Where would this season's Blades come in this seasons Championship?

[ancientblade]

I think some of you need to sit down and watch a few championship games it’s awful at the moment and in my opinion we would walk it.
The gulf between the championship and Premier league is huge so to even compare this season to what we will be playing next season is nuts. I watched Wednesday and Brentford and it was really really poor. We are much stronger than the last time we were in the division and the league is much weaker due to the lack of money being spent.
In my opinion we come in the top 2 with the same manager in charge.

your spot on the championship is so inferior to the premier league in terms of quality and i agree keep the majority of our squad and with a few good additions cant see us not finishing top 6 at the least plus ok 2 or 3 may go but even if they do they will be our top players and will give us very good money for new players

 

[CarlMcBlade]

My only hope is that we’ll still manage to get the 30k+ crowds we had before the pandemic.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

I think some of you need to sit down and watch a few championship games it’s awful at the moment and in my opinion we would walk it.
The gulf between the championship and Premier league is huge so to even compare this season to what we will be playing next season is nuts. I watched Wednesday and Brentford and it was really really poor. We are much stronger than the last time we were in the division and the league is much weaker due to the lack of money being spent.
In my opinion we come in the top 2 with the same manager in charge.

I agree that the gulf between Premier League and Championship is huge, but the gulf between the Premier League and us is huge too this season.

 

[jono_t2000]

I agree that the gulf between Premier League and Championship is huge, but the gulf between the Premier League and us is huge too this season.

I'm sure it's been said multiple times this season we look like a league 1 playing in a cup game simply trying to hold on for as long as possible.

No way this squad in this form would get automatic promotion if were in championship this season.

 

[metalblade]

Huge problems really? This squad is much much much stronger than when we went up. Bogle and Lowe are solid championship players as is Osborn. Yes we may need to look at the left side but it isn’t a “huge” problem. Yes we need to strengthen in midfield but I would still say a midfield of Fleck and Norwood is still better than most of what we will come up against.
come on guys I know this season has been a disaster but we will have crowds back, hopefully won’t have the number of injuries we have had and we will freshen the squad up. I really cannot understand why people would think we come outside the top 6. Of course I could be wrong but the evidence suggests we are very very strong.

Mate you are thinking of the players two years ago, the world don't stand still. Out of our midfield only Fleck and Berge (if we can keep them) could play at Premier League level the rest are just average Championship. Lundstam and Norwood are done even at championship level they are only average. Same with the defence take one or two out and that as a unit is bang average and that is exactly where we will end up in the championship mid table average just outside the play off's. We need a major rebuild this summer.

 

[Badger Blade]

Based on Bristol City alone, we'd be more than a match for some of the lower end teams and would be able to get by with the rabble that we've got.
Even if we were to go back up with largely the same team that we've got now, we'd have to spend considerable amounts of money and replace a lot of them otherwise we'd go up and be humiliated so it might be a bit of a rebuilding job in the Championship and potentially a change of system.

Wilder claims not to be sentimental but it seems that he has a lot of favourites and undroppable players when in reality, we have an aging squad where for many, the middle of last season is as good as it'll get. The clock is ticking for the likes of Sharp, McGoldrick, Basham, Norwood, Stevens, Fleck who need phasing out - IF we manage to recruit someone better because we need these blokes to be warming the bench or to go elsewhere in the not too distant future.

Our recruitment policy last season ended up being a case of signing players to keep cranking up the speed on the treadmill for the existing ones rather than shove them out the way and jump in themselves. Problem is now that its got too fast, some of the new players have had to tag in and can't go any quicker either and have fallen on their faces.

 

[true99blade]

If we had a fully fit team we’d be in and amongst that top 4 at the very minimum, I’d say in the top 2. The decimated squad we’ve had most of the season would probably be just below that top 4. It’s a bit pointless speculating as the team will most likely be pretty different come August.

 

[Champagneblade]

I reckon the current the top 4 are better than us by a fair bit actually...

