Where will we finish?

[brian green]

I voted 15th.   I cannot add to that which ASHTONVILLA has posted.   The only word of his I would change is the use of the word "Eck" for Alex or McLeish.   The use of such an ugly and inappropriate nickname should be reserved for one held in high regard or affection and he has earned neither.

I think we will be swamped in midfield on a very regular basis and that will result in the manager retreating into total defence mode with the hope of points coming from counter attack solo goals.   Bent is a good enough player to do that job for us but without him we would struggle.


This time last year I expected O'Neill to go about November 5th the same date will be the  pivotal time for McLeish and I think the board will prevaricate like they did until Houllier's health gave them a get out of jail card.   They will not be so lucky this time around.

If we swallow our pride and sign Barton I will revise my prediction to 12th.

[Greg N'Ash]

Way i see it, we finished 9th last season, we're much weaker this season. The Youth players could come good, the duffers could come good but its very much guesswork. Looking at the teams around us, Blackburn are weaker i'd say, Wigan as well, can't think of many other clubs that have lost key players like us. Newcastle i suppose.

[Clampy]

Bearing in mind the amount of trust we may have to put in our younger players, it will be a transitional season for us really. 8th-9th would be acceptable for me, any higher would be a bonus.

[eastie]

Way i see it, we finished 9th last season, we're much weaker this season. The Youth players could come good, the duffers could come good but its very much guesswork. Looking at the teams around us, Blackburn are weaker i'd say, Wigan as well, can't think of many other clubs that have lost key players like us. Newcastle i suppose.

last season we were hit by massive injuries and internal squabbles and the season was a disaster for most of it - i doubt things would be that bad this season and i think mcleish is a better man manager and team spirit will be much better.

its no good us keep saying weve got great kids in the pipeline , they are old enough now to prove themselves  and now is their chance and although we have lost key players , the likes of makoun, bent, given and nzogbia are quality players and with warnock and an on form ireland we are not a bad side.
mcleish also will make the defence far more solid than under houllier -its not all doom and gloom by any means -the key for me is that the big players stay injury free.

I think we all know who the top 6 will be but along with everton i think we are better than the rest of the bunch.

[Greg N'Ash]

People forget how close it was last season where there were 3 points between 8th and 14th. If its similar this season, it would only take an Injury, slight loss of form or improvement or a lucky win and you could basically finish 6 places higher or lower.

[themossman]

Bearing in mind the weakened squad and the problems last season you've have to see the lack of bottom 5 predictions as a vote of confidence in McLeish, or sorts.

[eastie]

People forget how close it was last season where there were 3 points between 8th and 14th. If its similar this season, it would only take an Injury, slight loss of form or improvement or a lucky win and you could basically finish 6 places higher or lower.

New manager, new system , new staff and much better team spirit now greg , last season is gone -lets look ahead rather than start with such bleak expectations,the younger lads will get the chance to prove themselves and in a years time we will much better off.

[Greg N'Ash]

People forget how close it was last season where there were 3 points between 8th and 14th. If its similar this season, it would only take an Injury, slight loss of form or improvement or a lucky win and you could basically finish 6 places higher or lower.

New manager, new system , new staff and much better team spirit now greg , last season is gone -lets look ahead rather than start with such bleak expectations,the younger lads will get the chance to prove themselves and in a years time we will much better off.
[/quote

well there's a lot of 'new' i agree. whether its better i'm not so sure. As i said earlier i think any prediction from 8th downwards  is possible. 7th i can't see happening as we're not 6th points better than everton were last season, and they've not got any worse.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

There are not 15 clubs with better squads than us.

No but there are 15 squads with better managers and squads on par with ours.

How many managers in the league have won a trophy in England? Ferguson, Wenger, Dalglish, Mancini, Redknapp and...McLeish - can't think of any others (unless I've missed someone out).

The majority of the league would want Given, Dunne, Collins, Young, Warnock, N'Zogbia and Bent, with possibly a few others as well.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Alex McLeish will set us out (team and formation wise) exactly how MON did, and I believe we will get similar results from it.

[brian green]

I saw very little new team spirit against Chelsea or Derby.   I think the whole thing of McLeish turning problem players into stars is a myth with no evidence to support it.   As has been posted many times already there will be players who think McLeish is the dog's bollocks when they get a pat on the back for putting the ball into Row ZZ and there will be others who will get pissed at bonding breaks and want to fight the staff because they are not first name on the team sheet every week.   There never was a manager who was popular with everybody in the squad.   The talent a manager has to have is to get the best out of the players who hate his guts.

[eastie]

I saw very little new team spirit against Chelsea or Derby.   I think the whole thing of McLeish turning problem players into stars is a myth with no evidence to support it.   As has been posted many times already there will be players who think McLeish is the dog's bollocks when they get a pat on the back for putting the ball into Row ZZ and there will be others who will get pissed at bonding breaks and want to fight the staff because they are not first name on the team sheet every week.   There never was a manager who was popular with everybody in the squad.   The talent a manager has to have is to get the best out of the players who hate his guts.

i dont recall many ex mcleish players slagging him off in the way mons did and i think he has better man management qualities than mon or houllier.

Granted chelsea and derby were poor displays but the main thing was not to get injuries and improve fitness , if we get turned over by fulham and blackburn then is the time to worry, i hope and expect 4 points if not 6 from those 2 games.

[Greg N'Ash]

Fulham won't be any pushover especially with their advanced match fitness. I'd take a draw now frankly. I hope AM has rebuilt the morale because a bad start and all the tensions could re-surface.

[robbo1874]

I've gone with 7th.

Blind optimism really, but we might just surprise a few people this season.

[Chris Smith]

I saw very little new team spirit against Chelsea or Derby.   I think the whole thing of McLeish turning problem players into stars is a myth with no evidence to support it.   As has been posted many times already there will be players who think McLeish is the dog's bollocks when they get a pat on the back for putting the ball into Row ZZ and there will be others who will get pissed at bonding breaks and want to fight the staff because they are not first name on the team sheet every week.   There never was a manager who was popular with everybody in the squad.   The talent a manager has to have is to get the best out of the players who hate his guts.

Were you at the game, Brian, because there were probably 4 players at most who started against Derby who will start next week, I don't see how you can use that  to support your anti McLeish campaign. In any case, team spirit is something that develops over time you don't just turn it on and off like a tap. Most of the more sensible Noses that I've spoken to begrudgingly think that he'll do a good job for us.