Who still thinks we'll walk the Championship?

[fidelcastro]

New manager to be decided, which may have a bearing on peoples' thoughts, but I heard many people say that we'd just bounce back to the Premier League with ease following our relegation.

Has anyone changed their mind, in light of the last few days?

Alternatively, are you more confident now that Kompany has gone, despite what he did last time in the Championship?

Discuss!

[The Shire Claret]

New manager to be decided, which may have a bearing on peoples' thoughts, but I heard many people say that we'd just bounce back to the Premier League with ease following our relegation.

Has anyone changed their mind, in light of the last few days?

Alternatively, are you more confident now that Kompany has gone, despite what he did last time in the Championship?

Discuss!

I have a feeling there is going to be A LOT of ins and outs now Kompany has gone.

We should still have the resources to be looking at a quick return but we won’t know what that looks like for a while I think.

The only way we keep a similar set up … is if they keep Bellamy and put him in charge

UTC

[taio]

Too many unknowns at the moment to sensibly predict.

[bobinho]

I think we will do ok, bearing in mind we have some very good players. Keep the excellent ones and we have a great chance of being top six.

I’d like to think the coaching staff, whoever they may be, will find a better balance than VK did last year. Play out from the back when it’s on, if we are being hunted down hard on the edge of our own box, put ya laces through it and re-org.
When you get into a decent wide position, put the ball in the box for an attacker to do just that.
By all means retain possession, recycle the ball and shoot if there is an opportunity to do so as opposed to trying to walk it into the six yard box before considering shooting.

I think the players are pretty good - I just think they can be organised better than they have been.

Im hopeful, but I don’t think we will walk it at all. We have the potential to do very well indeed.

[Pearcey]

I would never think we’d walk any division to be honest as it’s bloody hard to do.

[TheFamilyCat]

I'm confident we have a squad, with a couple of additions that is more than capable of winning the Championship. How that squad will look at the end if the window is a different matter though.

Pick the right manager and we should still have the resources to win the league though.

[LeadBelly]

Too many unknowns at the moment to sensibly predict.

Agreed. We are currently 2nd favourites (after DL) with the bookies bu,t until the merry-go-round of managers and player transfers becomes clearer, sensible predictions are impossible.

[bumba]

Get the right appointment who will get rid of the excess and bring in some experience to help the younger players that stay and I think we'll have a good crack, I'd be more enthusiastic about promotion if we employ Cooper and Moyes than I were under VK

[TheFamilyCat]

Agreed. We are currently 2nd favourites (after DL) with the bookies bu,t until the merry-go-round of managers and player transfers becomes clearer, sensible predictions are impossible.

Why anyone would be betting on it at this stage is beyond me.

[Vegas Claret]

until the manager is in place and we know the squad I can't say either way tbh.

[Clovius Boofus]

I didn't think we would walk the Championship, but I thought that VK would get us promoted, after all, he'd done it once before and in style too. I also said that he should be potted if we were way off by November. Mind you, I think he would have been potted before then if we had struggled because our support would have quickly turned again him after last season, and who could have blamed them.

Now that said, it all depends on who comes in, who goes, and of course - the manager.

[Carlos the Great]

Anything less than the play offs should be considered a failure

[ksrclaret]

Totally impossible to call how we'll do this season until we know who the manager will be and what sort of squad he'll be working with.

One thing is for sure though, I am far more excited and enthusiastic for the new season to begin now the manager has cleared off. I will actually enjoy my visits to the Turf again.

[kenyon6923]

Next seasons championship looks weaker than this one just gone so if we finished outside play offs we have tumbled big time and unless the premiership windfall have been invested wisely or reduced the debt - the last 2 seasons gave been a complete waste of time.

[ClaretTony]

No idea but I believe we are better placed than we were just around a week ago

[houseboy]

If we can keep the bulk of the squad and get the right manager then I think we can, especially since the Championship was pretty dreadful last season. Steve Cooper would be a decent choice (Forest fans loved him). I certainly hope we don’t go for the awful Lampard, his appointment would be depressing.
Having said all that I am saddened by VKs leaving, I liked him and would have been more confident for next season with him there. For the weirdos who talk about him ‘jumping ship’ and ‘abandoning’ us, wake up and smell the coffee. We are Burnley football club and he has just been approached by one of the biggest clubs in the world. He would have been insane not to accept.

[CoolClaret]

Playoffs is a failure tbh.

Should comfortably have the biggest budget in the league with a pre-existing expensive squad.

Just need the manager in ASAP so we can craic on.

[claret2018]

We’ve got a great squad for the league and a comparatively massive budget so we should be aiming for promotion

[NL Claret]

Still thinks? Never thought we would walk any league , not going to start now , one season of 100+ points and more or less promoted in February doesn’t happen every season and certainly not in the championship which is usually a competitive league.

[BurnleyFC]

Depends who we get in, but I still maintain this squad isn’t as good as the one that walked the Championship last time out.

