What the hell is going on in the Championship? Theres a real chance that teams like Brentford and Bournemouth could be in the Premier League next season. Now i know we're hardly established ourselves but this is just ****ing weird.
Aye i looked t'other day and thought Brentford!! kinell. We stay up this year and the two of the three clubs coming up could be Brentford Bournemouth.
Long, long way to go yet, but as a basic rule of thumb, the ****ter the teams that come up the better for us (given that we aren't relegated obviously).
Bournemouth are the only team in the current Championship to have never played in the top flight in their history. Founded before Hull City AFC, as Boscombe FC in 1889, they were not elected into the Football League proper until the 1920's. It took City a few year's to make it. I think it would be great if Bournemouth did too. edit: correction, I don't believe Rotherham have ever been in the top flight either
I think the key to the Bournemouth success is they've been pretty stable and well run after they nearly went tits up several years back. Good owners, a good young manager they've stuck behind and a rich Russian pumping millions into the club hasn't hurt either. Quite a contrast to other more established 'big' clubs such as Leeds, Wednesday, Birmingham etc.
When we were last promoted to the PL only Peterborough in the Division had never played in the top flight before. The first time only ourselves and 3 others hadn't been in the top flight, and as we went up 2 of them were relegated.
They'll drop off although Brentford have a pub on every corner of Griffin Park, so they would be welcome
They got a big fee from Norwich for Lewis Grabban in the Summer, but even considering that I was amazed they spent £3m on Callum Wilson. They've got money to burn, it seems, much like our own Kingston Pumas.
Wednesday are virtually debt free, own their own ground and gave a support which puts ours to shame. Don't think Wednesday would be getting crowds of less than 23,000 in the Premier League. Neither would the TWS. And I say that as someone who detests the pair of them with a vengeance.
I'd like to see Wednesday and Leeds back in the top-flight, and I say that as someone whose club is generally viewed with the same contempt as Fulham and Wigan. Wednesday are at least a likable and respectable club, unlike their sty-inhabiting neighbours.
I would like to see Leeds condemned to a permanent existence in League 2. I detest Wednesday as much but they have a local fan base and you don't hear of Hull Owls or see someone with an FC or Rovers sticker into their car alongside a SWFC one like you do with Leeds.
Seen some good uns at Griffin Park – a night match 3-0 win probably tops it for me (early 90s) – might have been the season we beat ‘em with 9 men at home. Though a Dewhirst piledriver (1-0) was smart too – as was the Alcide one (2-0 or 2-1). There used to be a tier of seats above the away terrace (I snook up there from the terrace at one game) – not sure if it’s still open.
There was that fat and bald bloke from the Black Country who supported Wednesday in the 90s - might have been aka 'Tango' - made it onto a few TV progs as he'd be watching them semi-naked in all weather. Presume it was some sort of glory hunting as well as attention seeking.
I ended up going to the cup game midweek a few years back, on my own(long story) and the locals were really friendly in one of the corner pubs. There's definitely a tier above the away end, the away is all standing and the upper tier is quite low, so you feel a bit squashed, but it's a proper old school ground.
I had a tenner on Bournemouth to get promoted at 55-1 at the start of the season, so I hope they make it. Not sure if they have the quality in depth to get over the line, but there's no reason they can't make the playoffs. Also good to see AFC Wimbledon doing well in League 2. I really hope Gateshead come up, I've played ta their stadium and it's pretty cool, like a massive version of Costello.
I'd love to see 'em go up too. A mate I played football with over here used to be on their books as a kid (in the '60's). He's always bleating on about "The Bees", so it'd give me great pleasure for City to stuff 'em in the big league. Might be a bit of a clash of shirts mind.
