So, the Championship season has started **Spoilers**
- Thread starter wesimmo
- Start date
I think the lack of investment during the January transfer window has cost us the title. I guess if we get automatic promotion the board/Ashley's gamble will have paid off; ultimately that's more important than a 'meaningless' trophy…
How much more money do you get for winning the Championship over coming second?
One thing is clear, we need a lot more depth and breadth in the squad if we're going to survive in the EPL next season (assuming we get promoted).
Come off it. You've probably got the most expensive Championship squad ever assembled, and it's definitely the strongest I've ever seen. The only thing that may have cost you the title is that BHA's squad is incredibly tight knit and they've pulled it out of the bag. As far as I know, the top two actually get very little in prize money seeing as they'll be reaping the rewards of being in the Premiership. Getting up is the most important thing for a team like Newcastle - I suppose you guys need to find something to moan about. The Arsenal of the Championship.
Newcastle should have walked this league but Brighton have been nothing short of superb all season long. Newcastle were heavy favourites about 3 weeks ago and said that was insane as Brighton have a better run in. No way they'll lose it now.
We got humped by Reading yesterday. Worries me that we haven't beaten a decent side this season yet. We did win away at Reading but failed to beat Newcastle, Leeds, Huddersfield etc and have Brighton on the final day.
We got humped by Reading yesterday. Worries me that we haven't beaten a decent side this season yet. We did win away at Reading but failed to beat Newcastle, Leeds, Huddersfield etc and have Brighton on the final day.
This.
Apologies in advance for the wall of text:
We had a net loss of £30m in terms of squad value over the close-season transfer window and then spent £0 in January. On paper, the squad may be great but the reality is anything but.
You only have to look at our dip in form when Gayle and Clark have been injured or when Shelvey was banned. Look at the Wednesday game and the Leeds game — loads of possession and plenty of shots but few goals and poor defending have cost us.
On paper Gouffran, Diamé, Colback, Mitrovic, Pérez, Anita and Atsu are all great and worth a pretty penny, but the fact is they're inconsistent at best and utter **** at worst.
The number of games where we've played poorly and still won is crazy. It's usually because we've fumbled the ball over the line or there's been a pinball in the box rather than a 'proper' strike. There have been very few decent performances all season even if we have got the results. There's also been plenty of teams who have punished us for our inconsistency.
That's what I thought, which is what I mean by the board not being fussed if we win the Championship, getting promoted is all that matters.
We're moaning because, as dazza says, we *should* have walked it but we've been too reliant on a couple of decent players and didn't strengthen the squad when we had the chance. Fair play to Brighton, they deserve the title but you can't blame Newcastle fans for being disappointed.
More worryingly for us, if we don't add some depth before next season, we're going to be straight back down again with the squad we've got.
We had a net loss of £30m in terms of squad value over the close-season transfer window and then spent £0 in January. On paper, the squad may be great but the reality is anything but.
You only have to look at our dip in form when Gayle and Clark have been injured or when Shelvey was banned. Look at the Wednesday game and the Leeds game — loads of possession and plenty of shots but few goals and poor defending have cost us.
On paper Gouffran, Diamé, Colback, Mitrovic, Pérez, Anita and Atsu are all great and worth a pretty penny, but the fact is they're inconsistent at best and utter **** at worst.
The number of games where we've played poorly and still won is crazy. It's usually because we've fumbled the ball over the line or there's been a pinball in the box rather than a 'proper' strike. There have been very few decent performances all season even if we have got the results. There's also been plenty of teams who have punished us for our inconsistency.
That's what I thought, which is what I mean by the board not being fussed if we win the Championship, getting promoted is all that matters.
We're moaning because, as dazza says, we *should* have walked it but we've been too reliant on a couple of decent players and didn't strengthen the squad when we had the chance. Fair play to Brighton, they deserve the title but you can't blame Newcastle fans for being disappointed.
More worryingly for us, if we don't add some depth before next season, we're going to be straight back down again with the squad we've got.
No team should do anything in this league. It's a massively competitive division where unexpected results aren't rare. It's wildly arrogant to believe you should get promoted simply because you're Newcastle. If, however, you think you should.get promoted because of your squad, then you're agreeing with the rest of us commenting that ypur squad is insane at this level.
There are so many teams who've come down into this league after several Premiership seasons and should have got immediately promoted, but most struggle. Norwich, Villa, etc. have both spent big this season but will miss out.
If I were a Newcastle fan I would simply be happy that after getting ****ed on last year, I've had a fun and successful season and witnessed an immediate return to the top flight. Complaining about not buying in a January window where there is little value whilst being in a commanding position to get promotion... it's nuts.
Good luck today. Bloom's astute gamble looks to have fully paid off
Barnsley kindly extended their Easter Monday ticket offer to away fans, so £10 entry today and my final Championship stadium to tick off.
Enjoy! Brighton thoroughly deserve it and have done it the 'right' way. I just hope we join you lot next season!
The reason we won't win the league is down to injuries to Gayle and Hayden. Without Gayle we have zero goal threat. That, and a number of individual errors from Darlow and Lascelles. Oh and the fact we have no left side at all. It's irrelevant anyway, tbf. We're already up barring a massive disaster and that's all that matters.
I'm genuinely embarrassed we won't win the league, but this idea it's the greatest squad to ever grace the Championship is way off, IMHO. We were a much better side last time around. Perez, Mitrovic, Lascelles, Diame, and Gouffran (unsurprisingly) have all underperformed greatly, and we've been carried by 4 players: Clark, Shelvey, Ritchie, and Gayle. Rafa has done wonders with this squad. It's been largely turgid but I'll take it.
I'm genuinely embarrassed we won't win the league, but this idea it's the greatest squad to ever grace the Championship is way off, IMHO. We were a much better side last time around. Perez, Mitrovic, Lascelles, Diame, and Gouffran (unsurprisingly) have all underperformed greatly, and we've been carried by 4 players: Clark, Shelvey, Ritchie, and Gayle. Rafa has done wonders with this squad. It's been largely turgid but I'll take it.