[Albion] Mid-table mediocrity.

[Commander]

It’s extremely frustrating that a legitimate European challenge was derailed by two periods of woeful form, but mid table mediocrity is far better than a relegation battle, that’s a given


I know it will be the same for everyone but I do wonder if the break for the Qatar WC will have a negative aspect for us?

I think that shows it wasn't a legitimate European challenge. We don't have (many) players that are capable of performing to that level consistently throughout the season. The ones that do then generate interest from the top 6, so won't hang about for long. A top 10 finish would be an amazing achievement by Potter / Bloom / Barber. I doubt we'll manage it this year, but we might next year.

 

[chaileyjem]

If only there was a DULLARD who could answer that very question. For a start, though, don't we have an in-squad salary cap whereas they might have a few big earners and lots on smaller money? The thought being, in our favour, that squad morale is better without one or two really big earners in an average squad?

We might have bigger other outgoings as well. PB's salary, upkeep of the magnificent Amex / Lancing, top level women's team?

It’s jumped about a bit (last published year he took a cut) but Steve Parish earns a comparable if not more ££ than PB over last 5 years

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I think that shows it wasn't a legitimate European challenge. We don't have (many) players that are capable of performing to that level consistently throughout the season. The ones that do then generate interest from the top 6, so won't hang about for long. A top 10 finish would be an amazing achievement by Potter / Bloom / Barber. I doubt we'll manage it this year, but we might next year.

Yeh. All the teams around us have had good spells and bad runs, as has every team who has ever finished mid table.

We're not a million miles off being a team who can challenge for Europe, but we'd have to find a way to improve our attempts to goals ratio quite significantly

 

[Arthur]

Our first season since the first one at the Amex that we haven’t been involved in either relegation or promotion fights.

It’s great, isn’t it.

Nope, its dull dull dull. Like every season has been since we've been in the "best league in the world".

Fulham, West Brom and Norwich seem to have yo-yoing between leagues nailed down I'd much rather we did that than just pottering along in mid table.

Championship is a much more competitive league, more games, no VAR and we've a chance of winning regularly.

Man Utd and West Ham to come. Zero points is a very realistic proposition which will mean we'll end the season not having won at home since Boxing Day. That is far from great IMO!

 

[chaileyjem]

Don't want to upset the DULLARD but his rival for football business long threads looking at PL clubs accounts is SwissRamble. Their in depth thread looking at Palace from 2021 (they are normally rather tardy with publishing their annual accounts so 2022 isn't with us just yet) will be useful context for those thinking about mid table costs, wages, income, transfer fees and revenue and how we compare.
https://twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/1420636977855148034.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Mid table maybe. Mediocrity definitely not. Some of our results outstanding, some of our football sublime.

Spot on, of course, some will have only seen the negatives, or be led by home results.

The big picture says the boys have done well'.

And long may it continue, we're the mid-table boys, ole,ole,ole..................

 

[chaileyjem]

Nope, its dull dull dull. Like every season has been since we've been in the "best league in the world".

Fulham, West Brom and Norwich seem to have yo-yoing between leagues nailed down I'd much rather we did that than just pottering along in mid table.

Championship is a much more competitive league, more games, no VAR and we've a chance of winning regularly.

Or Stoke (12th), Boro (8th - mid table mediocrity for them again, Cardiff City (19th), Swansea (14th), Hull (18th) etc who show little sign of getting promoted year after year after year and instead are starting to flirt with L1.

 

[Arthur]

Or Stoke (12th), Boro (8th - mid table mediocrity for them again, Cardiff City (19th), Swansea (14th), Hull (18th) etc who show little sign of getting promoted year after year after year and instead are starting to flirt with L1.

Even better. Let's stay in the Championship or get relegated to the third division.....it'll be more enjoyable.

 

[chaileyjem]

Even better. Let's stay in the Championship or get relegated to the third division.....it'll be more enjoyable.

