Going down

[Frank Clark’s Tash]

I've seen a fair few posts from people who have understandably grown sick and tired of our time in the Premier League, saying that a return to Championship football would be welcome. No VAR, more games, and a chance of getting a ticket to watch us actually win a few bands does sound pretty tempting.

However, the question needs to be asked of 'what then'? Would those same people be happy to just stay in the Championship for the foreseeable future, bobbling around in mid table? Would they actually not want to see us storm the league/sneak the playoffs and gain promotion, knowing another season of off-field bullshit and preying for 17th place awaits?

If you're actually in the camp of looking forward to a return to the Championship, what does longer term success look like to you?

 

[Otis Redding]

A good question, and one I've asked both on here and of friends who say they prefer Championship football and wouldn't be bothered if we're relegated. None have given a definitive answer when I ask them if their ultimate ambition for us is to finish 7th every season.

 

[Arsebishop Desmond TwoTwo]

 

[Browser79]

We probably all knew that top 6 wasn’t even a realistic long term target, let alone short/mid term when we came up. But we were just pleased to be here. And thought we’d probably enjoy being relevant, having decent players, fighting for respectable mid table slots. What I now feel is that it’s not enjoyable at all, I preferred being irrelevant by and large, and the nefarious forces of big business have locked this league up in an effort to stop a breakaway super league. It’s a cess pit. I’m sure I’ll celebrate if we stay up but I’ll need a wash.

Sitting in the champ with no desire to move will turn me into a part-time fan I suspect. What I’m really hoping for is some change that shifts the whole dynamic. Leaning towards that being the super league which I never thought I’d ever say. Lesser of a whole nest of evils.

 

[BryanRoy22]

It's so difficult to get into the Premier League in the first place, as 23 years of Forest misery have shown, however it's almost harder to stay in the elite league nowadays.

Having that said, Leicester, Leeds and Southampton are right at the top of the Championship table. They managed to keep many of their Premier League quality players in their large squads.

I do have this feeling if Forest got relegated and happened to entice a lot of decent players to stay, it could generate a bit of a feel good factor in the Championship (similar to that promotion season under Dave Bassett) leading on to a consolidation period in the Premier League if we gained promotion. Ultimately, that would only occur if we were to learn from past mistakes with our eyes wide open in terms of what it's all about.

 

[Otis Redding]

It's so difficult to get into the Premier League in the first place, as 23 years of Forest misery have shown, however it's almost harder to stay in the elite league nowadays.

Having that said, Leicester, Leeds and Southampton are right at the top of the Championship table. They managed to keep many of their Premier League quality players in their large squads.

I do have this feeling if Forest got relegated and happened to entice a lot of decent players to stay, it could generate a bit of a feel good factor in the Championship (similar to that promotion season under Dave Bassett) leading on to a consolidation period in the Premier League if we gained promotion. Ultimately, that would only occur if we were to learn from past mistakes with our eyes wide open in terms of what it's all about.

I'd hate for us to go back down there Bryan.

 

[BryanRoy22]

I'd hate for us to go back there Bryan.

This is where I'm conflicted with myself, because it has taken so long to get to the Premier League.

How long would it take to get back there again?

 

[wrexhamred]

Now we're here after 23 years it would be a real sh1tter to give it up but I wouldn't be slitting my wrists if we did get relegated. My thought is that we could take a season to just breathe in the relative calm of the championship, build back our confidence & try to recreate the team spirit that we had before. I reckon a season of winning more than 7 games would do wonders for the confidence of the players, especially the younger guys if we keep hold of them.

I think the problem we had in the promotion season was that by the January window we were still only mid table so there were no realistic thoughts of preparing for the premier league. We ended up with a single window to buy virtually a whole premier league level team. It's no wonder our recruitment team didn't do so well under that kind of pressure & I don't think we've really recovered from that.

If we were to go back down to the championship we would be in an infinitely stronger position.....even if we had to sell some players we would have the money from those sales on top of parachute payments, neither of which we had in the promotion season & I'm pretty sure we would be able to hold onto some good players that we could build the team around & come back much stronger & much better prepared.

Having said that staying up would be the preference.

 

[Red Dog in a Forest]

If it wasn’t for the dodgy refereeing decisions I’d have loved this season.

Let’s be honest, we’d be at least 10-15 points off, the players would have more confidence and we’d be comfortably mid-table, possibly pushing for top half.

As it stands, I’ve grown to hate it over the last 3-4 months. If we go back to the Championship I won’t be watching. I did 15 years of that over here. It’s exhausting.

 

[Beeston]

An ideal world???
EM gone.
New decent owner.
Promoted again in a couple of seasons.

 

[YellowBelly Red]

If we went down to the Championship, we would take Leeds' place as the Sky cash cow, and they've had 29 games changed to accommodate TV this season!

