Colinjb Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 What do we reckon? Consolidation? A struggle? A play-off push? We are going back to a level where many teams from League one have made a positive impression, but equal number have struggled. 3 years into the five year plan. What do the fans expect? (Me? I want consolidation and a good cup run....... anything more will be a wonderful bonus.)
Saint_lambden Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 1) Stability on and off the pitch. 2) Consolidate, mid-table...push for play-offs a bonus. 3) Keep our key players together and build a squad good enough to challenge the top 2 the season after next. 4) Finally a year we will actually want a good cup run...will be sods law we go out first round in League and FA Cup!
B Rabbit Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Well look at the teams who went up last year (Norwich, (promoted pretty much) Leeds and Millwall (playoff race)).... i see absolutely no reason why we shouldnt be looking at playoffs as a minimum quite frankly.... momentum seems to count for a lot in the championship and we should have (in theory) sound financial backing to strengthen
S-Clarke Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Let's just ride on the crest of a wave, we've got great momentum at the moment and should be able to attract some top players in the summer. No reason why we cannot compete at the top end - should be an exciting season to look forward to.
saints-cris Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Having looked at the teams that went up last year, the money we have and the fact I feel our squad is already very good. I think with a bit of money spent there is no reason why we can shouldn't push for a play-off spot. I'm not saying we should get play-offs and if we don't it will be an outrage, just that I do think if we spend well, we could be there or there abouts.
DG Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Just hope we have a normal/uninterrupted preseason for a change, if we do there's no reason we can't push on and do a Norwich. It'll be tough though.
SNSUN Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Keeping Oxo would be a real statement of intent IMO , but I reckon next season should be a consolidation season in preparation for a push towards promotion in 2012-13.
Jimmy_D Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Think we'll be aiming for a top half finish with possibly an outside chance of getting into the playoffs.
TheSaint75 Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 I see no reason with a few key signings why we shouldn't be at least challenging for the play off's. A must is 6 points from both the Skates and Brighton
WealdSaint Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Play offs..min If Nicola gets the chequebook out....automatic promotion
RobM Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 1) Stability on and off the pitch. 2) Consolidate, mid-table...push for play-offs a bonus. 3) Keep our key players together and build a squad good enough to challenge the top 2 the season after next. 4) Finally a year we will actually want a good cup run...will be sods law we go out first round in League and FA Cup! I think this sums it up very nicely. Top half of the table should be do-able if we keep the basis of the squad the same, but add quality to the team in areas where we're not yet at CCC standard.
Armitage Shanks Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Top 6. Great momentum, strong squad and good financial backing. We will do it.
Matthew Le God Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Championship 2010/11... Norwich 2nd Leeds United 7th Millwall 8th Shows the gap between the top of League One and the Championship is minimal. None of those clubs have the spending power of Saints and after the January 2010 transfer window shut (and Saints signed Fonte, Barnard, Puncheon and Seaborne) Saints comfortably beat Norwich at Carrow Road and Leeds at St Mary's.
ludgershallsaint Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Inflation busting season ticket price increases!
um pahars Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Obviously very early days, but my initial gut feel would be just behind the play offs (or possibly in them). Think we will carry some momentum with us and have ended the season stongly so that bodes well. Think we need strengthening in some key areas and hopefully we can keep hold of the stars (Fonte, Lallana, Oxo etc). Not sure we'll do a Norwich as that seems a bit optimistic, but no reason why we can't give many a run for their money, consolidate in the top ten and then look to push on.
S-Clarke Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Championship 2010/11... Norwich 2nd Leeds United 7th Millwall 8th Shows the gap between the top of League One and the Championship is minimal. None of those clubs have the spending power of Saints and after the January 2010 transfer window shut (and Saints signed Fonte, Barnard, Puncheon and Seaborne) Saints comfortably beat Norwich at Carrow Road and Leeds at St Mary's. We also beat Ipswich in the cup, and Blackpool who put out a championship level team. We'll be fine up there, too good for this level anyway.
