Archiestephens_elbow
Well-known member
Near the top but going to fall short before smashing it next time?
Is this season like 14/15
- Thread starter Archiestephens_elbow
- Start date
We kept our key players after 14/15 and built on it with Downing, Nugent and Stuani initially and then Ramirez and Rhodes during the season.
I just don't see that happening this time.
It feels we are certain to lose Hackney this time round and we don't seem to go for proven players any more. It's not "the model".
Humpty
Well-known member
In a word, no. If we fall short this time, we aren't smashing it next season.
viv_andersons_nana
Well-known member
How on earth can you be so sure?
People said exactly this sort of thing in 2015 too. “We will never have a better chance,” etc. It’s the same every year.
WilliamMunny
Well-known member
I think we still have a great chance of going up, either automatically or via the playoffs.
However, if we fall short it will be mainly down to our inability to convert chances/dominance. I reckon Hellberg can organise a team to dominate/create regardless of personnel (up to a point of course) but he needs reliable finishers and we don't currently have those. If we don't go up we will need to spend the Hackney proceeds and potential Rogers windfall wisely, but if we can recruit a couple of forwards who know where the back of the net is, I could see us being 90+ points next season.
However, if we fall short it will be mainly down to our inability to convert chances/dominance. I reckon Hellberg can organise a team to dominate/create regardless of personnel (up to a point of course) but he needs reliable finishers and we don't currently have those. If we don't go up we will need to spend the Hackney proceeds and potential Rogers windfall wisely, but if we can recruit a couple of forwards who know where the back of the net is, I could see us being 90+ points next season.
Alzi
Well-known member
We miss the leadership and mentality that squad had sadly. Dimi, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Clayton, Leadbitter, Adomah etc. Really felt like we were building even after that playoff defeat.
This squad crumbles under pressure. It was there for the taking after Sheff Utd. Hopefully I'm proven wrong but it doesn't feel we are on the up any time soon.
This squad crumbles under pressure. It was there for the taking after Sheff Utd. Hopefully I'm proven wrong but it doesn't feel we are on the up any time soon.
RobboTheRed
Well-known member
I tend to agree. I can't see the club spending anymore than 10-15 m even with the Hackney money and there's a huge clear out in forward areas plus Hackney to replace
viv_andersons_nana
Well-known member
I love these threads. There’s so many people who post reams of stuff like “no, we’ve no chance… we’re nowhere near it, X, Y and Z is sh*t,” etc but then chuck a little “hopefully they prove me wrong,” on the end.
Humpty
Well-known member
Take your pick..
1. We lose our prize assets and have to rebuild. Including the best player in the league.
2. Wolves, Burnley and Forest/West Ham/Spurs come down and blow us out the water in terms of spending. It's proven that wages expended correlates with league finish.
3. Teams like Wrexham and Birmingham will out spend us too. Sheff United will also be stronger.
WilliamMunny
Well-known member
We might need £10m to £15m from transfers to balance the books, but if we get £25m from Hackney, £10m+ from Rogers and offload a few others for c.£5m, we could easily have £25m+ to spend this summer (all assuming we do not get promoted).
PensionerCorner
Well-known member
Elsewhere I read about how Southampton can still possibly finish second.
Here, the season is over.
A little optimism wouldn't go a miss.
Here, the season is over.
A little optimism wouldn't go a miss.
Humpty
Well-known member
Obviously. We all want Boro to be successful. Doesn't stop (most of us) from being objective.
WilliamMunny
Well-known member
I didn't realise Coventry had the biggest wage bill in the Championship.
Alzi
Well-known member
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, not sure why you need to have a pop when it differs from yours?
A more constructive discussion might be better than sly little digs. Just my opinion of course, hopefully you prove me wrong.
Humpty
Well-known member
They don't.
viv_andersons_nana
Well-known member
In 2015 we lost Patrick Bamford, who scored 19 goals in 2014/15.
People say the same about the relegated teams every year. They can spend more than us but will they spend it well. You don’t know. Looking at the state of what those clubs in the league above have blasted hundreds of millions on over the past 2-3 years, you wouldn’t trust them to spend it all well would you.
We are better than both Wrexham and Birmingham. We will spend too.
The defeatism on here is absolutely spirit-crushing, I have to say. I don’t think I can read much more of it tbh.
viv_andersons_nana
Well-known member
I didn’t mention anybody by name. The whole forum is full of it. It has been for weeks.
WilliamMunny
Well-known member
Ah ok, then it must have been Ipswich 2 years ago with the top 2 wage bill.
ForssAwakens
Well-known member
I’d be very confident if we don’t go up this year an we recruit to hellberg needs we’ll go up automatically next year
Alzi
Well-known member
I don't think it's too controversial for people to remember the 14/15 team fondly with the benefit of hindsight.
We might remember this team in a similar way. We might not. People can discuss and have an opinion about it. Would be a pretty boring message board if there wasn't a range of views.