| Difficult league 16:34 - Feb 15 with 2054 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
I have read on here a few times that the standard in the Championship is poor this season and the logic appears to be that anyone is beating anyone (aside from Sheff Wed who still gave Millwall a bit of a fright for a while) and there isn't a team or a few of them running away with it.
However, my thoughts are that it is when a league is easy, one or two teams run away with it. In a low quality league one or two teams that are better win most of their matches. The fact that teams like nodge, Leicester, West Brom and Blackburn are in the lower third (and nodge are 2nd in the form table), and that teams like Millwall and Preston are doing well (when traditionally they might be expected to struggle) only goes to prove how difficult the division is this time around. |  |
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| Difficult league on 19:04 - Feb 15 with 275 views | Illinoisblue |
What does it matter, though? The league is the league we’re in. This whole debate just underlines the fact football fans will rarely be happy. We’re going for a third promotion in four years, playing in a stadium that’s unrecognizable from a few years ago, playing on a perfect playing surface, coached by one of the best young managers in the game, almost every away game allocation is sold out, 28k average at home. These are very close to being the days yet the amount of misery and rage out there you’d think we were 16th under Evans again.
Funny ol’ game. |  |
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| Difficult league on 19:17 - Feb 15 with 262 views | PhilTWTD |
I think it's definitely poorer at the top end than it was two years ago. No one is as good as us, Leicester, Southampton or Leeds, who from the games against us were the best team on their day and they ended up missing out on promotion.
Think Leicester having off-field issues, Southampton having been poorly managed for a couple of years and us having had a major turnaround in players after the previous team had overperformed and overachieved has meant the top end isn't at the level of two years ago. I can't comment on last season as I wouldn't have paid much attention as we weren't in it.
The division is usually largely a huge rump of mid-table from somewhere within the play-offs to around the relegation zone with not a whole lot between the teams. |  | | |
| Difficult league on 19:18 - Feb 15 with 252 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Difficult league on 19:04 - Feb 15 by Illinoisblue |
What does it matter, though? The league is the league we’re in. This whole debate just underlines the fact football fans will rarely be happy. We’re going for a third promotion in four years, playing in a stadium that’s unrecognizable from a few years ago, playing on a perfect playing surface, coached by one of the best young managers in the game, almost every away game allocation is sold out, 28k average at home. These are very close to being the days yet the amount of misery and rage out there you’d think we were 16th under Evans again.
Funny ol’ game. |
Didn’t you say with this squad we assembled were going to not even get into the playoffs after then Preston draw?!
I hate the pointless look backs into the Evans era really, we were purchased and moved forward, it’s about grabbing the opportunity we have now really.
Agree if we go up it won’t matter what the strength if the league is or isn’t. |  |
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| Difficult league on 19:20 - Feb 15 with 244 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Difficult league on 19:17 - Feb 15 by PhilTWTD |
I think it's definitely poorer at the top end than it was two years ago. No one is as good as us, Leicester, Southampton or Leeds, who from the games against us were the best team on their day and they ended up missing out on promotion.
Think Leicester having off-field issues, Southampton having been poorly managed for a couple of years and us having had a major turnaround in players after the previous team had overperformed and overachieved has meant the top end isn't at the level of two years ago. I can't comment on last season as I wouldn't have paid much attention as we weren't in it.
The division is usually largely a huge rump of mid-table from somewhere within the play-offs to around the relegation zone with not a whole lot between the teams. |
Bang on! | |
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| Difficult league on 19:28 - Feb 15 with 227 views | Illinoisblue |
| Difficult league on 19:18 - Feb 15 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Didn’t you say with this squad we assembled were going to not even get into the playoffs after then Preston draw?!
I hate the pointless look backs into the Evans era really, we were purchased and moved forward, it’s about grabbing the opportunity we have now really.
Agree if we go up it won’t matter what the strength if the league is or isn’t. |
I quite possibly reacted in the heat of the moment. Link if you have it, please. Football innit? My wider point was people no longer just enjoy football for what it is. And here we are with montage videos of Hirst misses. | |
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| Difficult league on 19:42 - Feb 15 with 200 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Difficult league on 19:28 - Feb 15 by Illinoisblue |
I quite possibly reacted in the heat of the moment. Link if you have it, please. Football innit? My wider point was people no longer just enjoy football for what it is. And here we are with montage videos of Hirst misses. |
I can’t be assed to go through your posts but it’s there, just pointing out people are emotional/passionate and most also realize the magnitude of this season and what it means for our future state.
I don’t think a few idiots doing stuff like that are representative of our fanbase really. Although I don’t hardly go on twitter, so maybe it’s more than I think. [Post edited 15 Feb 19:44]
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| Difficult league on 19:44 - Feb 15 with 197 views | blueoutlook |
| Difficult league on 18:24 - Feb 15 by ITFC_Forever |
They have relative to their early form.
