Todays games (1 Viewer)

Sky Blue Harry H · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
The owners need to come clean about whether we can actually afford to be in this league or not and set expectations appropriately.

What do you want the owners to say? 'We cannot afford to compete in this league and so we expect to struggle at the bottom - pleas buy a season ticket'

MR, to be fair to him, has stated a number of times that we have a tiny budget for the league, We all know it will be a gradual upgrading of the squad, as long as we stay up. It's almost as though we've forgotten where we've come from in a short space of time, and people are getting irritated that we're not launching an assault on promotion to the PL less than a season into our first stab at this league in years.

That reminds me - off to buy a 21/22 Season ticket - PUSB !!

KenilworthSkyBlue · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
Almost like we’ve got a squad of L1 players and can’t afford any better.

Tactics make sense if you don’t think you’ve got any players who can hurt them.

The owners need to come clean about whether we can actually afford to be in this league or not and set expectations appropriately.

Why do SISU need to 'come clean'?

Looking at the expenditure of Championship clubs over the past few seasons quite clearly shows that we can't afford to be in this league. The club has even suggested as much when discussing budget standings within the Championship. Are we as fans really that naive that we need it spelling out for us? Didn't Fisher also say as much a couple of years ago?

Staying up has always been the aim, regardless of what expectations the fans have set out for the team this season.

Otis · Mar 18, 2021

Barnsley said:
hope they win their next three.

Oi!!!

Saddlebrains · Mar 18, 2021

What pisses me off is how pedestrian we are in the final third. Hardly ever a killer pass

Otis · Mar 18, 2021

Saddlebrains said:
What pisses me off is how pedestrian we are in the final third. Hardly ever a killer pass

We don't create enough and the few great chances we do create, we usually fluff.

That's why we need Walker or Godden in, or indeed, both.

Earlsdon_Skyblue1 · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
Almost like we’ve got a squad of L1 players and can’t afford any better.

Tactics make sense if you don’t think you’ve got any players who can hurt them.

The owners need to come clean about whether we can actually afford to be in this league or not and set expectations appropriately.

What was interesting was that when we played Brentford it was like the shackles were off. We actually attacked them.

A lot of other games, like against Birmingham, we were happy to set out for a draw.

KenilworthSkyBlue · Mar 18, 2021

Saddlebrains said:
What pisses me off is how pedestrian we are in the final third. Hardly ever a killer pass

It certainly doesn't help that we have possibly one of the most negative strikers in the league starting for us.

KenilworthSkyBlue · Mar 18, 2021

Earlsdon_Skyblue1 said:
What was interesting was that when we played Brentford it was like the shackles were off. We actually attacked them.

A lot of other games, like against Birmingham, we were happy to set out for a draw.

Isn't it funny that we're able to win games when we start a striker who takes his chances.

Frostie · Mar 18, 2021

Earlsdon_Skyblue1 said:
Not really.

I've been watching championship football for years. The quality this season is significantly weaker than it has been for a long time. That may be due to lack of crowds, but how many games can you honestly say we have been outclassed in? Very few.

My frustration is that if we do get relegated, it was entirely preventable. We've been poor, for a variety of reasons.

100% agree that the standard of the league is way down this season but why should we be immune to that? Lack of crowds, condensed season, lots of injuries, less time on the training pitch all affect us too.

You've hit the nail on the head in that we've competed in most games yet somehow framed that as a negative?
We're not the only club making mistakes - look at some of the goals we've scored (Brentford, Millwall, Derby etc in just the last month).
It was never going to be pretty, it's a real scrap for survival & so far we're doing ok. Frustrating because, of course it could be even better sure but let's not get carried away.

Grendel · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
Almost like we’ve got a squad of L1 players and can’t afford any better.

Tactics make sense if you don’t think you’ve got any players who can hurt them.

The owners need to come clean about whether we can actually afford to be in this league or not and set expectations appropriately.

Clubs like Luton and Barnsley show you can and more relevant on a longer basis Millwall - turnover will be higher next season and as long as the owners are not repaying interest deferrals spending ability will rise

Our reliance on player sakes is an issue if the bottom falls out the transfer market and also we have fewer assets worth selling

Sky Blue Harry H · Mar 18, 2021

Earlsdon_Skyblue1 said:
What was interesting was that when we played Brentford it was like the shackles were off. We actually attacked them.

A lot of other games, like against Birmingham, we were happy to set out for a draw.

KenilworthSkyBlue said:
It certainly doesn't help that we have possibly one of the most negative strikers in the league starting for us.

KenilworthSkyBlue said:
Isn't it funny that we're able to win games when we start a striker who takes his chances.

Anybody remember how we got those goals against Brentford? Digs at Max, based on that game are laughable (and fine if you don't rate him, but both strikers played a key part in that win, coupled with Brentford's idiocy in playing out from the back on that surface). Glad when we can get stuck into Wycombe, beat them and reset our focus on a bit of positivity.

shmmeee · Mar 18, 2021

KenilworthSkyBlue said:
Why do SISU need to 'come clean'?

