Gap between Premier League and Championship has closed

Wednesday 07th August 2013.

According to Cardiff City's Tommy Smith.....


Tommy Smith believes the gulf in standard between the Championship and the Premier League has closed – and that it will stand Cardiff City in good stead when the new season begins.

The highly experienced Smith is preparing for his fifth spell at Premier League level, starting against West Ham away on Saturday week before back-to-back home matches against Manchester City and Everton.

Smith, who has played top-flight football for Watford, in two separate spells, Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers, is one of Malky Mackay’s key players in Cardiff’s debut season.

The cool-headed, technically gifted schemer ranks alongside Craig Bellamy as being a Bluebirds player whose experience of what is needed at the highest level will be crucial as Mackay’s men adapt to Premier League life.

Smith feels upbeat about City’s chances, even though bookmakers have put them among the favourites for the drop.

He highlights matches against teams outside the leading group as being decisive.

While Mackay and his staff always set out to win every match, City will surely see anything gained from the top clubs as a bonus.

“The big change over recent years is that the gap has closed between the lower Premiership clubs and the top Championships teams,” said Smith.

“That will hold us in good stead. We came up as champions, we have to believe in each other and go into the new season knowing we can survive. There is no doubt within our squad we are as strong, if not stronger, than those other clubs who came up.”

Smith has made 87 Premier League appearances, scoring seven goals, and says the onus for scoring must not rest purely on strikers Fraizer Campbell, Nicky Maynard and Andreas Cornelius.

There will be pressure on Smith and Bellamy to chip in along with Kim Bo-Kyung, who has already fired three goals in pre-season, Peter Whittingham and more.

Ben Turner, Steven Caulker, Matt Connolly and club captain Mark Hudson will also be charged with adding to the City haul over the season.

“We have to find goals from throughout the team and not leave that to our forwards,” said Smith, who has been promoted to the Premier League three times, with Watford, QPR and Cardiff.

“There are plenty of attacking players in our team who can chip in and we have to get goals from all areas, including midfield players and defenders. And while we look for goals it is crucial we stay aware and solid at the back.

“A lack of concentration once can cost you games at the top level and you lose games because of that.

“Maybe the biggest difference between Championship football and Premier League level is that you can have a bad game at Championship level and still get a result, while in the Premiership that doesn’t happen.”

Smith, 33, has completed 15 years as a senior professional, starting at Watford and playing for Sunderland, Derby, Portsmouth, QPR and Cardiff.



He has made more than 550 first-team appearances over his career, but the zest in him remains as strong as ever.

He said: “I can’t wait for Premier League football and it’s been the same for me from the moment the fixtures came out.

“West Ham away (on the first weekend) – that’s the fixture we are building towards and it can’t come quickly enough.

“Manchester City in our first match at home is another huge fixture and it’s important we get a decent start.

“At the top level you can’t be afraid of anybody. We have to believe we can do a job against whoever we are playing and go in believing we can earn a positive result.

“The Championship is a fantastic division, but we earned promotion after a tough season and that is a great feeling.

“Our group has a Premier League mentality. There is a desire and a hunger running through the squad. We have players with points to prove at this level.

“Look through our squad and a lot of them deserve to be at Premier level.”

The addition of Steven Caulker adds a little more Premier League experience to the City squad.

The centre-half, who came to prominence in the Spurs first team last term, has been roundly hailed as a terrific signing for the Bluebirds.

Smith added: “Our squad is thin on Premier experience and you need an abundance of that to help the cause.

“I’m sure there will be one or two more coming in over the next few weeks, but whatever happens we will be ready for that opening match at West Ham on Saturday week.

“I savoured Cardiff winning the title because I don’t know how many seasons I’ve got left in me. Now the aim of every player is giving supporters a little more to cheer by making an impact in the new season... and beyond.”

The bottom few clubs of the Premier League, yes I agree with and yes the Championship is a very tough division, but I still believe there is a massive got between them, so I don't agree that the gap is closing over all.

And if any of you genuinely believe that, then you are in for a major shock.

Teams spend £20-£30 million upon promotion ON TOP of their championship promotion squads and often scrap to stay in the league and many, if not most failing to do even that for very long. The difference between the two leagues is as big, if not bigger than ever and this will become evident to you after you witness a few games. Trust me.

Agree with annis and our Aussie friend,there's a big gap between prem and champ.It's not easy to make the step up to the premier and £20mill + is needed to make an impact.

And if any of you genuinely believe that, then you are in for a major shock.

Teams spend £20-£30 million upon promotion ON TOP of their championship promotion squads and often scrap to stay in the league and ma, if not most failing to do even that for very long. The difference between the two leagues is as big, if not bigger than ever and this will become evident to you after you witness a few games. Trust me.

They do now but didnt couple years ago as Norwich &Swansea didn't spend anywhere near that amount did they? Also top 6 big big gap, but as been shown the rest premier is way below that standard, as more & more champ sides survive but relegated prem teams struggle in champ. so either champ is getting better or premier getting worse or both?

