I blame the tea.

I think you're right that the Champs can't fully prepare a team for the Prem.

However most years there's a team (Sheffield U, Brentford etc) who do click and have at least a couple of seasons based around the core of their promoted side.

I still think that's doable, but I think it also takes a larger chunk of luck than most fans are willing to credit.

If we can get the skeleton of a squad together at this level and supplement that with two or three inspired signings if we get promoted I could see us do well.

Suspect that was the core of the issue last year - if Farke had got his wish for a CB a DFM and an Amf (or striker? Can't remember what Bailey said) it *may* have made the difference.

Or we could have splurged on three players who weren't up to snuff. (as it is, Rashica and Tzolis have crashed and burned - tho both clearly have some talent, but for whatever reason its not worked).

I think it's also important to note that unless you're paying £20-30m for a player these days you're unlikely to be buying guaranteed 'starter in the prem' quality. So picking up a bundle of players the next tier down was a legit approach, tho not one that paid off for us.

If we have sorted DFM with Hayden/Sara and if Idah/Sarge are starting to offer competition for Pukki, then I'd say we're in decent shape for another tilt at promotion and the core of the team will be young enough to build on.

And who knows, with new owners we might look to speculate a bit more.

(am pleased that things appear to be clicking a bit more for DeanSmith - hopefully he can build more rapport with the fans as the results come in. Also I don't see it as being incompatible with reflecting on Farke's successes - he was clearly a cut above and I'm pleased to see him doing well at Borussia M.

Reasons to be cheerful, for us
all round, nevertheless.

Posted By: Cardiff Canary on August 31st 2022 at 11:46:59

Message Thread

Pukki's got to come back in, hasn't he? (NCFC) - jamesward, Aug 31, 10:17:35
- Talking of flip flops... (NCFC) - usacanary, Aug 31, 11:51:15
- time to plan for No Pukki (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Aug 31, 11:35:02
- you mean if he is still here at the end of the week? (n/m) (NCFC) - Chris Peacock, Aug 31, 11:07:14
- Working this puzzle out will be pretty key to our season. (NCFC) - Under soil heating, Aug 31, 11:00:45
  - exactly. look at Sarg's physicals for the 2nd Millwall goal on the half way line etc (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 11:01:25
- I wouldn't drop Sarg atm. Don't break up a winning team. (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 11:00:03
  - You're forgetting (NCFC) - Captain Bligh, Aug 31, 11:11:04
    - Here is how we are top 2... (NCFC) - usacanary, Aug 31, 12:11:56
    - 100% - also think Nunez is hopeless at freekicks from any distance (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 11:37:13
      - 4 inches? (n/m) (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 11:42:27
        
        don't tell me your problems on here mate. we have a private line for such matters (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 11:45:33
        
        wide (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 11:49:13
        
        mmmm. Rashica. Let's not open that can of worms :-) (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 11:50:09
    - also rob butler says we aren't playing at our best yet (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 11:16:08
- I've preferred Josh there tbh (NCFC) - CWC, Aug 31, 10:30:58
  - We're on to a v good thing with Josh atm (NCFC) - paulg, Aug 31, 11:01:12
  - sargent out on the right quite a bit last night (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 10:53:36
    - if he keeps this up he has a chance of playing against England in Qatar (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 11:42:12
  - Could play Pukki instead of Dowell (NCFC) - jamesward, Aug 31, 10:38:37
    - Think you'd have to put him where Sinani plays (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 10:41:37
- We know Pukki through the middle doesn't work at the next level (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 10:27:42
  - Josh won’t work at the next level either (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 10:29:39
    - Michael Bailey on his post video thing last night was saying similar. (NCFC) - Bravo win or die, Aug 31, 11:31:28
      - It’s a weak league but we’ve avoided decent sides (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 11:47:17
      - I blame the tea. (NCFC) - Cardiff Canary, Aug 31, 11:46:59
        
        😊 🫖☕ (NCFC) - Bravo win or die, Aug 31, 12:15:03
    - Bleak miserable outlook (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 10:58:47
      - Just the reality of our situation (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 11:12:46
        
        Actually last season we did stop the rot (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 11:16:37
        
        Actually have had a shocker there (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 11:22:14
        
        Not sure why we bother employing you really, mistakes like that (n/m) (NCFC) - paulg, Aug 31, 11:28:03
        
        he's the fox news of wotb (n/m) (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 11:43:47
        
