posted May 5, 2008

Congratulations to both Stoke and West Brom.
They've WON the right to compete in the top tier next season pure & simple.
Maybe they'll come straight back down, maybe they won't just give them the credit they deserve.

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posted May 5, 2008

It is a good feeling getting promoted to the top tier isn't it?

I had the same feeling when my team, Reading, got promoted 2 years ago. One of my best mates is a Stoke fan he was in tears earlier as I was 2 years ago.

Enjoy the ride and enjoy it whatever happens.

Word of note though. You will find that a lot of Premiership fans in here know nothing about football and prefer to WUM you all the time. Just ignore them.

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posted May 5, 2008

I totally agree; bask in the promotion feeling and enjoy it West Brom and Stoke fans, leave worrying about how you're going to do in the Prem until August!

When they try to rain on your parade (usually the more unimaginative end of the punditry profession and armchair Big Four supporters from the opposite end of the country to the team they pledge allegiance to) bear in mind that every season except 1997-98 at least one of the three sides promoted to the Premiership has made it, and all three promoted in 2001 are still there (Fulham, Blackburn, Bolton) so it can be done. If I was to bet on who to do it I'd have to go for the Baggies, whose football shone out like a beacon of quality in a bizarre Championship promotion race. Naivety in defence and a habit of making silly mistakes could be their biggest hurdle. The others will have to learn fast and raise their standard out of all proportion from what has been on view although Palace suddenly look like they have some emerging match-winners in a very young side. For Stoke, and should they get there Hull and Bristol City it's really a step into the unknown. Scoring enough goals looks likely to be the main issue for the Potters.

Not having access to the one telly in this house with Sky Sports at the time, only Freeview, I had 5Live and Sky Sports News on through it but I did a flit between stations after the final whistle and some guy on TalkSport was heaping on the doom and gloom for the promoted sides within five minutes of full time. I switched him off forthwith as I think there's no need to be so mean spirited. And some parts of the national press (principally in the tabloids) appeared to be doing it to Derby from the off last year. Cruel, methinks. It's nice to be so much in the national spotlight but best to only pay attention to the positive and/or objective stuff in what should be a summer of celebration not stress.

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posted May 5, 2008

Bad luck Foxes. Congrats Stoke.

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posted May 5, 2008

I watched the faces of the Leicester supporters and wanted to weep with them. Relegation hurts and it will continue to hurt until optimism returns on the first day of the new season. Promotion is always euphoric and that euphoria continues until the first day of the new season.

In both cases that first day of a new season is the litmus test of what is to come. Football and its many matches are all about moments. Taste the moment but do not allow it to ever break your eternal faith in the future. Hard Luck Leicester and Good Luck Stoke.

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posted May 5, 2008

Foxes deserved to go down. Holloway, who used to say how much he loved Plymouth, deserted them for Leicester's money. It serves him right. Holloway showed a love of money over ambition.

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posted May 5, 2008

Stoke City and West Brom Great!

Good for Stoke as we are West Broms Bogey team Should give Stoke at least 4 points next year.

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posted May 5, 2008

No doubt Holloway looked after number one when the opportunity came along. That is what many in his shoes would have done.

But like most managers in football his team's fate on Sunday rested on the width of a goal post. It is always that way and will always be that way. Holloway is big enough to continue what he started if he is given the chance.

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posted May 5, 2008

Are stoke going to be the new derby? if this is the case then they should learn from derbys mistake. Derby have been poor, but i believe that stoke will want it more than sluggish derby ever did.

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posted May 5, 2008

There are to many teams that deseve to be in the premership. I would like to see teams like barnsley or cardiff in too.

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