View Full Version : This Season's League Expectations
kerfuffle
08-08-06, 01:05 PM
What is everyone's expectations for this coming season ?.
Although Chelsea are Firm favourites to retain the title I whole heartedly disagree with Maureen when he dismisses our chances for challenging them for the title. I firmly believe that we are there greatest threat.
Man Utd and Arsenal have not really strenghtened there squads from last year where by we have improved our squad, bellamy, gonzalez and pennant definately improve us in attack whilst the aquisitions of paletta and agger should provide adequate defensive cover.
I believe we will go damn close but will need a bit of luck to overhaul chelsea.
Am I being optimistic ??
brendan
08-08-06, 01:07 PM
United have signed Carrick and Senna is on the way.
Arsenal have got Rosicky and perhaps Ribery.
And there's plenty of time for them to sign a few more.
Nowt wrong with being optimistic.
Provided we get that other striker in the bag, likely to be Kuyt, I think we'll have another good season. Whether we'll win it or not remains to be seen. If Chelsea's new-ish team/set-up fails to function, I think we'd be the first to capitalise.
If they click, we're playing for 2nd again.
Red_Polo
08-08-06, 01:08 PM
We'll win the league
Don't think too optimistic.
It's too early to say. We need Bellamy (who looks totally up for it), Pennant, and Speedy to settle in quickly. Ah, pace - the memories.
We also need another striker in before the season IMO. Crouch will not be consistent enough in front of goal to win us the title.
My money would be on second.
kerfuffle
08-08-06, 01:12 PM
United have signed Carrick and Senna is on the way.
Arsenal have got Rosicky and perhaps Ribery.
And there's plenty of time for them to sign a few more.
If's and maybe's were Senna and Ribery are concerned.
All they have signed is Carrick and Rosicky.
Agreed there is time to sign more players but you never really answered the question to what is your league expectations for this year.
paulcooper4
08-08-06, 01:14 PM
I reckon we will win the league with the improvements we have made to the squad, and also the confidence the players will have got from last season. Chelsea showed last season that they are not quite as good as they would have you believe. Ive even got a bet on at william hills for us to win the league, league cup, fa cup and european cup this season at 400-1. not holding my breath on that one though!
singlerider
08-08-06, 01:14 PM
The way I see it, 2nd/3rd/4th is gonna be a pretty tight affair, and it's basically gonna come down to an issue of injuries and individual form.
We have better strength in depth in a few areas over the mancs and the gooners, but if the Kuyt thing doesn't happen and Bellamy doesn't find his feet then (presuming that Robbie won't have the fitness to be leading the line consistently) we could suffer badly.
I don't think Stevie will score as many as last season, and whether our new wingers pop up with a few remains to be seen, but I'm not counting on it. Add to that the few positions where an injury could be absolutely disastrous to us (CB or LB/RB or even GK) and who knows.
However, I certainly think we've got the quality to get 2nd. If we did a repeat of this season (i.e 3rd and a major trophy) I'd be fairly satisfied - as long as it looked like we were making financial progress.
Much as it pains me to say it, I think Chelsea will run away with the league *again* (but hopefully get knocked out of CL *again*, sack Jose, lose major players and implode really badly when Roman gets banged up) :prayinglikeamotherfuckersmilie:
My heart says first place, while my head says second.
Like Shaggy mentioned, the only real way that we can win it, is if Chelsea don't click - they have bought some more wonderful players after all.
El Diego
08-08-06, 01:16 PM
I would be disappointed if we didn't finish at least 2nd and maybe win a little trophy like the carling cup.
My heart says first place, while my head says second.
Like Shaggy mentioned, the only real way that we can win it, is if Chelsea don't click - they have bought some more wonderful players after all.
Thats so true.......I really do think we can win it....butIF chelseaclick, its curtains for us all!!
Iwill tell you afterour first six games :)
Jaco_Pastorious
08-08-06, 04:23 PM
I think people discount Arsenal and Utd a bit too easily, especially Utd. I read 1st and 2nd place the whole time, and whilst my heart would love 1st, second place will be a hard fought battle.
