Back in the Championship after 11 years

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/ings-to-cu ... hip-return

It’s Thursday today CT. I hope DI has a good long injury free season.

beddie wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 28, 2025 11:39 am

It’s Thursday today CT. I hope DI has a good long injury free season.

Not sure why but I thought their game was Friday night. I should have checked first but now corrected.

Good luck to Danny. He was fantastic for us in 2013/14. He didn’t do much wrong the following season and his transfer was inevitable. Terrible luck with injuries throughout his career.

Culmclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 29, 2025 8:19 am

Good luck to Danny. He was fantastic for us in 2013/14. He didn’t do much wrong the following season and his transfer was inevitable. Terrible luck with injuries throughout his career.

Exceptional that season for us alongside Sam Vokes. Hard to believe how well it worked to be honest given neither of them had suggested they would be that good previously. He did more than OK during the PL season but I think it tailed off when everyone I think got a bit fed up of him because of his moving. I think, looking back, we should probably have let him go in the January.

41 league goals between them in that 2013/14 season - special partnership in a special season

Yes, fabulous partnership between him and Sam.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 29, 2025 11:51 am

Exceptional that season for us alongside Sam Vokes. Hard to believe how well it worked to be honest given neither of them had suggested they would be that good previously. He did more than OK during the PL season but I think it tailed off when everyone I think got a bit fed up of him because of his moving. I think, looking back, we should probably have let him go in the January.

41 league goals between them in that 2013/14 season - special partnership in a special season

It definitely tailed off in the second half of that season. Great player for us but I’m still annoyed he didn’t step up and take that penalty against Leicester at home. Real sliding doors moment that, for both clubs.

My favourite player in one of my favourite seasons as a fan. He was far too good for that level that season. Went on to prove that on his day, he was a very good Premier League player who can probably count himself unlucky he did not get more England involvement. I wish him well at the tail end of his career.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 29, 2025 11:51 am

Exceptional that season for us alongside Sam Vokes. Hard to believe how well it worked to be honest given neither of them had suggested they would be that good previously. He did more than OK during the PL season but I think it tailed off when everyone I think got a bit fed up of him because of his moving. I think, looking back, we should probably have let him go in the January.

41 league goals between them in that 2013/14 season - special partnership in a special season

Hindsight I suppose, but at the time he was critical for our ability to have the chance to stay up.

I don't think the board would have been popular if they'd sold our best player in January when we were fighting to stay up

particularly knowing the kind of profile of player he would likely to have been replaced with

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 29, 2025 11:51 am

Exceptional that season for us alongside Sam Vokes. Hard to believe how well it worked to be honest given neither of them had suggested they would be that good previously. He did more than OK during the PL season but I think it tailed off when everyone I think got a bit fed up of him because of his moving. I think, looking back, we should probably have let him go in the January.

41 league goals between them in that 2013/14 season - special partnership in a special season

None of us anticipated this, especially when Austin left us the Friday night before the season kicked in

It will be fascinating to see how he copes with the rigours of Saturday/Tuesday/Saturday.

It doesn’t take much for a striker to stand out in that league so if he can get a run of games I’m sure he’ll bag.

Think I'd be tempted to only start him in the weekend games. Bench for midweek.