.... for the first time in a while, we approach a new calendar year in a position where we aren’t pushing for the upper echelons of a league nor are we anxiously looking below us at a trapdoor marked relegation.
I personally reflect with a mixture of contentment and a little confusion on my own expectations of us moving forward in the imminent future and how those expectations may have been affected by the past four or five seasons. I guess this is down to how much I view the league win as a complete one-off or conversely, an unexpected but nevertheless real advancement in our progression/expectations. In addition, whether I see the money spent as squandered, standard practice for most Premier League clubs with aspirations, the steering away from previous transfer policy or actually, irrelevant to me as a football fan.
I think I probably therefore, am on an uneven footing and a contradiction to myself about my own expectations and evaluation of the season so far. We are currently in a position (at least from a logistically perspective) which is similar to the ONeil years and I personally, believe a position we will float around until the end of the season. There is still somewhat of a transition going on in terms of our tactics and ethos on the pitch (possession, patient build up, rotation) but one which is definitely now more in line with evolution rather than revolution. And yet, as the dust settles, I still find myself a little blinkered and spluttering, not quite able to fully even reflect on what I would have viewed as a reasonable, good or excellent season for us this year.
It may well be that I find this easier to manage as further time passes under our new (and hopefully stable) management and when the sun sets on this season perhaps it will be a more poignant time to consider progress but I wondered if others had the same ponderings or if there is more assertation out there - what were your aspirations this time last year/at the start of the season and are they on course to be met in terms of league position ?(or is this simplifying it too much considering the changes that have occurred in such a short space of time relatively speaking)
Predictions and Expectations....
posted on 28/12/17
Kp,sadly it was me mentioned the W word.Still rankles to this day.
Would love a good FA cup run,and we might get something at Anfield.Good ref permitting,but not sure there is such a thing.
See call me Bobby, made error on Boxing day,why is it always the same ones?
posted on 28/12/17
comment by thorneyfox (U5061)
posted 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
Yes will always give credit when due,abuse or criticism shows a lack of intellect or understanding!!
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I know what you mean I try and rise above all that
posted on 28/12/17
Just heard- Simpson out for 5 weeks. Is Dragovic up to filling his slot?
posted on 28/12/17
A good post here, thought provoking with intentions on my part to nip in at the first gasp of a reply some hours ago. Alas, it wasn’t to be.
It very much remains for me to be on the periphery of activity on this board, bolstered only by the regular consumption and digestion of television highlights and occasional locking on to live game viewing when it comes. So when it comes to input from the “outsider” here, it is very much based on what I have collected from afar. I shall, therefore, project this illustration from that which is probably no different to a neutral watching highlights of City in action on a Saturday night or, perhaps, picking up a Sky televised fixture the following day.
It doesn’t take a match report to illustrate the energy and willingness the players have poured in since the arrival of the new manager. Some, or certainly one in particular (Mahrez) who had fallen by the wayside through slovenliness and apathy under the old regime have a received a new injection of vitality. As mentioned above, there are those in the twilight of their careers, one of two stars in the making who remain young and have a lot to learn (Gray & Chilwell) but will be worth a fortune when, regrettably, the time comes for them to move on. The ‘warriors’ (KS, Vardy, Okazaki, Morgan, Simpson-a shame he can’t play in a 3-5-2-& Albrighton) seemingly continue to play out of their skins for the bulk of the time. Others I have this nagging doubts about, but, given time they should slot in perfectly well across the midfield. I have already ripped up one or two in the past and will continue to do so and when the time comes I shall don my armour and be prepared to incur your wrath if so be the case! On the other hand, I still remain indebted by your valuable contributions which put me in the picture somewhat.
I am pleasantly content with the current league standing, it is better than I expected at this stage despite some harrowing setbacks in recent weeks and needs to be maintained.
The FA Cup? We are well overdue considerable success here. Fortunately, memorable triumphs have exceeded miserable setbacks (Leyton Orient & Exeter City immediately spring to mind. I shouldn’t need to go through the personal heartache and torment of recalling that appalling day 16 years ago).
posted on 29/12/17
Expectations,
Finish Europe Lge
Expand the ground to 45k
Excellent summer window
Push for champions Lge
Predictions,
Finish 8th
No ground expansion
Spine of team leave or just get old
Rebuild job fails
Puel rotate's that much he disappears up his own *****
Replaced by big Nige to sort it all out again
posted on 29/12/17
I'm reasonably content with where we are, if I recall correctly I thought we'd end up about 9th.
I am not happy with the lack of ambition shown in the cup, we could now be looking at a genuine chance to get to a Wembley final.
I expect this attitude to the cup competitions to continue due to our owners target for Claude - this will no doubt be to challenge for a European placing in the league; as such, league points become everything and cups are secondary.
I can't blame him for this given his recent experience at Southampton and the common knowledge that are owners are quick to wield the axe once they deem it appropriate.
I hope he does get time to evolve the team, he's had a good start. I would not be at all surprised however to see him getting the boot after another year or so. As alluded to by others, to a large degree it depends on the support he gets in the next couple of transfer windows, which is the worrying aspect.
posted on 29/12/17
I think I was
8+ finish and a cup run
Transfer past history has cost us 2 managers
Hopefully this is rectified over the next 2
But have the feeling that we will be position filling in January rather than selecting targets,,
Lge cup was a major disappointment
Given our points before the game we were safe to throw 2 games
Id have gone full team v city
Definitely a missed opportunity
Big clubs will only put out weak teams in r3
And after we will need a full team or 9/11 every game
posted on 29/12/17
comment by dublin fox (was london fox)(now Cambridge fox)(can not spell fox) (U1131)
posted 1 minute ago
I think I was
8+ finish and a cup run
Transfer past history has cost us 2 managers
Hopefully this is rectified over the next 2
But have the feeling that we will be position filling in January rather than selecting targets,,
Lge cup was a major disappointment
Given our points before the game we were safe to throw 2 games
Id have gone full team v city
Definitely a missed opportunity
Big clubs will only put out weak teams in r3
And after we will need a full team or 9/11 every game
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Forgot to say FA Cup for the last bit
posted on 29/12/17
Never throw ANY League games. Never.
You play to win & compete in every single one.
If our manager ever veered toward that i'd want him out the club. Sorry Dublin but it's how i feel. If the players get that mentality, we're shot as a club.
It looked very close to that last season when we were progressing in the Champions League. It nearly back-fired big time.
posted on 29/12/17
I can see us finishing top 10,maybe wfere weare now 8th
or hopefulyy push for Europa. Whatever it will be a roller coaster ride all the way, consistency is not our bye word. w 4-1 at saints, lose 0-3 at home to Palace. The annoying thing is that an Easier payh to Europawas in our hands, but we play an understregth ream at home in the qf of the league cup.
I,d love us to have a go at the FA Cup, but I fear we will put out an understrength team in a potential banana skin at Fleetwood For me put everything into the Cup.
As far as the Transfer Window goes we do have a head start as we do have a player already in (Silva). Just wonder how long it will take him to get up to speed with the pace of the PL, hehasnt played for 6 months. Hope CP is strong enoughto tell the club who he wants, not leave it to a non entity in a suit.
Above all hopr the club sticks with CP and not panic again with the axe if we slip into the lower echelons of the league. Above anything else this club needs a period of stability in management. Take note of Burnley. They stuck by Dyche even after getting relegated. Now he's top of the list when any supposed ' bigger' club comes looking for a manager.
Some great responses to KTFs post.
UTF