Positives from relegation

P

Paul Salvage

Member
Location
Bromley
Country
England
I, like Willo (and most older fans) often predict the demise of Palace and expect relegation every season. This season may be the one! But if it comes to pass that we drop through the trap door, I’m not sure that I would be that bothered.
There are two obvious downsides to relegation. All your best players want to leave. Nothing new there then, regardless of what division we are in.
You lose the financial benefits. But you get parachute payments for 3 years.

However there are also some positives to relegation.
There are 3 extra home games in the Championship. (That might not be a positive to some)
There is NO VAR in the championship. (I can celebrate goals again)
You play real teams and not ones that should only exist on fantasy football.
We will see proper away fans again, and not all the plastic ones that follow the big boys.
(What made Leipzig so great was that the Rayo Vallecano fans were proper fans and made for a great atmosphere)
We might win more than 3 home games in a season
Not likely to play on a Thursday, Friday night or a Sunday lunch time. (I miss 3pm Saturday kick offs)
Less tourists.
Some of our newer “fans” may decide that the turmoils of Palace isn't for them. A true fan will keep the faith no matter what hardships we face.
2 proper rivals in Millwall and Charlton

I’m sure there are some other benefits, so apart from the initial embarrassment of relegation. I won’t be that upset.
 
Last edited:
Do you know what? I find it very difficult to argue against anything you have written. I've already made the point in the match thread that at least we'll have a nice new stand when we're playing Championship football.

The downside is, of course, that Mr Parish will want to keep the PL cash flowing in, so will make every effort to stay up.
 
Paul Salvage said:
I, like Willo (and most older fans) often predict the demise of Palace and expect relegation every season. This season may be the one! But if it comes to pass that we drop through the trap door, I’m not sure that I would be that bothered.
There are two obvious downsides to relegation. All your best players want to leave. Nothing new there then, regardless of what division we are in.
You lose the financial benefits. But you get parachute payments for 3 years.

However there are also some positives to relegation.
There are 3 extra home games in the Championship. (That might not be a positive to some)
There is NO VAR in the championship. (I can celebrate goals again)
You play real teams and not ones that should only exist on fantasy football.
We will see proper away fans again, and not all the plastic ones that follow the big boys.
(What made Leipzig so great was that the Rayo Vallecano fans were proper fans and made for a great atmosphere)
We might win more than 3 home games in a season
Not likely to play on a Thursday, Friday night or a Sunday lunch time. (I miss 3pm Saturday kick offs)
Less tourists.
Some of our newer “fans” may decide that the turmoils of Palace isn't for them. A true fan will keep the faith no matter what hardships we face.
2 proper rivals in Millwall and Charlton

I’m sure there are some other benefits, so apart from the initial embarrassment of relegation. I won’t be that upset.
Click to expand...
One of the mysteries of football how so many players who weren't good enough to avoid relegation think they're too good to play one division down; with some honourable exceptions including Andy Johnson of course.
 
Paul Salvage said:
I, like Willo (and most older fans) often predict the demise of Palace and expect relegation every season. This season may be the one! But if it comes to pass that we drop through the trap door, I’m not sure that I would be that bothered.
There are two obvious downsides to relegation. All your best players want to leave. Nothing new there then, regardless of what division we are in.
You lose the financial benefits. But you get parachute payments for 3 years.

However there are also some positives to relegation.
There are 3 extra home games in the Championship. (That might not be a positive to some)
There is NO VAR in the championship. (I can celebrate goals again)
You play real teams and not ones that should only exist on fantasy football.
We will see proper away fans again, and not all the plastic ones that follow the big boys.
(What made Leipzig so great was that the Rayo Vallecano fans were proper fans and made for a great atmosphere)
We might win more than 3 home games in a season
Not likely to play on a Thursday, Friday night or a Sunday lunch time. (I miss 3pm Saturday kick offs)
Less tourists.
Some of our newer “fans” may decide that the turmoils of Palace isn't for them. A true fan will keep the faith no matter what hardships we face.
2 proper rivals in Millwall and Charlton

I’m sure there are some other benefits, so apart from the initial embarrassment of relegation. I won’t be that upset.
Click to expand...
Why don’t you just follow QPR if that’s what you want ?
 
