State of the Prem

[brownblade]

Decent crack at it …. Hecky …..That’s funny

Funny? Because Heckingbottom didn't take us on an incredible run of results and save the season?!

Currently we'd be in trouble in the Prem despite the relative weakness of the Prem.

However with the right additions, staying up isn't actually a pipe dream due to the relative weakness of the league overall.

I doubt we'll go up. But it's a nice optimistic topic.

 

[Need4speed]

Which of our players would (not MGW not ours) get into a bottom 14 Premier League side? I think Egan might just and that is it.

 

[brownblade]

It's a team game though. Obviously most of the best players are stockpiled at the Prem clubs, but it's what eleven men do on a pitch. Most Prem teams are really struggling.

Obviously Blades aren't even half as good as the Wilder side that got promoted. The pipe dream under discussion is winning the playoffs(!) then signing a handful of players that improve us to be solid enough to win 10-15 matches against shoddy Prem sides.

 

[Bladesince59]

A defeat for Leeds tomorrow and they are right back in the mix for relegation. I can see both Everton and Burnley doing enough to escape relegation at Leeds expense

Don't mind if Leeds or Lampard get relegated

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Norwich will finish bottom AGAIN. They’ll most likely finish top two next season AGAIN.

Put any team that’s currently above Norwich in the Championship and they’ll most likely finish top two, beating most sides in the Championship along the way.

The gap is huge and will only continue to widen.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

You only have to look at the yo yo clubs to know the gap in quality is gigantic. Anyone trying to convince themselves otherwise is kidding only themselves

 

[gordoncharles]

I admire the optimism of the OP in this regard, it's not something as a fanbase we're noted for. But I'm concerned there is a previously unreported deludamol epidemic and that supplies have drifted a few miles south of where they usually end up.

The only player we have who's currently of Premier League quality is not only contracted to another club, but isn't considered by them to be good enough to get into their squad.

Some - and I use that word generously - of our players are barely of Championship standard. We have no significant saleable playing assets - the most we'd get for any one player is £10m - and I actually doubt that we would, and we wouldn't be able to afford to pay a transfer fee for any incoming PL-quality signing.

We'd be left competing for out of contract players and loans with a dozen other clubs with more money, and we're proven to have insufficient knowledge of foreign leagues to pick up anyone from there - I reckon I know more about Spanish League players than our club does.

In the unlikely event we won the playoffs we'd need a major overhaul of the squad to stand any chance of competing at all - which is not feasible - and the current side would be as good as down by Bonfire Night, as it was in 2020 when they were two years younger. Our promising young players are nowhere near the current level yet, let alone the next one up.

We wouldn't necessarily make much money either as we'd be left in the same position as before where any small profit is offset by the post-relegation scramble to hastily reduce costs before massive losses kick in.

Life? Don't talk to me about life.

 

[Bladesince59]

Delia should stick to making buns

 

[Crafty Blade]

Lots of practical and realistic issues about being promoted. And its sad that this would temper the pure joy of what would be an unlikely footballing achievement, which is what it should be all about.

 

[CTRL ALT DE LAET]

Most teams in the Premier League are bad. Even as far up as 4th some weekends!

Now I'm not remotely confident we will go up (despite a very decent crack at it under Hecky), but IF by some miracle we do...

Despite needing our own rebuild in the summer... the Prem doesn't actually have much to fear at the moment. I'd fancy a playoff winner to stay up.

I couldn't disgree with this more, everyone in the Premier League are miles better than this division. The championship is so poor that the difference between the two leagues has never been more.

The likes of Villa are only 2/3 places above the relegation zone and capable of spending £200m on top of an already good squad this summer.

Anyone who goes up this season are in for a real battle to stay up, even Fulham who have battered this league.

 

[Champagneblade]

You only have to look at the yo yo clubs to know the gap in quality is gigantic. Anyone trying to convince themselves otherwise is kidding only themselves

Norwich seem to be weakening a little though. I think Buendia was a big player for them and I'm not sure they have anyone to replicate that. Plus they might lose Aarons. Cantwell seems to have lost his way a bit too.

