from here? The recriminations will no doubt continue and there is still a split supporter camp in that regard but the most important thing now is how we approach the next campaign and make sure we donât see relegation as doom and gloom. Instead we can use it as a platform to rebuild, bring through some promising youngsters, win games, score goals and regain confidence. Players will leave of course, but we will have a very strong squad for the second tier and we will have the security of the parachute payments on the horizon if it doesnât go to plan. Our best chance of promotion will be next season. If successful weâd return with more confidence and be a little street wiser.
The Championship is an absolute ****er of a league (pardon my French). However, if you get it right it can be great fun and a very pleasant experience. As was the case upon relegation to League One five years ago, sometimes you need to take one step backwards in order to go two steps forward. We have to view our position in this light and use it as a launchpad. We donât need to be completely rebuilt but we do need a different attitude and hopefully our new manager will bring that. Being relegated scuppers our chances of securing a top manager but there are options.
Malky Mackay is the obvious candidate but I understand Neil Lennon is still the number one choice. I personally would be highly surprised if he dropped down to manage us but I think heâs probably the sort of person who would drag us straight back up, kicking and screaming. Thereâs definitely an element of âLambertâ about him. The other option is to look for a club builder who might not get us straight back up but would create a style that the club could build upon.
I thought Hughton would be that man - he wasnât. My guess would be taking a punt on someone like Karl Robinson, but I very much doubt the board will consider this route as financially it is imperative we get back to the top flight asap â our accounts are certainly stable for the first time in years (possibly ever!) but we canât afford to be out of the top flight for more than two years before that landscape would alter dramatically. Theyâll worry about style and substance once we get back. Whether thatâs the right attitude to take is another matter.
One thing I think we need to address in terms of recriminations is that of David McNally. Whether you thought Hughton should have gone or stayed, one thingâs for sure - the timing of his dismissal was bloody dreadful and, although in the end it may not have affected the end goal by sacking Hughton with five games to go, it certainly hasnât helped us. He should be crticised (and will be) for that decision but he has an enormous amount of credit in the bank with us (literally). Iâve heard calls for him to go... absolutely laughable. If we want to bounce straight back, McNally will be a vital factor in that. Letâs not bite our nose off to spite our face, eh?
OTBC
So where do we go from here? The recriminations will no doubt continue and there is still a split supporter camp in that regard but the most important thing now is how we approach the next campaign and make sure we donât see relegation as doom and gloom. Instead we can use it as a platform to rebuild, bring through some promising youngsters, win games, score goals and regain confidence. Players will leave of course, but we will have a very strong squad for the second tier and we will have the security of the parachute payments on the horizon if it doesnât go to plan. Our best chance of promotion will be next season. If successful weâd return with more confidence and be a little street wiser.
The Championship is an absolute ****er of a league (pardon my French). However, if you get it right it can be great fun and a very pleasant experience. As was the case upon relegation to League One five years ago, sometimes you need to take one step backwards in order to go two steps forward. We have to view our position in this light and use it as a launchpad. We donât need to be completely rebuilt but we do need a different attitude and hopefully our new manager will bring that. Being relegated scuppers our chances of securing a top manager but there are options.
Malky Mackay is the obvious candidate but I understand Neil Lennon is still the number one choice. I personally would be highly surprised if he dropped down to manage us but I think heâs probably the sort of person who would drag us straight back up, kicking and screaming. Thereâs definitely an element of âLambertâ about him. The other option is to look for a club builder who might not get us straight back up but would create a style that the club could build upon.
I thought Hughton would be that man - he wasnât. My guess would be taking a punt on someone like Karl Robinson, but I very much doubt the board will consider this route as financially it is imperative we get back to the top flight asap â our accounts are certainly stable for the first time in years (possibly ever!) but we canât afford to be out of the top flight for more than two years before that landscape would alter dramatically. Theyâll worry about style and substance once we get back. Whether thatâs the right attitude to take is another matter.
One thing I think we need to address in terms of recriminations is that of David McNally. Whether you thought Hughton should have gone or stayed, one thingâs for sure - the timing of his dismissal was bloody dreadful and, although in the end it may not have affected the end goal by sacking Hughton with five games to go, it certainly hasnât helped us. He should be crticised (and will be) for that decision but he has an enormous amount of credit in the bank with us (literally). Iâve heard calls for him to go... absolutely laughable. If we want to bounce straight back, McNally will be a vital factor in that. Letâs not bite our nose off to spite our face, eh?
OTBC
