Promotion guaranteed

[Euxtonboy]

Like everyone else I would love to see PNE in the top flight before I meet the grim reaper. How realistic am I in thinking that this may happen? Am I a defeatist?

Most of us on this site are upset about PNE looking unlikely to even get in the top 6 now which is, if we are totally honest, more of a hope that an expectation and probably always was. We must however remember that even if we were to end up there all it GUARANTEES is a couple or so more matches with hopefully a bit of excitement but NOT promotion.

In order to attain that for sure we need to be a TOP TWO side and, as our last two seasons have shown, we are a LONG way from being a top two championship side and perhaps never will be. Perhaps, and in order to avoid any further disappointments, we should all be more realistic an accept that we will always be, at best, a competitive championship side and hope that somewhere along the way we get to see a few entertaining matches and maybe, just maybe, have a decent cup run or two as an added bonus.

 

[Tugg Speedman]

Like everyone else I would love to see PNE in the top flight before I meet the grim reaper. How realistic am I in thinking that this may happen? Am I a defeatist?

Most of us on this site are upset about PNE looking unlikely to even get in the top 6 now which is, if we are totally honest, more of a hope that an expectation and probably always was. We must however remember that even if we were to end up there all it GUARANTEES is a couple or so more matches with hopefully a bit of excitement but NOT promotion.

In order to attain that for sure we need to be a TOP TWO side and, as our last two seasons have shown, we are a LONG way from being a top two championship side and perhaps never will be. Perhaps, and in order to avoid any further disappointments, we should all be more realistic an accept that we will always be, at best, a competitive championship side and hope that somewhere along the way we get to see a few entertaining matches and maybe, just maybe, have a decent cup run or two as an added bonus.

Sounds like you're saying we should give up on ever getting promoted and stop trying? Not a good outlook and would more than likely lead to relegation.

 

[JK]

Sounds like you're saying we should give up on ever getting promoted and stop trying? Not a good outlook and would more than likely lead to relegation.

Which is exactly what happened a few years ago and we ended up getting relegated. The only way North End can sustain themselves long term is to get promoted and the windfall that comes with it. Managed well like Burnley and the skies the limit.

Being happy to “overachieve” “competing at this level” etc will only end up with us leaving this division in the opposite way than we want to

 

[PNEpete70]

Tbh mate, I really can't ever see North End as a Top 2 Championship team & so our only hope is a play off adventure & subsequent victory. What I would love to see is the play off system being increased to the eight team's that finish 3rd to 10th. In the quarter final's, the team finishing 3rd play's the 10th team at home in a one off match (penalties to follow after extra time) like the 4th v 9th, 5th v 8th & 6th v 7th. After those matches it goes to the semi final two legged matches which are to be drawn out of a bag. My idea could upset the 3rd, 4th, 5th team's that could possibly lose to the 8th, 9th & 10th team's, but I think many team's would vote for the bigger possibility of a premier league chance.

 

[chorleythehord]

Like everyone else I would love to see PNE in the top flight before I meet the grim reaper. How realistic am I in thinking that this may happen? .

Depends how old you are pal. I’m in my 50s now and have seen a couple of good mates out who never saw us in the top league or a cup quarter final. I’m thinking I will probably go the same way.

I started to think maybe football goes in 200 year cycles. So if you’re not yet a teenager and have a decent life expectancy you might have some glory in your later years.

 

[Henry Weston]

Tbh mate, I really can't ever see North End as a Top 2 Championship team & so our only hope is a play off adventure & subsequent victory. What I would love to see is the play off system being increased to the eight team's that finish 3rd to 10th. In the quarter final's, the team finishing 3rd play's the 10th team at home in a one off match (penalties to follow after extra time) like the 4th v 9th, 5th v 8th & 6th v 7th. After those matches it goes to the semi final two legged matches which are to be drawn out of a bag. My idea could upset the 3rd, 4th, 5th team's that could possibly lose to the 8th, 9th & 10th team's, but I think many team's would vote for the bigger possibility of a premier league chance.

The only problem with that is.....we always finish 11th!

 

[Madferret]

There’s an obvious difference here between hope and reality. We all hope that we get promoted, but the reality is that being in the Championship might be as good as it ever gets, so enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[PNEpete70]

The only problem with that is.....we always finish 11th!

Haha .. Aye, you've got a good point there Henry !! 😀 Yeah, let's make the play off's a 16 team event, from 3rd to 18th 😉

 

[Dirty Harry]

Tbh mate, I really can't ever see North End as a Top 2 Championship team & so our only hope is a play off adventure & subsequent victory. What I would love to see is the play off system being increased to the eight team's that finish 3rd to 10th. In the quarter final's, the team finishing 3rd play's the 10th team at home in a one off match (penalties to follow after extra time) like the 4th v 9th, 5th v 8th & 6th v 7th. After those matches it goes to the semi final two legged matches which are to be drawn out of a bag. My idea could upset the 3rd, 4th, 5th team's that could possibly lose to the 8th, 9th & 10th team's, but I think many team's would vote for the bigger possibility of a premier league chance.

Its bad enough having folk on here announcing we are only 3/6/8 points off sixth as if it was proof that we are doing well. Imagine having to put up with 'ww are only three points off 11th, stop moaning' all season long?

 

[tcinders]

There’s an obvious difference here between hope and reality. We all hope that we get promoted, but the reality is that being in the Championship might be as good as it ever gets, so enjoy it while it lasts.

What a depressing bunch on this forum!
We need to give it 100% until the last minute of the last game against Burton nothing less.
If we don’t expect Neil to ship out a few of this squad.

