Why I think League 1 is a must for us... (4 Viewers)

[Paxman II]

If we keep hold of the majority of our squad which is very likely given todays financial climate for all and the new football rules coming into effect then we will be a strong team in league 1.
When we start winning regular crowds will be as big if not slightly bigger than they are now on average. People love success and especially promotion runs.
Coventry is the largest city in league 1 (haven'y checked that) given Sheffield's go up with Charlton - and it's catchment area is some 500,000. If we bring quick success and look like favourites from the off the crowds will return. I know I would watch that happen!
Success breeds success. It's what this club needs and I can't wait for league 1 as I'm done with this attempt every week at staying in the championship when reality suggest it's all over?

We have to re group and do what Norwich, Southampton, Man City, Leeds and others have all faced and done. We will be stronger for it.

If by some miracle we stay in the championship we will continue in the same vein and struggle and our young guns like Bigi, Christie, Clake etc will actually suffer for it and so will the club.
In fact I'm almost convinced that league 1 is a must for our development as a club so we can stop treading water and move forwards!

 

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[Sub]

i think keeping hold of the majority of our squad will be a major issue if SISU are still here :thinking about::thinking about:

 

[Otis]

If we keep hold of the majority of our squad which is very likely given todays financial climate for all and the new football rules coming into effect then we will be a strong team in league 1.
When we start winning regular crowds will be as big if not slightly bigger than they are now on average. People love success and especially promotion runs.
Coventry is the largest city in league 1 (haven'y checked that) given Sheffield's go up with Charlton - and it's catchment area is some 500,000. If we bring quick success and look like favourites from the off the crowds will return. I know I would watch that happen!
Success breeds success. It's what this club needs and I can't wait for league 1 as I'm done with this attempt every week at staying in the championship when reality suggest it's all over?

We have to re group and do what Norwich, Southampton, Man City, Leeds and others have all faced and done. We will be stronger for it.

If by some miracle we stay in the championship we will continue in the same vein and struggle and our young guns like Bigi, Christie, Clake etc will actually suffer for it and so will the club.
In fact I'm almost convinced that league 1 is a must for our development as a club so we can stop treading water and move forwards!

I read the first line "if we keep hold of the majority of our squad" and stopped reading on from that point on.

Isn't that like saying "if petrol prices don't go up?"


The only way we will keep our squad is if there is a takeover.

 

[torchomatic]

Clingan and Crane will go, but who else? Maybe Keogh. I can't see anyone else leaving.

 

[Otis]

Clingan and Crane will go, but who else? Maybe Keogh. I can't see anyone else leaving.

You don't think that if someone comes in for our talented kids they will go? Thomas, Bigi, Christie. Someone comes in for them with cash and they'll be gone. Absolutely no doubt about that whatsoever. We've already tried to sell Thomas once.

 

[Paxman II]

Agree with Torch. Only one or two will go. The financial restraints of all clubs is worse than ever and buying young kids who we are 'forced' to play and still in their development does not make them a target for another club remaining in the championship. Our squad is the one without an away win and taking us down remember?

Some will receive praise for their efforts like Clingan, Keogh but the rest?

Perfect for league 1 development and staying at the biggest club in league 1 will be those players best options. So yes i see us retaining our core squad.

 

[Nick]

Agree with Torch. Only one or two will go. The financial restraints of all clubs is worse than ever and buying young kids who we are 'forced' to play and still in their development does not make them a target for another club remaining in the championship. Our squad is the one without an away win and taking us down remember?

Some will receive praise for their efforts like Clingan, Keogh but the rest?

Perfect for league 1 development and staying at the biggest club in league 1 will be those players best options. So yes i see us retaining our core squad.

We wouldn't be the biggest club in League 1 though

 

[torchomatic]

''Absolutely no doubt whatsoever''. Sorry, I forgot you were the Oracle. Apologies...

