Are we being “hyped”? (4 Viewers)

[Jamesimus]

For the first time ever (that I can remember) I’ve noticed a lot of fans of other teams online and in person are predicting us for a top 6 / a lot even saying top 2 finish.

I certainly don’t have that much optimism (haven’t seen much of pre-season at all). If Sheaf goes, having to bed-in a new centre mid will surely effect our start.

Do we think the team and the management can cope with the expectations ? Will they even be aware?

If we don’t make it this season with this team, which on paper looks very strong, what happens then?

I remember (I can’t remember which year) but Bristol City ‘went for it’ and had an exciting team on paper and finished like 10th or something. I really do not want that to be us. I think I could handle it if we narrowly missed out, but surely now the expectation is warranted and if we miss out there will be some kind of fall out.

 

---

[Bristol sky blue]

Know what you mean.... I think we will finish 6th (bookies have us as 5th generally if you look at Oddschecker). Weird feeling going into the season with high expectations: have spent most of the past 50 years looking at the bottom of the league table and scanning up to find us, not now Our home support can be amazing, let's hope fans show patience when we have disappointing starts to games.

 

[Saddlebrains]

Me and a few mates did our 1 -24 earlier. And I'm scared to even say it but outside of what I class the top 5 (Burnley, Luton, Sheffield United, Leeds, Coventry) the rest of the league is much of a muchness tbh looking at squads and summer business done.

It's mad after what we've been through that we are now one of the biggest and best teams in this league and able to start an assault on the top 2

I had us 2nd btw, on the basis we get in another CM and keep Sheaf

 

[Bristol sky blue]

I don't necessarily think Sheaf going would derail our season BTW, especially if it happens in next few days. I trust the recruitment team to find a very good replacement and I think a physical, commanding centre back with leadership qualities would make a big difference. Not as worried about RB as others are.

 

[Winny the Bish]

I've got us in 4th:

1st) Luton
2nd) Burnley
3rd) Leeds
4th) Cov
5th) Middlesbrough
6th) Sheff Utd

A lot of average teams and bigger names like West Brom and Watford going backwards this season.

 

[Kingokings204]

I think we have a great team. We finished 9th last season with a leaky defence and a poor goalkeeper. If we keep sheaf and can add a stemenic type of midfield with eccles and torp as back up. Then we will get top 6.

the big one which seems to have gone unnoticed is Dovin signing. It was easy for robins to stick with Collins but he isn’t good enough for top 6. Dovin instantly looks more comfortable and a decent shot stopper. This alone will get us 6 points.

Throw in that the league doesn’t have many stand out sides like last year. And teams unlike us are getting weaker I think top 6 should be the aim.

 

[alexccfc99]

I've got us in 4th:

1st) Luton
2nd) Burnley
3rd) Leeds
4th) Cov
5th) Middlesbrough
6th) Sheff Utd

A lot of average teams and bigger names like West Brom and Watford going backwards this season.

These pair will be closer to the bottom 3 than they will the top 6 imo

 

[Sick Boy]

I don't necessarily think Sheaf going would derail our season BTW, especially if it happens in next few days. I trust the recruitment team to find a very good replacement and I think a physical, commanding centre back with leadership qualities would make a big difference. Not as worried about RB as others are.

It would depend if one was actually brought in though; we still haven't properly replaced Hamer.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I would expect us to be somewhere in the top 6 if all the squads were ‘locked in’ as they are now. If we could add a bit more in midfield and defence, a top 2 challenge isn’t unrealistic.

 

[alexccfc99]

It's very alien to me that we have gone from being the plucky underdog punching above their weight to a side who genuinely have no excuse to not be there or there abouts!

Hope the manager and players deal with the expectation professionally

 

[Winny the Bish]

These pair will be closer to the bottom 3 than they will the top 6 imo

West Brom could still be decent because of Corberan, but Watford are in the shit. Best players sold, no real replacements, and Tom Cleverley is in charge.

 

[alexccfc99]

West Brom could still be decent because of Corberan, but Watford are in the shit. Best players sold, no real replacements, and Tom Cleverley is in charge.

