In all seriousness, we deserved to finish top because the table doesn't lie. However, with promotion being such a big and deserved achievement for Brighton then it was always a tough ask to get them to win the lap of honour too. Mentally it must have been difficult to get themselves up again after the elation of securing promotion.
Between winning the title this season and in 09/10, this was far more enjoyable being on the last day and being fairly unexpected from a few games ago. In 09/10 I just clapped them round the pitch with little emotion and thinking they had just righted a wrong. Feels different this time and we can look forward to a bright future I think.
Completely agree. I think part of it is that the 08/09 relegation hurt a hell of a lot more than last season. It felt like they owed us what they achieved. Although they made harder work of it this time, it was more enjoyable to snatch it the way we did than last time - though I enjoyed last time too. Let's just hope there is no third time for quite some time!
last few matches it looked like neither you guys or Brighton wanted to win it however well done - as for Huddersfield - they should be charged with disrespecting the game
Yep this is the key for me. Relegation in 08/09 was really painful. Last season was coming all season and there were no real excuses. We looked like a bottom 3 team all season until Benitez got a grip of the team towards the end. It was all too little too late though as he only had 10 games. In 08/09 relegation really stung. The first one in a while always does. It'll be the same next season, we will start as one of the favourites to go down depending on transfer activity as a promoted side. So expectations will be low again.
It was also the way we went down too. In 08/09 we were gutless and the final game was a perfect summary of our entire gutless season. Last year our fight came far far too late - but at least it was there and left us with some hope for the following year. In 08/09 it was entirely in our own hands and we could have avoided it with even a half decent performance. Last year, by the time Rafa had had time to work with the squad, we were left relying on others.
I still beleive we wouldnt have gone down if benitez was brought in before that 2 week break in feb, we had that, lost to bornemouth and stoke (i think) then mc clown was sacked and we got in benitez, had he have had that 2 weeks extra and those 2 games i think we would have avoided the drop, to be fair i feel the same, i really hope he is given the funds to build the squad this time around and i can actually look forward to next season!
All ifs and buts, very difficult to say. However it is reasonable to think based on how we picked up under him, particularly towards the end, we could have got out of it. That two week break being the critical factor in terms of time with the team. However I advocated giving Mac the bullet at Xmas. That way he'd have had a window too to bring in reinforcements he wanted. You can't change history though so its onwards and upwards. Like you say its now critical to give him a budget and support to get us in shape for next season. I think we'll be in a relegation scrap but perhaps he can surprise us.
But it was a necessary part in a much grander master plan. After sacrificing 3 seasons to lull Sunderland into the complacency of 6 guaranteed points, the club knew that if we went down then it would open the trapdoor for Sunderland - who didn't know what to do without us there. Once Agent Moyes had caused further damage from within, the outcome was inevitable. Sunderland were sent into the abyss with no way back. The signing of Maclaren was a required element to ensure all this. But the club knew they had Rafa lined up to restore our own position, as we waved goodbye to Sunderland on the way past. Sometimes in chess, you have to play the long game and think 10+ moves ahead, including setting up tempting sacrifices to ensure you manoeuvre your opponent where you want them. But when it works, it's beautiful.