MrRobbo said:
Sorry, unless I'm mistaken we are 2 games into the season....
Click to expand...
Yes, yes, I know it's early days and the doom and gloom is typical of the Palace mindset. Fact is, as Mr Salvage writes, playing well in the Championship may be no bad thing for supporters of 'real' football.

Last Sunday I strolled down the road to watch Midhurst and Easebourne play Croydon AFC in an FA Cup qualifier. There was a record crowd of something like a couple of thousand folks and we saw a proper game of football played on a rough pitch, sloping down at one end and it was really entertaining even if the quality wasn't top notch. Croydon won 3-1, but nobody cared, because it was all about the game. I had a good cheeseburger and chips, a pint of Cruzcampo and paid to watch, all for £14.50.
 
waterfordpal said:
Why don’t you just follow QPR if that’s what you want ?
Click to expand...
So to clarify your position, you want me to stop supporting a team that I have supported through thick and thin for over 4 decades. All because I don’t think it is the end of the world if we were to be relegated?
I do not believe that I will be the only supporter who now believes that the premier league is so corrupt, overly commercialised and in general quite bloody boring.
Perhaps if we are in the championship you may choose another premiership team to support if your only requirement for supporting a team is staying in the league?
 
Palace Old Geezer said:
Yes, yes, I know it's early days and the doom and gloom is typical of the Palace mindset. Fact is, as Mr Salvage writes, playing well in the Championship may be no bad thing for supporters of 'real' football.

Last Sunday I strolled down the road to watch Midhurst and Easebourne play Croydon AFC in an FA Cup qualifier. There was a record crowd of something like a couple of thousand folks and we saw a proper game of football played on a rough pitch, sloping down at one end and it was really entertaining even if the quality wasn't top notch. Croydon won 3-1, but nobody cared, because it was all about the game. I had a good cheeseburger and chips, a pint of Cruzcampo and paid to watch, all for £14.50.
Click to expand...
We moved down to the coast a couple of years ago, but before that we lived a 10min walk away from Bromley Fc ground and I would often go there if we were not playing at home. I have yet to visit the Pilot Field (Hastings ground) which is now also a 10min stroll away, but I will find the time and enjoy the grass roots football that is on offer.
People seem to think that football only exists in the Premier League, but that can’t be any further from the truth.
I will always support Palace with a passion, but I also love football and I no longer feel that the Premiership is good for the game.
 
Palace Old Geezer said:
Yes, yes, I know it's early days and the doom and gloom is typical of the Palace mindset. Fact is, as Mr Salvage writes, playing well in the Championship may be no bad thing for supporters of 'real' football.

Last Sunday I strolled down the road to watch Midhurst and Easebourne play Croydon AFC in an FA Cup qualifier. There was a record crowd of something like a couple of thousand folks and we saw a proper game of football played on a rough pitch, sloping down at one end and it was really entertaining even if the quality wasn't top notch. Croydon won 3-1, but nobody cared, because it was all about the game. I had a good cheeseburger and chips, a pint of Cruzcampo and paid to watch, all for £14.50.
Click to expand...
I have visited the 'Rotherfield' on more than one occasion.
They have signed quite a few players in pre-season including Brett Pitman who scored their goal in a 3-1 defeat.
 
Paul Salvage said:
We moved down to the coast a couple of years ago, but before that we lived a 10min walk away from Bromley Fc ground and I would often go there if we were not playing at home. I have yet to visit the Pilot Field (Hastings ground) which is now also a 10min stroll away, but I will find the time and enjoy the grass roots football that is on offer.
People seem to think that football only exists in the Premier League, but that can’t be any further from the truth.
I will always support Palace with a passion, but I also love football and I no longer feel that the Premiership is good for the game.
Click to expand...
I too watch 'Grassroots' games mainly in Sussex when Palace are away or not playing.
 
