That's certainly true. The gap is certainly wider too.

But all levels have come up...some more than others.

I remember going to Bath City to see an FA cup tie against Plymouth in the late 70s I think and I recall the way Bath clogged their way through the game. Plymouth's players who seemed typically third division when I saw them in Bristol were in tip top shape in comparison to Bath's centre backs.

I saw Bath play some time in the 90s and they were completely different in fitness and physical shape.

Shows you don't know a lot about Championship football then.

There are hoofball teams (including the likes of Sheff Utd and Crystal Palace) but there are plenty of teams that like to play football with the ball on the floor, teams like Swansea, Ipswich, Reading, Doncaster, Coventry, Bristol City and I hate to say it even Cardiff.

Alright keep you alans on it was a joke.

Saw them play Whitecaps.

To add to that West Brom won the championship with the same attractive passing game that saw them disappear without trace from the premiership, so it can certainly be done.


Personally I feel sorry for newcastle, but the table does not lie. As a club they have made bad decisions for several years now, and are reaping the consequences. Next season could be a nightmare for them, £80M wage bill for starters, they could be in severe danger of sinking like Leeds.

The team they have now will be dismantled; They wont make much money, but they have to cut the wage bill. The sad thing is that there is not really much of a core of players there to keep and build a decent championship team around. Their lack of pace has been an issue for all to see all season, There seems to be very few players coming out of the academy setup who could be used as a low cost way to build an effective championship team as far as I know.

I think Shearer will stay on, given all his Mr Newcastle chest beating I dont see how he can walk away without losing face; But I dont think its a good idea, his record over the 8 games is a bad or worse than the previous managers, and he has no experience of the championship to draw on. At the very least he will need to bring in more experienced people to work with him, and Im not sure thats his style

Ashley has a big problem now....he wont sell for what a championship team is worth, he wont stand up to the fans and ditch Shearer (who seems to be making noises about staying) for a more proven manager with more chance of an immediate return to the premiership, and if he doesnt cut costs severely there is a good chance of a financial meltdown if they dont get back in the premiership PDQ... All the recent decisions were made either too late, or for the wrong reasons, or in a half hearted way (like bring back Keegan but tie his hands regarding transfers) "Interesting times" lay ahead on Tyneside...

I agree with most of that; there is talk of a new ownership group at the moment, but it's probably just talk.

We do have a few decent prospects in the wings, with the improbably named Nile Ranger being most ready for prime time (in the Championship). David Edgar, Callum Morris, K. LuaLua, Andy Carroll, Steven Taylor, Mark Donninger and Mike McCrudden might form the kernel along with a few of the (cheaper) veterans.

Interesting times indeed...

I don't see the likes of Owen, Martins or many others wanting to play in the Championship. How long until their agents start talking up big moves to the media? On your marks, get set, go!!

Not long to the transfer window now.

Also agreed. Moreover, in the former case, he's not up to that standard.

The only teams I see signing Owen are maybe Villa or Man City. I doubt any of the newly-promoted teams will appeal to his ego, he's unlikely to sign for a team in the lower half of the table, and the top half don't need him.

Gonna be a problem though because the likes of Alan Smith and Nicky Butt and maybe ten others are on £50-60k a week. They may not like the championship, but wont like to take a pay cut to play in the premiership either, and frankly with two or three exceptions I cant see too many teams lining up to push up the bidding on some of the older, slower, more injury prone high wage earners?

The only silver lining is that Owens contract is up anyway...It will be interesting to see where he ends up. Hes only 29 after all, conventional wisdom says these should be his peak years I see Harry Rednapp is trying to clear away a few surplus forwards....maybe Owen is just the kind of "past it" player Rednapp could rejuvinate as he has in the past if he can get the right deal...

I know hes had his problems and has lost a little pace, but he has always been a bit streaky, and needs decent service, but when it comes to finishing what comes his way, he has a proven track record as a class act... just not at the £100k+ a week level any more (if he ever was)

Also out of contract are Cacapa, Lovenkrands & Viduka. Geremi, Beye and Butt have one year left. Martins & Duff have until 2011 on existing contracts, but I'm sure there'll be a market for Obafemi (a great pity IMHO).

With hindsite the title of this thread seems to have shown remarkable prescience...

The Toon Army and EPL having gone their seperate ways and all....

Word is that John Carver (former Toon coach and recently departed manager of Toronto FC) will rejoin the staff if Shearer stays on. He's certainly got experience of the lower levels of football.

Owen and Viduka will be gone as their contracts are up, thats a saving of 200K a week

Apparently Everton are keen on Smith, so another 60K off the weekly wage bill.

The worrying ones are the players Wise brought in over Keegan's head, the reason Keegan left by the way. Players such as Coloccini, Gutierrez, Gonzalez and Xisco, all on stupid salaries and have years left on their contracts.

And whose going to buy Barton!!!!

I would say that the spine on the team needs to go but there is no spine!

The worrying thing is who's going take these players, and being the mercenaries that footballers are, players will not leave for a lower salary, so Newcastle could end up with the Leeds type, we will pay the difference transfers.

Newcastle are a 100 million in debt, the only saving grace is the fact that Ashley owns the debt so no-one external can force bankruptcy.

How many people would risk a word like prescience if they can't spell hindsight?

I though it better than having hindsi(ght) and foresight in the same sentence...

I need to reinstall my google toolbar / smell chequer...not that I remember to use it as you probably noticed. What can I say, i dont like the built in forum one...it seems to be pants.