Can we stay up next season?

[lenners]

Looks like a close call.
I can see Scunny struggling if they avoid the drop and potentially one of the promoted clubs but it's difficult to see who else is going to keep us out of League One.
You'd normally look to clubs like Barnsley and Donny but both look to have more positive outlooks for next season.
As it stands, we're looking at the bottom three next time round.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Have you predicted anything other than relegation since 2002?

 

[lenners]

Have you predicted anything other than relegation since 2002?

I think it's quite likely I predicted it from the Prem but not in any other year since 2002, no.

 

[raul]

Leonard, I salute you. You have single-handedly taken on the might of Trigger, Fleety, Darren,Houso et al year in, year out and still continue manfully in your search for truth, justice and rocket-science.

It is now time that everyone who has railed and fumed at this internet phenomenom of a man should gently and graciously doff their caps in his direction.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

This season not yet finished and the next is already a write-off.

In the words of John Donne, metaphysical doomslayer by verse, "un-fucking-believable!"

 

[Darren]

This season not yet finished and the next is already a write-off.

In the words of John Donne, metaphysical doomslayer by verse, "un-fucking-believable!"

The internet is a strange beast. Len has been peddling this doom and gloom persona since (to my knowledge) at least 2002. As Raul has pointed out, I used to argue strongly with him, but I got bored in around 2007. I am surprised that everyone else isn't equally bored (not least Len himself).

Obviously Len and the people who respond to him must get something out of it.

 

[Oreyt]

...................

 

[lenners]

It's more instructive that no-one actually addresses the issue at hand.
I presume our points tally post Christmas would have us comfortably in the bottom half and possibly in the bottom three.
More key players are now expected to leave.
Very lazy to pick on the messenger rather than the message.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

It's more instructive that no-one actually addresses the issue at hand.

Are you going to raise these at the next AGM..?

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

More key players are now expected to leave.
.

Are you meaning Monty? As far as I heard he is the only one who is likely to leave.

 

[lenners]

Are you going to raise these at the next AGM..?

And another one.
I'm going for us potentially finishing above Scunny, whoever comes up in the play-offs but otherwise finishing third bottom.
If my maths are right, we've picked up 20 points from 18 games in 2010.

 

[boo radley]

Great to see you back len. Finally got over the sulking about Kyle Walker and decided to sulk about a season that hasn't even started.
Personally I'm looking forward to the game against coventry and then stuffing the pigs - I have tickets you know!

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I don’t often agree with Len but I think he might have a point this time. We have only 8 or 9 contracted players according to Blackwell (actually 14?) and of those a few are either untried or have so far not been a success at United (Aksalu, France, Taylor, Stewart, Evans). The handful of good players that we do have left either have only one year left on their contract (we all know what happens to players in that position) or they’re likely to be the subject of transfer bids from other clubs (we all know that United never reject transfer bids).

So whoever the manager is next season, needs to recruit between 8 and 16 new players and quickly mould them into a team capable of competing in The Championship. He’ll no doubt have to do this against a continuing background of high debt repayments, falling attendances, reduced income and slashed wage budgets. He’ll be expected to make another large profit on transfers and judging by the latest reports will have little or no input into which current players are retained. On that basis, mid-table mediocrity is possibly the best we can realistically hope for next season.

 

[SwissBlade]

Lenners - Yes we'll stay up next season.

 

[lenners]

Great to see you back len. Finally got over the sulking about Kyle Walker and decided to sulk about a season that hasn't even started.
Personally I'm looking forward to the game against coventry and then stuffing the pigs - I have tickets you know!

And another one.
I hadn't realised that not being happy about selling our best player on the cheap then failing to secure a proper season-long loan equated to sulking.
But then do I recall correctly that you were continually singing the praises of the £1m a goal man?

 

[JohnDenver]

And another one.
I hadn't realised that not being happy about selling our best player on the cheap then failing to secure a proper season-long loan equated to sulking.
But then do I recall correctly that you were continually singing the praises of the £1m a goal man?

Len, this pains me but I'm not far from your end of the spectrum on this. I've predicted a struggle next season - not that I expect relegation - but down is certainly more likely than up methinks. Of course this could all change in the summer, but we'll see about that.

Where we differ is this. I'll have a season ticket and will look forward to the games anyway.

UTB and all that.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Leonard, I salute you. You have single-handedly taken on the might of Trigger, Fleety, Darren,Houso et al year in, year out and still continue manfully in your search for truth, justice and rocket-science.

It is now time that everyone who has railed and fumed at this internet phenomenom of a man should gently and graciously doff their caps in his direction.

My cap has often been doffed in len's direction, it's a matter of record. He has the right to be suicidal and generally wrong about everything to do with SUFC.

He does occasionally come up with a valid point but it gets lost in a gloomy haze and he has a real problem coming up with anything factual, under any cisrcumstances.

My view, we'll still be in this league in 2011/2012, though that's not saying much, just that there'll be three teams in a worse state of disarray than we are.



I

 

[lenners]

My cap has often been doffed in len's direction, it's a matter of record. He has the right to be suicidal and generally wrong about everything to do with SUFC.

He does occasionally come up with a valid point but it gets lost in a gloomy haze and he has a real problem coming up with anything factual, under any cisrcumstances.

