Now, be under no illusion, this season has been a massive disappointment for a number of reasons that I'm not going to go over again here, but it strikes me that out of us, Leicester, and Southampton, we're by far in the best position for the future - as things stand, one of the best young managers in the country, financially secure, a team that will be packed full of proven Championship players, and thanks to being closely associated with one of the biggest musical acts of the planet, global visibility (I do wonder if the appropriate technology had been around circa 1979, how Watford would have capitalised on their pop connection).
So, disappointed and dismayed with this season yes, but I'm not going to be wailing and gnashing my teeth over the summer (Which incidentally will only be about an 11 week close season by my reckoning due to the late finish of the Prem, and the early start of the Championship)
What does concern me is what we've talked about on here 9587 times already.
The gap.
Working on the basis that Burnley, Sheff U, and say Leeds come up. If, this time next year, they're still in the bottom three, we may as well just say "What's the point?" - especially from the point of view of Burnley and Sheffield United, as they're the ones doing the thing that we would hope to do - bounce straight back at the first attempt.
So bearing in mind that Forest, Brentford, and Brighton have thrived in recent years after going up, and it's taken Fulham and Bournemouth a couple of goes to get it right - what future is there - if the top 17 operate in a closed shop, and then there's another group of ten clubs or so who constanly yo-yo, (Say us, Sheff U, Burnley, Leeds, Southampton, Leicester, WBA, Middlesbrough, Watford, Nodge at a push), then how on earth does tat make the other 60 or so teams in the league feel?
I mean, the only other team I can possibly see do a rags to riches thing in the next few years is Wrexham, but then they're not exactly paupers anymore with their backing. We've had teams in the Prem in the past even for just one season that brought a bit of variety into it - Barnsley, Swindon, Blackpool - but it just looks like it'll be the same old faces for the forseeable.
For example - If you want to see a real rollercoaster ride, have a look at Northampton in the sixties.
1 January 1960: Division 4
1 January 1966: Division 1
1 January 1970: Division 4
Can't see that sort of thing happening again - although Luton seem to be having a crack at it.
Makes you feel all a bit disillusioned to be honest. [Post edited 31 Mar 12:11]
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