The Premiership - Good Riddance!

Chirpy Red

Manchester United won the Premiership this year. Liverpool came third and were 21 points behind! 21 points!!!!! This is a team in the final of the UEFA Champions League final.
What does that tell you? Well I'll tell you what it says to me: The rest of the league after the top 2/4 are just cannon fodder. What's the point? Of course it is all about money and has been for years. To compete financially you need to be in the top league - but for what? To continue year after year to play a type of football that you hope will secure you 38/39/40 points in a season? To get the odd home win over Arsenal or Liverpool? To get a point at Old Trafford?
All you do is bore the pants of anyone.
I have enjoyed this season immensely, not for the football though, for the excitement, the drama. The thought that we could survive. But survive for what? Another season of going back to coming comfortably 14th, 15th or even 10th! Whoop bloody doop!
I want to become a yo-yo club, I want to scrap for our lives to try and stay up - sometimes achieve it - sometimes not. If we play in the second tier I want us to win it, come second or make the play off final. And the next year the same.
I know clubs look for stability but I don't give a toss. What does stability bring? Boredom. I am not taking from the clubs point of view, I am talking from mine. I am not interested in finance, I am interested in football and more importantly in my opinion, entertainment. I want to go to matches that mean something after February.
What I am saying? A load of hypocritical, contradictory tosh you may say. I know what I mean and I know what I want.
Sour grapes? Not at all. The Premiership and all it stands for can just piss off as far as I am concerned.

WSS

lol

Ketman

One thing I think we'll notice in the Championship is less of us on TV (Not just the Live games, Football First, Goals on Sunday etc). Might even get more fans to go to away games, I know I will be going to a load more next season.

AFKABartram

i'm pretty much with most of that as well DJ. Lots of people under the illusion the premiership is the be all and end all, well they're about to find out its not, and the game continues very nicely at a lower level.

Thoough, those that think its going to be a stroll in the park and we'll run away with like last time are in for a very rude awakening IMO.

And i also think our away turnouts will be markedly better than the last few seasons.

Barn Door Varney

In fairness you can't blame the premier league for the lack of ambition shown by Curbishley and/or the board over the last 2/3 seasons.

Agree with what you say though...

Henry Irving

understand where you are coming from but would much rather be where Bolton are now. When we finished 7th they finished 8th. They pushed on - with massive investment and spending eg £8m on Anelka - and we didn't.

The championship could be fun for one season if we go up but being boring mid-table in that league ala Ipswich/Norwich will be a lot, lot worse and I've seen too many of those seasons already.

Rothko

I really don't get this idea that the Championship is that hard to get out of.

Sunderland, Birmingham and West Brom are about to blow that one out of the water

AFKABartram

its not that hard if you have a good settled team, but we won't be having that for the first part of the season at least.

We need a lot of changes and its important we don't try to simply paper over the cracks to try and get away with it.

Barn Door Varney

[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]understand where you are coming from but would much rather be where Bolton are now. When we finished 7th they finished 8th. They pushed on - with massive investment and spending eg £8m on Anelka - and we didn't.

The championship could be fun for one season if we go up but being boring mid-table in that league ala Ipswich/Norwich will be a lot, lot worse and I've seen too many of those seasons already.

Boton haven't had "massive investment" ok £8m for Anelka but that was only this season up till then I think there spending would have been on a par with us.

Dutch Addick

In my opinion the Championship is currently the most interesting, competitive and therefore best league in England.
There are 10-12 clubs who are able to compete for promotion spots.

Rothko

[cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]its not that hard if you have a good settled team, but we won't be having that for the first part of the season at least.

We need a lot of changes and its important we don't try to simply paper over the cracks to try and get away with it.

Nor did Birmingham or Sunderland in the first half of the season, they stayed patient and got their reward

Henry Irving

[cite]Posted By: Barn Door Lisbie[/cite]

Boton haven't had "massive investment" ok £8m for Anelka but that was only this season up till then I think there spending would have been on a par with us.

Eddie Davies has put a lot of money into them over the past few years and more so since he became owner of 94% of the shares in 1993. A one off payment of £8m is more than we've ever paid and remember all those experienced players come with big wages.

Southendaddick

Agree with a lot of that post, looking forward to next season already and without getting all bertie big balls I think we will 'eventually' be top 2 next season.

However, I also predict that sometime during September we will have the following posts.

1) Dont worry people, it hasnt been a great start but give Pards time, remember, Sunderland were in the bottom three this time last year.

2) -------- better start pulling his finger out, this is my season ticket that he is playing for.

