[Archived] The Championship 2015-2016

[Stuart]

Wigan were relegated to League One at the 'right time'. While they still had parachute money to spend. Same with City, Norwich and Leicester. Once that money runs out it's much more difficult. I fear for Rovers if we go down next season. If Venkys turn off the taps now (coincidentally following the loss of parachute payments and our final cash cow player) and Lambert leaves because of it, we could well be next season's Bolton.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Wigan were relegated to League One at the 'right time'. While they still had parachute money to spend. Same with City, Norwich and Leicester. Once that money runs out it's much more difficult. I fear for Rovers if we go down next season. If Venkys turn off the taps now (coincidentally following the loss of parachute payments and our final cash cow player) and Lambert leaves because of it, we could well be next season's Bolton.

I'd say that scenario is a 50/50 bet at the moment.

[JBiz]

Wigan have an owner that cares though Stu, he's in the ground also. It's not all down to parachutes, whilst they help I'm sure Norwich, Leicester, Bournemouth and Southampton fans would let us know that there is more.

Southampton in fact should be an example for us to follow. They fixed their off field issues, had a strong leader on the ground and it worked. I remember reading that they scout managers like players - 5/6 replacements already earmarked even before pochettino left!

Now that kind of organisation level is bound to improve the club, and it doesn't necessarily cost money.

After a couple of seasons of success, they also had the fans in. Regardless of who owns the club, it can be still done - not necessarily with money.

[JHRover]

Blackpool fans got a game called off didn't they? It's obvious who is to blame for their downfall. I don't know enough about the scenario to say whether the protest had a positive or negative effect on that - remember hearing about court cases, owners draining money, refusing to sell, fans storming boxes etc.

Just comparing them to Wigan who've gone through some similar mistakes and cost cutting - the lack of publicity isn't hurting them, it would at least seem! I think they bought Boltons training ground - investment not taking it out.

Wigan are a year ahead of us with parachute money, so even next season will have that £8 million cushion. In addition whilst they have spent good money I don't think they have ever paid out the sort of outrageous wages we were dishing out after relegation on the likes of Rhodes, Murphy, Best etc. so they have always had a fairly sustainable wage structure.

Like when Wolves dropped to the 3rd tier a couple of seasons ago, they retained and built around a good core of young players, seemed to make the perfect managerial appointment at the time (a big risk with someone like Caldwell with no experience). But make no mistake the benefit of having that parachute money and being able to spend in League One is a game changer far more than it is in the Championship.

Throw into the mix that they have an owner and board that know what they are doing and want what is best for the club and next season no doubt they'll be looking down on us also unless we get things sorted out and quickly. Their fanbases stuck with them and in Wigan's case has grown partly because they enjoy seeing their team win every week, regardless of the level, and also because they can see a plan of action and a board overseeing it to try and correct past mistakes. Dare I say it but both sets of supporters are probably happier to watch their side competing in League One than Rovers fans who have much higher standards and expectations and as such there are thousands who wouldn't go to Ewood in League One even if we were going for promotion.

In some ways relegation in hindsight worked well for both Wigan and Wolves, as they bounced back at the first opportunity, rid themselves of the losing mentality and the big Premier League earners, coming back with a more streamlined squad that is affordable and has a winning habit from this season.

They learnt from mistakes of relegation - poor appointments, poor signings, poor decisions etc. There's no way these fools would learn if we dropped to League One and no way we'd bounce back at the first opportunity.

[Gav]

Charlton fans looking to disrupt the bumley game at home:

http://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/72860/burnley-protests

[JHRover]

Charlton fans looking to disrupt the bumley game at home:

http://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/72860/burnley-protests

Something else that will probably play perfectly into Burnley hands.

[ABBEY]

Charlton fans looking to disrupt the bumley game at home:

http://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/72860/burnley-protests

Wouldn't it be funny Burnley winning and going up and game abandoned and then lose the rearranged one and stay down....I should write for calrlseburg

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Talking about Burnley,their redevelopment of Gawthorpe will match Brockhall all the way it appears.....I'm afraid everything points to them prospering for many,many years to come.

As they build and make the right decisions our bumbling owners don't know their arse from their elbow..galling stuff is this.

[JBiz]

Great post JHR and we essentially agree it comes back to the organisation and singing from the same hymn sheet.

I said in 2013 that the damage caused would take a long time to fix but it's not necessarily a priority to have money. A leader at Ewood above PL would be a start!

