[Albion] Are we a Championship team playing in the Premier League?

[Bozza]

If nothing else, yesterday we played what seems to be Hughton's first choice side, and 8 of the 10 outfield players were regulars last season, so almost by definition a Championship side.

It was a very, very good Championship side however and probably illustrates that the top few in the Championship aren't too far away from the lower half of the Premier League.

 

[Hampster Gull]

No, we are a Premier League team and we do play in the Premier League

 

[Sussex Nomad]

I haven't been arsed to read however many pages, but there are 14 teams playing at Championship/Prem level.

 

[Puppet Master]

I expect everyone'll get sassy about this but yes, it is accurate.

 

[Weststander]

Agree. Also i imagine a lot of this season's Prem money is earmarked for other things. The aim is to spend as little as possible and survive this season. After 2 or 3 season's money we can start buying Prem quality players.

I think TB would spend the big money, for example in this window, as PB said "staying up this season is everything". For the right player/s.

They're NOT playing a cautious game, to go down and have a huge warchest for the Championship season 2018/19. Boro, Villa and many others have on paper been able to do just that, but soon found it's a division with a dozen other wealthy clubs hell bent on going up that season.

Gross, Dunk, Stephens and Duffy will not play Championship football, so staying up really is everything.

 

[worthingseagull123]

No. We're 12th in the Premier League for crying out loud.

But two/three defeats on the bounce we could be 18th.

 

[Hampster Gull]

But two/three defeats on the bounce we could be 18th.

Two or three wins on the bounce and we could be 8th

 

[Weststander]

Wolves have a couple of players who were playing regular first team football for Porto last season. One of which is the weirdest transfer I've seen in a long time, a young international midfielder that many PL clubs were chasing but Mendes transferred him to Wolves instead. It's very much the Jorge Mendes show there, even the manager was his very first client I believe (NES).

If they don't win the Championship at a canter then it would be a massive failure, both us and Newcastle would have struggled last season with them in their current state.

They will win it at a cantor. I've seen alot of them, they're brilliant, not just attacking, but they score any sort of goal, can defend, battle against dirty teams and have Albion-like team spirit. I do realise that they've achieved this by acquiring/borrowing a stack of internationals on probably huge wages.

 

[BensGrandad]

The Premier League is niow being shiown as the top 6 and the others as all teams have accepted they will not beat the top teams so make changhes to give the players a rest so rthey can play against teams around them in the table. Stoke did it against Man City as did Newcastle saying their next games are more importrant. CH does the same for us.

 

[durrington gull]

Spot on, we’re a championship outfit in the Premier but having a good season all things considered

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

We are a hybrid squad containing Premier League quality but also Championship quality.

 

[The red pepper kid]

[If they don't win the Championship at a canter then it would be a massive failure, both us and Newcastle would have struggled last season with them in their current state.[/QUOTE]

WHAT ?--- you are in your own timeframe and can only compete with that !
your statement is like saying AJ would beat both Ali and Tison ---who knows ? that's gone !

 

[Surrey Phil]

I think you have to appreciate where we have come from. This season is all about survival and then if we stay up, we will build from there. I’d be far more worried if I was a Newcastle fan given they had parachute payments last season and have spent heavily compared to us in the last two seasons.

 

[Icy Gull]

There are only 6 or 7 teams that are Premier League quality.

 

[ferring seagull]

I don't think that tells us anything we didn't know, from an Albion POV, anyway. CH always said the Championship squad deserved a crack at the big time and many of them have been, so in that respect he's true to his word.

To be honest, I think there are a few teams in the division that similarly 'lack Premier League quality' – some who haven't been in the Championship for years!

Much admire CH for that stance but hope he will not allow it to prejuducially affect our chances of maintaining out PL status !

 

[GT49er]

City aside the top 6 are quite fragile and as more money comes into The Premier League the gap between the have and have nots ought to get smaller not bigger.

It won't.

I'm sure their are plenty of players who'll accept deals with 'lesser' clubs to get the exposure and move to a 'top 6' side.

They won't.

 

[SweatyMexican]

No. We’re 12th. If we were bottom I’d probably agree

 

[seagulls99]

By definition we’re a Premier League team playing in the Premier League? My opinion will only change if come the end of the season we’re in the bottom three. Which we won’t be.

 

[OzMike]

Yes we are and you nailed it mate, it will take at least 3 seasons and transfers to get to the right standard, but I have assumed that that's what CH is doing.

 

[seagull_special]

We are a Premier League team as is every other club in this league, we are laying the foundations for a long stay hopefully and that is built on a strong Defense. We certainly aren’t ther yet with our attacking options but to sacrifice our strengths in the pursuit of goals instead of points would be folly that’s not to say we don’t need a striker who can terrify defenders as opposed to just keeping them busy which would increase the confidence of our wingers as there would be a higher return on their endeavors. None of our players have embarrassed themselves and hopefully with a couple of astute additions in January, our first season in PL will be a success.