The Premier League

Be careful what you wish for folks, it's not what it's all cracked up to be. So far this season, going to away matches like Arsenal and Chelsea etc. Is more like hoping that you are not on the wrong end of a hiding instead of travelling away full of expectation that you might get 3 points. The prices are absolutely extortionate, the atmosphere at these grounds is usually shit and I could moan all day about the policing.

As for the money that comes with getting promoted, I will quote Huw Jenkins (bear with me, I know he's probably not a favourite on here) "The outside perception is that the Premier League is the richest league in the world, but in reality it's nowhere near the truth. It may well be the richest in terms of income, but I'm sure it's also way above every league in the world in terms of spend."

Good luck for the rest of the season, I really would like to see a South Wales derby in the premier league, but a little bit of me misses the championship. As I already said, be careful what you wish for...

Theres allways 1 at-least-half-tidy Jack
But I know what you mean. Couple of Jacks in school with me allways boast about being there but when I come back with ''the Championship is generally a better league'' they don't think about things like I do. Like atmosphere and anticipation of getting 3 points. They allways say the same old thing = ''But we're in the Premier League.''
I'm sure it is nice to be there though...

Theres allways 1 at-least-half-tidy Jack
But I know what you mean. Couple of Jacks in school with me allways boast about being there but when I come back with ''the Championship is generally a better league'' they don't think about things like I do. Like atmosphere and anticipation of getting 3 points. They allways say the same old thing = ''But we're in the Premier League.''
I'm sure it is nice to be there though...

Which is all well and good, I'm just saying it's not as much fun as everyone makes out. Anticipation is something I have lost this year, the atmosphere at away grounds, from the home fans is especially poor, the famous "Kop" was deathly quiet against us?

As for finances, I read the other day that Bolton, who I wouldn't class as a massively extravagant club are £100 million in debt! How the f**k does that happen in the richest league in the world?

I think thats a decent post by ScotsJack.

The Premier League is a case of "Bigger Economies of Scale" and whilst you may get more Income the counteract is that you do need a reasonably large squad to compete and the salaries are that much larger.

I suggested, earlier in the season, that promotion could actually have a negative effect for Swansea. I am aware, from speaking to some friends from Swansea, that Huw Jenkins hasnt spent as much as they would have liked. If relegation does happen how many supporters will stop watching. Every club has its hard core but it is the "fairweathers" that may stop or the ones that take the view "Ive seen Premiership I dont need to watch Championship again". In these situations there is the danger of imploding. I hope not. Despite our rivalry there are many good supporters in Swansea and I for one like the friendly banter that goes on.

I totally understand where ur coming from scotsjack. Your man swansealad wrote the same.
I have a healthy disrespect for the premier league and what its doing to football.
It is now like the SPL (but for 3 to 6 teams instead of 2). I don't like the prem because the jacks went up. I've felt like this for years. Cardiff would have gone bust if they beat Blackpool in that play off.
I think swansea will stay up. But as u imply -it is bland and ultmately boring for fans with nothing to play for each season except to stay where u are.
I couldn't believe how Blackburn missed an opportunity for a trophy for their fans in the carling - to stay in a league which is strangling them.

It is a difficult one HOW TO GAUGE SUCCESS
Most times - the journey is better destination.
Its not bah humbug from me - I believe that the prem is destroying clubs and fans in the long term.
The italian serie A nearly went under doing the same thing - now most top clubs are lucky to get 25,000 and the championship is better supported.

Greed has knackered the economy, just as it will knacker the Premier League.

Not keen on getting there, but the club needs to now, in view of what's gone on with debts etc. Funny old world.

How much will we be demanding the club spends once (IF??) we get there?

I'd love to reach the premier league but I'd also love to keep the spirit in the team we have this season. I hold full trust in Malky, not just to get us there but to keep it real.

Be careful what you wish for folks, it's not what it's all cracked up to be. So far this season, going to away matches like Arsenal and Chelsea etc. Is more like hoping that you are not on the wrong end of a hiding instead of travelling away full of expectation that you might get 3 points. The prices are absolutely extortionate, the atmosphere at these grounds is usually shit and I could moan all day about the policing.