[West Yorks Rover]

Wigan are a year ahead of us with parachute money, so even next season will have that £8 million cushion. In addition whilst they have spent good money I don't think they have ever paid out the sort of outrageous wages we were dishing out after relegation on the likes of Rhodes, Murphy, Best etc. so they have always had a fairly sustainable wage structure.

Like when Wolves dropped to the 3rd tier a couple of seasons ago, they retained and built around a good core of young players, seemed to make the perfect managerial appointment at the time (a big risk with someone like Caldwell with no experience). But make no mistake the benefit of having that parachute money and being able to spend in League One is a game changer far more than it is in the Championship.

Throw into the mix that they have an owner and board that know what they are doing and want what is best for the club and next season no doubt they'll be looking down on us also unless we get things sorted out and quickly. Their fanbases stuck with them and in Wigan's case has grown partly because they enjoy seeing their team win every week, regardless of the level, and also because they can see a plan of action and a board overseeing it to try and correct past mistakes. Dare I say it but both sets of supporters are probably happier to watch their side competing in League One than Rovers fans who have much higher standards and expectations and as such there are thousands who wouldn't go to Ewood in League One even if we were going for promotion.

In some ways relegation in hindsight worked well for both Wigan and Wolves, as they bounced back at the first opportunity, rid themselves of the losing mentality and the big Premier League earners, coming back with a more streamlined squad that is affordable and has a winning habit from this season.

They learnt from mistakes of relegation - poor appointments, poor signings, poor decisions etc. There's no way these fools would learn if we dropped to League One and no way we'd bounce back at the first opportunity.

Disagree with you on this JH, Rovers have always had decent crowds in any promotion season.

I think Wigan had 10,000 on Saturday, I believe Rovers would have comfortably doubled that for a game that ensured promotion.

[SoldierMo]

As soon as dyche leaves Burnley will go downhill...just need him to leave

[K-Hod]

Regrettably he seems settled....Just need them to start struggling in the promised land then him get poached by another team. He does seem the loyal type though :-(

[had.e.nuff]

Wouldn't it be funny Burnley winning and going up and game abandoned and then lose the rearranged one and stay down....I should write for calrlseburg

More likely they get it awarded 2-0 and that puts them up the luck they have

[Mattyblue]

As soon as dyche leaves Burnley will go downhill...just need him to leave

What will 'downhill' look like for Burnley after another year of PL money- much enhanced PL money from next season.

[jim mk2]

Regrettably he seems settled....Just need them to start struggling in the promised land then him get poached by another team. He does seem the loyal type though :-(

How long will he put up with commuting between Kettering and Burnley? Any decent job nearer home and he'll be off.

[Stuart]

Great post JHR and we essentially agree it comes back to the organisation and singing from the same hymn sheet.

I said in 2013 that the damage caused would take a long time to fix but it's not necessarily a priority to have money. A leader at Ewood above PL would be a start!

You always need money when you don't have any.

How many successful championship sides have been put together without spending any money on transfer fees? Even the paupers challenging have spent over £10m in the last two seasons.

Cash out - last two seasons:

Boro, £31m

Burnley, £23m

Brighton, £14m

Hull, £46m

Derby £26m

Sheff Weds, £12m

Rovers have spent less than £3m in the last three seasons combined, and @#/? away all of the parachute money (looking at the spend since you'd have to say that we mortgaged the parachute payments - have Venkys really spent any of their own money?) in the previous season on deadbeats managed by the deadbeat.

I'd say money is very important - and will only become moreso with the new Sky money. Even Blackpool spent nearly £4m in their promotion season. We spent £1.5m on Duffy. Last season.

Rovers do now have a leader in Lambert but not yet any on the pitch. This needs to be addressed but first we need to know if there is any money - because it's important to Lambert, and that's good enough for me.

[Husky]

How long will he put up with commuting between Kettering and Burnley? Any decent job nearer home and he'll be off.

Why doesn't he move to Burnley?

[K-Hod]

How long will he put up with commuting between Kettering and Burnley? Any decent job nearer home and he'll be off.

I've seen him knocking about in Whalley before now, I think he lives in the Ribble Valley...

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Regrettably he seems settled....Just need them to start struggling in the promised land then him get poached by another team. He does seem the loyal type though :-(

He leave when the right job comes along. He was within an ace of going to Sunderland not long ago.

[jim mk2]

I've seen him knocking about in Whalley before now, I think he lives in the Ribble Valley...

