I know I shouldn't be starting a thread like this...

[MYU]

But what will happen if we fail to go up at the first attempt, will our club be safe?

I can't help but worry, I know we've all thought about it.

[northkenexile]

But what will happen if we fail to go up at the first attempt, will our club be safe?

I can't help but worry, I know we've all thought about it.

don't think we'll go straight back up - the squad spirit is 5h1te - although alot of talk on here about how Derry/Hill/Mackie etc did it for us in The Championship before - they're all now severely lacking in confidence and in the case of Derry & Hill age is now against them - would expect mid table at best next season

[acricketer]

I'll be happy with 21st place

[Yousef]

don't think we'll go straight back up - the squad spirit is 5h1te - although alot of talk on here about how Derry/Hill/Mackie etc did it for us in The Championship before - they're all now severely lacking in confidence and in the case of Derry & Hill age is now against them - would expect mid table at best next season

Yes I think Hill and Derry will not kick it gain. Perhaps we should only keep Mackie!

[Ginger Ninja]

I can't see us going straight back up. Championship is a tough tough league.

[QPR Richard]

I don't think it'll all be doom and gloom. We know our fate, and the changes required have been discussed and shortly to be implemented.

Harry will also have a full pre-season to prepare and there will be some new players brought in with the failures being moved on.

I have a feeling we'll have a good season.

[jmelanie]

I just hope we finish in the top 10. A play-off place would be a bonus.

[W12_Ranger]

I actually think we could walk the league next season , look at the teams going down with us , coming up from League 1 etc

Expect to lining up with players like Samba, Taarabt, Zamora Diakate, Mbia (unfortunately), Green, Onuhua, Johnson, Traore, Jenas, Hoilett, SWP and maybe Barton.

We've a lot of players on big money no one else will go near , they will not be moved on so easily.

Hill will probably lead us next season and Derry too has a role to play.

We could get rid some players and still have a very strong squad.

Strengthening needs to take place in the right areas, we must sign proven British players capable of galvanising the squad.

[MattyRangers]

I actually think we could walk the league next season , look at the teams going down with us , coming up from League 1 etc

Expect to lining up with players like Samba, Taarabt, Zamora Diakate, Mbia (unfortunately), Green, Onuhua, Johnson, Traore, Jenas, Hoilett, SWP and maybe Barton.

We've a lot of players on big money no one else will go near , they will not be moved on so easily.

Hill will probably lead us next season and Derry too has a role to play.

We could get rid some players and still have a very strong squad.

Strengthening needs to take place in the right areas, we must sign proven British players capable of galvanising the squad.

This.

Don't get me wrong it's a very tough old league as the tightness of it this season shows. But as W12 lists, we have more than enough to be able to win that league provided we add some much needed steel & leadership to the side.

[Ginger Ninja]

I actually think we could walk the league next season , look at the teams going down with us , coming up from League 1 etc

Expect to lining up with players like Samba, Taarabt, Zamora Diakate, Mbia (unfortunately), Green, Onuhua, Johnson, Traore, Jenas, Hoilett, SWP and maybe Barton.

We've a lot of players on big money no one else will go near , they will not be moved on so easily.

Hill will probably lead us next season and Derry too has a role to play.

We could get rid some players and still have a very strong squad.

Strengthening needs to take place in the right areas, we must sign proven British players capable of galvanising the squad.

I don't think it's a question of the players ability, it's more to do with if they can be bothered or not IMO, which I don't think a lot of them will.
I agree about strengthening in the right areas, up front has to be the priority for me. If we can get someone like Jordan Rhodes or Charlie Austin in, I've no doubt we'll get the goals we need. The big plus for us is that I reckon players of their calibre will want to play for Harry Redknapp, and if Tony Fernandes could convince a player like Loic Remy to sign, I'm sure he could convince players to sign who are very good in the Championship.

[W12_Ranger]

This.

Don't get me wrong it's a very tough old league as the tightness of it this season shows. But as W12 lists, we have more than enough to be able to win that league provided we add some much needed steel & leadership to the side.

Also think what has happened this season will take a few players down a well deserved peg or two. Graneo, Zamora, Samba, SWP and Hoilett all spring to mind. Players who have moved for overinflated price tags through their careers or been surrounded by hype. Some will rise to the occassion and want to demonstrate a bit of quality in the Championship some may falter. This won't be like us turning up against lower league opposition in the cup we have to play these teams week in week out, no matter how much teams raise their games against us these players should have enough experience and quality to shine.

Playing in the Championship will give the opportunity to a dozen players in our squad to rediscover some form in their careers as none of them at present warrants a place in a PL starting 11 bar Remy who will be off anyway.

[klonk]

whatever happens over the next few weeks will have a massive bearing on what happens the season after next (if we don't go up). financial fair play broadly means that if our outgoings exceed our income by more than £12m next season, then we face the real possibility of a trasnfer embargo being imposed that would cover the january 2015 window until we started breaking even. i don't think we managed to do this with full premier league tv money, so we need to cut the wage bill in a way that minimises the impact on the financial statements to reduce that risk.

realistically, this means paying off any high earners that we want rid of before the books for next season open and delaying the sale of anyone we reckon we can get a decent fee for until after they open to offset against the cost of purchases.

if we don't do this, then 2014-15 in the championship could be a total disaster.

[dave58]

Meltdown!

[Yousef]

I think we will spend 2-3 years and then get back to the PL.

[Shepherds Mush]

As long as we are challenging in the season(s) we are in the Championship, I dont care. Just dont want to go down to league 1 again in any hurry !