Promotion reality check - I'd hate to be Stoke

[Stat Brother]

I no longer watch football, on TV, as I just don't enjoy it.
But jnr Stat, being 7, is now suckered in hook line and sinker.

So there we are watching MoTD, listening to Pullis' post match interview.

'Well we started the season knowing we need 40 points'
'To be on 36 in March is fantastic'
'It's a credit to how hard me and the team work'.

:blah: :blah: :blah:

Please tell me where the 'fun' is there?

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

That would be a golden season for the Albion to be in mid-table in the Premier League and in the last eight of the FA Cup.

 

[Stat Brother]

That would be a golden season for the Albion to be in mid-table in the Premier League and in the last eight of the FA Cup.

True.
But it's the approach needed to get there.
Eeking away points here and here in your own little 5-6 team league while hoping you can get the wins off the club in the 6 team league at the bottom.

I'm really enjoying this season, I just can't see it being that much fun with nothing other than survival, to play for.

 

[Pot noodles for everyone]

That would be a golden season for the Albion to be in mid-table in the Premier League and in the last eight of the FA Cup.

Playing a strange yet tedious combination of Aussie Rules and British Bulldogs in a freezing cold carbuncle of a stadium in a city that even Albanians wouldn't consider relocating to and with Tony Pulis as manager? In the words of Dragon's Den - I'm out.

 

[NMH]

But it's all Stoke City can aspire to - they can never compete with the top 5 or 6, so if they can keep in the mid-to-top table then they have succeeded.

If they got star players, they'd be bought.
They were playing international competition a few weeks ago! I'd say that's pretty bloody much of n achievement.

They also spanked us fair and square in the cup last season. Most of the sensible on here could see that coming, even if we can get results against Prem teams occasionally - Stoke, not so much.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I'm sure Stoke fans enjoy their 'match day experience' every bit as much as we enjoy ours.

 

[Bean]

Plus they were in Europe this season no?

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

I suppose the excitement for lower Premiership teams is the possibility of winning cup competitions and/or making Europe - something which is virtually impossible for non Prem sides

And occasionally beating the top teams.

 

[Stat Brother]

It's more to do with my grudge re Premier league, and reading the Rangers Celtic thread, prior to MoTD.

If we were to go up, in the next few years, I'd love a season like Swansea/Norwich.
But how long before it becomes as Pullis said 'fighting for 40 points being the highlight'.

In any August what is more likely, Stoke to finish top 6 or bottom 6?

Being to scared of relegation in August, and hopeful of a cup run, doesn't whet the appetite.

Yes Europe through a cup is a massive boost for the Club.
But Birmingham, prove what can happen if the juggling act goes wrong.

 

[Seagull Steve]

I think I'd settle for Stokes position now. Don't get me wrong, I love the Championship and the excitement of it all. But I also clearly remember the exciting times at the Goldstone when we reached the promised land. We had some fantastic wins, and yes beaten by some margin as well. But the money from TV, sponsorship in the big league is what will help us become the club Gus wants us to be. But I also understand where you are coming from [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION].

 

[tubaman]

True.
But it's the approach needed to get there.
Eeking away points here and here in your own little 5-6 team league while hoping you can get the wins off the club in the 6 team league at the bottom.

I'm really enjoying this season, I just can't see it being that much fun with nothing other than survival, to play for.

I know what you are saying. Money, fame and business opportunities take over and football and the football fans definitely become of secondary importance. My wife (who is also a STH) is even talking about supporting another club if BHA get promoted. I think she may be on her own in this respect but I can see where she is coming from.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

They took 5k to Valencia - Valencia had 55 fans at Stoke.

The Spanish press said they had not seen such support from an English club.

Most Stoke fans are not happy with the style but would take ugly 1-0 & 2-0 wins over tippy tappy 3-0 defeats any day of the week.



I'm certain the answer is somewhere in the middle.

There are some dumb people on this board that think that having the Amex makes us a big club - it doesn't.
Those people need to remember where we came from and that there are other clubs like Stoke that may not be the media darlings but contribute to the game just as much as anyone else

 

[Mackenzie]

True.
But it's the approach needed to get there.
Eeking away points here and here in your own little 5-6 team league while hoping you can get the wins off the club in the 6 team league at the bottom.

I'm really enjoying this season, I just can't see it being that much fun with nothing other than survival, to play for.

There is much to be said for the West Brom approach of a sequence of promotions and relegations.......keeps it interesting.

Would I rather be a Stoke City fan or a Baggie.........difficult choice!

 

[T soprano]

After a few seasons of just surviving to stay in premier league fans will become bored . It happened to us in 82/83 season this being our 4 th season in top division the attendance for the 1st league game of the season against Ipswich was only 13,000 our 1st season in the then division one was 29,000. A loss of 16,000 fans in 4 years .

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Don't forget the DECADES that the Albion spent in the Third Division (South) - a period that saw the Club's support grow to levels that we are only just beginning to dream of again.

 

[The Grockle]

Personally i'd over the moon if was a Stoke fan, top flight football, fa cup final, european football and sustained large crowds. I like to see my team win football matches and for that reason id be more than happy with competing at this level for the rest of my days but if we were to achieve top flight football i'd be satisfied to just stay for a number of years or even simply do a Blackpool, I cant believe anyone else would feel different.