Reasons To Be Cheerful About The Championship

2006-7 was kind of the opposite to us now. Isn’t there the stat that if games ended after 80 minutes we’d have stayed up comfortably? No shortage of effort in every game, but just woefully short on quality.

 

I guess it's all about the finance issue. Let's be honest, none of us have a clue about the reality of this. Not now ITKMing, ITKTim and Meredensi don't post anymore.

There are so many unknowns heading into next season if we get relegated. I guess this is why people are nervous. If by some miracle we do stay up, it'll be the same old tedium.

 

Anyone know when the CHampionship is due to kick off next season?

 

When I see some of the top teams playing at the top of their game I fear Watford cannot possibly live with them. When you saw the euphoria (and despair) after the Championship results last night I feel this is a better all round league for us (apart from the obvious financial element). It will be much more enjoyable to genuine Watford fans in my opinion. Anyway we will probably stay up as it will cost me a small fortune if we do. COYH.

 

I wonder what they're planning to do with derbies, obviously high-profile fixtures, but ones with the potential for trouble, will they do all they can to get home and away fans to be able to attend, or will they put them on early in the season to increase the prospect of BCD?

 

They may ban me from sitting in the away stand, but they can't stop me from standing outside away grounds with my yellow and black facepaint, state-of-the-art Kelme gear and a vegetable and vuvuzela in hand!

 

Could be the first season for about 23 years (Since Kenny J's season in charge) that they finish above us ?

 

I think the EFL would insist on socially distanced fighting only.

 

The only thing to be looking forward to in the Championship is a promotion push and winning more games. It can be exciting, and if someone could promise we'd be the "main team", winning 30 odd games and finishing as Champions, I'd actually be excited by it.

However, we know, even though we've got good players for the Championship right now, it's highly unlikely we'd retain any of our star players or saleable assets. This would strip us down quite a bit.

What would Watford look like without Deulofeu, Sarr, Welbeck, Doucoure, Capoue, Hughes, Pereyra.....and not getting Suarez or Estupinan. It's possible Foster may go also.

We would left with something functional, but would we be strong enough to win the league? Forward line would look something like Deeney, Gray, Cucho (maybe), Pedro, Success, Cassidy; Wingers would be Sema, Pussetto & Penaranda; midfield Chalobah, Quina, Cleverley, Dele-Bashiru, Whelan, Hungbo & Wise; but the defense should be exactly the same, with the addition of Wilmott (if Swansea don't go up) and maybe Navarro.

That's an advantage of having a Championship defense. No one will take them off our hands, and these players would be now actually quite useful to us, as they will be a group who are used to playing with each other.

I can't see us making too many signings, it will be just outgoings to boost the financial situation, which will be dire. Not only a relegation but the after effects of Covid. Revenue streams will be down right across the board.

We'll still get 55% of the basic Sky TV money as a parachute payment. Add that to the sale of Peyerya, Doucoure, Geri and Sarr the income in season one will be ok to see us through.

We will have to sell for sure, but I'm hoping we only sell the bare minimum in order to have a real go at bouncing back. Keeping Geri until October 5th, in order for him to prove his fitness I think would be a likely thing, so he could help us get off to a good start. Keeping Welbeck which is another possibility considering his injury record and that fact we'd want good money for him, may put off clubs from signing him. I'm not too convinced both Doucoure and Capoue would go either. Doucoure is nowhere near the level he was a couple of years ago, and Capoue seems happy and settled at the club which may go in our favour.

Mentally the players would have to get around the fact they are no longer Premier League players. That can be tough, but I'm hoping those that do stay, do get over that quickly and knuckle down to get Watford back.

 

Welbeck is already getting interest from Turkey.

 

The good thing about the champ is that, as long as we can stay reasonably mid tableish, we can kid ourselves that the playoffs are in reach until about 3 games from the end of the season.

 

I like to think of myself as fairly level headed and able to look at things objectively. Being relegated is never good financially, but you only have to look at the amount of points deductions going on to see that for those that haven’t been sucking at the premier league teat recently, Covid is far worse relatively speaking.

We’ll be in better shape to bounce back than in any other season, but that doesn’t mean we will.

My gut feeling is we’ll have a season of consolidation and finish 12th, then we’ll get our act together the following season and finish in the top two.

 

The Athletic had a podcast on relegation and how it'd effect each club. The 'financial' expert was pretty positive about our accounts and thought we should be fine, especially if we manage to sell some of our higher profile assets - e.g. Estupin and Sarr

 

I’m looking forward to seeing the fixtures and not scrolling through them thinking every game looks difficult and how easy it would be not to win a game for a few months at a time.

The standard of football is lower but then we’ve hardly been served up a treat of it this year.

My enthusiasm will depend on which way they decide to rebuild a promotion. If we change things up and go more with the younger players I’d be happy.

The thought of this being our team for the first game of the season isn’t so exciting and I’d imagine very possible

Foster, mariappa, Dawson, kabasele, Masina, Cleverley, Chalobah , Hughes, pussetto, Pedro, Deeney.

 

I will speculate that after 14 years of not playing them which is the second longest period in our derby history (1937-1963 being the longest) there will be a turnout from them-its not that far and with pubs/shops open and the transport system working why not. Masked up may actually encourage more. Its not like they can only get here by club coach-they can be about just like everyone else and may pick a few places to congregate-Moon Under Water being one. Police may act if they get wind of that in advance but they didn't cover themselves in glory back in 02 and that helped you and your sister have that awful experience.

 

Would be good to keep Hughes, at least.

 

Z-Cars not being cut short to accommodate the poxy Premier League 'anthem' (.....not to mention the Krypton Factor-esque assembly of that bloody arch thing).

 

Surely they can be transported from Luton and back in a giant cage that could be lowered onto the top of the vic rd end and then taken away after so we dont have to have our stadium defiled by their presence.

 

Akinfenwa V Deeney. Hoof ball for 90 mins and both trying to win cheap fouls as they can't Control the ball.

 

They might still be in a lockdown in September at this rate lol

 

They might still be in a lockdown in September at this rate lol

 

That squad she said was one of the best got promotion through the playoffs and went on to get relegated after one season, ten points from 17th, won five games, gained 28 points and scored 29 goals. King scored two goals before his injury and two after his return to the team.

Compare that to the Pozzo squad that got automatic promoted through finishing second in the Championship. In its first season in the Premier League it had 12 wins, Got 45 points and scored 40 goals.

So my point was, the Pozzo promoted squad was clearly better than the Simpson squad.

I am not sure what the current squad has to do with the point she made in her OP?

 

Looking back over the season, I can honestly say I think I’ve enjoyed watching fewer than 10 games this season. And that includes the cup games.

With the exception of Liverpool (a) there were no hard fought losses, we just meekly surrendered each week.
With the exception of Arsenal (h) there were no dramatic draws, just Flores bore draw specials.
Even wins have been pretty unenjoyable at times - I can’t say either the Norwich or Newcastle games were fun to watch.

As long as there are fans allowed again next season, in some capacity, then I’m sure we can expect a few more games worth remembering.

 

No Alan Smith on co-commentary. Dull, boring and devoid of emotion or knowledge about anyone outside the sky six, a personality vacuum.

 

Viva the ‘Orns. Championship’s better anyway.

 

The chance to smash those pi*ey gyppo sh*tc**ts TWICE.

 

Looking forward to it. It’s a much better league to be in. I’d rather have a tilt at going up than just trying to stay up. We’ll win more games, play more football, less tv influence and no VAR.

 

Joao Pedro
No Giraldi

Only way they get any of my money next season.