Top flight promotions

[Pollingtonblade]

This will be my 4th top flight promotion I've seen 1990, 2006, 2019 the others, somehow this doesn't feel as exciting as the others I think partly because the last one was so recent So where does this top flight promotion rank? I think Hecky has had a similar hand dealt that Bassett had in the sense he's had fuck all backing from upstairs, even all other 3 promotion seasons we strengthened during the season. Added to the injury debacle this season arguably this is the more amazing than the other 3.

 

[S64 Blade]

I agree, it doesn’t. It’s probably the small gap this time, as you say. Along with us being pretty much clear for most of the season in the top two.

 

[mancunianblade]

I take your point re January but the club retained high earners, spent on Anel and sanctioned very important loans I’d say we are paying decent wages for those two.

Watching clubs throw mad money at it once promoted to just get relegated including ours is disheartening to some extent. To stand a chance we improve the defence and build on that

 

[Berkshire Blade]

This will be my 4th top flight promotion I've seen 1990, 2006, 2019 the others, somehow this doesn't feel as exciting as the others I think partly because the last one was so recent So where does this top flight promotion rank? I think Hecky has had a similar hand dealt that Bassett had in the sense he's had fuck all backing from upstairs, even all other 3 promotion seasons we strengthened during the season. Added to the injury debacle this season arguably this is the more amazing than the other 3.

2019 was recent, unexpected and basically felt like 3 seasons of momentum and underdog status with a blade as manager and star striker. That's the stuff of dreams.

Now we are Billy big bollocks with parachute payments, international players and 20 million transfer fees. And to that other than the blip ten or so games back it felt like we were going up for a fair while!

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

A couple of defeats on the spin plus luton or Boro on a winning run and it will soon feel like an exciting, nerve-jangling battle again.
I'll take the relatively predictable, lack-lustre way we seem to be doing it this time thanks very much!

 

[Weasel]

I'll feel souch more relaxed if the final whistle goes at Luton tomorrow night and the teams playing are level. Then we only need a point to rubber stamp it v WBA and we can look forward to a party atmosphere.

 

[RecordBreakers]

This will be my 4th top flight promotion I've seen 1990, 2006, 2019 the others, somehow this doesn't feel as exciting as the others I think partly because the last one was so recent So where does this top flight promotion rank? I think Hecky has had a similar hand dealt that Bassett had in the sense he's had fuck all backing from upstairs, even all other 3 promotion seasons we strengthened during the season. Added to the injury debacle this season arguably this is the more amazing than the other 3.

I'm really not that bothered, we need the money that's the only thing I'm taking from this promotion. Financial security is a must for us but give me top 6 championship all day rather than bottom 3 prem.

 

[N20 Blade]

I'm really not that bothered, we need the money that's the only thing I'm taking from this promotion. Financial security is a must for us but give me top 6 championship all day rather than bottom 3 prem.

I know city are a different class, but yesterday’s back to the wall and scrounging for chances reminded me of what’s in store.

I agree entirely that perpetual top six championship is way more entertaining and fun. It’s just economic necessity to be promoted next month.

 

[Mumbo]

Success raises expectations and in some cases breeds entitlement..
Pre Wilder and the Prince(not selling our best players) we were pretty much starved of success
and 2 promotions felt like the beginning of a great journey.United we’re back.
Under serious financial pressure Hecky got nowt to spend in January but conversely the club hung onto Ndiaye and Berge.
Turning down a reported £25 mil for Ndiaye,the old guard would have undoubtedly cashed in and sunk our chances of promotion.
We’ve been on the up since Hecky took over,promotion is soon,it’s what we want and need.
It does’nt feel like ‘the journey‘ of 2019 but it’s still……..BRILLIANT !

 

[Gimli]

I know city are a different class, but yesterday’s back to the wall and scrounging for chances reminded me of what’s in store.

I agree entirely that perpetual top six championship is way more entertaining and fun. It’s just economic necessity to be promoted next month.