Had a flick through the WBA forum when we signed Thomas-Asante and there is a few on there who would be amazed if Corberan hasn't walked or jacked them in for a better job by the end of the season

 

[Terry_dactyl]

I fancy Cardiff to do alright this year. They’ve got a good manager and seem to have signed some quality.

 

[Winny the Bish]

Had a flick through the WBA forum when we signed Thomas-Asante and there is a few on there who would be amazed if Corberan hasn't walked or jacked them in for a better job by the end of the season

If Robins ever did go, he'd be my top replacement.

 

[ccfcricoh]

I've mentioned before on here about being the "best of the rest" slightly ignoring the parachute/relegated teams and that getting you in the play offs.

I genuinely think we could be, i do still think that we are likely to see at least 2/3 strong performers from Burnley/Sheff Utd/Leeds/Luton, meaning we will be battling for a PO spot - which i'd take any day of the week!

 

[Ashdown]

Why all the talk of Sheaf leaving, I thought he was just carrying a knock. Unless he goes to the Prem he will be another just making a sideways move.

 

[Viktor17]

Me and a few mates did our 1 -24 earlier. And I'm scared to even say it but outside of what I class the top 5 (Burnley, Luton, Sheffield United, Leeds, Coventry) the rest of the league is much of a muchness tbh looking at squads and summer business done.

It's mad after what we've been through that we are now one of the biggest and best teams in this league and able to start an assault on the top 2

I had us 2nd btw, on the basis we get in another CM and keep Sheaf

The time is now. Robins and King know that also. We need to be bold, take calculated risk in transfer market if players available now as that could be difference (i.e a CM)

 

[Gint11]

Let’s see how we are after 10 league games. Always a good starting indicator of how we’ll do. As good as we look, we are underestimating championship teams. We know how competitive it is.

 

[fernandopartridge]

West Brom could still be decent because of Corberan, but Watford are in the shit. Best players sold, no real replacements, and Tom Cleverley is in charge.

As much as Corberan is a very good manager, it's going to be very difficult for him to get the same out of even less resource

 

[fernandopartridge]

Let’s see how we are after 10 league games. Always a good starting indicator of how we’ll do. As good as we look, we are underestimating championship teams. We know how competitive it is.

Given that after 10 games of the previous two seasons we were in the bottom third, not sure it's that much of a barometer

 

[TomRad85]

A lot of very good players have left the Championship this season. I will try and hold judgement until the window is done but apart from us i don't see many teams that have moved forwards during the course of the summer.

 

[rob9872]

If this squad doesn't excite you not much will. No sales, average luck on injuries and we'll be right up there. Can't wait!

 

[Hobo]

Sheaf is an important player, but we have other players of real quality, Rudoni, Eccles, Torp and based on pre season form Allen, yes Allen.

If we sold Sheaf I don't think it would be done until we had a replacement lined up. So if the above were all fit there would no rush to throw the new player in. We could afford to give him two or three weeks to learn the systems and get familiar with how his team mates play and just use him off the bench.

I think we are looking very good. But nobody knows what injuries you can pick up and you can't always cover every eventuality, so luck plays it's part too.

The Championship has some really strong sides and it is a tough league where anyone can beat anyone.

You always have to respect the opposition even if they are the bottom club. But we should not fear anyone, home or away. We are looking a very capable side and one I think will be good to watch. I always say, keep chipping away, get through Easter and then you know who the really contenders are. That is when you need your best form and go on an unbeaten run.

 

[Hobo]

Let’s see how we are after 10 league games. Always a good starting indicator of how we’ll do. As good as we look, we are underestimating championship teams. We know how competitive it is.

I think good starts are over estimated. Look at Nottingham Forest, Southampton and if I remember correctly even Burnley when they walked the league didn't get off to a flyer. Even if they did win they didn't look that good to begin with? Lots of teams have got into the play offs with the momentum after sluggish starts too.

 

[skybluecam]

The way I see it, for the middle period of last season we were solidly a top 4 side form wise. The things that prevented us from achieving that were:

- Persevering with 3 at the back too long to start the season
- Lack of depth in wide areas once we switched to 433/4231
- Fixture congestion late on due to the cup run

We should have those 3 issues solved this season, and O’Hare is the only major loss (so far, and he wasn’t that important). I think all signs point to us being up there.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

It would depend if one was actually brought in though; we still haven't properly replaced Hamer.

