The least exciting promotion we’ve ever had? 😂 A bit tongue in cheek but after we’ve almost certainly sealed the deal last night, I’m trying to contrast my emotions this time with going up under Pearson in 2013.
Usually when getting promoted from the championship you’re thinking about the players we might sign, the prospect of getting a result against one of the big clubs, how your style of play will fit in, new players testing themselves against the best
This time though it all feels very different. Not only have we been here very recently (with many of the same players), but we’re in line for what could well be a s much as a 10 point deduction (given the scale of breach and legal action the club have taken) plus the fact, due to the clubs reckless spending previously - we have very little room to manoeuvre in the transfer market
Players are also coming to the end of their contracts - Iheanacho and Ndidi are very likely to go with possible loan deals to replace them due to the financial situation. Even without the points deduction - I don’t think Maresca has really answered his doubters on style of play, in particular the defending which could be woefully exposed in the PL
So how do you guys feel? My overriding emotion would be relief. Whatever happens we’re now in a cycle of sanctions from the PL and then EFL when we eventually return to the championship. This is just the least painful route and actually gives the club a chance to try and rebuild what it threw away so carelessly. Let’s hope they start doing that
Could this be….
posted 3 weeks ago
Where to even start 99.
I’ll tell you where. I’m actually resigned to getting relegated next year and anything else will be a bonus. Now that might sound negative and depressing but it’s not, I actually think we need to operate under the constraints we’re given and get ourselves financial stable and able to compete again.
Anything more will be a bonus.
However it all totally depends on what happens with FSR and FFP. Are they going to scrap the rules to protect the big boys and let them spend spends spend or are they going to remain and stuff us for another season?
My biggest fear is that we have to operate on a transfer embargo as that stops the important task of refreshing the squad like we need to. Players like those you’ve mentioned need to move on and our recruitment will be more important than ever as we return to finding rough diamonds in Europe and honing them. But if we can’t do this and our squad just gets depleted with no incoming players Enzo’s system is destined for bad failure.
There have been some chinks of light in the last 2 games where Maresca looks to have introduced some variation to our play. If this contributes and we can bring players in I’ll hope for survival next year.
But in the main I think you’re right, I’m going into next season expecting relegation and that’s quite depressing when you think about it. But we need this promotion and we need to get through the financial turbulence we’re in so we can build back. That might take 3-5 years realistically.
All we could have asked from this season is to get promotion and barring a disaster we should achieve that. So we couldn’t ask for more really. This season has been a success and we’ve got most things right in starting to our right all the wrongs of the last 2 years. Let’s keep putting them right.
posted 3 weeks ago
Yeah some good stuff there Mersey - we’re going to have to stop agreeing - don’t worry I’ll find a way!
I think the only thing I would stress is for me it’s going to take more than promotion (which I think was a very realistic possibility this season) to evidence that the club are righting the wrongs so to speak. I’m not convinced - even if Enzo wins the championship - that he is the right manager for us in the PL.
Im also very uneasy that Rudkin is still at the helm. It demonstrates to me that the club aren’t necessarily learning. Rudkin is a real risk because he insists on appointing managers who play exactly as Enzo does. Puel was his recommendation to Vichai. Rodgers was his man. Maresca very much so. I think it’s the wrong vision for our club at our current level
So for me the jury is still out when it comes to Top and the board and whether they can rebuild the building they set on fire. It could take a very long time
posted 2 weeks, 6 days ago
The pictures of Top celebrating on Tuesday. were an absolute joy to see; He is clearly totally invested in seeing success for our club; Rudders' stony faced miserable outlook was a complete contrast- I'm hoping against hope that this is because Top has told him he's being fired at the end of the season.
I'm heartened somewhat by the last couple of performances, it has shown seemingly that Enzo is prepared to change his possession at all costs approach; given what he has said previously it's inconceivable that Mads would have adopted the longball approach to goal kicks without Enzo's approval (cue Jakub in goal for Monday with Hermansen consigned to bench warming duties as punishment ).