You don't think that if someone comes in for our talented kids they will go? Thomas, Bigi, Christie. Someone comes in for them with cash and they'll be gone. Absolutely no doubt about that whatsoever. We've already tried to sell Thomas once.

 

[Nick]

I wonder how many players have release clauses in their contracts so they can go to another team on a free transfer if we get relegated?

 

[Otis]

I'm not the oracle. We have already tried to sell Thomas though once under Sisu.

You tell me then who we've kept here who we have wanted to keep? Gunnar? Nope. Westwood? Nope. Turner? Nope. Juke? Nope.

Clingan and Cranie are out of contract and will be gone anyway in the Summer.

Anyone who has made a decent offer for our players has got them. All we have done is sell players. Doesn't need an oracle to know Sisu will continue selling our players. Scouts have already been looking at our players. The best kids will be gone if offers come in for them.

That is plain to see under this board's tenure. Why would you believe any different?

 

[CAS PUSB]

I agree, we need to see some wins.

I take my 6 year old lad home and away, he still thinks Cov are the best team in the world! He needs to start seeing us win, even if it is against Brentford or Walsall. (assuming we can beat them)

I'm sure he's got Sky Blue in his blood and his faith is infectious but it kills me to see the disappointment on his face when we loss. The kids are the future and they need something to cheer.

 

[sky blue john]

:facepalm: Have you got a version for league 2 and the conference Pax or would that just be wishful thinking on your part.

I wonder how many of Bristol, pompey and Donny fans are posting on their respective websites saying they are down already and looking forward to league 1.
Or will they be looking at all the defeatest attitude on here and laughing their arses off ?

 

[sky blue john]

If !!!!!!!! we go down.
Then based on Sisu's track record you can forget any players of value they will be sold and more academy players brought through to fill their places.

 

[oldskyblue58]

relegation didnt work for us last time why should it work now ?

The likes of Norwich, Leeds, Man City etc have something we don't have and that is a proven good fan base. What we have is the thought that given our catchment area we should have ......... that is a big difference, most importantly in the finance they can attract and we cant. History of our club indicates our attendances are low and remain low no matter what.

I dont see why every one seems to assume that this "big" club of ours can go down and boss League 1. Generally teams that go down dont just bounce back up at the first time of asking. With respect, we are not a big club, there is nothing about the club itself that doesnt suggest that they are anything but lowly also rans. It is going to take strong leadership, some finance and a leap of faith by the fans to change that.

Player sales - it is a fact of life folks, it is essential (as it stands) so that we actually have a club to support. Any new owners are going to have the same problems and by the look of it the same tools to deal with it. Unless there is a significant increase in crowds then the budget to buy and pay wages is going to be restricted (FFP is already a fact of life in League 1 with FL wanting wages at no more than 70% of turnover). We will have to wheel and deal players and we will have to make use of the academy- why have it if you are not going to grow your own talent?

Which ever division we are in it is going to be tough, infact very tough to get significant and consistent success. Only thing I am "grateful" for is that we will be in a division - sooner or later there are going to be teams that disappear !

Do i look forward to League 1 - no not at all

 

[Grendel]

I agree 100% OSB. It's easy to become complacent but even the bigger clubs except Norwich do not come straight back. One of the Sheffield clubs may still be there and I cannot see our average gates in that league making us anything special.

On the playing side cranie, clingan and keogh are likely to go and Norwood and nimley as well. Platt will be a year older. All of a sudden 6 players need replacing. We will not be able to attract a high profile manager and cost cutting will ensue on a greater scale.

I think relegation will be meltdown for us. It's why we should have taken action to avoid it weeks ago both by changing manager and getting more loans in.

 

[Otis]

We will not get good crowds in League 1 unless we are right up there and winning games.

Our crowds will continue to dwindle until we have some semblance of success.

 

[Otis]

I agree 100% OSB. It's easy to become complacent but even the bigger clubs except Norwich do not come straight back. One of the Sheffield clubs may still be there and I cannot see our average gates in that league making us anything special.

