Jump to content

Unrealistic Expectations


Dibden Purlieu Saint

Recommended Posts

We have been linked to a number of quality players, most of which will have significant transfer fees.

 

If we go out and spend 20 million (Not that I think we will) then the expectation levels will quite rightly be higher than if we take on the Championship with the current squad minus Oxo.

 

We know Cortese is very ambious and that he has restated his position regarding funding - Of course funding a League one promoton, is very different from funding a Championship one, but let's just wait and see.

 

Whether investment happens or not, we are in a very different position than we have almost ever been. With perhaps the exception of the last two seasons, we have known that some of our best players were likely to leave and that every now and then we would pull off a great signing, with a string of mediocre ones to boot. It might stay the same, but that is not in line with Corteses ambition or statements..... It is just a case of sitting back and waiting.

 

For what it is worth the current squad will not get close to promotion, but if thats what we start with it's fine by me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not to concerned about promotion the league is wide open I think we will do well top half maybe a tilt at the play offs.

 

I am relaxed & confident that we will do alright which is nice we have no pressure on us we are not the bookies favourites like last season Norwich Leeds & Millwall prooved that decent League 1 sides can do well.

 

With the squad we have I think mid table top halfish with some quality additions we would be right in the mix West Ham are spending Nolan is a fantastic signing if we are going to compete we need to get some top quality additions.

 

Really looking forward to the season it will be very interesting & ultra competative bring it on we will do ok

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lets get this out the way now, before we start arguing midway through the season.

 

We are very unlikely to get promoted.

 

We are unlikely to get Playoffs.

 

With the strength of the division next year, mid table will be a success.

 

Just hope you all understand this before people start bleating on that we should be beating everyone.

 

 

Don't expect to be flavour of the month with this analysis but of course you are right!

 

The first priority is to establish ourselves in the Division and the first dozen games will test our competitiveness e.g. W4-D4-L4 would be a good set of results on which to build confidence and a sound foundation. By then it would become clearer who's hot (enough) and who's not from the present squad. Any defender regularly getting skinned would quickly be dropped whilst others might actually blossom under the higher challenge and kick on.

 

We all have an opinion on this now but fair-do's , we need to let the lads have their heads under fire before condemning them out of hand. In fact none of us lot have a clue who'll respond well and who can't.

 

It's possible that we might surprise ourselves in the way that Norwich surprised the whole league last year but it is extremely unlikely that it will happen again anytime soon if the Division structure and pecking order means anything at all. Even the most cynical of us lot surely does not believe that there are zero differences between mid-table PL clubs and mid-table L1 clubs?

 

In my view, we'd do well to use this season to establish & consolidate and think about the PL in two years time. If we don't rush into spending this summer taht may not be a bad thing - let this squad have a go , beef it up in Jan 2012 if necessary to keep us up and then by next summer we'll know who to keep, better know who we want to bring in and prepare to kick on.

 

We should not risk buying too many apparently very sprightly spring chickens from lower leagues right now, who could turn out to be even bigger turkeys than some of our present squad in the NPL.

 

As for Adders, I'm confident Mr Cortese has a touch of the Russian Oligarch about him. He's smarter 'though and is never seen with designer stubble in public.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lets get this out the way now, before we start arguing midway through the season.

 

We are very unlikely to get promoted.

 

We are unlikely to get Playoffs.

 

With the strength of the division next year, mid table will be a success.

 

Just hope you all understand this before people start bleating on that we should be beating everyone.

 

Yes, I agree with this.

 

It is already clear that NC sees it this way due to the lack of our transfer activity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, I agree with this.

 

It is already clear that NC sees it this way due to the lack of our transfer activity.

 

 

Hahaha, how can you guys think this?! How many teams have signed many, if any players YET? There seems to have been little activity in the window so far by many teams, i think we are entitled to expect afew quality signings before the start of the season. When our squad lines up against leeds, THEN we can start to consider realistic finishing positions for the season. There's another transfer window in january btw!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is already clear that NC sees it this way due to the lack of our transfer activity.

 

Is it?

 

- Players haven't started pre-season training yet

- 3 days until many contracts end and transfer window really gets going

- Over 5 weeks until season starts

- Over 8 weeks until transfer window closes (even then the loan window is still open until November)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, I agree with this.

