| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? 13:04 - Dec 15 with 1209 views | Wright1 |
I'm not saying this in a digging out our players way... more ina our team is fine but there are lots of good teams out there kind of way. Maybe our advantage isn't what we've been led to believe.
For example, whilst it doesn't have age on its side, I was taken back by the names and the pedigree when the Leicester team was announced at the weekend. Ricardo might have been the best RB in the premier league at one point. Vestergaard has pedigree at Bundesliga and PL level. You could certainly make an argument for any of there front 6 getting in our team - the wingers are exciting and Cordova-Reid and Ayew are PL performers. |  | | |  |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:28 - Dec 15 with 1035 views | yesjohn99 |
Yes. | | | |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:43 - Dec 15 with 1006 views | PrideOfTheEast |
I reckon a good number of that Leicester side get into ours.
We have a "super" manager and players that are top end Championship, with a couple capable of lower end Premiership. At the moment we don't have the patterns of play, (in my view) leadership and not much momentum.
Last time we were here we had a "super" manager, mid-table championship players but patterns of play, leadership and momentum.
I think we had the opportunity to address the mix of players very differently in the August window. | | | |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:43 - Dec 15 with 1004 views | bsw72 |
Who has led us to believe? I don't believe McKenna or any of those in charge have ever said anything about a championship super team.
A core of fans always have a level of expectation which is further fuelled by multi-million pound transfer deals.
On paper we have a team valued significantly higher than the rest of the division, but that does not make a winning team, look at Liverpool this season or Man Utd / Spurs last season.
It takes time for a team to take shape, and even then you don't play well and win week in and week out.
A lot of the frustration on here stems from the fact people have based their expectations in the last 2 years on money spent - and unfortunately were a little spoiled with 2 years of extraordinary success on very little spend - so the assumption has been that same manager plus more money means we will firstly stay up in the Prem and then with another summer of change and spend, we will romp the championship.
It just doesn't work like that, else Leeds would have gone up in 2024 not us. |  | | |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:54 - Dec 15 with 962 views | Pinewoodblue |
Our advantage is the quality of our squad, although not yet reflected in the quality of on field performance. |  |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:58 - Dec 15 with 944 views | Wright1 |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:43 - Dec 15 by bsw72 |
Who has led us to believe? I don't believe McKenna or any of those in charge have ever said anything about a championship super team.
A core of fans always have a level of expectation which is further fuelled by multi-million pound transfer deals.
On paper we have a team valued significantly higher than the rest of the division, but that does not make a winning team, look at Liverpool this season or Man Utd / Spurs last season.
It takes time for a team to take shape, and even then you don't play well and win week in and week out.
A lot of the frustration on here stems from the fact people have based their expectations in the last 2 years on money spent - and unfortunately were a little spoiled with 2 years of extraordinary success on very little spend - so the assumption has been that same manager plus more money means we will firstly stay up in the Prem and then with another summer of change and spend, we will romp the championship.
It just doesn't work like that, else Leeds would have gone up in 2024 not us. |
Well I mean, yeah.... obviously McKenna or the club haven't said anything of the sort - I don't think anyone has suggested they have. I'm not sure why that is relevant really. If we were only allowed to comment on things the club had said it wouldn't leave much room for discussion would it? | | | |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 14:08 - Dec 15 with 905 views | bsw72 |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:58 - Dec 15 by Wright1 |
Well I mean, yeah.... obviously McKenna or the club haven't said anything of the sort - I don't think anyone has suggested they have. I'm not sure why that is relevant really. If we were only allowed to comment on things the club had said it wouldn't leave much room for discussion would it? |
Never said you had - simply setting the context for my response. If I was only allowed to comment on threads by only referencing the text in the original post it wuldn't leave much room for discussion would it? | | | |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 14:11 - Dec 15 with 892 views | MattinLondon |
Think we have spent a lot of money on players capable of individual brilliance but not necessarily capable of doing good things week in, week out. The same could well be said for the Leicester team.
