I have been pondering this for a while, and had a long conversation with my son after the Wolves game about this potential conundrum!
1) Will, being promoted be a good thing for the club.
2) Will staying in the Championship be a good thing for the club.
Should we get in the play-offs and are lucky enough to get promotion to the Premier League two things will happen, we will receive £120m for being there and need to buy at least six additional players costing with wages around £100m+.
If we stay in the Championship (where at the start of the season I would have been grateful for a top ten finish) then we need to turn Kalas, Piazon and Cyriac loans to permanent or if that is not possible extend the loans.
Replace Cairney if he leaves and bring LVC, Woodrow and Humphrys back from their loans and find back ups for Parker (due to retire and join our coaching staff), MacDonald, Johansen and Cairney and/or his replacement. Tunnicliffe could be offered a new contract as his expires at the end of June whereas I think Wolves will repurchase Stearman. Grimmer and Cameron Burgess will be sold I think.
Now here is the $64000 question, would you prefer to struggle week in week out in the Premier League as even with that sort of investment - players are all mercenaries they will leave as soon as times get tough - it would probably be a long hard slog. Or stay in the Championship invest £25m (FFP permitting) and have a successful season finishing anywhere from first to sixth during the final year of our parachute payment.
posted as Jonathan Baines on TIFF
premier league every time
we should be able to attract decent players
we have a anager that would wor well at that level
the only issue is is our owner and his son as good as their word, will they make the necessary investment?
If they do then wonderful but I would love to go back and even if we struggle it will be the best thing for the club, no brainer, this division is a recipe for disaster
From the clubs perspective it's a no brainer, premier league.
From a fans perspective who can't go to games for several reasons, premier league for the extra coverage.
From a fan who goes to games which is where I fit in, I'd say 50/50.
Relegation battles are only fun if there's a happy ending. How many fans have replayed the final 3rd of our games when we went down under Magath? And how many still watch the games from the great escape?
I enjoy the championship, I like the idea of going all around the country knowing Fulham have a chance of winning. In the prem too many games are a write off. People will say it's good to see the good players and test ourselves but if I'm honest I didn't really enjoy watching Spurs turn us over last month. I couldn't care less how bad the opposition are, in fact I wish Ath Madrid were useless in 2010 and I'm so thrilled we faced a weak Juventus without Buffon in goal.
If you look at our record against big teams it was poor. 1 win over Chelsea, a couple of Arsenal and United. No points away to Everton. You'd also have to be prepared for longer waits for matches. A lot more gaps in between games and no mid week football. I prefer the championship program.
On the flip side the coverage is better, motd is better than Channel 5. But their isn't enough of a wow factor about the premier league to make it more than 50/50. In the championship there's something to aim for, after being there and wearing the t-shirt I'm not sure I'd feel the same in the prem. But we all love fulham and want the best so I'd be gobsmacked if anyone admitted they don't want Fulham to get promoted.
Quote from: nose on March 21, 2017, 12:02:37 PM
premier league every time
we should be able to attract decent players
we have a anager that would wor well at that level
the only issue is is our owner and his son as good as their word, will they make the necessary investment?
If they do then wonderful but I would love to go back and even if we struggle it will be the best thing for the club, no brainer, this division is a recipe for disaster
You say attract decent players but IMO 2 of the most enjoyable to watch from the prem era were Boa and Saha, both from the division below. No one was a better striker after Saha and we were there 13 years. No fullback is worthy of being in the same presence of Finnan and most would say Brevett was better than all the left backs that followed excluding Bonnisel who was a class act but a sick note.
Obviously the top players play in the premier league but with the exception of about 20 players over 13 season's, I'm not sure the likes of Kalas, Cairney, Johansen etc are that much inferior.
Maybe this will be different with the prem money but IMO the main benefits of the prem are better coverage and financial stability for the club.
For a start, no way will our chairman invest a reasonable amount if we did go up, to give us a decent chance IMO.
Our best hope, is that he flogs us if we do go up.
