Will Fans Accept Mid Table Mediocrity Next Season?

[Chandler]

Chandler doesn't think we have improved.  well we are putting out a younger team and playing footy on the deck.  Thats an improvement to me and levein has sed we are still a million miles away from what he wants. i tink we are improving all the time and can kick some ass next season. fresh faces and a pre season were levein can set up and build a deasent team and i tink we can win the league. adios peeps.

91402[/snapback]

Plenty of teams filled with youngsters playing it on the deck.

In the First Division, Vauxhall Conference, Rymans...

'Moderate long ball teams usually beat moderate passing sides.' Alan Hansen

[Sparky]

whats this Levein shit all about ur just making yourself look a bigger ****

[Knighton Matt]

whats this Levein shit all about    ur just making yourself look a bigger ****

91409[/snapback]

!

[davieG]

what HARD evidence is there to suggest that we could possibly mount a promotion challenge?

91278[/snapback]

What HARD evidence is there to suggest we couldn't possibly mount a promotion challenge?

Unless Chandler, you've got your crystal ball out again.......

91376[/snapback]

The same crystal ball Lisa that I looked into when Adams left. What did I see?

Championship struggle.

What did you lot see?

The Premiership.

So who's wearing the rose tinted specs, Lisa?

And now the hard evidence about why we won't mount a promotion challenge next season. In a word...

Levein.

91406[/snapback]

Chandler why do you keep repeating this figment of your imagination.

Also I don't know how old you are but this 'Levein' jibe is about as intelligent and original as your fickle boneheads one.

[Fez of Mahrez]

About as funny as when we get called Fester or when our fans call Portsmouth "Pimpey".

We should be aiming for the play-offs next season.

[Guest]

what HARD evidence is there to suggest that we could possibly mount a promotion challenge?

91278[/snapback]

What HARD evidence is there to suggest we couldn't possibly mount a promotion challenge?

Unless Chandler, you've got your crystal ball out again.......

91376[/snapback]

The same crystal ball Lisa that I looked into when Adams left. What did I see?

Championship struggle.

What did you lot see?

The Premiership.

So who's wearing the rose tinted specs, Lisa?

And now the hard evidence about why we won't mount a promotion challenge next season. In a word...

Levein.

91406[/snapback]

Surely at some stage you'll have to forgive us mere mortals for having a bit of optimism. Does having hopes and aspirations make you a weaker person or something?

You're basing your arguments on having the benefit of hindsight.

It doesn't make you look clever, it makes you look bitter.

[Anish]

Back to the original point, I would definitely not accept midtable mediocrity next season. We need to be making a strong push for the playoffs and be there or thereabouts (like West Ham, Reading, Sheff Yoo this season). I would not mind missing out on the play offs as long as we made a good attempt and improved massively from this season. Another season in the bottom half of the Championship is not good enough, and serious questions would need to be raised if that were the case.

[fiery fox]

have to dont we?

[SamuearlJackson]

With our parachute payment and having had time to build we should definitely be in the top 6 next season. Lower than 6 would be a failure IMO.

SamJ

[Chandler]

what HARD evidence is there to suggest that we could possibly mount a promotion challenge?

91278[/snapback]

What HARD evidence is there to suggest we couldn't possibly mount a promotion challenge?

Unless Chandler, you've got your crystal ball out again.......

91376[/snapback]

The same crystal ball Lisa that I looked into when Adams left. What did I see?

Championship struggle.

What did you lot see?

The Premiership.

So who's wearing the rose tinted specs, Lisa?

And now the hard evidence about why we won't mount a promotion challenge next season. In a word...

Levein.

91406[/snapback]

Surely at some stage you'll have to forgive us mere mortals for having a bit of optimism. Does having hopes and aspirations make you a weaker person or something?

You're basing your arguments on having the benefit of hindsight.

It doesn't make you look clever, it makes you look bitter.

91427[/snapback]

No Lisa, not the benefit of hindsight I SAID IT AT THE TIME. Go on to the Talking Testicles forum and check postings leading up to and just after the 11th October.

I even had a little motto: '10/11 I'll never let you forget it.'

That makes me clever (as well as bitter).

[Guest]

No Lisa, not the benefit of hindsight I SAID IT AT THE TIME. Go on to the Talking Testicles forum and check postings leading up to and just after the 11th October.

I even had a little motto: '10/11 I'll never let you forget it.'

That makes me clever (as well as bitter).

91597[/snapback]

Bully for you!

I shaln't forget '10/11'; I climbed a mountain that day!

