So who's to blame?

[Bigdave]

I'm sorry but I don't think that really stacks up. As has already been said our squad was hopelessly unprepared for the Prem. We were desperate for Prem quality. We aren't going to attract Theo Wallcot. It was only ever going to be bad boys, old boys, injured boys etc who were likely to come - unless we went the other way of buying promising young players - but they would not have been prem players because they are off the scale financially. So you would have been looking at young championship players, some of whom might have made the step up but many more would have floundered. Then the very same people criticising Fernandes and co would have been the first to say "he was so naive to think a player with two seasons in the Championship could spearhead our attack" etc.

Norwich and Swansea dont seem to have done too bad. Their current squads are not too different from the ones who finished below us in the CCC 2 years ago.

Only they, well especially Norwich have scoured the lower divisions for young hungry players who they believe can improve and make the step up to the next level. We, on the other hand have bought players who have done it before but are on their way down. Not too often do these type of players find their old form. They have earned their money and are only interested in building up their bank balance. In other words f acking mercaneries. And we have fallen for it big time.