We’re five points behind, with a game in hand and in much better form.
Unless you’re a McKenna out, fold the club every time we drop points / lose a cup match simpleton, it’s clear to see it’s very possible. |
You are the only simpleton mate ! |  | | |
| Difficult league on 19:45 - Feb 15 with 202 views | Mullet |
| Difficult league on 19:17 - Feb 15 by PhilTWTD |
I think it's definitely poorer at the top end than it was two years ago. No one is as good as us, Leicester, Southampton or Leeds, who from the games against us were the best team on their day and they ended up missing out on promotion.
Think Leicester having off-field issues, Southampton having been poorly managed for a couple of years and us having had a major turnaround in players after the previous team had overperformed and overachieved has meant the top end isn't at the level of two years ago. I can't comment on last season as I wouldn't have paid much attention as we weren't in it.
The division is usually largely a huge rump of mid-table from somewhere within the play-offs to around the relegation zone with not a whole lot between the teams. |
Quite. Interesting coming out of Wrexham and their fans were talking about how worried they were about us this weekend, but how poor we were at our place against them. That they just sat in and rode it out but they could go at most teams.
Thought that was quite telling from fans used to lower league football and on the fairytale etc |  |
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| Difficult league on 19:46 - Feb 15 with 191 views | PhilTWTD |
| Difficult league on 19:04 - Feb 15 by Illinoisblue |
What does it matter, though? The league is the league we’re in. This whole debate just underlines the fact football fans will rarely be happy. We’re going for a third promotion in four years, playing in a stadium that’s unrecognizable from a few years ago, playing on a perfect playing surface, coached by one of the best young managers in the game, almost every away game allocation is sold out, 28k average at home. These are very close to being the days yet the amount of misery and rage out there you’d think we were 16th under Evans again.
Funny ol’ game. |
Other than a topic of discussion, it doesn't particularly matter, other than perhaps the gap to the Premier League probably being that bit bigger than it was last time we got promoted, although not necessarily the case. I'd say the Premier League at the bottom end is weaker than last season.
Looks like the top end of the Championship is likely to be stronger next year given some established Premier League sides appear set to come down. | | | |
| Difficult league on 19:47 - Feb 15 with 185 views | ITFC_Forever |
| Difficult league on 19:44 - Feb 15 by blueoutlook |
You are the only simpleton mate ! |
Sack everyone, fold the club.
Boo Hirst / McAteer / McKenna / whoever the scapegoat of the week is. |  |
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| Difficult league on 19:49 - Feb 15 with 189 views | PhilTWTD |
| Difficult league on 19:45 - Feb 15 by Mullet |
Quite. Interesting coming out of Wrexham and their fans were talking about how worried they were about us this weekend, but how poor we were at our place against them. That they just sat in and rode it out but they could go at most teams.
Thought that was quite telling from fans used to lower league football and on the fairytale etc |
Think it's harsh for them to say we were poor down here, we completely dominated but they managed to hold out, as you say. Those games happen when you're towards the top of this division. Not sure much could be read into Friday as it was evidently an exercise in giving fringe players games more than anything else. | | | |
| Difficult league on 19:52 - Feb 15 with 164 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Difficult league on 19:49 - Feb 15 by PhilTWTD |
Think it's harsh for them to say we were poor down here, we completely dominated but they managed to hold out, as you say. Those games happen when you're towards the top of this division. Not sure much could be read into Friday as it was evidently an exercise in giving fringe players games more than anything else. |
If we start the same way we did against Derby pretty confident we can go up there and beat them. They’ve been shaky at home recently in the league. [Post edited 15 Feb 19:53]
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| Difficult league on 19:53 - Feb 15 with 161 views | Ewan_Oozami |
It is possible to rank how "difficult" leagues are season by season by using ELO to calculate relative strengths of teams and comparing that with where they finished - obviously this is made harder by promotion and relegation - but fundamentally if you track the max and min ELOs and which league position straddles the 1500 average ELO position game by game and season by season (ELO is zero sum so all seasons should have same total ELO) you can establish a degree of difficulty for each season
sinceawin.com and clubelo.com have all this info but tbh I cba to look through it all! |  |
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| Difficult league on 19:54 - Feb 15 with 155 views | PhilTWTD |
| Difficult league on 19:52 - Feb 15 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
If we start the same way we did against Derby pretty confident we can go up there and beat them. They’ve been shaky at home recently in the league. [Post edited 15 Feb 19:53]
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Indeed, the first goal in these games is so important. If we score first, I'd be confident we'll win. | | | |
| Difficult league on 19:57 - Feb 15 with 146 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Difficult league on 19:54 - Feb 15 by PhilTWTD |
Indeed, the first goal in these games is so important. If we score first, I'd be confident we'll win. |
I personally think we played Friday smart. While you can never route for Ipswich to lose once the dust settled, I’d actually have anxiety looking at another cup game right now, with the further potential of it to blow up the Easter weekend as well. We’d literally be running out of slots to play and I can’t see a way it wouldn’t have an adverse effect. | |
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| Difficult league on 19:58 - Feb 15 with 133 views | Mullet |
| Difficult league on 19:49 - Feb 15 by PhilTWTD |
Think it's harsh for them to say we were poor down here, we completely dominated but they managed to hold out, as you say. Those games happen when you're towards the top of this division. Not sure much could be read into Friday as it was evidently an exercise in giving fringe players games more than anything else. |
No Friday was just a load of bullsh1t all round wasn’t it?
