Football 20/21

[barney]

What’s better as a fan?
Flying high in a lower division, having a decent chance of winning each match and enjoying your football.... or ...... desperately clinging on to the hope that you may get the odd point from clubs spending twenty times your budget while simultaneously losing millions of pounds for the privilege?

I know what I prefer.

[Manoverboard]

What’s better as a fan?
Flying high in a lower division, having a decent chance of winning each match and enjoying your football.... or ...... desperately clinging on to the hope that you may get the odd point from clubs spending twenty times your budget while simultaneously losing millions of pounds for the privilege?

I know what I prefer.

I have deffo enjoyed winning more games but we only managed that, as did Norwich and B'mouth, because we kept most of our best players and they want to be in the Prem. If we lose them and get relegated again it is likely that we could get relegated a second time ... so I'll take my chances in the Prem, if we are promoted, with younger and fitter players than the last time round.

[barney]

Good luck

[Manoverboard]

Good luck

Thank you, we will be needing it

[barney]

I’ve really enjoyed this season because of the Ifollow showing every game live, home and away.
I’ve watched nearly all of them and loved it, being an exile.
Gills absolute inconsistency has been our downfall yet again, but at least it’s been competitive until the end.
In our division, Hull have been the best I’ve seen along with Blackpool.

[Bensham33]

As a supporter who has spent thousands over the years going to matches both home and away and will again once we are allowed back (I've already paid for my 21/22 season ticket) I can tell you I would much rather support a winning Championship side than a Premier League side. We ain't going to win the league we can't compete, the best we can hope for is staying up and get the odd point off the big boys. There is nothing like winning promotion, especially via the Play Offs . Winning at Wembley is a wonderful day out.

The reason relegated clubs find it relatively easy to win promotion straight back to the Prem is the very unfair parachute payments. Unfair because immediately they are put at an advantage against the rest of the division. Football is not a level playing field. Parachute payments are actually a reward for failure.

[towny44]

As a supporter who has spent thousands over the years going to matches both home and away and will again once we are allowed back (I've already paid for my 21/22 season ticket) I can tell you I would much rather support a winning Championship side than a Premier League side. We ain't going to win the league we can't compete, the best we can hope for is staying up and get the odd point off the big boys. There is nothing like winning promotion, especially via the Play Offs . Winning at Wembley is a wonderful day out.

The reason relegated clubs find it relatively easy to win promotion straight back to the Prem is the very unfair parachute payments. Unfair because immediately they are put at an advantage against the rest of the division. Football is not a level playing field. Parachute payments are actually a reward for failure.

I don't disagree with you, but unless the player's contracts are written so that their wages return to championship levels once they are relegated then, it will lead to a lot more clubs going into administration, and maybe dropping further when their insolvency results in a points reduction.

[Manoverboard]

After a long hard season in the Championship the last thing the players want is more games in the play-offs, I was once told, they would much prefer a system that promoted the top three teams. The extra play-off games are about revenue.

[Bensham33]

towny...yes you are right it was the reason parachute payments were introduced but over time player contract have included a relegation clause which is why the parachute payment is now heavily weighted for the relegated clubs. They can still afford to pay Premiership players albeit at a reduced rate.

MoB..... Every player I've ever spoken to ain't too cream crackered to take part in the Play Offs. The fans love them especially if you win, it keeps the season alive for so many. You are right the Play Offs are also about money but every club benefits which is why they are so popular and successful. The players like them because, if they are successful the squad will share a bonus payment which most clubs will pay their players for a Wembley appearance and a rise in status of

[oldbluefox]

I like the play offs largely because for all the teams in play off positions there is the chance of promotion. It also means an opportunity for those outside the play offs to fight for a place in a season which would otherwise be over. From top two down to mid table there is always the chance that given a good run you can get yourself to Wembley and the chance to get into the Premiership.

Some of our best days were when we were in Div 1 visiting some of the older grounds and always having the chance to get a ticket. The downside to our recent success are the glory boys who have suddenly become ardent City fans. Where were you when we were crap!!! To some extent we are now showing there is an opportunity for one of the less fashionable clubs to break into the elite (Spurs and Arsenal - elite? ) and take on the big money boys but we are fortunate in having a b****y good owner, a great manager and some very astute scouts who can pick up players of quality without paying over the odds, and also fleecing some of the big boys when they take a fancy to one of our players to keep the finances right. At the moment we are a very well run and competitive club. Long may it last and we will enjoy the run. When our luck runs out the glory boys will disappear and I'll get to see them again.

