How low can we go?

[Concrete John]

There seems to be a general acceptance that this is a 'transitional season' and we'll finish lower than 6th, but that that is understandable and OK.  But at what point does it go from 'transitional' to just plain bad?

We can show all the signs of improvement we like and address some of the issues left by Martin, yet if we end up say 15th I'm sure most would find that unacceptable given the strength of the squad and, presumably, the funds Houllier will have available in January.

So, what final league position would prompt you to being concerned?  And for the sake of simplicity, lets ignore the cups in this.

Personally, I think we're good enough to finish 8th and anything lower is under achieving.

[villa1]

7th. Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal are way ahead of us. I can't see us finishing above Man City and Spurs and have a sneaky feeling someone else might fluke it into 6th (not Albion).

[Mazrim]

To be honest, as long as we get the club ready to face the next decade, with better scouting, coaching and so on I dont really mind. I dont think we'll finish lower table and I accepted months ago that this season would be transitional.
As long as we make the transition to this new possession, fluent and tactical based style and get the players in we need to make best use of it, which I think will happen in January and the summer, I'm O.K with it all.
There's going to be a few hiccups, its sometimes not going to click but gradually it will fall into place. It will be a measured, purposeful overhaul

The nucleus of a very good young squad is there with a fair bit more to come and a great academy set up and a well connected manager with form for installing tremendous infrastructure. There's plenty to look forward to if one can be patient.

[placeforparks]

8th - 10th.

[lovejoy]

We finished 6th, 6th and 6th under Martin O'Neill and people on this Forum called for him to leave. For me if we finish below 6th it will show people were wrong to call for his head.
Lower than 6th is regression surely? If we finish above 6th I will be the first to say I was wrong to criticise those calling for MON's head, deal?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Probably 8th-9th, but won't really matter if we can bag a cup.
The League cup is very gettable.

[dave.woodhall]

Given what went on in the summer, seventh or eighth will be acceptable provided some of the young players start looking promising and the football is better.

[placeforparks]

We finished 6th, 6th and 6th under Martin O'Neill and people on this Forum called for him to leave. For me if we finish below 6th it will show people were wrong to call for his head.
Lower than 6th is regression surely? If we finish above 6th I will be the first to say I was wrong to criticise those calling for MON's head, deal?

that's big of you...
 
you miss the wider point completely. MON threw millions on average players on big wages to tread water and it was unsustainable.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I agree that this season will be a transitional one, I didn't really get too upset saturday either, I think we'll have a good, bad and indifferent results.

The important thing is that we move in the right way

[willywombat]

What Mazrim says. Continued patience is the important thing although a win at the weekend will make that easier

[Matt C]

I think one way or another, we need to quality for Europe again.

Obviously we'll be out before August is over but still.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Seventh. There really is no excuse given the squad we have and the fact we'll probably bring in a player or two in January. I think we'll be fighting it out with Liverpool for sixth place. There's not really anybody else out there with the possible exception of Everton that will threaten us. As good as the Baggies are at the moment, I just can't see them going the distance given their squad size. I'm expecting us to have a great second half of the season, finishing strongly.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

When you say how low can we go, do you mean how low do we go before calling for the manager to be sacked ?
This sounds like the sort of debate crappy Talksport does.

[TopDeck113]

We need to pick up some more wins on our travels, but provided we don't lose the derbies and win the League Cup I'll take as low as 11th-13th.

As has been said, I can accept a season of transition provided it is exactly that: a season.

[TimTheVillain]

If we don't make 2 QUALITY signings 9th

If we do, 7th