Our realistic target for the new season.

[Meanwood Villa]

I'd accept not being in danger of relegation.

[IFWaters]

if we're just talking points, any less than 50 would be disappointing

I would think 55 would be a good target for 7th / 8th

that means better results in 7 matches than last year - turning won 10, drawn 11 into won 14 drawn 13

[Pat McMahon]

Be unbeaten at home all season
Get a point at Arsenal to start off with some optimism
Beat Man U at home for the first time in 18 years
Back to winning ways in derby matches
Keep at least one clean sheet before xmas

[monkeyboy]

Love the optimism of those on here who think we can place as high as 7th

Reality is we have strengthened the the squad with young, cheap players who are unknown quantities in the PL - we have arguably not strengthened the 1st team  at all.

We'll finish in the bottom third of the division - should not be relegated and may have a cup run, but another long and frustrating year ahead i think - clearly head posting this, heart says we'll win the treble

[Concrete John]

If we can maintain the form we showed since Everton away last season, then we'll be more than fine.  Any improvement on that would see us mount a reasonable push for a Euro place.

[Fin Feds Dad]

I put mid table / top half - based on the fact that last yr the teams in 8th to 12th were - stripeyfilth, swansea, kit stealers, norwich and fulham respectively.

I think we made real progress in the last few months of the season - so should be going past the likes of that lot.

That said, any thing where I am not seriously worried about relegation up to the final week of the season will do for me !

And have I said its our year for the Cup ?

[FranzBiberkopf]

Traditionally I always answer to my Blue-nose mates "Top six and the FA Cup".

This year? Taking aside the obvious candidates, its all much of a muchness.

On my positive days I think, with a decent run of form and confidence, we could be 'best of the rest' and eek 6th/7th/8th.

But on my more realistic days, 12th/13th.

We are the new Fulham (decent going forwards, paper thin at the back, pleasant to watch, unthreatening to the 'big' teams). Not that there's anything wrong with that per se - its certainly an improvement on how we were viewed under McCleish. And some way towards getting back to how we were viewed when we had the likes of Milner, Young rampant.

12th this year. Push on next.

[QBVILLA]

The top seven last team I expect to remain the same, maybe a bit of rearranging but they are a fair bit ahead of the rest. After that i'd fancy Palace and Hull to go straight back down so we are with the rest of the sides fighting it out from 8th to 18th. I think the team that finishes 8th will be closer points wise to relegation than they will be 7th. No reason why we can't get that 8th spot. I should imagine that is the aim of ten clubs across the country, being the best of the rest.

[danlanza]

Champions, of course. FA Cup winners, League Cup winners.
Anything less and i will be saying " Lambert out!"

[jonzy85]

Could challenge for 7th/8th, but unless our defence is strengthened or there are significant improvements, 12th/13th more likely. Anything below would be quite disappointing.

[robbo1874]

It's a fair point. West Brom finished 8th on 50 points I think so if that's the par score you're talking about another 9 points from what we had last season which shouldn't be too difficult given the horrendous period we had from December 23rd.

not that I think we will, but we could quite conceivably be 9 pts down from the first 3 games of the new season

[DrGonzo]

If we keep the 'goals against' column to less than 40 then top 8.  45 against 10th ish. 50 and we'll be praying to the orange dot again.  I hate that orange dot...

[usav]

not that I think we will, but we could quite conceivably be 9 pts down from the first 3 games of the new season

I actually think we will be.    We have a brutal opening set of games.

[warleyboy]

not that I think we will, but we could quite conceivably be 9 pts down from the first 3 games of the new season

I actually think we will be.    We have a brutal opening set of games.

Real tester to the start of the season, putting my claret and blue hat on though, we could get a possible 4 points outta those first 3 games, more realistically, I'd say 2 points from a possible 9 

[not3bad]

I don't think we'll lose all 3 opening games.  We will be more ready than Arsenal, and we'll score at the Emirates.