I am not sure I would like to see us go up

[Oldtimeram]

Thinking about it I am really not sure I would like us to go up.

Yes, it would be exciting to win at Wembley and the cash injection from winning would be fantastic. However, I would not look forward to us getting a thumping every week, because unless we spend a fortune on a new team it will most likely happen most weeks. Add to it, would these new "Premiership quality" players stay loyal to the club if we are relegated next season? Probably not!

Add to it the extra cost of a season ticket to watch a bunch of overpaid prima donnas every week.

Thinking about it I think I would much prefer to see us compete each week with a great chance of winning in the Championship.

The Premeriship is really not all it is cracked up to be in my opinion.

[blackandwhite56]

Good post - got to agree.
Would prefer another season building, getting a better defence etc.

Of course if we didn't then make it in 12 months time ...we could be in trouble with our owners.

Perhaps if the chance comes we have to take it this season but the prospect of not winning many matches etc is not good and bad memories of the last time still linger.

[triz]

You will get many that agree. I am not saying you are wrong, i understand many of your points but i disagree with you. Pitting your skills against the best in the country every week is what it's all about. If we ever go up no doubt we would lose most weeks, but the victories will be all the more sweeter and i'd much rather that then us spend beyond our means. I mean i'm a natural pessimist but we will never get a lower points total than 11 (no one will). The jimmy smith years in the prem were my favourite years as a derby fan and to maybe reproduce that would be all that i could realisticly hope for. Good football in the best league in our country, with quality players to watch every other week.If i pick my favourite ever derby player (sturridge or baiano prob) then they played with us in the prem, if everyone picks their's i would guess they had played with us in the top division,lets try and bring those days back again.

[woolwhacker]

It's all very well saying it would better this season or next but you can't pick and choose. If it comes take it and deal with it, hope you survive and thrive, if not enjoy the ride.

[Rattea]

This is something I've been banging on for a long time. Effectively too level football is dead except for the few. What do you want promotion for so that you can aspire to mediocrity perchance of having over paid has beens in your team! That's about all there is for the likes of is now.

People will pitch it at pitching yourself against the best and seeing the best player. Yes ... By whooping your team 9 times out of 10.

Is this really what it has come to appreciating other teams and not your own.

Until we get a super league or the PL crashes English football, and national team, is dead. Italy was on the threshold of this in the 90s but were lucky to have a football recession and get real football back.

It's sad but for the time being it's reality.

[triz]

People will pitch it at pitching yourself against the best and seeing the best player,

Is this really what it has come to appreciating other teams and not your own

Yes but also seeing some great players for your own team. Like i said.

[DCFC95]

I fear of we aren't promoted this season out midfield will be ripped apart.

I think the problem is too many people believe that mid table mediocrity is the most a team can achieve in the Prem. Think outside the box. Blood youngsters through. Throw them in at the deep end. Allow them to flourish together. Be stubborn, refuse to sell them to the big boys. Southampton are the only club so far to try this (Shaw, Ward-Prowse, Chambers, Gallagher; as well as Reed and Taggart making the bench in recent weeks), and look at them, 9th with huge potential to push on.

The youngsters are there, I mean, look at Thorne, how is the guy not starting at WBA? Come on Pepe, throw him in at the deep end (or sell him to us!).

Clubs in that league need to sit down and have a think. Stop thinking short term, long term!

[Rams4ever]

In some ways I agree but I think there will be a surprising number of changes in the summer. SM will want to build his own team and as at the moment we are not strong enough. The incentive to try to get promoted is obviously the Ai100m+, but i think the Chief Exec and owners really believe that the current management team can build the future premiership team.

[hantsram]

Right now it appears that Palace will be staying up, and Cardiff going down. Who'd have thought that 12 months ago.
The moral of the story is, live for how and enjoy it if we go up, and let the future take care of itself.

[Manofpride]

I agree with Triz on this, it's what football is all about. If your team plays well in the Championship it'll take you to the Premiership anyway. How drab it would be starting every season hoping to stay out of the top 6 so your team can stay in the Championship!