Last season we were mocking the Mancs for their lack of a midfield and their poor defence. Look at how far behind us they finished. Oh sorry they didn't.
I think Carrick is a good buy for them and another purchase or two will put them right up their in the hunt for the top slot.
Arsenal will be stronger this year to last as well.
I see it as a four horse race this time,well at least it will look that way for a few months, with the least consistent team being out of the running by Xmas.
Le Chacal
08-08-06, 04:27 PM
Finishing 2nd would be a great achievement.
Finishing 2nd would be a great achievement.
Agreed.
Along with a strong run in the Champions League.
Agreed.
Along with a strong run in the Champions League.
And a Cup win. All well and good coming 2nd and having good runs in Europe, but we need to be winning things every season. I agree with your aspirations for the coming campaign, but a Cup win (ideally the FA Cup of course) is always a nice cherry.
brikkis
08-08-06, 04:41 PM
Finishing 2nd would be a great achievement.
Is this the club we have become? Finishing second is not a great achievement.
Le Chacal
08-08-06, 04:43 PM
Is this the club we have become? Finishing second is not a great achievement.
Nothing to do with the club. Its Abramovich.
Is this the club we have become? Finishing second is not a great achievement.
I agree but one step at a time eh? 5th, 3rd, 2nd...
If we win it, great. If we come 2nd, it's another improvement. The following season we'll have absolutely no excuses.
Le Chacal
08-08-06, 04:45 PM
I agree but one step at a time eh? 5th, 3rd, 2nd...
If we win it, great. If we come 2nd, it's another improvement. The following season we'll have absolutely no excuses.
As long as that bilionaire tw@t is down there, we'll have every excuses.
brikkis
08-08-06, 04:47 PM
I agree but one step at a time eh? 5th, 3rd, 2nd...
If we win it, great. If we come 2nd, it's another improvement. The following season we'll have absolutely no excuses.
Fair enough, but finishing second is not a great achievement. Shankley would turn in his grave at that remark.
Fair enough, but finishing second is not a great achievement. Shankley would turn in his grave at that remark.
Yes I think the phrasing was 'unfortunate'.
No 'e' in Shankly. :D
brikkis
08-08-06, 04:49 PM
Yes I think the phrasing was 'unfortunate'.
No 'e' in Shankly. :D
:haha:
I'm annoyed
Le Chacal
08-08-06, 04:49 PM
Fair enough, but finishing second is not a great achievement. Shankley would turn in his grave at that remark.
Look at my signature. In that context, with Abramovich, finishing 2nd would be a great achievement.
We'd still be "nothing" though.
brikkis
08-08-06, 04:51 PM
I take your point mate
This year we'll be mostly getting........................................... .......
...........................................no.19.
I think our target has to be top 2, at the very least I think we need to be genuinely challenging for the title in the last month of the season. I also want us to score more goals.
Le Chacal
08-08-06, 05:08 PM
We'll have a clear information about what can be our inspirations at the end of september already.
Don Quixote
08-08-06, 05:15 PM
What is everyone's expectations for this coming season ?.
Although Chelsea are Firm favourites to retain the title I whole heartedly disagree with Maureen when he dismisses our chances for challenging them for the title. I firmly believe that we are there greatest threat.
Man Utd and Arsenal have not really strenghtened there squads from last year where by we have improved our squad, bellamy, gonzalez and pennant definately improve us in attack whilst the aquisitions of paletta and agger should provide adequate defensive cover.
I believe we will go damn close but will need a bit of luck to overhaul chelsea.
Am I being optimistic ??
We clearly need a better "big man" than Crouch.
Also, we have to wait and see how the foreigners settle in. I'm not slating them, but let's not just say they are a success before they prove it.
I'm not worried about Arsenal, their defence is poo and injured and they have made no improvements. They'll be rubbish away from home - and maybe even at home as their new home is new. Anyone know if the pitch is the same size as Highbury?
Chelsea and Man Utd will be strong. If we can compete with them properly then I'll be happy.
