Might be a bit premature seeing as we hope our squad will look different in four weeks' time, other teams will be thinking the same I am sure.Nonetheless the season is only a week away from starting so I have got to thinking where we might finish. Hoping it won't be a struggle again but most sensible approach would be looking at it from the bottom up, who will we be better than.The newbiesFulhamLeedsAlbionOne of these will go down, could well be two, maybe all three. It's imperative we use our extra season's experience and finish above all these lot.My tips to strugglePalaceSheff UPalace finished the season abysmally and could well carry that forward into the new season (like Watford last year). Hodgson is a wily manager but this might be the year they are in a prolonged struggle. Personally I think Sheff U will have second season syndrome and I think they'll go down with two of the promoted teams. Wilder is a genius with what he's done but I think the difference in playing budget will start to tell. So above these two as well.Relatively comfortable last season, might drop off this seasonBrightonNewcastleI think last summer I would have been confident of finishing above both these two. Newcastle in particular were a surprise. I think the fallout of another failed takeover might take its toll and hopefully Bruce will produce one of his dire runs to send them plummeting down the league. Brighton are a bit of a nothing team but were never in too much bother last year. I reckon they'll be around 15th/16th again this time. I was wrong last summer about us being better than these but I'll be right this time.More established teams we can catchBurnleySouthamptonWest HamPerhaps a bit generous to West Ham putting them in this bracket given their struggles last season but looking at their squad they really underperformed. Southampton had a great second half of the season and Ings is a quality striker. Burnley are just a really solid team, always do enough to be comfortable. Realistically this is the bracket we should be looking to finish in. One of these lot could easily drop off this season, like West Ham in season just gone, so not inconceivable we can finish above one of them. We'll have done well to finish above all three I think. "Levels"EvertonLeicesterWolvesWould dearly love the wheels to come off for Wolves but I still think they'll be better than us next season. Hopefully not for much longer. I think Leicester might have a hangover from blowing CL last season but again a bit too soon to catch them. James looks a good signing for Everton. Could be a flop but I'd be very pleasantly surprised if we finished above them next season.Snowball's chance in hellMan CityLiverpoolChelseaMan UArsenalSpursEnough said.So 10th to 13th is plausible. Maybe a bit optimistic in light of lack of transfer activity but I'm hopeful we've got some irons in the fire. The kind of season we'd have been pissed off about a decade or so ago would do just nicely now.Jack to win player of the year.
Last season we were playing every game with 3 players not of PL standard in Midfield and attack. Crucially we never had a PL level centre forward.So unless that is rectified this window we will go into the next season vulnerable to a relegation campaign.A slight improvement at RB is not going to do the trick.
Quote from: ChicagoLion on September 05, 2020, 03:46:00 PMLast season we were playing every game with 3 players not of PL standard in Midfield and attack. Crucially we never had a PL level centre forward.So unless that is rectified this window we will go into the next season vulnerable to a relegation campaign.A slight improvement at RB is not going to do the trick.I feel if we keep Jack and Douglas, we will do fine. If not, we are fucked
Quote from: Edvard Remberg on September 05, 2020, 03:48:16 PMQuote from: ChicagoLion on September 05, 2020, 03:46:00 PMLast season we were playing every game with 3 players not of PL standard in Midfield and attack. Crucially we never had a PL level centre forward.So unless that is rectified this window we will go into the next season vulnerable to a relegation campaign.A slight improvement at RB is not going to do the trick.I feel if we keep Jack and Douglas, we will do fine. If not, we are fuckedsame as last season then, he’ll of a gamble.
Quote from: Risso on September 05, 2020, 11:13:09 AMI wouldn't even want to hazard a guess before the transfer window closes, but as things are today, then I don't think we'd be finishing above many teams at all.The current squad is bottom 6, add a proper centre forward and it’s mid tableish.
I wouldn't even want to hazard a guess before the transfer window closes, but as things are today, then I don't think we'd be finishing above many teams at all.