 

It is already clear that NC sees it this way due to the lack of our transfer activity.

 

I wouldn't say the lack of transfer activity so far is any indication of what we can expect for the season. We know a few signings have been mooted by NA, and I hope and expect to see those made in the next 2, 3 or 4 weeks before the season starts.

 

But I think a lot of people are getting away from the fact that we're committed to a 5 year plan to return to the Prem; and we're not even halfway through that. So I don't expect to see a whole raft of new, expensive signings coming in. Nor I do think we need huge changes (though as I've said on other threads I think we're 4 or 5 top quality players away from a proper tilt at the title).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lets get this out the way now, before we start arguing midway through the season.

 

We are very unlikely to get promoted.

 

We are unlikely to get Playoffs.

 

With the strength of the division next year, mid table will be a success.

 

Just hope you all understand this before people start bleating on that we should be beating everyone.

 

This is incorrect. If Millwall can be in and around the play offs in their first season back up with minimal investment, and Leeds can finish seventh then it is not "very unlikely" for us to get promoted. It's much more like a possibility.

 

It's perfectly possible for us to finish top six, but just outside that would be the most likely outcome.

 

I think this is closer:

 

I'd say:

 

Automatic is quite unlikely

 

Playoffs are possible

 

Midtable is most likely

 

below that (but above relegation) is a relative failure

 

Relegation is a massive failure

 

What I don't want to hear next season if we are bumming around in 20th position that "staying up would be a massive achievement, haven't we done well, first season back blah blah blah".

 

If Nigel Adkins wanted to bum around the bottom end of the championship he would have stayed at S****horpe. He's here to take us into the top six and he's starting next season.

 

14th or below would be a huge disappointment to him and Cortese, I have no doubt.

 

With that in mind can the happy clappy bedwetters on this forum avoid pretending that 18th-would-be-an-amazing-achievement-all-we-can-hope-for-and-you-kids-today-are-so-impatient-and-unrealistic-blah-blah

 

Pretty sure the expectation is solid, solid, solid top half. Not from me, but from the manager and the chairman.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Of course we will be buying players for the promotion push.

 

Why would you sign players now that you aren't planning on using next year?

 

Obviously promotion isn't easy, that's why Cortese has allowed for 3 attempts at it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Of course we will be buying players for the promotion push.

 

Why would you sign players now that you aren't planning on using next year?

 

Obviously promotion isn't easy, that's why Cortese has allowed for 3 attempts at it.

 

It's unlikely Nigel Adkins would get three attempts at it, unless his second attempt is a Huddersfield clear third place/play off heartbreak type season.

 

Nicola Cortese, as far as I can tell, is not "allowing" for 3 seasons in the second tier. And why should he, all I can see is someone very impatient to be in the top flight.

 

And let's avoid any bo ll ocks about spending a couple of seasons "getting ready" to be promoted. Tell that to Cardiff. Or Forest. Or Coventry. who would trade in their billions of seasons "getting ready" for a sniff of what Blackpool and Norwich have done out of nowhere.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is incorrect. If Millwall can be in and around the play offs in their first season back up with minimal investment, and Leeds can finish seventh then it is not "very unlikely" for us to get promoted. It's much more like a possibility.

 

It's perfectly possible for us to finish top six, but just outside that would be the most likely outcome.

 

I think this is closer:

 

 

 

What I don't want to hear next season if we are bumming around in 20th position that "staying up would be a massive achievement, haven't we done well, first season back blah blah blah".

 

If Nigel Adkins wanted to bum around the bottom end of the championship he would have stayed at S****horpe. He's here to take us into the top six and he's starting next season.

 

14th or below would be a huge disappointment to him and Cortese, I have no doubt.

 

With that in mind can the happy clappy bedwetters on this forum avoid pretending that 18th-would-be-an-amazing-achievement-all-we-can-hope-for-and-you-kids-today-are-so-impatient-and-unrealistic-blah-blah

 

Pretty sure the expectation is solid, solid, solid top half. Not from me, but from the manager and the chairman.

 

The League is far more competitive this year than last Season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is incorrect. If Millwall can be in and around the play offs in their first season back up with minimal investment, and Leeds can finish seventh then it is not "very unlikely" for us to get promoted. It's much more like a possibility.