This argument needs to stop . Hamer would've been replaced if we still played 5 ATB . Now we play a midfield flat 3 then I think Rudoni and Torp fill the gap left by Gus

 

[Hobo]

It would depend if one was actually brought in though; we still haven't properly replaced Hamer.

I think Torp was Hamer's replacement? If you are waiting for us to sign a clone of Hamer you will be waiting a long time.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

For balance I think we didn't replace Hamers goals output last season but looking at the summers recruitment this has been rectified.
Still think we need another 6/8 and , depending where Lati is seen as backup, another CB or RB

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

It’s the defensive side of things that I think could possibly fuck us. Now we’ve basically got 4 wingers, 2 quality strikers, new decent CAM etc, I feel that finishing chances will be our strong point, it’s creating those chances and stopping oppositions’ chances that I’m worried about.

I really don’t trust our defence at times, I’m not saying it is but it just feels like it’s under-coached or something, it’s not like it takes a battering-ram to get through it, which needs to be the case if we’re aiming for top 4.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

It’s the defensive side of things that I think could possibly fuck us. Now we’ve basically got 4 wingers, 2 quality strikers, new decent CAM etc, I feel that finishing chances will be our strong point, it’s creating those chances and stopping oppositions’ chances that I’m worried about.

I really don’t trust our defence at times, it feels like it’s under-coached or something, it’s not like it takes a battering-ram to get through it, which needs to be the case if we’re aiming for top 4.

It's not the problem at all . Last season playing a 10 left the midfield swamped at times . This season playing a flatter midfield shouldn't leave the back line as exposed . You can see in training the work going into transition and turnovers so I don't think the comment about under coached is helpful or justified.
Add to this Thomas ,MvE and Binks are all a year more experienced and now have Dovin on goal I think we will be a lot more secure

 

[Ashdown]

It’s the defensive side of things that I think could possibly fuck us. Now we’ve basically got 4 wingers, 2 quality strikers, new decent CAM etc, I feel that finishing chances will be our strong point, it’s creating those chances and stopping oppositions’ chances that I’m worried about.

I really don’t trust our defence at times, I’m not saying it is but it just feels like it’s under-coached or something, it’s not like it takes a battering-ram to get through it, which needs to be the case if we’re aiming for top 4.

Yes the defence is the Achilles heel right now. We need a good confident start though, I don’t want to see us playing catch up again till Christmas

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

For balance I think we didn't replace Hamers goals output last season but looking at the summers recruitment this has been rectified.
Still think we need another 6/8 and , depending where Lati is seen as backup, another CB or RB

I personally don’t think the Hamer situation has been rectified, we’ve yet to sign a marauding or penetrating midfielder, I think the closest thing we’ve got is Torp maybe? As much as it’s a cliche at this point we do lack the qualities that Hamer brought to the table.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

I personally don’t think the Hamer situation has been rectified, we’ve yet to sign a marauding or penetrating midfielder, I think the closest thing we’ve got is Torp maybe? As much as it’s a cliche at this point we do lack the qualities that Hamer brought to the table.

It's a totally different system and not one that would allow the freedom of a marauding player . Why are you constantly looking for the negative ?

 

[SkyBlue_Adam]

I mentioned it the other day but there is potential for a serious amounts of goals in the team. If we can get anywhere near 80-90, it will mean we aren’t a million miles from the autos

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

It's not the problem at all . Last season playing a 10 left the midfield swamped at times . This season playing a flatter midfield shouldn't leave the back line as exposed . You can see in training the work going into transition and turnovers so I don't think the comment about under coached is helpful or justified.
Add to this Thomas ,MvE and Binks are all a year more experienced and now have Dovin on goal I think we will be a lot more secure

It’s funny how we can have such opposite views from watching the same thing, and I’m not saying you’re wrong, it’s all just personal interpretation, I just think that defence has been our weak point for a while now.

I get your point about the players having more time together but I’m not convinced that that’s enough. The goals against Werder Bremen were similar mistakes we’ve made before for example, I just think we need someone like Worrall to really bolster our defence.