A lot of fans state that this team is too inconsistent but I’m not sure and we’re just too easy to play against. Tactics need to be developed rather than plugging away and attempting to do the sane things better.
I will say that a lot of posters give the impression that they forget just how young KM is as a manager and how inexperienced he still he. He’s still evolving and hopefully getting better.
I’m still confident that we’ll get automatic promotion but I do have a wobble every now and then. |  | | |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 17:14 - Dec 15 with 706 views | Garv |
Super team eligibility based on our current XI and regular subs, in my opinion of course:
Walton - Maybe. 50/50
Furlong - Based on longevity and the part he played in a solid West Brom team, yes.
O'Shea - Yes
Kipre - Yes
Davis - Qualities sometimes overstated but based on his engine and previous assist numbers, yes.
Matusiwa - Not sure he's in that bracket yet. Like him very much but early days. Will be eligible by the end of the season probably. No.
Taylor - Big fan and since he has replaced Cajuste in our favoured line up we've improved. But no.
Walle Egeli - Improving slowly, but definitely not.
Nunez - Yes. He's our difference maker at the moment for me.
Philogene - I've made no secret of the fact I often don't enjoy watching him, but based on his goals, it's obviously a yes.
Hirst - No. We thought he'd be in this bracket at the start of the season but it hasn't happened yet.
Clarke - Yes
Szmodics - No. One outstanding season.
Akpom - No. One outstanding season..
Cajuste - No.
Young - No. 40 y/o, not playing much and not having a huge impact when he does.
McAteer - No.
Azon - No.
Greaves - Yes. I've not overly rated him since he arrived but most of that is based on PL games. Three consecutive seasons playing every game prior to that.
So overall, it's definitely not a super 'team'.
Agree with you on some of the Leicester players. Bobby Reid and Ayew could comfortably be playing in the PL still. [Post edited 15 Dec 18:21]
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 17:40 - Dec 15 with 655 views | BouncebackIpswich |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 17:14 - Dec 15 by Garv |
Super team eligibility based on our current XI and regular subs, in my opinion of course:
Walton - Maybe. 50/50
Furlong - Based on longevity and the part he played in a solid West Brom team, yes.
O'Shea - Yes
Kipre - Yes
Davis - Qualities sometimes overstated but based on his engine and previous assist numbers, yes.
Matusiwa - Not sure he's in that bracket yet. Like him very much but early days. Will be eligible by the end of the season probably. No.
Taylor - Big fan and since he has replaced Cajuste in our favoured line up we've improved. But no.
Walle Egeli - Improving slowly, but definitely not.
Nunez - Yes. He's our difference maker at the moment for me.
Philogene - I've made no secret of the fact I often don't enjoy watching him, but based on his goals, it's obviously a yes.
Hirst - No. We thought he'd be in this bracket at the start of the season but it hasn't happened yet.
Clarke - Yes
Szmodics - No. One outstanding season.
Akpom - No. One outstanding season..
Cajuste - No.
Young - No. 40 y/o, not playing much and not having a huge impact when he does.
McAteer - No.
Azon - No.
Greaves - Yes. I've not overly rated him since he arrived but most of that is based on PL games. Three consecutive seasons playing every game prior to that.
So overall, it's definitely not a super 'team'.
Agree with you on some of the Leicester players. Bobby Reid and Ayew could comfortably be playing in the PL still. [Post edited 15 Dec 18:21]
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This is an interesting take. I've had a go below.
As a general comment, I think we're a bit like the Man U of the championship, lots of talented players but recruited with no plan on how they will fit into a cohesive team, so you end up with an underperforming 'team' of individuals. There are not enough water carriers, the types who stay under the radar and do the basics well and keep things ticking over. Too many mercurial inconsistent types capable of brilliance but equally often unable to control a ball or complete a simple pass.
Walton - No, above average for this level though.
