| Walking The Championship 10:19 - Feb 24 with 4450 views | SaffronWaldenBlues |
I don’t understand why the consensus is that we will walk the Championship next season, or that we’re lightyears ahead of Leicester and Southampton presently. Why do you think that?
Last season we did not walk our way to promotion, we fought, and battled, and while results elsewhere made our lives easier in the end, a couple of different results here or there could have condemned us to the Playoffs quite easily, however, we worked hard and got it over the line, which was in part due to Leeds not getting their act together at key moments during the season, despite having a team more than capable of promotion. It wasn’t a walk and we’re likely to return with the likes of Walton, Clarke, Burgess, Wolfenden, Burns, Morsy, Mass, Hirst, Taylor, Chaplin and Harness from that squad, all a year older, some improved, some frankly a touch too old for that push again. We can expect to lose key players after the drop too. They did exceptionally well, but will lightning strike twice with that group?
The players we have signed permanently largely played for our rivals that season, Delap, Philogene, Greaves for Hull, Clarke for Sunderland, Szmodics for Blackburn and now Palmer for West Brom. Three of the other permanent recruits came from relegated Burnley and Luton. Now I and others have argued that it was recruiting these Championship quality players that has been a key factor in the fact, while we haven’t entirely shamed ourselves, we haven’t really competed at this level either (and certainly not flourished). The assumption that players who were good players in teams trying to reach the Playoffs last season are an easy ticket back to promotion just seems a little naive to me, I would have thought as Ipswich supporters we’d know better than to assume we’re going straight back up.
Also, the idea that Leicester will suddenly drop off into nothing in the Championship when they have been largely as good/bad as we have this season, and that Southampton are going to struggle in the Championship either. Southampton have had 4 points off of us this season, and I’d have bet if their previous manager had been a bit more adaptive about the style of football being played they would have won a few more points than they have with the squad they have, Leicester have also had a point off us this season too, and we didn’t beat them last season either. I expect Leicester and Southampton to do just fine in the Championship, they have both been in the topflight for years and have had only one season out of it. West Brom, Middlesborough, Sunderland, Watford, Blackburn, Norwich and co. will generally always be competitive in the Championship.
This isn’t something we don’t already know, while in the past 2 seasons two of the relegated sides have gone straight back up (or so it seems this season), it’s far from a given that our squad will be too strong for the Championship, it should be decent, but we aren’t walking our way to another promotion. We need to be realistic. The Championship is unforgiving in other ways too.
Do you honestly think we’ll walk it? I think it will be a massive slog, and harder than it was last season because the expectations will be so much higher.
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| An East Anglian Town overtaken by Londoners |
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| Walking The Championship on 13:16 - Feb 24 with 984 views | billlm |
You may as well throw Birmingham in that mix will be top 6 next season,seen them a few times very impressed with them, |  | | |
| Walking The Championship on 14:02 - Feb 24 with 933 views | Illinoisblue |
| Walking The Championship on 13:16 - Feb 24 by billlm |
You may as well throw Birmingham in that mix will be top 6 next season,seen them a few times very impressed with them, |
They have momentum and money and as us with us, a feeling their club has been reborn. That energy can be powerful. Definitely one to watch. |  |
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| Walking The Championship on 14:03 - Feb 24 with 905 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Walking The Championship on 14:02 - Feb 24 by Illinoisblue |
They have momentum and money and as us with us, a feeling their club has been reborn. That energy can be powerful. Definitely one to watch. |
I think it'll be
Birmingham
Town
Sunderland
Blackburn
West Brom
leicester ( Points deduction ) |  |
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| Walking The Championship on 14:36 - Feb 24 with 887 views | Smoresy |
Surely you've have read what isn't there - I miss a lot of posts, but a consensus that we'll walk it?! Let's see your workings lol.
"Will lightning strike twice" is a disservice to players who earned 96 points last year for me, but the margins were wafer-thin at the summit. We were promoted with a good Championship defence, rather than a special one. We were very close to breaking records for goals conceded by a top two side. Central midfield needs work, and one of the big unknowns is how many further gaps will be created by departures. Another is the manager.
If we avoid serious upheaval in these departments, we should be too good for most of the division. Leeds, Leicester and Southampton were boringly better than almost everyone last year. Sheff Utd and Burnley are boringly better than almost everyone this year. These are the references because we've invested into becoming as strong as these teams. We've seen in performances that the gap has closed to our promotion buddies. Our starting position and subsequent approach are close to the antithesis of Luton's experience, who were a way off the top in the Championship and then didn't spend.
Even if we avoid summer chaos though, we all know automatic promotion is two slots. It would be no surprise if there's again more than two teams fighting at the top, again with a large gap to those hunting for the last one or two play-offs places. This would make promotion 50/50, far from a cakewalk.
