Dream Land or Meh?

[Kop Cat]

Eventually the Clubs aim is the Premier League but for a club of our stature would it be that great from a fans point of view? Look at Everton, and I am not comparing United with them, but just think of the millions and millions that have gone into that club since the Premier League started and for what? treading water for years and years, nothing of note for the supporters to get really excited about, not adding to the clubs history. They are never serious contenders for the title (or even top 4) and never really contenders for relegation, just years of mediocrity, would we as fans be happy with that? Maybe their financial affairs are stable (I don`t know if they are or not) but does that get the fans going?
Maybe being a "yoyo" club adds more excitement and jeopardy to the situation. Stoke and West Brom could also be in this "mid table mediocrity" group to a certain extent, pretty boring as a fan surely.
This past season has been fantastic, o.k. we have ONLY won League 1, but we have actually won something, we are all eagerly anticipating next season, do you think Everton, Stoke etc fans are?
Is the Premier league the "Dream Land" for any club bar 5 or 6 teams?
Just asking

 

[SalopianBlade]

As long as this myth that only the top 6 are in with a chance of winning the top division is believed then I would agree with you. I'd rather yo-yo between 2, even 3, divisions over the space of 30 years than spend forever chasing 7th place in Prem.

Leicester was explained away as a 'fairytale' but they proved any team can do it.

I really hope CW has the confidence to see through the myth and take the team right to the top. You can see the determination on his face. I can't see him settling for mid table prem permanence.

 

[BushBlade]

I know exactly what you mean. I wouldn't really want to be a mid-table PL club for any length of time, particularly when you get into the situation where the owners become so scared of relegation that they don't even want cup runs in case they affect league form.

If we get into the PL and stabilise, I'd want us to put cups first and never be in a situation where relegation would ruin us, so if we go down, so what, we just make sure we go up before the parachute payments run out. Spending ten years finishing around twelfth doesn't really excite me.

 

[BushBlade]

As long as this myth that only the top 6 are in with a chance of winning the top division is believed then I would agree with you. I'd rather yo-yo between 2, even 3, divisions over the space of 30 years than spend forever chasing 7th place in Prem.

Leicester was explained away as a 'fairytale' but they proved any team can do it.

I really hope CW has the confidence to see through the myth and take the team right to the top. You can see the determination on his face. I can't see him settling for mid table prem permanence.

In the same way it once snowed in June, it proved it's not impossible. It hasn't proved it's likely or even remotely probable.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I think the Premier league will break up eventually and there'll be a European Super league. The clubs from the U.K. that end up there will be the top 4 from the Prem and the game will move away from the common man for those clubs. I hope we aren't one of them.

I know what you're saying but I'd be happy for us to be where Everton are tbh. Top flight domestic football. That's where we should be. And will be sooner than what some people think.

 

[SwissBlade]

I don't want to go to the premier league, but I accept that it's the expectation.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I don't want to go to the premier league, but I accept that it's the expectation.

I'd love McCabe to tell 'em to shove promotion us their arse's if we managae it because the entire thing is corrupt.

We'll stop where we are and defend the Championship we'd just won.

The money will say impossible to do.

 

[SalopianBlade]

In the same way it once snowed in June, it proved it's not impossible. It hasn't proved it's likely or even remotely probable.

My knowledge of English football history isn't great but I think there have been several surprise champions of England.

Leicester showed it's possible and that 5000 to one odds (part of the myth machine) should have been more like 100 to one.

Because everyone, including players, believe in this idea that only certain clubs can win, it must make managers reluctant to encourage their teams to go out and win the league for fear of sounding foolish. That surely makes a big difference.

Don't want to big the man up too much but with that determination you don't see clearly in other managers and with Leicesters win showing whats possible, maybe he can push the team to the top.

If you're right, and only top teams can win, then the best is that we enjoy a ride to mid table prem before CW joins a big club where he can use his determinied Spirit to go further.

 

[SwissBlade]

I'd love McCabe to tell 'em to shove promotion us their arse's if we managae it because the entire thing is corrupt.

