Is this season's promoted side really THAT much weaker than the 2002 team?

[Shegull]

I think both teams are equally strong but was part of the problem from 2002 all the uncertainty with having no manager at the beginning of the season. Surely that had to have had a knock on effect on the players. No matter how strong the team was they needed a manager there to get behind them.

 

[Hannibal smith]

If I remember rightly the team which played Rotherham away in the middle of that 12 match losing streak was something like;

Petterson, Mayo, Cullip, Butters (the sh!t lardy version), Watson, Piercy, Carpenter, Oatway, Hart, Wilkinson, Marney.

Now that's a team that would struggle to stay in Div 2 let alone Div 1.

This time around a few things need tinkering with. Butters will again be found out at this level (Too many attackers will have too much pace for him, Blackwell could fill this role), we need some creativity in the middle (Reid could be the centre player we are after, plus a winger), a back who can bring it out of defence (Something which none of our defenders are much good at) and a striker proven at this level (Iwan Roberts, Dion Dublin type)

That plus luck with injuries might keep us up. Whatever happens I'm sure Mcghee is the man to buy the right players.

 

[London Irish]

Gwylan and Comedy Steve have summed it up for me. The 2002 side is overrated (both Reading and Brentford bottled it late on) and this current one underrated. When you have your shape and organisation sorted, you can build from that and this is what McGhee will now do. The teamwork amongst our current boys is utterly FANATICAL and just sandpapered a technically superior Bristol team.

 

[rool]

The one thing I would rather we didn't rely on was loaners in key positions though. We were disrupted a lot by putting Sidwell in the shop window and then losing him because we didn't act quick enough in getting him in. I would like to think we have learned from that.

We have time to put together a reasonable first 11 and adequate subs. I know we got Leon that way but for every Leon we had a Barrett, Rougier and a Rehman and I don't believe you always get the best from someone who's objective is to get match fit for their 'real' team.

Loaners to cover injuries only please.

 

[saltash seagull]

If I remember rightly the team which played Rotherham away in the middle of that 12 match losing streak was something like;

Petterson, Mayo, Cullip, Butters (the sh!t lardy version), Watson, Piercy, Carpenter, Oatway, Hart, Wilkinson, Marney.

not far out jonsey played instead of wilko but i get wat your on about marney and harty upfront wasnt really gonna ever frighten any 2nd or 3rd division defence so it certainlly aint gonna worry anyone in div 1