Interesting point in the top 5 finish for the relegated teams. On the other hand how did the promoted teams do I would suggest that once up the gulf is not as great as you suggest! Its getting into the prem that is the hard bit.
I agree ccfc, thats why I said I could see where he was coming from in terms of holding your own if you were to make it. The way i see it, Its easier to not lose than it is to continuously win, hence why its so difficult to get promoted. But obviously we all know how ruthless the prem can be, a few bad results can potentially turn your entire season on its head.
When I read that £20m figure my initial reaction was to laugh and think "as if". But then again, stranger things have happened (read Henderson & Carroll in particular). I think Whitts is worth £5-6m but then if he/we was in the Prem we could possibly demand double. That said, he's our talisman at the moment and is worth far more than that to us, just not on the market. If the Malaysians are serious, he's going nowhere.
And the season before, the HIGHEST any of the relegated clubs finished was 8th. Can't base the view on one season.
by whom? and also, how much are the players you mention worth in the current market? they are talking about £15-20m for carrol, henderson probably worth about half, torres maybe £25m.....deals done by clubs at 5 minutes before the deadline are always overvalued, i'd expect you to know that.. what utter nonsense. all 3 teams lost their best players, making them weaker, brum lost johnson, foster, dann, jerome, etc, west ham lost parker and others, blackpool lost adam and vaughan....
SKM yet they still managed to all finish in the top 5 of the league after losing all them players. What does that say about the quality of the championship then?
What JH said I agree. Outside of te countries top 6/7 clubs, the quality is all very close, that's why the cup competitions are getting more championship clubs in the latter stages, because the divisions arent as much of a gulf in class as people kid themselves to believe
You say I can't base it on one season, but that was actually one of the only seasons in recent years where a relegated team hasn't gone straight back up or finished in the playoffs.
So all that proved was that your selection suited your view and my selection suited mine with the truth somewhere in between. Over the years only about 1 team in 3 relegated has gone straight back up suggesting life in the championship isn't that easy for them. The last time a relegated team went straight back up automatically was Newcastle (and people couldn't understand how they got relegated in the fist place) suggesting there were at least 2 teams in the championship better than the relegated sides. Given that in the last 2 seasons a team from promoted from the 1st divison finished above teams relegated from the prem, you could argue that teams at the top of the 1st division better than teams at the bottom of the prem. You can argue it whichever way you want. I'd suggest that outside the top 6-8 in the prem there is little difference down to the bottom third of the Championship, certainly in a one off game. What is certain is that the championship is a hard division to get out of and the prem is a hard division to stay in.
Agree remote. The top 6 in the premier league always consist of the same teams, or there abouts. The bottom 6 usually stays the same with wigan the usual suspects. I have a funny feeling you'll be up this coming season. Not sure you'll win it, but you'll get 2nd or a play off win. Think bolton will win it, blackburn will be up there but wolves will struggle as always.
Agree remote. The top 6 in the premier league always consist of the same teams, or there abouts. The bottom 6 usually stays the same with wigan the usual suspects. I have a funny feeling you'll be up this coming season. Not sure you'll win it, but you'll get 2nd or a play off win. Think bolton will win it, blackburn will be up there but wolves will struggle as always.
I said or in the playoffs, Watford finished in the playoffs after being relegated the season before And then the season before that, Sunderland and Birmingham went straight back up. Theres a clear pattern here that the majority of relegated teams from the premiership are too strong for the championship. Thats my take on it anyway.
I hope you're right Ash. We need another signing or two to put us in the hunt. Just make sure you're there to greet us. It would be good to have banter on a level playing field. If we come up and you go down it'll be the same crap as this year, just the other way round.
I have a very good feeling we'll be just fine this year. Last season we beat all expectations, and with a new manager and some good players coming in, the lads will be trying to impress, again, and I can see us finishing well out of the relegation spots. Only time will tell I suppose. But, come the last 2 or 3 games, if we are safe, I'll be keeping a close eye on your games should you be there, or there abouts. Do it for Wales!