How tenable is Leicester's financial position? How many points could they be hit with? Would it stick? Precedent indicates that CAS would ensure any deduction isn't too punitive, even if the EFL wins in court for a change. Southampton obviously aren't good enough for the PL but they have upgraded a squad that finished comfortably fourth last season. Both are obvious title contenders until they show otherwise. Leeds, Sheff Utd and Burnley all leaving would be a happy bonus. |  | | |
| Walking The Championship on 14:36 - Feb 24 with 884 views | OldFart71 |
I'd never be so bold as to say we'll walk it. But given that not many in the Championship seem capable of putting two wins together we shouldn't fear anyone and if Delap goes for a decent sum we will have quite a war chest to get what we need. Obviously there would have to be a long hard look at this seasons recruitment when gauging what is needed not just to get us in the mix for another promotion challenge, but also to sustain some sort of challenge in the Premier League where we can at least beat some of our lesser rivals. | | | |
| Walking The Championship on 14:44 - Feb 24 with 858 views | tractorboy1978 |
We basically signed a Championship dream team in the summer. It doesn't guarantee success of course but our squad next season would be light years ahead of the one which finished 2nd.
Looking at 2023/24 stats re our additions:
Palmer - most clean sheets in the league (18) - one of the best keepers in the league over the past 3 seasons
Szmodics - top scorer (27 goals)
Clarke - 15 goals, 4 assists
Philogene - 12 goals, 6 assists
Greaves - one of the best centre backs in the division
That's before considering Ogbene and O'Shea. Townsend is also a top 6 level full back if Davis goes. | | | |
| Walking The Championship on 14:46 - Feb 24 with 854 views | Illinoisblue |
| Walking The Championship on 14:44 - Feb 24 by tractorboy1978 |
We basically signed a Championship dream team in the summer. It doesn't guarantee success of course but our squad next season would be light years ahead of the one which finished 2nd.
Looking at 2023/24 stats re our additions:
Palmer - most clean sheets in the league (18) - one of the best keepers in the league over the past 3 seasons
Szmodics - top scorer (27 goals)
Clarke - 15 goals, 4 assists
Philogene - 12 goals, 6 assists
Greaves - one of the best centre backs in the division
That's before considering Ogbene and O'Shea. Townsend is also a top 6 level full back if Davis goes. |
Still need a midfield, though. | |
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| Walking The Championship on 15:03 - Feb 24 with 824 views | tonybied |
| Walking The Championship on 12:11 - Feb 24 by FrimleyBlue |
This why though IF KM is to go, he has to go at the end of season NOT anwhere near the player return dates from pre season or after.
We need a strong pre season, full of hope and confidence, we can't have weeks of speculation on who the manager is going to be when they get back from holiday. |
In reality, that's not going to be our choice though is it? We're not going to sack McKenna, if he goes it'll be because another Prem club comes calling. We can't control when they will pick up that phone. It may well be that we get to a couple of weeks before the start of the season before we are approached by another club wanting to take him off our hands, and we'll be in no place to refuse that move then if McKenna is happy with it and it meets our valuation. |  | | |
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| Walking The Championship on 15:07 - Feb 24 with 802 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Walking The Championship on 14:46 - Feb 24 by Illinoisblue |
Still need a midfield, though. |
Of course, but we will be shopping in a different market to the one we were shopping in during the summer of 2023. We won't be quibbling over a couple of hundred grand for Jack Taylor. I think we will spend £5m-£10m on a CM this summer even if we get relegated. | | | |
| Walking The Championship on 15:21 - Feb 24 with 768 views | Hipsterectomy |
We will have to get used to being the favourites, and the pressure from that, in almost every game again, as we were in league 1 under McKenna for most games.
We were definitely favourites in some games last season, but now with the weight of tens of millions of £ players in our squad and close to £100 mill in parachute money. |  |
| Walter Smith's Barmy Army |
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| Walking The Championship on 15:24 - Feb 24 with 756 views | Illinoisblue |
| Walking The Championship on 15:07 - Feb 24 by tractorboy1978 |
Of course, but we will be shopping in a different market to the one we were shopping in during the summer of 2023. We won't be quibbling over a couple of hundred grand for Jack Taylor. I think we will spend £5m-£10m on a CM this summer even if we get relegated. |
It’ll be time for Flynn to come back. Be amazed if that deal doesn’t happen. | |
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| Walking The Championship on 15:30 - Feb 24 with 727 views | ITFCSG |
| Walking The Championship on 15:24 - Feb 24 by Illinoisblue |
It’ll be time for Flynn to come back. Be amazed if that deal doesn’t happen. |
Yes, but we'd need a replacement if we go up again.
Downes can't cut it in the Prem, its clear for all to see.
1 season deal perhaps? | | | |
| Walking The Championship on 15:31 - Feb 24 with 713 views | WolfieAtTheBack |
Team for Championship.
