Quote from: lovejoy on July 19, 2022, 10:57:48 AMGerrard was disappointed with the finish last season? So was I FFS.Realistically who out of Leicester, Wolves and West Ham will we finish above?Wolves and Leicester.
Gerrard was disappointed with the finish last season? So was I FFS.Realistically who out of Leicester, Wolves and West Ham will we finish above?
Quote from: Drummond on July 19, 2022, 11:49:31 AMQuote from: dave.woodhall on July 19, 2022, 11:28:30 AMSeventh is the new fourth.It would be a sign of progress, though we should be getting 8th at least I think.I'm finding it harder to equate great owners and such an apparently highly-regarded manager with seventh or eighth being a success, particularly given our transfer strategy.
Quote from: dave.woodhall on July 19, 2022, 11:28:30 AMSeventh is the new fourth.It would be a sign of progress, though we should be getting 8th at least I think.
Seventh is the new fourth.
Quote from: dave.woodhall on July 19, 2022, 12:59:28 PMQuote from: Drummond on July 19, 2022, 11:49:31 AMQuote from: dave.woodhall on July 19, 2022, 11:28:30 AMSeventh is the new fourth.It would be a sign of progress, though we should be getting 8th at least I think.I'm finding it harder to equate great owners and such an apparently highly-regarded manager with seventh or eighth being a success, particularly given our transfer strategy.I think it might be considered a success/progress this coming season, and rightly so if it means bringing European football back to Villa Park. But I do think that over the medium term, that'll morph very much in to 'Champions League'. We've maintained a high level of investment for a few seasons on the trot, and look like we'll continue to for at least a few more years (with the development of Villa Park). I think if we're not on a par with Arsenal/Spurs/Man Utd/.. at the end of that, some serious questions will be asked.
In a couple of years fifth probably gets us in the Champions League so that's not beyond the realms of possibility, though the likes of Newcastle and West Ham will be thinking the same.
Well we don't exist in a vacuum. We were in the Championship 3 years ago, so bridging the gap to top 4 is going to take longer than 4 seasons. Man City and Liverpool are light years ahead of everybody and so then you've got to try to finish ahead of Spurs and Chelsea. Chelsea have finished in the top 4 for 17 out of the last 20 years, and Spurs with their formidable forward line, 5 times in 7 years. We're improved a lot but still have too many regulars who aren't top 6 quality (Watkins, Mings, McGinn etc).
Quote from: Risso on July 19, 2022, 02:24:55 PMWell we don't exist in a vacuum. We were in the Championship 3 years ago, so bridging the gap to top 4 is going to take longer than 4 seasons. Man City and Liverpool are light years ahead of everybody and so then you've got to try to finish ahead of Spurs and Chelsea. Chelsea have finished in the top 4 for 17 out of the last 20 years, and Spurs with their formidable forward line, 5 times in 7 years. We're improved a lot but still have too many regulars who aren't top 6 quality (Watkins, Mings, McGinn etc).Spot on Risso, particularly the vacuum point.
Quote from: AV82EC on July 19, 2022, 03:10:52 PMQuote from: Risso on July 19, 2022, 02:24:55 PMWell we don't exist in a vacuum. We were in the Championship 3 years ago, so bridging the gap to top 4 is going to take longer than 4 seasons. Man City and Liverpool are light years ahead of everybody and so then you've got to try to finish ahead of Spurs and Chelsea. Chelsea have finished in the top 4 for 17 out of the last 20 years, and Spurs with their formidable forward line, 5 times in 7 years. We're improved a lot but still have too many regulars who aren't top 6 quality (Watkins, Mings, McGinn etc).Spot on Risso, particularly the vacuum point. I wouldnot disagree but Leicester made bullshit of that a few years ago
Quote from: Risso on July 19, 2022, 01:20:04 PMQuote from: dave.woodhall on July 19, 2022, 12:59:28 PMQuote from: Drummond on July 19, 2022, 11:49:31 AMQuote from: dave.woodhall on July 19, 2022, 11:28:30 AMSeventh is the new fourth.It would be a sign of progress, though we should be getting 8th at least I think.I'm finding it harder to equate great owners and such an apparently highly-regarded manager with seventh or eighth being a success, particularly given our transfer strategy. Well I'd argue that Liverpool and Man City are pretty well uncatchable at the moment, and then you'll have Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal probably going for the 3rd to 5th places. However well we've bought, Spurs have Kane and Song who have guaranteed them roughly 30-40 goals a season between them for the last 5 years. If the new players click into place and we get off to a good start, I can't see why we shouldn't be up and around 6th place with the likes of Man U, Leicester and West Ham though. To go further, we need better strikers.I agree with Dave, I really can’t see our owners accepting anything less than top 4. I also can’t see Gerrard lasting long if he doesn’t deliver it. There’s been so much investment in players, coaches, other staff and infrastructure that they clearly feel we should not be fearing the top 4. Problem is at the moment I haven’t detected a team that feels the same way
Quote from: dave.woodhall on July 19, 2022, 12:59:28 PMQuote from: Drummond on July 19, 2022, 11:49:31 AMQuote from: dave.woodhall on July 19, 2022, 11:28:30 AMSeventh is the new fourth.It would be a sign of progress, though we should be getting 8th at least I think.I'm finding it harder to equate great owners and such an apparently highly-regarded manager with seventh or eighth being a success, particularly given our transfer strategy. Well I'd argue that Liverpool and Man City are pretty well uncatchable at the moment, and then you'll have Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal probably going for the 3rd to 5th places. However well we've bought, Spurs have Kane and Song who have guaranteed them roughly 30-40 goals a season between them for the last 5 years. If the new players click into place and we get off to a good start, I can't see why we shouldn't be up and around 6th place with the likes of Man U, Leicester and West Ham though. To go further, we need better strikers.