If we dont go up

[Icy Gull]

We are the best team in a division of relatively poor teams; .

Don't agree with that. We've had the rub of the green in a lot of matches this season and were 2nd best by some distance to Bournemouth and Brentford. Even when SC was here we scored goals but did not look a good side. Maybe against QPR and Rushden but that's it.

Look at how many points separate 1st and about 17th, it's not many. We are an ordinary team in a poor division.

 

[Josky]

Look at how many points separate 1st and about 17 . We are an ordinary team in a poor division.

But we know we are capable of staying in the first if we got there even without Bobby - just like our performances at the end of last season. With a good manager and our fighting spirit, we can get out of this division and survive in the first until Falmer.

Why not? Why not be ambitious?

 

[BrightonBird]

Good idea, but we're not going to get First Division players if we're knocking around in the second. Good players will be willing to come to lower First division clubs but second division - maybe not?

How many prem/first division quality players are going to be willing to come to second div clubs especially on a Bosman?

Good point, but they are not going to want to come to a bad division one side. If I was a player in a side where I wasn't getting in, I would be prepared to drop a division if I knew that it was very likely the side would go up that year. And also if one good player goes to a side, others would follow. Eaxmple I can think of is Dicov (leicester), Pierce (City) and possibly Goater (Reading)

 

[Rougvie]

I think Josky has made some very valid points.

From a purely financial point of view the revenue available from TV and endorsements in the First Division is far greater than in the Second, we are also quite fortunate that as wage bills are decreasing in the first division, we would not have to increase ours by much if we were (are) to be promoted this season.

We forget that we DO have several players Kuipers/Danny/Leon/Hart/Hinshey that are definately of first division standard and with a few additions we can easily compete with the likes of Rotherham/Franchise/Bradford/Wallsal and the clubs that will go up with us, better to be in there than not at all, even if we are mid table or relegation candidates.

I personally dont see the point in standing still just because we dont have a ground or we are in danger of going backwards.
Just because you have a nice shiney new ground doesnt give you a god given right to progress if god forbid we are still in the second div when Falmer is built.

No, for me I would rather keep progressing on the football pitch as at the end of the day that is the product we must sell in order for revenue to increase and so Falmer can be the arena we want it to be, with a great team that thousands want to watch, and our city can be proud of.

I for one just will never be content to be standing still

 

[albiongirl]

Like the rest of the posters on here I have to agree it will be disappointing if we don't go up but the squad as it is now wouldn't cope in Div1.

 

[BrightonBird]

wow it's Friday and we are having a civilised debate with no arguments! I am impressed!

So Rougvie and Josky would you rather:

a) Go up to division 1 only to return the following season

or

b) Stay in division 2 for a couple of seasons to build the team and then go up to division 1 and stay there for 2 or more seasons.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I'd much rather we're in the First Division even if that means we struggle until we get Falmer. It's an achievable goal if we have the right man at the helm. That's why I was so disappointed when Coppell left because you know he'd have taken us up and kept us in the First on a very tight budget. This group of players, augmented with a few signings, are capable of playing in the first division, we've all seen that. There's no reason why they can't do it again and stay there until we reach the promised land of Falmer.

Also, from a purely selfish point of view, it's just much better in the First: going to proper stadiums, reading about the matches in the press: just much higher profiled after all the years of doom and gloom.

 

[Josky]

I remember at the start of the season after we got promoted from the Third. I thought we were going to really struggle in the second as it was a good divison that year. I was so surprised to be near the top, but the football was good and we were riding on a tide of good form. I didn't even think about the First division until we actually got promoted.

THEN, I thought we would be slaughtered in the First. The previous year we had some good luck, great morale but we needed more than that in the first. And I was right for the first 14 odd games until Coppell came in. But once we saw we had a manager who could inspire a team of achievers and stay in the First, I got used to the idea that we could stay there.

No team in Division one was better than us when we were playing as well as we did over the last few months of last season. We need to be in the First. Let's worry about staying there when we're there. DK knows what we need to do - he'll support the team, financially etc AND ensure we don't break the bank.