[lakedistrictclaret]

We won't reach 101 points again, but it will be a major surprise if we don't finish in the top six.

[Quickenthetempo]

Obviously, it depends on olayer trading.

But I would bet my house on us going up with me in charge.
So a half decent manager will win the league.

[bfcjg]

I never thought we would walk it even with Kompany. I hope though we sre automatic.

[Pickles]

Our season in the Championship with Kompany was phenomenal. Another one somewhere close to that and we'll have been spoilt as a fanbase. But too early to say. Certainly got the potential to go up as it stands.

[claptrappers_union]

You cant really predict anything at this stage, but I don't think we will walk the Championship

[Paddy1882]

Said it two years ago we would absolutely walk it and I’ll say it again. Leeds need to sell £100 million worth of players, West Brom skint, Norwich aging squad and will have to sell, the 3 that have come down will go back up and I think we’ll top the lot. Dark horses for play offs Stoke.

[Carlos the Great]

Maybe a few surprises in this league .. I’m gonna say QPR might do well this time round

[Woodleyclaret]

I personally don't get this trimming idea
I would like Jay and Charlie to stay and they will be valuable assets

[IanMcL]

We will sell half our oversized squad. Which half, no one knows. Could lose both keepers.

Will wait and see.

[Quicknick]

I tipped us to finish halfway two seasons ago, so I'll do it again.

[GetIntoEm]

I reckon I could manage and get us a playoff spot. That tells you all you need to know

[Newcastleclaret93]

As long as we get a decent manager we should be promoted quite comfortably.

The championship is really poor, I currently think we have two to three of the best players in the league.

I guess it just depends whether the players actually stay.

[ALP]

Can't say I'm over confident.
I just hope a good appointment will settle the ship, give confidence again and get the season off to a good start. Promotion is a different beast though, the championship is a tough league with some good sides.

[ClaretPete001]

Too early to say. If we keep Cullen, Brownhill and Berge I think we should do well. Lose two of those and I'm not so sure.

[Bosscat]

Be happy if we finish above the Filth (as they get relegated) in highish mid table ...
Be very happy with play-offs ...
Be ecstatic of we get promoted ...
Be Extremely overjoyed if we go back up as champions

[fidelcastro]

Still thinks? Never thought we would walk any league , not going to start now , one season of 100+ points and more or less promoted in February doesn’t happen every season and certainly not in the championship which is usually a competitive league.

A quick read through the replies suggests there are still a few who think all we need to do is turn up and we'll be promoted!

I wish I shared their optimism!

[Quickenthetempo]

A quick read through the replies suggests there are still a few who think all we need to do is turn up and we'll be promoted!

I wish I shared their optimism!

Just watch any championship game from last year or our games the year before.
You will soon be confident again.

[warksclaret]

I am more confident now than when VK was here. Before I get pelters the VK that won us the title is a totally different one that got us relegated

[Boss Hogg]

Too early to tell but not sure we’d have be winning it with VK and still not. If Lampard is involved I’d say we’ll finish nearer the bottom.

[Woodleyclaret]

I trust Alan Pace to steer well clear of Lampard and appoint a great manager who will take us back to the land of VAR and corrupt officials

[Clovius Boofus]

I trust nobody when it comes to our club, even more so after the way it was sold off.

[Swizzlestick]

We're in a very strong position but the managerial choice is crucial.

[NewClaret]

Personally far less confident than I was, mainly because:

- We know Kompany’s style worked well in the Championship. We won it with 101 points and other teams weren’t able to lay a glove on us. Any new manager will have a different style and we don’t know if that will be successful despite having a stronger squad overall in my opinion (not at LB before anyone says, I’m talking overall).

- I had full confidence we’d be able to pick up one or two good loan signings under Kompany. I’m not so sure we’ll be so attractive to players now, or at least until they know who the manager is.

- as some mention above, we don’t know how many players only came here for Kompany and how many might want out. Or to what extent a new manager might want a big turnover. Personally I think another high turnover would be the worst thing we could possibly do.

Thats why I wouldn’t mind a Moyes option with Bellamy and Jacko working with him for continuity, but bringing through some of Kompany’s ethos for next year at least.

It’s anyone’s guess but we definitely have a squad that should be very competitive alongside Luton, Sheff U & Leeds.

[TheFamilyCat]

Personally far less confident than I was, mainly because:

- We know Kompany’s style worked well in the Championship. We won it with 101 points and other teams weren’t able to lay a glove on us. Any new manager will have a different style and we don’t know if that will be successful despite having a stronger squad overall in my opinion (not at LB before anyone says, I’m talking overall).

- I had full confidence we’d be able to pick up one or two good loan signings under Kompany. I’m not so sure we’ll be so attractive to players now, or at least until they know who the manager is.

- as some mention above, we don’t know how many players only came here for Kompany and how many might want out. Or to what extent a new manager might want a big turnover. Personally I think another high turnover would be the worst thing we could possibly do.