We'll stop where we are and defend the Championship we'd just won.

The money will say impossible to do.

I agree, but for £150million into the club even I would be a hypocrite and love it

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I agree, but for £150million into the club even I would be a hypocrite and love it

But do we then finish up with foreign players who fuck off to Burnley/Hull/Reading etc if we get relegated because all they want to do is be in the Prem pool and couldn't give a toss who they play for.

Is that the dream?

 

[Liverpool blade]

Eventually the Clubs aim is the Premier League but for a club of our stature would it be that great from a fans point of view? Look at Everton, and I am not comparing United with them, but just think of the millions and millions that have gone into that club since the Premier League started and for what? treading water for years and years, nothing of note for the supporters to get really excited about, not adding to the clubs history. They are never serious contenders for the title (or even top 4) and never really contenders for relegation, just years of mediocrity, would we as fans be happy with that? Maybe their financial affairs are stable (I don`t know if they are or not) but does that get the fans going?
Maybe being a "yoyo" club adds more excitement and jeopardy to the situation. Stoke and West Brom could also be in this "mid table mediocrity" group to a certain extent, pretty boring as a fan surely.
This past season has been fantastic, o.k. we have ONLY won League 1, but we have actually won something, we are all eagerly anticipating next season, do you think Everton, Stoke etc fans are?
Is the Premier league the "Dream Land" for any club bar 5 or 6 teams?
Just asking

Good post. I've just shown it to an Everton fan and he agrees totally with what you said!!. He says it's a successful season if they finish in the top half of the table!!. I wouldn't want us to be like that!!. Wilder has got it Right!!. Utb

 

[SwissBlade]

But do we then finish up with foreign players who fuck off to Burnley/Hull/Reading etc if we get relegated because all they want to do is be in the Prem pool and couldn't give a toss who they play for.

Is that the dream?

For me, no, i want players with heart that understand this club

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

For me, no, i want players with heart that understand this club

For that I'd suggest we'd need to 'take the players with us on a journey', signing home grown players of prem quality would possibly be beyond us?

 

[BladeInIreland]

I see peoples point but id take us finishing as high as we can. I want to see the best players at the lane. Both ours and opposition. Even if we don't win the league there's other goals possible such as Europa league , the cups and beating the biggest clubs. Also allow us. as a club to reach our potential. Iv always believed we have the potential to become a top side if we get a good run in the premiership.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I want us to get up and win the Premier league, followed by the champions league and the the world club cup.

Knowing Wilder though that won't be enough.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

If it's not about being the best, what's the while thing about?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I want us to get up and win the Premier league, followed by the champions league and the the world club cup.

Knowing Wilder though that won't be enough.

Is there enough Peroni in the world to do that?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

If it's not about being the best, what's the while thing about?

If the best you can be is 16/17/18th in the Prem or 2/3/4th in the Championship [about the same level in my mind], which is more fun, most enjoyable?

Is Saturday about turning up hoping to win eight games so you can repeat the following season?

 

[Ricky]

The prospect of getting promoted from the Championship excites me more than actually being in the Premier League.

The novelty of being in the PL wears off pretty quickly but a lot of satisfaction can be gained from how you go about it and who you have representing the club - and with Wilder in charge we'd get a lot of satisfaction from that point of view.

Realistically the main benefit of being in the PL would be the genuine possibility of winning cup competitions, and maybe getting into Europe. That would be more than enough to maintain my enthusiasm and interest.

And as wrong as it is, it would be good to know that financially the club would be in a good position and competitive for years to come, even if we only had one season up there.

 

[Gimli]

Totally agree with the op. Finishing mid table in the prem year on year holds no excitement for me at all. Although I take the point about Europa league or domestic cups.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

If the best you can be is 16/17/18th in the Prem or 2/3/4th in the Championship [about the same level in my mind], which is more fun, most enjoyable?

Is Saturday about turning up hoping to win eight games so you can repeat the following season?

Games against Bolton, Burton?

