Championship this Season

[baggieal]

Most likely will be harder than the last. Wolves and West Ham/Spurs will be strong. Burnley/Southampton and Middlesbrough will be decent. No doubt Wrexham and Blues will spend big so will be right up there. Millwall will look to improve too.

Patel really does need to get his money out but not just a case of that. It?s quality at a good price and we need to avoid mistakes ie spending almost five million on players like Heggebo who is not clinical.

We need to aim for at least the play offs as Hull getting promoted on peanuts shows you - it can be done!

[Baggie smudge]

Most likely will be harder than the last. Wolves and West Ham/Spurs will be strong. Burnley/Southampton and Middlesbrough will be decent. No doubt Wrexham and Blues will spend big so will be right up there. Millwall will look to improve too.

Patel really does need to get his money out but not just a case of that. It?s quality at a good price and we need to avoid mistakes ie spending almost five million on players like Heggebo who is not clinical.

We need to aim for at least the play offs as Hull getting promoted on peanuts shows you - it can be done!

Heggebo cost almost ?5million but if he had scored a bagful it would be a bargain and great business. He didn?t this season but maybe next season after getting settled at the club things may improve in that area. He may have looked like the right man for us before joining but how can anyone possibly guarantee that it will work out in the first season? He?s young and has moved to a different country and no one can fault his effort and commitment.

[baggieal]

Heggebo cost almost ?5million but if he had scored a bagful it would be a bargain and great business. He didn?t this season but maybe next season after getting settled at the club things may improve in that area. He may have looked like the right man for us before joining but how can anyone possibly guarantee that it will work out in the first season? He?s young and has moved to a different country and no one can fault his effort and commitment.

All very good points Smudge. For me though it?s not that or the service - he?s just not clinical in front of goal ie ball comes over - pull the trigger - then bang. It?s not something easily learnt it?s pure instinct. In some ways he reminds me of HRK who always gave 100% - keeps the ball up well but poor in front of goal. A player like Odemwingie or Gayle did not usually miss given the chance. That young kid for example Sule has quicker feet than Heggebo but will he be better or be a star - who knows!

I truly hope Heggebo has a great season next season but really can?t see the goal return. Maybe playing with another striker with that killer instinct of goals may flourish a partnership.

[baggiematt]

There were times when I (and probably all of us) looked at Heggebo and thought he will be a nightmare to play against but probably wont score many goals. Then he went on a run of scoring goals. This followed him looking poor and scored 1 in about 20 games.

I think there was a reason behind this, I think he was knackered from playing so many games. I hope thats right and we see the best parts of him next season. Still only 24 so hopefully a lot more to come.

On the topic of next season, I think realistically we will finish top 12. Our aim should be higher, but I wouldnt turn noses up to a 9 place rise in the league.

[baggieal]

There were times when I (and probably all of us) looked at Heggebo and thought he will be a nightmare to play against but probably wont score many goals. Then he went on a run of scoring goals. This followed him looking poor and scored 1 in about 20 games.

I think there was a reason behind this, I think he was knackered from playing so many games. I hope thats right and we see the best parts of him next season. Still only 24 so hopefully a lot more to come.

On the topic of next season, I think realistically we will finish top 12. Our aim should be higher, but I wouldnt turn noses up to a 9 place rise in the league.

That?s probably what Hull said and even Millwall too on less spend than us ( even with our financial problems ) and on less salaries on average. Both proved with excellent managers, players wanting it and consistency they went the extra mile.

Over to you Jimmy and that?s what good managers can achieve.

[Omegstrat6]

Was really hoping Spurs would go down rather than West Ham but next season the Championship will certainly be a tough one to get out of with the likes of West Ham and Burnley coming down and -as Al says- both Wrexham and Blues having some money behind them to push on as well as the likes of Boro who came so close to going up this year. I don't know how the Dingles will do. Certainly, they have some quality in the squad but Rob Edwards has been understandably far from happy with many of them. On top of all the above, of course, we also have those two extra play off positions next season which will also make it even more competitive.

That all said, I think we still have to aim for a play off position even though I'd not be too unhappy if we ended up just outside of them. With so many forward players to replace (I've still not heard if either Maja or Grant have accepted their deals?) so much depends on who we can recruit in the transfer window of course.

[baggiematt]

That?s probably what Hull said and even Millwall too on less spend than us ( even with our financial problems ) and on less salaries on average. Both proved with excellent managers, players wanting it and consistency they went the extra mile.

Over to you Jimmy and that?s what good managers can achieve.

Less spend? We had the lowest net spend in the league.

Millwall have been growing that squad season on season, its not a rapid rise from them.

You daft sod will be calling for Morrisons head even if we finish mid table. Just like Corberan, have you seen how he is doing with Valencia now? Rose tinted glasses and too much vino

[baggieal]

Less spend? We had the lowest net spend in the league.

Millwall have been growing that squad season on season, its not a rapid rise from them.