Looking at the expenditure of Championship clubs over the past few seasons quite clearly shows that we can't afford to be in this league. The club has even suggested as much when discussing budget standings within the Championship. Are we as fans really that naive that we need it spelling out for us? Didn't Fisher also say as much a couple of years ago?

Staying up has always been the aim, regardless of what expectations the fans have set out for the team this season.

Because fans are clearly still under the belief that we can be a Championship club, if the club can't fund that they should be honest about it. We might stay up this season, but if we keep having the lowest budget in the league we won't for long.

Sky Blue Harry H said:
What do you want the owners to say? 'We cannot afford to compete in this league and so we expect to struggle at the bottom - pleas buy a season ticket'

MR, to be fair to him, has stated a number of times that we have a tiny budget for the league, We all know it will be a gradual upgrading of the squad, as long as we stay up. It's almost as though we've forgotten where we've come from in a short space of time, and people are getting irritated that we're not launching an assault on promotion to the PL less than a season into our first stab at this league in years.

That reminds me - off to buy a 21/22 Season ticket - PUSB !!

How will we gradually improve the squad? That would require a higher budget.

Yes, the owners should say “we can’t afford to take this club beyond League One, every day above that is a bonus”. If that is in fact the case.

Earlsdon_Skyblue1 · Mar 18, 2021

KenilworthSkyBlue said:
Isn't it funny that we're able to win games when we start a striker who takes his chances.

Would he have scored either if Biamou wasn't on the pitch?

Now this has gone full circle inception style shit.

Sky Blue Harry H · Mar 18, 2021

Grendel said:
Our reliance on player sales is an issue if the bottom falls out the transfer market and also we have fewer assets worth selling

Agree that this area of the club's strategy will be crucial for next season (and beyond) The end of season will be interesting with regards to how we restructure the squad.

Sky Blue Harry H · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
Yes, the owners should say “we can’t afford to take this club beyond League One, every day above that is a bonus”. If that is in fact the case.

If the owners came out with this, you would be supportive of that statement. Really?

Surely we will have a higher budget in 21/22 than 20/21, purely based on ticket sales etc ?

shmmeee · Mar 18, 2021

Sky Blue Harry H said:
If the owners came out with this, you would be supportive of that statement. Really?

The statement? Yes. The owners? No.

KenilworthSkyBlue · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
Because fans are clearly still under the belief that we can be a Championship club, if the club can't fund that they should be honest about it. We might stay up this season, but if we keep having the lowest budget in the league we won't for long.

How will we gradually improve the squad? That would require a higher budget.

Yes, the owners should say “we can’t afford to take this club beyond League One, every day above that is a bonus”. If that is in fact the case.

The club has been honest? Both Robins and Boddy have repeatedly stated that we have one of the smallest budgets in the league. Surely in your mind that translates into that it will be difficult to stay up?

How is the club responsible for a section of fans having unrealistic expectations?

Frostie · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
Because fans are clearly still under the belief that we can be a Championship club, if the club can't fund that they should be honest about it. We might stay up this season, but if we keep having the lowest budget in the league we won't for long.

How will we gradually improve the squad? That would require a higher budget.

Yes, the owners should say “we can’t afford to take this club beyond League One, every day above that is a bonus”. If that is in fact the case.

Yes but staying in the league = Increased TV money every year, back at the Ricoh should = Increased Ticket Revenue + associated revenues etc. so the longer we can stay at this level whilst punching above our weight financially should make it gradually easier.

It's going to need to continue to be a gradual overhaul of the squad though so everybody expecting us to bin 8 or 9 players this summer & bring in 8 or 9 Championship first XI quality players will likely be disappointed.

Yes, we're going to need to continue to sell players to fund survival & recruitment is going to be much harder now but as Grendel says the likes of Luton & Barnsley have managed it.

Sky Blue Harry H · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
The statement? Yes. The owners? No.

How does the statement help anybody, though? You don't get 12 clubs in the PL make statements before the start of a season saying 'we don't expect to achieve anything this season as we can't afford to compete with the bigger clubs'

KenilworthSkyBlue · Mar 18, 2021

Earlsdon_Skyblue1 said:
Would he have scored either if Biamou wasn't on the pitch?

Now this has gone full circle inception style shit.

We certainly wouldn't have won the penalty. For what it's worth Biamou had a good game against Brentford.

It's very difficult to know how to use him correctly though as at times it's a lose-lose. He struggles in a two because he lacks the footballing intelligence to link up play effectively on a consistent basis and whilst he's much better in lone role his finishing is nowhere near good enough.

