Re-establish mid table mediocrity, then move on from there!
Seems like a lot of folk will be happy with survival this season. I get that it's obviously better than going down again, but in my mind there's hardly any teams that get relegated after getting promoted. So I thought I'd have a look to confirm and here's what I found:
Season Promoted last year Survived? Position
2010/11 ICT Yes 7th
2011/12 Dunfermline No 12th
2012/13 Ross County Yes 5th
2013/14 Partick Thistle Yes 10th
2014/15 Dundee Yes 6th
2015/16 Hearts Yes 3rd
2016/17 Rangers Yes 3rd
2017/18 Hibs Yes 4th
2018/19 St Mirren Yes 11th Play-offs
2019/20 Ross County Yes 10th
So in the last 10 years 1 team has been relegated right back down after getting promoted. Almost 2, but we all know why that didnt happen......
Setting survival as a target is aiming pretty low and gives the team an easy out. If there's a bad result or performance you can just say "ah survival is the aim" and let it go.
If you look at the teams that have been promoted 50% of them have achieved top 6! I know we were in an awful state, but we've just won the Championship and have arguably one of the best forwards in the league who's been banging in goals for the last 2 seasons.
I feel like our aim should be top 6, none of this avoiding relegation rubbish. Our squad isn't the finished article but it should be good enough to complete at this level, and the management team should be able to attract better players for where we're lacking.
If Dundee & Ross County can make top 6 after being promoted I'm not content to say survival would be a decent season. Any others agree?
Re-establish mid table mediocrity, then move on from there!
I would like us to do better than 10th. And I think we will.
But given that most of our squad are not experienced at this level, top six is a big ask for this season.
The bottom line for me is to avoid 11th & 12th first and foremost.
But we want to be fighting tooth and nail for every point that is on offer to get as far away from the bottom as soon as possible.
From, what I have seen so far, I think Micky's side will do that.
And I think we could comfortably achieve mid-table with two or three astute signings.
It's kinda like going on a plane on holiday....you hope that the qeather will be nice when you arrive, the hotel will be great and the food is good...but the priority is not crashing on take off.
Survival is our number 1 objective....but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be pushing to get as high up the table as possible.
In regards to players dropping their standards if we don't aim high enough....these guys are paid for win bonuses and final league position.. they will be trying to do the best they can.
The real problem with okayers downing tools is when we are cut off at the bottom....when we went down, a lot if the players were more interested in self preservation and ensuring that they had relegation clauses in their contracts and taughting themselves to other teams.
Last year's main objective was getting to the premier, this season's is to stay there.
You may strap in cos I think until we get new additions it may get bumpy.
Unless we make a few signings, survival will be a fantastic achievement.
If you'd asked me before Covid I'd have said yes, although hoping for top 6
Post Covid, with everything that's gone on, the long delay not knowing which league we'd be in, new manager search, income cut etc etc the answer has to be an emphatic yes, if we're above 11th it'll have to be seen as acceptable.