Our realistic target for the new season.

[Alan Rock]

I think mid-table or just above would be acceptable for a lot of fans.

Indeed it would.

[citizenDJ]

I've plumped for 'mid-table/top half' in the vote, but really I think anywhere up to eleventh or twelfth would be pretty realistic, although I may feel more optimistic after seeing the new players in action (or even some further additions). As it stands, I honestly don't know a thing about any of them, and aside from Okore I hadn't even heard of any of them before they signed!

I know that doesn't mean they won't be any good, of course, and I'm hoping they all have a Benteke-style impact on the team.

My worry, though, is that we haven't, in my opinion, made a signing that looks likely in the first instance to make an impact on our poorest area - it's easy to forget over the summer just how dreadful our defensive perfomances were over the whole season. I know we got a bit better over the last part of the season, but we still couldn't manage a clean sheet and the weakness at corners is dire.

It seems that we're just hoping, at this stage, that simply having been through all that will somehow make the team better - I'm not convinced that will happen by itself. In fact, I think it's really quite unlikely. To make the level of improvement that I believe we need will, in my opinion, require either significantly better coaching (and I know we have brought in some new coaches, so perhaps that will help) or significantly better players.

That's not to say that Baker or Clark won't have learned anything, by the way, or that they are incapable of getting better. Just that improvement, to that degree, seldom happens by chance. Either of them alongside an experienced, good player I think will get better and better. Whether Vlaar is that player I am really not so sure, but I certainly hope he comes good; he seems to talk a good game, and he has had his moments.

Finally, my other slight concern (although pretty unfounded) is that Lambert uses three centre-backs in his formation. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he started with Okore - Vlaar - Clark as the centre-backs, with Lowton and Luna as wing-backs. It might work brilliantly, but it's not a formation I like too much!

[GarethRDR]

Would be happy with 12th-10th and delighted with anything above.  Hoping (but not expecting) a decent cup run.

[Tuco Salamanca]

Any improvement on last year with no worry of relegation, a bit of a cup run and some decent attacking football would do me.

[Brend'Watkins]

8th or better.  All because of the beast's goals.

[Concrete John]

One word - 'progression'.

Mid table is all well and good, but I don't think PL came here to achieve that.  What we're doing is a long term plan to get in and develop good young players.  Some won't make it, but if we find enough good ones we'll build a top side while still remaining within budget.  Too many years fighting relegation might derail that, so we just need to see it's working and that we're getting better.  Do that year on year and we'll soon be back where we all want to be and that'll be a lot higher than mid table.

As for cup runs, just to hard to predict as the draw has so much to do with it.   

[not3bad]

If we do make into the Europa League, I want us to give it a real big go and try and win the thing, not a repeat of the Moscow debacle.

The way we're building and using the squad now that should be feasible.

[Percy McCarthy]

I've bet a fiver with a nose that we'll finish top eight. That was before the Benteke saga. I was a bit worried for a few days while that was on.

[AVH87]

I don't want, or expect to be in a relegation battle this season.

So anything from about 13-14th upwards, providing we are comfortably clear of the relegation battlers points wise would do me.

I'm hopeful on Okore and Tonev improving us, bit more sceptical on the other signings.

[shaunreynolds]

Mid to Top Half of the table needs to be our realistic target of our final league position, but the Squad not Team need to be more consistent with results. Defence has to be a priority i still find it annoying the length of time its been since a clean sheet (31 to date!!). The Bradford games still bring me out in cold sweats!!!

[PaulWinch again]

Going to need some work on the defence.

[richardhubbard]

Half way is defence sorts self out

[Navin R Johnson]

Mr Lambert does not do things by halves.   We are either going to take the Premiership by storm or scramble around the bottom again.   My gut feeling is that it will be the former.

[W5AVFC]

I say around 7th, on the basis we must tighten up at the back and can surely never be as bad defending again in my lifetime, and apart from the top 6 sides there is not a ground in the country where I would not fancy us to nick a win with our ability to counter attack quickly and ruthlessly.

I expect Sylla will really help us improve defensively.

[Irish villain]

I say around 7th, on the basis we must tighten up at the back and can surely never be as bad defending again in my lifetime, and apart from the top 6 sides there is not a ground in the country where I would not fancy us to nick a win with our ability to counter attack quickly and ruthlessly.

I expect Sylla will really help us improve defensively.

Nice optimistic post.