This week alone for Leeds.....Monday night in Middlesborough, Friday night in West London.

 

[Col Steve Austin]

If it wasn’t for the dodgy refereeing decisions I’d have loved this season.

Let’s be honest, we’d be at least 10-15 points off, the players would have more confidence and we’d be comfortably mid-table, possibly pushing for top half.

As it stands, I’ve grown to hate it over the last 3-4 months. If we go back to the Championship I won’t be watching. I did 15 years of that over here. It’s exhausting.

Exactly. This is what frustrates me about the calls for Nuno to be sacked etc. Eg on Sunday, if we'd been given that first penalty and went 1-0 up it would've been a very different game.

Under Nuno we have been a mid-table team but referees and our PSR incompetence have conspired to lose him/us 13 points. That's half of our current points total. And that's largely without Taiwo.

It will be a travesty if this squad is relegated, they could build into a very good team.

As for the OPs question of what success looks like in the Championship - enjoying games again, seeing a few wins etc. Just for devil's advocate, what does success in the PL look like? Because as the rules stand we're never breaking into the regular Europe-qualifying positions, or having much of a chance of winning anything.

Would you have another season in the championship for another day like that in Wembley?

 

[Erik]

We get relegated I expect and will demand instant promotion next season. 12th in the Premier League 1st season back, top 10 the following year and top 6 the season after that.

 

[Strummer]

After you with the Bong!

 

[Cureboy]

With regards to relegation, I cared when Cooper was in charge but I care slightly less now if it happens. Can't help it.

However with the sense of injustice this season and the fact that I would hate Luton to finish above us cos they are sh*t, on balance I'd rather stay up. Can't stand VAR and the top six bias though...so I wouldn't be crying about it.

 

[T.B.T.]

I alluded to this in another thread somewhere.

This season was always going to be difficult and we’ve done a mighty fine job of making it harder for ourselves. We’ve had a few good games and results but we’ve also had a lot of poor and terrible ones too. We’ve been fortunate that Burnley and Sheffield United have been so poor.

The ultimate objective has to be survival and then build upon that slowly but surely. Should we be relegated then our focus has to be an immediate return to the Premier League.

Despite all the drama, the politics and the controversy I don’t want us to be back in the Championship long term. No, no, no.

Maybe it’s time to re-consider a Super-League and the top 6 can piss off and do their thing.

 

[JohhnyM]

The Championship is second-rate shite and I don’t understand how anyone who goes regularly would rather we were in it.

 

[enlightened]

My dream scenario (which I know is never going to happen for all sorts of reasons) if we get relegated would be to win the Championship and then refuse promotion.

 

[Bonalair]

I eluded to this in another thread somewhere.

This season was always going to be difficult and we’ve done a mighty fine job of making it harder for ourselves. We’ve had a few good games and results but we’ve also had a lot of poor and terrible ones too. We’ve been fortunate that Burnley and Sheffield United have been so poor.

The ultimate objective has to be survival and then build upon that slowly but surely. Should we be relegated then our focus has to be an immediate return to the Premier League.

Despite all the drama, the politics and the controversy I don’t want us to be back in the Championship long term. No, no, no.

Maybe it’s time to re-consider a Super-League and the top 6 can piss off and do their thing.

This, but with alluded spelt correctly.

Sorry TBT

 

[Strummer]

Someone is going to get a shoeing!

 

[jdthebrit]

We have a Get out of jail free card what with 3 teams being predictably awful this season. 99 times out a hundred this would not occur and we would be in (even more) serious straits.
As it is, one win and everyone will be grinning again. Unfortunately the Blades have a psychological hold over us from somewhere, but Chelsea can be done like a kipper. Burnley is the reserve, which we're hoping we don't need.
Summary: No panicking here. Yet.

 

[Flaggers]

Stay in the Premier League.

Destroy the Premier League (in a cartel/rigged sense)

 

[Marco Pascolo]

Stay in the Premier League.

Destroy the Premier League (in a cartel/rigged sense)

100% stay in the league and pull it down from the inside

 

[football post]

Pay day tomorrow so I'll begrudgingly renew my seat. I'm honestly not bothered where we are next season. The last week has really annoyed me. From the bully boy tactics off the pitch to the weak pathetic displays on it. (not to mention the refereeing circus)
If we do go down I certainly won't miss the threats from the club about the fictitious waiting list or their general attitude towards us. We'll suddenly become important to them again.
I suppose the aim is always to be better but God this season has really tested that.

 

[Captain Sinister]

The Championship is second-rate shite and I don’t understand how anyone who goes regularly would rather we were in it.

Second rate is what we are… the only first rate thing we have is the fan base.
And the Club is doing its best to alienate that.
If we get relegated we are unlikely to romp the Championship.