[MADLEVEIN]

mid table maybe for the first two three months then perhaps a late surge ?

luton will do well next seaon and the teams who dont go up either wigan, ipswich, west ham, preston, derby or reading will be there or there-abouts along with norwich and the other two who make the drop, so in reality we cant expect miracles! the next two seasons in this league are going to be hard for most teams let alone a team managed by someone who would have barely been in the job a year and had a complete team rebuild to achieve with no funds.......chandler i suggest if you want instant success go down to abramovich land.

[TrickyTrev]

Chandler, if you think the CURRENT squad is better than the one we were promoted with you think mor eof Levein's transfer dealings than I do and if you think the on he is inherited was stronger then you are even more dillusional than I thought.

Izzet, Dickov, Elliott and Walker were all in that side. You could have a good arguement that at the time they were the best players in their position in the league. In the case of Izzet and Walker they were the stand out players.

Forrest had a decent squad? It was essentially the same side that were nearly relegated the following season. Their best players were still in their teens and as a team couldn't win away from home!

Sheffield Utd are and were a poor team and if we had allowed htem to get in the premiership ahead of us it would have been a travesty. The likes of Paddy Kenny and Steve Kabba in a promotion is laughable. Oh and for the record if you actually count Carl Asaba as a decent player you are officially mental or having a laugh, it would explain a lot of things.

For the side levein inherited. Do you not admit that the likes of Benjamin, Scowcroft, Makin, Pressman and to a lesser extent Keown needed to be moved on and were poor additions to the squad by Adams? Do you not think that levein did well to move on some of the dross that our club could have been laboured with for the remainder of their contracts?

Can you not see the improvement in performances of the likes of Williams, Gillespie and Dublin who were all underperforming under Adams? Does that not make yo believe that perhaps Levein does have the motivational abilities you so insistantly claim you know e hasn't.

I admit that the jury is still out on Craig but it strikes me that you are not interested. You feel we should have kept with Adams and you'll be damned if Levein proove syou otherwise.

[shen]

Not the play-offs, but if we dont make the top 10, yes I will. I realise Rome was built in a day, and Levein isnt only building something, but rebuilding something from someone elses mess. But if we dont make the top ten the yes I will consider that failure.

91342[/snapback]

Knew you'd bottle it...

I seem to remember a rubbish ex manager who only needed one season to get us promoted automatically with shit players, no signings and no money.

Funny that...

91350[/snapback]

That ex-manager inherited some of another managers best signings (albeit not all), the key to our promotion push that year was Taggart, Elliott, Izzet and Walker, they were helped with a few key signings dickov deane et al, but the players were there to start with. A massive contrast to the ones CL inherited.

Also all of O'Neills signings bar a few came from the lower leagues and so adapted well to life in the fizzy. Adams signings?? Dublin, Dabizas, Scowcroft etc all seem to have an air of 'i deserve to win this because i used to play in the prem and while im here shall i sign an autograph.' They have not adapted to this league at all well.

91363[/snapback]

Scowcroft was signed by Taylor though and fair enough, Dublin and Dabizas have been signed by Adams, but most of us were thrilled when we signed Dublin and I was personally impressed when he signed Dabizas after we got promotion. They've disappointed somewhat, yes, but having said that, Dublin is possibly our best defender now.

[Louise]

By the end of next season if we do not get promoted the mccarthy will still be only 22, hughes 24, maybury 27 etc.

91354[/snapback]

McCarthy is 21 (although he will be 22 at the start of next season!)

Hughes is 22 (and will be at the start of next season)

Maybury is 26 (although he may or may not be 27 at the start of next season depending on when the first game is!)

Not picking on you, I'm just retentive in that way

Oh and Benjamin was also not signed by Adams, TrickyTrev, he was signed by Taylor.

And Dabizas was signed in January, not after we got promoted shen

[Craig]

Inheriting the ebst squad in the division by a long way. We were up againsta Sheffield Utd side with Steve Kabba up front that season.  <_<

91353[/snapback]

I think that Portsmouth might have something to say about that. And Forest too at the time. And the Blades reached two Cup semis with the likes of Tonge, Brown and Asaba.

And while we're at it I seem to remember the gloom that descended when we won promotion. Nobody thought that we could possible survive in the Prem with the likes of Summerbee, Rogers, Benjamin Impey et al?

Sorry, the current squad, even taking into account MDV is altogether a better one. But it is in P16 - 14 places below the promo side at the same stage of the season. I seem to recall that we were only two wins off a play spot when Adams resigned.