Quote from: dannyboi-ffc on March 21, 2017, 12:05:18 PM
From the clubs perspective it's a no brainer, premier league.
From a fans perspective who can't go to games for several reasons, premier league for the extra coverage.
From my perspective as a fan who goes to games which is where I fit in, I'd say 50/50.
Relegation battles are only fun if there's a happy ending. How many fans have replayed the final 3rd of our games when we went down under Magath? And how many still watch the games from the great escape?
I enjoy the championship, I like the idea of going all around the country knowing Fulham have a chance of winning. In the prem too many games are a write off. People will say it's good to see the good players and test ourselves but if I'm honest I didn't really enjoy watching Spurs turn us over last month. I couldn't care less how bad the opposition are, in fact I wish Ath Madrid were useless in 2010 and I'm so thrilled we faced a weak Juventus without Buffon in goal.
If you look at our record against big teams it was poor. 1 win over Chelsea, a couple of Arsenal and United. No points away to Everton. You'd also have to be prepared for longer waits for matches. A lot more gaps in between games and no mid week football. I prefer the championship program.
On the flip side the coverage is better, motd is better than Channel 5. But their isn't enough of a wow factor about the premier league to make it more than 50/50. In the championship there's something to aim for, after being there and wearing the t-shirt I'm not sure I'd feel the same in the prem. But we all love fulham and want the best so I'd be gobsmacked if anyone admitted they don't want Fulham to get promoted.
I think you cover most of the key points Danny and agree with much of this. Only thing I would add is that I enjoyed seeing some great opposition players when we were in the prem. In the champ I often know relatively little or nothing about many of them. Of course, those same great opposition players meant it was difficult for us to grind out wins but we were 13 years in the prem so we got our fair share of results.
I would support Fulham if they were in the lowest divisions and find pleasure in it (bit like a NH jump meeting at a windy, rainy Fakenham mid week in January) but on balance it has to be the prem. I also loved that outside hope of getting a back door entry into Europe - not that we would ever get past the early rounds would we? Oh, wait a minute let me think about that!
If you could guarantee me a promotion season I would take one more year in the Championship but ultimately the Premier League is where we want to be, so all the while we have a mathematical shot this season I will keep believing.
We have so many great memories of our time there and the springboard it gave us for other things (namely our Europa League run). We may not be ready for it now but name me a team that has gone up in recent years that was 'Premier League' ready. They don't exist - even Newcastle will need to strengthen if/when they go up this season. 049:gif
Quote from: dannyboi-ffc on March 21, 2017, 12:05:18 PM
From the clubs perspective it's a no brainer, premier league.
From a fans perspective who can't go to games for several reasons, premier league for the extra coverage.
From my perspective as a fan who goes to games which is where I fit in, I'd say 50/50.
Relegation battles are only fun if there's a happy ending. How many fans have replayed the final 3rd of our games when we went down under Magath? And how many still watch the games from the great escape?
I enjoy the championship, I like the idea of going all around the country knowing Fulham have a chance of winning. In the prem too many games are a write off. People will say it's good to see the good players and test ourselves but if I'm honest I didn't really enjoy watching Spurs turn us over last month. I couldn't care less how bad the opposition are, in fact I wish Ath Madrid were useless in 2010 and I'm so thrilled we faced a weak Juventus without Buffon in goal.
If you look at our record against big teams it was poor. 1 win over Chelsea, a couple of Arsenal and United. No points away to Everton. You'd also have to be prepared for longer waits for matches. A lot more gaps in between games and no mid week football. I prefer the championship program.
On the flip side the coverage is better, motd is better than Channel 5. But their isn't enough of a wow factor about the premier league to make it more than 50/50. In the championship there's something to aim for, after being there and wearing the t-shirt I'm not sure I'd feel the same in the prem. But we all love fulham and want the best so I'd be gobsmacked if anyone admitted they don't want Fulham to get promoted.
This pretty much sums it up for me as well.
