robbiez666
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2009
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- #1
It has been a fantastic season. Both on-field and off-field have been superb and the team have vastly exceeded all expectations. Whilst Chris' achievement has been incredible I do think next season will be a much tougher ask and recruitment will be key to simply staying still.
Elephant in the room
Ok, before I start let me address the obvious point. Some of us, including me, said this in the Championship and look what happened. I'd address that, in hindsight, by saying that most of our first team turned out to be top 10 Championship players. But we are, as a team, much better than the sum-total of our parts. I'd argue that none of our outfield players would get in the starting 10 of any other top 10 team, aside from perhaps Burnley. Most of that is down to how we play and how our team would fare in a different formation.
Second season syndrome
There have been many teams who after an impressive first season have dropped off the next year. There are many reasons for this. One has to be the fact that strong TEAMS tend to lose their ethos and togetherness when the manager starts signing big billy bollocks players on more wages. It sows disharmony in the squad and that team ethic advantage disappears. The most recent example being Huddersfield and possibly Bournemouth. It's also the case that if teams continue to play the same way they are often 'found out', lose the element of surprise and become easier to play against/counter their tactics. It has been noticeable in the second half of the season that we've struggled when teams have matched our workrate and pressed us. The teams which have continued to play their normal game have given us the greater rewards. I feel we'll be paid a lot more respect next season with managers placing more emphasis on stopping our formation working. Of course, a magic new formation or way of playing could change all that.
Tougher League
Liverpool and Man City have been incredible this season. The rest of the top clubs, maybe Leicester and Wolves aside have arguably under-achieved. You would expect Man U, Spurs, Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea to be better next year. Further down, I'd expect West Ham and Bournemouth to do better.
Of the teams coming up, I think Leeds will do much better than Norwich (who were basically here to clear their debts). I suspect the two others who come up will probably offer more than Villa did this season.
Other teams, who have been in the top flight for a while, will have a youth system and pathway in place. We don't have that at the moment. Where they may be able to promote in-house to the first team squad we need to sign.
Funds
Funds will obviously be reduced this year. There's COVID, global recessions, reduced or no gates, reduced TV money, repayment of TV money and our owner has spent a lot of money purchasing the club, however he's done it. It's going to be tough. Teams usually spend more in their first season in the Premier League than the subsequent seasons. That's often because the squad needs that bigger investment to bridge the gap but also as these deals are often spread out over three years. Assuming ours are, then £20 million will be going out in paying for last season's signings.
The silver lining is that given the state of global economies many lower teams will be struggling and it should be much easier to get a bargain.
It's going to be a huge challenge for Wilder and Knill and for me finishing in the top 10 next season will be an even bigger achievement than doing it in our first season back.
Elephant in the room
Ok, before I start let me address the obvious point. Some of us, including me, said this in the Championship and look what happened. I'd address that, in hindsight, by saying that most of our first team turned out to be top 10 Championship players. But we are, as a team, much better than the sum-total of our parts. I'd argue that none of our outfield players would get in the starting 10 of any other top 10 team, aside from perhaps Burnley. Most of that is down to how we play and how our team would fare in a different formation.
Second season syndrome
There have been many teams who after an impressive first season have dropped off the next year. There are many reasons for this. One has to be the fact that strong TEAMS tend to lose their ethos and togetherness when the manager starts signing big billy bollocks players on more wages. It sows disharmony in the squad and that team ethic advantage disappears. The most recent example being Huddersfield and possibly Bournemouth. It's also the case that if teams continue to play the same way they are often 'found out', lose the element of surprise and become easier to play against/counter their tactics. It has been noticeable in the second half of the season that we've struggled when teams have matched our workrate and pressed us. The teams which have continued to play their normal game have given us the greater rewards. I feel we'll be paid a lot more respect next season with managers placing more emphasis on stopping our formation working. Of course, a magic new formation or way of playing could change all that.
Tougher League
Liverpool and Man City have been incredible this season. The rest of the top clubs, maybe Leicester and Wolves aside have arguably under-achieved. You would expect Man U, Spurs, Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea to be better next year. Further down, I'd expect West Ham and Bournemouth to do better.
Of the teams coming up, I think Leeds will do much better than Norwich (who were basically here to clear their debts). I suspect the two others who come up will probably offer more than Villa did this season.
Other teams, who have been in the top flight for a while, will have a youth system and pathway in place. We don't have that at the moment. Where they may be able to promote in-house to the first team squad we need to sign.
Funds
Funds will obviously be reduced this year. There's COVID, global recessions, reduced or no gates, reduced TV money, repayment of TV money and our owner has spent a lot of money purchasing the club, however he's done it. It's going to be tough. Teams usually spend more in their first season in the Premier League than the subsequent seasons. That's often because the squad needs that bigger investment to bridge the gap but also as these deals are often spread out over three years. Assuming ours are, then £20 million will be going out in paying for last season's signings.
The silver lining is that given the state of global economies many lower teams will be struggling and it should be much easier to get a bargain.
It's going to be a huge challenge for Wilder and Knill and for me finishing in the top 10 next season will be an even bigger achievement than doing it in our first season back.
were in our shoes now, it’d be murder for us, trust me. Yet we, instead of rejoicing, have to carry on slashing! Lord have mercy.
.
