2014-15 Predictions

[Ads]

We quite easily played our best football last season against the top sides, which would suggest we're a better outfit than some of the awful defeats to Palace, Fulham, Stoke etc indicated.

[Gregorys Boy]

We quite easily played our best football last season against the top sides, which would suggest we're a better outfit than some of the awful defeats to Palace, Fulham, Stoke etc indicated.

But as Liverpool have proven it is often easy to raise your game against the top sides, and then go missing against the smaller ones.  That is a big part of why we were in so much trouble last season.

I tend to think Palace will be fine again, not sure they'll repeat their finish from last time, but Pulis is so good at working at that level, and if he adds two or three decent signings then I don't see them as having too much of a problem.

[Matt Collins]

It's the inability to get the ball down and play against teams that should be considered our rivals that's the massive concern for me

[SoccerHQ]

I don't think I've ever been as pessimistic at this stage of a season

I have to say I'm struggling to think of three teams that look definitely weaker than us

Burnley, Leicester and then maybe palace?

With West Brom in free transfer mode and an awful managerial appointment they'll be down there with us for sure.

I think if Hull progress in europe they'll struggle.

As much as I can't stand them, I think QPR will be comfortable.

[Ads]

Palace will get off to a reasonable start and then struggle.

[Nastylee]

Villa prediction - See any of the last few seasons. That said, there's easily 6-8 clubs in the same boat or worse.

[RussellC]

We quite easily played our best football last season against the top sides, which would suggest we're a better outfit than some of the awful defeats to Palace, Fulham, Stoke etc indicated.

Ads- I'm sorry but this is another one-eyed statement. Why would our good performances against the top sides be any more of an indicator than our poor ones against the lower teams? It's shows that we're capable of sporadic decent performances league football is all about sustained and consistent performances against all other teams, not just a couple.  You finish where you deserve to in the league and we finished 15th. we're a no-better-outfit than that, I'm afraid.

[mr underhill]

my worry is that we might be getting very nostalgic for 15th come Christmas

[Ads]

We quite easily played our best football last season against the top sides, which would suggest we're a better outfit than some of the awful defeats to Palace, Fulham, Stoke etc indicated.

Ads- I'm sorry but this is another one-eyed statement. Why would our good performances against the top sides be any more of an indicator than our poor ones against the lower teams? It's shows that we're capable of sporadic decent performances league football is all about sustained and consistent performances against all other teams, not just a couple.  You finish where you deserve to in the league and we finished 15th. we're a no-better-outfit than that, I'm afraid.

It's not one eyed in the slightest. We have shown that the team are capable of passing the ball, moving off the ball and being direct against the better midfields and defences of this league. Our inability to get close to replicating that against the poorest sides is fairly inexplicable, but clearly the causal factor in us being in a poor position last year.

There are probably a lot of reasons; an inability to rotate the likes of Andi who were rank out of form for a long time, an inability to keep our best players fit, to have the midfield balanced in such a way as to use the space the better sides will vacate by attacking us that is closed off by less adventurous teams etc

Last season was not a complete disaster. It was pure mid-table fare until the Chelsea result, where we collapsed spectacularly into a relegation battle. I have not suggested that we were better than 15th, merely that we should have done a lot better.

[Malandro]

We are signing journeymen. OK they may have premier league experience but they are dross.

Hopefully good enough to keep us up, but I've seen better squads relegated.

We need randy gone soon.

[hilts_coolerking]

I have not suggested that we were better than 15th, merely that we should have done a lot better.

It's that bit which worries me.  I said last season that most of our players are mentally weak: when the pressure's off them - when they're expected to lose - they play well and get results against all expectation.  But when the pressure is on them to beat sides, particularly poor opposition, they seem to go to pieces.

Just a theory but it might explain our dismal home form.

[Matt Collins]

We quite easily played our best football last season against the top sides, which would suggest we're a better outfit than some of the awful defeats to Palace, Fulham, Stoke etc indicated.

Ads- I'm sorry but this is another one-eyed statement. Why would our good performances against the top sides be any more of an indicator than our poor ones against the lower teams? It's shows that we're capable of sporadic decent performances league football is all about sustained and consistent performances against all other teams, not just a couple.  You finish where you deserve to in the league and we finished 15th. we're a no-better-outfit than that, I'm afraid.

It's not one eyed in the slightest. We have shown that the team are capable of passing the ball, moving off the ball and being direct against the better midfields and defences of this league. Our inability to get close to replicating that against the poorest sides is fairly inexplicable, but clearly the causal factor in us being in a poor position last year.

There are probably a lot of reasons; an inability to rotate the likes of Andi who were rank out of form for a long time, an inability to keep our best players fit, to have the midfield balanced in such a way as to use the space the better sides will vacate by attacking us that is closed off by less adventurous teams etc

Last season was not a complete disaster. It was pure mid-table fare until the Chelsea result, where we collapsed spectacularly into a relegation battle. I have not suggested that we were better than 15th, merely that we should have done a lot better.

Surely the main concern is that we've shown - repeatedly and consistently - that we can't get the ball down and break down a side who put men behind the ball. The better sides are prepared to give you space. Other sides aren't. Last season We just couldn't pass the ball under pressure not break down two banks of four

And our defence isn't we were actually similar under O'Neill - but our  defence and set piece ability meant we sneaked many more of those games

My main hope is that we had looked a bit better than this at the back end of the previous season

[Gregorys Boy]

We quite easily played our best football last season against the top sides, which would suggest we're a better outfit than some of the awful defeats to Palace, Fulham, Stoke etc indicated.

Ads- I'm sorry but this is another one-eyed statement. Why would our good performances against the top sides be any more of an indicator than our poor ones against the lower teams? It's shows that we're capable of sporadic decent performances league football is all about sustained and consistent performances against all other teams, not just a couple.  You finish where you deserve to in the league and we finished 15th. we're a no-better-outfit than that, I'm afraid.

Spot on this.

QPR could go either way, if they have Arry for the whole season then I think they have a decent chance of staying up, but if they have a poor start I can see the owner getting a bit twitchy and making a rash change which could cost them.

[gpbarr]

League - 14th
Cups - who cares

I'm optimistic we will improve this year with the return of Okore, Benteke back to full health, Zog, the return into the fold of the Bomb Squad, sensible if unspectacular signings like Richardson, and a healthier coaching regime.

If anything worries me more, it's not the on the field stuff, it's what goes on in the boardroom - pray to god we are not bought by a reckless owner because that could be the killer blow.

[Tuco Salamanca]

Very, very concerned.

League - 17th (trying to be optimistic)

Cups - out immediately

Boadroom - nothing