Is the Championship bigger now then it was when we were last there? (1 Viewer)

Nope. It's still 24 teams.

Yes in terms of media attention

A far more competitive league than the Premier league.

Some really good teams in it.

I would say definitely, yes.

Exciting league. I can’t wait now, just need to stay up first and foremost

There’s been a lot more money floating in the Championship since we departed on our excursion to the bottom of the football league. Money talks now. However, the wage cap would come into our favour as a promoted club to put us on an even footing wage wise.

jim20 said:

I think now, with the way we are run on a relatively even keel, and with the current situation we might be able to do better. We aren’t going to have big debts like some of the clubs in the championship, so we could have a good crack at it

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We are one of the better sides to be promoted in recent years from L1. Our style of play and recruiting department is excellent. We’re still Coventry City and a household name which will attract players. Luton and Barnsley etc aren’t going to excite most players. We’re an attractive proposition especially with the amount of talent that comes through and make it big time. A good result next season is survival and consolidate and then push on as money and income streams raise.

AFCCOVENTRY said:

We are one of the better sides to be promoted in recent years from L1. Our style of play and recruiting department is excellent. We’re still Coventry City and a household name which will attract players. Luton and Barnsley etc aren’t going to excite most players. We’re an attractive proposition especially with the amount of talent that comes through and make it big time. A good result next season is survival and consolidate and then push on as money and income streams raise.

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Not sure how big the club is even a consideration for most players when they’re making a move, just a meaningless platitude they say in interviews to get the fans on side. The pay packet and location are more important

AFCCOVENTRY said:

There’s been a lot more money floating in the Championship since we departed on our excursion to the bottom of the football league. Money talks now. However, the wage cap would come into our favour as a promoted club to put us on an even footing wage wise.

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Seem to remember wages of around £11M

Being in the top flight for so long created some entitled fuckwomble fans... so having been to the basement, I think the appreciation level is higher than it was previously.

I think it can be a more exciting league than the PL because it's more competitive on the whole.

PL you get the big few teams that get their games against each other hyped up and often are dull, cagey affairs.
When they play the smaller teams it's a glorified training session.
When the smaller teams play each other you don't get excited about it either as you may as well be watching a Championship game, and I think I'd be more interest in say Leeds-Forest than Burnley-Brighton.

It's got some big, historic names in it and maybe because last time we were approaching it from the other direction it felt like a step down it feels bigger this time having been away for a while. Or maybe it's just the massive over-hyping of the PL so it can't live up to expectations.

Worth remembering as well our first ever game in the Championship after relegation was against Stockport who are now midtable in non-league playing Solihull.

Much bigger. More games on TV, generally bigger clubs, big salaries and some big name players.

The average Championship attendance in our relationship season was 17,800 it's now 20,000.

I think it’s something like the 5th most supported league in Europe

I believe its statistically around the 5th /6th biggest league in the world

I understand it’s something like the 5th most supported league in the solar system

shmmeee said:

I understand it’s something like the 5th most supported league in the solar system

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It's the 5th most supported league in the universe

I understand its fifth most supported leagues by the sith

Hovering around the 5th most supported league in the world I've heard

pusbccfc said:

Much bigger. More games on TV, generally bigger clubs, big salaries and some big name players.

The average Championship attendance in our relationship season was 17,800 it's now 20,000.

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The TV games is a huge factor. Felt like only two on a week when we were last there. Now they seem to have one on everyday, which of course means more money

Much bigger.

And I'd say the gap between L1 and The Championship is bigger than the gap between the Championship and the PL.

jim20 said:

I’m not sure if it’s my perspective that has changed since being in Leagues one and two, but I feel the championship is so much bigger now than 8 years ago, and it almost seems like it has become as big of a league as the Premiership was when we were at the top of the football pyramid.

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I think it is bigger, but psychologically when we dropped down from the premier league it never was going to excite anyone. Years of playing against the Colchesters, Fleetwoods, Carlisles etc and the idea of now facing Derby, Forest, Wednesday etc look far more appetising . There are lots of teams in there that would not be out of place in the Premier league.

usskyblue said:

Being in the top flight for so long created some entitled fuckwomble fans... so having been to the basement, I think the appreciation level is higher than it was previously.

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Yes. In years gone by I noticed the near constant drone of a lot of our fans thinking we had a divine right to be in the top flight. It's all now that bit more easy to accept playing in the lower divisions and tremendously exciting looking forward to next season ! If we're down near the bottom next year, I'll happily accept 21st place and survival.

Norwich (inevitably)
Villa (possibly)
Brighton (possibly)
Bournemouth (possibly)
Fulham
Derby
Birmingham
Sheff Wed
Forest
Middlesbrough
Qpr
Stoke
Blackburn
Bristol City
Leeds (who may go up)
Brentford (always in/around playoffs)

That's like a second Premier League and I may have missed out one or two other big hitters!