A similar story gets rolled out most years... The gap between say the top 4 Prem teams and the rest is massive, but otherwise I don't think it's that big.

Anyone on here good with Stats? How many times have the 3 promoted teams been relegated straight back down? It gets said that it will happen every year by lazy pundits, but I'm sure that it very rarely happens, if it ever has?

A similar story gets rolled out most years... The gap between say the top 4 Prem teams and the rest is massive, but otherwise I don't think it's that big.

Anyone on here good with Stats? How many times have the 3 promoted teams been relegated straight back down? It gets said that it will happen every year by lazy pundits, but I'm sure that it very rarely happens, if it ever has?

Believe it was about 6yrs ago so not regular thing, which surely means gap between bottom part premier and champ is not that great now? Although teams are having to spend more on players than previously.

A similar story gets rolled out most years... The gap between say the top 4 Prem teams and the rest is massive, but otherwise I don't think it's that big.

Anyone on here good with Stats? How many times have the 3 promoted teams been relegated straight back down? It gets said that it will happen every year by lazy pundits, but I'm sure that it very rarely happens, if it ever has?

Believe it was about 6yrs ago so not regular thing, which surely means gap between bottom part premier and champ is not that great now? Although teams are having to spend more on players than previously.

It doesnt mean that at all. It means upon promotion the financial rewards are now such that the clubs can now attract some decent players and haven't had the chance to stagnate. Due to the financial explosion of the prem the gap is bigger than it ever has been.

Gap is getting smaller for me. Still a big gap, nowhere near the size it was though.

Gap is getting smaller for me. Still a big gap, nowhere near the size it was though.

No chance. Income has gone up by 50% over the last 6 years and transfer fees haven't increased to the same level meaning promoted teams have a far better chance of staying up. Thats not because championship teams have got better but the promoted ones simply have more money. Give prem teams £10m only to spend on transfers each season and you will start seeing clean sweeps of relegations again as they simply cant get enough quality players to improve their championship squads.

Its simple economics.

Premiership bottom half has got weaker in my opinion.

Nothing to do with economics, simply that the standard of football has dropped in the prem.

Premiership bottom half has got weaker in my opinion.

Nothing to do with economics, simply that the standard of football has dropped in the prem.

It has everything to do with economics. The more money you have, generally, the more choice of footballers you can attract to your club.

There has been an influx of star signings to the outside top 8 clubs this year and thats down to one thing, money.

No, it doesn't.

It was asked if the standard of leagues was closer. Nothing to do with the economics of it.

IN MY OPINION, it has dropped. You may disagree, but stop talking like your opinion is fact.

A similar story gets rolled out most years... The gap between say the top 4 Prem teams and the rest is massive, but otherwise I don't think it's that big.

Anyone on here good with Stats? How many times have the 3 promoted teams been relegated straight back down? It gets said that it will happen every year by lazy pundits, but I'm sure that it very rarely happens, if it ever has?

Believe it was about 6yrs ago so not regular thing, which surely means gap between bottom part premier and champ is not that great now? Although teams are having to spend more on players than previously.

I just wonder if the gap between the bottom of the Prem and the top of the championship was ever actually that big? Agree with teams having to spend more, but I think that applies across the board.

No, it doesn't.

It was asked if the standard of leagues was closer. Nothing to do with the economics of it.

IN MY OPINION, it has dropped. You may disagree, but stop talking like your opinion is fact.

Yes it does, its pretty obvious. Under the financial benefits of 6 years ago there is no way Swansea would be able to sort the package to bring the likes of Bony in, Cardiff would never sign Caulker in their debut season, Norwich would never sign Van Wolfswinkel. It just woukdnt happen. Money has brought stars to the bottom half of the premier league on a scale never before seen, due to the fact clubs simply couldnt afford to do it before,

You are perfectly entitled to your opinion, but its my opinion that your opinion is quite clearly incorrect.

I think the gap between the bottom half of the prem and championship has gotten smaller however it is still a big step up

It's my opinion that yours is wholly inaccurate.

It's my opinion that yours is wholly inaccurate.

But it isnt, mine is backed by economical fact and common sense. If a club had £10m to spend then it can only make £10m worth of improvements to a championship squad (X5 £2m signings and 6 champ players), if a club has £30m it can bring in far more players of better quality and replace more of their championship squad ( X10 £3m players and one championship player).

Thus improving the chances of competing and staying up - exactly as the stats show.

It's my opinion that yours is wholly inaccurate.

But it isnt, mine is backed by economical fact and common sense. If a club had £10m to spend then it can only make £10m worth of improvements to a championship squad (X5 £2m signings and 6 champ players), if a club has £30m it can bring in far more players of better quality and replace more of their championship squad ( X10 £3m players and one championship player).

Thus improving the chances of competing and staying up - exactly as the stats show.

How much did QPR spend last season because that didnt help them to stay up

Mine is backed by a player who has played in both. I think he would know a little more than you and your calculator.