I've watched Albion since 1973. I've had enough years in the third division thanks very much ! So i'm afraid i don't agree. If you'd rather have trips to Burton, Morecambe and Shrewsbury every week rather than Palace, Spurs and West Ham then fair enough !!

 

[Arthur]

I've watched Albion since 1973. I've had enough years in the third division thanks very much ! So i'm afraid i don't agree. If you'd rather have trips to Burton, Morecambe and Shrewsbury every week rather than Palace, Spurs and West Ham then fair enough !!

You've perfectly summed up why we need to be out of of this league. You've picked out three of the worst away days in the league.

Palace - shithole but at least it's got a bit of character, Spurs nice ground but shite away day, West Ham awful ground guess it's okay for a drink in Hackney Wick.

I've only been going since the late 80s and we've always jumped around the leagues, it's what we do. It's what got me hooked. Now it's just boring, which is why the atmosphere at home is so poor.....everyone is bored!

Couple of Saturday's ago I went out with a pal who is also a season ticket holder for a beer. We were at Arsenal. He commented to me 10-15-20 years ago we wouldn't have dreamed of missing an away game in London now neither of us even bothered to try and get a ticket for it. Back then we would have been playing the likes of Orient and Barnet.

3 of our group aren't renewing their season tickets next year. If I bought mine annually then it would have been 4.

So Burton, Morecambe and Shrewsbury.....YES PLEASE!

 

[chaileyjem]

So Burton, Morecambe and Shrewsbury.....YES PLEASE!

In the cup or pre season maybe but every week - then not for me. I like playing Man City and Liverpool and Palace and even beating them from time to time. I like watching world class players. Next year will be 10 years in the top flight for Albion out of the 50 or so i've supported them. Can understand why others crave an awayday at Crawley but sorry i'd like a lot more than 10 before i get even older.

 

[lawros left foot]

Nope, its dull dull dull. Like every season has been since we've been in the "best league in the world".

Fulham, West Brom and Norwich seem to have yo-yoing between leagues nailed down I'd much rather we did that than just pottering along in mid table.

Championship is a much more competitive league, more games, no VAR and we've a chance of winning regularly.

Man Utd and West Ham to come. Zero points is a very realistic proposition which will mean we'll end the season not having won at home since Boxing Day. That is far from great IMO!

Go and support Pompey #twats then.
I don’t understand this attitude, okay, football is relative in regards to the game, seen some absolute corking games in all 4 divisions, but, I’ve also seen some dross, and I loved the Championship years, it’s the most competitive league . But, I like us being up against the best in the country, it’s such a great feeling when we beat a City, or a Liverpool or Spurs or Arsenal or Manchester United.I’m not saying that the away days are better, but just the chance to beat the ‘big clubs’is worth it.

 

[giveusfalmerplease]

And some of them awful, hence the mid table mediocrity.

It is really nice to be where we are in the table and not be worried about relegation or having to qualify for Europe though. In many ways already planning for next season. And I do have to say our performance against Spurs was the best I've seen from an Albion team since we beat Man City at home, which was the best performance I've ever seen from a team in the stripes. But let's not airbrush over Burnely or some of our awful finishing.

dont count your chickens just yet.. everton still have 18 points to play for and we need two more wins to be absolutely safe, though in all likelihood one more point and then we can relax

 

[Arthur]

Go and support Pompey #twats then.
I don’t understand this attitude, okay, football is relative in regards to the game, seen some absolute corking games in all 4 divisions, but, I’ve also seen some dross, and I loved the Championship years, it’s the most competitive league . But, I like us being up against the best in the country, it’s such a great feeling when we beat a City, or a Liverpool or Spurs or Arsenal or Manchester United.I’m not saying that the away days are better, but just the chance to beat the ‘big clubs’is worth it.

Why would I go and support Pompey? I'm a Brighton fan. I would however probably go and do a lot more non league.