On the playing side cranie, clingan and keogh are likely to go and Norwood and nimley as well. Platt will be a year older. All of a sudden 6 players need replacing. We will not be able to attract a high profile manager and cost cutting will ensue on a greater scale.

I think relegation will be meltdown for us. It's why we should have taken action to avoid it weeks ago both by changing manager and getting more loans in.

Well at least one or the other anyhow.

 

[Godiva]

I disagree with Pax that we need to get relegated to become successful. If we manage to stay up we will benefit from the last years rigerous cost saving excercise and stand in a much better position to many in the league.

We're not relegated yet, so let's keep a bit of faith and believe.

 

[Otis]

I would change that to "we need to get relegated and be taken over to be successful."

 

[torchomatic]

Couldn't agree more.

We're not relegated yet, so let's keep a bit of faith and believe.

 

[Sky Blue M]

You dont really get good crowds anywhere if you are scraping round the bottom of the league. I agree with Otis we will not get good crowds till we have a good sustinaed period of success. Nearly every team who will be mentioned as having good support have had success in the last few years which is something that we havent. It annoys me when people say our support isn't good, we havent had ANYTHING decent for 25 years. If we ever manage to compete at the top of the league for a whole season we would be getting 20000+ every week imo

 

[oldskyblue58]

I do however feel that which ever manager, whatever the squad we are right to expect the team to win more games than this year. That in its self would be success and more enjoyable. To win 6 out of 36 and none away is just not acceptable for any team under any manager- it takes more than that for me to have faith in what is going on the pitch. Faith in the off pitch stuff is something else entirely and frankly i do not see anything so far in SISU or GH that will make me have that - from a financial stand point they both use the same general tools when more radical thought is required

 

[Otis]

You dont really get good crowds anywhere if you are scraping round the bottom of the league. I agree with Otis we will not get good crowds till we have a good sustinaed period of success. Nearly every team who will be mentioned as having good support have had success in the last few years which is something that we havent. It annoys me when people say our support isn't good, we havent had ANYTHING decent for 25 years. If we ever manage to compete at the top of the league for a whole season we would be getting 20000+ every week imo

Yep. Exactly!!

 

[Moff]

To be honest I think league one is for us, as we will end up in the bottom three. Nuff said innit!

 

[coundonskyblue]

Think league 1 could make or break us. IF we keep this squad we would be ok, but if is a big word!

Hopefully whoever is in control of the club next season can bring a few players in, even free signings could be good enough. The way things are shaping up its very likely we will be the biggest club in the division which should make signing players a bit easier, as the best league 1 players will want to play for us.

Unfortunately Sisu are very poor business people, unable to see the bigger picture. If we go down, or stay up for that matter, I don't expect/demand millions to be spent on the squad, what I do expect is for the club not to let all their better players to go for nothing and then not replace them.

 

[stupot07]

I disagree with Pax that we need to get relegated to become successful. If we manage to stay up we will benefit from the last years rigerous cost saving excercise and stand in a much better position to many in the league.

We're not relegated yet, so let's keep a bit of faith and believe.

I agree - however as the FFP rules don't come in until 2014 we will be still further ahead in thy process than most of our championship rivals and will be looking at another year of struggle.

If by some miracle we're still in the championship by 2014/15 season we should have a more competitive wage structure.

 

[malkitccfc]

think we'll just do what preston have done this year.

 

[dongonzalos]

If we keep hold of the majority of our squad which is very likely given todays financial climate for all and the new football rules coming into effect then we will be a strong team in league 1.
When we start winning regular crowds will be as big if not slightly bigger than they are now on average. People love success and especially promotion runs.
Coventry is the largest city in league 1 (haven'y checked that) given Sheffield's go up with Charlton - and it's catchment area is some 500,000. If we bring quick success and look like favourites from the off the crowds will return. I know I would watch that happen!
Success breeds success. It's what this club needs and I can't wait for league 1 as I'm done with this attempt every week at staying in the championship when reality suggest it's all over?