For a coach of Levein's 'brilliance' that should have a piece of piss shouldn't it?

91379[/snapback]

We were a win off of top spot before the West Ham home game...

Adams frigged that right up didn't he

[shen]

By the end of next season if we do not get promoted the mccarthy will still be only 22, hughes 24, maybury 27 etc.

91354[/snapback]

McCarthy is 21 (although he will be 22 at the start of next season!)

Hughes is 22 (and will be at the start of next season)

Maybury is 26 (although he may or may not be 27 at the start of next season depending on when the first game is!)

Not picking on you, I'm just retentive in that way

Oh and Benjamin was also not signed by Adams, TrickyTrev, he was signed by Taylor.

And Dabizas was signed in January, not after we got promoted shen

91789[/snapback]

Technically it was after we got promoted ...

[Fez of Mahrez]

If we'd had pre-season under Levein we'd have made the play-offs in my opinion. We wouldn't have had anyone like Pressman, Makin, Keown, Gemmill (christ this list is long), Wilcox or Blake (perhaps add Gudjonsson to that as well if you are so inclined) who were all signed in the summer plus CL would still have got rid of Scowcroft and Benjamin. That dross cost us mid-season, Keown apart who I thought was largely pretty good.

I don't think anyone would argue that McCarthy, Maybury and Hughes all look really good. CL hasn't been afraid to use Stearman. Dabizas, Dublin, Gillespie and Connolly have all improved under his management (feel free to argue with any of them). Confidence breeds confidence and MA had used all his up.

This is going to be controversial but I'd rather see a young, energetic, hungry team learning their trade together in blue shirts and playing decent football than watching a bunch of overpaid 35-year-olds hoof their way to 10th place. CL seems to have a bit of a blind spot where de Vries is concerned but other than that, the signs are good. Yes, it will take two or three really good players coming in but the last really good player MA signed was...? Anyone? Les Ferdinand or Marcus Bent maybe? CL has had to ship out players before he could afford anyone and he's already signed two really good players (Maybury and Hughes). It's not unreasonable to assume that CL will sign players who can help take us to the play-offs next season. Centre-back, left-back, defensive midfielder, striker.

Also got to open his eyes where de Vries is concerned, and pay for Nalis' flight home.

I'm a lot happier watching us now than I was at the start of the season, put it that way.

Ultimately we're all in it together. UTC.

[Chandler]

Chandler, if you think the CURRENT squad is better than the one we were promoted with you think mor eof Levein's transfer dealings than I do and if you think the on he is inherited was stronger then you are even more dillusional than I thought.

Izzet, Dickov, Elliott and Walker were all in that side. You could have a good arguement that at the time they were the best players in their position in the league. In the case of Izzet and Walker they were the stand out players.

Forrest had a decent squad? It was essentially the same side that were nearly relegated the following season. Their best players were still in their teens and as a team couldn't win away from home!

Sheffield Utd are and were a poor team and if we had allowed htem to get in the premiership ahead of us it would have been a travesty. The likes of Paddy Kenny and Steve Kabba in a promotion is laughable. Oh and for the record if you actually count Carl Asaba as a decent player you are officially mental or having a laugh, it would explain a lot of things.

For the side levein inherited. Do you not admit that the likes of Benjamin, Scowcroft, Makin, Pressman and to a lesser extent Keown needed to be moved on and were poor additions to the squad by Adams? Do you not think that levein did well to move on some of the dross that our club could have been laboured with for the remainder of their contracts?

Can you not see the improvement in performances of the likes of Williams, Gillespie and Dublin who were all underperforming under Adams? Does that not make yo believe that perhaps Levein does have the motivational abilities you so insistantly claim you know e hasn't.

I admit that the jury is still out on Craig but it strikes me that you are not interested. You feel we should have kept with Adams and you'll be damned if Levein proove syou otherwise.

91745[/snapback]

Let's say that for the sake of argument I accept your assessments about the relative merits of our own squad and that of the opposition in previous years - it's all subjective anyway (as usual though my own view is backed up by supporters views at the time - check the websites).

Unfortunately the league table isn't open to argument. It tells an objective truth. And in case you need reminding that truth is the team is less succesful now under Levein's stewardship than under Adams. What is patently obvious is that Levein just can't cut it as a motivator and that he is underperforming in a comfort zone specially created for him by hopelessly naive supporters.

