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Would you accept no promotion?

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The thread asked if we should accept no promotion. We may have to tolerate it but we shouldn’t just accept it and downplay the failure. If we don’t go up then supporters, represented by fanzines with access to the owners and journalists, should start asking more probing questions of the current owners, our recruitment strategy, our managers performance, the limitations of our squad and why they weren’t addressed etc.

Hopefully it won’t come to that and we go up, but if we don’t, we shouldn’t just ‘accept’ where we are and go along merrily with everything as we have done so far this year, where a lot of mistakes or performances have either been brushed over and justified on the situation inherited. The inherited situation is a mitigating factor for this season but it shouldn’t be a complete justification of failing to go up if indeed we don’t.
The inherited situation has a massive bearing on where we are at the moment. We are not out of it yet and the play offs at least will probably happen. I hate to say it but I think the pressure on us in a play off will be immense and we've all seen how officials behave with 'big sunderland'. I'm also worried about the ability of this squad to have the mental strength to cope with play off pressure. Of course if we don't go up questions will be asked. Players have been brought in and haven't performed. Others like McGeady and Gooch and Watmore aren't performing at levels we know they can. The wages of Cattermole and Oviedo limit our ability to change more of the squad. Am I happy about our performances absolutely not. Do I want questions asked if we don't go up absolutely yes. Would I accept no promotion I couldn't do anything else as disappointing as that would be ! I would just renew again and hope JR and the board sorted out why we didn't go up. I would definitely not sack the manager.
 
The inherited situation has a massive bearing on where we are at the moment. We are not out of it yet and the play offs at least will probably happen. I hate to say it but I think the pressure on us in a play off will be immense and we've all seen how officials behave with 'big sunderland'. I'm also worried about the ability of this squad to have the mental strength to cope with play off pressure. Of course if we don't go up questions will be asked. Players have been brought in and haven't performed. Others like McGeady and Gooch and Watmore aren't performing at levels we know they can. The wages of Cattermole and Oviedo limit our ability to change more of the squad. Am I happy about our performances absolutely not. Do I want questions asked if we don't go up absolutely yes. Would I accept no promotion I couldn't do anything else as disappointing as that would be ! I would just renew again and hope JR and the board sorted out why we didn't go up. I would definitely not sack the manager.

I’ve certainly not advocated the removal of the manager. I think that would be lunacy, particularly this season. I think he’s starting to show he’s feeling the pressure mind and it’s always unwise making barbed remarks to journalists when questioned about tactics and when asked about disgruntled supporters.

What I meant by not accepting it means that I don’t think it’s acceptable for us to be in this division. It shouldn’t be expected that we spend any longer than one season in this division. We never have in the past and I’d say this season there’s probably a bigger gulf between us and the rest of the teams in the league (certainly financially and facilities wise) than the last time we were in this division.
 
I’ve certainly not advocated the removal of the manager. I think that would be lunacy, particularly this season. I think he’s starting to show he’s feeling the pressure mind and it’s always unwise making barbed remarks to journalists when questioned about tactics and when asked about disgruntled supporters.

What I meant by not accepting it means that I don’t think it’s acceptable for us to be in this division. It shouldn’t be expected that we spend any longer than one season in this division. We never have in the past and I’d say this season there’s probably a bigger gulf between us and the rest of the teams in the league (certainly financially and facilities wise) than the last time we were in this division.
source ?
 
I’ve certainly not advocated the removal of the manager. I think that would be lunacy, particularly this season. I think he’s starting to show he’s feeling the pressure mind and it’s always unwise making barbed remarks to journalists when questioned about tactics and when asked about disgruntled supporters.

What I meant by not accepting it means that I don’t think it’s acceptable for us to be in this division. It shouldn’t be expected that we spend any longer than one season in this division. We never have in the past and I’d say this season there’s probably a bigger gulf between us and the rest of the teams in the league (certainly financially and facilities wise) than the last time we were in this division.
we are in this division and it has nothing to do with the current board and manager so we have to accept it ?! Absolutely no one can guarantee we spend only one season in this league. Expecting it is no guarantee I'm sure Portsmouth don't expect to stay in the league this season ?!
 