 

[JK]

What a depressing bunch on this forum!
We need to give it 100% until the last minute of the last game against Burton nothing less.
If we don’t expect Neil to ship out a few of this squad.

Neil doesn’t strike me as a manager who will allow them to play out these last few games unlike the last couple seasons. We do need to put some wins on the board to get us going again for next season I feel nothing else.

 

[Paul Weller]

What a depressing bunch on this forum!
We need to give it 100% until the last minute of the last game against Burton nothing less.
If we don’t expect Neil to ship out a few of this squad.

You may see it as depressing but not reaching the play-offs is realistic.

 

[Former Member]

You may see it as depressing but not reaching the play-offs is realistic.

We have a bottom six budget. Of course it isn’t realistic to expect the play offs.

However, we have all seen first-hand just how good we can be. That’s the frustrating part.

 

[Minty pne]

There's only so far you can go with spending so little money. Feel like we just need the injection of cash to get us there.

 

[White123]

Which is exactly what happened a few years ago and we ended up getting relegated. The only way North End can sustain themselves long term is to get promoted and the windfall that comes with it. Managed well like Burnley and the skies the limit.

Being happy to “overachieve” “competing at this level” etc will only end up with us leaving this division in the opposite way than we want to

I disagree. A few years ago - we spent money on a lot of poor signings - quite a few past their peak and gave them long contracts - chris brown, Darren carter, barry Nicholson, paul parry, Elliot, mellor, chaplow etc. The list goes on. We was on a down ward spiral in the 2009/10 season which eventually lead to relegation the season after. This season it's different - we aren't going to get in the play offs. I as many other fans are disappointed by that. But we aren't far away from being that team - if and it's a big if we bring in 3/4 players in the summer that will improve our squad then we have a chance - ledson would be a good start. We have a good squad - to finish top half in this league means that the squad is good, but it isn't far off from being great. Fine margins in matches have let us down and if we work on that then we have a go again next season. If we don't buy a central midfielder/striker then unfortunately it will probably be another season of mid table mediocrity. We won't be fighting relegation regardless of what any other fans may think - I have seen enough of us to know that.

 

[Dirty Harry]

. This season it's different - we aren't going to get in the play offs. I as many other fans are disappointed by that. But we aren't far away from being that team - if and it's a big if we bring in 3/4 players in the summer that will improve our squad then we have a chance - ledson would be a good start. We have a good squad - to finish top half in this league means that the squad is good, but it isn't far off from being great. Fine margins in matches have let us down and if we work on that then we have a go again next season. If we don't buy a central midfielder/striker then unfortunately it will probably be another season of mid table mediocrity. We won't be fighting relegation regardless of what any other fans may think - I have seen enough of us to know that.

We've been hearing just about all this for season after season.

 

[lesfry]

I met a real Huddersfield Town fan at Stafford Services in October & was naturally jealous that he was watching his team play at Old Trafford, Wembley, Anfield etc. Yes, he confirmed, this was a great experience BUT he was struggling to recognise the team as a Huddersfield Town team. Many of the stalwarts, the really committed, hard core Terriers in the Championship had been replaced by international journeymen and refugees from recently relegated teams.
So, even if promotion was guaranteed, how many of the current first team squad would still be in the starting line-up at Deepdale by Christmas?
I give you four- Rudd, Cunningham, Pearson and Maguire- any further suggestions?
Of course as a survivor from Tom Finney's days, I would love to see us in the Premier League- but I know the current squad is not good enough to consider survival there AND I do support some of those real, whole-hearted, committed North Enders- Clarke, Huntington, Barky, Robinson and Browne (for example) who would be out of their depth playing Premier League football regularly....... SO?

 

[beagleman]

Depends how old you are pal. I’m in my 50s now and have seen a couple of good mates out who never saw us in the top league or a cup quarter final. I’m thinking I will probably go the same way.

I started to think maybe football goes in 200 year cycles. So if you’re not yet a teenager and have a decent life expectancy you might have some glory in your later years.

This for me sums up my particular gripe. I too have lost friends and relatives who love PNE like we all do and just wanted to see one season in the top flight. Alas they never did and my frustrations in some of my posts are partly due to this reason. We get so close time after time but are ultimately let down by a conceded goal here or missed goal there. Fine margins. Yes we have come a long way since the 70 s but every time i see another gentry on the big screen it brings home the fact that one day i will be up there and i just wish that the enthusiasm for promotion was turned up a notch at the higher levels as for some of us there is not always next season. So in 50 years of support my best times were Wembley and the Birmingham semi final. Bolton and West Ham were the lows. Its the hope that does you. Anyway.... Just saying.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Let's hope its a good few years yet before you make it on to the big screen, Beagleman !!

 

[footballspecial]

Be careful what you wish for!

How many teams get to the promised land and have a nightmare season in the Prem? Who wants to see their team hammered evry week and see the spirit being knocked out of them?

That first season in the Prem is a massive gamble and requires a lot of investment. If you're not careful it's straight down to the Championship with a massive wage bill and an insufficient parachute payment to cope. It's bargain basement time for the players and the fans have stopped coming. All the guys that bought up the Prem season tickets bugger off and the downward spiral begins.

Have a look in Divs 1 & 2 for the "survivors". It could be the end for PNE.

Have any of you dreamers worked out yet that you might not even be able to afford a Prem season ticket so you'll be going to the odd match and watching the rest on Match of the Day!

Just enjoy the moment and when you feel disappointed just remember this. We could still be managed by Darren Ferguson, Graham Westley or Phil Brown, These are truly happy days.