Football 22/23

[Manoverboard]

But you don't want to be struggling at the bottom of the Championship worrying about relegation to league one.

Any relegation threat plays on one's mind to an extent so, no, I wouldn't welcome that particular struggle.

Tell me John, how was young Hungbo. Was he up to Championship standards ?

[oldbluefox]

We've been there and enjoyed some fabulous old grounds and great supporters unlike some of the plastic fans who only follow when you are winning. If that's where we deserve to be then embrace it. I admire those supporters who follow their home team no matter which division they are in.
I would be less critical of my team if they showed the same fight Everton and Forest have shown. If we are relegated it's because we weren't good enough, simple as that.

[towny44]

But you don't want to be struggling at the bottom of the Championship worrying about relegation to league one.

Any relegation threat plays on one's mind to an extent so, no, I wouldn't welcome that particular struggle.

Tell me John, how was young Hungbo. Was he up to Championship standards ?

He scored a couple of important goals with great left foot rockets. But he could not command a starting slot in our struggling team, so maybe he is destined just to be an influential sub.

[barney]

League One has some massive teams in it.
Derby averaged well over 27,000 crowd this season and many had over 20k.
Like any division, it ain’t easy to get out of.
It’s a lot easier to stay up than go up.
I’m chuffed that we have done our business really early for next season with most contracts agreed and signed.
Preseason should be a doddle.
Hessenthaler reckons about 4 or 5 more maximum.
Loanee Connor Masterson signed yesterday on a permanent. He’s been outstanding for us over two loan spells and will certainly play at a higher level, hopefully with us.
Bizarrely, despite finishing 17th in the league this season, the bookies have us as third favourites for next season.
If the league had of started 1st January, we came second

[oldbluefox]

I was very impressed with Gillingham when we played them. They matched everything we tried to do so I'm not surprised they are getting such good odds. You're right, it's not easy to get promotion; there are some very competitive matches.

Good luck to all of those teams in the play offs, especially Carlisle.
Play offs are a great idea for keeping the season alive and providing a lifeline into the next division. Exciting stuff!!

[barney]

We’ve had two successful playoffs and the notorious Man City one (that I’m still not really over)
Time added on is quite usual now but it wasn’t at the time.
Halsey’s five additional minutes some how turned into nine.
Bitter ?
You bet I am

[oldbluefox]

You'd have had a hatful if you'd been playing us
We don't do extra time

[Manoverboard]

I appreciate that we may be overdue to have a new Head Coach but the latest is Valérien Ismaël

Guaranteed promotion next season !

Don't think so but you never know One's latest Manager will achieve zilch promotion-wise if he follows the mantra of the previous three and that's for certain.

I believe he needs to rebuild and get shot of the over paid players who think they are too good to play in the Championship. We needs kids with a fire in their belly to play alongside a few of the more mature Hornets where everybody works as a team rather than for glory and headlines.

[barney]

Troy Deeney dipping his toes into management apparently.
Maybe taking over at Walsall as a player manager.
He’ll shine in league two, just as Charlie Austin has when fit.
Anyone fancy Gareth Bale to Wrexham ?

[Manoverboard]

Elton John did a concert to raise the £1,000,000 needed to buy Troy from Walsall, so it fits.

Gareth has turned down Wrexham but Ben Foster hasn't ... allegedly

[paultheagle]

It's brilliant going up via the Play Offs. Much better than automatic promotion.

I may be wrong but I think most clubs that 'yo yo' put a clause in players contracts that says that if the club is relegated then said players salary is adjusted to reflect that
Any club not doing that is asking for trouble.

[oldbluefox]

I believe he needs to rebuild and get shot of the over paid players who think they are too good to play in the Championship. We needs kids with a fire in their belly to play alongside a few of the more mature Hornets where everybody works as a team rather than for glory and headlines.

Sounds like great minds think alike.

[barney]

Elton John did a concert to raise the £1,000,000 needed to buy Troy from Walsall, so it fits.

Gareth has turned down Wrexham but Ben Foster hasn't ... allegedly

To be fair, Wrexham have also been linked to Pele and Sir Stanley Matthews

[oldbluefox]

Elton John did a concert to raise the £1,000,000 needed to buy Troy from Walsall, so it fits.

Gareth has turned down Wrexham but Ben Foster hasn't ... allegedly

To be fair, Wrexham have also been linked to Pele and Sir Stanley Matthews

Did Elvis turn them down then?

[barney]

Welcome back Notts County.
Oldest league club in the world once again.

[paultheagle]

It was a brilliant game, we watched some of it, extra time and the penalties in the bar after the Palace match. It was right that County went up, they got 107 points in the season 23 points above Chesterfield. What is wrong is the fact that only two clubs are promoted out of the National League. It's about time a third spot was given.

[barney]

It was a brilliant game, we watched some of it, extra time and the penalties in the bar after the Palace match. It was right that County went up, they got 107 points in the season 23 points above Chesterfield. What is wrong is the fact that only two clubs are promoted out of the National League. It's about time a third spot was given.

Absolutely agree.
3 up from the National League and 4 down from the Premier League.
Seems fair

[Manoverboard]

I'de deffo welcome a Sunderland vs Middlesbrough Championship play off final

[barney]

Over 20 thousand at Bradford yesterday for league two playoffs.
Impressive !

[paultheagle]

I'de deffo welcome a Sunderland vs Middlesbrough Championship play off final

Yeah and both sets of fans would have to travel all the way to Wembley. They could easily use Old Trafford which holds about 75000 but they won't if course. It's just one of those occasions where the FA consider fans an inconvenience.

I watched the National League North and South Play Off finals yesterday two really good games. So six new teams in the National League next season.

Rochdale.
Hartlepool.
AFC Fylde.
Ebbsfleet.
Kidderminster.
Oxford City.

[Manoverboard]

Good point PTE but I think the occasion demands Wembley to be the venue, would it be quite the same if the game was played on a neutral ground ? Ok for a semi but not for a final in my mind.

[towny44]

Good point PTE but I think the occasion demands Wembley to be the venue, would it be quite the same if the game was played on a neutral ground ? Ok for a semi but not for a final in my mind.

But that only brings us back to the question of why on earth did they keep Wembley as the national stadium and not build the new one somewhere in the Midlands convenient to a major motorway junction.

[oldbluefox]

I always hoped the new stadium would be built in or near Birmingham which is much more central with good motorway and rail connections.
Wembley stadium had its historical connections but it's a nightmare for parking and for access and could hardly be called central especially for teams from the North. I remember the fuss made by London supporters having to travel to Villa for a cup semi final when Wembley was being built.

[screwy]

That’s because London is the epicentre of planet of earth,we couldn’t possibly have the southerners having to travel out of town.

[paultheagle]

We played West Ham at the millennium Stadium, Cardiff in 2004. If you think Wembley is a nightmare getting out of them you should go to Cardiff, it's about 10 times worse. Fans will travel to see their teams in big games. I would walk if I had to rather than miss seeing Palace in a semi or final. I've never heard anyone moan because we've had to travel to Birmingham. The FA know that real fans will do whatever it takes to see their team play which is why they insist in all big games being played at Wembley but they should be a bit more flexible.