Comments on: Sorry, your club has no right to be in the Premier League

By: Lee

Lee — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:34:50 +0000

Good article

However, I’m a little concerned that anyone could take anything that comes out of Simon Jordan’s mouth seriously.

By: michael

michael — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:43:51 +0000

It’s a good article as always, Graham, and you make some good points but it’s a little bit conspiracy theory/paranoia don’t you think? Perhaps people didn’t like Watford in the Eighties because you were rough and long-ball? Those are valid reasons to dislike a team, in my opinion.

I think Simon Jordan had a point, even if he didn’t know it. Clubs like Derby and Watford have gained promotion validly on the back of longball football at the expense of footballing teams like West Brom, but most Premiership teams will pick a direct team apart easily, so they just get relegated again. Reading came up on the back of good football and did excellently in the Premiership. So even though these teams deserve to be where they are, people have good reasons for not wanting them there. Derby have hardly improved the Premier League, have they?

And while we’re talking about embarrasments, surely Sunderland of two years ago qualify. Can’t believe noone’s mentioned them.

By: abba(liverpool fan)

abba(liverpool fan) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:31:39 +0000

watford came up and gave alot of the so called elite prem league clubs a run for their money. the elite Everton needed a stupid referee and a blind linesman idiotic decision to award them a last minute penalty when the ball clearly hit the head of a Watford defender instead of the hand which gave THE bLUES ALL 3 POINTS.Watford then played old fashioned football and caused alot of the ELITES to sweat buckets before the final whistle was blown. the Elites have million and millions to built their team but Watford won promotion in their own rights came into the premiership and did what they did and gave all they can. some had luck like Sunderland and Ipswich and some didnt like Watford and Derby. but luck or no luck they played by the rules over the course of a long hard 46 game championship season and earned their rights to be among the top. Bradford beat ARSENAL and CHELSEA AND LIVERPOOL and i still remember a clown shaving his head bald cuz he betted on his crowning glory that Bradford would go down the vey first season and they didnt, bARNSLEY made the legendary schmicheal look like a fool and dumbed Man Utd out of the FA CUP. Chelsea was trashed by Sunderland 4-1 during the very first season on the top flight. even man utd could only manage a draw with them with their multi millions squad. whatever position these minnows finish end of the season, 3 cheers to them for coming and hitting everyone with their best shot….hip hip hooray

By: onegrahamtaylor

onegrahamtaylor — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:53:56 +0000

Derby have been poor, poorer than we were last year – remember our heaviest defeat was 4 – 0 at Old Trafford. Derby have lost 6 – 0 three or four times this season. So i have to disagree with you Gary – you’re subscribing to the “Premiership clubs” union yourself when you say how it shows the widening gap between Premiership “mainstays” and Championship. I don’t think Derby would have finished above mid-table in Champ. this season judging by how they’ve played and, as a Watford fan, I’d fancy our chances against most of the bottom half of the Prem. (certainly Middlesb’gh down). The gap you talk of is not between the Champ. and the Prem. It’s halfway up the Prem. – West Ham are on the benchmark.

By: Gary Andrews

Gary Andrews — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:52:38 +0000

Derby have been dire this season and, as has been pointed out elsewhere many a time, arrived in the Premier League too early. I think more than anything else it shows the widening gap between those already in the Premiership and the hopefuls from the Championship.

But yes, any club that gets promotion to the top flight has earned its place in the Premiership. Even Plymouth Argyle.

I’ve been really impressed with Salisbury this season. They’re a very well-organised side who play a direct game, but know how to move the ball around. If Exeter don’t get promoted then I’m hoping I can make the Salisbury trip next season. Next season will be key for them – how many times have we seen a club get a promotion, punch above their expected weight, only to struggle the season after.

A lot of the ex-league club supporters do look down their nose at the smaller teams, although I’ve not found anybody who has been too critical of Salisbury. Histon are a slightly different matter – not for their style of play – but their long-term sustainability at this level. What the Stutes have achieved on the pitch has defied expectations. Off the pitch, I think they may struggle to become mainstays in the non-league top flight.

By: Graham Fisher

Graham Fisher — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:40:43 +0000

Fair point GT, I probably meant last season!

By: GT

GT — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:46:28 +0000

Sorry, I meant Derby not Dervy.

By: GT

GT — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:42:54 +0000

I agree, but you have to admit that Dervy were utterly dismal this season. I’m not saying they are an embarassment, because they worked hard to reach the Premier League, but even their chairman said they had been promoted too early. That must say something. And you said Derby overachieved this season- you call losing 80% of your games and conceding 3 per game and getting relegated in last spot with 5 or so games left overachieving? Mark your words.

By: onegrahamtaylor

onegrahamtaylor — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:16:31 +0000

Excellent article Graham. How long does it take to become a “Premiership Club”, i wonder. Are Wigan and Reading now “Premiership clubs”? Bolton are considered in that bracket now, but when and how did that happen? I clearly remember beating Bolton at Wembley in in the playoff final with that Nicky Wright overhead kick but we’ve never been a “Premiership club”.

By: KyleAusGooner

KyleAusGooner — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:10:51 +0000

Too long, waaay to long mate.

I get the jist, nice angle there on your views.