Gemmel Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Happy with the squad, happy with the new signings, very happy with the names of the potential new additions and gob smacked that we are still in with a shout at keeping oxo for another season, but.......... I have no idea how we will get on. Last season the expectation was (And quite rightly so) promotion and for the 30 odd years prior to that, I've always had an idea (Even if it was usually wrong) where I thought we would end up. Taking away the kop out answer "We'll be alright", when I look at other teams and their squads (And not knowing as much about other players in our league as I used to) I really dont know what the expectation should be, as in whether it's a relegation fight, mid table medicority, Playoffs or even Automatic. Of course I know where I want us to be, but they are two different things. In a way it makes the whole thing that bit more exciting, but with everybody seemed to be agreeing, that this is one of the toughest ever years.... If I was in a bookies, I wouldn't know where to stick my money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 We should obviously aim to win the league. But can't see us doing it though IMO we will flirt with the playoffs but like Leeds last season not have quite enough Be nice if we tore this league a new one and romp it. Just can't see past Leicester and the hammers for the top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 The NPC is a crazy league. I imagine at the start of last season, some Sheff Utd fans were talking about promotion themselves. We have as much chance of getting relegated as we do promoted. I'd be happy with mid-table mediocrity this season and push on from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 We should obviously aim to win the league. But can't see us doing it though IMO we will flirt with the playoffs but like Leeds last season not have quite enough Be nice if we tore this league a new one and romp it. Just can't see past Leicester and the hammers for the top I thought WHU squad would have been decimated when they got relegated but so far, they've managed to hold onto most players and even added a few more than useful additions. Leicester have also made some good signings. Though they've pretty much signed an entire new starting XI, so will be interesting to see how they start off. This is probably the strongest I can remember the NPC being for quite a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I'll be happy with mid table (and being above the skates). Where we will finish who knows? I suppose half a dozen matches might give us some idea of the relative strength of the division. Looking at on paper there seem to be a lot of decent sides in this years championship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfc1971 Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Big fat Sam will kick, bite, hoof and cheat his way out of this league no doubt. The others could be any from ten including us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Happy with the squad, happy with the new signings, very happy with the names of the potential new additions and gob smacked that we are still in with a shout at keeping oxo for another season, but.......... I have no idea how we will get on. Last season the expectation was (And quite rightly so) promotion and for the 30 odd years prior to that, I've always had an idea (Even if it was usually wrong) where I thought we would end up. Taking away the kop out answer "We'll be alright", when I look at other teams and their squads (And not knowing as much about other players in our league as I used to) I really dont know what the expectation should be, as in whether it's a relegation fight, mid table medicority, Playoffs or even Automatic. Of course I know where I want us to be, but they are two different things. In a way it makes the whole thing that bit more exciting, but with everybody seemed to be agreeing, that this is one of the toughest ever years.... If I was in a bookies, I wouldn't know where to stick my money. When you put something in brackets (like this) it shouldn't start with a capital letter (Like this).........carry on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notnowcato Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Realistically I think the best we can hope for is a play off place but we will more than likely finish between 7th and 10th. Will be interesting to see if Sven can make a team from his collection, he's not convinced me for a very long time so I have my doubts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Big fat Sam will kick, bite, hoof and cheat his way out of this league no doubt. The others could be any from ten including us. Good on him. I'd be happy to get promoted by any means necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 When you put something in brackets (like this) it shouldn't start with a capital letter (Like this).........carry on But do you know when to put full stops inside or outside the brackets? (Answering this will give you a clue as to how the season will turn out for us.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 But do you know when to put full stops inside or outside the brackets? (Answering this will give you a clue as to how the season will turn out for us.) Personally, I take the view that if whatever I put in brackets requires a full stop, it probably shouldn't be in brackets anyway. (I think this tells me we will get to the playoffs, but as "I" is always capitalised I cannot be 100% sure) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Johnson Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I don’t think anybody knows what to expect. There are, by my assumption 16-18 teams that will be expecting to finish in or around the top 6 this season. Leicester are obviously pushing hard to win the league and West Ham, Birmingham etc will feel they should be there too... It's going to be a hugely exciting league with over performers, under performers; the key for any team doing well will be consistency. We don’t have the squad to win the league, and if we did... i don’t think we'd be setup for the prem, it may be a case of too soon. All the same we can go into games knowing the pressure is very much off us, we can perform knowing a win is no longer expected and I'm expecting to see a better standard of football. Our season, IMHO will depend on how we perform at home, and away to teams that will be languishing at the bottom of the league, rather than at the top What I can say about this season... i expect this to be one of the best in recent memory in terms of entertainment :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilsmer Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I agree that its much harder to predict the outcome of this season than last season, but even without the rose-tinted glasses that I'm a big fan of, I