You say the team performs better and is improving steadily as we sign new players. Results say otherwise. One win in ten weeks and nearly five ****ing months without an away win (three wins in five weeks on the road under Adams).

Plainly you are deluded: just like cretinous Barnsley fans a few seasons back who tried to persuade us all 'it was just like watching Brazil' as they were relegated.

They, like you lot, are in serious need of Electro Convulsive Therapy.

[stez]

Chandler, if you think the CURRENT squad is better than the one we were promoted with you think mor eof Levein's transfer dealings than I do and if you think the on he is inherited was stronger then you are even more dillusional than I thought.

Izzet, Dickov, Elliott and Walker were all in that side. You could have a good arguement that at the time they were the best players in their position in the league. In the case of Izzet and Walker they were the stand out players.

Forrest had a decent squad? It was essentially the same side that were nearly relegated the following season. Their best players were still in their teens and as a team couldn't win away from home!

Sheffield Utd are and were a poor team and if we had allowed htem to get in the premiership ahead of us it would have been a travesty. The likes of Paddy Kenny and Steve Kabba in a promotion is laughable. Oh and for the record if you actually count Carl Asaba as a decent player you are officially mental or having a laugh, it would explain a lot of things.

For the side levein inherited. Do you not admit that the likes of Benjamin, Scowcroft, Makin, Pressman and to a lesser extent Keown needed to be moved on and were poor additions to the squad by Adams? Do you not think that levein did well to move on some of the dross that our club could have been laboured with for the remainder of their contracts?

Can you not see the improvement in performances of the likes of Williams, Gillespie and Dublin who were all underperforming under Adams? Does that not make yo believe that perhaps Levein does have the motivational abilities you so insistantly claim you know e hasn't.

I admit that the jury is still out on Craig but it strikes me that you are not interested. You feel we should have kept with Adams and you'll be damned if Levein proove syou otherwise.

91745[/snapback]

Let's say that for the sake of argument I accept your assessments about the relative merits of our own squad and that of the opposition in previous years - it's all subjective anyway (as usual though my own view is backed up by supporters views at the time - check the websites).

Unfortunately the league table isn't open to argument. It tells an objective truth. And in case you need reminding that truth is the team is less succesful now under Levein's stewardship than under Adams. What is patently obvious is that Levein just can't cut it as a motivator and that he is underperforming in a comfort zone specially created for him by hopelessly naive supporters.

You say the team performs better and is improving steadily as we sign new players. Results say otherwise. One win in ten weeks and nearly five ****ing months without an away win (three wins in five weeks on the road under Adams).

Plainly you are deluded: just like cretinous Barnsley fans a few seasons back who tried to persuade us all 'it was just like watching Brazil' as they were relegated.

They, like you lot, are in serious need of Electro Convulsive Therapy.

91815[/snapback]

lets not forget a lot of these players know they won't be here next season so they couldn't give two frigs if we stay up or not

[Who ate all the pies?]

Well you've convinced me Chandler! How could I be so stupid as to want to give Levein time to get in a team he wants. I was going to assess him properly after a whole season...how stupid would that be.

You're right MA was amazing, it wasn't his fault the team forgot how to win and threw away leads.

I agree Levein out

[Katy]

Ive said it before and Ill say it again, Levein needs time to compile his own squad, thats fair isnt it? He has a lot of players still, who are from the Adams era that understandably dont fit into his plans. He needs to get to work from the final whistle against Plymouth and get his own players in, have a decent pre-season and hit next season head on.

Personally, I want to see us challenging for at least the play-offs next season, that, I think, is an acceptable demand BUT if we arent then I and many others will be asking questions of CL just as we were Micky.

[TrickyTrev]

Chandler, if you think the CURRENT squad is better than the one we were promoted with you think mor eof Levein's transfer dealings than I do and if you think the on he is inherited was stronger then you are even more dillusional than I thought.

Izzet, Dickov, Elliott and Walker were all in that side. You could have a good arguement that at the time they were the best players in their position in the league. In the case of Izzet and Walker they were the stand out players.

Forrest had a decent squad? It was essentially the same side that were nearly relegated the following season. Their best players were still in their teens and as a team couldn't win away from home!

Sheffield Utd are and were a poor team and if we had allowed htem to get in the premiership ahead of us it would have been a travesty. The likes of Paddy Kenny and Steve Kabba in a promotion is laughable. Oh and for the record if you actually count Carl Asaba as a decent player you are officially mental or having a laugh, it would explain a lot of things.

