Gap between Championship and League One

[dwayne]

How big is the gap now between the Championship and League One? And is it widening or getting smaller?

I notice that Millwall, Leeds and Norwich all seem to have had pretty good starts, of course, Leeds and Norwich are both big clubs even by Championship standards.

On the flip side, Scunthorpe are perennial strugglers, Peterborough came straight back down and Leicester are bottom at the moment.

I remember last time we went up the gap seemed huge and we really struggled, but I can't make up my mind if things have tightened up between the leagues now...

 

[sir albion]

Its getting a lot closer me thinks

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Scunny have very small resources compared to most clubs at that level. Leicester actually had a surprisingly good season last time around: it's only now that they've flunked, since Nigel Pearson bunked off to Hull. Peterborough were very much style over substance- they could get away with all out attack and being light in defence in League One, but were easily found out when they went up.

You need to have a good balance of attacking power and defensive nous, as well as money.

 

[olliwarne]

well i think there is near to no gap between the bottom of champship and top of league one ...but the first 6 are pretty class clubs ...but i think it is smaller than in 2003/4

 

[Simster]

At the moment there are several clubs at the top end of league one with the resources to adjust well to championship football, IMO:

Albion
Peterborough
Huddersfield
Southampton
Sheff Wed
And Charlton have the stadium, if not the team

This probably makes the gap smaller than what it will probably be when most of them have been promoted at the expense of teams like Scunny and Donny.

 

[dwayne]

Fair enough but Peterborough were rubbish last season....must admit I was suprised about that.

 

[sir albion]

Fair enough but Peterborough were rubbish last season....must admit I was suprised about that.

Thats because the amazing strikeforce is league 1 material and we all know you need proper strikers in the championship

 

[severnside gull]

I think most of Peterboro's problems last season eminated from the Boardroom and the relationship with the manager who, far from protecting his players from its influence, seemed to actively engage them in what became open warfare - a bit like Knight/Wilkins. Interestingly Ferguson seems to be creating similar issues now at PNE.

 

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

I don't think that it is a gap that is reasily measured. You can hoof your way out of Div 1 but it will inevitably lead to immediate return from the Championship. The two leagues seem to be different in their respective levels of passing and skill, although, on the evidence of this season, we are trying to bridge the gap. The likes of Sheff Wed may well do OK in Div 1but I very much dohbt they would stay in the Championship with the type of football they currently play.
Us by comparison are full of skillful players and we will, I have no doubt, grace the upper echelons of the Championship next season.

TNBA

TTF

 

[perth seagull]

League One was much stronger last season with teams like Norwich, Leeds, Millwall, Swindon, Huddersfield, Southampton, etc compared to the squads this season, so the gap between League One and the Championship appears to be smaller than usual, but if we were promoted it will be a colossal struggle as in our last three seasons up there.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I actuall want both Palace or Pompey to STAY in the Championship and struggle, rather than get relegated and have the chance to rebuild in League One.

If you're financially strapped it's almost impossible to rebuild a club in the Championship because of player contracts and wages. Leeds are an example of a club on the way up who have leapfrogged clubs like Sheff Utd, Palace, Boro, Cov and Derby who have stagnated in the Championship.

It would be no surprise if a Leeds or Norwich either got promoted or made the Play-off Finals this season.

 

[clippedgull]

League One was much stronger last season with teams like Norwich, Leeds, Millwall, Swindon, Huddersfield, Southampton, etc compared to the squads this season, so the gap between League One and the Championship appears to be smaller than usual, but if we were promoted it will be a colossal struggle as in our last three seasons up there.

I dont agree that it will be a colossal struggle.

For a start we will have a better income stream from Falmer, guaranteed £6 million plus from our share of TV rights, and other bits and bobs.

Last time, we were handicapped by our tenure and low income at Withdean.

We will need to improve the squad, of that there in no doubt, but I can see us comfortable at mid table in our first season back in the Championship.