[Albion] Would a 17th placed finish in the Premier League next year constitute success?

Commander · Apr 28, 2019

And would you be happy with it?

It’s a tough one for me. At some point you have to try and push on, but all the time you stay in the Premier League, regardless of performances and results, you become more financially stable and more established, which should in theory help you move up in the long run.

But is just missing out on relegation in year 3 enough? I guess I’d begrudgingly accept it if you offered it to me now, but it would make for another unenjoyable season, and we are supposed to enjoy going to watch football, otherwise we wouldn’t spend thousands of pounds doing it every year.

Discuss.

LamieRobertson · Apr 28, 2019

Hang on we haven't finished this one...and yet you've already whistled through the next one....i'm going to start a thread for season 2024/2025 then...second thoughts I'll get on with the hoovering :moo:

Uh_huh_him · Apr 28, 2019

I think most of us would accept 17th place with an improvement in playing style.
I think everyone concedes that hanging on to Prem status by throwing bodies at shots for ever, is in nobody's best interests.

However I suspect many of those stating they would be happy with a few losses if it meant more entertainment, would be calling for the manager's head if it looked like we were going to be relegated, but playing attractive football..

BBassic · Apr 28, 2019

Uh_huh_him said:
I think most of us would accept 17th place with an improvement in playing style.
I think everyone concedes that hanging on to Prem status by throwing bodies at shots for ever, is in nobody's best interests.

However I suspect many of those stating they would be happy with a few losses if it meant more entertainment, would be calling for the manager's head if it looked like we were going to be relegated, but playing attractive football..

More or less this.

I don't mind losing or nicking a draw if I can see the players are putting a shift in which is why the first half yesterday left my piss boiling. It's the difference, I think, between us and Cardiff. They look like a team who want to avoid relegation. We look like a team hoping someone else will do the graft for us.

Is it PotG? · Apr 28, 2019

Ask TB what he fancies.

Triggaaar · Apr 28, 2019

Commander said:
Would a 17th placed finish in the Premier League next year constitute success?

If we stay up this year (not done yet), then getting relegated will obviously constitute failure.

Whether 17th would be a success or not would be down to how good other teams have been (the bottom 3 this year haven't been great), and how well we've played, whether we've had to change things due to injuries etc. So it depends.

Barham's tash · Apr 28, 2019

Yes. Our transfer spend and wage bill are both 19th out of 20 therefore 17th is punching.

Titanic · Apr 28, 2019

Calling [MENTION=34942]Dr. No[/MENTION]

studio150 · Apr 28, 2019

Uh_huh_him said:
I think everyone concedes that hanging on to Prem status by throwing bodies at shots for ever, is in nobody's best interests.

No, being defensively robust is the key to staying in the division.

Just listen to the Huddersfield manager's comments post the 5-0 defeat at Liverpool, he was pleased that they gave it a go, but who would be happy losing 5-0 each time we play City, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Utd, that a minus 60 goal difference and zero points before we play anyone else.

Also don't overlook that our superior goal difference to Cardiff is the reason why they effectively need two wins to have a chance of staying up.

What we probably need is more pace within the team, to enable us to counter attack more efficiently

goldstone · Apr 28, 2019

In my opinion, no, because I can't stand another season of one defeat after another and mostly dire football. I'd rather we were back in the Championship winning most games than yet another struggle in the Prem. For fans and spectators our football in the second half of this season has been nothing short of embarrassing.

Bladders · Apr 28, 2019

Commander said:
And would you be happy with it?

It’s a tough one for me. At some point you have to try and push on, but all the time you stay in the Premier League, regardless of performances and results, you become more financially stable and more established, which should in theory help you move up in the long run.

But is just missing out on relegation in year 3 enough? I guess I’d begrudgingly accept it if you offered it to me now, but it would make for another unenjoyable season, and we are supposed to enjoy going to watch football, otherwise we wouldn’t spend thousands of pounds doing it every year.

