Are we in a better position than when we were relegated?

It's the eve of the new season for us.

So here's a question, do you think we are in a better position than when we were relegated a year ago?

My answer is yes and there are two reasons.

1. The manager. I personally believe he is on another level to what we have had in recent years. I have no doubt he will go on to bigger and better things at some point.

2. Our squad has improved. All our young players have had a season of playing First Team matches and they have also improved their ability. We aren't stocked with journeymen, like in the past.


That's just my opinion though, others may think different?

I’ve put about the same. Solely because I have differing opinions on it.
1. Murphy did what he had to do last season and did it well, albeit in a very poor division and he had the best squad in my option by a long shot. I think if Riza was in charge we would have also have come straight up.

2. I have no reason to think Murphy can’t go on and improve us again this season as he has very little experience at this level. If he is as good as most belle then we are in a better position. But I will sit on the fence here and hold judgement to see if he is the real deal, as he’s the main difference from last time squad strength at the moment I’d say about the same as before.

For me your first point is the reason we are in a better position - Our manager I believe has big things going his way, and I hope we keep a hold of him for as long as we can.

The team that got relegated from the championship should never have done, the managers were the issue, why Tan kept hold of Rizza for so long beggars belief, his appointment may have been that of a financial decision by Tan but keeping him certainly wasn’t, and Bulet what has he done since, he was not up to Championship standards of a manager either.

Going down may have been a blessing in disguise due to the amount of players that went and took probably half the wage bill with them, but that was a by product of getting relegated and certainly not planned for.

I have some concerns about our defensive depth, but these same players proved that they can mix it last year with the likes of Wrexham, Burnley and Chelsea.

As BBM has already said we will surprise a few this season, I think we will be comfortable, unless another 3 quality signings come in then with 8 teams in the play offs this season, you never know.

Better as we have an outstanding coach and a younger team full of exciting academy graduates who will increase in value if we do well. Many of those players are Welsh and proud to play for us too rather than the mercenaries we have had in the past. The model of the football club is far more sustainable like this. Sadly, though we must except that if a significant offer comes in one day some may be sold but the club is far better run like this. We've be asking for this model for years so I hope fans stick by the team this year if things get difficult. This is a longer term project with BBM.

Yes, we have a proper manager now and the younger players have all improved. BBM wouldn't have taken us down with the players we had at the club 2 seasons ago

I’ve put about the same. Solely because I have differing opinions on it.
1. Murphy did what he had to do last season and did it well, albeit in a very poor division and he had the best squad in my option by a long shot. I think if Riza was in charge we would have also have come straight up.

2. I have no reason to think Murphy can’t go on and improve us again this season as he has very little experience at this level. If he is as good as most belle then we are in a better position. But I will sit on the fence here and hold judgement to see if he is the real deal, as he’s the main difference from last time squad strength at the moment I’d say about the same as before.

If Riza had been in charge last season we'd be playing Newport this season in League 2.

I’ve put about the same. Solely because I have differing opinions on it.
1. Murphy did what he had to do last season and did it well, albeit in a very poor division and he had the best squad in my option by a long shot. I think if Riza was in charge we would have also have come straight up.

2. I have no reason to think Murphy can’t go on and improve us again this season as he has very little experience at this level. If he is as good as most belle then we are in a better position. But I will sit on the fence here and hold judgement to see if he is the real deal, as he’s the main difference from last time squad strength at the moment I’d say about the same as before.

If Riza had been in charge last season we'd be playing Newport this season in League 2.

I doubt it. We will never know though.

Yes
The manager and players are confident,hungry and all together

I said 'the same', and that is on the basis we get this guy from Go Ahead Eagles. With no more players, I'd possibly say worse off.

I agree with all the points on BBM and his quality. My opinion is this is a better league with better teams and better players.

A small squad worked last year. I believe we were lucky not to have multiple injuries on a regular basis.

This year we need to be more savvy, and I wonder if the junta are being naiive and expecting too much from BBM.

I said 'the same', and that is on the basis we get this guy from Go Ahead Eagles. With no more players, I'd possibly say worse off.