Right now I'm enjoying the 'change' of the Championship. Give it a few more years and I'm sure I'll enjoy getting kicked about by Birmingham twice a year a lot less.
Premiership, I have money on us going up and I won't get the same odds next year :022:
Championship provides more games, more close games and more wins. I like seeing us win. Want it to happen every game. That means I want promotion. Paradox
Well it's a bit of a conundrum - we always want the team to do well, we are more likely to do well in the Championship, therefore the ultimate aim is promotion, and then you are back to what we had in the premier league where a good season could be seen as safe mid-table with a decent cup run thrown in.
But the bottom line is that I miss a full Craven Cottage, and I miss us pitting our wits against the biggest teams in the land, and savouring those rare occasions when you put on over them...
Premier league - no brainer.
Even though there are plenty of losses thrown in, nothing beats the thrill of beating the top teams.
Chelsea 06 at home. Fantastic.
None of the championship teams have the same thrill factor
The Prem. No question.
In the Prem I get to see us play live.
PL for me.
Always want to see us play at the top level and the difference in quality between the PL and where we are now is vast.
Quote from: Rambler on March 21, 2017, 04:08:50 PM
Premier league - no brainer.
Even though there are plenty of losses thrown in, nothing beats the thrill of beating the top teams.
Chelsea 06 at home. Fantastic.
None of the championship teams have the same thrill factor
Maybe so, but 1 win, in 26 games over the 13 years. is it that fantastic really?
Won't ticket prices be going up if we go up?
If so, championship.
Not sure as really emjoying the championship,but it is a tough one.
PL for me - for the ability to actually be able to see the club play on game days.
Also, because it is good for the club. As Mr. Statto has already stated, if you're in the Championship the goal is to graduate from it. If you're not playing for that, then you really shouldn't be there. I'm beginning to feel that the club have a stable foundation again to build upon. We appear to have a clear and successful (although only short term results are available) recruitment methodology as well as a nice little conveyor belt of talent coming up thru the youth ranks. We have a manager who is successful (again only short term results available) in maximizing those resources. There's little reason to doubt that, with some growing pains surely, the club and manager can modify what they are doing to give a good go at the next level. As well, the PL would/should trigger the planned changes to the Riverside which should benefit the club and the match day experience for supporters.
There aren't a lot of negatives to promotion IMHO. Yes, we may lose more often. But, I have faith that Slavisa will make us entertaining to watch and tough for all to play against.
Premiership without a doubt, full houses, MOD, report in the Telegraph Sunday & Monday, attract better players, half a chance of keeping our good youngsters, better chance of an FA Cup semi final at Wembley.
We have a slim chance of promotion this season, miss it and it may be a long wait for the next chance,
OK we may be involved in a relegation battle but that is a risk worth taking. Even in our poor premiership seasons we could record a few wins for us to enjoy at the Cottage, this season I have only seen eight Championship wins at the Cottage so the enjoyment would not be greatly reduced.
Has to be The Premiership. We got to the Europa League final as a team in the top league. I would love the experience of more European trips following Fulham.
Quote from: YankeeJim on March 21, 2017, 04:10:20 PM
The Prem. No question.
In the Prem I get to see us play live.
Agree. We may just be the Little Club by the River in the Premier League, usually losing to top third of the table teams, but by God we were in the Premier League, facing quality teams and sometimes winning. More enjoyable to watch better quality opponents. More enjoyable to see our club lift itself onto a new level and strive to belong, to stay. And when we occasionally win against the big boys, it means more. Championship league has poorer refereeing, more cynical fouling.
We get back up and with TV rev share money plus Tony Khan being here I think the money will be found to fund a decent team. We've got a Premier league level skipper, so why not? On our day, we're the most dangerous team in the Championship. Push on.
Yes, as nice as it is to read countless pundits reporting how we play the most attractive attacking football in our league -- and as great as it is to beat the league leaders by two goals at their patch -- I yearn for a return to having the single goal of 40 points/17th place and constant moaning about how cup competitions are distracting us from that goal.
