Strange - how values change

Six years ago we all felt gutted after coming to terms with the fact we would be playing in England's second tier for another season.</p>

Six years later - the euphoria of going back to the second tier is still off the scale. And - I think that the vast majority of us all would take Championship survival next year as a measured success.</p>

We have travelled miles since administration, possibly even a bit further than we thought we would, and that in itself may even be cause for concern. But the powers that be at Oakwell have done a sound and well calculated job to get us back from the brink of extinction. We all know that getting out of one division is much harder than slipping back into another, and having achieved what they have done is something that will not be let go of lightly.</p>

Ritchie has loyalties - of course he has. But he also has his head screwed on properly. He, more than anybody will know exactly what is required to survive the rigours of what is now a very different league to the one we left four seasons ago. In those days we were dealing with The Crewe's, The Stockports and The Port Vales of this world, and we are now going back to face the consolidated ex - Premiership stalwarts of Wolves, Coventry, Leicester, Derby, Wednesday, Southampton etc, etc.</p>

A team which struggled to finish 5th in League 1 behind Southend and Colchester will have no chance against the sub-Premiership without suitably significant changes, and I am quite sure that the Board and management are well aware of that.</p>

On the concern and worry regarding McPhail's supposed comments, Ritchie's percieved loyalties and the rebuilding of the squad - all I would say is, let's calm down, enjoy the feeling, and let the club get on with the rebuilding. I am confident they'll do their best and not let us down in their efforts to balance a much needed squad strength with the limits of the club's finances.</p>

And if that means just enough to survive, and nothing more next season, that will certainly do for me.</p>

 

As I posted yesterday, 4th from bottom will do for me. We need to consolidate and I for one am setting my sights no higher than that!

 

4th bottom will do for me, but i hope we don't get battered too much, some big teams in this league now

 

Very good post. I too have real concerns about how we will fare next year the Second Division seems to be a much tougher league than when we were last there. I am well prepared for a season of defeats and draws and will settle for fourth from bottom, however, how many of our other fans will put up with that, given that Ritchie has come under attack even whist getting us promoted.

 

4 th from bottom?

Not good enough. Clearly lacking in ambition.
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I'll settle for 5th from bottom.</p>


We can't be out done by the Wendys.




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RE: 4 th from bottom?

I'll take 4th bottom, but I think we'll do much better (12th)</p>

Big names do not necessarily mean good sides and can also mean big debts !!!</p>

I'm far happier with the management and the whole basis of the club than last time we were in this division.</p>

Also watching the Championship shows there are some mediocre clubs in the division.</p>

Remember, Watford were favorites for relegation this year.</p>

 

It's a sensible point of view

It's what the realists amongst the Wednesday fans were hoping for after our Play Off victory. There were those that said it was a year too soon and that we'd be straight back down again, but no-one in their right mind would turn promotion down.

We came up in 5th, like yourselves, with a young team, like yourselves. We only really got battered in a couple of games (you may have seen the Cardiff game on Sky...) but really it's a league where anybody can beat anybody else on the day. If you want it enough and show the heart and the never-say-die attitude that you're capable of midtable isn't unrealistic.

 

Eh?

Do you mean 12th, or 12th from bottom?</p>

And are they the same anyway, or is 12th from bottom actually 13th?</p>

 

the difference is that Wednesday are tripe

 

Agreed.

Key is keeping hold of the nucleus of this side. Another year together and they'll develop.</p>



Bit of experience in the middle of the park and strength at the back, and it's a base to build on.</p>



Just hope some of our current and renewed fans can keep patient.</p>



Really looking forward to visiting Hillsborough again. Not seen us get a point there since 1983.</p>

 

4th from bottom will only do if

we aim higher. It's like aiming for the last place to be in the playoffs, if you slip up you end up with nothing except if we slip up and miss out on 4th from bottom we get relegated.

 

Agreed.

Absolutely - another year together will do them the world of good.

Of course with the youngsters, there's always the danger of them not being able to maintain the level of consistency that they might have had previously. Glenn Whelan had a shocker of a season compared to the year before, but you have to take into account that this is a young lad, playing only his second season on 1st team football and given the captaincy. We all knew he was better than his performances were showing and he was still doing it in flashes. I think you need a couple of old heads who've got the experience of playing at a decent level to go with the youngsters. I think the technical term is to "Warnock" your side. We had Coughlen and Bullen, but we really lacked the old head in the middle of the park - a Stuart McCall type.

 

Who gives a toss about Glen Whelan

 

RE: Agreed.

who is there about who can play a mcall-like role?

 

"Warnock" the side

10 strikers and punch the ref ?</p>



To be fair, I'll trust Ritchie on this. imho he gasn't signed a bad player yet ( cue yells of 'Kell' and 'Wright' but I'll ignore the plebs ).</p>

 He has a big faith in youth, so I hope he looks for experience in a couple of positions. Think Hayes may well find himself in a deeper role next year, esp if we sign someone like Chopra.</p>



Sturrock dunt look to be in a rush to sign anyone, given what he said about not having time to get players in last year. Think the players you have will be better for last season's experience ? </p>

 

Should be easier......................................................

to sign better quality players now we are back in the Championship.


I doubt that we will be signing players from League 2 again unless of course there is a special talent lurking down there.</p>

We do need a big clear out of the players who have not been featured much in the team. Vaughan, Williams and Wroe are three I think we should be moving on.
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Carbon and Conlon have gone so we could use their wages to get a quality player in. I think we should go for quality rather than quantity and become more active in the loan market. It should be much easier now to get players on long term loan from the Premiership.</p>

I think we also need to strenghen the coaching staff to take some presure off Rick Holden and Mick Tarmy. These guys are doing the work which used to be done by upto three others. I don't know how many hours these guys are doing but it must be considerable.</p>

Our Championship status should also help in the recruitement of better prospects for the Academy.</p>

We now have a great opportunity to get the club on a firm footing and I think we have the right people in place to do it.
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RE: "Warnock" the side

We've got 2 in so far, but are expecting more. Madjid Bougherra has the potential to be a big player for us - have a look at this video of him for Crewe...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5757144835503109894&q=bougherra

Wade Small, we're not really that sure about. He had a good season 2 years ago for MK Dons, but was a bit in-and-out last year by all accounts. He's supposedly got bags of pace though, which is one thing we've lacked for years.

A centre midfield player with experience (we've been linked with Colin Cameron who'd be ideal), and a good keeper (hopes of landing Carson have receded since his call up) are the priorities now I think.

In addition, I think the cull of players was more severe last year.

I think we will be better prepared next year, the majority of the squad having had that experience of playing at this level now.

 

KELL! WRIGHT!

Wright might turn out to be an excellent player. I dunno, I'm a rubbish judge. But Kell was a poor signing. If a player is unfit all season with an injury he sustained before he signed for you and he's even sent back from a non league side, then you've got to hold your hands up and say that player didn't work out. Not that Ritchie has done much else wrong like.

 

RE: "Warnock" the side

That Bougherra is a monster!

I told my Wendy mate at work that he'll prove to be one hell of a signing. Crewe were one of the form teams in the division with him in their side.