Just noticed that after just half a dozen games in the Prem, there's a 14 point gap between first and 20th in the division. Already 8 games gone now in the Championship and therefore a bigger scope for a gap, but only 6 points separates the leaders from the 20th. Usual suspects toward the top of the Prem (except Liverpool) with the rest already scrabbling for points just to stay up - for many, that's their only ambititon. The Championship provides a season of uncertainty and prolonged interest for all its' club supporters that can't be matched. Prem is obviously the goal for us (let's be honest, we'd all love the chance to give it a go), but what a great division the Championship is.
agree to a certain extent. ie - stoke for example, the best they can ever hope for is 8th or so. same for all the other team below the 'big 8' which includes big clubs ilke newcastle who could threaten top 4 - but the problem is that as soon as these teams get some decent players they are snapped up by the big boys to ensure things stay the same. so swansea have a bunch of top players, caulker, sigurdsson, allen and sinclair. admittedly 2 on loan but the other 2 would really help them get up the league table. imagine a midfield of allen, michu and say britton, thats almost top 6 standard. same with wigan, every time they get a quality player in they move on to a bigger club, ensuring that they will never get anywhere near the top of the table. in the championship you have multiple teams aiming for promotion, so although it isnt as glamorous, at least you have that element of uncertainty which is lacking in the PL. you know that man city, united, and chelsea will be the top 3 before the season starts because they simply aquire the best players, its not rocket science......
No doubt that the top few clubs in the Prem acquire the best players in the land, in the World perhaps, and that's just the point. There is a world of difference between acquiring the "best" players a la Prem League, and acquiring the best players to do you a specific job a la Championship. With good management and a couple of million quid to spend, you can make an impact in the Championship and achieve something. With similar resources in the Prem, you'd be lucky to get your points total out of single figures come May. Don't get me wrong, I'd take a shot at the Prem any time, but in terms of "competitive football" week in week out, the Championship is where it's at - maybe not the same quality, but far more involving for the fans.
If we get to the Promised Land I don't think that Vincent Tan would want us to be an also ran team. His aim will be to take a big slice of the China / Far East TV sport market.
Getting there is one thing, staying there another. Agree that should we get there, VT wouldn't want to allow that potentially lucrative Asian "marketing tool" that the club would become to slip through his fingers. Seems harsh to call our club a "marketing tool" but most of us are under no illusions that that's how CCFC is viewed through his businessman's eyes. Can't quite understand why the Fernandes/Mittal regime doesn't appear to be going down the same track at QPR. Vast wealth (particuarly Mittal) still needs a willingness to spend it. I doubt QPR at the top of the Prem would sell any more steel for Mittal, but CCFC up there would certainly sell more fast food and soft drinks for Tan. Having said that, I didn't start the thread to talk about the Prem - more to celebrate another great "competitive" season in prospect in the Champ.
all extra revenues from foreign TV deals would be split 1/20 for each PL club, so that wouldnt work. however from merchandising, tours and high profile friendlies thats where you get some money..... until we are top 6 PL malaysians wouldnt give 2 hoots about some small team with the word 'malaysia' on the shirt. the championship is where you get managers showing how good they are, as broadly speaking its much more of a level playing field than the PL. in the top league its about who can sign this top player and whoever stumps up the most money gets a quality player to help them up the league, eden hazard for example......
