If the current squad were to gain promotion have we seen any real evidence that they would perform any better than than last season, given that most of the squad is the same as the squad that was relegated ?
As they were just out of school when bloodied in the Championship, they should be a bit better 2 years on, if we were to go up. Some players playing around Dougall already look better than I remember. I have doubts about the others but that's normal; fringe players are likely to be moved on. So long as the changes year on year are incremental we should have a better chance of surviving. We don't want to lose the first 2 months again as the players get to know one another. Unless transfer budgets increase, I wouldn't expect us to be any better than bottom 8 in the Championship. Transfer and salary budgets will dictate much of it, and hopefully we can unearth more gems like Bahre and Dougall. In reality, I have absolutely no idea of course but that's my feeling.
These owners have never had a pre-season in the Championship. We've no idea what their plans would be. They could add 3/4 good additions and we may be a decent side at that level, the current squad of young players will also benefit from this seasons exploits and would be better equipped next time round.
Immaterial at the moment. We may not even go up. If we do then we would obviously need to add to the squad but I'm sure we would.
Momentum is a massive thing in football. It’s relatively common nowadays for promoted teams to have an impressive first season, or at least an impressive first half of the first season before momentum dies off. We’ve kept most of the squad from last season, which can only benefit them having another season playing in the same squad. Not only that, they’re all still fairly inexperienced, and need to develop further. I’d argue our squad is better than that of Rotherham, and they’re doing ok, so far at least.
No - I think we would struggle. We would need to add a few more players to make sure we didn’t get relegated. Players like: Adam Hammill Yiadom Harvey Barnes Gardner McBurnie Joe Williams This would be a great team on paper - but it’s these types of players that we need if we are to secure our Championship status. What a team we would have if we signed these players. In fact I could see us being in the top 6.
Why is it a bizarre question, we are play the same game with the same rules. It is not as though I asked would St Helens do well in the Rugby Union Prekmership
IF we get promoted some of the current squad haven't played Championship level. I think Dougal could do well up there for instance. Of the rest most were thrown in at the deep end at that level as youngsters. With a season of success behind them and as a well integrated unit some may do a lot better than last time, some won't. Either way we'll need to strengthen. I'd hope that we'd have the core of a decent side though. No doubt there'll be some who'll be waiting for them at the first mistake any of them make.
Let's get promoted first, eh? Absolutely not a foregone conclusion. Very much looking forward to seeing how we compare against Sunderland and Portsmouth head to head. I wonder if Peterborough may slide down the table a bit after we so spectacularly burst their balloon
Didn't there used to be a charity game between the Rugby League and Rugby Union champions at some point in the past? - I seem to think Wigan won both but that was in the days when league was professional and union was amateur.