Relegation - Boom or Bust?

[Bijou Bob]

I've probably said this somewhere else, but personally, I'm completely unfazed by the thought of relegation and indeed, would welcome it with open arms to some degree. New grounds to visit, a chance of actually winning a match, playing teams who haven't got £200 million worth of substitute and are therefore on an almost level playing field.

So, relegation; Boom or Bust people?

[BWFC_Insane]

I've probably said this somewhere else, but personally, I'm completely unfazed by the thought of relegation and indeed, would welcome it with open arms to some degree. New grounds to visit, a chance of actually winning a match, playing teams who haven't got £200 million worth of substitute and are therefore on an almost level playing field.So, relegation; Boom or Bust people?

Shall we ask, Bradford, Coventry, Wimbledon, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, Ipswich, Watford, Portsmouth, Derby, Burnley, Leeds, Crystal Palace, Hull, Charlton, Sheffield Utd, Oldham, Sheffield Wednesday fans the same question?

All clubs relegated from the top flight, who failed to come back up, and just look where some of them are now.

All clubs who had fans saying "ahh its ok, we'll be straight back after a season of winning every game in sight, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzeeeeee".

Yeah. And all fans who would bite their left arms off to be back in the premiership again.

[The Axman]

Well, personally speaking (of course), I'd be in the bust category. I like to be able to see proper top notch quality. I already support another club where I can go and watch crap players scrap on an uneven playing field against equally crap players - can get quite tedious at times.
Speaking unpersonally (collectively?), to be in the Prem is in a way a lifeline, you don't want to be doing a Leeds and striving forevermore to rebuild a once 'great' club. Plus, you never know the hidden depths of financial ruin it (relegation) might bring. I think we are in for some shock exterminations over the next few years as club after club fold on a more regular basis than they have up to now.

[David Lee's Hair]

Would be an absolute disaster - see Portsmouth

[Bijou Bob]

I take your point BWFCi but that presumes that we really want to get back into the Prem. I'm not sure I ever would. Some play off games, decent cup runs, I'd be happy. Promotion would only ever be worth it for the TV money for the season and the parachute payment. I think WBA may have have a perfect model really, they seem to be happy doing a 'boing boing' with the odd season in the Prem whilst spending very little.

[The Axman]

Dear Bijou Bob,
I believe your are suffering a small mid-life crisis. Don't worry it happens to all of us. Unfortunately, you seem to have taken it too far and seem to want to dwell within this crisis for the rest of your life! I have a cure for you, a miraculous cure. Accompany me to a few Evo-Stik Northern Premier League games for the rest of this season [home to Frickley Athletic this weekend, and it's not that far to travel either], that'll sort you out.
Regards,
The Agony AuntAxman

[CrazyHorse]

I take your point BWFCi but that presumes that we really want to get back into the Prem. I'm not sure I ever would. Some play off games, decent cup runs, I'd be happy. Promotion would only ever be worth it for the TV money for the season and the parachute payment. I think WBA may have have a perfect model really, they seem to be happy doing a 'boing boing' with the odd season in the Prem whilst spending very little.

I want us to win the FA cup; not really that arsed about anything else.
The chances of us ever winning again it are slim at best.
But if we don't have a Premiership strength squad the chances of us winning it are non existent.
We need to be in the top flight.

[Bijou Bob]

Dear Bijou Bob,
I believe your are suffering a small mid-life crisis. Don't worry it happens to all of us. Unfortunately, you seem to have taken it too far and seem to want to dwell within this crisis for the rest of your life! I have a cure for you, a miraculous cure. Accompany me to a few Evo-Stik Northern Premier League games for the rest of this season [home to Frickley Athletic this weekend, and it's not that far to travel either], that'll sort you out.
Regards,
The Agony AuntAxman

Small crisis??!!! Why can't I have the full blown, divorce/big bike/gym thing. Oh....................

Watching Morecambe has been fun this year, it's like going back to the 80's!

[BWFC_Insane]

I take your point BWFCi but that presumes that we really want to get back into the Prem. I'm not sure I ever would. Some play off games, decent cup runs, I'd be happy. Promotion would only ever be worth it for the TV money for the season and the parachute payment. I think WBA may have have a perfect model really, they seem to be happy doing a 'boing boing' with the odd season in the Prem whilst spending very little.

