anyone else think we will struggle again this year?

Its a stronger division with Forest and Swansea coming up.
Our run-in is dreadful too.

Derby, Forest, Reading, Wolves, Deby watford all in the last few games.

I think we will struggle to attract any home based players, I think Davey will have to go down the foreign route again which is such a gamble.

 

Davey out! nt

 

No, I like Davey

But I just cant see where the wins are gonna come from.
In the past two season at least there has been a few nailed on wins - Luton, Southend, Colchester etc... but I can only see Blackpool being as skint or as crap as we are.

If we stay up a thrid time it will be the biggest acheivement yet for Davey.

 

RE: No, I like Davey

I don't agree. The longer we stay in the division, the easier it should be to stay up.

 

tell that to Leicester fans. nt

 

RE: tell that to Leicester fans. nt

Tell that to the Bristol City fans who found the championship so tough they nearly got promoted straight out of it.

 

My Guess, Bristol City will be a relegation team next season. nt

 

you have to strengthen every year to stay in this division

Leicester stood still for too many season and went down as a result. Bristol is a different case entirely. They bought some class players that were probably too good for them.

 

How do you know we will struggle?

You don't know what the squad will be like, or what our best team will be. Until you know the general level of ability in our team, how can you judge whether we will struggle or not?

I'm not saying you are wrong, just asking what your opinion is based on.

 

I hope I am proved wrong

but the fact is if Davey spots a decent striker that will improve us, and that we can afford, then he will also be good enough for the likes of Preston, Sheff Wed, Shef Utd, Ipswich, Norwich, Cov. All of which are in a better position to play at a higher level then we are and pay better wages.
So why choose us?

Thats the position Davey is in. Thats why he has to go abroad where he is not in competion with championship teams as much.

I am a fan of his, and I wish him success but it will be tough for him.

 

No.... why should we???? settled squad/management, finacially sound & transfer funds made available

Simply put we have a settle squad, a young ambitious manager, manager has backing of the board, we are finacially sound, it is reported that substantial transfer funds have been made available this year, we have spent two seasons in the championship and have made steady improvments each year.

Reports suggest that the the board have made substantial funds available and that we will add quality rather than quantity this year. If this is the case we should have a fairly settle squad (for the first time in a long time) with very few new faces, and the new players will hopefully be box office players we have been promised e.g. Kevin Phillips.

As a fan I would set SD, the board and the players the following targets:
* Championship Season 1 (06/07) - Target Survival. Achievied.
* Championship Season 2 (07/08) - Target Consolidation (improvement on previous year). Achieved.
* Championship Season 3 (08/09) - Target Mid Table.
* Championship Season 4 (09/10) - Target playoffs/promotion.

As for the other teams in the division, pundits will always tips the teams relegated from the premiership for promotion places. However, they often under go the most radical staffing changes and start the season slowly and pick up form as the season progresses. And usually one of the three struggles! With this in mind I'm glad we have Derby, Birmingham in the first few games i.e. play them early before the new players have chance to gel. Same could be said for QPR as they have had a change of manager and will also have change in personel.

Then theres the clubs with finacial uncertainty e.g. Sheff Wednesday, Southampton and even Cardiff. Who knows what problems may occur and what penalties (points deductions) may be dished out this season.

Finally the new comers e.g. Donny Rovers, Swansea, Forrest all come with big expectations. Many start well but struggle as the season goes on. Very unpredicatble.

To be honest I feel if SD has money available to him and brings in the quality players we need then why shouldn't we do well. We have two of the best keepers in the division, decent defence and midfield. I feel it is only the quality up front that we lack. Mid table finish or higher and I will be a very happy red!

 

You may or may not be right...

But what I don't understand on here is the constant assumption that we are going to have a poor team. It could be the other way round and we might win the league. In summer 1996, if we had had a BBS, there would no doubt have been the usual "Neggy Noras" saying we would be relegated or would struggle, but we finished up in the Premier league.

All the signs are fairly positive (Cryne's comments, rumours about top players etc etc), but rather than try and argue the point now why don't we just wait until we see who we sign/sell/keep and then discuss it. At the moment I don't think we have enough info to express an informed opinion.

 

if Kevin Phillips is considered box office then we are in trouble.

he is not the answer. breaking the bank for an over the hill player jsut trying to get one last pay day before the scrap heap.

 

I already have said the same!!

http://www.barnsleyfc.org.uk/bbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=112465&mid=735137#M735137

 

How do you know?

How can you predict the results of games when you don't know who will be playing in them and how bad/good they will be compared with the opposing teams?

 

not really born out by facts...............

of the teams getting promoted via the playoffs only 2 of the 12 from 1986/7 to 1997/8 are still in the Championship or above</p>

<table style="border-collapse: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="138" border="0"><tbody><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="width: 46px; height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1986/7</font></td><td class="xl65" style="width: 78px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Swindon</font></td><td class="xl65" style="width: 59px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 1</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1987/8</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Walsall</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 1</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1988/9</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Port Vale</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 2</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1989/0</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Notts C</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 2</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1990/1</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Tranmere</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 1</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1991/2</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">P'borough</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 1</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1992/3</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">WBA</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">PR</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1993/4</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Burnley</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">CH</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1994/5</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Hudds</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 1</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1995/6</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Bradford C</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 2</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1996/7</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Crewe</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 1</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td class="xl65" style="height: 17px; background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">1997/8</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">Grimsby</font></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: #ece9d8"><font face="Arial" size="2">L 2</font></td></tr></tbody></table></p>

 

I'm guessing-but an educated one! nt

 

RE: if Kevin Phillips is considered box office then we are in trouble.

Phillips last season...........

* PFA Team Of The Year.
* Top scorer at WBA with 24 goals from 30 starts.
* WBA Player Of The Season.
* WBA Supporters Club Player Of The Year.
* The main reason WBA got promoted to the premiership.

If he's over the hill then fooking hell (doh) (doh) (doh)

 

Dean Windass (in the true sense)

I don't mean Windass, 5 match ban etc....

I just mean "Dean Windass"

 

RE: Dean Windass (in the true sense)

But Windass is old and so must be over the hill as well, as he had such a poor season last year (doh) (doh) (doh)