Championship 2025/26 Season

[when_you're_smiling]

11 minutes ago, HankMarvin said:

If when they were struggling down the bottom and you asked fans how many players from Wrexham or Millwall would they take the amount would’ve been significant, fast forward to successful periods under new managers and the answer would be a lot different now. 

You’d be a terrible scout if you only judged players on their team’s current form only. Given that why would you be thinking our lot should be in the top two above Millwall.

 

You haven’t said which of our players would improve the likes of Millwall/Wrexham. James/Fatawu maybe, their fans might even disagree with that though.

[HankMarvin]

25 minutes ago, when_you're_smiling said:

You’d be a terrible scout if you only judged players on their team’s current form only. Given that why would you be thinking our lot should be in the top two above Millwall.

 

You haven’t said which of our players would improve the likes of Millwall/Wrexham. James/Fatawu maybe, their fans might even disagree with that though.

I think you’re missing the point hence why I gave two examples of teams that have improved under new managers.
Asking what players improve those squads after the back of 1 win in 14 would be a lot different if you asked the question when a semi competent manager was in charge. Not one sacked from a relegation threatened team who after about 400 games in the division was at Oxford in the first place.
Prior to that we had a manager that again was mid table last season and was sacked with us in 14th

QPR are 6 points better off with 18 more points up for grabs which again highlight the limitations of the previous manager. 
Would you like me to dig up the posts, when Southampton were struggling and people were saying at least we are not as bad as them, how many people would swapped players with them at that point. 
What’s changed?
 

A manager that is earning over double the points of the last sacked one 

[when_you're_smiling]

15 minutes ago, HankMarvin said:

I think you’re missing the point hence why I gave two examples of teams that have improved under new managers.
Asking what players improve those squads after the back of 1 win in 14 would be a lot different if you asked the question when a semi competent manager was in charge. Not one sacked from a relegation threatened team who after about 400 games in the division was at Oxford in the first place.
Prior to that we had a manager that again was mid table last season and was sacked with us in 14th

QPR are 6 points better off with 18 more points up for grabs which again highlight the limitations of the previous manager. 
Would you like me to dig up the posts, when Southampton were struggling and people were saying at least we are not as bad as them, how many people would swapped players with them at that point. 
What’s changed?
 

A manager that is earning over double the points of the last sacked one 

If you really still think the problem is the manager (and has been with the last six or seven managers we’ve had), and that an attack led by Ayew/Daka and with that defence is good enough to be in the top two, you are delusional. 

[whoareyaaa]

5 hours ago, HankMarvin said:

I think you’re missing the point hence why I gave two examples of teams that have improved under new managers.
Asking what players improve those squads after the back of 1 win in 14 would be a lot different if you asked the question when a semi competent manager was in charge. Not one sacked from a relegation threatened team who after about 400 games in the division was at Oxford in the first place.
Prior to that we had a manager that again was mid table last season and was sacked with us in 14th

QPR are 6 points better off with 18 more points up for grabs which again highlight the limitations of the previous manager. 
Would you like me to dig up the posts, when Southampton were struggling and people were saying at least we are not as bad as them, how many people would swapped players with them at that point. 
What’s changed?
 

A manager that is earning over double the points of the last sacked one 

I think it probably helps when you have a squad of players not just 1 player for each position and weak ones at that (Thomas, Ricardo, Ayew/Daka, Jakub) and players not throwing there toys out the pram ala Winks, Vesty, Faes 

 

Squad is really not as good as you seem to make out, we have a 16 year old on the bench and bunch of loan players (most who don't even improve us or feature)

 

 

 

[Dan]

Bookies now very much think it's a three horse race rather than a five horse race, with Portsmouth the likeliest survivors.

 

4/6 to go down to League One. ****ing hell.

