Thing is, they’re playing other championship teams so it’s impossible to gauge. Look at Watford this year, you’d say they were woeful, 2 points from a possible 18, losing 8-0 etc yet when they played us we couldn’t get near them. I know they’re bottom of the prem and not championship (yet) but you get my point
The big difference is we had a lot of players out of contract or return to their parent club. The players we have signed as replacements have been given 2 and in a lot of cases 3 year contracts. If we do go up the majority of the squad will already be contracted for next year. Unless we sell players, in which case need a buyer, the squad will look pretty similar in my opinion.
We'd have 15 players as it stands out of contract at the end of the season. Most are U23/youth but the likes of Bakayoko, Brown, Hiwula, Hyam, Jones and Westbrooke could also potentially be gone.
I think the big gulf is actually within the division, between the top and the bottom. A L1 could probably give a decent fist of staying up but have very little chance of going for promotion. Like the PL - the big gulf is between the CL contenders and everyone else, with maybe the odd one or two flirting with it due to heavy owner investment. Even Chelsea who've had over £1bn spent on them in the Abramovich era are just about hanging onto that group, as are Man U.
Pessimist again most of you. Charlton are doing OK. I think we would do OK. Football isn't always as it appears on paper. Teams can have very good runs even when you can't quite see why. Bournemouth are a classic case. They don't have star players compartively to others and likely will sell Wilson, yet they are competing. Good managers, tactical know how are some of the hallmarks. Momentum is another great hidden quality. Portsmouth have started badly and their momentum has suffered. Get a good start and build confidence. Yep we woud be OK.
Top half, our kids would be more experienced and the football is not as physical, more time on the ball without some unskilled thug kicking the shit out of you. Our team is a footballing team and would cope. Plus we would be a decent club to join compared to some of the teams in that league and could attract better players