What's exciting about finishing 2/3/4th in Championship? It's the possibility of promotion.

I understand the dislike of mid tablet stagnation. Buy when my Club settles for Division Two, there is something wrong.

I properly enjoyed watching Blades beating the all conquering Man Utd. I'll take that thanks.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Totally agree with the op. Finishing mid table in the prem year on year holds no excitement for me at all. Although I take the point about Europa league or domestic cups.

I don't get it at all, truth be told. We want to win every game don't we?

The OP seems to suggest that what we really want is to have a really good season and then fail in play offs as to avoid promotion to try Premier League where we compete with the best teams in England?

 

[mancunianblade]

I follow Atalanta as well as the Blades and they have been treading water for years this year they put together a great team played good football and have qualified for Europe. They're all buzzing and the prospect of European away days and European home games, winning he title is an unrealistic dream but Europe sure isn't.

I'd take 5/6 place finishes and European football any day of the week.

Wonder how many people who would prefer to not be in the top flight still complain when we can't keep hold of players who want to play up there

 

[Kop Cat]

Salopian Blade, there has only been 1 surprise winner of the Premier League (Leicester, obviously) only 6 different teams have won it in 24 seasons. I agree there have been surprise winner pre- Premier, in the days when anyone could have won Division 1 (as it was) Ipswich, Forest, Derby, Villa to name a few.

 

[Need4speed]

I heard the Bradford chairman on the radio today. He said, maybe a bit tongue in cheek, that if they got to the Premier League (again) then they would sell tickets at £1 for home fans.
How brilliant would that be. Take the TV cash and let the fans see the games essentially for free.
That would be a real supporters club. Not wasting the money on agents.
Personally I think Wilder has the principles to f off people who want to rip off our club. I just hope we as fans back him if things don't always go smoothly

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Salopian Blade, there has only been 1 surprise winner of the Premier League (Leicester, obviously) only 6 different teams have won it in 24 seasons. I agree there have been surprise winner pre- Premier, in the days when anyone could have won Division 1 (as it was) Ipswich, Forest, Derby, Villa to name a few.

Has to be said though.. Spurs challenging for the title? That would be classified as a "surprise" only a few years ago.

Didn't we compete well against them quite recently.

Blades only good enough for the Championship because we might be over shadowed by the likes of Everton? Southampton?

This is one thread I am not altogether sure one would find on many Championship forums. How embarrassing to have such little ambition for a team that has previously finished at the top of the pile?

Maybe if we stayed in League One we could enjoy every season?

 

[Benny and the Blades]

If we did reach the Prem. my biggest fear would be can I afford a season ticket......

 

[Kop Cat]

Has to be said though.. Spurs challenging for the title? That would be classified as a "surprise" only a few years ago.

Didn't we compete well against them quite recently.

Blades only good enough for the Championship because we might be over shadowed by the likes of Everton? Southampton?

This is one thread I am not altogether sure one would find on many Championship forums. How embarrassing to have such little ambition for a team that has previously finished at the top of the pile?

Maybe if we stayed in League One we could enjoy every season?

Never said United were only good enough for the Championship, just asking if you would be excited about mid table mediocrity every season,

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Has to be said though.. Spurs challenging for the title? That would be classified as a "surprise" only a few years ago.

Didn't we compete well against them quite recently.

Blades only good enough for the Championship because we might be over shadowed by the likes of Everton? Southampton?

This is one thread I am not altogether sure one would find on many Championship forums. How embarrassing to have such little ambition for a team that has previously finished at the top of the pile?

Maybe if we stayed in League One we could enjoy every season?

Its not about a lack of ambition its about being realistic.

One season near european quification since 1971 says bottom half of Div 1, top half of div 2 is a reasonable expectation.

 

[jt64]

If you gave me seventh place in the league with just needing to win a two legged tie against a Belarusian tractor manufacturer works club in order to fill otherwise empty Thursday nights with visits to exotic places like Cluj, Freiburg and Aberdeen, I'd think about it for a minute and say no, best stay put and settle for league games against Ipswich