And if we don't then what the hell are we playing for each week? Shits and giggles?

Its about the competition, the buzz and excitement that goes with that. Take that away and you're left with nowt.

[Puskas]

I take your point BWFCi but that presumes that we really want to get back into the Prem. I'm not sure I ever would. Some play off games, decent cup runs, I'd be happy. Promotion would only ever be worth it for the TV money for the season and the parachute payment. I think WBA may have have a perfect model really, they seem to be happy doing a 'boing boing' with the odd season in the Prem whilst spending very little.

And if we don't then what the hell are we playing for each week? Shits and giggles?

Its about the competition, the buzz and excitement that goes with that. Take that away and you're left with nowt.

Take that away? You may not have noticed, but it has been taken away. We're in the Premier League. A competition we have no hope of winning. A competition in which the best we can hope for is mid-table mediocrity, of avoiding the relegation scrap. A competition which is more or less decided before a ball is kicked, by seeing which of the big beasts has the most money. A non-competition, in any real sense.

Relegation may not be entertaining, but the Premier League is not a real competition. I can say now that if we do stay up, I'm not renewing my season ticket.

[boltonboris]

Wether we want to be in one or not, you have to say a relegation scrap is pretty exciting. It has all the emotion of going for the title (I'd imagine)

[Puskas]

Wether we want to be in one or not, you have to say a relegation scrap is pretty exciting. It has all the emotion of going for the title (I'd imagine)

You think? I find it dull and depressing, myself.

To compare it with going for the title - would you rather be involved in a relegation scrap, or in a safe, mid-table spot?

Then consider would you rather be going for the title, or in a safe, mid-table spot?

Completely different emotions.

[boltonboris]

It's not about what I'd rather have. That's be a title challenge everyday! What I mean is, people are saying we've nothing to play for. Of course we have. Being in a relegation battle gets the emotions going the same way a title challenge would.

Maybe moreso. How many pitch inasions do you see at Old Trafford when they've won the title, compared to at teams who have stayed up on the last day?

[mrpiccollo]

we must stay up not only is our clubs longterm survival dependant on it but seriously the championship wont be easy for us we dont have the cash to pay out to new signings/contracts go straight back up

[Relentless09]

Why would any one want to settle for second best ? Premier league is where every club wants to be

[P.O.S.]

I want to stay up, obviously, but if we go down you wont see me in my replica shirt crying my eyes out behind the net.

[TANGODANCER]

Why would any one want to settle for second best ? Premier league is where every club wants to be

Exactly. After eleven seasons with the best I can't understand why anyone would vote otherwise. We did the downward spiral, grand style, once, don't want it again.

[Puskas]

It's not about what I'd rather have. That's be a title challenge everyday! What I mean is, people are saying we've nothing to play for. Of course we have. Being in a relegation battle gets the emotions going the same way a title challenge would.

Maybe moreso. How many pitch inasions do you see at Old Trafford when they've won the title, compared to at teams who have stayed up on the last day?

Meh. Are there likely to be huge celebrations if we survive? Or just general shrugs, and thoughts of "Oh well, more of this shit next year..."?

I know what you mean - but it's an outpouring of relief, rather than anything. And I think most would be more relieved (and less likely to do a pitch invasion) if we were safe before the Stoke game.

[Puskas]

Why would any one want to settle for second best ? Premier league is where every club wants to be

But you'll happily settle for 17th best (which is probably all we can manage in the Premier League this season)?

And then continue on without a hope of winning the thing, dreaming of being not even second best, but 10th best if we're lucky?

Why would anyone want that?

[BWFC_Insane]

Wether we want to be in one or not, you have to say a relegation scrap is pretty exciting. It has all the emotion of going for the title (I'd imagine)

You think? I find it dull and depressing, myself.

To compare it with going for the title - would you rather be involved in a relegation scrap, or in a safe, mid-table spot?

Then consider would you rather be going for the title, or in a safe, mid-table spot?

Completely different emotions.

But striving for staying in the premiership is at least a competition. Going down and saying we don't even want to come back up, what the hell would the point be?