I think this is my only major disappointment overall on the season as a whole. Finishing just a little higher, and above Arsenal, would definitely have been a good selling point to potential new players. But at the end of the day, the money is speaking yet again as the season draws to a close. West Ham have dropped down, Leicester will be overtaken if the Dippers beat Burnley today and Everton have dropped off a cliff. Sickening in many ways and a very very difficult challenge for Smith to get us up to that level of top six.It's also made us less attractive to players especially those from abroad who will look at the table to see where we are as a club.
Deano must be a bit disappointed with things after the start we made if he's honest but he will front the progress line I expect as that keeps him in a job.
Yep, squad depth is crucial with multiple games a week. This season especially with COVID breaks and playing catch up. If we had played Man City out of the traps we may have caught them cold. Looking on the bright side, we've had a stress free season - the first one in how many years?I think this is my only major disappointment overall on the season as a whole. Finishing just a little higher, and above Arsenal, would definitely have been a good selling point to potential new players. But at the end of the day, the money is speaking yet again as the season draws to a close. West Ham have dropped down, Leicester will be overtaken if the Dippers beat Burnley today and Everton have dropped off a cliff. Sickening in many ways and a very very difficult challenge for Smith to get us up to that level of top six.
2015-16 according to Lescott.... Looking on the bright side, we've had a stress free season - the first one in how many years?
Sadly, this is 100% correct, and that all comes down to...... money. You only have to look at the league table from the turn of the year and compare to now. FFP has changed the landscape of English football permanently so that the rich keep getting richer and nobody can join "the club."Perhaps the lesson is that no matter how well you start, depth of squad counts over the season.
The fact we are "discussing" the merits of keeping or changing our manager, the form of some of our players, our mild disappointment at our post Xmas season - makes a change from2015-16 according to Lescott...
But in all seriousness, I cannot remember the last time we played so many games at the end of a season with no stress about relegation, promotion or trying to get into Europe.... it is a weird feeling...
Re league position, reckon other players would view 8th-12th as decent mid-table PL. Doubt if they are concerned with the precise position that much.
Reckon it's us and maybe Dean and the players that are disappointed we're not in the top half, especially when 8th at one point looked a reasonable call.
Perhaps the lesson is that no matter how well you start, depth of squad counts over the season.
Compare the stadiums and training facilities and I feel we blow Leeds out of the water.I think the concern is more so if we are directly competing against Leeds for a player. They are the only team where its going to be a coin flip if we compete. In general, I think we have little chance of competing with teams 9th+ and we probably edge out everyone below us. Between us and Leeds its 50/50 IMO.
Compare the stadiums and training facilities and I feel we blow Leeds out of the water.
Our players get Recaro luxury seats. They get an upturned bucket....And wages I'd think.
It's that fine line between stupid and brave..... but the one thing you can never level at Dean Smith is negative approach to keeping a lead.....Wonder what we'd be saying if we'd lost after Dean brought on two 17 year olds when under pressure from Spurs. Very brave of him I thought. Full marks, they didn't let us down. DS deserves the credit.