I said before we got to the premiership that I'd like to do it for a season and that was it. That opinion hasn't changed and I've confirmed my suspicions that it's a crap league to be in for a fan. You go the same places year in year out and they are pretty much all soulless clones of one another full of day trippers and tourists (and I include the Amex in that). Brentford was a new ground for me this year but that was because it is a new ground. As it stands I won't have any new grounds next year. Whack on the top of that we are just competing to stay in the league and it's very dull. That's before you mention VAR and all the daft kick off times. I'd rather be in the fourth division, at least we'd know we'd be playing Saturday 3pm.

Why not focus on one of the cups? Why didn't we go for it in January and try for a European spot? At least try and break up the monotony.

 

[Guinness Boy]

dont count your chickens just yet.. everton still have 18 points to play for and we need two more wins to be absolutely safe, though in all likelihood one more point and then we can relax

Which would be slightly relevant if we were the next team above Everton, but half the table have to do significantly better than us over 4 or 5 games for us to be dragged in to relegation now.

Enjoy the mediocrity!

 

[Lever]

Our first season since the first one at the Amex that we haven’t been involved in either relegation or promotion fights.

It’s great, isn’t it.

It's a great relief; I feel like stress has been intermittently on us for years.... and it has!

More mid table mediocrity (or perhaps a bit better) for the next few years please!

 

[Richy_Seagull]

dont count your chickens just yet.. everton still have 18 points to play for and we need two more wins to be absolutely safe, though in all likelihood one more point and then we can relax

4500-1 at bet365. Get on while you've got the chance

 

[Jim in the West]

Why would I go and support Pompey? I'm a Brighton fan. I would however probably go and do a lot more non league.

I said before we got to the premiership that I'd like to do it for a season and that was it. That opinion hasn't changed and I've confirmed my suspicions that it's a crap league to be in for a fan. You go the same places year in year out and they are pretty much all soulless clones of one another full of day trippers and tourists (and I include the Amex in that). Brentford was a new ground for me this year but that was because it is a new ground. As it stands I won't have any new grounds next year. Whack on the top of that we are just competing to stay in the league and it's very dull. That's before you mention VAR and all the daft kick off times. I'd rather be in the fourth division, at least we'd know we'd be playing Saturday 3pm.

Why not focus on one of the cups? Why didn't we go for it in January and try for a European spot? At least try and break up the monotony.

I'm looking forward to Fulham next season - not exactly a new ground, but will be pretty impressive with the new stand. Also - it's always a good Awayday. And there are some excellent other Awaydays in the Premier League - Anfield is iconic, Leeds, Palace and Villa Park are old-school, traditional. Spurs is an amazing ground. I love St James' Park, and the buzz of a city centre ground. There have been some great moments this year (admittedly most of them away from home....although one of my faves was Webster's equaliser against Chelsea). The quality of the football is sometimes astonishing. I agree that some kick-off times can be annoying, but the vast majority of games are played at a weekend, whereas in the lower leagues there are countless Tuesday/Wednesday night affairs which can be a bloody pain. I just checked Bournemouth's fixtures this season - 18 non-Saturday matches (40% of their fixtures). We'll have 16 non-Saturday games, which is 42% of our fixtures - virtually no difference.

 

[Weststander]

How do Palace manage to do that ? I can’t see their income matching ours. It can only be player sales presumably although I don’t really follow the comings and goings at the small teams.

- their income varies from £7m to £10m more than ours, presumably from higher league placings.

- they banked the Wan-Bissaka £50m, which turned a huge loss into a profit. [This was more than two years before White’s £50m sale].

So greater broadcasting income and that player sale together funding annual payroll costs 30% greater than ours in 2019/20 for example (£133m compared to our £103m).

 

[maltaseagull]

And some of them awful, hence the mid table mediocrity.

It is really nice to be where we are in the table and not be worried about relegation or having to qualify for Europe though. In many ways already planning for next season. And I do have to say our performance against Spurs was the best I've seen from an Albion team since we beat Man City at home, which was the best performance I've ever seen from a team in the stripes. But let's not airbrush over Burnely or some of our awful finishing.

Before the start of the season there was a thread about what we wished for.
I wanted to be looking up the table from March and not over our shoulders.
Pretty much granted.