Unlike us, there's still plenty for other clubs to play for if Championship football is either to be avoided or achieved - dependent upon where they are now. Looks like 2015 - 2016 will be very interesting. As it stands, the clubs we'll be welcoming into the Championship from above will be Leicester and QPR joined by one from Burnley, Sunderland, Villa or Hull - can't see anyone else from Pulis's West Brom upwards who are going to be involved. Those coming up look to be the Wurzels (pretty well nailed on), the others could be any two from ten given the other auto and playoff possibilities. Relegated clubs coming down don't usually have a great record of bouncing back first time, but if this and recent seasons are anything to go by, the promoted clubs from League One seem to make a far better fist of it the following year. Bournemouth and Brentford this season are following in the footsteps of Southampton and Wolves for instance who have gained momentum from going into the third tier, as opposed to clubs coming down who have lost it. In fact the bottom half of the Championship is littered with recent Prem clubs. Besides us and Fulham from last season, you've got Bolton, Brum, Reading, Wigan and even Blackpool who've become come unable to compete effectively in this division. Some other longer term Championship sides like Watford, Middlesbrough, Derby and Ipswich have got their act together and got themselves top 6 slots - they've all found something that we've lacked this year. The summer break will make all the difference to the 24 teams that find themselves here next season. Will Bristol City carry on that trend and trouble the leader board with the likes of Leicester, QPR and probably Burnley suffering the Prem hangover syndrome? Are we anywhere near good enough ourselves at player and management levels to compete? What do we need that'll make the difference on an off the pitch. This is obviously an "international boredom break" thread and something of a how long is a peice of string question, but how do you see it panning out next year?
The thing most relegated clubs have in common is the loss of the manager that got them promoted due to their supposed poor performance in the PL. Leicester and Burnley are currently sticking with their man, if that continues it'll be interesting to see if stability results in improved performance (I know Burnley aren't down yet).
Wolves, Southampton and Norwich are all much bigger clubs than any of the ones that have the potential to be promoted and all have a recent premier league history. No offence to Bristol but i don't know the last time they were in the top flight. I can't see them doing back to back promotions in a similar way that I can't see Brentford and Bournemouth being promoted this year.
Along with a number on here I would like to see Warburton managing us next season. Pay off Slade for keeping us up and wave bye bye to Young and Gabbidon. Not sure what we would do with Trollope unless he and Warburton were happy with him as a no. 2. Design a team to play in the Brentford/Bournemouth style of this season. A number of our current team can do this (Fabio, Ralls, Kennedy, Harris, Noone, Mason and other youngsters plus the solid base of the current back 4 - with or without Manga) but we would need a mobile, quick and skillful no. 10 to orchestrate things. Clearly some of our current crop will depart - feel free to draw up your own list starting with KWJ, Macheda, Revell and even Whitts and Gunnar (both with thanks for their efforts pre-this season). Another summer of upheaval and no guarantee of success but better football and building blocks for a brighter future.
QPR could implode with the spectre of a huge fine for breaching FFP. Burnley & Leicester will be favourites for promotion as I see them both keeping their managers and bulk of their squads. I cannot see Sunderland or Villa dropping down; they have too much experience in their ranks. I suggest Wolves or Norwich will win the play offs, with B'mouth and Boro going straight up. Going down - Wigan, Blackpool and Millwall. Wigan will be close but not close enough. Coming up is always interesting. In recent seasons Norwich, Southampton have gone straight through from league 1 to PL. B'mouth look good bets to do it at the 2nd attempt with Brentford outsiders for a play off win. Who will come up with Bristol? Looks odds on it will be Preston with anyone of several for the play off berth. Sheff Utd would be my tip. I cannot see Bristol getting much further nor Preston. Next season's bulk of the championship will be the usual runners and riders. If Watford don't make it then I feel their team will break up.I can see Derby also going the same way if they fail again. the likes of Sheff Wed, Huddersfield, Brighton, Reading , Fulham, Bolton, Leeds , Blackburn etc will have their high days but will not go up. I put City in this group. What makes a decent championship team a promotion winning team? City did it with a dogged and resolute mentality with little flair. B'mouth look like doing it with a completely different ethic. Boro if they go up will have done it with a hard working squad but one stand out striker.
"Very interesting",indeed. I prefer The Championship,as it's more interesting/exciting,and less predictable than the P.L.,which I detest with a vengeance,with the word Premier being a real misnomer. The League of Fear, is far more apposite,I think.
I tend to agree VETCH. The Championship is the division everyone want to get out of, hopefully in the right direction, but at what cost in real terms? The competition in this division is so diverse, it must be the most exciting of the lot. Whilst competing in it there's hope and aspiration for all for what's seen as the ultimate prize with always the danger of the drop in the back of minds. Unfortunately for most (and unlike Swansea) getting up there can be a chastening experience that they could do without. Other than to be able to say they got there, the harsh realities of life in the Prem are a matter for survival for all bar the top half dozen or so . It can be a very unpleasant experience for clubs, managers, players and supporters who become just desperate to stay there. Still, that never dulls the desire for most clubs, their players and fans to compete at that level despite the history of clubs like Cardiff and the others I mentioned in the OP that have fallen from grace since. Probably used to be true to say there were a number of clubs like Yeovil, Scunthorpe and Colchester for example for whom just staying in the Championship would be regarded as success. However, at the start of recent seasons it appears that every club starting a new Championship season wants to get there - just look at Bournemouth and Brentford this year.
