The play-off race so tight that even Blackpool hope to gatecrash
A look at how the Championship play-off picture looks after the latest round of fixtures, with 12 games remaining
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150 million pound winnings are never too soonPrem would come too soon this year.
You don’t receive that on day 1 and we would pretty much have to build a new side to compete. Another year of improving the quality of the team and who knows, we might go up and stay up.150 million pound winnings are never too soon
I thought the Championship came too soon and look how that’s turning out !Prem would come too soon this year.
You don't pay most transfer fees on day 1 either.You don’t receive that on day 1 and we would pretty much have to build a new side to compete. Another year of improving the quality of the team and who knows, we might go up and stay up.
Its too soon when you scape into the playoffs, win promotion and then struggle and are relegated, losing most of our best players.Can someone explain to me this "too soon" theory? You are either good enough and so get promoted. Or not, and so don't?
You don't get to pick when you can make it. You just do / don't.
It's never too soon to get a £200m cash injection.The Championship is too soon. Yes, I might get pelters but to compete in the Prem you've got to be bossing this League by this stage of the season. This gives Fulham a chance but not us. That said, we're having a great season.
Thats true but I was watching MOTD2 last night and they were talking about second season syndrome, where its really hard for clubs to get a grip and stay in the PL. Crystal Palace are one club who've done really well to stay there so thats possibly a model to follow,but the town would need more people supporting it and that might mean some making a few sacrifices along the way.It's never too soon to get a £200m cash injection.
Not sure exactly what you are saying. But our football pyramid is constructed on a steep pyramid of money. Our club either opts out and operates at a sustainable level in L1 or L2, or seeks to gain access to the finances to compete higher up, whether that is the Championship or the Premiership. Access to the higher end of the premiership is pretty much beyond a small provincial club like ours, for any length of time at least. So Sadler has to decide a strategy. He talked about being an established Championship club, when he arrived. To do that we need more financial resources than we currently have, and a season in the premiership would be a massive boost. And would facilitate investment in training facilities and the stadium, as it should have done in 2010/11. We could use a season in the top tier to galvanise the club. And maybe return stronger later. Or not.Thats true but I was watching MOTD2 last night and they were talking about second season syndrome, where its really hard for clubs to get a grip and stay in the PL. Crystal Palace are one club who've done really well to stay there so thats possibly a model to follow,but the town would need more people supporting it and that might mean some making a few sacrifices along the way.
Personally I thought the 5 year 'loyalty' on away tickets restricted potential support as it discouraged kids from attending, and I think people have to be honest about the pull of the PL. Its sad to say that many supporters would rather watch live TV action than Championship games and thats reflected when you look at how gates improve/drop between the divisions.
People will always want to watch a winning/succesful team especially when the Liverpools are coming to town.
I'm saying that the lure of the PL is the huge jackpot you get when you hit it, but be mindful that its driven by a new breed of supporter who has a remote in one hand and a bottle of Bud in the other and is the root of the ills that exist.Not sure exactly what you are saying. But our football pyramid is constructed on a steep pyramid of money. Our club either opts out and operates at a sustainable level in L1 or L2, or seeks to gain access to the finances to compete higher up, whether that is the Championship or the Premiership. Access to the higher end of the premiership is pretty much beyond a small provincial club like ours, for any length of time at least. So Sadler has to decide a strategy. He talked about being an established Championship club, when he arrived. To do that we need more financial resources than we currently have, and a season in the premiership would be a massive boost. And would facilitate investment in training facilities and the stadium, as it should have done in 2010/11. We could use a season in the top tier to galvanise the club. And maybe return stronger later. Or not.
We haven't been automatically promoted from any division in nearly 40 years.Its too soon when you scape into the playoffs, win promotion and then struggle and are relegated, losing most of our best players.
I would prefer we were ready, were promoted automatically, and stayed in the prem for many years
I don't disagree then. It's a conundrum what do you aim for?! If you are Simon Sadler. Fortunately I don't really have to worry about it, and really I have to accept whatever he decides. Or reject it. I'm not struggling with what is happening.I'm saying that the lure of the PL is the huge jackpot you get when you hit it, but be mindful that its driven by a new breed of supporter who has a remote in one hand and a bottle of Bud in the other and is the root of the ills that exist.
If any provincial supporter buys into the TV nonsense then he's culpable and cant really complain about the unfairness of it all, where the top clubs arent really going to give up huge swathes of income just to make it 'fair'.
The Liverpools etc really dont want a competition that challenges their status and equally neither does the TV companies, where its fast becoming an NFL type game thats aimed at the armchair supporter.
The pyramid and all that is /was good is diminishing and folk seem to think its salvageable...
It would be a miracle but we haven't shown enough for me to say we can compete at play off level.
The fact that we can also lose to any team too? And we're 14th and we've done fantastically well but frankly, what I've seen so far hasn't been good enough or consistent enough to make the play offs. It would be a miracle.We can beat any team on our day, what more do you need?
The fact that we can also lose to any team too? And we're 14th and we've done fantastically well but frankly, what I've seen so far hasn't been good enough or consistent enough to make the play offs. It would be a miracle.