        Would hope the swift correction goes in my favour (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 11:30:46
        
        the time gap between the flip and the flop is not relavent (n/m) (NCFC) - Chris Peacock, Aug 31, 11:39:05
    - Sell them both tonight a see out the season with Kenny up top (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 10:32:42
      - Nope get promoted and bank the tv money (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 10:36:21
        
        Well by that logic it still makes sense to develop Sarge and flog him for profit (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 10:37:18
        
        Not if it costs us promotion (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 10:38:19
        
        Remind me who started in the four consecutive league wins? (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 10:43:04
        
        Krul (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 10:50:58
        
        Sure, sling him up front (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 11:11:34
        
        Sunderland? (n/m) (NCFC) - Dave in France, Aug 31, 10:48:07
        
        The Black Cats (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 11:18:34
      - Disband the club (n/m) (NCFC) - jamesward, Aug 31, 10:33:26
        
        Sell the ground (n/m) (NCFC) - Dave in France, Aug 31, 10:35:01
        
        Wrap up the club and give the proceeds to Ipswich now! (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 10:59:10
        
        who would buy a football ground miles from where they live? (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 11:11:50
        
        And a little room, seldom visited, slightly dusty (NCFC) - paulg, Aug 31, 11:38:50
        
        "kloppy" - lol - very good (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 11:47:58
        
        you missed a free-range Kale garden and smoothie centre (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 11:38:41
        
        great idea one of them living walls like marks and spencers has in chapelfield (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 11:47:39
        
        I had the old flint tower in mind, either that or the grass verge in front of the Angler (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 11:49:39
        
        they could easy tart that up with some double glazing and a roof make a feature of it (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 12:03:10
        
        Could you produce one of those pretty computer simulated pictures (NCFC) - paulg, Aug 31, 12:11:59
        
        i'm not that good at drawing wispy trees and elfin women (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 12:19:22
        
        Excellent- send it to the journo who broke that horror blue plastic story (NCFC) - paulg, Aug 31, 12:25:09
        
        I probably actually could :-) , but too busy working on a Cold War Recon game (Foxbat23) (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 12:15:54
        
        But what about Gorby?? Surely, in his honour, a day off? (n/m) (NCFC) - paulg, Aug 31, 12:19:22
        
        Yes. One is raising a glass of Vodka to him. But a day off maybe tricky atm :-) (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 12:27:42
        
        And you wouldn't want him in your game either (NCFC) - paulg, Aug 31, 12:31:29
        
        Exactly. This is more of a Breshnev era game really. U2, SR-71 and MIG25 (n/m) (NCFC) - munter, Aug 31, 12:43:17
        
        Maybe we could have one of those library boxes with a 'help yourself' sign (n/m) (NCFC) - Dave in France, Aug 31, 11:18:21
        
        good idea and a wurlitzer organ in case something dramatic happens (NCFC) - Tombs, Aug 31, 11:41:11
        
        Demolish the ground and sow the land with salt (n/m) (NCFC) - Under soil heating, Aug 31, 10:50:53
        
        Dahlia won't let that happen, she'll want it kept as a shrine to herself (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 10:36:00
        
        Hope Foulger has his filthy lucre banked (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 10:34:06
- It’s very harsh on Sarge, but ultimately yes he has. I just think his pace gives us more (NCFC) - DH Yellow, Aug 31, 10:27:35
  - His pace had us so much to start the season through the Hull game (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 10:35:17
    - Terribly worded (n/m) (NCFC) - Dave in France, Aug 31, 10:42:08
      - His pace had given us so much to start the season through to the Hull game (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Aug 31, 10:44:42
  - but at this level, the extra pace is a bigger advantage in the last 30 minutes (NCFC) - Dave in France, Aug 31, 10:33:42
    - Maybe. Sarge has been used from the bench too though, when we’ve played ‘longer’ (n/m) (NCFC) - DH Yellow, Aug 31, 10:34:59
- Yep not sustainable to keep him on the bench (NCFC) - SCC 28, Aug 31, 10:23:48
  - So if we sell him he will be on the bench? (NCFC) - usacanary, Aug 31, 12:15:29
- Smith doesn’t tend to play 2 up and Sarge is better through the middle (NCFC) - Knitted Jesus, Aug 31, 10:22:26

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