Depends who they get in the summer of course.

 

[nicksufc]

Which of our players would (not MGW not ours) get into a bottom 14 Premier League side? I think Egan might just and that is it.

This is the issue. Maybe Egan. Maybe Bogle. Beyond them, we would basically be praying that the likes of Brewster, Berge and N'Diaye suddenly step up about 10 levels.

It's no exaggeration to say we would need to sign about 9 or 10 new first team players if we went up. We wouldn't even have the Wilder miracle factor this time.

 

[CPB]

We would need to strengthen quite significantly.

If promoted I guess MGW return could be half - likely.

Squad needs a bit of a freshen up as well whichever league we are in. Need some proper fresh impetus in some area's.

If we go up it maybe gives us the resources to freshen up with better players and maybe give us half a chance to stay up. But realistically relegation is on the cards.
Don't go up, some fresh signings are required but I think we will be relying on mainly freebies and possibly looking at low fee L1 players making the step up.
This assumes no owner ship change and funds being made available.

 

[Kev Gee]

If I was PA and we somehow get promoted I would just spend the majority of the cash sorting out the ground, training ground and academy.
And maybe coming to an agreement with KMC for his plot of land.... That would cement his legacy amongst Blades fans.

A couple of marquee signings from abroad would also be great. And maybe young up and coming players from abroad.

 

[BLADES1988]

Most teams in the Premier League are bad. Even as far up as 4th some weekends!

Now I'm not remotely confident we will go up (despite a very decent crack at it under Hecky), but IF by some miracle we do...

Despite needing our own rebuild in the summer... the Prem doesn't actually have much to fear at the moment. I'd fancy a playoff winner to stay up.

I hope we don't go up. I like my goal celebrations when goals happen. Not 5 Minutes after VAR has tried its best to rule it out.

 

[NuddysGloves]

If I was PA and we somehow get promoted I would just spend the majority of the cash sorting out the ground, training ground and academy.
And maybe coming to an agreement with KMC for his plot of land.... That would cement his legacy amongst Blades fans.

A couple of marquee signings from abroad would also be great. And maybe young up and coming players from abroad.

This would be a very sensible way of approaching things and would certainly put our club in a great position for the future.

Would the majority of our fan base be happy with this approach? I think not.......

 

[JJBlade]

We're supposed to be one of these yo yo clubs that go down and have a massive advantage over the other clubs

How come it never works that way for us ?

Since getting relegated from the top flight on four occasions since the mid 70's we've never been a serious threat to go straight back up again

 

[Stu_Blade]

Although i agree with most of the comments above the Premier League has only got so many years before it self implodes either by the creation of "European Super League" or something else. There is only one Premier League winner a season. Most teams have wealthy backers some with endless amounts of cash. If Newcastle aren't winning the Premier League how long will the Billionaire play ground private members club last?

 

[ATL Recs]

Funny? Because Heckingbottom didn't take us on an incredible run of results and save the season?!

Currently we'd be in trouble in the Prem despite the relative weakness of the Prem.

However with the right additions, staying up isn't actually a pipe dream due to the relative weakness of the league overall.

I doubt we'll go up. But it's a nice optimistic topic.

If we go up it will be a much welcome fluke and I will take the week in week out losses if it helps us become more stable financially if we don't and we dont get a takeover that most of us can only dream about then I really worry with Hecky in charge -

 

[Berkshire Blade]

If we go up it will be a much welcome fluke and I will take the week in week out losses if it helps us become more stable financially if we don't and we dont get a takeover that most of us can only dream about then I really worry with Hecky in charge -

Don't really think it would be a fluke. We are probably the 3rd or 4th best side in the league since we went back to what we know ( pre Hecky)

I don't think staying up next season would be impossible but I would expect it to be more a Burnley type slog than the Dreamland of pre covid premier league.

 

[brownblade]

As the original poster, maybe I was feeling overly positive the other day.