I've got odds of 12/1 for us to win the title. :)
Fair enough, but finishing second is not a great achievement. Shankley would turn in his grave at that remark.
Shanks was never up against a team with the financial resources that chelsea have.
Le Chacal
08-08-06, 06:45 PM
That was my point.
We'll do well to get 2nd. It's quite simple, first place will go to the richest club, 2nd to the 2nd richest etc......
Did you see what I did there?
Le Chacal
08-08-06, 06:53 PM
Manure 2nd then...
Stevie M
08-08-06, 07:38 PM
It's got to be second in the League, or at the very least a serious title challenge (ie not a title challenge that disolves at easter.... or October for that matter). Let's dispell this "big three" myth... and put ourselves firmly in the position of "main challengers" to Chelsea... at the very least.
CL... QF's are a must.... we need to establish ourselvers as a team that regularly gets through the group stage... get to the QF stage and it's game on... anything can happen... as we well know.
Domestic Cups... well... as a completist... win the Carling Cup... well... bacsically... lets just try to not disgrace ourselves in the domestic cups... give them a go.... realistically they only become a nice distraction is we're out of the running for the League or out of Europe... or when it gets to the latter stages... I'm trying not to display too much ambivalence about the domestic cups... but if sacrificing the, means League or CL success.. so be it....
leftpeg
08-08-06, 08:28 PM
I think we can win it, but we need to get off to a much better start than we did last season to build some early momentum. I don't want us to be playing catch-up from day one, because it puts so much more pressure on the team.
univofchicago
09-08-06, 02:22 AM
See my signature below:
Peter Delvechio
09-08-06, 06:34 AM
I think it'll be a top 4 finish but I don't think we can come 1st unless we buy a very good striker.
It's entirely irrational and I have no justification fo it but I think Chelsea will decline a little this season. Unfortunately, I tip Man Utd to do as well as last year.
I think it'll be a top 4 finish but I don't think we can come 1st unless we buy a very good striker.
It's entirely irrational and I have no justification fo it but I think Chelsea will decline a little this season. Unfortunately, I tip Man Utd to do as well as last year.
Their main priority will be the Champions League this season, which regardless of their bloated squad, WILL be to the detriment of their performances in the league.
kerfuffle
09-08-06, 08:52 AM
Their main priority will be the Champions League this season, which regardless of their bloated squad, WILL be to the detriment of their performances in the league.
In your opinion ryan, will there quest for champions league glory provide enough detriment to allow us to capitalise on and win the league this year ??
In your opinion ryan, will there quest for champions league glory provide enough detriment to allow us to capitalise on and win the league this year ??
It'll help us close the gap mate, but we won't win it.
Don't forget that we've got a Champions League campaign (hopefully) to contest too. Last year our strong run in the league coincided with not being in the latter stages of European competition.
kerfuffle
09-08-06, 09:09 AM
It'll help us close the gap mate, but we won't win it.
Don't forget that we've got a Champions League campaign (hopefully) to contest too. Last year our strong run in the league coincided with not being in the latter stages of European competition.
I think everyone's heart says we will win it where as the brain says not this year, I want to win it whilst Chelsea are still spending mega bucks on superstars as it will feel all the more sweeter.
Here's hoping.
I think everyone's heart says we will win it where as the brain says not this year, I want to win it whilst Chelsea are still spending mega bucks on superstars as it will feel all the more sweeter.
Here's hoping.
Watching us win the league at Anfield with Stevie lifting the trophy in front of the Kop would be one of the greatest things I'll ever see.
It is though, as you say, the heart ruling the head.
We won't win it this year. But we'll give it a fair go, and that's all we can ask given the extremely un-level playing field we're operating on against Chelsea.
I think, if it goes to plan, this will be the season we break away with the Chavs. It'll be similar to how Utd and Arsenal monopolised the legue for years and how we were with Everton in the 80's.
I dont want to jinx us by sayung the title is ours, but I think we will put in the greatest challenge to the Chavs and run them all the way to the wire.
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