So what's the expectations for this season (5 Viewers)

The watchmaker

Well-Known Member
Much stronger than last season as it stands.

Started last year with no O’Hare, no Torp, Saka, Wright and Simms not yet found their groove, then Hamer fucked off and wasn’t replaced, no clear number one.

This year the vast majority should be ready to go from day one, with maybe one or two that need integrating as the season starts. If we can take the form we had when Saka was fit right from the start we’ll be laughing.
Took us an age to find a formation that worked for us too. People that are overplaying the end of season collapse are conveniently overlooking that we still managed impressive displays against (favourites) Leeds and two premier league teams and that long run of games before the QF when our form was comparable to Ipswich and leicester.

I'm not entirely sure Doug will surrender the cups this season but the run was probably a one off. It's unlikely we are going to have fixture pile up like that again. If we were actually focused on the league last season, who knows, but we are only talking fine margins of improvements to see us up into the top 6.
 

RegTheDonk

Well-Known Member
Guess they've known for some time they would need to replace O'Hare, so Adi asside in terms of preperation, I expect they've planned to strenghten where needed.

Sign a decent goalkeeper and my expectations would be for a play off spot.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Took us an age to find a formation that worked for us too. People that are overplaying the end of season collapse are conveniently overlooking that we still managed impressive displays against (favourites) Leeds and two premier league teams and that long run of games before the QF when our form was comparable to Ipswich and leicester.

I'm not entirely sure Doug will surrender the cups this season but the run was probably a one off. It's unlikely we are going to have fixture pile up like that again. If we were actually focused on the league last season, who knows, but we are only talking fine margins of improvements to see us up into the top 6.
I imagine that the Cup was only given that much of a push because we had a very favourable draw up to the quarter final when you may as well go for it.

I’d like to see us bother to win a League Cup game though.
 

skybluecam

Well-Known Member
I imagine that the Cup was only given that much of a push because we had a very favourable draw up to the quarter final when you may as well go for it.

I’d like to see us bother to win a League Cup game though.
We should've won one last season, you look at that lineup and it's pretty strong (dodgy formation though). It was complacency that lost us the match.

In fact, looking at that team, you rearrange it to a 433 and we would've demolished them.

Wright Godden Sakamoto
Hamer Kelly Howley
Bidwell Binks Lati MVE
Collins
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Took us an age to find a formation that worked for us too. People that are overplaying the end of season collapse are conveniently overlooking that we still managed impressive displays against (favourites) Leeds and two premier league teams and that long run of games before the QF when our form was comparable to Ipswich and leicester.

I'm not entirely sure Doug will surrender the cups this season but the run was probably a one off. It's unlikely we are going to have fixture pile up like that again. If we were actually focused on the league last season, who knows, but we are only talking fine margins of improvements to see us up into the top 6.

Our form fell off when we lost Saka and had no one to replace him aside from MvE. This year we’ve got Rudoni, EMC and Rodriguez to step in so hopefully won’t be an issue should god forbid anything happen to him again.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Our form fell off when we lost Saka and had no one to replace him aside from MvE. This year we’ve got Rudoni, EMC and Rodriguez to step in so hopefully won’t be an issue should god forbid anything happen to him again.
I’m a bit concerned that teams will simply go for the same approach of hacking players like Saka to pieces because by and large they get away with it. He seems resilient mentally so hopefully he comes back as he was.
 

TomRad85

Well-Known Member
I’m a bit concerned that teams will simply go for the same approach of hacking players like Saka to pieces because by and large they get away with it. He seems resilient mentally so hopefully he comes back as he was.
Lets not kid ourselves though, we are a team of absolute units now. We've got enough players who can stick up for him if needed.
 

Essexrobbie

Well-Known Member
I think Luton and Sheffield United will only be mid table, Burnley probably be knocking on the door again, I think the division will be weaker this year. Some biggish clubs coming up but I cant see anyone doing an Ipswich and going straight through. If we are not at least top 4 , Ill be disappointed.
 

Hutch11

Well-Known Member
I think Luton and Sheffield United will only be mid table, Burnley probably be knocking on the door again, I think the division will be weaker this year. Some biggish clubs coming up but I cant see anyone doing an Ipswich and going straight through. If we are not at least top 4 , Ill be disappointed.
I don't underestimate Luton
They've been very astute and bought players with the championship in mind , if anyone is going to run away with the league I suspect it could well be them
 

Terry_dactyl

Well-Known Member
I think Luton and Sheffield United will only be mid table, Burnley probably be knocking on the door again, I think the division will be weaker this year. Some biggish clubs coming up but I cant see anyone doing an Ipswich and going straight through. If we are not at least top 4 , Ill be disappointed.
I’m not sure if the league is weaker than last year or not. However, it does feel like we will be stronger.
I’m really excited. I’m a First time season ticket with my lad and my mate and his boys.
Not sure what I’m most excited about tbh!
 

Perennial Lurker

Well-Known Member
Not trying to have an argument about this but I feel we'll need to temper expectations given they've never played at this level or we'll end up with the usual meltdowns if X player doesn't have 10 goals by September.

I'd love to see EMC and RBR do well.
Fair enough 😁

I think EMC has incredible potential and I think will genuinely excite our fans .
 

