With the first quarter(ish) of the season gone, I thought I'd take a look at how the promoted teams were getting on in each league(you can tell it's an international weekend), other than League One(where all the promoted clubs are in the bottom half) they seem to have started remarkably well: Premier League Norwich - 9th Swansea - 10th Drama Queens - 11th (form team - Spurs) Championship Southampton - 1st Brighton - 5th Peterborough - 13th (form team - Us) League One Bury - 14th Stevenage - 15th Chesterfield - 19th Wycombe - 22nd(relegation zone) (form team - The Wendies) League Two Crawley Town - 2nd AFC Wimbledon - 3rd (form team - Southend)
I like that AFC Wimbledon have done well considering how they where formed as a team. I bet a few years ago they'd never have imagined they would be on Fifa.
Promoted sides in the Prem have recently done well until they are sussed by the big boys. I expect Norwich and Swansea to fall back and eventually be relegated come the end of the season. DQPR are a little different because they have an owner who seems willing to bankroll Colin's liking for quality Premiership experience. But the bottom line with them is that the manager isn't good enough for the Premiership so if they are to survive he will have to go. That being said I think it's time the Lancashire triumvirate returned to their natural level. I'm sick of seeing empty seats in the stands on MOTD when "Proper" clubs in lower leagues would fill their stadia week-in-week-out in the Prem.
I think there's probably a lot of people out there that hope the current bottom three remain there until the end of the season, though personally, I'd swap Bolton for Sunderland. I'm surprised Bolton are doing as badly as they are, I rate Coyle(apart from his rambling voice) and Kean will no doubt be sacked shortly, so Blackburn's fortunes might change.
Well being found out by the bigger clubs is not a worry for us (swans), all the clubs are bigger than us, and we are odds on for going down, still that won't happen as Fulham, Wolves and QPR will go down As for your other comment about proper clubs, the problem with that is they must go up on merit, meaning points on the board! Having larger crowds and stadia mean sod all if you can't win and get promoted, look at both Sheffield clubs.
The same could be said of Swansea, I mean we have only played Man City away, Arsenal away and Chelsea away we still got 8 points out of the other four games, so teams that will be around us
Norwich, Wigan and Blackburn to go down for me. Swansea seem to have the attacking qualities Blackpool did last season but have a decent enough defence as well. Fairly certain Bruce will go soon so Sunderland will probably be fine come may.
According to today's Express, Bruce is already on his way, Short has replaced Quinn as Chairman and has already approached O'Neil to take over.
Look, don't confuse this. I hope you and Norwich stay up. However, we have first hand experience of how it works and what has happened to us has happened to other clubs as well; Burnleh, Blackpool, Birmingham etc etc. Your lot will start off with some tidy results (as we did) but that is all due to the Premiership clubs not knowing what you are about. Then you will find that you start to get some reversals where you are strongest, in your case at home. Then, once that momentum starts, there is no stopping it. The best strategy is to enjoy it while it lasts and use a strategy that encompasses being relegated, baking the cash investing in the club and coming back stronger next time. We didn't do that and it nearly cost us the Club. Shall I tell you what the first sign will be? You will start to notice a shed load of referreeing decisions going against you (seemingly). When that happens, batten down the hatches because it's the beginning of the end.
When QPR brought in SWP & nice boy Joey, I thought they'll do quite well.. and they did.. for one game.. then get tonked 5-0 by Fulham.. I mean 5 goals and Fulham don't normally go hand in hand.. They have got quality but TBH QPR & Wigan are "smaller" clubs than us if you go on support and stadiums. Their overall record is better but that might change with the Allams and Nige in charge. Wigan have done extremely well with quality managers such as Jewell & Martinez in particular and 6 years in the PL is a credit to them.. I think however that run is at risk. I think we'll see this end of season. 15. WBA 16. QPR 17. Swansea ----------------- 18. Wigan 19. Blackburn 20. Norwich
They haven't started so well this season, they're curently 9th in the Evo-Stik Premier, so they've a way to go yet.
Well we are there mate, and we are having a laugh and enjoying it, we are also realistic we know we are in a relegation dog fight, but we stick to our principles and will learn from teams like yours and stoke, small clubs like us who have gone up and did well. By the way I have you to go up this season, hope you don't replace us
By the way, did either you or Dutch get rid of that thread entitled "See you all " or something by NickHCFC or somebody? If so, well done! It was embarrassing in it's immaturity and completely uninteresting! That kind of thread completely devalues a messageboard and should be stamped on.
We may well go up this season, but personally I don't think we are ready yet. We have a lot of very young players and a few very old players with not much in between. However, we have a top top management team and fantastic owners so the future is bright. I actually meant, enjoy it when the tide turns, anyone can enjoy it when you are winning!!! Good luck anyway, I've always had a soft spot for Swansea as I think our two cities/clubs are quite similar and had similar experiences of late.
A lot of it is beating the teams around you, I mean Blackpool did tremendous beating Liverpool home & away, but went down.. it was a shame really cos they never went defensive and tried to score, sadly their defence just wasn't up to it.. We went defensive the first season after losing at home against Villa (IMO) and only just got away with it thanx to Newcastle.. second season we were poor and deserved to go down.. We loved it though but towards the end of the second season the inevitable was going to happen & there was no fight left in the team left to Dowie. I personally believe Bentdner's 95th minute winner at the Emirites was the end. Brown went the spirit went..
