Season expectations 2017-18

[brian green]

I was once prosed from Barnsley.  The said they really wanted a poet.

[old man villa fan]

I stand by what I said near the end of last season.  If we do not think Bruce can get us in to the automatic promotion positions, we should have got rid of him at the end of last season.  If he fails, we are stuck with him until the failure is beyond doubt.  By which time it will be too late for this season.  I am praying that it does not play out this way.  How has it come to this.

[SoccerHQ]

Playoffs then defeat in a drab performance in the final with one attempt at goal in 120 minutes and losing to blues.

Scrub out SHA and that's the sort of reason I want to avoid the play offs at all costs.

Given some of our dreadful Wembley performances I could easily see us freezing in a play off final particularly with 100m at stake for the winners.

Really need to go out for automatic promotion even if people think that's optimistic at this point. If you want to finish top 6 you need 75 points usually and automatic promotion is only another 10 or so points on top.

[Dante Lavelli]

I predict Bruce is sacked in December.  A new young modern (cheap) manager will come in and we will be in transition again for another year or so.  Finishing safe, around 13th, much like last season in fact.

[Lastfootstamper]

Bruce gone by Labor Day, we're in with a shout of uppedness.
Bruce still here for Bonfire Night, nay feckin hope.

[Bottom Right 89]

I predict Bruce is sacked in December.  A new young modern (cheap) manager will come in and we will be in transition again for another year or so.  Finishing safe, around 13th, much like last season in fact.

That's the spirit nothing like a bit of Pre-season optimism.

[ChicagoLion]

I predict Bruce is sacked in December.  A new young modern (cheap) manager will come in and we will be in transition again for another year or so.  Finishing safe, around 13th, much like last season in fact.

That's the spirit nothing like a bit of Pre-season optimism.

what would you base this optimism on?

[sirlordbaltimore]

I've got my money on somewhere between 8th and 4th

[Hookeysmith]

I predict Bruce is sacked in December.  A new young modern (cheap) manager will come in and we will be in transition again for another year or so.  Finishing safe, around 13th, much like last season in fact.

That's the spirit nothing like a bit of Pre-season optimism.

Be honest it is hard to find any optimism when we look as clueless tactically as we did for most of last season - bringing in a very good, but aging Terry and some no mark from a previous club whilst not addressing :

a) The stench of shite players needing to be got rid of
b) Adopting any set formation or ideas in pre season
c) To actively involve the stench players from a) in pre season - supports the claim that he does not see what is wrong so he has very little chance of putting it right

Cannot see any reason for optimism if I am honest

[Matt Collins]

On b) give the guy a chance!

[ChicagoLion]

On b) give the guy a chance!

I think A,C and D puts paid to that.

[tomd2103]

On b) give the guy a chance!

I think the Watford game will give us a better indication.  In all but name, that should be our 'first' game in the season in that with the season only a week away we should really be fielding close to the XI who are to start the following week.  If we look like a disorganised rabble in that game, then the outlook won't be too good. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We have no other choice, Matt. My fear as I stated many times is that if you are going to replace a manager you do it in the summer, not in November/December when there's few quality alternatives. I disagree with Dante's 'A new young modern (cheap) manager' as I still expect David Moyes to roll up here before the end of the year.

[dave shelley]

Jumping straight in on page eight without reading the thread:.  With Bruce in charge I feel it will be a hard fought campaign to attain mid-table mediocrity.  *


* I shall return at seasons end with a napkin around my neck to eat my dose of humble pie after storming the league with a month to spare.

[mr underhill]

We won't be relegated - that's for sure.