Hopes & expectations for 2024/25 Season

[Astnor]

Based solely on what I’ve seen in pre-season, I pretty much echo the thoughts of a few others. We have a stronger squad but weaker first team, so unless we bring in a couple more players that are as good as or better than Luiz and Diaby then we’re going to struggle picking up as many good results as we did last season. Needless to say, I’m not at all confident in what I’ve seen so far…but there’s plenty of time to address the obvious issues.

That’s pretty much where I’m at. There’s still time before the transfer window closes but I think a repeat of last season might be a big ask.

This is also my take. The x factor is Unai though, can he work magic again with what we have of players and resources?

[Risso]

Of course he can. I think his job would be made a lot easier with another top class forward type, though. With Diaby gone (even though I wasn't 100% sold on him) and god knows what's happening with Duran, our forward department isn't looking the strongest.

[VillaTim]

My point was we need to win a trophy at some point soon. I'd take a League Cup to start .

[aj2k77]

I have to say that I'm surprised that having shat ourself most of last season in case Watkins got injured we've not only  replicated the situation but probably are in a worse one seeing as Duran's on a tantrum. Archer upfront in the Premier League would not end well.

[Dave]

I think we'll end up having a similar season to the one Newcastle did last season. I reckon we will:

* start pretty slowly but have a stronger second half to the season

* get frustrated with the likes of Maatsen, Barkley and Onana who then improve as the season goes on.

* have a couple of massive Champions League wins, get out of the initial league then have one of those heroic losses against someone good in the knock-outs.

* get knocked out of the League Cup pretty early

* get knocked out in the FA Cup quarter final

* finish 6th or 7th.

[Ads]

Top 4 finish.

Play off spot in the Champions League.

[Stu82]

4th or 5th
Fa cup,  it just could be our year Unai  is the cup king.
Champs league  get out of group stage

[tomd2103]

Think 4th to 8th will be a tight pack this season, so could see us finishing anywhere in that range really.  It would be good to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League and progress a lot further in the domestic cups than in recent years.

[ChicagoLion]

I just hope we get off to a good start against Wham and Arse.

[Risso]

I think we'll end up having a similar season to the one Newcastle did last season. I reckon we will:

* start pretty slowly but have a stronger second half to the season

* get frustrated with the likes of Maatsen, Barkley and Onana who then improve as the season goes on.

* have a couple of massive Champions League wins, get out of the initial league then have one of those heroic losses against someone good in the knock-outs.

* get knocked out of the League Cup pretty early

* get knocked out in the FA Cup quarter final

* finish 6th or 7th.

I have to say Maatsen is looking like a strange use of transfer funds at the moment. Not that he's a bad player, or won't grow into a brilliant left back. It's just a huge amount of money to spend in a department where we're not short of players, when there appear to be far more urgent areas to strengthen. And at present he doesn't appear to be better than what we've got, although time is of course, on his side.

[Brazilian Villain]

I just hope we get off to a good start against Wham and Arse.

5 points from the first 3 games would be a decent return.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think maatsen was an unplanned opportunity they couldn’t pass. Helped with PSR issues and lowered the age of the LB position. It’ll make sense once Digne or Moreno leave, until then it looks like a luxury signing.

More worrying to me, I read that at Dortmund he played that inverted LB/CM role rather than the quasi winger role Emery likes. Is that correct?

[SoccerHQ]

If “Top 10” means 10th that would be pretty disastrous.

Yep.  It would mean finishing below all of the other decent sides and a couple of ordinary ones.  I am astonished anybody would call that decent after the progress we’ve made. 

Anything lower than 6th and us being in the race for 4th until the last few games would be a big step backwards I reckon.  Preseason hasn’t been good results wise, but let’s see who else arrives and how we get on in the next few games.

Everyone on here would take 10th if it resulted in an FA cup win. Would also mean we qualify for Europa league.

Let's remember last season we lost two of our first four games very badly. What we did well however was get results v all the bottom half bar Forest away where it just didn't happen.

In the first six games we're playing Leicester, Everton, Wolves and Ipswich so to me it's the same formula as last year, don't mess up v those teams and we'll be comfortable top half and "there or thereabouts" as Steve Bruce infamously used to say.

[SoccerHQ]

I just hope we get off to a good start against Wham and Arse.

I'd sign up for draws v both, I think with how disjointed we're looking in midfield and at the back both could soundly beat us.

We struggled massively at West Ham last season with all their crosses so not looking forward to that game as they've kept their big names and new signings are solid.

However 10 points from Wolves, Ipswich, Leicester and Everton and we'd be on minimum of 10 point from first 6 games so pretty much in line with the points ratio we were achieving for most of last season.

[Dave]

I reckon a draw against West Ham and a defeat against Arsenal.

They'll feel that they owe us a beating for us stopping them from winning the league.