Thank you for these all season, you deserve a bloody medal.
Taking a step backwards, Burnley epitomise the dilemma facing proper fans and clubs like us. Is it better to survive in the PL, playing turgid, boring, percentage based football rather than try to entertain and get relegated or never gain promotion in the first place? Burnley fans don't seem to enjoy watching their team but realistically it won't improve so long as survival is their be all and end all. This isn't a criticism, they have done brilliantly putting the much bigger Championship/League One clubs to shame, but long term is it what fans really want?
Initially I enjoyed the PL as we played well, didn't get smashed and were reasonably entertaining. But from January 2020, it got pretty dull in my opinion, hoping to grind out single goal victories was our best option. This season's victories were the same and the level of enjoyment has levelled off over the last 18 months. The talk of going ''toe to toe'' is slightly misleading, as it implies we had a go and really went at teams but that was a rarity, apart from the odd isolated period in a match. ''Toe to toe'' was more not being bullied and pushed over last season; this it never happened.
Next season, I'm sure we all want promotion but if the unlikely is achieved, what then? If we want to establish ourselves (i.e. 3-4 seasons minimum) then once again, it will be a case of 35-40% possession, low expected goals and building a solid defence and midfield. In other words, entertainment will be secondary to survival. For me that's the attraction of the SL. Take away the six protagonists and suddenly the PL looks more attractive, equal and dare I say it entertaining. But for the time being it's really dull.
Brighton have been in the PL for a few years now, but every season is survival mode, with the odd good game. It's not very exciting or entertaining is it? For the clubs survival and revenue is everything but the fans? Most of the ''View Froms'' highlight just how miserable most fans are. Even those in safety (Newcastle, Saints, Burnley, etc.) sound bored and pissed off. Maybe it's my age but I'm beginning to think I'd sooner see an exciting United team top half Championship with goals and entertainment than the inevitably boring PL version.
At the end of the day, me, my kids and dad are going to go whatever, so I'd just sooner watch attractive football than not, regardless of division. a few years ago, my friend stopped going to Watford and got a season ticket at Peterborough. He's never looked back. More goals, more entertainment, more of a laugh than PL football. I thought he was mad at the time, but now it makes sense. Given the choice I'd sooner watch Peterborough as a neutral than Burnley. Or the SUFC of this season!
roysviewfrom.com
upwards.
