looking at the league tables, we finished 18 points off of 6th spot, much as I'd love to have a crack at the playoffs next season, 18 points is a heck of a lot of ground to make up.
How many players and moe importantly calibre of players would we need to bring in to achieve a top 6 finish.
I'm guessing we're 2 seasons away from a crack at the playoffs unless Roland dips into his pocket big time and goes for it this transfer window?
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The addicts are going up
Similarly, with poor activity in the transfer window, we could finish with 18 points less...
I am going to state the obvious here. We were strong at the end of the season under a new manager/coach. Next season, much, nay all, will depend on who stays from last years' top choice players and who is brought in. Everything stems from this, consistency, performance, points, prizes, promotions .. everything
The top eight, ending at Derby were clear of the rest by 10 points while the bottom eight should have been four points adrift had Huddersfield been awarded the 3 points from their game v Blackpool.
Against the top eight we gained 16 from a possible 48. Nearly all of the wins came early on v Derby, Watford and Norwich. The last was the 3 - 0 v Brentford. The Bees and Wolves were the only top eight sides not to beat us while only Bournemouth and Ipswich did the double over us.
As part of the middle 8 we only had 7 games but gained 19 points from a possible 42. Only Blackburn, the best of the rest, doubled us and we gained 4 points from Cardiff, Forest, Leeds and Huddersfield plus two draws with Wednesday. Other than Blackburn only Birmingham from the middle eight actually defeated us.
The bottom eight haul was 25 points from a possible 48. To be expected when they are the worst teams even when one of them is Millwall (1 point). But we also lost to Brighton and Fulham as well as dropping two points against rock bottom Blackpool and four against strugglers Rotherham Our only doubles, Wigan and Reading, were from this group.
So we just weren't quite good enough v the top teams, held our own v the teams around us and under performed against the relegation fodder.
Also, I think it will be a very tough league next season.
Don't think we'll challenge for playoffs yet, but maybe there's a few surprises round the corner. Mid August we'll know far more and should have most signings done.
Next 10 weeks will be tough on here.
In 2015, we got 62 points...
But you never know in this division, Bristol City (plenty of years in the Championship), Preston (not been this high for while) and MK (never been this high).
Three coming down have the financial clout but doesn't always work out that way, plenty have slipped straight though and some have taken a couple of seasons to get to League One.
Another helter skelter of a season in the Championship I think
In 2008/09 under Pardew and Parky we got... very angry and depressed!
Hendo
Solly Gomez CB Wiggins
JBG Cousins CM LW
Watt CF
Subs
Dmitrovic/Pope
Fox
Bikey
Diarra
Jackson
Moussa
Vetokele
It will be easier to get nearer the trapdoor than the play offs
I'll be happy with mid table as the Belgian bores experiment continues
We can't manage 4 more points unless we can get five points from two games, which is not possible without snookers!
I think Roland will invest this summer. I can see the logic of keeping hold of the talented young players for another season and adding to them on the basis that if we don't do well enough he can cut his losses next summer by selling two or three of our stars. With the strength of the side in the last third of the season I think that must be a gamble worth taking.
If not I really don't see why Roland is still hanging around stumping up money to cover losses of a side that he clearly doesn't support, personally.
But we see the opportunity to build on some decent players and make a push for the riches of the premiership. It would require a bit of a punt, but if Roland is in this to prove his idea works, changing to a more conventional plan may not be what he wants to do. I have suggested on a previous thread that selling Gomez would probably fund a push next season without him having to dip into his pocket - but if teh plan is long term and that sort of thing isn't part of it, we may not get it.
We'll have to see, as we can only speculate on what the plan actually is, and how flexible Roland wants to be within that plan. I haven't got a clue what to expect over the summer. I would say that the push for promotion would be most likely evidenced by early aquisistions of decent players so the squad can prepare for the season ahead. So I watch the activity with even more interest this summer than I do normally.
The strange thing is, I want the club to go for promotion as you have to be ambitious and go for a target, but am more than happy we are playing in teh Championship next season, which I find a far more interesting division than the Premiership. And it is better value too, with more games and what would surely be cheaper ticket prices.