can see us pushing for the play off places. We've got by and large the same squad that were brilliant last season and I think this will help us to get that elusive good start to the season. If we can get 7 points from the first four games whilst we're getting used to the pace of the new league then that'll be a good platform to push on. I'm really excited about our attacking options and feel that we have plenty of goals in us with or without a new striker. Our defence kept countless clean sheets last season and I have faith that they've got enough experience and quality to succeed in the NPC. Adkins has not only got us playing attractive football but also effective football and he's got a familiar group of players with which he can execute his plans with confidence. I'm going to nail my colours to the mast and say we'll finish 5th. I'm also going to save this post until such a time that this prediction is proven hopelessly wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 There are so many sides with a chance, it's incredibly hard to pick. Boro were massive favourites last year after spending £15m odd, but found themselves hovering around relegation most of the season. Same could happen to Leicester...who knows. But I think we'll give it a great go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I'm really surprised by the lack of people mentioning Ipswich. Some great signings, a very good manager etc. They will be up there. We will finish 9th to 14th I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 We will finish 7th. You heard it here first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Not sure Jewell is a great Manager. He spent £1m on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who despite coming from Arsenal was very poor for Cardiff on loan. He also has not replaced their fitness coach who left end of last season, basically saying 'we don't need a fitness coach to be fit'. Fair principle, but I would trust Nigel's approach more.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junction 9 Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 The major difference from last year will be the amount of away points we pick up. Have a look through the division and ask yourself how many teams are we actually going to beat away from home. I would say between 5 and 8 with quite a few draws. Might be enough for playoffs depending on SMS results but 8th or 9th is realistic for the current squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Not sure Jewell is a great Manager. He spent £1m on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who despite coming from Arsenal was very poor for Cardiff on loan. He also has not replaced their fitness coach who left end of last season, basically saying 'we don't need a fitness coach to be fit'. Fair principle, but I would trust Nigel's approach more.... To be fair, his record is pretty impressive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 We will finish 7th. You heard it here first! That's a tad optimistic for you. We will finish 12th, that's a fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raging Bull Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Sven will have gone by Jan, Brum will be close to relagation, Hummers will play the sh#tist football the championship has ever seen and the mighty Saints (after signing NM + KG or AJ) will be top. Especially with our momentum and all. Can't f*^#ing wait!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mick channon windmill Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I believe we will finish in the top 6 and possibly get an automatic promotion place. I hear a lot of people saying we are not strong enough to get promoted and will settle for mid table in our first season back in this league. I really do fail to see what other teams have got that we are lacking however. Lallana, Fonte, Lambert, Cork and Chamberlain would walk into almost any team in this league. This is backed up by a very strong squad with strength in depth in every position with the likely addition of a new centre back and possibly another forward. What we also have is a winning mentality and there is a buzz about the club. The likes of West Ham and Leicester who people keep mentioning do not have this and it is not something that comes overnight. It can take time for a team to gel, no matter how good the players in that team are. We have a great stadium and very large fanbase and our crowds will almost certainly be in the top 8 in this division. I agree that this is a tough league this coming season and there are around 12 or more teams who could realistically claim to have a chance of promotion. When your combine our quality playing squad, winning mentality and fanbase i fail to see what any other team in this league has to offer that saints are lacking. It will be an exciting seaon hopefully ending with Saints back where they belong in the premier league Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolution saint Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 The major difference from last year will be the amount of away points we pick up. Have a look through the division and ask yourself how many teams are we actually going to beat away from home. I would say between 5 and 8 with quite a few draws. Might be enough for playoffs depending on SMS results but 8th or 9th is realistic for the current squad. That's probably reasonable. I don't think we'll see too many teams winning away from home that much though. I think a lot depends on AOC - if he stays till at least January then I'd say we've a pretty good chance of play offs. If not then it's more like mid table. Famous last words but I don't envisage us spending too much time around the bottom of the table..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I believe we will finish in the top 6 and possibly get an automatic promotion place. I hear a lot of people saying we are not strong enough to get promoted and will settle for mid table in our first season back in this league. I really do fail to see what other teams have got that we are lacking however. Lallana, Fonte, Lambert, Cork and Chamberlain would walk into almost any team in this league. This is backed up by a very strong squad with strength in depth in every position with the likely addition of a new centre back and possibly another forward. What we also have is a winning mentality and there is a buzz about the club. The likes of West Ham and Leicester who people keep mentioning do not have this and it is not something that comes overnight. It can take time for a team to gel, no matter how good the players in that team are. We have a great stadium and very large fanbase and our crowds will almost certainly be in the top 8 in this division. I agree that this is a tough league this coming season and there are around 12 or more teams who could realistically claim to have a chance