I guess from their perspective they expected a hammering and kept us out. I was accidentally earwigging on a crowded road so didn’t want to get into it with them. But their main concern seemed to be philogene and I can’t remember if he played then tbh. | |
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| Difficult league on 20:00 - Feb 15 with 123 views | jas0999 |
| Difficult league on 17:05 - Feb 15 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Nah, Leeds and Burnley of last year would been 10 points clear. |
Exactly this. |  | | |
| Difficult league on 20:01 - Feb 15 with 120 views | Illinoisblue |
| Difficult league on 19:42 - Feb 15 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
I can’t be assed to go through your posts but it’s there, just pointing out people are emotional/passionate and most also realize the magnitude of this season and what it means for our future state.
I don’t think a few idiots doing stuff like that are representative of our fanbase really. Although I don’t hardly go on twitter, so maybe it’s more than I think. [Post edited 15 Feb 19:44]
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I think it’s quite a lot more than just a few idiots. This could end up being the most miserable promotion ever! | |
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| What is this Strange Magic.....? on 20:02 - Feb 15 with 107 views | Bloots |
| Difficult league on 19:53 - Feb 15 by Ewan_Oozami |
It is possible to rank how "difficult" leagues are season by season by using ELO to calculate relative strengths of teams and comparing that with where they finished - obviously this is made harder by promotion and relegation - but fundamentally if you track the max and min ELOs and which league position straddles the 1500 average ELO position game by game and season by season (ELO is zero sum so all seasons should have same total ELO) you can establish a degree of difficulty for each season
sinceawin.com and clubelo.com have all this info but tbh I cba to look through it all! |
.....total Confusion.
Please Don't Bring me Down, I Can't Get It Out of My Head. |  |
| "The holy trinity” - TWTD User (Jan 2026) |
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| Difficult league on 20:02 - Feb 15 with 108 views | Ewan_Oozami |
| Difficult league on 20:01 - Feb 15 by Illinoisblue |
I think it’s quite a lot more than just a few idiots. This could end up being the most miserable promotion ever! |
In which case, don't expect a pitch invasion! | |
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| Difficult league on 20:05 - Feb 15 with 101 views | PhilTWTD |
| Difficult league on 19:57 - Feb 15 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
I personally think we played Friday smart. While you can never route for Ipswich to lose once the dust settled, I’d actually have anxiety looking at another cup game right now, with the further potential of it to blow up the Easter weekend as well. We’d literally be running out of slots to play and I can’t see a way it wouldn’t have an adverse effect. |
It would have made the next few weeks very busy, so probably not something we needed at this stage. We've had seasons before where a backlog of fixtures and games coming thick and fast in the closing stages has cost us. | | | |
| Difficult league on 20:08 - Feb 15 with 93 views | Swansea_Blue |
I agree with Phil on the top end being weaker than 23/24. Add in Forever’s “keep it tight and sh1thousery” with a fairly well-organised defensive game from most sides and you’ve got a recipe for tight games. |  |
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| Difficult league on 20:09 - Feb 15 with 93 views | armchaircritic59 |
I understand your reasoning and your point is well made. I'm still of the opinion that the league is substandard this season, and anything less than promotion in my book equals failure, even though MA stated on here that it wouldn't. I disagree. We have another 48 points to play for however, so plenty of time to see how it all plays out. One thing this Championship is, as it nearly always is, is competitive, so I expect a few more twist and turns yet. | | | |
| Difficult league on 20:09 - Feb 15 with 93 views | Illinoisblue |
| Difficult league on 20:02 - Feb 15 by Ewan_Oozami |
In which case, don't expect a pitch invasion! |
Just lots of booing and a big banner saying “could have done better” | |
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| Difficult league on 20:16 - Feb 15 with 78 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Difficult league on 20:01 - Feb 15 by Illinoisblue |
I think it’s quite a lot more than just a few idiots. This could end up being the most miserable promotion ever! |
Yes! Cancel the open top bus! We’ll just all say thank god for that and go on about our summer lol. | |
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