You daft sod will be calling for Morrisons head even if we finish mid table. Just like Corberan, have you seen how he is doing with Valencia now? Rose tinted glasses and too much vino

Facts Matt facts! Millwall growing that squad season on season - now that?s a good one! 23/24 season Millwall finished 13th whilst we were in the play offs with CC playing Jed as the striker 😭
24/25 season Millwall finished 8th just two points above us. This season they spent only 7.5 million and we spent almost 5 million on a two left footed striker. Millwall did brilliantly this season because of their manager and players wanting to play for him. Many of the Millwall fans are raving over Caleb a great addition they gloat. Where did he come from? Millwall even with our financial issues do not have anywhere near the transfer budget or can pay the salaries we have paid.

Hull spent almost nothing almost not even a million. You can?t say that was luck - the players consistently achieved for their manager. It was no fluke. The table does NOT lie!

Carlos has turned it around a little but Valencia were near the bottom for most of the season and even now their supporters will not be swigging Rioja because whichever way you dress it up - they are still 7 points from relegation. Yeah - a fantastic season 😭😭

You do come out with some garbage 😭

[baggiematt]

Facts Matt facts! Millwall growing that squad season on season - now that?s a good one! 23/24 season Millwall finished 13th whilst we were in the play offs with CC playing Jed as the striker 😭
24/25 season Millwall finished 8th just two points above us. This season they spent only 7.5 million and we spent almost 5 million on a two left footed striker. Millwall did brilliantly this season because of their manager and players wanting to play for him. Many of the Millwall fans are raving over Caleb a great addition they gloat. Where did he come from? Millwall even with our financial issues do not have anywhere near the transfer budget or can pay the salaries we have paid.

Hull spent almost nothing almost not even a million. You can?t say that was luck - the players consistently achieved for their manager. It was no fluke. The table does NOT lie!

Carlos has turned it around a little but Valencia were near the bottom for most of the season and even now their supporters will not be swigging Rioja because whichever way you dress it up - they are still 7 points from relegation. Yeah - a fantastic season 😭😭

You do come out with some garbage 😭

Milwall have been top half 6 years out of the last 7. And yes, the players who impressed this season werent bought this season: Inavonic, Crama, Neghli, Azeez all last season. Coburn and Taylor have been decent and came this season.

To fund it, they have the signing and sale of Flemming and Tanganga. And the sale of Esse. They havent just risen up to third overnight, that squad has been built over time. They have done terrific but to suggest its an overnight job doesnt match the reality.

Hull is a bizarre one as I said on another thread. But to suggest thats the blueprint and is realistic for us is daft. It?s like saying that Leicester finished 18th and then won the league the season after, so that should be Tottenhams aim. Tottenham, like us should see mid table as great progress to kick on from.

Corberan turned it around a little 😆 . You dont understand your biases at all. He kept them up last season when they were bottom of the league and then has progressed them to 9th this season. He is a class manager and you are too stubborn to admit you were a plonker for repeatedly criticising him.

[baggieal]

Milwall have been top half 6 years out of the last 7. And yes, the players who impressed this season werent bought this season: Inavonic, Crama, Neghli, Azeez all last season. Coburn and Taylor have been decent and came this season.

To fund it, they have the signing and sale of Flemming and Tanganga. And the sale of Esse. They havent just risen up to third overnight, that squad has been built over time. They have done terrific but to suggest its an overnight job doesnt match the reality.

Hull is a bizarre one as I said on another thread. But to suggest thats the blueprint and is realistic for us is daft. It?s like saying that Leicester finished 18th and then won the league the season after, so that should be Tottenhams aim. Tottenham, like us should see mid table as great progress to kick on from.

Corberan turned it around a little 😆 . You dont understand your biases at all. He kept them up last season when they were bottom of the league and then has progressed them to 9th this season. He is a class manager and you are too stubborn to admit you were a plonker for repeatedly criticising him.

But it?s the first time in over 5 years have they been in the play offs FFS. At least we were there when our Jed was played in Cyril?s position! So yes they have just risen up to third overnight compared to previous years where once they finished in a pathetic 13th. They have finished third this season just like Hull because of hard graft and desire plus wanting to play for an excellent manager. Says something when Taylor has been brilliant in a team who finished third yet he could not get in our team and was sold for peanuts albeit we needed the cash.

Hull is not a bizarre one or luck - they have deservedly achieved promotion due to an excellent manager and sheer hard work and graft on a consistent basis. See the other thread from a Hull fan - most of the time they had one chance and took it. If Heggebo had five clear cut chances we would be lucky if he scored one. That?s the point.

Never liked CC?s football and he could take us no further forward in his second season. Even now many Valencia supporters are still not happy with him and certainly won?t be dancing in the streets two losses away from relegation.

Your be saying next Sunderland were lucky! They got out of the championship due to hungry young quality talent and purchased well. So did Leeds.

Patel needs to get the cash out and young talent like Williams and Sule are the future not 15 million flops like Grant with no end product.

The moral of the story is - one chance - pull the trigger and BANG!

[Leicesterbaggie]

Let’s be honest, this season has been a monumental disaster with the exception of the final dozen or so games under Morrison. That squad should not have been anywhere near the relegation zone. In mitigation I still think that we were unlucky in quite a few games but overall, as a team, we were really poor on far too many occasions.