Looking for positives here but I guess the way we play atm, the strength is in defending so we shouldn’t have to hugely change our style next year - Burnley look great this year but will they be able to play the same way against premier league teams? (I do actually expect Burnley to be fine next year)

 

[Snowflake]

I know city are a different class, but yesterday’s back to the wall and scrounging for chances reminded me of what’s in store.

I agree entirely that perpetual top six championship is way more entertaining and fun. It’s just economic necessity to be promoted next month.

If we use the money well we could become something more than bottom 6 in the Premiership.
I would think Brighton, Fulham and Villa fans are enjoying this season and look where they all were a few years ago.
Yes, more money and time is needed, but whilst a top 6 Premiership side is unrealistic we can become more than a yo-yo team, provided we accept the odd yo in the next few years.

 

[Davalon]

Agree it doesn't feel quite the same as others.

Not certain why, maybe as others have said, fairly close to the last one and more expectation.

Plus I think this time it's as much imperative for the short-term future of the club.

I just hope we can do it ourselves at home in the next two games in front of our fans. Others in recent times have either been confirmed when we haven't been playing, or have been away.

That said, we have two tough home games with both desperate for the points. Could still get twitchy yet.

 

[Whiston Blade]

This will be my 4th top flight promotion I've seen 1990, 2006, 2019 the others, somehow this doesn't feel as exciting as the others I think partly because the last one was so recent So where does this top flight promotion rank? I think Hecky has had a similar hand dealt that Bassett had in the sense he's had fuck all backing from upstairs, even all other 3 promotion seasons we strengthened during the season. Added to the injury debacle this season arguably this is the more amazing than the other 3.

I was too young to remember 90' but any promotion is memorable. This one does feel slightly muted compared to others, but that's probably because we got promotion to the PL so recently. Not that I'm complaining..

 

[SwissBlade]

I’ve said before on other threads that in previous years we’ve seemed to play above ourselves whereas this season were almost playing within ourselves as the quality of the squad is better

The reactions of other fans is all about how they expected us to be better based on the names and price tags associated with those players. In the past, players other teams haven’t heard of have been better than expected

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Agree it doesn't feel quite the same as others.

Not certain why, maybe as others have said, fairly close to the last one and more expectation.

Plus I think this time it's as much imperative for the short-term future of the club.

I just hope we can do it ourselves at home in the next two games in front of our fans. Others in recent times have either been confirmed when we haven't been playing, or have been away.

That said, we have two tough home games with both desperate for the points. Could still get twitchy yet.

A draw tomorrow night would be good!

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

This will be my 4th top flight promotion I've seen 1990, 2006, 2019 the others, somehow this doesn't feel as exciting as the others I think partly because the last one was so recent So where does this top flight promotion rank? I think Hecky has had a similar hand dealt that Bassett had in the sense he's had fuck all backing from upstairs, even all other 3 promotion seasons we strengthened during the season. Added to the injury debacle this season arguably this is the more amazing than the other 3.

He’s had significant backing particularly at the start of this season. Rightly or wrongly there aren’t many boards who would have allowed us to go again this season and not sell the big players when any offers came in. Huge risk reward gamble by the board which has seemingly paid and we would have been seriously fucked if it hadn’t.
Hecky benefited from it, but he seems very accomplished at working with what he has been given as proven last season with Slavs choices.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I’ve said before on other threads that in previous years we’ve seemed to play above ourselves whereas this season were almost playing within ourselves as the quality of the squad is better

The reactions of other fans is all about how they expected us to be better based on the names and price tags associated with those players. In the past, players other teams haven’t heard of have been better than expected

Good point that Swiss

 

[JJBlade]

There's only one place for the club to be, and that's the Premier League

Unfortunately we won't stay there very long because the club is simply not geared for it.

There are tomorrows superstars out there in Croatia, Holland, Japan, South Korea that clubs like Celtic seem to find despite not having a quarter of the money EPL teams have, but we won't know about them until they're sticking a hat trick past us.

So, my hope is that we build an excellent Championship side, and I mean an excellent one,

Get some money put into the scouting and academy system, then take our medicine next April or May, and come back stronger.