Prem for me all day
Has to be the Premier League⚽️,for all the reasons that have been stated, that's the Challenge, and for me you have to meet the Challenge. It's alround better for the club and its development on and off the pitch. From the profile to the financial gains. When we are in the Premier League⚽️, we don't have to settle for second or third best. There is only so many times you can watch a midweek match v say a team like Barnsley, no disrespect to Barnsley, in an almost half empty stadium. When you know that we have the possibility of joining the Premier League.⚽️ Although I understand why others may feel differently.
As a footnote, may I emphasise that we are discussing The Premier League ⚽ as the title of this thread confirms, not the Premiership
I think I'll make my mind up after the final whistle of the play off final :0)
No decision. Premiership. Money, better opposition, keep our better players, attract better players, Europe, better tv coverage, bigger crowds
I like the cheaper tickets, that are easy to get without Membership, and going to away games feeling that there's a good chance that we will win. I only remember seeing two away wins out of all the games I went to in the Prem - Birmingham and City, in the Great Escape. But what a win the latter was - almost like winning the Cup.
And I suppose that highlights the difference between the two leagues. The Prem has that glamour, the interest from TV, and if you beat one of the top sides at their place, or even at home, it's a real event that you remember.
The CH. has a lot going for it -Fulham can compete with the best sides, and expect to beat them, rather than mostly losing, or hoping for a point; but it doesn't have that glamour, or the income for the club from TVmoney and raised attendances, although this translates into cheaper tickets for the fans. Very significantly when it comes to away games. I think that Rotherham tickets are £13, and a lot of CH. clubs are almost as cheap, whereas any Prem club probably charge 25-30 quid or more for such as United, Chelsea or L/Pool.
Premier League for me. If Slav can play a similar style of football in the prem with a squad of better players I'll be happy.
Think back to the Juventus match and that 2-0 win against Man.U. at the Cottage when Scholes and Rooney got rattled and picked up reds near the end of the game and their manager then blamed the small dressing room for their performance. Now tell me that you don't want Premier League football again.
I think rogerpinvirginia, if he is free, should do the warm-up/windup for the playoff final at Wembley, and then be contracted to do the same at the Cottage for all of next season's PL matches. His sense of fun will win us a whole host of points.
What is football if it isn't about reaching the goal you have always had, and, if and when it eludes you for a while, fighting to get it back? Hasn't this season got the juices flowing again after the crap we have been served up for so long? I mean if it is constant winning you want then you can always support the cheaters who make sure it happens.
The problem I have with the Championship is that it's almost always frustrating whether you're doing well or not. Bad referees, time wasting fouling opponents, grounds less full, hardly on TV, and constant threat of losing any semi decent player, no bragging rights, etc. Last two seasons, frustration because we're in a relegation battle. This season, frustration because we're almost there but not quite. The only scenario that doesn't result in frustration is promotion. I posted something similar on a similar thread a month or two ago, and the fact of the matter is it's very difficult to be in the C'ship consistently. Ipswich is an exception, however the longest serving team otherwise is Derby, who have been in since 2008. The next is 2011 I think. If you want the club to have stability, you absolutely have to at least be pushing for the Prem, otherwise you risk slipping down into League One either by on the field performances or financial instability off it due to the lack of revenue. Granted, even the crapper Prem teams struggle to keep their talent, however the offer of Premier League football makes it very easy to attract replacements from abroad, whereas 'Championship' is never as enticing.
Quote from: AlexW132 on March 22, 2017, 12:09:25 PM
The problem I have with the Championship is that it's almost always frustrating whether you're doing well or not. Bad referees, time wasting fouling opponents, grounds less full, hardly on TV, and constant threat of losing any semi decent player, no bragging rights, etc. Last two seasons, frustration because we're in a relegation battle. This season, frustration because we're almost there but not quite. The only scenario that doesn't result in frustration is promotion. I posted something similar on a similar thread a month or two ago, and the fact of the matter is it's very difficult to be in the C'ship consistently. Ipswich is an exception, however the longest serving team otherwise is Derby, who have been in since 2008. The next is 2011 I think. If you want the club to have stability, you absolutely have to at least be pushing for the Prem, otherwise you risk slipping down into League One either by on the field performances or financial instability off it due to the lack of revenue. Granted, even the crapper Prem teams struggle to keep their talent, however the offer of Premier League football makes it very easy to attract replacements from abroad, whereas 'Championship' is never as enticing.