Palmer - same as Walton
Furlong - no, see Walton and Palmer
O'Shea - Yes
Kipre - No
Davis - yeah without doubt
Matusiwa - for me, one of the best in the whole division, a big yes
Taylor - improving but no
Walle Egeli - not at the noment
Nunez - on the fence with him
Philogene - Yes
Hirst - No. Quite a big standard Championship striker
Clarke - on paper yes, but in reality he's looking a one season wonder.
Szmodics - same as Clarke
Akpom - same as Clarke and Szmods. As an aside it's concerning we've blown so much money on 3 players of this ilk in similar positions.
Cajuste - Yes, should be but isn't performing.
Young - No.
McAteer - No.
Azon - No.
Greaves - another in the akpom/Szmods/Clarke category.
So I make that just O'Shea, Matusiwa, Jaden and Davis as certs. Lots more who on paper could or should be but in reality aren't good fits for the team and system (very poor recruitment). [Post edited 15 Dec 17:42]
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 17:57 - Dec 15 with 597 views | bournemouthblue |
Leeds had a better side, two seasons ago! |  |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 17:59 - Dec 15 with 590 views | bournemouthblue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:43 - Dec 15 by PrideOfTheEast |
I reckon a good number of that Leicester side get into ours.
We have a "super" manager and players that are top end Championship, with a couple capable of lower end Premiership. At the moment we don't have the patterns of play, (in my view) leadership and not much momentum.
Last time we were here we had a "super" manager, mid-table championship players but patterns of play, leadership and momentum.
I think we had the opportunity to address the mix of players very differently in the August window. |
Fatawu, James, Westergard and De Cordova-Reid would for sure, three of them are basically a spine
Mavididi probably gets on the bench as well in fairness | |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:09 - Dec 15 with 577 views | Radlett_blue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:43 - Dec 15 by bsw72 |
Who has led us to believe? I don't believe McKenna or any of those in charge have ever said anything about a championship super team.
A core of fans always have a level of expectation which is further fuelled by multi-million pound transfer deals.
On paper we have a team valued significantly higher than the rest of the division, but that does not make a winning team, look at Liverpool this season or Man Utd / Spurs last season.
It takes time for a team to take shape, and even then you don't play well and win week in and week out.
A lot of the frustration on here stems from the fact people have based their expectations in the last 2 years on money spent - and unfortunately were a little spoiled with 2 years of extraordinary success on very little spend - so the assumption has been that same manager plus more money means we will firstly stay up in the Prem and then with another summer of change and spend, we will romp the championship.
It just doesn't work like that, else Leeds would have gone up in 2024 not us. |
We have spent a LOT of money over the past 18 months on supposedly top Championship players, largely in the belief that some of them will become PL standard players. Both Delap & Hutchinson were sold to PL clubs as obviously they & others agreed that these 2 were PL standard & were also young players with improvement in them. Obviously that's part of a problem with relegation - the PL clubs pick off your best players.
That having been said, many of these signings either don't look up to PL standard or don't fit into our team. The team seems a lot less than the sum of its parts, which is clearly down to McKenna either over-rating certain players or not being able to get the best out of them.
In our current squad, we have 13 outfield players who come into this category, so the team is seriously underperformimg. The turnover of players was something of an excuse early on when we picked up a paltry 3 points from 4 games, and while we've improved from then and the team is more settled, we're still falling well below where we should be. |  |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:16 - Dec 15 with 560 views | MK1 |
We have a star studded squad, just struggling to make them into a team. |  |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:16 - Dec 15 with 559 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:09 - Dec 15 by Radlett_blue |
We have spent a LOT of money over the past 18 months on supposedly top Championship players, largely in the belief that some of them will become PL standard players. Both Delap & Hutchinson were sold to PL clubs as obviously they & others agreed that these 2 were PL standard & were also young players with improvement in them. Obviously that's part of a problem with relegation - the PL clubs pick off your best players.
That having been said, many of these signings either don't look up to PL standard or don't fit into our team. The team seems a lot less than the sum of its parts, which is clearly down to McKenna either over-rating certain players or not being able to get the best out of them.
