Season expectations 2017-18

[OzVilla]

With the money we've spent and the time Bruce has had, 2 transfer windows, signing of John Terry etc = promotion. Nothing less will do now.

Now is the time, no excuses, if we fail this year our best players will leave and we'll be marooned here for years.

[AVH87]

I reckon we'll sneak in the play-offs after Bruce has gone, but probably not go up.

People are making out like Bruce is a specialist at going up, I'm only really looking at recent years as the league has moved on a lot and managers like Wagner, Stam etc. are mixing it up and doing well. In recent years he came 6th with Hull 2 seasons ago, that's all well and good but I think that's the height of what he could achieve as it's becoming a more difficult league and leaving him behind, if he manages us for the whole season I'd expect somewhere between 6th-10th.

[Des Little]

Bruce knows he's got one last shot at this, hence going all in on Terry.  If we aren't top 5 at the very least by November he'll be gone.  I'm still confident, mind you.

[Rico]

I think we might scrape into the play offs, but Steve Bruce won't be the manager by then. John Terry will be caretaker boss by then. We'll get promoted via the play off final and JT will be player manager and captain. He'll probably score the winning goal too.

[garyshawsknee]

You're right about the league moving on AVH87, in addition to the two managers you've mentioned, the Fulham guy has really turned them around, they play the best football in the league, he also got Watford promoted. I'd be beating down Fulhams door if SB fails to get us where we wanna be.

[wittonwarrior]

You're right about the league moving on AVH87, in addition to the two managers you've mentioned, the Fulham guy has really turned them around, they play the best football in the league, he also got Watford promoted. I'd be beating down Fulhams door if SB fails to get us where we wanna be.

Knock knock can we speak with your manager right now- with Bruce do well to finish top 8 - without Bruce possibly go up

[Ian.]

This season I mainly expect some very good tips on new music, bands and old music which has passed me by. I'm sure I will here about some great TV which I would have otherwise missed, ie; Detectorists. I'll probably get some great life advice at some point over the next few months.

As for the football, my expectations are not very hopeful.

[ktvillan]

Bruce's approach has obviously worked at this level before but the times they are a changing and I think he's looking increasingly dinosaur-esque.   The squad should be good enough to get at least play-offs but based on Bruce's "tactics" and decisions so far I have my doubts that he will get the best out of them and whether we'll even achieve that level.   In short, not very optimistic as yet.

[paul_e]

Based on what we've seen so far under Bruce I suspect we'll float around 6-10th until about February/March and then he'll get kicked with someone coming in to try to ensure a playoff spot at least.  I think we'll make it and will get through in the playoffs.

[Damo70]

Despite the fact he took them up after sixteen years out of the top flight and managed to beat 'the vile' a few times, Small Heath fans I knew who went to home games (a small selection obviously) were never impressed with the style of football they were watching.

[darren woolley]

I would like to think we will give it a proper go this season we have a season under our belts at this level with the players we have we should at the very least get a play off place but I hope we will be challenging for automatic promotion with the luck we have had over the past few seasons we are due a bit of good fortune.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I get the idea Bruce understands the need for a strong defence and that we need to be scoring more goals. It's the bit in between he doesn't get.

[Chris Jameson]

This season I mainly expect some very good tips on new music, bands and old music which has passed me by. I'm sure I will here about some great TV which I would have otherwise missed, ie; Detectorists. I'll probably get some great life advice at some point over the next few months.

As for the football, my expectations are not very hopeful.

I tend to come on here for anything but the football.

[Bad English]

With Bruce mid-table.

[andrew08]

 I think our fitness must be better this time round so that should give Bruce more chance to secure more dour 1-0 wins. A lot depends on how fit Kodja is and if we keep him should he prove his fitness before the end of the window as I'm convinced Bruce doesn't like him.

It's a truely rubbish league which we should just be able even under Bruce make the play offs. If we can secure ten boring 1-0 wins out of the first 13 or 14 games and get momentum going we may even get automatic. Don't expect any entertainment in the slightest.