city are bigger than the forest Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 So we ended up 15th not bad considering how many points we were off relegation, but who would of thought it at the start of the season? We should of been pushing for promotion. I think it was a dissapointing finish personally what does everyone else think?
fosseman Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 I suppose 15th is about right, considering everything this season. Good little Cup run but too many matches where certain players hid from taking responsibility. That was the real downside for me. Anyway, new start and I'm hoping CL brings in the right players to give us all a boost.
filbertway Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 At the start of the season iw ould never have expectced 15th, and was very confident of top 6. But after the last 2 months 15th dont look to bad. Lets knock 10 places off that next season city.
The Man With The Golden Grahams Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 15th is reasonable. Consider our situation at the turn of the season - a squad full of over-the-hill players, eeking out the twilight days of their careers. Many of them not fit to wear the shirt and none of them representing the future of the club due to their age. The ones who were worth keeping all left for Premiership clubs (most notably Dickov ) or were forced to retire (Elliott). It was unrealistic to expect immediate promotion, especially when you add the managerial change to the equation. I've been on TeamTalk.com and I'm shocked at the amount of criticism Levein is receiving on there. Many fans are on his back because we didn't reach the playoffs, which is ridiculous. A nice stadium and a recent Premiership history doesn't guarantee anything at all (look at Forest, Sheff Wed, QPR, Barnsley, Bradford and of course Man City a few seasons ago). We were spoilt under Martin O'Neill and, let's face it, we've never been a massive club and we're not entitled to success. This season has been all about steadying the ship, making sure we don't go into freefall. We're still financially crippled but Levein has improved matters by losing the high earners who, let's face it, are all replaceable. Maybury, Hughes and McCarthy are all excellent signings and there will be more. A year ago fans were complaining about the high proportion of old men in the team. Now the average age of the squad is around 24. Next season Levein can really begin the process or gelling his young side. However, don't expect us to be getting promotion next season necessarily. I reckon that if we can turn draws into wins a bit more often and remain consistently in the top half then it will be a step in the right direction and a successful season, even if we don't make the playoffs. After the problems we've had it's only to be expected that it will take several years to recover. Just look at the way Ipswich and Derby flirted with relegation - now they are both promotion contenders. We will get there too in a season or two.
Frenzied Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 15th is reasonable. Consider our situation at the turn of the season - a squad full of over-the-hill players, eeking out the twilight days of their careers. Many of them not fit to wear the shirt and none of them representing the future of the club due to their age. The ones who were worth keeping all left for Premiership clubs (most notably Dickov ) or were forced to retire (Elliott). It was unrealistic to expect immediate promotion, especially when you add the managerial change to the equation.I've been on TeamTalk.com and I'm shocked at the amount of criticism Levein is receiving on there. Many fans are on his back because we didn't reach the playoffs, which is ridiculous. A nice stadium and a recent Premiership history doesn't guarantee anything at all (look at Forest, Sheff Wed, QPR, Barnsley, Bradford and of course Man City a few seasons ago). We were spoilt under Martin O'Neill and, let's face it, we've never been a massive club and we're not entitled to success. This season has been all about steadying the ship, making sure we don't go into freefall. We're still financially crippled but Levein has improved matters by losing the high earners who, let's face it, are all replaceable. Maybury, Hughes and McCarthy are all excellent signings and there will be more. A year ago fans were complaining about the high proportion of old men in the team. Now the average age of the squad is around 24. Next season Levein can really begin the process or gelling his young side. However, don't expect us to be getting promotion next season necessarily. I reckon that if we can turn draws into wins a bit more often and remain consistently in the top half then it will be a step in the right direction and a successful season, even if we don't make the playoffs. After the problems we've had it's only to be expected that it will take several years to recover. Just look at the way Ipswich and Derby flirted with relegation - now they are both promotion contenders. We will get there too in a season or two. 105433[/snapback] Superb first post. My sentiments exactly. Welcome to the forum
jase67 Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 15th is pretty piss poor. We are able to pay some of the best wages in the championship. We should of been able to finish in or around the play offs at the end of the season.