Good points.
An example of the 'deterioration' of a club is Coventry, almost certain to be in League 2 next year with low crowds but a huge 'new' stadium' !
Sometimes it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive. This season has been a lot of fun.
Quote from: toshes mate on March 22, 2017, 11:04:20 AM
I think rogerpinvirginia, if he is free, should do the warm-up/windup for the playoff final at Wembley, and then be contracted to do the same at the Cottage for all of next season's PL matches. His sense of fun will win us a whole host of points.
What is football if it isn't about reaching the goal you have always had, and, if and when it eludes you for a while, fighting to get it back? Hasn't this season got the juices flowing again after the crap we have been served up for so long? I mean if it is constant winning you want then you can always support the cheaters who make sure it happens.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Craven Cottage for this afternoon's PL match between FULHAM and those
scumbag supporters of the filthy oil rich Chelsea, also based in FULHAM.
Let's have a huge cheer from you FULHAM fans.........and a loud Boo Hiss also from us FULHAM fans.
The twats in blue can wait to be spoken to and we apologize for the vomit looking stuff on your seats, just a little
joke arranged by our ball boys. It is in fact imported vomit.
It's now 2.30 and both sets of fans will be leaving the pubs, FULHAM fans to CC and Chelsea fans to SB.
Again a little joke as mass rumours were spread around the media that the game had been switched to SB due
to vomit on the Putney end seating.
Our visitors will be without all of their foreign players due to leaks regarding work permits and the Brexit departure,
which not only includes EU players but players from every other nation in FIFA, under the new initiative which requires
all foreigners to score 100% in the English version of the WFPSBC (The World Football Players Spelling Bee Competition)
FULHAM however will be uncjanged.
Nice to hear that FULHAM won the darts match last night between the 2 sets of supporters in the Riverside Gin bar.
The opposition failed to field a team as the Bar is only open to Fulham Members.
We will be working to amend that policy sometime in the distant future, via the FST
Congratulations and bragging rights however go to Fulham
I've just had some breaking fake news that John Terry failed to make the team as he is from Essex (we think)
And so as we approach kick off time, the FULHAM players are out running around the pitch, no sign of the
players from the ground near FULHAM PALACE ROAD tube yet.
We'll hand you over to our generally unbiased commentator Mr Gentleman Jim and to save him some time
David Button is in all yellow, the referee is indeed biased and is constantly in the way of the ball, the linesmen
are blind, the opposition players are all clowns but will get up, and Eden Thingy is a diving twit. He will be getting
replays and be echoed by the other guy.
I just had a Crème de Menthe with Roman AbrahamovichPutinovichovich, I'll leave it that
So, please give big cool reception to our filthy rich visitor and I hand you over to GJ in the Gantry
Premier League of course.
I want those games against Chelsea again.
Because...where were they when they were sh*t?
But we need to improve if we promote. Werther it's this year or the next. We really need good players or we'll go straight down again.
Quote from: rogerpinvirginia on March 22, 2017, 10:43:09 PM
Quote from: toshes mate on March 22, 2017, 11:04:20 AM
I think rogerpinvirginia, if he is free, should do the warm-up/windup for the playoff final at Wembley, and then be contracted to do the same at the Cottage for all of next season's PL matches. His sense of fun will win us a whole host of points.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Craven Cottage for this afternoon's PL match between FULHAM and those
scumbag supporters of the filthy oil rich Chelsea, also based in FULHAM.
You'll get better at it too; that's what I am looking forward to.