Discuss.

I go to be entertained, where we finish is where we finish, life goes on.

I just really do not want to watch the brand of football being served up week in week out that we're getting at the moment.

Moshe Gariani · Apr 28, 2019

Yes. Obviously.

There are only 10-12 football clubs in the UK resourced at a level to think otherwise.

timbha · Apr 28, 2019

goldstone said:
In my opinion, no, because I can't stand another season of one defeat after another and mostly dire football. I'd rather we were back in the Championship winning most games than yet another struggle in the Prem. For fans and spectators our football in the second half of this season has been nothing short of embarrassing.

And there’s the rub. What defines success? Staying in PL, winning games or being entertained ?

I know TBs definition.

Uh_huh_him · Apr 28, 2019

studio150 said:
No, being defensively robust is the key to staying in the division.

Just listen to the Huddersfield manager's comments post the 5-0 defeat at Liverpool, he was pleased that they gave it a go, but who would be happy losing 5-0 each time we play City, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Utd, that a minus 60 goal difference and zero points before we play anyone else.

Also don't overlook that our superior goal difference to Cardiff is the reason why they effectively need two wins to have a chance of staying up.

What we probably need is more pace within the team, to enable us to counter attack more efficiently

There's defensively robust and then there is the 10 men behind the ball for 90 minutes.
If that is all we are going to offer in the Premier league next season and the next until we eventually get relegated, then what is the point?
A robust defence should be the platform to build from. Not the sole tactic of the squad.

I agree that this season it has been a necessity, but that wasn't the question being asked by the OP.

Lush · Apr 28, 2019

I assume that TB and the board have a long term strategy.

The first two years in the Prem - stay up, don't spend too much money, don't take too many risks, get the finances on an even keel after years of being propped up by TB.

For all of this, Chris Hughton is the right man for the job. However he has a contract until 2021.

After two years of Premier League cash, I would like to think that for the third/fourth years he will be given the money to buy better players. Hopefully this will lead to more positive exciting football and a better placing in the league.

If he isn't capable of achieving this, I imagine the board will say "thanks for keeping us up Chris" and look elsewhere pretty sharpish, and certainly before relegation looks like a possibility.

That's what I think/hope anyway

Sorrel · Apr 28, 2019

If we stay up we will be both one of the favourites for relegation and the team that others in the league want to be relegated.

Is it PotG? · Apr 28, 2019

Will make a change from SbtS……..

Cozzy · Apr 28, 2019

Yes and no , if we finish 17th but play well and entertain more then a yes but on the other hand we want to see some sort of progression so a No because we should do better season on season not be the same.

Perkino · Apr 28, 2019

17th wouldn't be a success, but I'd settle for it as it will help us to build towards security.

Our 2nd half performance yesterday show exactly what we are capable of. If we perform like that in August then we could hope for a higher finish. A few extra wins would move us up the table drastically.

maltaseagull · Apr 28, 2019

studio150 said:
No, being defensively robust is the key to staying in the division.

Just listen to the Huddersfield manager's comments post the 5-0 defeat at Liverpool, he was pleased that they gave it a go, but who would be happy losing 5-0 each time we play City, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Utd, that a minus 60 goal difference and zero points before we play anyone else.

Also don't overlook that our superior goal difference to Cardiff is the reason why they effectively need two wins to have a chance of staying up.

What we probably need is more pace within the team, to enable us to counter attack more efficiently

Seeing as CH says in every pre match press conference how much quality there is in our upcoming opponents, I think we need some of that.

We desperately need 2 playmakers who can deliver a pass forwards accurately.
We have pace in some players but our front players were chasing lost causes at times yesterday due to overhit passes.

We also need 2 strikers.
Defensively I think we are ok unless a loan player comes up (like Bridge

)

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[Albion] Would a 17th placed finish in the Premier League next year constitute success?

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