[barney]

The playoffs are nothing to do with money and everything to do with keeping the season going for many teams.
Gills have been in three playoff finals and all were brilliant.
It’s a fantastic day out for the fans.
Armchair football fans will never get that thrill or disappointment watching on tv.

Fatty Evans said weeks back that he couldn’t guarantee reaching the playoffs but he said that if we did, he’d guarantee winning them.

Losing to Oxford last Saturday after being two nil up with 15 to go pretty much put an end to our chances, although we beat Posh on Tuesday.
All the time it’s mathematically possible, it’s possible.

[Manoverboard]

After a long hard season thus far, B'mouth fans are in 3rd place and will be loving it but how will they be feeling if they play 6th place Barnsley, say, in the play off final and lose .... ' gutted ' springs to mind.

I remember losing a play off final, from 3rd place, after both of our main goalkeepers were clattered ... now, who was that against ?

[Bensham33]

Before the season starts you know the rules. If the 3rd place team looses out then that is just unlucky and a but unfair. That's the only downside. The benefits far out way that.

No idea MoB who clattered your goalkeepers. Please tell. Sounds like sour grapes to me.

[barney]

We’ve won two, lost one, but they were all great days out.
Losing to Man City when 2-0 with minutes to go was a bit gutting at the time but we got over it by the time we got back to the West End.
Beating Wigan the following year was great and lead to five seasons in the Championship.
The first two were great but the last three were a struggle and when we went back to league one, it was almost a relief.
Playing Palace, Wolves, West Ham etc was great but we couldn’t really compete long term.
Funnily enough, we would have considered Bournemouth a smaller club back in the day.
Then the Russian turned up.
I wonder if their fans prefer the Championship?

[Manoverboard]

No sour grapes, we went up a year later and were better prepared.

As an aside I reckon your aging lot at Palace could be in the Championship at the end of next season with Luton unless the Boss coughs up north of £100,000,000.

[Bensham33]

Your right MoB we need to spend a lot of money. A number of our players are out of contract. Evan Roy's contract is up and there's no sign of them being renewed. If we get relegated then so be it. Doesn't bother me one little bit if we go down. We've had 8 years at the top table. I would be very happy to let some other club have a go.

By the way I'm interested in finding out what team clattered your two goalkeepers...please tell.

[Manoverboard]

Your right MoB we need to spend a lot of money. A number of our players are out of contract. Evan Roy's contract is up and there's no sign of them being renewed. If we get relegated then so be it. Doesn't bother me one little bit if we go down. We've had 8 years at the top table. I would be very happy to let some other club have a go.

By the way I'm interested in finding out what team clattered your two goalkeepers...please tell.

It's all history now and they eventually recovered

[Bensham33]

Have you got the Champagne on ice MoB. Congrats to Watford who can look forward Premier League football next season. I'm looking forward to visiting Vicarage Road next season already.

[Manoverboard]

WOW ... 1:0 after only 11 minutes and then just another 79 more to ' game manage '

Have you got the Champagne on ice MoB. Congrats to Watford who can look forward Premier League football next season. I'm looking forward to visiting Vicarage Road next season already.

All will be welcome, even Palace ... but I believe we will need to buy Toney if the Bees aren't promoted to replace our loyal but sadly now ageing Deeney.

[oldbluefox]

Congratulations to the Happy Hornets. Looking forward to your visit to the King Power.

[Ray B]

Well done Watford, just waiting to find out who the third team is that will be joining us.
Just two points between three and six position, looks like it will be a thrilling finish in the play-offs.

[Manoverboard]

Congratulations to the Happy Hornets. Looking forward to your visit to the King Power.

Well done Watford, just waiting to find out who the third team is that will be joining us.
Just two points between three and six position, looks like it will be a thrilling finish in the play-offs.

Thanks guys ... will we be needing a new Manager I ask myself

ps ... I will be routing for the Cherries to join both of us, just like the good old days eh

[towny44]

Congratulations to the Happy Hornets. Looking forward to your visit to the King Power.

Well done Watford, just waiting to find out who the third team is that will be joining us.
Just two points between three and six position, looks like it will be a thrilling finish in the play-offs.

Thanks guys ... will we be needing a new Manager I ask myself

ps ... I will be routing for the Cherries to join both of us, just like the good old days eh

Congratulations Moby, however I an backing Barnsley in the play offs, must keep up the Yorkshire numbers in the PL.

[Manoverboard]

Congratulations Moby, however I an backing Barnsley in the play offs, must keep up the Yorkshire numbers in the PL.

.... tell you what, I hardly even noticed Barnsley during the season and yet there they are in 5th place

[Bensham33]

I want Brentford to go up. They play some wonderful football, have a brand new stadium, find some excellent players and gives me another away game to go to.