In our current squad, we have 13 outfield players who come into this category, so the team is seriously underperformimg. The turnover of players was something of an excuse early on when we picked up a paltry 3 points from 4 games, and while we've improved from then and the team is more settled, we're still falling well below where we should be. |
I suppose that depends on how you define time
Ashton on the summer signings said that the club will continue to be relentless in moving this club forward and kieran just needs a bit of time to mould this side into another history making team.
So that depends then really what he feels is a bit of time. 3 6 months. 12 months 2 years? None of us know really. |  |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:18 - Dec 15 with 554 views | Radlett_blue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:16 - Dec 15 by FrimleyBlue |
I suppose that depends on how you define time
Ashton on the summer signings said that the club will continue to be relentless in moving this club forward and kieran just needs a bit of time to mould this side into another history making team.
So that depends then really what he feels is a bit of time. 3 6 months. 12 months 2 years? None of us know really. |
Most managers usually say all they need is some more time. Bonkers to axe McKenna mid season, but if performances don't improve & we fail to go back up, you would wonder if another manager could do better with this squad. | |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:22 - Dec 15 with 544 views | HighgateBlue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:54 - Dec 15 by Pinewoodblue |
Our advantage is the quality of our squad, although not yet reflected in the quality of on field performance. |
Is this a kind way of expressing the opinion that the manager has underperformed? |  | | |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:25 - Dec 15 with 530 views | Rimsy |
We really shouldn't have a squad of championship quality players with the money we've spent. I'd say only Walle Egeli has the potential to one day be a top quality (pl) player, and he's very likely to be sold on within the next year or so. |  |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:40 - Dec 15 with 494 views | MK1 |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:22 - Dec 15 by HighgateBlue |
Is this a kind way of expressing the opinion that the manager has underperformed? |
If it is, then I would agree. Think most are now his signings, so its his job to get the best out of them. We mustn't sign players on reputation or what they did in one season. We need players who can play the way that KM wants, not just because they cost £20M.
Build a team, build a squad that suits they way KM wants, not because they are available and we can afford them. | |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:55 - Dec 15 with 457 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 17:14 - Dec 15 by Garv |
Super team eligibility based on our current XI and regular subs, in my opinion of course:
Walton - Maybe. 50/50
Furlong - Based on longevity and the part he played in a solid West Brom team, yes.
O'Shea - Yes
Kipre - Yes
Davis - Qualities sometimes overstated but based on his engine and previous assist numbers, yes.
Matusiwa - Not sure he's in that bracket yet. Like him very much but early days. Will be eligible by the end of the season probably. No.
Taylor - Big fan and since he has replaced Cajuste in our favoured line up we've improved. But no.
Walle Egeli - Improving slowly, but definitely not.
Nunez - Yes. He's our difference maker at the moment for me.
Philogene - I've made no secret of the fact I often don't enjoy watching him, but based on his goals, it's obviously a yes.
Hirst - No. We thought he'd be in this bracket at the start of the season but it hasn't happened yet.
Clarke - Yes
Szmodics - No. One outstanding season.
Akpom - No. One outstanding season..
Cajuste - No.
Young - No. 40 y/o, not playing much and not having a huge impact when he does.
McAteer - No.
Azon - No.
Greaves - Yes. I've not overly rated him since he arrived but most of that is based on PL games. Three consecutive seasons playing every game prior to that.
So overall, it's definitely not a super 'team'.
Agree with you on some of the Leicester players. Bobby Reid and Ayew could comfortably be playing in the PL still. [Post edited 15 Dec 18:21]
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I don't like the idea that some might describe it as a super team at all. I hadn't hear that ahead of this thread title, to be honest. There have been very few Championship super teams through history. Most were established Premier teams that somehow got relegated in a poor season and held most of the team together. Even Leeds would have fitted that description and yet took two seasons to go up.
No way is Walton the best keeper in the division this season. We have 2 very similar ability keepers neither of whom walk into every other one.
Furlong is a top Championship defender but there are still better in the division this season.