There is little doubt that we will be facing a really tough season next year if we are promoted (I'm not ruling out at all that we could yet c*ck it up with two losses, given our atrocious performances in the last few away games against so called inferior opposition - c'mon QPR!). Assuming that we do stumble over the line we seem maybe to be able to compete against better quality teams, although the squad situation may prevent a successful attempt to overcome the swingeing points deduction heading our way, we may have to lose our better players in an early fire sale before the end of June, and the combination of that with any ongoing transfer embargo together with the loss of players who have been allowed by appalling mismanagement to run down their contracts could have a devastating affect on the squad. Still, it's the hope that kills you!
posted 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Strong agreement between us all here - dangerous!
I think the two exciting things that give us hope are the change in Enzo’s playing style to include variation in the last two games. It shows that he could maybe adapt in the Prem and allay the major concerns we all had around his rigid possession only football at all costs. Hope.
Secondly there seems to be lovely in the way that they’ll be handling FFP going forward. If they are looking to change things we have a stronger case to appeal any disproportionate punishment handed to us. Hope.
But the hope kills you like Nuneaton says. So I’ll just continue to assume instant relegation!
What will be critical if we go up is that we’re not under a transfer embargo. Does anyone know if this is something that will be imposed in the prem? I feel like a Everton had some weird embargo but still signed some players? I honestly don’t know but I think if we can’t adjust the squad in the summer we’ve had it!
posted 2 weeks, 6 days ago
My understanding is that under the current rules any embargo imposed by the EFL would be lifted once the club registers as a premier league club.
That doesn’t stop the PL and the EFL working together to impose something next season. What has angered both of them is the loophole Leicester are exploiting where sanctions cannot be imposed for breaching the rules of one league while being in the other. It’s that loophole that has allowed Leicester to avoid a points deduction for last season which almost certainly would have seen fail to get automatic
Additionally promotion to the PL now means we can breach the EFL PSR rules for the 3 year cycle and they can’t do anything
So basically I can see them breaking the mould for Leicester and carrying an embargo through until the club produces a business plan which involves selling players off to stay within the rules. Plus a points deduction
In that respect Whelan, Top and Rudkin have really crippled us
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
If they manufacture something between them to try and punish Leicester they'd better have a really strong case for doing so as they will end up talking to the men in curly wigs.
It might make us disliked for exploiting the situation, but if it's permitted by the rules then they need to change their rules to stop it happening again.
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
comment by Nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 6 minutes ago
If they manufacture something between them to try and punish Leicester they'd better have a really strong case for doing so as they will end up talking to the men in curly wigs.
It might make us disliked for exploiting the situation, but if it's permitted by the rules then they need to change their rules to stop it happening again.
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I think that’s the crux of Leicesters argument. Doesn’t make it right of course. What we’ve done is plain wrong. It’s pretty much cheating - particularly this season when we’re forecasted to breach the EFLs rules by keeping a squad of highly paid players rather than selling them in order to get promotion. The gamble being that if it pays off we’ll be in the PL to avoid sanctions
It’s just plain wrong in my opinion and means when sanctions do catch up with us - they will be very harsh
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
If the rules allow it that's not cheating. It might be sharp practice, not playing the game, morally reprehensible etc but not cheating. If that's the case we may get away with it, all they'll be able to do is change the rules to stop it happening in future.
We'll see.
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
comment by Nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 22 minutes ago
If the rules allow it that's not cheating. It might be sharp practice, not playing the game, morally reprehensible etc but not cheating. If that's the case we may get away with it, all they'll be able to do is change the rules to stop it happening in future.
We'll see.
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From a sporting perspective it’s absolutely cheating. It’s exploiting a loophole to gain an unfair sporting advantage. While not illegal - it’s morally absolutely wrong and we’ll get away with nothing because breaching the EFL rules will mean another sanction when we get relegated from the PL
We are storing up a huge amount of trouble for ourselves by behaving the way we are