My view, we'll still be in this league in 2011/2012, though that's not saying much, just that there'll be three teams in a worse state of disarray than we are.



I

All my comments are based on facts Trig, it's why I'm always right.
I admire your optimism but I don't see three teams in more disarray than us next time out.

 

[DazBlade88]

I don't think we'll actually go down, but I do think it'll be a struggle next season. I still believe we'll end up following the likes of Norwich if we're not careful. It took them four years to be relegated to League One after their relegation from the Premiership, and next year will be our fourth year.

For people to write it off completely is a bit silly in my eyes, considering we have no idea who will be featuring in the squad. It's always a possibility. I just hope it's not a possibility after 45 games next season.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

If my maths are right, we've picked up 20 points from 18 games in 2010.

...and if my maths are correct, extrapolated over 46 games we would get 51 points which is enough to stay up. That is assuming of course that we perform exactly as we did this season with the same players, injuries and other issues that we've suffered over the last few months. You are also ignoring the potential of the relegated teams and promoted teams into the league and the other teams in the league, all of whom will be changed from this season, some for the better and some for the worse. But then, selecting certain assumptions and ignoring others which may be as relevant or even more relevant in order for you to come to an inescapable conclusion of 'disaster ahead' is your stock-in trade, isn't it..?

I'm just curious as I can't seem to recall. When we were the top performing side in the division after Christmas last year, did you post a theory about us walking the league this..? Thanks for clearing that up, btw...

 

[lenners]

...and if my maths are correct, extrapolated over 46 games we would get 51 points which is enough to stay up. That is assuming of course that we perform exactly as we did this season with the same players, injuries and other issues that we've suffered over the last few months. You are also ignoring the potential of the relegated teams and promoted teams into the league and the other teams in the league, all of whom will be changed from this season, some for the better and some for the worse. But then, selecting certain assumptions and ignoring others which may be as relevant or even more relevant in order for you to come to an inescapable conclusion of 'disaster ahead' is your stock-in trade, isn't it..?

I'm just curious as I can't seem to recall. When we were the top performing side in the division after Christmas last year, did you post a theory about us walking the league this..? Thanks for clearing that up, btw...

Why would I do that when the manager tried to walk out and we immediately sold our best two players?

 

[Micalijo]

I think we'll stay up but only just, a relegation battle might at least re-ignite a bit of interest.

Have you renewed yet Len/Duncs?

 

[ghandi]

Why would I do that when the manager tried to walk out and we immediately sold our best two players?

Len the comparison with last season would be with 4 games to go as your prediction for next season has been delivered with 4 games to go. My recollection is that we did not sell our best player until after the play-off final the same time when Blackwell also wanted to walk.

 

[Blade]

yes but next season we won't have the pigs to take 6 points off!


seriously though people shouldn't dismiss it as ridiculous, we aren't too good to go down and between now and december we'll find out a hell of a lot about where we might be as a club in the next few years.

I also take issue with the term top performing side in the division. Results wise we had a good run after christmas, performance wise we've not been close to being the top performing side in the division. Without the results all we are left with is misery.

 

[oldblade]

Have you predicted anything other than relegation since 2002?

I do remember Len being pessimistic about our promotion chances, and sometimes predicting mid table obscurity. But I don't remember him predicting relegation (from the championship) - until now.

And at the moment I don't see anything happening on the pitch that suggests anything other than a pretty bleak season. Relegation? Not sure yet. But I think if we're honest, most of us expect us to be very much closer to the bottom of the table than the top. Even this season it's now looking quite likely that we will finish in the bottom half.

 

[boo radley]

And another one.
I hadn't realised that not being happy about selling our best player on the cheap then failing to secure a proper season-long loan equated to sulking.
But then do I recall correctly that you were continually singing the praises of the £1m a goal man?

No you don't recall correctly at all. You have me mixed up with someone else who also thought Walker was sold at the right price but thought 1 of our strikers will come good.
It is abit like someone not recalling you posting a promotion possibility thread with 4 games to go. Then you saying we sold our best player at that point and Blackwell offered to resign. Wrong Len Wrong.

 

[shorehamview]

All my comments are based on facts Trig, it's why I'm always right.

That's why you have pointedly refused to answer my queries about your last great statement, when you stated that a downturn in season ticket sales will bring about change in the management of the club. I asked for proof, which of course is impossible to provide as the point is pure speculation. I'm still waiting lenners. It's all very well coming out with grandiose comments with less foundations than a shed built on quicksand. If you are always right then next door's cat is a two-dicked dog.

Still, at least a fucked watch is right twice a day. A target for you to dream of.

I still bet that whenever we win you are gutted. Imagine if we won a trophy, you'd be sobbing into your Eeyore jimjams for weeks.

 

[shorehamview]

Wrong Len Wrong.

Just for a fucking change.

Next breaking news - bears do poo in the woods, and Hillsborough is still a shithole.

 

[boo radley]

Just for a fucking change.

Next breaking news - bears do poo in the woods, and Hillsborough is still a shithole.

Thanks its not just me then ?

 

[Foxy]

Thanks its not just me then ?

Nope, definitely bears too