View attachment 106429

and I think we're marginally better than Reading and Cardiff. Outside of the top 6, i also feel Bournemouth are better but are having management issues.

It is a little worrying if our team this season would struggle.... what is it gonna look like next with departures? Thoughts? are we actually that bad or am i a slasher?

I wouldn't be that pessimistic unless we were having the same injuries.

Getting promoted is all about scoring goals.

How many 15-20, 1 in 2 Championship goal scorers have Norwich got? 1? Pukki.

What about us? 3 in McBurnie, Sharp and Brewster. Plus 15bfrom Didzy last time around. Plus Burke and Mousset to spare.

 

[Joey1889]

We got promoted with pretty much the same team as we have now. Out with Hogan, Madine, Washington, Duffy, Coutts, Dowell, Lafferty and Freeman. In with McBurnie, Brewster, Moose, Berge, Osbourne, Bogle and Lowe. You don't think we are even better equipped than last time?

I do miss the Duffman tho

Do you think its a simple as 'Find a Duffy equivalent and we'll be sound'?

Not being sarcastic either. I think it is potentially all we need.

 

[Robboblade1889]

Mate you are thinking of the players two years ago, the world don't stand still. Out of our midfield only Fleck and Berge (if we can keep them) could play at Premier League level the rest are just average Championship. Lundstam and Norwood are done even at championship level they are only average. Same with the defence take one or two out and that as a unit is bang average and that is exactly where we will end up in the championship mid table average just outside the play off's. We need a major rebuild this summer.

Bang average in the premier league is totally different to being bang average in the championship. Egan, Bash, Bogle JOC get in nearly every championship team. I agree the premier league is a step too far now for Norwood but if we sell him he 1000% goes to another championship club and does well in my opinion. When Norwood plays well we tend to play well so to say he’s gone is ridiculous.
The modified does not to freshen up though I agree with that but to say we need a major rebuild 12 months after coming 10th in the PL is daft in my opinion.

 

[Nosworthys Throw]

Do you think its a simple as 'Find a Duffy equivalent and we'll be sound'?

Not being sarcastic either. I think it is potentially all we need.

It would be a massive step in the right direction, i thought he really made us tick, he was superb on the ball and clever. Its hard for me to recommend anyone who could fill his boots. Im even up for having him back tbh

 

[nopigfansintown]

I hate to say it but Barnsley could be a real threat next season, with investment and an excellent manager.

Correct. I have a tenner on them going up via the play offs this season. He's also the answer to the who could replace Wilder if he's sacked question (snow ball in hell's chance of getting Dyche)? None of the Wilder outers have come up with that name yet. The pigs should be moving heaven and earth to get him...

 

[Upton_Blade]

It would be a massive step in the right direction, i thought he really made us tick, he was superb on the ball and clever. Its hard for me to recommend anyone who could fill his boots. Im even up for having him back tbh

Swift would be a good shout but think he'll end up in The Prem one way or another.

Freeman is also a decent shout if Forest don't sign him but I get the impression he's burnt his bridges with CW for some unknown, to us anyway, reason.

I've always liked Bradley Dack but IIRC he doesn't have the best fitness record.

Whatever happens we need to be planning for next season AND the season after as no point signing players just to get us out of the division. The vast majority wouls also have to have a decent chance of making the step up or we'll just be back to where we are this season.

 

[Upton_Blade]

I would still say a midfield of Fleck and Norwood is still better than most of what we will come up against.

I tend to agree having watched them vs Brizzle however that doesn't solve the issue of what happens if we do go straight up again.

 

[Robboblade1889]

I tend to agree having watched them vs Brizzle however that doesn't solve the issue of what happens if we do go straight up again.

It solves the issue that we have to get up first before we can think of anything else. And like it or not Norwood is a top championship player.