We need First Division football for our fan base and to get those little gloryhunting sods we see in ManU/Chelsea/Arsenal shirts on a Saturday afternoon around Brighton to spend their money on the Albion.

Also, if the league is going to be reformed as regional divisions, it is imperative we are strong in Division One so we can even contemplate forming part of the Premier league two.

Let's move forward, not stagnate. Any manager will tell you in any case, fourth from bottom in Division One is always better than Division Two.

 

[Josky]

wow it's Friday and we are having a civilised debate with no arguments! I am impressed!

So Rougvie and Josky would you rather:

a) Go up to division 1 only to return the following season

or

b) Stay in division 2 for a couple of seasons to build the team and then go up to division 1 and stay there for 2 or more seasons.

Your premise is that we haven't learnt from our mistakes in the last Div One season.

If we went up I am positive we could stay up with the right manager.
Build what team in division two? I'd rather build a team to stay in Division One than one to consolidate in Division Two. Better division, better players, better football.

Even if we do go up and come back down, it will still be achieving more than two seasons in division two.

 

[Rougvie]

Good point, but they are not going to want to come to a bad division one side. If I was a player in a side where I wasn't getting in, I would be prepared to drop a division if I knew that it was very likely the side would go up that year. And also if one good player goes to a side, others would follow. Eaxmple I can think of is Dicov (leicester), Pierce (City) and possibly Goater (Reading)

Totally disagree.

A lot of players these days come for the money, especially towards the end of their careers.

And a lot come on loan because they know the only way they may avoid being released is to prove that they may have something to offer, only a small percentage go because they think it is going to lead to something permanent, especially those who play in the Priemership.

If a club like ours uses the one-off payments that Sky offer for televised games in the latter part of the season, this money can be used to bring in loan players, which we may not be able to afford otherwise. Clubs like Rotherham have used the system to survive for years in Div One, it aint rocket science and we are lucky not to have the debt that other Div One clubs have either.

With a big ground there is big expectations, if we were still in Div 2 when it opened imagine the pressure on us to get out of there, it may even turn into a Wolves/Premiership scenario which all boiled down to pressure and expectation every year.

We CAN be a steady Div1 club under DK's leadership even at Withdean

 

[BrightonBird]

Your premise is that we haven't learnt from our mistakes in the last Div One season.

If we went up I am positive we could stay up with the right manager.
Build what team in division two? I'd rather build a team to stay in Division One than one to consolidate in Division Two. Better division, better players, better football.

Even if we do go up and come back down, it will still be achieving more than two seasons in division two.

It all depends on the manager then. We won't learn from our mistakes if we don't get the right man in. We realistically need someone who knows the type of play (as it differs a lot from 1 and 2 - this has been one of our problems in division 2 this year).

I personally would like us to stay in division 2 for 1 extra season instead of yo-yo'ing between the 2. However, if you are right and we do stay in division 1, then I will glady be proved wrong and will buy you a nice cold for being right!

 

[Citrus]

It would be very dissapointing...

 

[Josky]

I personally would like us to stay in division 2 for 1 extra season instead of yo-yo'ing between the 2. However, if you are right and we do stay in division 1, then I will glady be proved wrong and will buy you a nice cold for being right!

Like I said, I was nervous when we went up that we would be the laughing stock of Division One. But when Coppell came and we played the way we did in the last half of the season, it was absolutely wonderful. I looked at the team and thought 'we should be here - we belong in Division one!'

If we go up and stay in division one goddamn, I'll buy everyone a drink and as many as you want BB!

 

[Rougvie]

You better make that two

I see your points BB, because I know that you want the best for the club and are lucky to be able to look at things for the long term good of our club.

However I am sticking to my guns, I want to see us go up, stay up, and be there until Falmer.

I think it is acheiveable for the reasons I have posted earlier

 

[BrightonBird]

We do deserve to be in division 1. Is there any where we can find out which club has the biggest and smallest catchment area. I am sure we would be quite high. Only team in Sussex, nearest team a couple hours drive.

 

[Exiled in Exeter]

No. It would be a disappointment but by no means a disaster. We can't compete in the first division anyway.

Couldn’t put it any better than that.