As for the money that comes with getting promoted, I will quote Huw Jenkins (bear with me, I know he's probably not a favourite on here) "The outside perception is that the Premier League is the richest league in the world, but in reality it's nowhere near the truth. It may well be the richest in terms of income, but I'm sure it's also way above every league in the world in terms of spend."

Good luck for the rest of the season, I really would like to see a South Wales derby in the premier league, but a little bit of me misses the championship. As I already said, be careful what you wish for...

Decent post.

TBH You could say the same about the Championship as players/agents swallow up all the cash that is avaiable no matter how much income a club generates.

I actually admire Huw Jenkins for refusing to break the bank and it proves that your club is in good hands as the last thing you want is a reckless Chairman throwing money around in the hope of staying up. Hull/Portsmouth are examples of how stupid that can be.

The way WBA manage themselves is far better and more and more clubs will follow that route.

Be careful what you wish for folks, it's not what it's all cracked up to be. So far this season, going to away matches like Arsenal and Chelsea etc. Is more like hoping that you are not on the wrong end of a hiding instead of travelling away full of expectation that you might get 3 points. The prices are absolutely extortionate, the atmosphere at these grounds is usually shit and I could moan all day about the policing.

As for the money that comes with getting promoted, I will quote Huw Jenkins (bear with me, I know he's probably not a favourite on here) "The outside perception is that the Premier League is the richest league in the world, but in reality it's nowhere near the truth. It may well be the richest in terms of income, but I'm sure it's also way above every league in the world in terms of spend."

Good luck for the rest of the season, I really would like to see a South Wales derby in the premier league, but a little bit of me misses the championship. As I already said, be careful what you wish for...

Decent post.

TBH You could say the same about the Championship as players/agents swallow up all the cash that is avaiable no matter how much income a club generates.

I actually admire Huw Jenkins for refusing to break the bank and it proves that your club is in good hands as the last thing you want is a reckless Chairman throwing money around in the hope of staying up. Hull/Portsmouth are examples of how stupid that can be.

The way WBA manage themselves is far better and more and more clubs will follow that route.

I hope so, otherwise top class football's in danger.

Be careful what you wish for folks, it's not what it's all cracked up to be. So far this season, going to away matches like Arsenal and Chelsea etc. Is more like hoping that you are not on the wrong end of a hiding instead of travelling away full of expectation that you might get 3 points. The prices are absolutely extortionate, the atmosphere at these grounds is usually shit and I could moan all day about the policing.

As for the money that comes with getting promoted, I will quote Huw Jenkins (bear with me, I know he's probably not a favourite on here) "The outside perception is that the Premier League is the richest league in the world, but in reality it's nowhere near the truth. It may well be the richest in terms of income, but I'm sure it's also way above every league in the world in terms of spend."

Good luck for the rest of the season, I really would like to see a South Wales derby in the premier league, but a little bit of me misses the championship. As I already said, be careful what you wish for...

Good post. Agree with all your points.

But, as a fan who attended his first City game in 1969, I would just like to see us in the top flight at least once. We can cross those other bridges thereafter.

I think its 50-50 for the Jacks to stay up BTW. At the start of the season I would have given the Jacks no chance. I know its the season of goodwill but forgive me for not saying "Good Luck"

Good post by Scotsjack.

Looking at some of the teams in the premiership now quite a few would struggle if they came down. This surprises me as I thought we would have a situation of 23 premeirship teams of which 3 would be on loan in the championship. In a way I still think this will happen as some of the premiership teams just dont have the support base. Eventually this will take its affect and perhaps is doing so now, aka Bolton and £100m debt.

Interesting.....seems to me that eventually the teams that cannot compete with the top flight teams will erode their fanbases. This has happened in Baseball over here and it is what undermines that league....the same thing is starting to happen in the NBA our basketball league. Five or six large market teams have the largest revenue and control, and buy whoever they want.

However, if Cardiff were to get promotion, my question is.....with the additional funds, being as large a city and tourist location that Cardiff is, the wealthy owners, and the large support from not only Cardiff but the rest of Wales, don't you think maybe the team is a "sleeping giant"?