Coach - TBC
H.Clarke / Woolf / Burgess / Townsend
Morsey / Taylor
Ogbene / Chaplin / J.Clarke
Hirst
Out:
Davies
Phillips
Jaden
Hutchinson
L.Delap
Cajuste
O'Shea
Godfrey
Luongo
Muric
Walton
Enciso
Get the old band back together, bring back the Barnsley away magic. | | | |
| Walking The Championship on 15:35 - Feb 24 with 696 views | positivity |
| Walking The Championship on 15:31 - Feb 24 by WolfieAtTheBack |
Team for Championship.
Coach - TBC
H.Clarke / Woolf / Burgess / Townsend
Morsey / Taylor
Ogbene / Chaplin / J.Clarke
Hirst
Out:
Davies
Phillips
Jaden
Hutchinson
L.Delap
Cajuste
O'Shea
Godfrey
Luongo
Muric
Walton
Enciso
Get the old band back together, bring back the Barnsley away magic. |
don't know what you've got against poor wes & broady and i admire your bravery in deciding against a goalkeeper! | |
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| Walking The Championship on 15:37 - Feb 24 with 668 views | baxterbasics |
| Walking The Championship on 15:24 - Feb 24 by Illinoisblue |
It’ll be time for Flynn to come back. Be amazed if that deal doesn’t happen. |
Depends on if Southampton have plans for him next year... and if they're willing to sell him to a promotion rival. Could be expensive. (Unsure on his contract length which could be a factor). |  |
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| Walking The Championship on 15:39 - Feb 24 with 655 views | Stadiumofdark |
| Walking The Championship on 15:31 - Feb 24 by WolfieAtTheBack |
Team for Championship.
Coach - TBC
H.Clarke / Woolf / Burgess / Townsend
Morsey / Taylor
Ogbene / Chaplin / J.Clarke
Hirst
Out:
Davies
Phillips
Jaden
Hutchinson
L.Delap
Cajuste
O'Shea
Godfrey
Luongo
Muric
Walton
Enciso
Get the old band back together, bring back the Barnsley away magic. |
thats not good enough.
and would need a keeper
apart from that.... |  | | |
| Walking The Championship on 15:39 - Feb 24 with 654 views | positivity |
| Walking The Championship on 15:37 - Feb 24 by baxterbasics |
Depends on if Southampton have plans for him next year... and if they're willing to sell him to a promotion rival. Could be expensive. (Unsure on his contract length which could be a factor). |
and also on the identity of the soton boss by then... | |
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| Walking The Championship on 15:48 - Feb 24 with 609 views | billlm |
| Walking The Championship on 14:46 - Feb 24 by Illinoisblue |
Still need a midfield, though. |
That's where any money needs spending,
Humphreys will have a shout Taylor to but, we need another Morsy and CAJUSTE from somewhere, | | | |
| Walking The Championship on 15:49 - Feb 24 with 605 views | Smoresy |
| Walking The Championship on 15:30 - Feb 24 by ITFCSG |
Yes, but we'd need a replacement if we go up again.
Downes can't cut it in the Prem, its clear for all to see.
1 season deal perhaps? |
Doubt Downes would sign a one-year deal if he had ITFC inked on his forehead - even if he's really unhappy at Southampton, he'd be stuffed if he got a serious injury. Too great a risk. From our perspective, it would take north of £5m to sign him, likely north of £10m, which would make for a very expensive loan deal (in effect).
I can see us pursuing him if money allows and if McKenna stays, more like a 4-year deal with the optimism that he'll improve with us. | | | |
| Walking The Championship on 17:18 - Feb 24 with 548 views | TheBoyBlue |
Is that the consensus?
I'm sure there are some who genuinely think we will, although I'm yet to see or hear them.
More prevalent are those who think it'll be disaster for us to go down.
But most realise that although there will be changes - probably most notably the loss of McKenna and Delap - that we will better placed for a promotion push from the Championship than for probably two decades. Of course that's no assurance that we will go straight back up, but a recognition that - on paper at least - we have a good young Championship squad that ought to be in the mix. | |
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| Walking The Championship on 18:37 - Feb 24 with 513 views | ottovonbismark |
The fact that we cannot defend, regardless of what league we are in, makes automatic promotion a bit fanciful. | | | |
| Walking The Championship on 18:40 - Feb 24 with 507 views | positivity |
| Walking The Championship on 18:37 - Feb 24 by ottovonbismark |
The fact that we cannot defend, regardless of what league we are in, makes automatic promotion a bit fanciful. |
it was possible last time, so i wouldn't rule us out yet! | |
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| Walking The Championship on 19:38 - Feb 24 with 445 views | MK1 |
Has anybody said that?
I and others say we will have a strong squad and with a few additions we should be there or thereabouts, but I certainly don't see anybody walking the Championship. |  |
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