The quality of this league.

[SF_]

This is probably aimed at the more long-serving fans in this league.

In our four year absence from this league there appears to be a lot more money floating around whether it be from rich, foreign owners or these ridiculous parachute payments but has it increased the standard?

Would a team coming up from League One have more chance of competing 5 years ago as opposed to now?

 

[Walkley_Owl]

It's hard to say, look at Wolves and Brentford last season, they gave it a good go but it's not as easy as that suggests, I'm told we have a very sizeable war chest for this summer, which could increase if the FA/FL don't punish QPR and sets a precedent.

 

[Luke_1884]

I think the standard is very good. Probably speaks volumes for League One that teams are coming up and doing well with very similar squads.

 

[SF_]

I think the standard is very good. Probably speaks volumes for League One that teams are coming up and doing well with very similar squads.

League One is absolutely shocking bar about 3 or 4 teams each year, the 'quality gap' between the bottom half of L1 and L2 two is tiny.

It's harder to judge the gap between the top of L1 and the bottom of the Championship though, Yeovil proved survival can't be done on a tiny budget.

 

[Madejski]

About the same as 5 years ago I would say, was a definite drop in quality 2-3 years ago but it seems to be back up to what it was before now.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

It's harder to judge the gap between the top of L1 and the bottom of the Championship though, Yeovil proved survival can't be done on a tiny budget.

IMHO, the gap between the best L1 sides and the bottom Championship sides is minimal, if that.

When we first came up, we were absolutely fine straight away against lower sides and didn't notice any difference. The gulf came when we played a good Championship side, getting smacked 6-1 by Watford springs to mind. That's the step up.

The likes of Yeovil coming up and Blackpool going down were one off cases.

 

[TheWednesday]

It's a big step up, defenders are stronger and faster, strikers take more chances, midfielders are stronger, keepers make fantastic saves. However it's been proven League One clubs can compete providing they strengthen their team sufficiently, and with significant investment like Southampton, Norwich, Brentford, Bournemouth and Wolves you can have a good crack at the league.

 

[MagpieBee]

It's a big step up, defenders are stronger and faster, strikers take more chances, midfielders are stronger, keepers make fantastic saves. However it's been proven League One clubs can compete providing they strengthen their team sufficiently, and with significant investment like Southampton, Norwich, Brentford, Bournemouth and Wolves you can have a good crack at the league.

Wolves and us didn't actually spend that much last summer. Think our total transfers in was about £4m, and we brought in £3m through player sales. Until they bought Afobe Wolves hadn't spent much at all.

 

[HarvSFC]

We spent about £5m the summer we came up and we had just sold Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for £15m.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

It's a big step up, defenders are stronger and faster, strikers take more chances, midfielders are stronger, keepers make fantastic saves. However it's been proven League One clubs can compete providing they strengthen their team sufficiently, and with significant investment like Southampton, Norwich, Brentford, Bournemouth and Wolves you can have a good crack at the league.

Our initial Championship squad had two loans and one dud 1.5m signing, which got it into lower midtable come January. Only then did we sign a couple more to push higher and build the platform for this season, but that wasn't required to stay up.
Brentford and Wolves squads didn't change much and both were very good. One or two individuals was all IIRC - Brentford loaned Pritchard and Wolves kept Sako and added Afobe.
A lot of Southampton's L1 squad went straight up through to the Prem.
Norwich I don't know enough to comment.

Rotherham last season made tons of changes, although didn't seem to actually spend much in net total, and struggled but survived.

I certainly don't think significant investment or change from L1 is required to be competitive. Just keep things together and add one or two.

 

[TheWednesday]

I'd probably agree that change isn't always needed, but the squad we got promoted with certainly needed a lot of change and the only players we have remaining from that League One season are probably Jose Semedo and Liam Palmer.

 

[D B Disco]

I think our current squad is strong enough for us to hold our own in this league, however we are very short on numbers as we got promoted with a very small squad, so I think a minimum 6 signings are needed. If Cotts can replicate the quality and success of last summer's signings we could make a mark this year.

 

[hodge]

Agreed if you were to judge by starting XI's alone I think we'd be fine in this league, its our strength in depth that will be the concern, we now have things like international breaks etc to deal with meaning a greater congestion of fixtures and a more regular Saturday/Tuesday schedule. And I agree again I think 6 maybe 7 signings are required (if no one signed able to play more than 1 position)

We have a 17 man squad atm including Osborne, El-Abd, Burns and Reid who were all loaned out, I expect Reid and Burns to be loaned again, try and moved El-Abd on.

