Championship harder than ever next season

[ncfc4life 0]

I know this seems to be said every season but does anyone else not feel we have picked a perfect time to go up as the championship in my opinion is already the league is shaping up to be extremely tough next season. Unlike this season where all three relegated clubs have failed to pose a threat, but the likes of Wigan, Wolves, Blackburn and especially West Ham you would think could do very well in this league. I also think the promoted league 1 clubs will do well. Brighton can really push on now they have their ground sorted and Southampton have cash with a half descent side already. While there are going to be some good sides left behind in the playoffs and the likes Leicester, Hull, Leeds and Boro you would think could all do well next season.

[Canarino 0]

I agree with you, it''ll be a challenge to stay up in the Prem but it''ll be even harder to get out of the Championship next season. And we''ve managed it this year without the blasted play-off lottery!

[Brighton Yellow 0]

I have been thinking this a lot recently but keeping quiet about it as to not tempt fate! I have a good mate who is a Millwall season ticket holder and despite being confident having kept so many clean sheets this term, he cant help but think that this season may have represented their best opportunity for some time to move up to the promised land. The joy of reaching the top table was followed closely by knowing we will not have to take part in another Championship dogfight next season!

[The Young One 0]

I said this in an earlier thread about 6-10 games ago that I felt that this year would be a lot easier to do it rather than next, so yes I fully agree with you.I think 1p5wich & leeds may be a top 6 force next year along with the 3 teams who will miss out in the play off''s plus Burnley blimey thinking about it some more like West Spam, Leicester, Cardiff /Swansea/Notts Forest/Reading, Wigan ? Wolves? , Plus we may have lost LambertThis year we just had to do it and we haveLet 1P5wich worry about all them, we can now worry about finishing outside bottom 3 for a Load more Millions YIPEEEEEEEEEEE

[methcanary 0]

Who cares!!!  : )

[Evil Monkey 52]

Wasn''t this what everyone thought at the start of this season? That the likes of Boro, Cardiff, Leicester, Forest, Burnley and Bristol ''Mega-Bucks'' City would be running away with the league?

 

Its a funny old game...

[canaryfan68 0]

I just thought that with both Hull and Portsmouth coming down last season with financial issues and Burnley sacking their manager mid season this had to be our best opportunity to gain promotion.

The relegation candidates this season will be better off financially and (Wolves, West Ham and Blackpool or Wigan) and with the other teams gaining momentum I reckon next season in the championship will be tougher still.

Also with PL''s stock rising by the month, it was going to be how long we could keep hold of him along with the financial situation at NCFC (not having alot of dosh really)

Well as we now know, we got promoted and I for one am looking forward to next season.

OTBC

[blahblahblah 2]

Any team coming through the Premiership trap-door will have financial trouble.  I wouldn''t be surprised to see one of this seasons'' Premiership relegated teams ending up getting relegated again, as happened to us and Charlton.

[Bill 1,788]

I think it was pretty much accepted that it was going to get harder after this season, if only on the basis of increased paarchute payments

"I think 1p5wich ..... may be a top 6 force next year.

! ! !

I wonder what part of "wage bill having to be slashed, 21 players out of contract, '' star'' players leaviing because the club can''t afford them, a years rent unpaid ....." this young lad can''t quite grasp ?

[65Vintage 7]

Brighton have a big money backer - paid for their stadium for them I think - so he won''t be afraid to spend cash on the team.Leicesters owners have promised big cash for Sven.Increased parachute payments for 3 clubs coming down from the Prem.Jewell at Ipswich is bound to be given a good wad of cash, as he hasn''t had a chance to build a team.Burnley - new manager - still cash to spend.Then whoever is left after the playoffs.Leeds must surely be strengthening again.That''s

one tough league - how many teams starting next season in the

Championship will genuinely believe they have a chance of promotion or

the play  offs? So glad we are out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Yellowfuture 71]

I think most people thought that this season presented a great oppertunity for promotion from the Championship. Lots of us were screaming for new investment and players to be brought in  January to make the final push, in what has been basically a League of fairly evenly matched teams. We had some more cash but were not prepared to be fleeced, I was dissapointed but had not fully appreciated the skill of Lambert as a manager and his ability to get the best out of our players.

[paul moy 235]

[quote user="ncfc4life"]I know this seems to be said every season but does anyone else not feel we have picked a perfect time to go up as the championship in my opinion is already the league is shaping up to be extremely tough next season. Unlike this season where all three relegated clubs have failed to pose a threat, but the likes of Wigan, Wolves, Blackburn and especially West Ham you would think could do very well in this league. I also think the promoted league 1 clubs will do well. Brighton can really push on now they have their ground sorted and Southampton have cash with a half descent side already. While there are going to be some good sides left behind in the playoffs and the likes Leicester, Hull, Leeds and Boro you would think could all do well next season.
[/quote]

West Ham will struggle as they will have serious debt problems on relegation. One of their directors has already said that on relegation they would have to sell all of their England players, so that is Green, Parker, Bridge, Cole and Upson at least.  Then they also have a new stadium upgrade to finance within 18 months which is due to cost around 90m.

[Reykjavik Canary 0]

Yes I have to f*cking agree with that statement.

The teams that came down were either a managerial shambles (Burnley) or financianl shambles (Pompey, Hull).

So, unlike the season before when Newcastle and WBA were heads and shoulders no team f*cking dominated.

Also the teams that came up last year (Leeds, NCFC and Millwall) were considerably strong. That made it instead of a weak division an extremely even division.

Next year we could potentially have 3 clubs financially healthy coming down (Wigan, Wolves, West Ham). Blackpool and Blackburn are also in the mix.

So that''s how the cookie crumbles.

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,424]

Also don''t forget Southampton coming up from League One who I think have the potential to match our achievements this season, as long as they can keep that squad together.You only have to look at last year''s Championship to know this year was a little below strength, turned out Portsmouth, Burnley and Middlesbrough weren''t much to worry about. The fact teams like Bristol City were considered for promotion because they brought in David James shows how weak in comparison this season was. 

[chicken 0]

However, are there not new spending rules about to be brought in in the next couple of seasons?

If so that could change everything. How many championship clubs make that much money? Aren''t we one of the best?

The truth is the championship is always tough. Most of the teams coming down from the prem at least do so with parachute payments. Most have been up and down before, however more often than not they come down for financial reasons anyway.

Not being able to compete financially in the prem or spending too much on the wrong type of player etc.

It''s all about the pre-season. How quickly they get the players in and working together as a unit. Look at ''borough. New players, Boyd highly rated, Lita proven at this level. Still not worked out.

[Shack Attack 0]

[quote user="chicken"]However, are there not new spending rules about to be brought in in the next couple of seasons?[/quote]

I think they only apply to teams who qualify for Europe?

Every year you hear that the Championship is harder/easier than ever. Nobody really knows.

[Norfolk Mustard 106]

Life''s all about perspective isn''t it? Last year some people would have us believe that League One was a terribly difficult league to get out of (often citing Leeds as evidence). Then this season the same types would be saying Holt won''t cut it in the Championship / a mid-table finish would be good etc etc.

We hardly need to guess what those doomcasters will be predicting for us next season in the Premiership do we?

Yes it''s a hard league (understatement) but all things being equal we''ll be giving it a right good go. As a fan I''m so enthused by all that''s going on - right now we''re experiencing good fortune and I for one want to enjoy every single bit of it!...

PS: If West Ham come down and need to release their top players I guess Matthew Upson (originally from Eye, Suffolk) might be a useful option?