Family home is in Kettering

[Parsonblue]

Excellent post Stuart. It's become something of a myth that you can get out of this League without spending money. However, that's not the case - look at Bournemouth last season and how the owner bankrolled the loan deal for their 'keeper from Southampton who was on huge wages. Brighton have spent serious money - but then they get attendances of twenty-odd thousand who pay far more than we do to watch football. We've been fortunate in the past in being able to pick up the likes of Gestede, Conway and Cairney for next to nothing and they have turned out to be excellent signings. This season, too many of our free transfers haven't come off and hence our league position. Next season we are likely to have more clubs in this Division who will be able to spend big money to lure the better players to them. The Championship, at the top end at least, is becoming virtually a Premier League Second Division and hoping to fluke promotion on a shoe-string budget is becoming increasingly unlikely with every passing year. Although Lambert is clearly aware of this it would appear that the owners, having had their fingers burnt in the past by advisors, seem reluctant to throw good money after bad.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

More likely they get it awarded 2-0 and that puts them up the luck they have

I am just hoping that their luck runs out - they drop into a play off place - then lose in the play offs.

I know they say luck evens itself out over a season - but Burnley seem to have been luckier than most this season - indeed you could argue they have had all our good luck (especially over the two matches we played against them)

[Athlete]

Excellent post Stuart. It's become something of a myth that you can get out of this League without spending money. However, that's not the case - look at Bournemouth last season and how the owner bankrolled the loan deal for their 'keeper from Southampton who was on huge wages. Brighton have spent serious money - but then they get attendances of twenty-odd thousand who pay far more than we do to watch football. We've been fortunate in the past in being able to pick up the likes of Gestede, Conway and Cairney for next to nothing and they have turned out to be excellent signings. This season, too many of our free transfers haven't come off and hence our league position. Next season we are likely to have more clubs in this Division who will be able to spend big money to lure the better players to them. The Championship, at the top end at least, is becoming virtually a Premier League Second Division and hoping to fluke promotion on a shoe-string budget is becoming increasingly unlikely with every passing year. Although Lambert is clearly aware of this it would appear that the owners, having had their fingers burnt in the past by advisors, seem reluctant to throw good money after bad.

I agree with you next season will be harder

I hate Venky's with a passion but if you put yourself in their shoes yes they use advisors are they going to take advice and somehow fund a promotion push with no guarantee

Whilst at the other end of the table you'll have Burton and Wigan with another who comes up Bristol city and as it stands highly likely BRFC

On the subject of Gestede it looks like we had a good 12months out of him and during that time we should of done better

[CAPT KAYOS]

Excellent post Stuart. It's become something of a myth that you can get out of this League without spending money. However, that's not the case - look at Bournemouth last season and how the owner bankrolled the loan deal for their 'keeper from Southampton who was on huge wages. Brighton have spent serious money - but then they get attendances of twenty-odd thousand who pay far more than we do to watch football. We've been fortunate in the past in being able to pick up the likes of Gestede, Conway and Cairney for next to nothing and they have turned out to be excellent signings. This season, too many of our free transfers haven't come off and hence our league position. Next season we are likely to have more clubs in this Division who will be able to spend big money to lure the better players to them. The Championship, at the top end at least, is becoming virtually a Premier League Second Division and hoping to fluke promotion on a shoe-string budget is becoming increasingly unlikely with every passing year. Although Lambert is clearly aware of this it would appear that the owners, having had their fingers burnt in the past by advisors, seem reluctant to throw good money after bad.

Depends which way you look at it PB - relegation gets you out of this division also

A lot appear to be of the opinion that we are going to be challenging Promotion anytime soon - that ain't going to happen with what is going on at the club regardless of how much money is thrown at it.

There is still no structure or stabilisation and its that that needs addressing first - this won't happen with the loons aboard

Don't get me wrong - yes money is required to surmount to try for the promised land - currently though our plight is 'never never land' as our Peter Pan has been slowly tortured for the last 5-6 years.

We need to start to rebuild which yes, will be all the better if it could be in the Championship but if needs must then Div1 or 2 it will have to be - just need the disease removed so we can ground ourselves.

[DE.]

The Championship, at the top end at least, is becoming virtually a Premier League Second Division and hoping to fluke promotion on a shoe-string budget is becoming increasingly unlikely with every passing year.

You're right, which is why we didn't have time to waste hoping for the likes of Berg, Appleton or Bowyer to come good. We needed an experienced manager like Lambert from the start, not four years down the line with the squad decimated and debts racked up to an all time high. With an experienced manager at the helm I think it's very likely we would have at least made the playoffs once or twice over the past few seasons, but we've appointed a succession of chancers who have wasted our opportunities and left us looking at a long, long period in this division - and that's an optimistic outlook.