We have to re group and do what Norwich, Southampton, Man City, Leeds and others have all faced and done. We will be stronger for it.

If by some miracle we stay in the championship we will continue in the same vein and struggle and our young guns like Bigi, Christie, Clake etc will actually suffer for it and so will the club.
In fact I'm almost convinced that league 1 is a must for our development as a club so we can stop treading water and move forwards!

Can you explain under the current ownership of SISU what makes you think for a second that we will keep the majority of our squad???????????

 

[ccfcway]

think we'll just do what preston have done this year.

that would be a success for us !

 

[Otis]

Totally agree, Dongon.

Sisu have consistently and constantly sold our best players. If good offers come in, even for the kids, we will surely sell.

We will have less money next year, smaller corwds, less season ticket holders and will still be losing money hand over fist. the only thing the board can do is to sell players.

 

[CovLis86]

Deja Vu anyone?..... Pretty sure all of this was said when we got relegated form the Premiership ALL those years ago...now look at us, and how 'Good for the team' that was.

 

[dongonzalos]

relegation didnt work for us last time why should it work now ?



Player sales - it is a fact of life folks, it is essential (as it stands) so that we actually have a club to support. Any new owners are going to have the same problems and by the look of it the same tools to deal with it. Unless there is a significant increase in crowds then the budget to buy and pay wages is going to be restricted (FFP is already a fact of life in League 1 with FL wanting wages at no more than 70% of turnover). We will have to wheel and deal players and we will have to make use of the academy- why have it if you are not going to grow your own talent?



I appreciate that it is a fact of life. However if SISU had good business sence surely when you are in the bottom 3 and you have a chance of staying up. You only have 4 months left to the end of the season. You get an offer for your only goalscorer of somewhere in the region of 750000 - 1 million. Do you sell him and condemn your club to relegation which will cost a lot more then 1 million, or do you hold onto him. Hope that he keeps your club up and scores some more goals then seel him for a better offer and save the club millions and its possible existence.

The only reason I think you would not chose option 2 is if you knew you were not going to be around past the summer

 

[Otis]

Don't be daft Lis, League One "could be fun."

 

[coundonskyblue]

Deja Vu anyone?..... Pretty sure all of this was said when we got relegated form the Premiership ALL those years ago...now look at us, and how 'Good for the team' that was.

With owners who didnt cash in at every opportunity I think we would easily bounce back.

The difference between going down now is we will be below our natural level. We were a small club in the prem, we will be a big club in league 1, in the championship we are average. Every club finds their level again in the end.

Before anyone quotes me Luton or Bradford they were never above their level in the championship.

 

[Grendel]

relegation didnt work for us last time why should it work now ?



Player sales - it is a fact of life folks, it is essential (as it stands) so that we actually have a club to support. Any new owners are going to have the same problems and by the look of it the same tools to deal with it. Unless there is a significant increase in crowds then the budget to buy and pay wages is going to be restricted (FFP is already a fact of life in League 1 with FL wanting wages at no more than 70% of turnover). We will have to wheel and deal players and we will have to make use of the academy- why have it if you are not going to grow your own talent?



I appreciate that it is a fact of life. However if SISU had good business sence surely when you are in the bottom 3 and you have a chance of staying up. You only have 4 months left to the end of the season. You get an offer for your only goalscorer of somewhere in the region of 750000 - 1 million. Do you sell him and condemn your club to relegation which will cost a lot more then 1 million, or do you hold onto him. Hope that he keeps your club up and scores some more goals then seel him for a better offer and save the club millions and its possible existence.

The only reason I think you would not chose option 2 is if you knew you were not going to be around past the summer

Except the selling of the one player has made no difference. Win ratio has improved. I am not saying I approve of it but there is an easy justification especially as he may have moved as a free agent at the end of next season.