 

It's perfectly possible for us to finish top six, but just outside that would be the most likely outcome.

 

What I don't want to hear next season if we are bumming around in 20th position that "staying up would be a massive achievement, haven't we done well, first season back blah blah blah".

 

If Nigel Adkins wanted to bum around the bottom end of the championship he would have stayed at S****horpe. He's here to take us into the top six and he's starting next season.

 

14th or below would be a huge disappointment to him and Cortese, I have no doubt.

 

With that in mind can the happy clappy bedwetters on this forum avoid pretending that 18th-would-be-an-amazing-achievement-all-we-can-hope-for-and-you-kids-today-are-so-impatient-and-unrealistic-blah-blah

 

Pretty sure the expectation is solid, solid, solid top half. Not from me, but from the manager and the chairman.

 

You're entirely correct, but I haven't seen anyone on here saying that 18th would be anything like a wonderful achievement. Not yet, anyway. And I hope I never do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have to wait to see what our squad looks like just before kick off to have any form of expectation.

 

Looks like West Ham and Leicester are spending big so they have to be considered favs. Forest,Leeds and Cardiff will also be strong. Right now i would put us in the next bracket of teams i.e Birmingham,Millwall,Reading and us.

If we add some decent players then we could go from the third bracket into the second. I think we need to spend a lot to get into the first so that won't happen.

 

If we start the season with our current squad, keeping hold of all the players then i would be pretty happy to be honest.

 

Ipswich with Paul Jewell in charge could do well, they've already been busy in the transfer market bringing in Chopra, Ingamarsen and Ellington

 

There are many good teams in this league, so I'd be happy with mid table as things stand at the moment

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We won't get anywhere near the Premiership without further significant investment in players.

 

Seems to me that Leicester are signing all our targets. Why are we not competing with the likes of Leicester and Ipswich in the market place?

 

Could it be that unless we sell Chamberlain, we simply dont have the cash to splash?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We won't get anywhere near the Premiership without further significant investment in players.

 

Seems to me that Leicester are signing all our targets. Why are we not competing with the likes of Leicester and Ipswich in the market place?

 

Could it be that unless we sell Chamberlain, we simply dont have the cash to splash?

because they may be hedging their bets...like we did in 2007...?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We won't get anywhere near the Premiership without further significant investment in players.

 

Seems to me that Leicester are signing all our targets. Why are we not competing with the likes of Leicester and Ipswich in the market place?

 

Could it be that unless we sell Chamberlain, we simply dont have the cash to splash?

 

No, dont forget we were told only recently that we have "too much money".....

 

Could it be there is a spy in the camp? That someone is using our world class scouting network to pick out the best players available then tipping Leciester off as to our targets so they can trump our bids and ours get rejected before we can even start negotiatiing with players? That is the sole reason i can think os as to why any player would knock back this fantastic football club with it's huge fan base in favour of small fry like Leicester and Ipwich. Find the spy and smoke the bugger out FFS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lets get this out the way now, before we start arguing midway through the season.

We are very unlikely to get promoted.

We are unlikely to get Playoffs.

With the strength of the division next year, mid table will be a success.

Just hope you all understand this before people start bleating on that we should be beating everyone.

 

 

well that's a rather negative start.

We haven't even seen the complete squad / new players listed yet and you've condemned us already.

 

I'm pretty sure that we won't beat everyone, but no-one else is likely to either. Last season there were about 10 sides in with a shout even upto Easter, and QPR looked like the only " certs ".

 

I'm sure we'll have a lot to complain about but let's wait until we have a few results to look at before that.

 

Over the years I have told myself never to take a serious look at the league table until after the first SIX games. I'll stick with that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Over the years I have told myself never to take a serious look at the league table until after the first SIX games. I'll stick with that.

 

It's a shame you're posting it on a Forum which widely condemned last season at half-time of a match in the first week of April with 9 games to play ! ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
Lets get this out the way now, before we start arguing midway through the season.

 

We are very unlikely to get promoted.

 

We are unlikely to get Playoffs.

 

With the strength of the division next year, mid table will be a success.

 

Just hope you all understand this before people start bleating on that we should be beating everyone.

 

:lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...