Good Team Shit League/ Shit Team Good League

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

I think I prefer the good team in a shit league scenerio myself. Last season was brilliant and we were clearly too good for L2. I feel this season as good as it has been at times hasn't come close to last. Also it hasn't come close to 03/04 or 09/10 either which were both play-off seasons at this level. There was a buzz around the club in them 2 seasons but that buzz doesn't seem to be here this season yet results wise we're no worse off.

I'd like a season in the Championship though having said all that. I don't care if we finish bottom it's been ages since we have played at that level and I think all of us would appreciate the change of scenery even if only for 12 months.

Come the end of this month we'll know whether we're facing the play-offs again or not. I know we all have bad memories of losing at Wembley the other year or of that famous Brighton game but as a football fan there's nothing quite like the play-offs. You got through every emotion and just think of that win at Charlton. Really it's what being a fan is all about. When the good times come you make the most of them whether it be L2 or the PL.

[RedRag]

encapsulates the STFC mission perfectly, - hadn't bothered with this opus since Ihe days of vinyl (unlike "Careful with that axe, Paolo Eugene")

[jonny72]

PL? Not the promised land. Yeah for all you young 'uns who were not around when Hoddle took us there it looks good on telly. Unless we have a significantly increased capacity and monied benefators willing to bankroll the then manager with the players needed to keep us there then I see another car crash.

Would still be the initial excitement for me. I'd have a season ticket and go to as many away as I could.

But after a few seasons of shit football maintaining mid-table mediocrity I could see my interest waning.

[BruceChatwin]

But our yoyoing is the Sisyphean condition. We stay put by going up and down the leagues..

Football's inherently Sisyphean, regardless of division or success of your team. You can never truly 'win' the football to paraphrase a Mitchell and Webb sketch. It just goes on forever. You're always going to roll back to the bottom some time. The most compelling thing is the journey, the destination is just a Macguffin on the horizon to give that journey meaning.

Being a Swindon fan over the last six years has been like going on a rollercoaster sitting between heaven (promotions, Wembley finals, rich benefactors) and hell (relegation, losing our manager/ best player, the threat of administration/ liquidation) that's gone out of control, climbing and diving between them. Being a Stoke fan over the same period has been like paying more for a seat on a stable monorail through a beautiful city (the Premier League) where you can look out the window at all the nice things everyone else has you can never have for yourself.

I know which one I'm happier to have ridden over the last six years however miserable I was during the lows.

[BruceChatwin]

[Reg Smeeton]

Being a Stoke fan over the same period has been like paying more for a seat on a stable monorail through a beautiful city (the Premier League) where you can look out the window at all the nice things everyone else has you can never have for yourself.

I like your monorail analogy....I'd see it more as one of those monorails in a theme park, whereby you can go round watching all sorts of pointless activities...in the middle will be an artificially created bit that's supposed to be super exciting (Prem League) as a Stoke fan you can get off and go and play if you want. If you're a Town fan you'd be more inclined to bypass that bit, you may observe and wonder what the fuss is about before alighting at the relatively empty cup and saucer ride hidden away in the corner (Div 3)

[SleafordRobin]

I honestly believe IF we go up, we'll do OK in the Championship.  We play well against decent teams & our playing style deserves to be at a higher level.

[Abrahammer]

I'd like a season in the Championship though having said all that. I don't care if we finish bottom it's been ages since we have played at that level and I think all of us would appreciate the change of scenery even if only for 12 months.

Exactly my thoughts, teams we haven't played for ages, different grounds.

I've seen the likes of Tranmere, Colchester, Oldham enough times over the last 10-12 years to last me a lifetime.

[sonicyouth]

Being a yo-yo team isn't a problem and that doesn't constitute stagnation. I'd be happy for us to be a L1/Championship yo-yo side - it's nice playing other teams, want to get to more away games again too.

[Arriba]

I honestly believe IF we go up, we'll do OK in the Championship.  We play well against decent teams & our playing style deserves to be at a higher level.

don't think we will go up but will need huge investment in players if we do. Our squad is very ordinary even by league 1 standards.

[fatbasher]

don't think we will go up but will need huge investment in players if we do. Our squad is very ordinary even by league 1 standards.

Sadly you're right. So, do the current guardians have the financial muscle?

[Arriba]

Sadly you're right. So, do the current guardians have the financial muscle?

time will tell but I aint holding my breath. The last minute loan deals were hardly inspiring so they have it all to do.