Window Cleaner Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Mid table with a play-off chance. Depends on recruitment though..
Scoobysaint Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 I think that playoffs shouls be a reasonable target but it depends on who comes down from the Prem. Norwich have had it quite easy this year with Pompey, Burnley and Hull coming down (2 with massive financial issues). May be more difficult against West Ham, Birmingham, Blackburn or Wigan.
RobM Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Win it. What the feck does 'consolidate' mean? [kuhn-sol-i-deyt] 1. to bring together (separate parts) into a single or unified whole; unite; combine: They consolidated their three companies. 2. to discard the unused or unwanted items of and organize the remaining: She consolidated her home library. 3. to make solid or firm; solidify; strengthen: to consolidate gains. So for us, get rid of players who stand no chance of contributing, bring in additional quality, consolidate the squad as a whole into a single team, all fighting for each other as well as us.
Colinjb Posted 2 May, 2011 Author Posted 2 May, 2011 The key point for me is the direct comparison of our last championship team with our present league 1 team..... The players who started v Man Utd. Jan 2009, Championship; Davis, James, Perry, Lancashire, Skacel, Smith, McGoldrick, Gillett, Surman, Gobern, Paterson Feb 2011, League 1; Bialkowski, Butterfield, Fonte, Seaborne, Harding, Chamberlain, Barnard, Chaplow, Schneiderlin, Do Prado, Lambert (Lined-up to attempt a man for man comparison.) Who would we rather have now.....?
70's Mike Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 we will be within the top 6 for home attendances and with a fair run on the injury front , i see no reason why we cannot be top 6 on the pitch. Just worried what my season ticket will cost
Professor Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 You can't pick the season for promotion, because it all depends on how other teams perform as well - eg Brighton and Huddersfield this year. The idea of a consolidation year and then a promotion year makes no sense at all - you go for promotion from the outset - and to avoid coming straight back down you do it by building a side that already contains players capable of playing in the Prem. We already have some so this close season is the time to bring in a few more. Its a cruel game, football, but sadly we need to say goodbye to some players who have done us proud this year but don't quite have the quality for the NpC, or are getting over the hill.
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 If someone could tell us who we'll sign and who we'll lose from the squad this summer then I'd hazzard a guess of how far we could go with it. Until that happy day this type of conjecture is the worst kind of idle speculation.
aintforever Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Aim has to be automatic, the Championship is full of sh!t as Norwich have proved this year.
RonManager Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 [kuhn-sol-i-deyt] So for us, get rid of players who stand no chance of contributing, bring in additional quality, consolidate the squad as a whole into a single team, all fighting for each other as well as us. I would hope that will happen during the summer.
Cestrian Saint Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 I'd rather consolidate and build on what we have. No point in rushing to get back into the Prem and then struggle to stay there, which is what happens to most sides who go up. Build a squad that can get automatic promotion and then stay in the Premier league. If I'm completely honest I think the Championship is a pretty exciting place to be. There's some big sides in there, many of whom have played top flight football. The Premier league is a joke. Full of overpaid and underperforming players. It's all about the the so called big four. The chances of a team breaking into that are pretty remote unless they get the kind of backing seen at Man City.
sidthesquid Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 To be honest, if we didn't sign or lose a single player, this squad would do very well in the Championship.
Cabrone Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Sign a quality CB\CM\Striker, get our pre season right for once, continue our momentum and hit the ground running, aim for top 2. If we get 3 quality additions in these key areas I see no reason why we can't challenge right at the top. After all Norwich did it this season.
beatlesaint Posted 2 May, 2011 Posted 2 May, 2011 Top 10 finish next season, pushing for a play off place then definitely play off place at worst for the following season should be achievable with a few new signings coming in to bolster an already decent squad for the Championship. The 5 year plan suggests money will be made available to strengthen and as has been said we should attract some really good players. If Norwich go up and Peterbro fail in the play offs I see no reason why we couldnt get Craig Maickal Smith. They wouldnt want him in the prem I wouldnt have thought.
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