Adge said:

Norwich (inevitably)
Villa (possibly)
Brighton (possibly)
Bournemouth (possibly)
Fulham
Derby
Birmingham
Sheff Wed
Forest
Middlesbrough
Qpr
Stoke
Blackburn
Bristol City
Leeds (who may go up)
Brentford (always in/around playoffs)

That's like a second Premier League and I may have missed out one or two other big hitters!

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Never been to Brentford, Fulham or the revamped Ashton Gate on that list. Favourite ground would have to be (whisper it) Villa Park. Whoever said about the gap between Prem & Championship being closer than between Championship & L1 summed it up I’d say, damn hard season ahead but I think we’ll be alright.

usskyblue said:

Being in the top flight for so long created some entitled fuckwomble fans... so having been to the basement, I think the appreciation level is higher than it was previously.

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Spot on. I’d say Sunderland fans are going through that very cycle at present.

Having experienced what we have since relegation from the Premier League, to where we find ourselves today has been very humbling. I feel as though we are going back in to the Championship as a small fish in a large pond, not so much as minnows, but the increase in money being thrown around since our last stint, along with clubs’ spending ability means we are going to be up against it financially, at least for a season or 2.

skybluepm2 said:

Spot on. I’d say Sunderland fans are going through that very cycle at present.

Having experienced what we have since relegation from the Premier League, to where we find ourselves today has been very humbling. I feel as though we are going back in to the Championship as a small fish in a large pond, not so much as minnows, but the increase in money being thrown around since our last stint, along with clubs’ spending ability means we are going to be up against it financially, at least for a season or 2.

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There may well be a couple of tonkings heading our direction along the way, I just hope people keep perspective and don’t immediately start calling for public lynchings- always optimistic but it’s not going to be easy competing with that lot week in & week out

Ring Of Steel said:

There may well be a couple of tonkings heading our direction along the way, I just hope people keep perspective and don’t immediately start calling for public lynchings- always optimistic but it’s not going to be easy competing with that lot week in & week out

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I think you’re right...but there is room for a little optimism given the two performances against Birmingham. Robins didn’t park the bus, he had them playing tight at the back, solid in midfield and didn’t stifle the fluid passing game we became so polished at.

I think a lot of people are in for a shock in terms of a step up this league is.

If we finish just one place above relegation zone we will have done well.

Average wage bill per team for the league was £34m in 2018 and £54m for top 6.

Derby are currently mid table , if you look through their squad you realise what step up it is

Tenfold bigger, it terms of actual and our perspective.

Actual, it's one of the fastest growing leagues in the world, audience wise. It hasn't been swallowed by corporatism and stupid ticket prices and it has 3 entries to the most valuable ticket in football.

Perspective wise, last time we were here we were a run of the mill side. Many fans were just waiting for us to take our 'rightful' place back in the Premier League. It was a holiday. Even when we got relegated to L1 many had the same attitude "we're all going on a league 1 tour". It took a couple of years for many to realise absolutely nothing is given to you in football and every goal and win has to be fought for. We return with a new perspective, backs against the wall ready to leap and snatch any points no one doesn't want as much as us.

speedie87 said:

I think a lot of people are in for a shock in terms of a step up this league is.

If we finish just one place above relegation zone we will have done well.

Average wage bill per team for the league was £34m in 2018 and £54m for top 6.

Derby are currently mid table , if you look through their squad you realise what step up it is

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A wage cap would change things though. There’s a big shock about to come through the football pyramid. This summer there will be a huge amount of decent players available and not all will find clubs on the wages they were getting.

In terms of the Championship, the majority of clubs have all been ex-Premiership clubs.

Lets, for arguments sake, say the teams who got promoted from L1 go down. There seems to be 3 distinct levels in the Championship at present..

Cash Rich & Upwardly Mobile... The likes of WBA, Fulham, Leeds, Brentford & Bristol C.... 2 or 3 of them may not be there next year!

The 'we used to be a big team' mob... Think they are massive, as been in Prem recently, yet performances/finances dont back it up... Forest, Cardiff, Swansea, Derby, QPR, Reading, Wednesday, Brum, Boro, Stoke, Huddersfield & Hull... Vary in their financial stability... Most are at a crossroads.

Floatsam & Jetsam (bit harsh)... Preston, Blackburn, Wigan, Millwall.

From recent history, unless the Prem relegated teams are extremely cash rich, they tend to struggle in the Champ... Im thinking (definitely) Bournemouth & (maybe) Brighton struggle coming down. Norwich not so much.

Am I trying to convince myself that we could have a decent season next year???

For me the Championship is the most enjoyable league in football.

Do i want Cov to be in the Prem, of course i do. But i'm going to love every minute of the Championship.

After a quick look, about half the teams we will be playing were there last time we were in it as well