Parachute payments are massive and also put championship teams at a big disadvantage.

.

It's my opinion that yours is wholly inaccurate.

But it isnt, mine is backed by economical fact and common sense. If a club had £10m to spend then it can only make £10m worth of improvements to a championship squad (X5 £2m signings and 6 champ players), if a club has £30m it can bring in far more players of better quality and replace more of their championship squad ( X10 £3m players and one championship player).

Thus improving the chances of competing and staying up - exactly as the stats show.

How much did QPR spend last season because that didnt help them to stay up

How much did Reading spend?

There will always be exceptions to the rule, however you have to be pretty special to not realise the chances of brining success to a club are far greater when more money is spent. There are far more examples of teams spending the most getting success.

Last year cardiff and hull were the top 2 net spenders and finished 1st and 2nd respectively.

Mine is backed by a player who has played in both. I think he would know a little more than you and your calculator.

Ok, you and tommy smith can think increased money for the bottom clubs has had a weakening effect.

I shall live in the real world with most of the others

It's my opinion that yours is wholly inaccurate.

But it isnt, mine is backed by economical fact and common sense. If a club had £10m to spend then it can only make £10m worth of improvements to a championship squad (X5 £2m signings and 6 champ players), if a club has £30m it can bring in far more players of better quality and replace more of their championship squad ( X10 £3m players and one championship player).

Thus improving the chances of competing and staying up - exactly as the stats show.

How much did QPR spend last season because that didnt help them to stay up

How much did Reading spend?

There will always be exceptions to the rule, however you have to be pretty special to not realise the chances of brining success to a club are far greater when more money is spent. There are far more examples of teams spending the most getting success.

Last year cardiff and hull were the top 2 net spenders and finished 1st and 2nd respectively.

Ok but then the year before that both Swansea and Norwich stayed up after not spending largely so again a flaw to your argument of "economics"

It's my opinion that yours is wholly inaccurate.

But it isnt, mine is backed by economical fact and common sense. If a club had £10m to spend then it can only make £10m worth of improvements to a championship squad (X5 £2m signings and 6 champ players), if a club has £30m it can bring in far more players of better quality and replace more of their championship squad ( X10 £3m players and one championship player).

Thus improving the chances of competing and staying up - exactly as the stats show.

How much did QPR spend last season because that didnt help them to stay up

How much did Reading spend?

There will always be exceptions to the rule, however you have to be pretty special to not realise the chances of brining success to a club are far greater when more money is spent. There are far more examples of teams spending the most getting success.

Last year cardiff and hull were the top 2 net spenders and finished 1st and 2nd respectively.

Ok but then the year before that both Swansea and Norwich stayed up after not spending largely so again a flaw to your argument of "economics"

Its not an argument of economics, its a fact. The more money you have the better quality you can attract. If you didnt have the £9m to buy Caulker then you would have Ben Turner... So on and so forth.

Swansea and Norwich both spent heavily compared to the newly promoted teams of a decade ago. Swansea spent in excess of £14m

Last edited by Masterplan on Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

Ok but then the year before that both Swansea and Norwich stayed up after not spending largely so again a flaw to your argument of "economics"

He won't see that though.

It's my opinion that yours is wholly inaccurate.

But it isnt, mine is backed by economical fact and common sense. If a club had £10m to spend then it can only make £10m worth of improvements to a championship squad (X5 £2m signings and 6 champ players), if a club has £30m it can bring in far more players of better quality and replace more of their championship squad ( X10 £3m players and one championship player).

Thus improving the chances of competing and staying up - exactly as the stats show.

How much did QPR spend last season because that didnt help them to stay up

How much did Reading spend?

There will always be exceptions to the rule, however you have to be pretty special to not realise the chances of brining success to a club are far greater when more money is spent. There are far more examples of teams spending the most getting success.

Last year cardiff and hull were the top 2 net spenders and finished 1st and 2nd respectively.

Ok but then the year before that both Swansea and Norwich stayed up after not spending largely so again a flaw to your argument of "economics"

Swansea and Norwich both spent heavily compared to the newly promoted teams of a decade ago. Swansea spent in excess of £14m

Football has changed massively from a decade ago that itsnt the point. In the current climate of football where there is large sums of money being thrown about both Norwich and Swansea spent a far smaller amount than the rest of the premier league yet both survived quite comfortably off the back of their championship squad

Ok but then the year before that both Swansea and Norwich stayed up after not spending largely so again a flaw to your argument of "economics"

He won't see that though.

Because it isnt true. They both spent a goos sum of money in both transfer fees and wages which have been allowed by the increased revenue.

QPR spent a lot more than others and went down...

Massive flaws in the "economics" theory...

Lets stick to the simple. Has the standard of football dropped? In my eyes... Yes.

Ok but then the year before that both Swansea and Norwich stayed up after not spending largely so again a flaw to your argument of "economics"

He won't see that though.

He used to be much better at this shit