of promotion. When your combine our quality playing squad, winning mentality and fanbase i fail to see what any other team in this league has to offer that saints are lacking. It will be an exciting seaon hopefully ending with Saints back where they belong in the premier league We said similar things about L1 and failed to win that... twice! I fear some people are in for a serious reality check when the season starts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mick channon windmill Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 We said similar things about L1 and failed to win that... twice! I fear some people are in for a serious reality check when the season starts. There were very valid reasons for us failing to win Lague one. The first season we started on minus points remember and had a new manager who was rebuilding the team. The second season got off to a disaster and we messed things up at the start until adkins was appointed. The fact is teams could not live with us in the second half of last season. Yes it was a weaker league but i dont think this team has anything to be scared of and as i say i fail to see what any team in this legue has to offer that we cant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughieslastminutegoal Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 When you put something in brackets (like this) it shouldn't start with a capital letter (Like this).........carry on As it is still the closed season, perhaps you could discuss for us the regrettable underuse of the semi-colon; it could have been of benefit in Gemmel's list of happies. (It beats talking about Brighton's stadium.) I rather favour a whole sentence being in brackets occasionally, meaning it is an aside, a kind of afterthought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 In the 2008/9 pre-season I REALLY had no idea where the kids would finish (even so after the Cardiff away match we lost 2-1), but always had the nagging doubt from the fixture list that if you couldn't see the sucker in the poker game it was you. However, this season I am 95% certain we will finish in the top half somewhere. I can't envisage a relegation battle under any circumstances that don't involve the club being unexpectedly sold, and I have no reason to suspect that will be the case. Then again I wasn't expecting Pardew to get the boot in August last year either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Without the weight of open expectation regarding promotion - I can't see the club coming out and openly declaring that is the target - I think we are set to do pretty well. I'm quietly confident that we will finish top 10 and that we will have a decent chance of getting a playoff spot. I think we shouldn't be disappointed if we 'only' finish top 10; if the fans buy into this mentality and keep the pressure off, I think this will really benefit the team. I'm genuinely excited at the thought that we have a sporting chance of gaining promotion again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 me i think we will struggle but i hope by predicting this i will be totally wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 me i think we will struggle but i hope by predicting this i will be totally wrong It's normally best with Saints to predict the worst. That way anything else is a bonus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 It's normally best with Saints to predict the worst. That way anything else is a bonus. found me out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Happier at this stage than I can remember for many years with both the squad and its manager - we should do well this coming season. With a bit of luck we could well finish somewhere in the top 10 I reckon - top 6 perhaps with a couple more quality signings. Mind you, preseason optimism does have a bad habit of dying young at this club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 The thing that worries me is with all this optimism around the club at the moment is that something will happen to ruin it all. It's just not in our clubs nature to plod along steadily, improving from season to season and getting on with things quietly. No doubt; Cortese will be charged with fraud, the club will be sold to Rupert Lowe's brother and Clive Woodward will be in charge by Christmas. Lallana will be sold to fund Lowe's Christmas party and the Doncaster Steam Train will once again take pride of place in the boardroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Well, I have skipped all the other posts because my opinion is the only one that matters. I'm strangely confident for the first time in years that we can finally get a good start to the season and carry it through to the play offs. For no reason based on anything but hope, I think De Ridder will be a great signing and amaze us all..............Now that I have that out of the way, I will also prepare for the usual disappointing start as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I believe a lot of fancied teams will not do that well when the hustle and bustle eventually settles things down. Leicester are one team that should have no excuse and I do expect them to do well, but I am not so sure several of the others will make the grade. Not a 100% sure how we will do, but I am expecting a solid position coming up to the January window, which would allow us to buy away any deficiencies to get into the play offs, or very close. The rest is just pure guess work, if the original was not enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I think you have to look at it like this Put teams into certain brackets 1st group = teams who have strong squads and should be going for the title West Ham Leicester 2nd group = teams who have a good squad and should be in the mix for an auto spot/playoff spot Forrest Reading Leeds Cardiff 3rd group = teams who have good squads and could be pressing for a playoff spot Saints Middlesbrough Blackpool Burnley Birmingham (if they manage to keep their players) 4th group = teams with average squads who will be around midtable Millwall Hull Ipswich Brighton Watford 6th group = teams who would be battling to survival. Staying up is minimum expectation. Bristol City Portsmouth Derby Coventry Palace Peterborough Doncaster Barnsley Looking at it like that i think playoff chasing spot is the most we should expect. In the top 8 i think would be a decent season back in the championship. Anything below top 10 i would say would have seen us underachive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammysaint Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I think you have to look at it like this Put teams into certain brackets 1st group = teams who have strong squads and should be going for the title West Ham Leicester 2nd group = teams who have a good squad and should be in the mix for an auto spot/playoff spot Forrest Reading Leeds Cardiff 3rd