1 x GK
1 x RWB (Unless Cotts plans on Ayling being the back up RWB)
1/2 x CB (Depends if Osborne is moved on)
2 x CM
2 x ST

Wouldn't be surprised for us to sign someone like Joe Edwards or Todd Kane who could tick off both the RWB and a CM slot

 

[D B Disco]

We have a 17 man squad atm including Osborne, El-Abd, Burns and Reid who were all loaned out, I expect Reid and Burns to be loaned again, try and moved El-Abd on.

Bloody hell, when you look at that, I reckon we need a good 8/9 signings!

Think you're spot on with the positions though. Will be interesting to see whether we continue with 3-5-2....personally I hope so!

 

[hodge]

I can't see us ditching 352, it brought so much sucess last season and the team played good football with it.

I don't reckon we need 8/9. 5/6 would see us up around the 20 mark again and then after that I expect cotterill to use loans as well. I expect 5/6 permenant signings and maybe 2 or 3 loans.

 

[TractorBoys]

Yeovil proved survival can't be done on a tiny budget.

A promotion push and failed playoff semi final for us says different, £110k that cost us. It really isn't about money in the Championship (IMO) and we've seen many occasions of overspending getting you absolutely nowhere (Forest).

 

[Walkley_Owl]

A promotion push and failed playoff semi final for us says different, £110k that cost us. It really isn't about money in the Championship (IMO) and we've seen many occasions of overspending getting you absolutely nowhere (Forest).

Aye because £110k is all you spent, no wages or owt

 

[TractorBoys]

Obviously, but we're middle of the pack for that... 'competitive' if you like - alongside one of (if not THE) lowest transfer spend in the league proves you can make strides in the Championship without throwing millions at it. I expect our approach will be similar next season (perhaps £2-£3m) and we'll compete stronger again.

TB

 

[SF_]

Obviously, but we're middle of the pack for that... 'competitive' if you like - alongside one of (if not THE) lowest transfer spend in the league proves you can make strides in the Championship without throwing millions at it. I expect our approach will be similar next season (perhaps £2-£3m) and we'll compete stronger again.

TB

I'd be interested to know how Ipswich's wage budget compares to other clubs in this league actually, McCarthy is a top manager at this level.

Obviously Ipswich get bigger crowds than us but they're the type of club i'd like to emulate, quietly go about their business and work within their means.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

I'd be interested to know how Ipswich's wage budget compares to other clubs in this league actually, McCarthy is a top manager at this level.

Obviously Ipswich get bigger crowds than us but they're the type of club i'd like to emulate, quietly go about their business and work within their means.

McCarthy is a fucking prick!

 

[TractorBoys]

Oh the jealousy.

One of the greatest ever Championship/Div1 managers.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Oh the jealousy.

One of the greatest ever Championship/Div1 managers.

Not jealous mate, I despise the Dingle c***!

 

[SF_]

McCarthy is a fucking prick!

Love giving McCarthy abuse when he's in the opposition dugout as he's the most Yorkshire man ever but I respect him as a manager. Great record at this level.

 

[BCFC Jordan]

Flint put up a picture on twitter the other day of the players' at Sam Baldock's wedding - Joe Edwards was there. I know it sounds silly but it could well suggest he's part of the group and will be signing.

As for the league, I don't think it's radically changed as it's always had a good standard. The transfer fees are higher now, as they are elsewhere across football, and it's definitely more difficult for the clubs not on the ridiculous parachute payments to compete. Parachute payments need reducing when the reality is they're only going to increase further.

 

[hodge]

Was Edwards even at the club when Baldock was here?

 

[BCFC Jordan]

Was Edwards even at the club when Baldock was here?

I presumed he hadn't but he might have been around in the first half of the Championship relegation season?

 

[markwwfc1992]

I think Bristol City have a decent squad until it gets to your strikers. Obviously I think you'll sign one or two but Aaron Wilbraham wont strike fear into many Championship defences.

 

[hodge]

I think Bristol City have a decent squad until it gets to your strikers. Obviously I think you'll sign one or two but Aaron Wilbraham wont strike fear into many Championship defences.

To be fair we thought that about league 1 as well when we signed him, obviously will be a lot harder in the championship, think he could make a decent 2nd striker or back up, his link up play is good, just need a prolific striker with him.

 

[markwwfc1992]

To be fair we thought that about league 1 as well when we signed him, obviously will be a lot harder in the championship, think he could make a decent 2nd striker or back up, his link up play is good, just need a prolific striker with him.

I think bringing Sam Baldock back could be the perfect signing for you. Wouldnt mind us going for him either if we played him as a striker instead of a winger.

 

[hodge]

Baldock did get 13 or 14 for us in the championship, and then obviously had a great season in league 1, I'm just not sure how other City fans would receive him if he were to come back, I'd be happy enough seeing him in a City shirt again if the price were right, at 26 he still has years ahead of him, but would like to see us sign someone like Will Grigg or Tom Bradshaw as well, think we will need 4 strikers.