Paul Salvage said:
So to clarify your position, you want me to stop supporting a team that I have supported through thick and thin for over 4 decades. All because I don’t think it is the end of the world if we were to be relegated?
I do not believe that I will be the only supporter who now believes that the premier league is so corrupt, overly commercialised and in general quite bloody boring.
Perhaps if we are in the championship you may choose another premiership team to support if your only requirement for supporting a team is staying in the league?
Click to expand...
Sorry. Yes you’re right and I’m wrong. (Bet you don’t get that reply very often). Actually I’ve been following for 55 years and it was more fun sometimes fighting for promotion rather than struggling to get a ticket in the Prem.
 
Willo said:
I have visited the 'Rotherfield' on more than one occasion.
They have signed quite a few players in pre-season including Brett Pitman who scored their goal in a 3-1 defeat.
Click to expand...
Good on yer Willo! Yes, my local team are pushing the boat out, buying a 38 yr old ex Bournemouth and Pompey player, but he still has goals in him.

Do let me know if ever you fancy another trip to the Rotherfield, It'd be good to meet.
 
waterfordpal said:
Sorry. Yes you’re right and I’m wrong. (Bet you don’t get that reply very often). Actually I’ve been following for 55 years and it was more fun sometimes fighting for promotion rather than struggling to get a ticket in the Prem.
Click to expand...
us faraway Fans will find it easier to get tickets for the odd Championship game. The Prem is a costly nightmare. The Prem also has a lopsided money nightmare.....top 6 clubs are ruining it for everybody else.


The Prem has the best quality Football.......the Championship has the best quality entertainment.

Having now won 3 trophies, i broadly agree with the OP. It could be worse. You could be Spurs/Everton....never promoted nor relegated, not won much, mediocrity every year, boring survival and no drama. I can relate to Millwall & Charlton more than Everton/Spurs - still got players that speak with the local brogue, innit.

Palace til i die....whatever shyte is thrown at us.
 
Last edited:
Paul Salvage said:
I, like Willo (and most older fans) often predict the demise of Palace and expect relegation every season. This season may be the one! But if it comes to pass that we drop through the trap door, I’m not sure that I would be that bothered.
There are two obvious downsides to relegation. All your best players want to leave. Nothing new there then, regardless of what division we are in.
You lose the financial benefits. But you get parachute payments for 3 years.

However there are also some positives to relegation.
There are 3 extra home games in the Championship. (That might not be a positive to some)
There is NO VAR in the championship. (I can celebrate goals again)
You play real teams and not ones that should only exist on fantasy football.
We will see proper away fans again, and not all the plastic ones that follow the big boys.
(What made Leipzig so great was that the Rayo Vallecano fans were proper fans and made for a great atmosphere)
We might win more than 3 home games in a season
Not likely to play on a Thursday, Friday night or a Sunday lunch time. (I miss 3pm Saturday kick offs)
Less tourists.
Some of our newer “fans” may decide that the turmoils of Palace isn't for them. A true fan will keep the faith no matter what hardships we face.
2 proper rivals in Millwall and Charlton

I’m sure there are some other benefits, so apart from the initial embarrassment of relegation. I won’t be that upset.
Click to expand...
Like yourself, I'm of a certain vintage (mid 40's) where most of my Palace supporting life we've been a second tier club, albeit with some yo yos into the top tier - 1990 was my first year really going, and it was all downhill from there til the FA Cup win under Glasner.

Fact is that we're not in the top 20 biggest clubs in the country and we are punching above our weight. I'd say I'm a realist not a pessimist, but IMO relegation at some point is inevitable.

But like you, I'm not too bothered really. We'd lost the prawn sandwich brigade and tourists and of course be kicked off the prem gravy train, but we'd cut out cloth accordingly.

Tickets would be easier to come by, quantity of support would go down but quality would increase, we'd have some exciting away days and less sanitised football.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want us to go down, but won't be too fussed when we do - my enjoyment of following Palace won't change. And for those that it does change their enjoyment, maybe we're best off without them 🦅
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Holmesdale Online Shop

Back
Top