O'Shea, Kipre and Greaves can all argue to be among the best centre backs.
Davis is the best left back in the division but all players have dips in form at times.
Matusiwa was immense at the start of the season but has tailed off a bit more recently. Is he better than Hackney and a couple of other top Championship holding midfielders?
Taylor has improved a lot and is playing the role Luongo played for us so effectively a couple of years ago. However, he isn't walking into most of the top Championship midfields. Cajuste definitely isn't. We really could do with improving here. I think Nunez was signed to do so but since he has moved into the 10 role we still need another.
Walle Egeli clearly has great potential but is far from the top Championship wide player at the moment.
Nunez gets into most teams the way he is playing. He also seems to be able to play more minutes now which is good. But I am not sure whether any of our other options at 10 are any better than those the other top teams have.
Philogene is a top player for this level. So is Clarke when he is on form. Unfortunately they both play the same position and neither is as effective in another one.
Hirst really suits what we want from this position but even then there are better in the division. Adam Armstrong stands out for me and Hirst isn't at his level.
I can't understand Akpom at the moment. He is clearly a better player than what we have seen from him. Similarly Young was a regular for Everton in the Premier League last season. He is clearly a very good Championship player and I remain surprised he hasn't played more. At age 40 and as a right back he isn't going to be the difference to turn us into a super team.
McAteer and Azon are raw.
Compare this with the players at Leicester, Southampton, Coventry and Middlesbrough and we have a squad that is similar. Two of those have the same financial advantage as us (albeit that Leicester have the issues from historic overspending to deal with - potentially). It shouldn't be forgotten that 10 years ago they were winning the Premier League and, while none of that squad are still there, they have a squad built from the money (and the extra spent) at that time. Interestingly we are above both Leicester and Southampton at the moment too.
The you have Preston, Millwall, Hull and Stoke all showing what a consistent team outperforming the sum of their parts can do.
We have a very decent Championship squad but nothing like a super squad. |  |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:58 - Dec 15 with 440 views | blueoutlook |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:43 - Dec 15 by PrideOfTheEast |
I reckon a good number of that Leicester side get into ours.
We have a "super" manager and players that are top end Championship, with a couple capable of lower end Premiership. At the moment we don't have the patterns of play, (in my view) leadership and not much momentum.
Last time we were here we had a "super" manager, mid-table championship players but patterns of play, leadership and momentum.
I think we had the opportunity to address the mix of players very differently in the August window. |
Evening Kieran. |  | | |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 19:14 - Dec 15 with 410 views | Radlett_blue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:55 - Dec 15 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I don't like the idea that some might describe it as a super team at all. I hadn't hear that ahead of this thread title, to be honest. There have been very few Championship super teams through history. Most were established Premier teams that somehow got relegated in a poor season and held most of the team together. Even Leeds would have fitted that description and yet took two seasons to go up.
No way is Walton the best keeper in the division this season. We have 2 very similar ability keepers neither of whom walk into every other one.
Furlong is a top Championship defender but there are still better in the division this season.
O'Shea, Kipre and Greaves can all argue to be among the best centre backs.
Davis is the best left back in the division but all players have dips in form at times.
Matusiwa was immense at the start of the season but has tailed off a bit more recently. Is he better than Hackney and a couple of other top Championship holding midfielders?
Taylor has improved a lot and is playing the role Luongo played for us so effectively a couple of years ago. However, he isn't walking into most of the top Championship midfields. Cajuste definitely isn't. We really could do with improving here. I think Nunez was signed to do so but since he has moved into the 10 role we still need another.
Walle Egeli clearly has great potential but is far from the top Championship wide player at the moment.
Nunez gets into most teams the way he is playing. He also seems to be able to play more minutes now which is good. But I am not sure whether any of our other options at 10 are any better than those the other top teams have.
Philogene is a top player for this level. So is Clarke when he is on form. Unfortunately they both play the same position and neither is as effective in another one.
Hirst really suits what we want from this position but even then there are better in the division. Adam Armstrong stands out for me and Hirst isn't at his level.
