It's funny, isn't it? Newcastle go down and everyone comes out to declare that Newcastle won't get back in one because there's no poor teams in the division any more. Newcastle get to second and then, all of a sudden, the division is full hitherto undeclared 'crap teams'.
I think its a decent league that is tough - partly because of the number of games but also because the teams are well matched. I said that at the start and I still think that is the case. It is undoubtedly inferior to the PL. Hence why we went down. This Newcastle squad even under Rafa would be in a relegation battle. We have simply found a level we can compete at. I'm sure if we are successful in gaining promotion, Rafa will want to make significant changes. He's not an idiot. Shelvey is likely to be one of those under threat because he doesn't produce PL performances often enough.
They make it tough for you in the championship, they make you work for it no matter how technically inferior they maybe.
The league is good fun. There are average teams good teams and bad teams. Just like the premier league. I think we are a good team in the championship and a poor one compared to the premier league. If we go up. We need some better quality. There is no doubt about that. No doubt at all: but for the time being let's enjoy this season cause it's refreshing.
Rafa has got Shelvey fitter and more focused than last season and he is playing as well as he has in whole career pretty much. He'll easily be good enough for the Premier League on current form but if he takes his eye off the ball and becomes complacent again then he will struggle. It's in his hands and I'm not convinced yet that he can maintain this level of performance over the long term but if he keeps it up for the whole of this season I'll be more than happy to have him at the heart of the team next season, should we go up.