For the side levein inherited. Do you not admit that the likes of Benjamin, Scowcroft, Makin, Pressman and to a lesser extent Keown needed to be moved on and were poor additions to the squad by Adams? Do you not think that levein did well to move on some of the dross that our club could have been laboured with for the remainder of their contracts?

Can you not see the improvement in performances of the likes of Williams, Gillespie and Dublin who were all underperforming under Adams? Does that not make yo believe that perhaps Levein does have the motivational abilities you so insistantly claim you know e hasn't.

I admit that the jury is still out on Craig but it strikes me that you are not interested. You feel we should have kept with Adams and you'll be damned if Levein proove syou otherwise.

91745[/snapback]

Let's say that for the sake of argument I accept your assessments about the relative merits of our own squad and that of the opposition in previous years - it's all subjective anyway (as usual though my own view is backed up by supporters views at the time - check the websites).

Unfortunately the league table isn't open to argument. It tells an objective truth. And in case you need reminding that truth is the team is less succesful now under Levein's stewardship than under Adams. What is patently obvious is that Levein just can't cut it as a motivator and that he is underperforming in a comfort zone specially created for him by hopelessly naive supporters.

You say the team performs better and is improving steadily as we sign new players. Results say otherwise. One win in ten weeks and nearly five ****ing months without an away win (three wins in five weeks on the road under Adams).

Plainly you are deluded: just like cretinous Barnsley fans a few seasons back who tried to persuade us all 'it was just like watching Brazil' as they were relegated.

They, like you lot, are in serious need of Electro Convulsive Therapy.

91815[/snapback]

Chandler, I have highlighted players who I think have cosiderably improved under the premiership of Levein who were definately under performing under Adams. Do you not think this shows that he does have POTENTIAL as a motivator?

[Chandler]

Chandler, if you think the CURRENT squad is better than the one we were promoted with you think mor eof Levein's transfer dealings than I do and if you think the on he is inherited was stronger then you are even more dillusional than I thought.

Izzet, Dickov, Elliott and Walker were all in that side. You could have a good arguement that at the time they were the best players in their position in the league. In the case of Izzet and Walker they were the stand out players.

Forrest had a decent squad? It was essentially the same side that were nearly relegated the following season. Their best players were still in their teens and as a team couldn't win away from home!

Sheffield Utd are and were a poor team and if we had allowed htem to get in the premiership ahead of us it would have been a travesty. The likes of Paddy Kenny and Steve Kabba in a promotion is laughable. Oh and for the record if you actually count Carl Asaba as a decent player you are officially mental or having a laugh, it would explain a lot of things.

For the side levein inherited. Do you not admit that the likes of Benjamin, Scowcroft, Makin, Pressman and to a lesser extent Keown needed to be moved on and were poor additions to the squad by Adams? Do you not think that levein did well to move on some of the dross that our club could have been laboured with for the remainder of their contracts?

Can you not see the improvement in performances of the likes of Williams, Gillespie and Dublin who were all underperforming under Adams? Does that not make yo believe that perhaps Levein does have the motivational abilities you so insistantly claim you know e hasn't.

I admit that the jury is still out on Craig but it strikes me that you are not interested. You feel we should have kept with Adams and you'll be damned if Levein proove syou otherwise.

91745[/snapback]

Let's say that for the sake of argument I accept your assessments about the relative merits of our own squad and that of the opposition in previous years - it's all subjective anyway (as usual though my own view is backed up by supporters views at the time - check the websites).

Unfortunately the league table isn't open to argument. It tells an objective truth. And in case you need reminding that truth is the team is less succesful now under Levein's stewardship than under Adams. What is patently obvious is that Levein just can't cut it as a motivator and that he is underperforming in a comfort zone specially created for him by hopelessly naive supporters.

You say the team performs better and is improving steadily as we sign new players. Results say otherwise. One win in ten weeks and nearly five ****ing months without an away win (three wins in five weeks on the road under Adams).

Plainly you are deluded: just like cretinous Barnsley fans a few seasons back who tried to persuade us all 'it was just like watching Brazil' as they were relegated.

They, like you lot, are in serious need of Electro Convulsive Therapy.

91815[/snapback]

Chandler, I have highlighted players who I think have cosiderably improved under the premiership of Levein who were definately under performing under Adams. Do you not think this shows that he does have POTENTIAL as a motivator?

92047[/snapback]

...and what were the RESULTS of those games were you THINK those players improved?

[TrickyTrev]

You can be as thickle as you like but you know as well as I do that you can't achieve results over a sustained period of time without good performances.