RyanioBirdio
Well-known member
- Joined
- 1 May 2018
- Messages
- 8,775
There was a Watford fan on the radio last season after they got beat 8-0 by Man City (I was driving back from the 6-0 win over Lincoln when they were on) and they were asked if it worried them that they could lose any game by eight goals. They completely laughed it off and said it didn’t matter, this is just what Watford do, they’ll go on a run and end up finishing lower mid-table like always etc. They got relegated. I never forgot that bloke.I think though that we are 'moaning' about the same thing - another dreadful start to the season.
You are right in that it has turned out 'OK' in other seasons, but blindly believing that will just happen as a matter of course (especially given the current circumstances both on and off the pitch) is pretty optimistic!
I posted the following back in July:
“In recent years the losing team in a L1 playoff final hasn’t always fared well in the next couple of seasons. Leyton Orient lost in 2014 and went down twice in the next three years to end up in the Conference; Swindon lost in 2015 and went down a couple of years later; Bradford lost in 2017 and were relegated in 2019... Shrewsbury also lost the 2018 final and only stayed up by two points the following season. It’s a representation of a division where large squad turnovers flip the table on its head every season. Squads are largely built on loans, one and two year contracts, and the teams higher up are waiting to swoop for any player who has a standout season for their club. It’s a hard division to stay consistently competitive in for the majority of clubs.”
To clarify, and before anyone starts wailing, I don’t think we will get relegated - or at least I don’t definitely think that we will. I think it’s more likely that we will grind out a win or two, put a bit of a run together, and move up a few places. If I had to put the house on an outcome at gunpoint, I would choose ‘not relegated’ in a heartbeat. But I think the key to that will be a healthy respect for the danger, and an acknowledgement that we could go down. I’ve seen so many people saying that there are four teams worse than us in this division. Based on what? How many times this season have you seen these teams play, to the point that you’re saying they are worse than we are? What’s your evidence? The league table says otherwise and I’ve already laid out examples of teams who lost the playoff final getting relegated or nearly getting relegated a year or two later. You have to respect the division and the teams in it, and there isn’t much of that coming from a few people. That’s dangerous. Be humble.
To reiterate, I think we are capable of turning around the poor start, as we have done several times before. I’m getting annoyed that we’re making a habit of starting badly and believe it’s symptomatic of a recurring issue that clearly isn’t being addressed for some reason, whatever it may be, but I believe we will be alright. So long as both the fans and the players / management don’t keep the faith in a way that becomes complacent. Especially in a season that could end or be suspended at any point over the winter, and where the league table has more immediate impact than ever before. Nobody can bank on next week, or next month, or the next 10/20 games being there.
Finally boot Captain Pugwash in the plumbs this weekend and we will all feel better for it. It’s got to happen eventually! ‘Mon the lads.