Thats why I wouldn’t mind a Moyes option with Bellamy and Jacko working with him for continuity, but bringing through some of Kompany’s ethos for next year at least.

It’s anyone’s guess but we definitely have a squad that should be very competitive alongside Luton, Sheff U & Leeds.

You also failed to factor in how many players might be sold off if the right offer comes in.

[northernpowerhouse]

We're going to have one of the two best squads in the division along with Leeds, so as long as we appoint a decent manager our chances of finishing top two or winning the play-offs are pretty good. I'd say promotion is more likely than not.

[fatboy47]

If we can shift the dross, luxurys like Trafford and the fragile injury-prone lightweights, replacing them with a few solid upper champ level signings..managed by someone with a plan B, Dyches ability in the arse kicking department and VKs willingness to go sh1t or bust when its pragmatic to do so...then there's nothing in this division to fear.

[ClaretPete001]

Personally far less confident than I was, mainly because:

- We know Kompany’s style worked well in the Championship. We won it with 101 points and other teams weren’t able to lay a glove on us. Any new manager will have a different style and we don’t know if that will be successful despite having a stronger squad overall in my opinion (not at LB before anyone says, I’m talking overall).

- I had full confidence we’d be able to pick up one or two good loan signings under Kompany. I’m not so sure we’ll be so attractive to players now, or at least until they know who the manager is.

- as some mention above, we don’t know how many players only came here for Kompany and how many might want out. Or to what extent a new manager might want a big turnover. Personally I think another high turnover would be the worst thing we could possibly do.

Thats why I wouldn’t mind a Moyes option with Bellamy and Jacko working with him for continuity, but bringing through some of Kompany’s ethos for next year at least.

It’s anyone’s guess but we definitely have a squad that should be very competitive alongside Luton, Sheff U & Leeds.

Making the assumption the main factor in Championship success was VK as opposed to the quality of players - is, in my view, an assumption beyond the bounds of sanity.

It is safe to assume that with Millwall's team, VKs method would not have accrued 101 points for Millwall.

The player variable is more important than the VK variable. I would recommend therefore New that adopting a more scientific mind-set would bear fruit in the rationality of your posts.

I give generously and ask for no fee for this advice.

[NewClaret]

You also failed to factor in how many players might be sold off if the right offer comes in.

My third bullet, maybe badly worded, was all about turnover.

The cause is somewhat secondary but I imagine Kompany’s departure increases the likelihood of high turnover which I think is a huge mistake.

Conversely, I would not be against a well thought through strategy that involves selling the minimum number of the high value players to limit overall turnover.

[NewClaret]

Making the assumption the main factor in Championship success was VK as opposed to the quality of players - is, in my view, an assumption beyond the bounds of sanity.

It is safe to assume that with Millwall's team, VKs method would not have accrued 101 points for Millwall.

The player variable is more important than the VK variable. I would recommend therefore New that adopting a more scientific mind-set would bear fruit in the rationality of your posts.

I give generously and ask for no fee for this advice.

I agree that the quality of players, relative to the competition, was the major variable. But then Kompany single handedly assembled that group of players - or the vast majority of them. And I doubt that the same group playing a different, more traditional system would’ve barnstormed the league in the way it did (I think our ball retention was the key reason so many teams struggled to lay a glove on us in that league). So he played his part for sure.

I think we could appoint Jackson & Bellamy and be in and amongst it on the basis of your theory, but we might not win it or go up automatically. Leeds found out you can be 3rd best and not go up.

Likewise, I don’t think City would’ve won the league this year had Pep handed him the keys to the Etihad after our promotion!

[ClaretPete001]

I agree that the quality of players, relative to the competition, was the major variable. But then Kompany single handedly assembled that group of players - or the vast majority of them. And I doubt that the same group playing a different, more traditional system would’ve barnstormed the league in the way it did (I think our ball retention was the key reason so many teams struggled to lay a glove on us in that league). So he played his part for sure.

I think we could appoint Jackson & Bellamy and be in and amongst it on the basis of your theory, but we might not win it or go up automatically. Leeds found out you can be 3rd best and not go up.

Likewise, I don’t think City would’ve won the league this year had Pep handed him the keys to the Etihad after our promotion!

We barnstormed it because we had the best 3 central midfielders in the division: Cork, Brownhill and Cullen who would have been equally at home with another manager and won possession regardless of the style. And in my view, with the addition of Berge, should and could have kept us in the PL - if they had been played properly.

I agree VK brought in some fine talent but that's not style.

So, I would say VKs style was if anything only a factor in that it made us a poorer team in the PL.

The team that won the EFL had some significant characters in it, a lot of experience and gelled because of it. And the reason why it took so long to gel was because VK played Charlie Taylor out of position in central defence. Once Beyer came in things improved because he could carry the ball and break the lines.

So, if I wanted to play devils advocate I think I could make a much stronger case for the team doing well in the EFL despite VK than you could arguing it was VKs style that won it.

Course, I'm not saying it would be true but I think it would be more compelling.