The Man With The Golden Grahams Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 We are able to pay some of the best wages in the championship. We should of been able to finish in or around the play offs at the end of the season. 105440[/snapback] The point is we AREN'T able to pay some of the best wages in the Championship. We can't afford to, that's why Levein has had to get rid of Nalis, Walker, Gillespie and others for financial reasons. He's got to knock millions off the wage budget. The only reason we were paying such high wages was because those players were still on their Premiership contracts.
Knighton Matt Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 We are able to pay some of the best wages in the championship. We should of been able to finish in or around the play offs at the end of the season. 105440[/snapback] The point is we AREN'T able to pay some of the best wages in the Championship. We can't afford to, that's why Levein has had to get rid of Nalis, Walker, Gillespie and others for financial reasons. He's got to knock millions off the wage budget. The only reason we were paying such high wages was because those players were still on their Premiership contracts. 105451[/snapback] welcome TMWTGG some excellent first few posts. however didn't Levein say our wage budget for next season would be in the top 4 of the championship?
The Man With The Golden Grahams Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 Superb first post. My sentiments exactly. Welcome to the forum 105438[/snapback] Thankyou
jase67 Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 The point is we AREN'T able to pay some of the best wages in the Championship. We can't afford to, that's why Levein has had to get rid of Nalis, Walker, Gillespie and others for financial reasons. He's got to knock millions off the wage budget. The only reason we were paying such high wages was because those players were still on their Premiership contracts. 105451[/snapback] Our team that finished 15th had the highest wage bill in the championship. I still say 15th is piss poor , compare us to Crewe and we only managed to finish 7 points better off than them and they had to sell there best player in January.
The Man With The Golden Grahams Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 welcome TMWTGG some excellent first few posts. however didn't Levein say our wage budget for next season would be in the top 4 of the championship? 105454[/snapback] Greetings I'd not read that does this mean I get evicted? Hmmm, well anyway, there's no doubt that there were a few turkeys in our squad earlier this season (overpaid turkeys). Next season we'll be paying less than this season but it will be interesting to see if we have the financial muscle to attract the players we need. If I was Levein then I'd be after a striker and a right winger (and a keeper of course). I've not heard anything about that Sturm fella lately. Is that still going ahead?
step Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 If I was Levein then I'd be after a striker and a right winger (and a keeper of course). My sentiments exactly. most importantly we need a striker
Sam Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 Considering that we were meant to be going straight up I would say it has been a dissappointing season but with the departure of Micky midway through the season I can't say I'm surprised at the finish. It's never a good thing when a manager who the players should know well enough,even if most the team were new asetts, leaves and then a manager completely inexperienced in England joins the club and it's a complete new set-up it's always heading for a bad ending. 15th isn't a bad position considering everything that's happened this season. Such as the old uncommited crap being bought in and then a new manager, new backroom staff.
The Man With The Golden Grahams Posted 9 May 2005 Posted 9 May 2005 To be honest I think appointing a new manager who had no previous experience in England was an excellent move by the board. If the new manager had been known to us then we'd already have formed our opinions of him based on his previous experience. Inevitably, this would have lead to some fans applauding the appointment, and others hating him for whatever reason. With Levein, none of us knew much, if anything, about him and so it was like starting again with a clean slate. I don't see any evidence that this is leading to "a bad ending" as you put it - a manager can only be judged on his signings. The verdict on this forum seems to be fairly unanimous - McCarthy, Maybury and Hughes are all excellent, young signings who will only get better. Only De Vries has been disappointing but come on - 3 good signings out of 4 isn't bad. And besides, De Vries may still come good. Remember earlier in the season when everyone was slagging off Connolly? He's come into form lately, and he's hit the post so many times we can only conclude that he's been very unlucky not to score another 5-10 goals this season. The future's bright. The future's blue.
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