I can't understand Akpom at the moment. He is clearly a better player than what we have seen from him. Similarly Young was a regular for Everton in the Premier League last season. He is clearly a very good Championship player and I remain surprised he hasn't played more. At age 40 and as a right back he isn't going to be the difference to turn us into a super team.
McAteer and Azon are raw.
Compare this with the players at Leicester, Southampton, Coventry and Middlesbrough and we have a squad that is similar. Two of those have the same financial advantage as us (albeit that Leicester have the issues from historic overspending to deal with - potentially). It shouldn't be forgotten that 10 years ago they were winning the Premier League and, while none of that squad are still there, they have a squad built from the money (and the extra spent) at that time. Interestingly we are above both Leicester and Southampton at the moment too.
The you have Preston, Millwall, Hull and Stoke all showing what a consistent team outperforming the sum of their parts can do.
We have a very decent Championship squad but nothing like a super squad. |
Broadly agree with that.
Akpom has looked like a fish out of water. Clearly quite skilful but never gets the ball in a position where he might do some damage.
McAteer is now 24 & has played a decent amount of League & international football so I would expect way more from a player who cost such an eye watering fee.
Azon is only 22 &has come out of the Spanish 2nd tier. He has potential & is okay as 3rd striker but I wouldn't want to see him starting too often.
Yes, the clubs you mentioned show that you can do okay in the Championship with a bunch of average players, so another indication that we are under-performing. | |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 19:16 - Dec 15 with 406 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 18:55 - Dec 15 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I don't like the idea that some might describe it as a super team at all. I hadn't hear that ahead of this thread title, to be honest. There have been very few Championship super teams through history. Most were established Premier teams that somehow got relegated in a poor season and held most of the team together. Even Leeds would have fitted that description and yet took two seasons to go up.
No way is Walton the best keeper in the division this season. We have 2 very similar ability keepers neither of whom walk into every other one.
Furlong is a top Championship defender but there are still better in the division this season.
O'Shea, Kipre and Greaves can all argue to be among the best centre backs.
Davis is the best left back in the division but all players have dips in form at times.
Matusiwa was immense at the start of the season but has tailed off a bit more recently. Is he better than Hackney and a couple of other top Championship holding midfielders?
Taylor has improved a lot and is playing the role Luongo played for us so effectively a couple of years ago. However, he isn't walking into most of the top Championship midfields. Cajuste definitely isn't. We really could do with improving here. I think Nunez was signed to do so but since he has moved into the 10 role we still need another.
Walle Egeli clearly has great potential but is far from the top Championship wide player at the moment.
Nunez gets into most teams the way he is playing. He also seems to be able to play more minutes now which is good. But I am not sure whether any of our other options at 10 are any better than those the other top teams have.
Philogene is a top player for this level. So is Clarke when he is on form. Unfortunately they both play the same position and neither is as effective in another one.
Hirst really suits what we want from this position but even then there are better in the division. Adam Armstrong stands out for me and Hirst isn't at his level.
I can't understand Akpom at the moment. He is clearly a better player than what we have seen from him. Similarly Young was a regular for Everton in the Premier League last season. He is clearly a very good Championship player and I remain surprised he hasn't played more. At age 40 and as a right back he isn't going to be the difference to turn us into a super team.
McAteer and Azon are raw.
Compare this with the players at Leicester, Southampton, Coventry and Middlesbrough and we have a squad that is similar. Two of those have the same financial advantage as us (albeit that Leicester have the issues from historic overspending to deal with - potentially). It shouldn't be forgotten that 10 years ago they were winning the Premier League and, while none of that squad are still there, they have a squad built from the money (and the extra spent) at that time. Interestingly we are above both Leicester and Southampton at the moment too.
The you have Preston, Millwall, Hull and Stoke all showing what a consistent team outperforming the sum of their parts can do.
We have a very decent Championship squad but nothing like a super squad. |
One other way to assess "super team" quality is to compare it with teams that really were Championship super teams.