[HankMarvin]

33 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

I think it probably helps when you have a squad of players not just 1 player for each position and weak ones at that (Thomas, Ricardo, Ayew/Daka, Jakub) and players not throwing there toys out the pram ala Winks, Vesty, Faes 

 

Squad is really not as good as you seem to make out, we have a 16 year old on the bench and bunch of loan players (most who don't even improve us or feature)

 

 

 

It’s not about making out the squad is great, it’s the context of the shit division they are in. You don’t need to a have a great squad with a plethora of cover in each position to be mid table. 
The reality is despite how shit the form has been with one win in 14 we are 10 points of midtable excluding the deduction.
Do you think the 23/24 team pisses the league with Marti and Rowett in charge 

[whoareyaaa]

12 hours ago, HankMarvin said:

It’s not about making out the squad is great, it’s the context of the shit division they are in. You don’t need to a have a great squad with a plethora of cover in each position to be mid table. 
The reality is despite how shit the form has been with one win in 14 we are 10 points of midtable excluding the deduction.
Do you think the 23/24 team pisses the league with Marti and Rowett in charge 

I wouldn't call it a shit division, if you are weak like us and don't have a team that wants to play together who are missing players in key areas hardly going to be easy for any manager to get a tune out of them, the options for any manager are extremely limited I don't know how hard that is to see.

 

Enzo was different but he did have Justin, Vardy, KDH, Ndidi, Mads to name a few along with no Thomas.. Doyle etc and had players like Winks, Faes and Vesterguard on his side which other managers have not.

 

Marti or Rowett wouldn't be in a relegation fight they would have at least had them in the play offs, we hardly pissed the league especially in the last couple of months.

Edited 5 April by whoareyaaa

[marketharboroughfox]

12 hours ago, HankMarvin said:

Do you think the 23/24 team pisses the league with Marti and Rowett in charge 

Yes. The club wasn't anything near as toxic as it is now and we had more discernible quality across the pitch.

 

We did end up 'pissing the league' but I recall being in that away end at Plymouth when a few were calling for Enzo's head and there was some panic that we might end up blowing the autos.

[adejo92]

10 minutes ago, marketharboroughfox said:

Yes. The club wasn't anything near as toxic as it is now and we had more discernible quality across the pitch.

 

We did end up 'pissing the league' but I recall being in that away end at Plymouth when a few were calling for Enzo's head and there was some panic that we might end up blowing the autos.

We probably would have bottled it if it wasnt for that team talk the players had without Enzo present.

 

Enzo did great, but his football was horrific to watch even though we were winning and we did come close to bottling the whole thing.

[HankMarvin]

19 hours ago, when_you're_smiling said:

If you really still think the problem is the manager (and has been with the last six or seven managers we’ve had), and that an attack led by Ayew/Daka and with that defence is good enough to be in the top two, you are delusional. 

Where have I said they are good enough to be promoted, people saying it’s the worst squad in the league need a wake up call 

[HankMarvin]

2 hours ago, whoareyaaa said:

we hardly pissed the league especially in the last couple of months.

Only 4 teams have finished first with more points in the last 20 seasons in the championship 

 

2 hours ago, whoareyaaa said:

I wouldn't call it a shit division

 In terms of teams being near the top that have not invested much and lack squad depth it is. 
Millwall spent 9m 

Hull spent 700k 

yet people like you will moan what do you expect when we don’t spend any money of course we should be down the bottom with this squad. 

Edited 5 April by HankMarvin

[whoareyaaa]

2 minutes ago, HankMarvin said:

 

 

 In terms of teams being near the top that have not invested much and lack squad depth it is. 
Millwall spent 9m 

Hull spent 700k 

yet people like you will moan what do you expect when we don’t spend any money of course we should be down the bottom with this squad. 

Whats it even mean

[LCFCJohn]

30 minutes ago, HankMarvin said:

Only 4 teams have finished first with more points in the last 20 seasons in the championship 

 

 In terms of teams being near the top that have not invested much and lack squad depth it is. 
Millwall spent 9m 

Hull spent 700k 

yet people like you will moan what do you expect when we don’t spend any money of course we should be down the bottom with this squad. 

The points total did flatter us though and made us look better than we were. Our own Champions in 2014 on 102 points under Pearson was a truly dominant and clear champion who ran away with the league. 

[when_you're_smiling]

41 minutes ago, HankMarvin said:

Where have I said they are good enough to be promoted, people saying it’s the worst squad in the league need a wake up call 

You said they should be better than Millwall currently. So second. 

 

I’ve not seen anyone say it’s the worst squad in the league (though it’s statistically and probably the worst defence bar Sheff Weds’ kids).

[Beachyboy]

21 hours ago, when_you're_smiling said:

You’d be a terrible scout if you only judged players on their team’s current form only. Given that why would you be thinking our lot should be in the top two above Millwall.

