Sustainability

[kerry red]

If we take it as a given that we will be plying our trade in League 1 next season, I was wondering what people think of the sustainability of STFC to progress.

I was reading an article by Rod Liddle in this week's Sunday Times sports section about the QPR documentary and he had this to say regarding just why Briatore et al bought QPR in the first place:

'The capacity of Loftus Road is 19000 and this is an accurate reflection of their supporter base. West London has its mega club for psychologically needy people who might wish to fork out each week to part of vicariously acquired, more or less guaranteed success i.e. Chelsea.

'QPR, like Brentford, are a local club with a gently dwindling supporter base. I do not mean their crowds are going down, I mean that the area is changing from what it once was and that a smaller proportion of those who now live around Shepherds Bush give a toss about football.

'There are places where the demographics suggest that a lower division club could be turned into a major force, with all the financial rewards that this would entail - Swindon, Reading, Brighton and maybe even Bournemouth. Towns without much of a guilded history in the game but where the population has been swollen in the last 20 years precisely by the people who like to watch football matches live, in the flesh - the white, working class.'

So can Swindon firstly achieve, then sustain, top flight football without the need for the owners to be forever putting their hands in their pockets. Reading seem to have got it just about right - although I would be a bit wary of their new foreign owners - but is it more likely will become a Bristol City, Preston et al who have a few good years in the Championship but ultimately find themselves on the way down again.

Would we be happy being another Watford for example - maybe one year flirt with the playoffs, the next flirt with relegation, but ultimately settle for the status quo.

[Abrahammer]

I'd give my left ball to have the league positions Watford have had over the last 10 or so years.

[Reg Smeeton]

 I'm certainly not taking it as a given we'll be in L1 next season, still more or less a quarter of the season to go and a lot can happen in that time.

 Anything that Liddle says really isn't worth giving too much thought to.

[Boy About Town]

I'm certainly not taking it as a given we'll be in L1 next season, still more or less a quarter of the season to go and a lot can happen in that time.

 Anything that Liddle says really isn't worth giving too much thought to.

Really? You still believe we could fuck the season up? 

[tans]

Rod liddle is a complete cunt.

[Reg Smeeton]

Really? You still believe we could fuck the season up?  

Of course we could...still a lot of work to be done, and that's best achieved by looking no further than the next game....Crewe, an unusual side for this Div, will play some decent football, and have some talent, which being young is a bit hit and miss...let's hope they're more miss than hit on Sat.

[Samdy Gray]

Do you not even have the tiniest bit of optimism in there somewhere Reg?

[Reg Smeeton]

Do you not even have the tiniest bit of optimism in there somewhere Reg?

That's not the issue...the original post states

If we take it as a given that we will be plying our trade in League 1 next season

I just think it's a bit too early to make that assumption....there'll be plenty of opprtunity to debate these matters during the close season, or when we've got promoted.

[Ardiles]

A few months in to last season, Reg starting predicting relegation.  No one else was.  We knew we were missing Paynter and Greer but, at that point, most felt Wilson needed time and that we would turn it around.  'Fuck off, Reg', though I.  (I was far too polite to voice such an opinion.)  But several months later, I started to concede that maybe we might go down after all.

At around this time, Reg started predicting that we would not just go down, but that we would also finish bottom.  'Fuck off, Reg', thought...

Et cetera, et cetera.  I wish the old fella would keep these predictions to himself.

[Flashheart]

Before this season even began, Reg was saying that no team would get out of the fourth tier by playing good football.

[DV]

I'm also know around these parts as being a bit of a pessimist.

I think they should have presented us with the title on Saturday.

[Only Me]

A few months in to last season, Reg starting predicting relegation.  No one else was.  We knew we were missing Paynter and Greer but, at that point, most felt Wilson needed time and that we would turn it around.  'Fuck off, Reg', though I.  (I was far too polite to voice such an opinion.)  But several months later, I started to concede that maybe we might go down after all.

At around this time, Reg started predicting that we would not just go down, but that we would also finish bottom.  'Fuck off, Reg', thought...

Et cetera, et cetera.  I wish the old fella would keep these predictions to himself.

The difference here is that Reg isn't predicting doom and gloom, but just saying it's too early to assume we will be promoted (phew!)

[Reg Smeeton]

A few months in to last season, Reg starting predicting relegation.  No one else was.  We knew we were missing Paynter and Greer but, at that point, most felt Wilson needed time and that we would turn it around.  'Fuck off, Reg', though I.  (I was far too polite to voice such an opinion.)  But several months later, I started to concede that maybe we might go down after all.

At around this time, Reg started predicting that we would not just go down, but that we would also finish bottom.  'Fuck off, Reg', thought...

Et cetera, et cetera.  I wish the old fella would keep these predictions to himself.

I'm not predicting we'll fuck it up, just saying it's a possibility...

[@MacPhlea]

I'm not predicting we'll fuck it up, just saying it's a possibility...

Your are obviously a witch and should be burned at the stake