In 2005-6, Reading had Hahnemann in goal, Murty, Shorey, Sidwell, Sonko, Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson, Little, Lita, Hunt, Makin, Long, Kitson and Doyle. I would imagine every single one of those players would have been at least as good as the best in the division in their position.
2013-14 Leicester had Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Drinkwater, Morgan, Matty James, Vardy, Knockaert, Mahrez, Kevin Phillips, Nugent, Chris Wood. Waghorn, Danns and Gallagher hardly even played! Again a whole team who were as good as any player in their position in the division.
2009-10 Newcastle had been in the Premier League for 16 seasons before relegation and kept the nucleus of their Premier League squad. Their whole squad was ridiculously better than every other one in the division in every position.
Burnley in 2022-23 also had a top keeper for this level in Muric alongside a plethora of players who would have walked into pretty much every other team. Tella was something special. Again they had plenty of top players for this level in addition to that. They had spent 6 seasons in the Premier League and replaced the 4 or so players they sold well. | |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 19:25 - Dec 15 with 387 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 19:14 - Dec 15 by Radlett_blue |
Broadly agree with that.
Akpom has looked like a fish out of water. Clearly quite skilful but never gets the ball in a position where he might do some damage.
McAteer is now 24 & has played a decent amount of League & international football so I would expect way more from a player who cost such an eye watering fee.
Azon is only 22 &has come out of the Spanish 2nd tier. He has potential & is okay as 3rd striker but I wouldn't want to see him starting too often.
Yes, the clubs you mentioned show that you can do okay in the Championship with a bunch of average players, so another indication that we are under-performing. |
One more thing to look at is Coventry's squad built off the back of finishing in the play offs twice in the past 3 seasons.
Rushworth is a top keeper at this level. van Ewijk, Rudoni and Torp are all very good players. They then have Thomas-Asante, Wright and Simms.
It isn't a squad that you would expect to perform as well as it currently is but it has a very strong nucleus to it. | |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 19:40 - Dec 15 with 366 views | bournemouthblue |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 19:25 - Dec 15 by Nthsuffolkblue |
One more thing to look at is Coventry's squad built off the back of finishing in the play offs twice in the past 3 seasons.
Rushworth is a top keeper at this level. van Ewijk, Rudoni and Torp are all very good players. They then have Thomas-Asante, Wright and Simms.
It isn't a squad that you would expect to perform as well as it currently is but it has a very strong nucleus to it. |
That's probably three better striking options than us? | |
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| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 21:01 - Dec 15 with 251 views | Bigalhunter |
| Is the "Championship super team" thing a bit overblown? on 13:43 - Dec 15 by bsw72 |
Who has led us to believe? I don't believe McKenna or any of those in charge have ever said anything about a championship super team.
A core of fans always have a level of expectation which is further fuelled by multi-million pound transfer deals.
On paper we have a team valued significantly higher than the rest of the division, but that does not make a winning team, look at Liverpool this season or Man Utd / Spurs last season.
It takes time for a team to take shape, and even then you don't play well and win week in and week out.
A lot of the frustration on here stems from the fact people have based their expectations in the last 2 years on money spent - and unfortunately were a little spoiled with 2 years of extraordinary success on very little spend - so the assumption has been that same manager plus more money means we will firstly stay up in the Prem and then with another summer of change and spend, we will romp the championship.
It just doesn't work like that, else Leeds would have gone up in 2024 not us. |
I agree, KM and MA have made no such claim.
A number of our more vocally positive fans on here last season were suggesting that with Sczmodics, Clarke, Philogene & Hirst all having carved up the goal scoring charts last time they were at this level and added to Akpom’s one great season at Boro, we’d be a terrifying proposition for Championship defences as they had a combined total of 100+ goals between them.
Greaves would be great at this level, Palmer is a golden glove waiting to happen, Cajuste will be unplayable, Leif will creating goals for fun….
That awful term ‘Cheat codes’ was thrown about an awful lot.. [Post edited 15 Dec 21:41]
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