 

[Need4speed]

Well we would be above Derby and Forest based on the crap I have seen so far tonight. You see some players looking like they have made a brilliant forward pass and then realise it was inch perfect to nobody in particular

 

[FTPE]

Anyone that thinks lower than second hasn't seen Bretford play at all this year.

 

[dc_blade]

The current squad, with everyone fit and playing with more confidence, would grind out a lot of 1-0 wins in the Championship and finish in the top six. I think we’d lack the attacking intent and ability to hand out many thrashings. We don’t have the personnel to play a more attacking formation.

 

[Upton_Blade]

It solves the issue that we have to get up first before we can think of anything else. And like it or not Norwood is a top championship player.

Yeah I get that mate and I totally agree. IMHO Fleck and Norwood playing as they can do is more than good enough for The Championship but I truly believe we should be looking further ahead than just the current season and If we are wanting to go straight back up I would far rather have the majority of the team/squad able to step up than have to replace upon promotion.

 

[G.H. Lawrence]

Of course the ideal would be to think/plan 2 seasons ahead. However, reality dictates that we need to get re-promoted first, and then work it out from there (do you all not realise that getting promoted out of the Championship into the Premier League is difficult (and rare) enough. Don't complicate this type of shit.
Other than that, everyone on here needs to realise, or accept, the fact that any poor performances, or failings, of individual players (that we've so admired for seasons) are down to the simple fact that that the equilibrium of the 'team' that has has given us so much over recent seasons, has been 'vandalised' (for the want of a better word, but I'm a bit tiddled so I couldn't be bothered to resort to any Thesaurus!).
When Chris Wilder and Alan Knill (who I would liken to the partnership of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, or even Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan) took over the footballing side of our club several years ago, the following experience for them and us all was nothing short of miraculous. I, for one (as a 53 year old), have enjoyed the most euphoric few of seasons in the whole of my Blades supporting life, having spent most of it enduring a pretty normal life as a Blade by spending 6 seasons in the 1st division, without any real sense of success or failure. I, as a 13 year old kid, (with my apologies) spent most of the 1979-1980 season on the empty Leppings Lane terraces with all my Wednesday supporting mates, watching 3rd division football, more for the 'craic' and and a day out when our parents had no idea where we were. Luckily I missed the Boxing Day Massacre, but I remember going to the return game at Bramall Lane, having bought my ticket from Hillsborough, at a home game against Blackpool, I think, with me sat towards the Bramall Lane end of the 'John Street Stand, with a Blades scarf wrapped around my waist, but underneath my sweatshirt. I was on the end of the row, so twitched when we scored earlier on, but didn't have the inclination, or the sense, to stand up in jubilation when that twat, Terry 'Shitehouse, Whatshisname' Curran, scored that curving equaliser. I hate that wanker to this day. Why on earth did anyone think it was a good idea to sign the cock.!
Anyway, back to the story-line:
We've had an unbelievable few seasons, based on, not good, but very good management, from a lucky partnership, who are football people with footballing brains, who compliment each other, and the people around them, brilliantly. Wow! But wouldn't we/you all have agreed with that previous statement around this time (ok, slightly earlier) last season?!?!!?
So whatt has changed?:
We over achieved, with the players, and therefore squad, the season before, and also last season. Doesn't everyone accept that?
OK, we have had an unbelievably injury free, and therefore consistent squad, nay starting eleven, for a couple of seasons (Chirs Basham among others, IMHO, from a carthorse (when we bought him in from Sunderland), I thought was another Sheff U bit-part-player,, soon to to depart, to the most improved player in the history of the known universe, and consistent performer (and my hero for the past 4 years), under the tutorlage of Wilder/Knill.
The reality is that this season has changed in several ways.
But as a prelim to explaining this, I feel I must outline the following, especially based on the emotional, reactionary post that pervade this forum:
There are a number of reasons that we have struggled this season, in my opinion, starting with the pre-season injury to John O'Connell.
Before listing a number of contributory factors, we all know that the consistency of players in recent years has deserted us.
Apart from that, without listing a number of problems we've faced, how can anyone expect that when the equilibrium of a (comfortable and consistent) side/team is disrupted so masiveley as ours has this season, that the general play suffers, but moreover, individual players' performances suffer as a result. When we have a full squad, with all players knowing their part in the jigsaw and how to read each other as players, as opposed to when the team changes personel repeatadely, so individuals can't interact as efficiently.
In addition to this, towards the earlier part of last season, many Premier League Clubs, especially Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea were in transition, which helped our cause.
OK, so I've not answered the question in the original post,. but I need to sleep now.
This was my first ever post on the forum, so please forgive me. I'm pissed!

