2020 Relegated Us

[GuangzhouBlade]

Out of curiosity I just had a look at where we'd be in the league just on 2021's games and surprisingly we're 18th. As bad as the last few weeks have been, 2021 hasn't really been the issue. Taken in isolation a 4-0 defeat away at Spurs might be expected for a newly promoted side but its the first half of this season thats just set the tone for everything. We'd be looking at 30 points if our 2020 form matched 2021.

It was Wilder's complete reluctance to change the system or style for 18 games that has relegated us not injuries, not anything else. Our form in 2021 whilst not good would at least see would us in relegation "battle" and not down an out with 10 games to go.

 

[Pedro Verde]

We are the worst team in the League over a season
The League table doesnt lie, neither do my eyes and what Ive seen

 

[GuangzhouBlade]

We are the worst team in the League over a season
The League table doesnt lie, neither do my eyes and what Ive seen

There's no denying that, its just disappointing we didn't give ourselves a chance to stay up having failed to win in the first 18 games.

 

[Tezza1889]

My old man, he says you get a good start, you'll be fine...

Make a bad start, heads go down, the rot sets in early, and you're in quicksand before you know it.

 

[FMBlade1]

There's no denying that, its just disappointing we didn't give ourselves a chance to stay up having failed to win in the first 18 games.

This is what annoyed me most. If Wilder was to go it should have been then. Holloway resigned when Palace was in a similar situation and they had time and stayed up.

Although it's rumoured that he did try to resign and the Prince prevented it, which would show poor planning/lack of guts from the Prince's side if true.

 

[Houston_Blade]

My old man, he says you get a good start, you'll be fine...

Make a bad start, heads go down, the rot sets in early, and you're in quicksand before you know it.

Is he on the shortlist of 5? Sounds like he's got more of a clue than PH.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

This is what annoyed me most. If Wilder was to go it should have been then. Holloway resigned when Palace was in a similar situation and they had time and stayed up.

Although it's rumoured that he did try to resign and the Prince prevented it, which would show poor planning/lack of guts from the Prince's side if true.

That's what puzzles me the most about this whole situation. Saudi businessmen aren't renowned for their sentiment, so once Wilder showed his heart was no longer in it, I'm amazed he wasn't escorting to the car park with immediate effect...

What the artist formerly known as Prince was thinking is beyond me and if he's to come in for criticism through this whole escapade, it's for that woefully weak bit of custodianship...

 

[Mouth of the South]

It became clear that Utd were going to struggle this season after the first 10 mins v Wolves - miles off the pace with enough quality or creativity in the side/squad to turn things around.

 

[Drunk blade]

It became clear that Utd were going to struggle this season after the first 10 mins v Wolves - miles off the pace with enough quality or creativity in the side/squad to turn things around.

This 100%, when that weak looping header managed to go past Ramsdale you could tell we were going to struggle

 

[Badger Blade]

Newcastle away last season was the first sign that this team was fallible but the difference was that we got back on the horse and came back with some great results after that with the Spurs, Chelsea and Wolves games.

Ever since Leicester and into the Southampton games, heads had dropped after missing out on Europe, Wilders' dressing down, take what you will of it but the wheels fell off from there.

Add in the Lundstram factor, some rotten signings, injuries that we didn't have last season, no additions to the midfield, existing players who look like they've forgotten how to kick a ball, a reluctance to do anything different until we've gone behind and I think, above all else, Wilder's change in mentality where the players were given an excuse to lose the game before a ball was kicked - "it's Liverpool"- it's Fulham, Burnley, Palace, West Brom, Leeds, Wolves, Southampton, Brighton and we've dropped points against every single one of them as well!

 

[CPB]

I put down this season to a culmination of events. Don't think it's down to just one thing.
This team that Wilder made was built on being fit and conditioned well, and was v.close nit. The pandemic meant that players had to train for large parts on their own and then in the summer post 19-20 season there was only 6 weeks between finish and start again.
Throw in JOC relapsing with injury to start with, and then the injury run we've had, coupled with the defeats racking up and confidence dropping and the team becomes a losing side.

Whoever comes in next needs to bring some real freshness and clean slate because despite what many say the squad is capable of more when most or all are fit and fresh.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Fact is we are currently one of the most Embarrassing teams to have played in the top flight . The data and stats randomly pulled from previous results don't mask this.

The club as a whole should be ashamed by the way they have conducted themselves since the country went to hide behind sofas.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I think the day it was announced that Jack O'Connell was going to be out for the season & we lost to Leeds at home was the day I knew we were done.

 

[FMBlade1]

That's what puzzles me the most about this whole situation. Saudi businessmen aren't renowned for their sentiment, so once Wilder showed his heart was no longer in it, I'm amazed he wasn't escorting to the car park with immediate effect...

What the artist formerly known as Prince was thinking is beyond me and if he's to come in for criticism through this whole escapade, it's for that woefully weak bit of custodianship...

