Would Relegation REALLY Bother You?

[Natasha Whittam]

Ok, relegation would be a tough pill to swallow. No more Match of the Day appearances, no more world class players like Zat Knight and Patricia Muamba and no more visits by United, City & Chelsea.

But would it really be that bad? Ok, we'd be stuffed financially, but putting that aside, would being in the Championship actually spoil your enjoyment? Those of you that were around in the 90's will, no doubt, confirm they were the most exciting times ever, ten times more entertaining than the dross we watch today.

Some of you might go just because we're in the Premier League and relelgation would see you support someone else. Some of you might not go at the moment but would if we were in the Championship. I'm interested to know.

Is it better to be chasing promotion in a lower league than trying to stay up in the top league?

[Jamster26]

Nah, I don't think so. I wouldn't get the same satisfaction beating Middlsbrough. We're in the best league in the world and long may that continue.

[aarons2009]

Not sure if this is a wind up thread but I will answer this honestly.

Nope I wouldn't really bother if we did get relegated to be honest, I wouldn't like us to be obviously but after a while the premier league loses it's appeal and a bit dull an boring in a way.

Maybe a year of winning the play offs at wembley would be interesting.

[DaveBWFC]

Relegation would bother me. I don't doubt it will happen one day though.

I also doubt it would spoil my enjoyment tbh.

As long as we don't go out of business I'll be there.

[Natasha Whittam]

Not sure if this is a wind up thread but I will answer this honestly.

Not at all, I hate being in the Premier League that's all.

I really wish we'd get dropped down to League 2 and have to start all over again. Believe me, there was nothing to match the rollercoaster ride to get to the Prem.

[Jamster26]

If we get relegated: we won't be coming back.

[Natasha Whittam]

If we get relegated: we won't be coming back.

Owen Coyle won't be in charge, I promise.

[jayjay23]

I would perhaps enjoy it in a way.
If we went down I would like to see us go down fighting and playing good football.

Have a couple of enjoyable seasons in the Championships and then come back to the Prem fighting and refreshed with a better atmosphere.

The atmos at the Reebok stinks at the moment. Nothing like it was when we got promoted to the prem. It's like the novelty has worn off and we play for mid table every week.

[aarons2009]

I would perhaps enjoy it in a way.

Have a couple of enjoyable seasons in the Championships and then come back to the Prem fighting and refreshed with a better atmosphere.

The atmos at the Reebok stinks at the moment. Nothing like it was when we got promoted to the prem. It's like the novelty has worn off and we play for mid table every week.

It's rare but I agree with you on that.

[DaveBWFC]

Who says that would happen though?

With our debt being what it is relegation would seriously fúck us up.

[Sluffy]

Yes it would bother me - relegation is not a very pleasant feeling and our financial position probably will mean we will be on a downward spiral for many years to come.

I don't think the club would go out of business - but Eddie Davies stands to lose an awful lot of money if it does go into Administration.

Don't forget recent Premier Teams have fallen straight down to the third (and fourth) levels - Charlton and Sheffield United are still there.

Tbh the fun was always in climbing the leagues rather than clinging on in the top division (and I don't like what the Premier and Sky have done to football) but times change and the Premier is the place to be - even if that is finishing 17th every season.

[H. Pedersen]

As an American, relegation would make it a lot more difficult for me to watch the games.  I wouldn't support someone else, I'd probably just stop watching the Premier League and devote more time to MLS and the Sounders.

[largehat]

I can kind of see the idea that if we could somehow pretend the club wouldn't be financially ruined by relegation to the Championship, would life as a fan be that bad?

I think the Championship is a very exciting league to watch and there are always a number of other big clubs who have fallen on hard times to compete with.

Besides the obvious though, we've been spoiled in the last decade as a Premership club. No more internet streams. Staying up til 1am for 1 minute of footage from the game presented by Manish. Far fewer stories in the national media. No more signings like Eidur Gudjohnsen, Stuart Holden, Gary Cahill - players we can (in theory) sign on the cheap and really cash in on.

We'd have to try to do what Middlesbrough have done and rely on our academy to produce the players to take us back up. And look what has happened to Middlesbrough's best young players - they've all left on the cheap.

And then there's the prospect that we mightn't have a relatively short stay in the Championship. Further still, we could end up in League One playing Yeovil alongside the Sheffield clubs and Charlton.

It's pretty hard to make a case for relegation being anything other than a complete disaster on every conceivable level.

[traf]

As long as the club was still in existence, it wouldn't matter to proper fans.

[Diana Prince]

 

The atmos at the Reebok stinks at the moment. Nothing like it was when we got promoted to the prem. It's like the novelty has worn off and we play for mid table every week.

Yes, it'll be buzzing with 8k on.

[hjd]

If our debt is £93m then it would be unsustainable without the Sky money. The club could easily do a Leeds and end up almost going out of business. As bad as a relegation fight in the PL is, it would be 10 times worse fighting relegation from the championship.
I agree with the previous post that relegation would be a  complete  disaster.
Having said that I can't ever see a situation where I wouldn't go to games, we went through much worse in the 80's and I am loath to give up my season ticket after 38 years.
  

[largehat]

As long as the club was still in existence, it wouldn't matter to proper fans.

Have you spoken to any Sheffield Wednesday or Charlton fans recently?

People don't describe the 1980s as our club's darkest years because it was a barrel of laughs. Of course it matters what league the club is in - and I am a proper fan, sorry.

[Diana Prince]

Have you spoken to any Sheffield Wednesday or Charlton fans recently?

People don't describe the 1980s as our club's darkest years because it was a barrel of laughs. Of course it matters what league the club is in - and I am a proper fan, sorry.

Watching on an internet stream?

[largehat]

Watching on an internet stream?

I said BESIDES THE OBVIOUS, and then listed a load of stuff including internet streams. You can't tell me that Wanderers fans as a group don't benefit from internet streams - we don't all go to every game. In fact, given that we take about 200 away to some games, the vast majority don't go to every game. Don't seize on the internet stream thing and think I only watch on the internet!

[Diana Prince]

I didn't seize, you used the word 'proper'.

[largehat]

I only used it because Traf used in first. He implied that if you're bothered what league we're in, you're not a 'proper fan'. Which I dispute.

[traf]

Rather than telling people what you thought I implied: just ask me what I meant if you didn't understand it.

Proper fans would, of course, be bothered about a drop down the leagues, but their main concern would be that the club didn't go under.

[largehat]

I didn't think there was anything ambiguous about your previous post for me to seek clarification over,  but thanks for clarifying and I am happy to be considered a proper fan.

[Jamster26]

Proper fans, that's awesome. So we have a criteria to decide who the "proper" fans are, do we?

[Weststander]

Proper fans, that's awesome. So we have a criteria to decide who the "proper" fans are, do we?

There is a panel somewhere that decides that.

It is a term that folk on these things spout quite frequently like it's some sort of status thing. Who and what are proper fans?

Is it the new breed of £49 kids who also get to a few away games?

Perhaps the oldies who have been financially supporting for years but rarely get to cup or away games?

How about those who live a good distance away but several times a year shell out a fortune to watch us?

Or what's wrong with the internet watchers who still pace the floor every match day afternoon?

I have an Auntie in her early 80s and don't ask the obvious as I don't know. She's never set foot in the Reebok and I don't think she did in Burnden either. She got hooked on BWFC by her dad and late husband who were fanatics. She listens to GMR every matchday, knows the players past and present, has her favourites and win or lose she will ring me after every match for a rant or celebration. To my mind she's a proper fan.

Back on subject, I would be gutted to go down but come the start of the new season I don't mind what division we are in as long as we are competitive.