 

[robbiez666]

I wouldn't be that pessimistic unless we were having the same injuries.

Getting promoted is all about scoring goals.

How many 15-20, 1 in 2 Championship goal scorers have Norwich got? 1? Pukki.

What about us? 3 in McBurnie, Sharp and Brewster. Plus 15bfrom Didzy last time around. Plus Burke and Mousset to spare.

Scoring goals is all about creating chances. You compare us to Norwich. Compare our midfield.

 

[Sandygate Blade]

To me it's impossible to say. We're currently so low on confidence that if we lost a few then we could be bottom half. Win a few and sky's the limit.

We have a squad who have all proven ability at Championship level. The only real example was the Cup game against Bristol City. We seemed to deal with that comfortably.

 

[ATL Recs]

No fans in the ground so difficult to say. Could be top, might struggle. I doubt we would be relegated if fans were in the ground and I would expect some teams are currently benefitting. Would West Ham be doing so well, or Villa?

Yes because they’ve improved their first 11

 

[Flying Duck]

Scoring goals is all about creating chances. You compare us to Norwich. Compare our midfield.

All about creating chances? Are you sure that if we had Buendia in midfield and played him with any of our current strikers, they'd do better than Pukki being serviced by Buendia?

 

[PokerBlade]

Bristol are 12th and, even though we struggled for creativity in that game, we absolutely dominated it and the only way they could stop us eventually scoring was a handball on the line (are we even yet on VAR decisions?). I know it's a cup game but that's the real world example of what we'd look like. Even low on confidence, even with all the injuries, Bristol couldn't get near us for most of that match. When they went a goal down it was like watching us - there was nothing they could really do but hope.

Given we still weren't very creative we'd probably drop our share of points (because I wouldn't want a back three of Jags, Ampadu, Bryan even in the Championship) but I do think it's getting lost in the depression of this season to say we wouldn't be competing near the top.

The big concern isn't that our players can't compete at that level. The big concern is that we've seen already this season how much of an impact losing even a couple key players can have (I think if you stick JOC and Hendo in our side through this season we might still be struggling but we'd be well in the fight like Fulham are). And if we go down and lose a few players, and if we don't find quality replacements, then we'd be way off the pace.

Our first choice eleven would smash it. Our current side would be near the top. Our current side minus a couple more would be garbage.

 

[robbiez666]

All about creating chances? Are you sure that if we had Buendia in midfield and played him with any of our current strikers, they'd do better than Pukki being serviced by Buendia?

I have no idea. I was responding to the point made that we'd be better than Norwich because we have more goal scorers.

 

[Champagneblade]

Scoring goals is all about creating chances. You compare us to Norwich. Compare our midfield.

Levels though isn't it? Who has got more teams over the line than Norwood? Who do Norwich have with 3 promotions?

 

[Flying Duck]

I have no idea. I was responding to the point made that we'd be better than Norwich because we have more goal scorers.

Ah, okay, that's fair. Personally I think no Buendia would help us, as we don't have strikers like Pukki. Sure, Pukki is limited in his abilities and has wasted pretty many chances last spring and apparently this season, too. Yet he's scored 32-42% (or summat like that) of the goals total scored by Norwich last three seasons. The highest score was in the Prem. Time for the club and Wilder to start to look for some talent abroad, too.