I agree with all the points on BBM and his quality. My opinion is this is a better league with better teams and better players.

A small squad worked last year. I believe we were lucky not to have multiple injuries on a regular basis.

This year we need to be more savvy, and I wonder if the junta are being naiive and expecting too much from BBM.

If tan ect are being naive so is bbm to think we can do well on a small squad of decent players and relatively untried championship youngsters..

I said 'the same', and that is on the basis we get this guy from Go Ahead Eagles. With no more players, I'd possibly say worse off.

I agree with all the points on BBM and his quality. My opinion is this is a better league with better teams and better players.

A small squad worked last year. I believe we were lucky not to have multiple injuries on a regular basis.

This year we need to be more savvy, and I wonder if the junta are being naiive and expecting too much from BBM.

If tan ect are being naive so is bbm to think we can do well on a small squad of decent players and relatively untried championship youngsters..

Fair point......unless it is the party line being towed. In saying this however, I would trust BBM to be very open with Tan

I said 'the same', and that is on the basis we get this guy from Go Ahead Eagles. With no more players, I'd possibly say worse off.

I agree with all the points on BBM and his quality. My opinion is this is a better league with better teams and better players.

A small squad worked last year. I believe we were lucky not to have multiple injuries on a regular basis.

This year we need to be more savvy, and I wonder if the junta are being naiive and expecting too much from BBM.

If tan ect are being naive so is bbm to think we can do well on a small squad of decent players and relatively untried championship youngsters..

Fair point......unless it is the party line being towed. In saying this however, I would trust BBM to be very open with Tan

Hard to tell with tan what the line is... but going on what bbm is like generally you've got to accept what he says is true.... cant see Tan renaged on what he told bbm on backing even if it was on basis of needing to sell 1st before bring in someone but that appears to be not true with two clear additions (won't count trott) with more hopefully coming... "IF" tan as gone back on what he told bbm we'll soon know as another club in championship would snap him up during season when they sack their manager (100% garauntee a sacking)

Yes in a better place most still here from last season - would have liked to have seen a few more players in .
Still time to add to the squad and the manager has a feel good factor around the camp = Good Luck to you All

I said 'the same', and that is on the basis we get this guy from Go Ahead Eagles. With no more players, I'd possibly say worse off.

I agree with all the points on BBM and his quality. My opinion is this is a better league with better teams and better players.

A small squad worked last year. I believe we were lucky not to have multiple injuries on a regular basis.

This year we need to be more savvy, and I wonder if the junta are being naiive and expecting too much from BBM.

If tan ect are being naive so is bbm to think we can do well on a small squad of decent players and relatively untried championship youngsters..

Fair point......unless it is the party line being towed. In saying this however, I would trust BBM to be very open with Tan

The small squad is by design no way you keep all those guys motivated with a big squad. We've got 20ish guys who can play, are hungry and you'll get 100% out of week in week out. The risk is obviously a bit of bad luck on the injury front and it'll wreck the season. We are in a much better position though, young squad and a great manager as opposed to circling the drain in the championship like we had been for years

I believe we are in a similar position , I don’t think our squad has enough depth for the rigours of the championship, we can’t afford injuries . What happens if salech is unavailable, ok r our centre backs , we are already shuffling the pack at the back . There isn’t enough experience in the team . I think we are in for a long hard season starting with a difficult night on Monday . If we can achieve mid table finish then I think we have done well , hope I am wrong .

Hope I am wrong and we are promoted

About the same, just for the record, BBM is the 9th oldest manager in the league !!! He is relatively inexperienced but not young compared to his peer group.

The huge plus is, luckily, the journeymen so many on here are in a clamour to sign contracts, were up and let go- so that allowed us to bed in some youngsters in L1. The championship is a different beast though.

The reason i went for the same is the lack of goals. Yes, i know we scored buckets across the sqaud in L1 but Willock only scored 22 goals in over 140 championship games, so we are heavily reliant on Salech. Robinson won't get the end-of-game easy pickings he had last season, and Moylan,Tanner, Ashford and Davies are still untested in these waters. Our centre halfs don't contribute that much compared to our yesteryears versions.