Magwitch1 · Mar 18, 2021

Voice_of_Reason said:
Birmingham Final Fixtures
Watford A
Swansea H
Brentford A
Stoke H
Rotherham A
Notts Forest H
Derby A
Cardiff H
Blackburn A

That’s a horrible looking list I reckon they need a good bit of the old new manager bounce.

shmmeee · Mar 18, 2021

KenilworthSkyBlue said:
The club has been honest? Both Robins and Boddy have repeatedly stated that we have one of the smallest budgets in the league. Surely in your mind that translates into that it will be difficult to stay up?

How is the club responsible for a section of fans having unrealistic expectations?

I didn’t say it was the clubs fault but it is their problem.

Sky Blue Harry H · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
I didn’t say it was the clubs fault but it is their problem.

Are you saying you are one of the club's problems, in that you have unrealistic expectations, shmmeee? Not sure that really is a problem for the club, unless those supporters turn their back on the club because they are not 'near the top', or whatever the unrealistic expectation is, in a tougher league.

KenilworthSkyBlue · Mar 18, 2021

Sky Blue Harry H said:
Anybody remember how we got those goals against Brentford? Digs at Max, based on that game are laughable (and fine if you don't rate him, but both strikers played a key part in that win, coupled with Brentford's idiocy in playing out from the back on that surface). Glad when we can get stuck into Wycombe, beat them and reset our focus on a bit of positivity.

As I've previously stated, Max had a good game against Brentford. However, over the course of the season it's quite clear that he struggles in a two. He just doesn't have the footballing intelligence to be able to link up play effectively nor does he possess the goalscoring ability to support with goals.

The Middlesbrough game was a prime example of this. He was constantly dragged out of position to the touchline leaving Walker totally isolated. He does this regularly and it's rarely flagged up, despite it having a significant hindrance to our forward play.

Whilst he's better in a lone role he simply doesn't have the consistency in his finishing to be trusted to tuck the ball in the back of the net when clear-cut chances present themselves.

One or two good games out of ten simply doesn't justify him starting anymore now that Godden and Walker are available for selection - even if Godden isn't match fit yet.

shmmeee · Mar 18, 2021

Sky Blue Harry H said:
Are you saying you are one of the club's problems, in that you have unrealistic expectations, shmmeee? Not sure that really is a problem for the club, unless those supporters turn their back on the club because they are not 'near the top', or whatever the unrealistic expectation is, in a tougher league.

My expectations are that we should be able to make a club in one of the top 10/11 cities in the country stable above League 1.

KenilworthSkyBlue · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
I didn’t say it was the clubs fault but it is their problem.

It's not at all, as the majority of fans are aware of our situation and believe we're right where we're meant to be with regards to fighting to stay up.

It's the fans issue if they've elevated their own expectations beyond the realm of reality. The fact of the matter is most have now become used to us winning regularly over the past three seasons and now that we're finding it more difficult, those fans are throwing their toys out the pram.

fernandopartridge · Mar 18, 2021

skybluesam66 said:
The 2 games blues v Rotherham and us v Rotherham will probably decide the season

They really won't

Ccfcisparks · Mar 18, 2021

fernandopartridge said:
They really won't

To be fair mate they will go a good way. If Rotherham lose both of them they are as good as gone.

Sky Blue Harry H · Mar 18, 2021

shmmeee said:
My expectations are that we should be able to make a club in one of the top 10/11 cities in the country stable above League 1.

Fair enough - in which case, surely the club have moved forward massively since 2018, when we were in L2.

shmmeee · Mar 18, 2021

Sky Blue Harry H said:
Fair enough - in which case, surely the club have moved forward massively since 2018, when we were in L2.

That’s certainly one way of looking at it.

rexo87 · Mar 18, 2021

By Saturday night we could be

9 points clear of Rotherham
3 clear of Brum with a game in hand
1 clear of Derby with a game in hand
Level on points with Forest with a game in hand

Brum v Watford
Rotherham v Bristol City
Derby v Stoke
Forest v Brentford

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ccfcisparks · Mar 18, 2021

rexo87 said:
By Saturday night we could be

9 points clear of Rotherham
3 clear of Brum with a game in hand
1 clear of Derby with a game in hand
Level on points with Forest with a game in hand

Brum v Watford
Rotherham v Bristol City
Derby v Stoke
Forest v Brentford

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Or 3 clear of Rotherham with 3 games played more than them
3 behind Brum
5 behind Derby
6 behind Forest

Otis · Mar 18, 2021

Ccfcisparks said:
Or 3 clear of Rotherham with 3 games played more than them
3 behind Brum
5 behind Derby
6 behind Forest

That's the spirit.

mark_ccfc · Mar 18, 2021

Ccfcisparks said:
Or 3 clear of Rotherham with 3 games played more than them
3 behind Brum
5 behind Derby
6 behind Forest

You really set the tone with your avatar

AOM · Mar 18, 2021

Budget aside, I actually don't think the gap in quality of football in the Championship compared to League One has been that large this year, bar 3-4 teams.

Think that's what's been most frustrating about the position we're in at the moment, as we'd be a lot safer without the individual errors in both boxes

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