CV22SBA

Well-Known Member
I think Luton and Sheffield United will only be mid table, Burnley probably be knocking on the door again, I think the division will be weaker this year. Some biggish clubs coming up but I cant see anyone doing an Ipswich and going straight through. If we are not at least top 4 , Ill be disappointed.
All about opinions but for me Luton will win the league. They have only lost Barkley and replaced him with a decent signing.
Sheff Utd is hard to tell because it depends who goes if the takeover is held up.
Burnley will be strong along with us and Hull.
My concern is the amount of goals we conceded last season needs to resolved. Hopefully the new GK will help that but the amount of OG's and mistakes we made at the back cannot happen again if we are to get top 6.
 

Perennial Lurker

Well-Known Member
All about opinions but for me Luton will win the league. They have only lost Barkley and replaced him with a decent signing.
Sheff Utd is hard to tell because it depends who goes if the takeover is held up.
Burnley will be strong along with us and Hull.
My concern is the amount of goals we conceded last season needs to resolved. Hopefully the new GK will help that but the amount of OG's and mistakes we made at the back cannot happen again if we are to get top 6.
I think Luton also will be thereabouts. They spent very pragmatically when they were promoted .
Hull I really can't see at all if I'm honest ,it's like they've had a fire sale and sold all their best assets
 

Brylowes

Well-Known Member
All about opinions but for me Luton will win the league. They have only lost Barkley and replaced him with a decent signing.
Sheff Utd is hard to tell because it depends who goes if the takeover is held up.
Burnley will be strong along with us and Hull.
My concern is the amount of goals we conceded last season needs to resolved. Hopefully the new GK will help that but the amount of OG's and mistakes we made at the back cannot happen again if we are to get top 6.
You not expecting much from Leeds 🤔
 

skybluecam

Well-Known Member
All about opinions but for me Luton will win the league. They have only lost Barkley and replaced him with a decent signing.
Sheff Utd is hard to tell because it depends who goes if the takeover is held up.
Burnley will be strong along with us and Hull.
My concern is the amount of goals we conceded last season needs to resolved. Hopefully the new GK will help that but the amount of OG's and mistakes we made at the back cannot happen again if we are to get top 6.
Not convinced by Luton, their style of play won't win them the league imo

I thought Burnley would walk it under Kompany but no idea now.

Leeds would probably be my pick. All 3 will be up there.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Not convinced by Luton, their style of play won't win them the league imo

I thought Burnley would walk it under Kompany but no idea now.

Leeds would probably be my pick. All 3 will be up there.
Their style got them third place last time, the manager has them very well drilled and the team spirit there is high. I fully expect them to be the best performing relegated club.

How we perform against them will say a lot about how much progress we have or have not made
 

skybluecam

Well-Known Member
Their style got them third place last time, the manager has them very well drilled and the team spirit there is high. I fully expect them to be the best performing relegated club.

How we perform against them will say a lot about how much progress we have or have not made
Yeah but they were nowhere near 2nd place.

I think they might be the best relegated club but only because I don't see Parker's tactics working with that Burnley squad. And Sheff Utd are a mess.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Yeah but they were nowhere near 2nd place.

I think they might be the best relegated club but only because I don't see Parker's tactics working with that Burnley squad. And Sheff Utd are a mess.
The team to beat of the 3 for me and MR has only beaten them once in what, 10 attempts?
 

Old Warwickshire lad

Well-Known Member
Lets not kid ourselves though, we are a team of absolute units now. We've got enough players who can stick up for him if needed.
But they don’t! Our players get hacked down, and the others just stand around waiting for them to get back up.
The only one who ever complains is Eccles.
When did you ever see Saka in a heap on the floor,and one of our so called units in the face of the twat that did it.
If they just jabbed a finger in their direction and mouthed a few threats it would be a start.
 

Philosoraptor

Well-Known Member
But you fancy Hull
Hull are interesting. Bouncing around an awful lot in the league over the last few seasons.

Hard to try to pinpoint why this is happenning. Sure others will explain.

Edit:- Not really bouncing around but they have gone from relegation to promotion contenders in 3 years, or since they have been back in the league.
 
Last edited:

Perennial Lurker

Well-Known Member
But they don’t! Our players get hacked down, and the others just stand around waiting for them to get back up.
The only one who ever complains is Eccles.
When did you ever see Saka in a heap on the floor,and one of our so called units in the face of the twat that did it.
If they just jabbed a finger in their direction and mouthed a few threats it would be a start.
Kitching and Thomas both got involved in alterations last season at times
 

Winny the Bish

Well-Known Member
I feel like the infrastructure around Robins has been built, not with a view to getting rid of him, but with partly with a view to reducing our dependency on him so he could leave with less upheaval than what might have been.
Completely agree with this. Turning the Assistant Manager role into Head of 1st Team Training is definitely a way of making sure that if/when the manager goes there's one less person who will go with him.
 

Old Warwickshire lad

Well-Known Member
And I don’t mean getting involved in an altrication, they can stop short of that.
The whole idea is to put it in the refs head,that our flair players are being kicked out of the game.
Game management,something we’ve lacked since Doyle went, and to an extent Mcfadzine.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
And I don’t mean getting involved in an altrication, they can stop short of that.
The whole idea is to put it in the refs head,that our flair players are being kicked out of the game.
Game management,something we’ve lacked since Doyle went, and to an extent Mcfadzine.

It is overstated in its importance. Most of Michael Doyle's 300 games for us were as a struggling Championship club.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top