Could we?

[algy]

I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility, but in my head currently there's a big gap between us and Arsenal/Liverpool/Man City which needs to be closed. We could finish 4th next season and still have progressed massively if there's a nice comfy gap between us and 5th, and we're running 3rd place very close.

That said, it's Unai Emery we're talking about and I can't see him settling for that.

[ChicagoLion]

I think we might challenge for longer than we did this season and get into the knock out stages of the CL.
It then depends on injuries and how far we go in the domestic cups.
I don’t expect us to win the PL though.

[Des Little]

I saw the title of this thread and was expecting an invitation to dance. Must say I’m disappointed

[Meanwood Villa]

FFP/PSR is the problem. I have no idea what's going to happen this summer but it seems unlikely we will be strengthening significantly. So either we will be replacing players as well as adding them, relying on free/cheap gambles like Barkley or going again and hoping for better luck with injuries.

There's some pessimism for you!

[WassallVillain]

FFP/PSR is the problem. I have no idea what's going to happen this summer but it seems unlikely we will be strengthening significantly. So either we will be replacing players as well as adding them, relying on free/cheap gambles like Barkley or going again and hoping for better luck with injuries.

There's some pessimism for you!

Blow the Budget. Take the PSR points hit. Still win the league. By goals scored on the last day of the season.  There’s some optimism for you.

[PaulWinch again]

Highly improbable, but not impossible. To be honest I think if we hold on to top 4 it’ll be a massive achievement.

[Monty]

The way I look at it, there's this top 8 at the minute of whom only Man City are virtual guarantees for the Champions League spots. Literally everyone else, including Arsenal, you don't know. Finishing top 4 again would be pretty massive.

[Richard E]

It’ll definitely definitely definitely be our year for the FA Cup.

[Steve67]

I do think that Liverpool will drop a bit, but Chelsea, depending on who they get in, could be a lot better.  Pep looks bored and probably wants his next adventure to be a spoilt little brat somewhere else.  Really depends on who we bring in, and replacing Kamara, as the stats were sharply focussed on the need for another Bouba, is key.  Personally, I think a trophy, rather than the league title is more doable.  Consistency is the key and I'm sure that's what Unai and Monchi are working on.  Getting into the CL once could be considered by others a bit of a fluke (I disagree of course) but doing it twice is proof that we are back as a force to be reckoned with and will make us one of the Sky sycophant six.

[Clampy]

I actually suggested this to a mate on Saturday afternoon. Man City although deserved winners are starting to age a bit. Liverpool will have a new manager to work under and they probably need to buy to freshen things up a bit. Can't see Chelsea, Man Utd or Spurs doing it so I reckon we have a chance although I think it will be Arsenal's turn next year. We'll need to be a bit luckier on the injury front though.

[Chris Harte]

If we have more luck with injuries we can certainly improve on our finish. Not saying we'd win the PL, though.

FA Cup would be nice though.

[Hopadop]

I reckon the normal order next season is up for grabs.
No at all like the talk by our neighbours BV.

I know you do, but I'd say most football fans would say the 'normal order' is more likely to be resumed next season. You can get us at 50/1 if you're feeling confident (we're 8th favourites for next year's title).

I'd take 4th and getting to the CL quarter-finals if it were offered now. A couple of years of CL money, a deeper and improved squad, more Unai magic and Pep buggering off at the end of next season, and I might ask 'could we?".

I might have a flutter, stranger things do happen.

For the record, I'm not a betting man although on hearing we'd signed Stan C I marched into the bookies and slapped a crisp £10 (that's right, ten big ones) note down at 20/1.

Whatever happens, it's good to feel a bit excited again.

[Risso]

It’s a massive gap to bridge. We effectively need to halve the amount of goals we concede and probably score 20 more, mostly in away games.

I’m hoping that the return of Mings and later Kamara will help massively on the defensive front. It’s an obvious thing to say but we need a lot more luck with injuries. And we also need 2-3 top level additions this sunmer.

Not impossible, by any means, and if our second half of the season had matched the first we’d have been a lot closer. Obviously injuries did for that.

[tomd2103]

I do agree though with the original post that the landscape  at the top of the league might change somewhat over the next few seasons.  Liverpool might go through a transitional period with Klopp gone.  If the Premier League do act against Man City then that might weaken them and judging by his comments, Guardiola might not be there much longer. 

Arsenal look relatively stable at the moment, but they just don't seem as formidable as Manchester City.  Could be some interesting times ahead.

[TopDeck113]

If C115y drop a place or two, Arsenal remain the most likely winners.  Liverpool's managerial transition will be interesting. Will they take time to adjust or rectify the drop-off that came on the back of Bingo's announcement?  I reckon they'll still be top three or four.  Man Utd will not be as bad again - and as their cup run demonstrates, when they get it right they can still beat anyone.  Chelsea and Spurs? Who knows. Anywhere from third to tenth.