Well put. You've basically captured the drum I've been beating for a while now. I'm also wondering if using Costa as Bamford's backup might be the making of him. Either that or play someone more effective in place of Costa, 'cos he ain't setting the heather alight on the wing for me. Can't see it, though.
Remember, you're talking to the guy that's not too bothered if we get promoted or not. Sure, I'd welcome it, but not so sure I'd like it if we got humped every week & dropped down again. Can you imagine what social media would be like in that scenario. Look at it now when we're in second place! I'm just going with the flow & enjoying every minute. It's been a joy so far. With a few hurdles to make it interesting!
As I’ve also said before, I have mixed feelings about being in the Prem too. The Championship is old school in some ways - chaotic, unpredictable and feisty. Even if we go up, we’d need to replace virtually the entire squad to stay in a colour- bleached approximation of a league with no surprises, capped off with the vampiric malaise that is VAR. Like you Jock, I’m going to focus on enjoying the best football we’ve played in the best part of 20 years, and que sera.
Sad to see the way 15 years in the wilderness is knocking the ambition out of fans. I get the whole we can't compete maybe in the pl. Thats because our owner is out of his depth financially. A different level of owner needed completely if promoted and no reason we can't be top six in a decade
A billionaire would sort the replacement of players, but we’d still be in a sham competition, top six or not. If we get there and compete, hurrah. I just hope the Holy Grail justifies the chopped off limbs.
Exactly. If we don’t get promoted then it simply wasn’t meant to be. If that’s what fate has in store for us nothing will change that no matter how much people moan.
Isn't that what all Championship club fans think? Along with winning the lottery, owning a Ferarri, a yacht etc. ?
Good job some had more ambition when they were younger or they would all be living in mud huts. Allways strive to be the best you can be, or go home and wash the dishes. I want my club to perform at the highest standard they can,not just accept mediocre.
But we aren't all championship clubs, we are the biggest 1 club city in the UK, while not having a god given right to be there, we should be.
Promotion for me: it will be the big question answered. Will Radz stay on or sell us to Radz mkII or sell us to a Billionaire. I’m hoping the Billionaire who turns us into the next Man City, I know that doesn’t sit well with everyone but it’s fine by me. If it isn’t the billionaire I expect us to be the next Norwich or any of the other umpteen clubs that drop back down and use the parachute money wisely before going back up again within 2-3 seasons and I don’t want that, I have no interest in it.
Sheffield United are seventh, and are no better than us, we at least held our own against Arsenal who are 4 points off top 6. With good buys we could stay there, with loans, almost certainly not.
I believe it too him two seasons to get out of the Championship, even with his knowledge of the club and English football.
They got him from my hometown Northampton when he got them promoted from Div 3 to 2. Northampton got him from Oxford who he got promoted from the conference to the league. He must be one if not the only manager who has won promotion from every league, conference to PL Makes you laugh when the PL big boys overlook managers like this
It’s also largely the same collection of league 1 players and misfits that he has in the top of half of the premiership. Can’t subscribe to this it’s more fun in the championship stuff. Whilst I can understand the idea that it’s maybe more exciting to be fighting for promotion than just having mid table aspirations in the league above... it’s defeatist and accepting mediocrity. There might be things I don’t like about the premiership but I sure has hell want to be in it. It's up to each fan to have their own views on this and its a personal thing. I wonder whether those of us who deign to criticise at times (I like to think of it as a healthy cynicism myself!) are less accepting of mediocrity than those who always defend the club. I'm generally a chilled guy, but sport is about winning and being the best you can for me... so when i see the club fcking about when the goal is within reach i'm maybe less tolerant than someone who doesn't care. It brings me back to the should we be happy with the current status or not? Any fan who isn't happy with the football we have played, the improvements made under bielsa and the league position... needs to take a reality check. It's fantastic. However, we are where we are. You can think all of those things and still think it would be criminal top fck it up from here.... again. Personally I think you have to acknowledge the great work that has been done... but realise it counts for jack if you don't capitalise on it. So that's why I think it's legitimate to question the squad size, the strength in depth, the recruitment strategy that leaves us vulnerable etc... because life is about taking your opportunities when you get them - being good for half a season isn't good enough... just because it's better than we're used to. We fell away last year, we want to see we've learnt from mistakes. If we make no significant signings and still get promoted that's great... but it doesn't make the concerns less legitimate, it's rolling the dice. Just my thoughts, we all have different expectations from being a fan.