But I do think some of the arguments in here imply having expensive players makes a good team. Doesn't work like that.

But anyway, maybe the gap between leagues is bigger than ever tbf (rather than smaller).

 

[SUFCinks]

But they're an awful team. And most prem teams are terribly organised currently. That's my point.

Weakest Prem in recent times. Last time we got up we took advantage of a bad bunch and deserved to finish top 6 before project restart. I can definitely see Fulham and e.g. Forest staying up fairly comfortably.

Everton are a shit team currently but even with their players are struggling. When Fulham, Norwich, Watford etc go up they always almost certainly head straight back down. Teams that walk the champ but cant cut it in the prem. That tells you about it’s strength. Sometimes you get a rogue team like us that sustain it for a season or at a push 2 but the wheels eventually fall of due to quality of players/squad depth and running out steam and then back down they go.

 

[djbaldken]

Everton have won 8 in 32. I can't see them doing anything other than getting relegated at this point.

My mate who is a dyed in the wool Evertonian has been saying for weeks now that they are nailed on to go down!
Their run in is horrendous. Of their last six opponents there's only Brentford and Watford who they are likely to pick up points from.
Chelsea, (next fixture at home)Leicester ,Palace and Arsenal ( who they play away in final fixture) are looking like zero returns.
I ve told him the New York Stadium is a lovely place to visit but the Lane is even better. Not that he ll visit either since we both now live in Lanzarote.

 

[Roygbiv]

If we went up my first aim would to be avoid Derby's points tally. I think we'd be looking at a similar total to the last time we were in The Premier League. It's basically the same players just older.

 

[Blade.com]

If I was PA and we somehow get promoted I would just spend the majority of the cash sorting out the ground, training ground and academy.
And maybe coming to an agreement with KMC for his plot of land.... That would cement his legacy amongst Blades fans.

A couple of marquee signings from abroad would also be great. And maybe young up and coming players from abroad.

Bloody hell Kev. It sounds like my Missuses Christmas list if I some how get promoted. " I want upstairs painting, new bathroom suite and a new 3 piece suite, Chanel Parfum, a new frock and a young up and coming player" I'd only get a quid an hour rise.
See where you coming from though.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Norwich will finish bottom AGAIN. They’ll most likely finish top two next season AGAIN.

Put any team that’s currently above Norwich in the Championship and they’ll most likely finish top two, beating most sides in the Championship along the way.

The gap is huge and will only continue to widen.

The gap isn't huge though, is it?

If the gap was huge then it wouldn't be possible for a newly promoted team to finish 9th.

We did it in 2019-20, Leeds did it in 2020-21 and Brentford could do it this season.

 

[Maidenhead]

If I was PA and we somehow get promoted I would just spend the majority of the cash sorting out the ground, training ground and academy.
And maybe coming to an agreement with KMC for his plot of land.... That would cement his legacy amongst Blades fans.

A couple of marquee signings from abroad would also be great. And maybe young up and coming players from abroad.

"young up and coming players from abroad"

hmmmm, that's an interesting thought but they will have to earn the points to get the prize

 

[coolasanidiot]

If we went up my first aim would to be avoid Derby's points tally. I think we'd be looking at a similar total to the last time we were in The Premier League. It's basically the same players just older.

Err NO - Super Wes in goal.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

The gap isn't huge though, is it?

If the gap was huge then it wouldn't be possible for a newly promoted team to finish 9th.

We did it in 2019-20, Leeds did it in 2020-21 and Brentford could do it this season.

Yeah. It’s huge. In many ways.

That doesn’t mean to say there can’t be and isn’t exceptions. Beautiful ones at that. That’s the reason we watch football isn’t it? United finishing 9th, Everton in the bottom 3, Leicester winning the PL.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

That doesn’t mean to say there can’t be and isn’t exceptions. Beautiful ones at that. That’s the reason we watch football isn’t it? United finishing 9th, Everton in the bottom 3, Leicester winning the PL.

It's not an exception if it happens in three consecutive seasons.