This seasons aim has been achieved which mean we can throw caution to the wind and go for it. But I personally, don't see it.
But then we have to try and keep the likes of Bowler and Ekpiteta to stand a chance of building a Prem team, and what are the chances of that?You don’t receive that on day 1 and we would pretty much have to build a new side to compete. Another year of improving the quality of the team and who knows, we might go up and stay up.
yet...It would be a miracle but we haven't shown enough for me to say we can compete at play off level.
Like some others I reckon it would be to soon but how can you really turn down the chance of promotion?Can someone explain to me this "too soon" theory? You are either good enough and so get promoted. Or not, and so don't?
You don't get to pick when you can make it. You just do / don't.
Provincial clubs can only aim for a play off spot but as Preston have found out its not that easy, and it can get harder as the rich get richer. Then you get a club like Derby,Sunderland or even Leeds at one point who overspend then collapse.I don't disagree then. It's a conundrum what do you aim for?! If you are Simon Sadler. Fortunately I don't really have to worry about it, and really I have to accept whatever he decides. Or reject it. I'm not struggling with what is happening.
We are 14th based on the whole season to date. We have taken 18 points from the last ten games though, which equates to an 83 point season. We are improving. Individually and collectively. We have Stewart back and he's making a big difference. Bowler since January is a different proposition. He has lifted the side. CJ has given us another dimension, with Anderson to return. So we have more attacking threat and more midfield solidity. Grimshaw has grown in confidence and game awareness too, and Sterling. Marv just keeps getting better.The fact that we can also lose to any team too? And we're 14th and we've done fantastically well but frankly, what I've seen so far hasn't been good enough or consistent enough to make the play offs. It would be a miracle.
This seasons aim has been achieved which mean we can throw caution to the wind and go for it. But I personally, don't see it.
We have a brilliant core of 7/8 players who can get us up there. Add more quality at left back, centre mid and maybe a left winger and we have a chance next season.We are 14th based on the whole season to date. We have taken 18 points from the last ten games though, which equates to an 83 point season. We are improving. Individually and collectively. We have Stewart back and he's making a big difference. Bowler since January is a different proposition. He has lifted the side. CJ has given us another dimension, with Anderson to return. So we have more attacking threat and more midfield solidity. Grimshaw has grown in confidence and game awareness too, and Sterling. Marv just keeps getting better.
But 2 points a game gets us to 70 points, which is likely to be a bit short. It's a long shot to make the play offs, but we might not be far off if we can get a run together. We might rue the late goals, and the disallowed goal against QPR...
Likely to lose Bowler though, and Marv could well be targeted too. Maybe Anderson, he was going great before his injury. I think those 3 are all getting to the end of their contracts too. But have the year option.We have a brilliant core of 7/8 players who can get us up there. Add more quality at left back, centre mid and maybe a left winger and we have a chance next season.
Critch will know what he needs for next year.
Yeah but if we get 4-5 million for Bowler, 3 to 4 for Marv etc. I'm pretty content it'll be invested into the next Bowler, the next Marv.Likely to lose Bowler though, and Marv could well be targeted too. Maybe Anderson, he was going great before his injury. I think those 3 are all getting to the end of their contracts too. But have the year option.
Agree, many didn’t give us a chance in the championship, look at this s nowWhat a load of rubbish, how can the prem be too soon?
We managed last time ok, the highest points total to get relegated wasn’t it? Freak season.
losing Gilkes and replacing with koko the clown was the biggest mistake we were unlucky to go down, now we have a decent owner who would back us a lot more than the stains
Definitely.Yeah but if we get 4-5 million for Bowler, 3 to 4 for Marv etc. I'm pretty content it'll be invested into the next Bowler, the next Marv.
I love watching Josh but there was life after Charlie Adam, Wesley Hoolahan, Tony McMahon etc.
Bowler is worth a lot more than £4/5 million and increasing every gameYeah but if we get 4-5 million for Bowler, 3 to 4 for Marv etc. I'm pretty content it'll be invested into the next Bowler, the next Marv.
I love watching Josh but there was life after Charlie Adam, Wesley Hoolahan, Tony McMahon etc.
Not with 1 year left on his contract he isn't.Bowler is worth a lot more than £4/5 million and increasing every game
mmmm...wish I could agree but think you are way too optimistic in who is good enough for the Pl..I agree it would be brilliant to have another shot at the Prem with proper ownership and the budget to add to the team. To be clear I would love it.
The worry is that we are currently inconsistent but improving and I fear that the team strengthening which would be required would disrupt the team and take so long to bed down we would be stuck at the bottom before we got going.
Not enough of the team are Prem ready IMO…. Yet!
Probably Grimmy and Max would be ok, Sterling, Ekpiteta, Thorniley (if he stays) and a last hurrah for Keogh but new CB and LB required. Stewart and Dougall as well as Carey and Keshi would need to be added to in the middle.
Josh and possibly CJ and Kirk would be good enough. The forward line would need attention as I doubt Madine, Yates and Lavery would score enough.
Connolly, Dale and Casey as squad players.
Quite a bit of money needed though….