Two Questions

[DTS]

I dont think the new team is anywhere near as good as the old championship winners.

I would have that attack over our current one anyday. Think the defence now is marginally better and think maybe our midfiled now is better.

 

[Jam_Man]

I dont think the new team is anywhere near as good as the old championship winners.

I would have that attack over our current one anyday. Think the defence now is marginally better and think maybe our midfiled now is better.

So even though our defence is better, our midfield is better and only the strikers arent the current team isnt anywhere near as good ? You just stated 80% of the current team was better :)

Goes to show what effect Eastwood has on the evaluation on both sides, if he was in the current team I dont think there would be any doubt.

 

[OldBlueLady]

So even though our defence is better, our midfield is better and only the strikers arent the current team isnt anywhere near as good ? You just stated 80% of the current team was better :)

Goes to show what effect Eastwood has on the evaluation on both sides, if he was in the current team I dont think there would be any doubt.

This is the crux of the whole debate though isn't it? Freddy had the ability to turn any single game with a flash of brilliance, and that's what's been missing since he left.

The championship winning team had a core of experienced players, most of whom had played together for a while, with a couple of youngsters, this lot doesn't. For me, that was the biggest single mistake made by our management - to completely disrupt that established squad by bringing in so many new players that summer. I think if we can keep the basics together from the current team, we will have a very, very good side in a year or so's time.

 

[leeblue]

freddy was a special player who we had at the right time lets be honest would we have got back to back promotions without him? I think the answer is no

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

I feel the league is stronger this time around to be honest. I think the old side would win, purely because of Freddy. However, I could also see a 2-2 draw. Freddy (2), Bailey and Barnard

 

[OldBlueLady]

I suppose it's down to the strongest team available then and now. Not sure how Barney would do against Sodje actually. Still think the old team would edge it.

 

[Cliff Pavilion]

The Championship-winning side was far better - better balanced, better defence, and a better striker. We absolutely cr*pped on a couple of sides when we went up in 05-06 (Yeovil at home, Bristol City away, Brentford at home)... have we cr*pped on anyone this year?

I reckon the Championship winning side would win 2-1, with Freddy (2) and Nicky B scoring, respectively.

Matt

Better balance is the key I think. There have been far too many disruptions and changes in personnel this season for us to get that same togetherness that was so evident that season.

But we have thumped a few (dreadful) teams this season too: Crewe, Gillingham, Yeovil away. But I agree, the league winning side had a certain swagger that we haven't seen this season.

 

[sufcintheprem]

I think it's quite easy to look back on the Championship winning team and ignore a lot of bad games which are obviously fresher in the memory from this season.

The main driving force behind our run to the top of the league was the ability to grind out points from games which we just don't have any more. We used to scrape one-nils away and we never used to throw away leads.

This is reflected in the stats too. This year when we score first, we're 17th in the league at converting this to points with only 2.17 points per game. in 05/06, we were 4th best averaging 2.56 poitns per game when scoring first. It sounds like small margins but not only does this boost the points but it also maintains winning/unbeaten runs.

Further evidence would be gathered from a points when equalised table too but I don't have one to hand. From memory, Leeds and Tranmere have both gone on to win after we equalised and come the end of the season, these may turn out to be valuable points surrendered.

With regards to who would win, it's pretty difficult to call with our inconsistency right now. Most likely, 05/06 would happily take a draw against us with Eastwood potentially sneaking a win for them. Then again, it wasn't long after this time, two years ago, that we started serving up dreadful football in a bid to throw away promotion in the manner of three years ago.

I actually think this side will improve with the run-in.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Further to that, I just checked our record when the opposition scored first and we averaged almost a point per game in our Championship winning season compared to 0.5 Ppg now.

 

[Shrimper93]

1. league one very much the same as 05/06.

2. This team compared to the championship winning team very different, always felt with the 05/06 team very confident of a good display of footie and picking up points, 07/08 team although there are some good individuals they never seem like gelling as a unit hence some very sporadic durations of play in matches.

 

[Jam_Man]

Better balance is the key I think. There have been far too many disruptions and changes in personnel this season for us to get that same togetherness that was so evident that season.

Yes I think thats a big factor.

We went into that season probably with less ability to sign players and not much need to change it.

This season we had to find a strike partnership which is no mean feat and never did it until January when we do have some talent up front now.

If we started the season with the squad as it is I think we would have played with more confidence, although without Eastwood still lacking that real magic he gave us.

 

[HawkwellShrimper]

The team this season is better - dont delude yourselves, prior made some big **** ups and wilson was a major weak link. Admitedly the formula isnt correct this season, but in in terms of individual quality, this years team is superior - all that has been missing is a super-star up front.

With freddy scoring goals galore, defenders were more assured back then

We havn't got a better team, we've got better idividuals that don't work as well in a team.

 

[Cliff Pavilion]

We havn't got a better team, we've got better idividuals that don't work as well in a team.

Something I was thinking driving home last night. But a more positive way of looking at it is to look at the potential...

That championship winning side peaked that season (having gained momentum from promotion the year before). For very different reasons, players like Jupp, Wilson, Goater and Prior were never going to be able to take that team further forward and establish itself in the Championship.

What is encouraging with this team is that there is a hell of a lot of potential, talent, youth and (at last) pace within it. As a unit they are starting to settle and gel so promotion or not I'm already excited about next season.