I think that is the plan tbh this season is about getting settled after a few years of flirting with disaster if we make the play offs all we'll and good but I think next season the play offs will be the realistic target and an expectation whilst automatic will be a bonus.
I agree, trouble is expectations can get all skewed. We're lucky that in ME we seem to have a very patient owner who sacks rarely and reluctantly, but I get the feeling he wont be keen on being a yo-yo club. Once we get there ME will want to stay there - get promoted too early, staying there becomes very unlikely and the stability we're stating to get back will be under threat.
On the other hand, if we didn't look capable of staying in the prem then would it not be better to stick with the man who got us there rather than sacking him in a bid to stay up. I think that's where some teams go wrong. They panic to avoid relegation and then start a merry go round of managers trying to find another to take them back up. Sometimes you may just have to accept that you are not good enough and take the hit. Not really my personal view, just a counter argument.
Exactly SD, I would prefer us to go up as soon as possible and, If neccessary, let MM guide us through a yo-yo period. (Of course it's always possible with Mick we could survive the prem) I would just be apprehensive of ME getting jittery, but that would be the same fear with any modern owner/chairman and as Ive said I think we are lucky to have ME. Especially this new ME that appears to have realised money and names don't guarantee anything. On a similar subject do we think were still on course for 50% youth products? Would promotion enforce a reconsideration of the target?
I'm not sure we will meet that academy figure whilst Mick is here unfortunately. I hope to be proven wrong next season by seeing the likes of Marriott in the squad but I won't hold my breath.
