+ Visit Cardiff FC for Latest News, Transfer Gossip, Fixtures and Match Results |
I think some people say the league is weak when in reality the teams are more even.
A better gauge for how strong a league is might be how many of the top sides of our league would have a chance of avoiding relegation from the premier league and how many of the premier league strugglers would also struggle in the championship.
Sheffield United had just been promoted that season. The Game you mention was in August (i think) Sheffield United were feeling their way into things although they did look good. They reminded me of Brentford that evening, good on the ball, great movement and build up but a soft side that early Warnock sides were excellent at exploiting. It goes back to my point, performance is everything. When people were singling out Sheff United and Brentford as 'soft' even though they played really good football they probably didn't allow for the development of those players and the odd addition that would make the difference. It's so much easier to add to a team where players are integrated into a system of play rather than a style that relies on long balls and quick wingers like us at the time.
Would be interested in how this would work because teams going up aim to add four or five players of real quality before season starts and teams coming down aim to lose that many to ease issues with wages. Then you have exceptions such as Wolves who were able to add quality while still playing in Championship, Fulham who aimed to add eleven players of greater quality but was probably a significant reason for their struggles, or Newcastle a couple of seasons ago who stuck with a Premier League squad when relegated to Championship.