by USA_Loyal_Royal »
30 Nov 2012 16:32
If we were mid-table like Swansea I might agree with you but our league placing hardly suggests that in football terms we are a raging success nor would being relegated twice in three years of Premier League membership.
I can see an argument for Arsenal being seen as different and successful but I really don't see ours as being so different.
Let's hope the club makes loads of money for Anton as that is what it seems to be all about with the football and entertainment being secondary.[/quote]
But Swansea have been playing the passing game for many years and have brought in managers to compliment that style. That's no different to what we've done, save for the fact that the style of football we've played for the past 10 years doesn't bode well for the PL. When we brought in Rodgers, we tried to change our style of play, but he did too much, too soon and was paying the price for it in results. So, we reverted back to the style we were used to, under a manager that fitted in with the Reading Way and hey presto, saved from relegation (whether or not it would have come to that had Rodgers continued is a matter of debate), took us to two FA cup quarter finals, a play-off final at Wembley and won the Championship.
I don't see the Reading Way as a condescending remark made because we think it sounds good. It's a tangible thing and has driven the club forward. We are in a far better position now than we were 10 years ago. With Zingarevich on board, we are able to keep our better players and add to the squad. Before, we have had to lose our better players and replace them with players that aren't quite at that level. In this respect, we are far better off.
West Brom didn't become a PL club over night, they yo-yo'd around for a few years, slowly building towards where they are now. Our downfall last time was not getting up within the parachute payments period. Assuming we do go down, if we can get back up within the parachute payment period this time (and there's no reason we can't we with a slightly wealthier owner, four years of payments instead of three and no need to sell our best players unless we think it's worth it), then next time, we'll be better positioned.
Knowing where you are going requires you to know where you've been. If memory serves, we spent 50 seasons in a row (50!) in division 4, then bounced around between divisions 3 and 4, had a few seasons in Division 2, then back down to division 3; but in the past 11 or 12 seasons, we've grown from a small club and have established ourselves as a top 10 Championship side, with a few flirtations with the PL. And we've done that without racking up masses of debt and risking our long term future. That should be applauded, not derided as 'having no ambition'. We've shown plenty of ambition compared to where we were 10, 20, 30 years ago!
I will concede that Swansea have been more successful, following a similar path. But I'm not a Swansea fan, so fair play to them, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.[/quote]
^^^^^this x infinity. it might take a few years of yo-yoing but i bet we could end up like west brom! they are doing really well!