He made the remarks about tactics to Nick Barnes last week in the post match interview after Oxford and then about being realistic last night. Nothing major just little signs.

we are in this division and it has nothing to do with the current board and manager so we have to accept it ?! Absolutely no one can guarantee we spend only one season in this league. Expecting it is no guarantee I'm sure Portsmouth don't expect to stay in the league this season ?!

We have to accept the reality that it’s where we are this season. Is it acceptable that a club like ours are in this division for more than one season? Absolutely not given everything stacked in our favour to be promoted instantly.
 
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We've tasted league one, we might as well go down to league two to fully immerse ourselves in British football culture.
 
He made the remarks about tactics to Nick Barnes last week in the post match interview after Oxford and then about being realistic last night. Nothing major just little signs.



We have to accept the reality that it’s where we are this season. Is it acceptable that a club like ours are in this division for more than one season? Absolutely not given everything stacked in our favour to be promoted instantly.
what is that ? Think we are massively hamstrung financially because of high earners. We ain't got pots of money and we aren't blessed with great players many coming back from injuries. What is stacked in our favour to be promoted instantly
 
what is that ? Think we are massively hamstrung financially because of high earners. We ain't got pots of money and we aren't blessed with great players many coming back from injuries. What is stacked in our favour to be promoted instantly

The backing of over 30k regularly in the stands and the financial edge that gives us over the others. The parachute payments. A big squad. The biggest budget in the league according to the chairman which was then backed up by securing this league’s record signing and apparently spending more than any other club in the division prior to January. The best training and medical facilities. A category one academy.
 
It's not about accepting anything, I support and my team which does it's best and finishes where it finishes. We finish were we deserve. After prevously being £150m+ in debt in happy to still have a club to support.
 
I wouldnt be happy, but I support the lads, I always will, its what my dad passed onto me, and why would you desert them?
Exactly, would be awful but would just get on with it, its what we do, hopefully jnr wouldn't be put off but easier access to tickets to aways would help him keep the faith
 
The backing of over 30k regularly in the stands and the financial edge that gives us over the others. The parachute payments. A big squad. The biggest budget in the league according to the chairman which was then backed up by securing this league’s record signing and apparently spending more than any other club in the division prior to January. The best training and medical facilities. A category one academy.
None of that 'guarantees' promotion ! What got us promotion from this league last time around was having a team that gelled and banged in goals with the 'G' force nothing else mattered a bit like Luton and Barnsley are doing at the moment

I wouldnt be happy, but I support the lads, I always will, its what my dad passed onto me, and why would you desert them?
100% this ^
 
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None of that 'guarantees' promotion ! What got us promotion from this league last time around was having a team that gelled and banged in goals with the 'G' force nothing else mattered a bit like Luton and Barnsley are doing at the moment

No it doesn’t guarantee promotion. I’ve never said it does. But it gives us a significant advantage and if we use those advantages we should be promoted. And anything less should be deemed as an unacceptable performance and a failure. To be relegated to this division was a massive failure. To not get out of it (upwards) also represents failure and shouldn’t be accepted as a norm without question
 
When we were relegated last season then the new buyer came in they talked a lot of sense about people not taking the p1ss any more and us moving up.

I thought great, a chance to look to the future. Bring some young lads through, consolidate our place in League 1 and sign some young lads permanently. Using the lads we had left from the past as the experience to bring the younger ones on. Cattermole, Oviedo, Matthews, McGeady, etc.

Then I feel like we’ve missed a great opportunity to rebuild the right way. We’ve set off on a journey to chase promotion at the earliest opportunity at all costs. Grigg signed pretty much confirms this.

If you had a choice would you like a slow rebuild if we done it right, possibly not getting promotion this year. Maybe staying in this League 2/3 seasons. Or would you rather we made the current ilk of signings to get promotion this year?

I’d even hoped we’d be offered the chance to buy shares ourselves to gove the supporters a seat at the table, even 5/10 percent would have been nice.
I would rather we build slowly and go up when the time is right
 
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