Shit apparently - read that last night.
Quote from: Ads on February 04, 2021, 01:24:59 PMWe can and probably will finish 9th or 8th.I think that's most realistic and would be a very good season given where we were at start of July 2020 when even staying up seemed remote prospect.Nothing wrong with thinking we can still do a little better though. It's like at the start of each MON season most predicting we'd finish between 5th-7th and then opportunity opens up to finish top 4 and we can't quite take it and then being disappointed.I'm sure we'll sign some more good players in the summer but my hunch is next season the top 6 won't be as close as it is now as generally the top sides get their s*** together after lacklustre season and bounce back strongly so this is odd and unique season and opportunity to do something we haven't for a long while.
We can and probably will finish 9th or 8th.
We've got a 1st XI that can give anyone a game and on its day can be top 6 but otherwise comfortable top 10..We've got a Match day 18 that is approaching mid table standard (8-11).We've got a mid-lower table (11-14) 25 man squad.We're light upfront and have a slightly "soft" midfield, I'm less concerned about the defence and keepers.Considering when we got promoted we had a bottom 6 XI, matchday 18 and squad, the progress is astonishing.To improve we need to make better use of Grealish, in my view he's easily restricted if we keep him as an attacking left midfielder, sign a world class striker £40-£50m worth and upgrade El Ghazi, Trez and Traore over the next 3 summer windows, and make some tough decisions on our midfield structure, in my view McGinn would be a squad player if we want to progress. I'm on the fence on Barkley, not sure he's quite got the work ethic Smith requires. This isn't a kneejerk reaction to last night just some thoughts from the first half of the season.
Quote from: AV82EC on February 04, 2021, 03:28:33 PMWe've got a 1st XI that can give anyone a game and on its day can be top 6 but otherwise comfortable top 10..We've got a Match day 18 that is approaching mid table standard (8-11).We've got a mid-lower table (11-14) 25 man squad.We're light upfront and have a slightly "soft" midfield, I'm less concerned about the defence and keepers.Considering when we got promoted we had a bottom 6 XI, matchday 18 and squad, the progress is astonishing.To improve we need to make better use of Grealish, in my view he's easily restricted if we keep him as an attacking left midfielder, sign a world class striker £40-£50m worth and upgrade El Ghazi, Trez and Traore over the next 3 summer windows, and make some tough decisions on our midfield structure, in my view McGinn would be a squad player if we want to progress. I'm on the fence on Barkley, not sure he's quite got the work ethic Smith requires. This isn't a kneejerk reaction to last night just some thoughts from the first half of the season.3 summer windows ? Well we have needed to replace Jack by then, can not see him hanging around that long.
I think we’re an exciting team who I enjoy watching (last night excepted!). We just need to learn to adapt a bit better, that’s both tactically and also in the use of our personnel. I think at this time we’re probably between 7th-10th in the division.