Its the hope we love!

Seems all the dynamics have changed. On plus side, better manager and youngsters are more experienced. Negatives are the division looks stronger and we have big injury problems. Staying out of the bottom six will be an achievement until fitness improves plus some signings

Id say we are better than we were the season we went down but we are weaker than last season

Lawlor and Rubin are out at the moment

kellyman hasn’t returned

Wintle is gone

Only new face is Moyland

I'm sure more will join soon but could have done with more for tonight's game

The team is the same without the journeymen.

The younger guys are older and better than they were when we were relegated.

We had no shape or method of play back then.

Here is the team we played against Norwich last game of the season, 7 of our current players in that line up, four others came on, Willock, Colwill, Lawler and Bagan. We lost 4-2 but Chambers was sent off.

So my conclusion is we are better, but not much.

Desperately need new blood to bolster the squad. That Dutch guy looks perfect but not going to happen.

VERDICT - Bottom 6 if we make no further signings

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No better, worried

I think we are with BBM but not the squad, it will all come down to how he adapts in systems and tactics for me if we push on from relegation fodder or not as so far he's only got one way of playing and the more you climb leagues the harder it is with the same players as that's what we got more or less bar a few, for me you need better quality to push on but anything can happen we may suprise a few. Eitherway I'll be there results irrelevant this season as that's what fans do

I’ve put about the same. Solely because I have differing opinions on it.
1. Murphy did what he had to do last season and did it well, albeit in a very poor division and he had the best squad in my option by a long shot. I think if Riza was in charge we would have also have come straight up.

2. I have no reason to think Murphy can’t go on and improve us again this season as he has very little experience at this level. If he is as good as most belle then we are in a better position. But I will sit on the fence here and hold judgement to see if he is the real deal, as he’s the main difference from last time squad strength at the moment I’d say about the same as before.

"I think if Riza was in charge we would have also have come straight up." Good one

It's the eve of the new season for us.

So here's a question, do you think we are in a better position than when we were relegated a year ago?

My answer is yes and there are two reasons.

1. The manager. I personally believe he is on another level to what we have had in recent years. I have no doubt he will go on to bigger and better things at some point.

2. Our squad has improved. All our young players have had a season of playing First Team matches and they have also improved their ability. We aren't stocked with journeymen, like in the past.


That's just my opinion though, others may think different?

Agreed for the same reasons, we will get two or three better players in too before the window shuts.

We're in a better position. The relegated team were low on confidence, struggling to hit a target and had deadwood like Miete and co.

We also had a run of managers who are all still out of work and not linked with anyone; excluding lower league Steve.

We are now a team that keeps the ball, with alot of blooded youth and a vital experience of success.

I am hopeful. Add a few more before the window closes, hopefully, to fine tune.

Much better place.....

Waaaaay better
The feeling around the club is positive
And most importantly we have an identify of hungry young welsh generational talent in the 1st team.

Squad– Miles better. Full of young, hungry players who want to improve and prove themselves.

Old squad – Highly paid, low motivation, and seemingly happy just to pick up a wage.

Manager– BBM vs Bulut. Nothing more needs to be said.

Fans– Re-energised, excited, and fully engaged again after a successful season rather than watching dreadful football in a relegation battle.

So yeas 100% better position!!

Better, but not a great deal better.
Certainly, we have a decent manager who likes to play football the modern way.
Most of us prefer this style, although a few still critisise it, preferring to get the ball forward much quicker.
However, I feel that style led to our relegation.

In addition, our young squad gained experience last season and are far more equipped for the Championship this time around.

However, I still feel we need an experienced, quality sitting midfielder to replace Wintle.
Certainly, another target striker to support Salech.
Also, the injured centre backs could cause us a major issue in the early games.

The Wrexham match will be a good indicator of what the season may hold for us.

Despite what I’ve read on here whilst away, we don’t have the same squad of players that we had when relegated, and we gained promotion at the first attempt, so for me, this is a far better squad. With a few more additions, I think we will hold our own in the Championship this season and I’m looking forward to it more than I was last season!