 

You haven’t said which of our players would improve the likes of Millwall/Wrexham. James/Fatawu maybe, their fans might even disagree with that though.

Such a strange argument 8/11 players of the 15/16 team wouldn't have improved any of the big boys but momentum plays a huge factor, as does being in an environment that allows you to perform over your individual capability. 

[when_you're_smiling]

1 minute ago, Beachyboy said:

Such a strange argument 8/11 players of the 15/16 team wouldn't have improved any of the big boys but momentum plays a huge factor, as does being in an environment that allows you to perform over your individual capability. 

You’re comparing Ayew, Daka, Skip and Thomas to the likes of Vardy, Drinkwater, Kante and Fuchs? 

[Beachyboy]

9 minutes ago, when_you're_smiling said:

You’re comparing Ayew, Daka, Skip and Thomas to the likes of Vardy, Drinkwater, Kante and Fuchs? 

I acknowledge they are shit players but what I'm saying is the likes of Huth, Morgan, Albrighton, Simpson Okazaki who weren't anything special at other clubs, where we had that good environment before, given that same positive environment, I'm saying those players you've listed would perform better. Thomas was in the team at times when we were in the top 6 of the premiership. We have better individual players than Millwall but a far worse team, a team is the collective. 

Edited 5 April by Beachyboy

[when_you're_smiling]

4 minutes ago, Beachyboy said:

I acknowledge they are shit players but what I'm saying is the likes of Huth, Morgan, Albrighton, Simpson Okazaki who weren't anything special at other clubs, where we had that good environment before, given that same positive environment, I'm saying those players you've listed would perform better. Thomas was in the team at times when we were in the top 6 of the premiership. 

They were still pretty good players though. It wasn’t just fluke and momentum.

 

You can get by the odd weaker player with a well drilled side and game plan, hence Thomas being in a top six side. - If your whole defence and every striker you’ve got isn’t good enough you’ve little chance of even gaining momentum. How can you have a game plan when you’re going to concede on average two a game, and that’s even with good strikers.

[HankMarvin]

25 minutes ago, when_you're_smiling said:

You said they should be better than Millwall currently. So second. 

 

I’ve not seen anyone say it’s the worst squad in the league (though it’s statistically and probably the worst defence bar Sheff Weds’ kids).

No I highlighted that they have not got a lot of players per position and haven’t invested much, clearly the manager is doing a good job because have improved year on year under him.

 

Worst defence in the league?

QPR have conceded the same amount and sit in 10th and have scored just 4 more goals. So the reasons for our league position it not quite as clear cut as just having a poor defence.

Also if you are going to take into account the defence, then you need to realise that a team with the 11th highest scoring attack should also not be in the bottom 3/5

its easy to give underperforming managers a pass, and blame everything on the squad, meanwhile Fatawu is scoring against Germany, Ayew against Switzerland. 

Have QPR improved, yes 

Have Oxford improved, yes 

and we took those formers managers.

 

More recently 

Have Blackburn improved.

Have West Brom improved.

Have Southampton improved.

Have Norwich improved.

Have Sheffield United improved

 

Being competitive in this league doesn’t mean we should be winning the league, I just don’t buy into the fact that people say no one could do a job with the squad like they are dealing with Sheffield Wednesday 

 

 

 

 

[Suzie the Fox]

Could do with a few draws today with us from the bottom half teams and us having the definition of a MUST WIn game. 

[Finnegan]

24 minutes ago, Suzie the Fox said:

Could do with a few draws today with us from the bottom half teams and us having the definition of a MUST WIn game. 

 

Probably need to begrudgingly admit Blackburn are gone. Might as well hope they win. 

 

Need Pompey and Oxford to draw, Baggies to lose and us to win. 

 

Don't love our chances tbh. 

 

 

[Corky]

Wondering which result is best when we are stuck between 21st and 23rd is just lovely. Our Glorious Leader delivering again!

[Happy Fox]

Pompey ahead 

[StanSP]

Just now, Happy Fox said:

Pompey ahead 

Psychologically winning today and still not getting out of the bottom 3 if it stays like this can be pretty shit. 

[Swarles Barkley]

1 minute ago, StanSP said:

Psychologically winning today and still not getting out of the bottom 3 if it stays like this can be pretty shit. 

Agreed but at the same time win and we’re at most 2 points off 20th and we drag someone else into the mix