It's the classic championship conundrum

There is simply no argument at all: as a league, the Championship is better than the Premiership. For the fans, for the players, for everyone.

But

Win it - you're then one of the Perennial Drain Circlers. Season upon season of desperately hoping there are three other teams worse than you, in the face of blatantly incompetent refereeing favouring the Bigger Team - which is Not You - and condescension at every step from those who ought to understand the game but somehow don't. You may survive a season, or a few, or even quite a few. But you will go down in the end.

Or.

Fail to win it - your best players leave for more money. With luck your club hires at least adequate replacements but normally preseason hype and excitement turns into early season excuses and midseason disappointment.

Sequences like last season, followed by this season, are rare. We need to savour them for what they are and wring every last second of joy from them while they last.

Alternatively, of course, you could just f**k around in the Championship for years, sack the manager who - against all odds - has kept you there: and then act all surprised as you succumb and go down. Probably for "quite a long time", being generous.

At least we'll never be them, I guess.

Posted By: Old Man, Mar 29, 21:42:00