Getting rid of Mason was understandable but the appointment of Ramsay was unforgivable as he was clueless and played square pegs in round holes and in systems that did not suit the players at his disposal. The writing was on the wall after his first few games in charge.

At the start of last season I was fully expecting us to be in or around the play offs but never, in my wildest dreams, expected us to be in a relegation battle. Thanks to Jimmy Morrison we just avoided going down and to my mind it was because he played to the strengths of individuals and in the positions that they understood and were successful at. To be honest though, that is not rocket science!

As for next season, I am again optimistic that we can be in or around the play offs. This will require sensible recruitment and as I have said before, play to the strengths of the individuals at our disposal.

[baggieal]

Let’s be honest, this season has been a monumental disaster with the exception of the final dozen or so games under Morrison. That squad should not have been anywhere near the relegation zone. In mitigation I still think that we were unlucky in quite a few games but overall, as a team, we were really poor on far too many occasions.

Getting rid of Mason was understandable but the appointment of Ramsay was unforgivable as he was clueless and played square pegs in round holes and in systems that did not suit the players at his disposal. The writing was on the wall after his first few games in charge.

At the start of last season I was fully expecting us to be in or around the play offs but never, in my wildest dreams, expected us to be in a relegation battle. Thanks to Jimmy Morrison we just avoided going down and to my mind it was because he played to the strengths of individuals and in the positions that they understood and were successful at. To be honest though, that is not rocket science!

As for next season, I am again optimistic that we can be in or around the play offs. This will require sensible recruitment and as I have said before, play to the strengths of the individuals at our disposal.

Good post LB. Morrison deserved a lot of credit because he placed players in their correct positions and brought an attacking intent to the side by two up front. This is why many were sick of CC in the second season - there was no attacking intent and the football was like watching paint dry. Take the two mentioned Millwall and Hull - good old fashioned work ethic - desire to win - right tactics and playing for the manager. As that Hull supporter mentioned on a previous thread - one chance and bang it?s in the net. The amount of chances we have missed is absolutely shocking and yes players like Heggebo put in a shift but it?s the clinical instinct in front of goal which is sadly lacking. That was why Dwight Gayle was superb for us and nobody since then has come anywhere near.

Football is not a difficult game and fans want to be entertained.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

There's some tasty 'new' fixtures as a result of this season's ups and downs

West Ham v Millwall
Burnley v Blackburn
Bolton v Preston
Saints v Middlesboro (could be interesting)
Cardiff v Swansea

and I almost forgot
Albion (COYv Dingles

[baggiematt]

But it?s the first time in over 5 years have they been in the play offs FFS. At least we were there when our Jed was played in Cyril?s position! So yes they have just risen up to third overnight compared to previous years where once they finished in a pathetic 13th. They have finished third this season just like Hull because of hard graft and desire plus wanting to play for an excellent manager. Says something when Taylor has been brilliant in a team who finished third yet he could not get in our team and was sold for peanuts albeit we needed the cash.

Hull is not a bizarre one or luck - they have deservedly achieved promotion due to an excellent manager and sheer hard work and graft on a consistent basis. See the other thread from a Hull fan - most of the time they had one chance and took it. If Heggebo had five clear cut chances we would be lucky if he scored one. That?s the point.

Never liked CC?s football and he could take us no further forward in his second season. Even now many Valencia supporters are still not happy with him and certainly won?t be dancing in the streets two losses away from relegation.

Your be saying next Sunderland were lucky! They got out of the championship due to hungry young quality talent and purchased well. So did Leeds.

Patel needs to get the cash out and young talent like Williams and Sule are the future not 15 million flops like Grant with no end product.

The moral of the story is - one chance - pull the trigger and BANG!

You are saying Millwall have done well to go up the table 10 places. I agree with you. But 10 places for us takes us up to 11th. Just be realistic and patient. It would be great to get playoffs but to me we will be some way off the 6th best squad. Who knows.

You have missed the point entirely around Hull. Their players and manager havent been lucky. Well, maybe a little. Their owner is the one that has been lucky. How many clubs with that type of position in the summer succeed like they have. It probably wont happen again.

I guarantee you there isnt a single Valencia fan not happy with Corberan. Have a day off 😆

[baggieal]

You are saying Millwall have done well to go up the table 10 places. I agree with you. But 10 places for us takes us up to 11th. Just be realistic and patient. It would be great to get playoffs but to me we will be some way off the 6th best squad. Who knows.

You have missed the point entirely around Hull. Their players and manager havent been lucky. Well, maybe a little. Their owner is the one that has been lucky. How many clubs with that type of position in the summer succeed like they have. It probably wont happen again.

I guarantee you there isnt a single Valencia fan not happy with Corberan. Have a day off 😆

But it did happen and could easily happen again with sheer hard work and players wanting to play consistently well for the manager. Millwall nearly achieved it too! Who would have thought Sunderland, Brighton and Bournemouth would now be playing in Europe.

The sun is getting to you! Valencia are a big club and read some of their fan reviews. The first half of the season was shocking even in CC?s words but they improved and escaped relegation by 7 points.