group = teams who have good squads and could be pressing for a playoff spot Saints Middlesbrough Blackpool Burnley Birmingham (if they manage to keep their players) 4th group = teams with average squads who will be around midtable Millwall Hull Ipswich Brighton Watford 6th group = teams who would be battling to survival. Staying up is minimum expectation. Bristol City Portsmouth Derby Coventry Palace Peterborough Doncaster Barnsley Looking at it like that i think playoff chasing spot is the most we should expect. In the top 8 i think would be a decent season back in the championship. Anything below top 10 i would say would have seen us underachive. Would agree with that list to be honest i expect us to finish around 8th-11th and if we sign maybe one or 2 new players and keep AOC were get playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSaint Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I don't know, seems like people predicting automatic promotion for Leicester are slightly overestimating them IMO. They've brought in a lot of players and will probably bring in a couple more, but those players are all going to go into the team at once and be expected to perform straight away. It will be an entirely different team. Not to mention that of the 8 players they've signed so far Mills is the only one who I'd really rate as exceptional at this level. The rest I feel have either lost their form in recent times or decent players hyped up to be dominant at this level like Danns. It will be interesting to see what happens if Leicester don't make a good start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I think the main reason for uncertainty is NA. He is an unknown quantity when having a few quid to play with. He did brilliantly with scunny but staying in this league was good enough for them. Lets see how he comes with a different kind of pressure. I dont agree we have as much chance of relegation as we have promotion. You only have to look at Leeds, Norwich, Millwall, Forest, etc. I think we will start pretty average but if promotion is at all a possibility come Jan, he will invest again. 10 days and counting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I think we'll start the season poorly because we've had another rubbish pre season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 At the start of June most agreed that we needed to significantly strengthen the squad. Indeed we were assure this was gpoing to happen and I was lambasted many times for my sceptical attitude. At the start of June i said we would struggle with this squad, i said 19th and i see no reason to change my prediction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 At the start of June most agreed that we needed to significantly strengthen the squad. Indeed we were assure this was gpoing to happen and I was lambasted many times for my sceptical attitude. At the start of June i said we would struggle with this squad, i said 19th and i see no reason to change my prediction. I think that's a realistic expectation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 At the start of June most agreed that we needed to significantly strengthen the squad. Indeed we were assure this was gpoing to happen and I was lambasted many times for my sceptical attitude. At the start of June i said we would struggle with this squad, i said 19th and i see no reason to change my prediction. I agreed with you back then. Since then we've signed Cork and de Ridder. Hopefully if AOC stays (obviously lots of mileage yet with that), then those two will just have replaced Gobern and Puncheon in numbers, but very much improved the quality of the squad. Rumour is that another centre back is on the way, and, having previously bid £3M plus for Billy Sharp I'd still be a bit surprised if we didn't bring a new striker in. I said 10th - 16th with last season's squad; with the additions so far I'm confident of that 10th place, add in the two I mentioned and I think playoffs are definitely achievable, perhaps even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 I agreed with you back then. Since then we've signed Cork and de Ridder. Hopefully if AOC stays (obviously lots of mileage yet with that), then those two will just have replaced Gobern and Puncheon in numbers, but very much improved the quality of the squad. Rumour is that another centre back is on the way, and, having previously bid £3M plus for Billy Sharp I'd still be a bit surprised if we didn't bring a new striker in. I said 10th - 16th with last season's squad; with the additions so far I'm confident of that 10th place, add in the two I mentioned and I think playoffs are definitely achievable, perhaps even more. Fair enough, I could push it to 17th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 At the start of June most agreed that we needed to significantly strengthen the squad. Indeed we were assure this was gpoing to happen and I was lambasted many times for my sceptical attitude. At the start of June i said we would struggle with this squad, i said 19th and i see no reason to change my prediction. F**k off and die. You bleated all of last season about how we'd lose in the play offs. Make a bet then. If Saints finish above 17th you'll never post again and if they finish below, I won't See if you've got the balls or are just a trolling c**t. Know where my money is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Blimey, I think someone's had too much Pro Plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsaint Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 Think we could be put in the second group ahead of leeds, they could struggle this year, no major new additions and missing two main strikers for a few months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 To give you an idea of what the bookies have for us To be relegated = around 20/1 which means they think 20 teams stand more of a chance then us of being relegated To be promoted = around 5/1 it was 8/1 a couple of weeks ago. Anyways that would put us 5th fav to be promoted. http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/promotion To win the league = 4/1 joint 4th fav to win the legue I think saying stuff like avoiding relegation is our goal is a tad bit unrealistic..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 F**k off and die. You bleated all of last season about how we'd lose in the play offs. Make a bet then. If Saints finish above 17th you'll never post again and if they finish below, I won't See if you've got the balls or are just a trolling c**t. Know where my money is. Nah, he's just a troll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 27 July, 2011 Share Posted 27 July, 2011 So after tonight's match does anyone want to confirm/change their opinion or ignore a pre-season friendly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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