Rammy03

Me driving through Brum!

For a player that doesn't want to be in L1 Bielik seems to end up there quite a lot.

Great season. Birmingham down, Wycombe still in league one, Leeds bottle it, Middlesbrough close but not good enough, Forest fighting relegation and buggered with FFP

Derby promoted
Birmingham relegated
Leeds falling apart again
Its tiiimmmmmmeeeeee to
 

i must admit i am enjoying this one, they have been lucky to escape the drop for about a decade now

The Premier League is the best league in the world, due to having the best managers and coaches.
There was a time when every body was claiming the PL was the best in the world, but it really wasn’t.
La Liga was the best between 2009-15. That six year spell had 3 of the best 5 teams in Europe, while the likes of Sevilla, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao were better than the likes of Liverpool and Man Utd.
But as soon as Klopp and Pep came over, the standard increased to a point where genuine top class managers like Conte, Ancelotti and Emery were happy to join lesser clubs.
I wouldn’t take this season’s European results as proof of league standing. No way is Serie A or the Bundesliga of better quality. 
Some could even argue that the demands of the PL will only make it harder for teams in Europe due to the scheduling. 
You only have to look at Liverpool running out of gas. 

Leeds, Villa, WBA and Derby was probably the strongest playoff set since playoffs became a thing.
This season also looks strong, but I don’t think Norwich and West Brom are as strong as us back then.
Last season seemed a poor one, as did Forest’s too.

This is a good one, the tears and sad music always cheer me up 😛
 
 

We’d get absolutely rinsed for doing this.
I personally think it should be reserved for winning the league or a cup. Saturday was fun enough.

It has - but only because it’s given an insight into how great the group of players are. Celebrating with the fans from the final whistle all the way through pubs in town. Genuinely nice blokes happy for themselves, the club and the city. 
 
Compare with other stuff I saw this week with Leicester players celebrating going up by gathering in the safety of one of their mansions and having a few drinks around the kitchen island. Soulless and removed from the fans. 
 
Really shows what Warne has built and hopefully he can keep the spirit even through squad changes over summer. 

So the second placed team just needs to avoid defeat at home to a team already relegated to gain automatic promotion. While the team in third place can take second place on goal difference if they can win their game against the team in forth and hope the team in second fail to get the point they need. 
Mmmm this is all sounding very familiar. Hope the Tractor Boys have got their flags and flares ready.
And someone tell the pubs in Ipswich to order more beer.
 
As for the Dirties, enjoy the play-offs 😎
and don't forget to take your twirly scarfs, to reminded you of your last play-off game.
 

Matt Hale is the main guy.
Fleming was bought in by Hale.

I find some of this debate a bit demeaning to PW. This is the guy who negotiated himself a 4 year contract with a very clever business man! He then took over the football at a club that was almost dead, with very limited resource and in 2 seasons got us up.
Look at that record as an unbiased outsider and you see a very sharp cookie.
I'm sure if he wants an extension he will know just when to ask, equally DC will offer one when the time is right.

Won't anyone think of poor Bielik's Poland career?

Leeds stay down and Forest come down, Ipswich done it the right way. Leicester cheated their way up already unfortunately.
Brum to go down, vile fanbase.

Just thinking back to my comments about the passionate lower league fans, just shows the power of the pyramid system which the Premier League really doesn't seem to care about.
Long live the English League system, protect it, worship it, it's so important

Lol, how many of the past seasons have we said that?

Going on what Rotherham fans were saying in September 2022, Warne had learned from his 2 relegations with the Millers and had them 8th, albeit after just 9 games with a game in hand on all those above them. Win the GIH and they were 5th. He left they ended up 19th last season and got relegated this season. I think the 2 relegations say more about RUFC than they do about PW. 3rd time round he'd got some players who were capable of top half play and results. My hope is that he does that with us and plays all football has to offer. Decent keeper, solid defence, both steel and skill in MF, wide players who can go both down the outside and put in a decent cross to a #9 who's where you want your #9 to be and also cut inside and shoot. Strikers who can put a good header in, be in the 6 yard box to pick up the pieces, create goals himself, run the channels at the right time, shoot from distance and hit the 20 goal mark through the season.
All of the above must be able to control the ball and have a good first touch. I do realise this particular demand would mean we wouldn't take Haaland on as his 1st touch is awful (atrocious v Real Madrid) but he does have a great eye for a goal...
L1? Thanks but no thanks. Too many dark arts teams. Too many awful referees, their assistants and 4th officials. Too many cloggers who get away with it. If I were to referee a L1 game, I might end up having to abandon the game as at least one side would not have enough players left on the park. Refereeing guidelines call for yellow cards for timewasting. They get given very occasionally. Idem ditto for diving, feigning injury, preventing the quick taking of a freekick, corner or throw. All designed to reduce the chances of an opponent creating chances and possibly scoring. These are all things many fans hate, refs have been told to take action but they seldom do.
When I played, I did commit fouls but I never purposely took down a player who had "done" me. I am a firm believer that, if you get beaten by speed and/or skill you should accept it and stop the player next time, legally, by being better positioned and "doing" him. I'm convinced that a return to "sporting behaviour" and cutting out the so called professional foul would see more attractive games and more goals scored. Isn't the game all about scoring goals and also not conceding them within the Laws of the game?
Football is probably the one profession where deliberately breaking the Laws is seen as a professional act rather than the act of cheating that it actually is.

I'd agree with letting Collins go cus League 1 looks to be his natural level at this stage in his career.  But I'd certainly give Smith another 12 months as he gave some fresh impetuous down the stretch, played some good stuff and it's important to have some senior pros in and around the squad.
Plus I don't think the jump to the Championship is that big.  You look at the table now and with some astute signings I'd fancy our chances against anyone from Brizzle downwards, especially at home.

I'm going full Nigel Clough and will be happy with 50 points. Anything else is a bonus!
(Although I've a sneaky feeling we will do quite a bit better than that.) 

Stay up, spring a few surprises, get points off Forest.
Sensible club, build properly.
 

Just to say a massive well done to Warney and all the players involved this season. Not only have they achieved a hard fought promotion back to the Ch'ship, but they've restored pride in the club. Amazing!