I think the Prince was actually scared of Wilder leaving and him being blamed for it, which would turn the fans against him. I also think there was no 'plan B' and he had no idea of who to appoint in his place and was utterly unprepared for this scenario.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I think the Prince was actually scared of Wilder leaving and him being blamed for it, which would turn the fans against him. I also think there was no 'plan B' and he had no idea of who to appoint in his place and was utterly unprepared for this scenario.

No doubt about it. Which in itself is worrying. Can't imagine other PL owners having the same naivety with regard to contingency plans. Bet Levy has a long list of potential replacements if Kane hands in a transfer request...

 

[bypassblade]

The biggest thing for me with watching them has been start off bright, but as soon as 1st goal goes in you just see the confidence flow off the pitch (heads drop alarmingly) and there's nothing there they seem to not want to fight it's been like that all season.

 

[LS16Blade]

No doubt about it. Which in itself is worrying. Can't imagine other PL owners having the same naivety with regard to contingency plans. Bet Levy has a long list of potential replacements if Kane hands in a transfer request...

Indeed.

There was a piece in The Times weeks ago, about the manager (currently at an Italian club, if I recall correctly) that the Dirties have ear-marked should Bielsa not sign a new contract. That’s a club that, unfortunately, now appears to be run properly.

The same article also mentioned the £300m transfer kitty that the Dirties board is going to use to try to consolidate and then push towards the top 6.

As the piece said, after 16 years away, they know that the ‘hard part’ is getting back to the Premier League. Once you’re there, you do everything you possibly can to stay there and keep the money coming in.

And that should be possible with sensible ambition, given that the teams that come up each season are likely to take 1 or 2 of the relegation spots.

They have a point. Staying on the gravy train has been ‘easy’ this season for the clubs that have been run as Premier League operations. They haven’t had to do much. The chances are that the bottom 3 are all going to finish with less than 30 points.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Indeed.

There was a piece in The Times weeks ago, about the manager (currently at an Italian club, if I recall correctly) that the Dirties have ear-marked should Bielsa not sign a new contract. That’s a club that, unfortunately, now appears to be run properly.

The same article also mentioned the £300m transfer kitty that the Dirties board is going to use to try to consolidate and then push towards the top 6.

As the piece said, after 16 years away, they know that the ‘hard part’ is getting back to the Premier League. Once you’re there, you do everything you possibly can to stay there and keep the money coming in.

And that should be possible with sensible ambition, given that the teams that come up each season are likely to take 1 or 2 of the relegation spots.

They have a point. Staying on the gravy train has been ‘easy’ this season for the clubs that have been run as Premier League operations. They haven’t had to do much. The chances are that the bottom 3 are all going to finish with less than 30 points.

There aren't many businesses that turn over £100m+ that don't have some kind of disaster planning, contingency protocol, long term strategic development plan.

Seems we fall into that category. Our medium/long term plan was Wilder will see us reyt, with a short term plan of Wilder will see us reyt.

If people want to lay into Prince and Bettis, then this where they deserve it. All our eggs were well and truly in one basket...

 

[Tezza1889]

Is he on the shortlist of 5? Sounds like he's got more of a clue than PH.

He's 86 and housebound.. Probably be more animated on the touchline than hecky though...

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

Is he on the shortlist of 5? Sounds like he's got more of a clue than PH.

Can’t blame Heckingbottom. He’s been left to try and polish Wilder’s turd, but seeing as Wilder left a pile of diarrhea rather than a Teflon shit, he’s got no chance. It would need a very big personality to motivate this shower.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Going so long from the start of the season without a win became an albatross around our necks.

The match that sticks out in my mind was the 1-0 defeat to West Brom in November. We should have won that match comfortably but we failed to score yet again. We absolutely battered them in the second half but still lost to a poor West Brom team. I think that was the point in the season when the players completely lost all confidence and realised we were fucked.

You can't not win a match until January and still stay up.

It's almost impossible.

 

[PokerBlade]

That's what puzzles me the most about this whole situation. Saudi businessmen aren't renowned for their sentiment, so once Wilder showed his heart was no longer in it, I'm amazed he wasn't escorting to the car park with immediate effect...

What the artist formerly known as Prince was thinking is beyond me and if he's to come in for criticism through this whole escapade, it's for that woefully weak bit of custodianship...

I think we can spin it any way we want. Alternatives are that either the Prince had more belief in Wilder than Wilder did, or that the Prince is telling the truth and he wasn't going to back down on a huge pay-off to someone who was quitting. I don't think either of those make him weak. You could even say if he was refusing to pay Wilder off he was being too stubborn.

 

[BladesOnToast]

Out of curiosity I just had a look at where we'd be in the league just on 2021's games and surprisingly we're 18th. As bad as the last few weeks have been, 2021 hasn't really been the issue. Taken in isolation a 4-0 defeat away at Spurs might be expected for a newly promoted side but its the first half of this season thats just set the tone for everything. We'd be looking at 30 points if our 2020 form matched 2021.

It was Wilder's complete reluctance to change the system or style for 18 games that has relegated us not injuries, not anything else. Our form in 2021 whilst not good would at least see would us in relegation "battle" and not down an out with 10 games to go.

I forgot we actually had spectators at 2 matches, as shown on your first screenshot - that makes our average attendance this season 117!