I don't mind this happening over the next ten seasons if we can eventually end up being a decent Premier League team

 

[finlaytheblade]

I c

I take your point re January but the club retained high earners, spent on Anel and sanctioned very important loans I’d say we are paying decent wages for those two.

Watching clubs throw mad money at it once promoted to just get relegated including ours is disheartening to some extent. To stand a chance we improve the defence and build on that

I can add 61 to the promotions as Joe and some others can.

All promotions are hard earned and we haven't got this one yet.We may have a big squad ! A bit thin in certain positions mainly attacking.
Normally teams who win promotion have a settled squad with injuries down to a minimum ! Been the opposite with us with many injuries forcing us to play scratch together teams.
Hecki has commented on the problems he's had and not just injuries.
He also said he will divulge more on this come the end of season.
That will be very interesting.

 

[biggiesablade]

Third promotion to prem for me. Was nine first time round when warnock took us up, then 2019 and fingers crossed this year.

 

[Tezza1889]

My promotions started In 90 too.

This one seems flatter to some because we've done something we've never done before, we kept the squad together (bar 2 mercenaries) after relegation..

This meant we knew we had the quality to go back up, doesn't lessen the achievement to me though, the players have been brilliant all season..

Hecky, Mcall, and Jack deserve a lot of credit.. UTB this week..

 

[bakeblade]

I'm really not that bothered, we need the money that's the only thing I'm taking from this promotion. Financial security is a must for us but give me top 6 championship all day rather than bottom 3 prem.

Assuming we go up, we've got to make a much better job of it financially.
Remember last time, 2 years in the Prem and 2 years parachute money and we finish up in a transfer embargo.

 

[Chingo]

Could still go up as champions!!!

Burnley under EFL investigation and may face points deduction

It is being claimed the Clarets fielded a weakened side in the goalless draw at Reading recently

www.examinerlive.co.uk

 

[SwindonBladeJnr]

2019 was recent, unexpected and basically felt like 3 seasons of momentum and underdog status with a blade as manager and star striker. That's the stuff of dreams.

Now we are Billy big bollocks with parachute payments, international players and 20 million transfer fees. And to that other than the blip ten or so games back it felt like we were going up for a fair while!

In a nutshell this. Context is completely different - I wouldn't say that I expected promotion this season (predicted 4th place pre-season) but I expected a really credible challenge at the least.

Worth saying that the general situation at the club with finances and boardroom uncertainty does mean that I would give Hecky, staff and players a lot more credit now than I would have at the start of the season had I known we'd get promoted. If that makes sense

 

[Harry's Game]

I think we will be promoted next Saturday against Preston, West Brom looks a tricky game

 

[Sandygate Blade]

This will be my 5th promotion to the top Division if it happens. Technically it's the 6th in my lifetime but I was only 2 in 1961 so have no recollection. All have been great.

1971 was great and my introduction to regular attendance at the Lane. Traditionally we'd been a top Division side over our history so I expected that to continue hopefully with a few trophies along the way.

1990 was a bit of a surprise given that we'd only just come up from the 3rd Division. We were in the top 2 for most of the season and finally clinched it. Great achievement given the resources Dave Bassett had at his disposal. It felt like we were back in our traditional home.

2005/06 was similar to this year, as we were in the top 2 most of the season and went up with a few games to spare. I always felt we'd go up under Warnock, especially as we'd failed in the triple assault season.

2019 was an enjoyable season with a different promotion, as this time we came strong to finish

As to this year, we started playing some great football. I remember a friend saying back last Autumn that the only thing that could stop us going up was ourselves. Given our squad we should be up there even with all the off field issues. This is not to belittle the job Hecky (Jack and Stuart) have done. We've been in the top 2 longer than Burnley. Just need to finish the job. One other point is that I never thought we'd go up last season as we didn't look like a promotion side. Just my opinion.

How long we stay up is unknown. Unlike other promotions this time we will have to rebuild as many of the squad are at the end of careers.