Barn Door Varney

[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]

[cite]Posted By: Barn Door Lisbie[/cite]

Boton haven't had "massive investment" ok £8m for Anelka but that was only this season up till then I think there spending would have been on a par with us.

Eddie Davies has put a lot of money into them over the past few years and more so since he became owner of 94% of the shares in 1993. A one off payment of £8m is more than we've ever paid and remember all those experienced players come with big wages.

I agree that £8m is more that we have ever paid out but as I said that was only this season and I would be surprised if Bolton had a wage structure that was paying huge sums considering their size.

I think the real difference was that Bolton kept their ambition whereas we gave ours up for safety.

Henry Irving

[cite]Posted By: Southendaddick[/cite]Agree with a lot of that post, looking forward to next season already and without getting all bertie big balls I think we will 'eventually' be top 2 next season.

However, I also predict that sometime during September we will have the following posts.

1) Dont worry people, it hasnt been a great start but give Pards time, remember, Sunderland were in the bottom three this time last year.

2)

---

better start pulling his finger out, this is my season ticket that he is playing for.

LOL

3) It's taking time for the players to adjust to the Championship

4) Everyone sees us as a big game and they raise their game accordingly

5) This is terrible. Bring back Kish

Charlton Dan

6) Cant believe we got turned over by Scunthorpe

7) Cant believe Palace got such a shoeing

WSS

8) Cant believe Palace got two good shoeings

Solidgone

8) why didnt we sign [insert player from Bromley] in the transfer window?

LenGlover

[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]understand where you are coming from but would much rather be where Bolton are now. When we finished 7th they finished 8th. They pushed on - with massive investment and spending eg £8m on Anelka - and we didn't.

The championship could be fun for one season if we go up but being boring mid-table in that league ala Ipswich/Norwich will be a lot, lot worse and I've seen too many of those seasons already.

Too right Henry. Excellent post.

Henry Irving

9) Sam Woods from Bromley would have done a job for us but we let him go to the Gills for £40k

seriously_red

100% agreed about the entertainmant this year - though shame about the last seven games without a win (feels familiar!)

A year in the championship will be good but the quality of the football is not the same and the Valley may start to show a few gaps (and not just the away end) if we stay any longer.

The irony is that every one wants to be in the Prem for the money and to see the top teams but before you know it you have a squad full of so and sos burning up ALL of the cash with only a third being loyal and good enough 1/3 wanting out if you go down or a big club come in and 1/3 just not cutting it.

Being a yo-yo club sounds fun for a bit but watch the best players being picked off every year and it's not so good - I can only conclude that an investment from Henry's Middle East mates is the best option

Weegie Addick

10) Isn't it time we gave Dickson a chance? What was the point of signing him otherwise?

Henry Irving

11) Put the kids in. At least they'd show more effort than this lot.

12) I'm looking forward to League One. Loads of new grounds and we'll win more game there

razil

With the exception of Anelka Bolton paid very little in tranfer fees, but must have paid a fair amount in wages and or signing on fees.

Ledge

[cite]Posted By: Rothko[/cite]

[cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]its not that hard if you have a good settled team, but we won't be having that for the first part of the season at least.

We need a lot of changes and its important we don't try to simply paper over the cracks to try and get away with it.

Nor did Birmingham or Sunderland in the first half of the season, they stayed patient and got their reward

Im with you Rothko CREAM rises to the top.

We will come stright bak up.

AFKABartram

13) So what if he hasn't got the relevent managerial experience, Kinsella knows this club well and is just the man we need to turn this shambles around. Its not even Christmas yet !

14) Kinsella was a disaster, what was the club thinking giving the job to a guy who has never managed before. Hoddle is saying the right things, just hope he can work the magic and keep us up.

Weegie Addick

[cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]13) So what if he hasn't got the relevent managerial experience, Kinsella knows this club well and is just the man we need to turn this shambles around. Its not even Christmas yet !

14) Kinsella was a disaster, what was the club thinking giving the job to a guy who has never managed before. Hoddle is saying the right things, just hope he can work the magic and keep us up.

This has gone far enough - you're depressing me now!

Henry Irving

15) better a relagation fight than boring mid-table and we can still go on a late run and make the play-offs.

16) I didn't want a free season ticket. I'll pay my way thanks.

paulbaconsarnie

17) why couldn't marcus/jfh/lisbie do that for us?

WasCharleyOne

18) 3 managers again this season, Oh well, at least Holland knows this club.

BlackForestReds

19) Will the club offere free season tickets if we go down to Division One and then bounce back the next year?

20) Charlton announce their new manager: Iain Dowie unveiled at a press conference which is interupted by a lawyer working for Coventry City who is trying to deliver a writ...