What still grates is that City after all that effort got to the PL but largely by dint of their own negligence, naivety, incompetent management at board level and rebranding issues wasted a good start. In all likelihood unless City have one of those seasons that eg Burnley had last season or B'moth/Boro have had this season they will be stuck in the Championship, occasionally flirting with either promotion or relegation but ending up mid table, for some season's to come. All I want, as I have said often, is to come out of the stadium having witnessed a good game of football with some flair and pace and excitement and commitment and goals from City, with more wins than not. More chance of that in the Championship than the PL.
The brilliant thing about the league is that no one has a clue what will happen each season. Wigan as almost certain relegation candidates whilst being extra time away from last season play off final! The style, quality and success of Bournemouth. How absolutely ****e we've been for most of the season..... Who'd have seen it all coming? Wolves were supposed to be the outstanding L1 side, they done well but they're currently (just) 3rd out of the L1 clubs. Derby were my pick to take the title. They were outstanding last year and strengthened whilst keeping everything else stable. Looks like playoffs at best for them. It's a mental league, it's great to be a part of if you're competitive. As for the potential disappointment of promotion and the year that follows it....... That's the prize we're battling for, the Championship becomes pointless if you only want to stay there! It might be miserable at times in the PL but the thrill of winning there is much greater. Day's like Man City at home and Fulham away were very special imo. I also really enjoyed travelling to Anfield, Old Trafford and Hull... Look at the atmosphere at Palace at the moment, they're only just mid table but they're competitive and the place is absolutely jumping. Stoke was the same for years of mid table mediocrity. The worry for me with the new TV deal is that the PL is about to become a closed club. For the first time I can remember the 3 that went up are probably the 3 coming back. With the numbers involved a few years of PL stability should equal a squad that no Championship could hope to compete with. If the 3 that go up come tumbling straight back becomes the norm it will be a very dark day for biggest league in the world.
Ok, Stevo, you've sold the Premier dream to me.....................pie in the sky though sadly with Slade at the helm
You never know Nin As the thread suggests though, it's a league where a couple of decent players and run of form can take you a long way. Macheda and Doyle to fire us to glory in 2015/16!! Being serious the summers transfer dealings will obviously have a huge impact. If the fire sale continues it doesn't matter who's in charge. If we can keep what we have minus KWJ and one or 2 other non essentials then we'd have a squad to compete. Dikagcoi (sp) is an obvious midfield reinforcement waiting in the wings, whilst Ralls is developing nicely. Striker wise Macheda, Doyle, Alf, Mason, Revel seems plenty. Kennedy and Noone are good enough to start as first choice wingers and defence is up there with anything at this level if we keep them all. We've fallen well short this season but there's a decent Championship squad there, it won't walk the title it might not make the playoffs but it's good enough to be in the mix.
97-98 is the only previous occasion the 3 promoted teams were relegated the following season according to Wiki....
The premiership is great for the rewards you get and TV coverage all over the world but it's a closed shop by a few teams for any chance of winning it......The championship is more competitive as anyone can win the title.......but i would still rather watch the swans against man utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and the like than the brentfords of the football world....
Dai, Brentford have put together a very good side on a limited budget. We mugged them to win there recently. I hear what you say about the glamour boys of the Prem though. Nice to put one over them from time to time to.
[QUOTE="BluefromBridgend, I hear what you say about the glamour boys of the Prem though. Nice to put one over them from time to time to.[/QUOTE] And that's the carrot that keeps the donkeys trailing in the wake of the bigger,richer Club's,without which the P.L. couldn't exist.
Totally agree...if we can hold on to our best players.....Marshall, Manga, Fabio, Ralls, Kennedy, Noone, Pilks, Adeyemi, Mason, Macheda, Big Ben Turner & Dickochai (got a feeling this guy could be crucial) & add a couple.....a right back, prolific stiker possibly & we should be there or there abouts. Oh and a new manager wouldn't go amiss.
Obviously haven't seen him play so cant really comment but since the majority of Ole's signings were mediocre, why won't Dickochai be as well?
Dikgacoi will go if we can find a club to take him. An out of contract freebee from Palace, he'll have got himself a very good wage package from us with no fee to pay his old club. His current wage contract will mean we'd really want to get rid, but he wont go elsewhere for anything much less - why should he? He's got to be got fit first though, unless we can find a club willing to take a chance on an overweight lump in the same way we took him on.
In fairness Dikgacoi was first team Palace for 2 seasons before we signed him. I know he looked a fat ****er (technical term) but he's plenty good enough if fit.
