Season expectations 2017-18

[tomd2103]

Really don't see Whelan coming here to be a squad player, he started plenty of games at Stoke last season so I fully expect him to be a regular home and away and ahead of Jedinak in the pecking order.

Agree.  I think Whelan will start whichever formation we play.

[tomd2103]

He hasn't played yet in pre season so I doubt he'd make the Hull game. He missed a chunk over January last season and our results instantly dipped.

I see nothing wrong with Whelan-Hourihane and giving Lansbury proper licence to get forward into the box. That should be the midfield template at home.

We could do with another wide option tbh especially one who chips in with goals as our current options aren't convincing.

If we bring in a target man type of forward, I could see Kodjia starting as a wide attacking player on the left.

[brian green]

Respect, but for me too much hangs on the first dozen games.  Get those right and my expectations will change.  However, I think the bedding in of new players and establishing new and better ways of playing makes the season start uncertain.  To win the league the way we want to we have to have the best team playing in the best way.  There is no room for making it up as we go along.

[PeterWithesShin]

Well there's only 3 new players, plus every side has new players to bed in. I've said I think we'll struggle to be promoted but we really do need to go up this season. Parachute money is peanuts next year, I think we're in deep shit if we are stuck in this division for another year.

[andyh]

I guess it doesn't matter how much parachute payments are if you are not allowed to spend the money

[Matt Collins]

Yep

Bruce's job is to shoulder that pressure without passing it onto the players. There'll be enough pressure anyway

[brian green]

Two months from now we will be pretty clear what the future holds.  As regards parachute money we have not spent money since our relegation particularly wisely so absence of funds should not make future seasons any worse than those past.  In my opinion.

[tomd2103]

Well there's only 3 new players, plus every side has new players to bed in. I've said I think we'll struggle to be promoted but we really do need to go up this season. Parachute money is peanuts next year, I think we're in deep shit if we are stuck in this division for another year.

The thing that concerns me PWS is that we haven't gone into this pre season with any momentum.  I suppose to end a season on a bit of a high with a clear idea of your best formation and then use the summer to strengthen in a few key areas.  We still don't seem to know what our best formation is Terry and Johnstone apart, there are questions where the other new signings are going to fit in.

[Toronto Villa]

We're going up. There's too much proven leadership in this side now not to get this right. The Championship is massively average and I still believe over the course of 46 games we will be the best side. I'm not suggesting we'll walk it. I'm not suggesting we'll play Big Ron football either. But we will have overall too much quality and squad depth to outlast every other team.

[Mister E]

If Whelan and Hourihane provide a good solid partnership in front of an improved defence, we have options further up the field to do well. My concern is whether Bruce has the nous to deploy the resources effectively and get the best out of the players.

[Damo70]

I think we might 1-0 and 1-1 our way to the play offs. I'm not expecting it to be pretty.

[brian green]

Not pretty but much more entertaining than last year.

[old man villa fan]

I guess it doesn't matter how much parachute payments are if you are not allowed to spend the money

Parachute payments are supposed to cover the higher wages that clubs were committed to in the PL until they can balance the books in the Championship.

[eamonn]

I guess it doesn't matter how much parachute payments are if you are not allowed to spend the money

Parachute payments are supposed to cover the higher wages that clubs were committed to in the PL until they can balance the books in the Championship.

But don't most of our players have clauses in their contracts reducing their pay upon relegation? The upside for them being a lower transfer value on their head making them more attractive to other teams when relegation occurs. Think that's what happened with GanaGueye last year.

[old man villa fan]

I guess it doesn't matter how much parachute payments are if you are not allowed to spend the money

Parachute payments are supposed to cover the higher wages that clubs were committed to in the PL until they can balance the books in the Championship.

But don't most of our players have clauses in their contracts reducing their pay upon relegation? The upside for them being a lower transfer value on their head making them more attractive to other teams when relegation occurs. Think that's what happened with GanaGueye last year.

Yes, they have but this is nowhere near enough to match Championship income.  In the past when gate money provided most of the income it was not a problem but now PL wages are driven by TV income, being relegated is like falling off a financial cliff. Just look at our income last year if you take away the parachute payments.