dont_do_it_doug. Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 One thing we have going for us is that we don't concede goals. As an art form, that is becoming popular again and I am truly here for it. Going forward, we have another gear available to us. Whether we can find it is another question. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abdulaziz1 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 15 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said: One thing we have going for us is that we don't concede goals. As an art form, that is becoming popular again and I am truly here for it. Going forward, we have another gear available to us. Whether we can find it is another question. To be fair our most creative players aren’t around yet. Traore, Bailey, Chuck and Ings. Those are either aren’t available or didn’t find their way to the team. Add to that, that we’re hopeful to see more from Buendia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancvillan Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 28 minutes ago, Mark Albrighton said: Yes I think 8th is the best “realistic” finish for us this season. It would represent a very good season overall and a terrific first 70% of a season for Gerrard. One thing I’m interested to see play out. Since the new owners and Purslow have come in there’s been this aim to improve year on year. That was underlined by Purslow at the unveiling of Gerrard. Obviously that ambition is something we can all get behind. What I’m curious about is if we did finish 8th this season, what would the expectation of the board be for next season? Because obviously the wiggle room of what can be classed as an “improvement” narrows the higher we go up. Would they expect top 6/7? Or would there be an allowance of time for Gerrard and the team to (re)establish ourselves firmly in and around 8th in the short term? I feel like it’s the latter. A lot of that could go in the NWSE thread to be fair, but I got carried away with the hypothetical thought. I agree with this - unless one of Arsenal, Spurs or West Ham start sliding down (and we maintain current form) then 8th is our ceiling this season. I think Spurs have about 14 games in hand, West Ham look solid, and Arsenal - well yeah they could **** up anything. Moving into that 7th / 6th / 5th spot the following season would be another leap forward - it'll likely take us more than one attempt. Even in the best of scenarios cracking the top four from there could again take a few seasons. Slow and steady progress should be hailed for the achievement that it is given that we were drawing with Stoke City in the Championship this time three years ago. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abdulaziz1 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 1 minute ago, Vancvillan said: I agree with this - unless one of Arsenal, Spurs or West Ham start sliding down (and we maintain current form) then 8th is our ceiling this season. I think Spurs have about 14 games in hand, West Ham look solid, and Arsenal - well yeah they could **** up anything. Moving into that 7th / 6th / 5th spot the following season would be another leap forward - it'll likely take us more than one attempt. Even in the best of scenarios cracking the top four from there could again take a few seasons. Slow and steady progress should be hailed for the achievement that it is given that we were drawing with Stoke City in the Championship this time three years ago. I think nothing is for certain. The aim should be Europe but a steady progress is the most important thing. We can have a few stepbacks such as what happened with Grealish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhan_Zhuang Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 It's possible for us to be challenging seventh if we continue our form; Gerrard has us playing well and hard to beat. Mings has alluded how a winning mentality is our focus. If one of Wet Spam, Arse, Spuds falter here's hoping we can capitalise.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 We're going for 4th Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoony Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Tbh we look good enough for Europe in how we are playing and strength and depth with the incredibly talented youngsters and the likes of Ings. Maybe we will get into the European Bullshit League made so Tottenham could play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson1 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 (edited) Being and staying in the top ten should be the minimum aim but now I think we should push the top seven teams all the way. It’s going to be an exciting second half to the season for sure. Edited December 15, 2021 by ferguson1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Silvers Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 7 hours ago, Mark Albrighton said: Yes I think 8th is the best “realistic” finish for us this season. It would represent a very good season overall and a terrific first 70% of a season for Gerrard. One thing I’m interested to see play out. Since the new owners and Purslow have come in there’s been this aim to improve year on year. That was underlined by Purslow at the unveiling of Gerrard. Obviously that ambition is something we can all get behind. What I’m curious about is if we did finish 8th this season, what would the expectation of the board be for next season? Because obviously the wiggle room of what can be classed as an “improvement” narrows the higher we go up. Would they expect top 6/7? Or would there be an allowance of time for Gerrard and the team to (re)establish ourselves firmly in and around 8th in the short term? I feel like it’s the latter. A lot of that could go in the NWSE thread to be fair, but I got carried away with the hypothetical thought. It's a fair question. Top 3 is a stretch for sure but I could see us being in a mini league butting heads and swapping positions with the 4th to 8th crowd, cementing our place there over the next 2/3 seasons has to be the next target. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancvillan Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 2 hours ago, Spoony said: Tbh we look good enough for Europe in how we are playing and strength and depth with the incredibly talented youngsters and the likes of Ings. Maybe we will get into the European Bullshit League made so Tottenham could play Our bench tonight had four senior players (Axel, Hause, Ings, Trez) and five youth players, and it wasn't by choice. I don't think we have the depth for a European campaign while also trying to get higher than 8th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nepal_villan Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 48 minutes ago, Vancvillan said: Our bench tonight had four senior players (Axel, Hause, Ings, Trez) and five youth players, and it wasn't by choice. I don't think we have the depth for a European campaign while also trying to get higher than 8th. Unless you bring high priced U23 players, there is only so much depth you can have both in the PL and European competitions both in terms of regulations and squad harmony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fun Factory Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 (edited) We need to survive the Christmas fixtures without too many injuries/suspensions/covid. If we are still in the top half after January then I think we could have an outside chance, but I think we will end up just short this season. We need then a good summer window and not to sell our best players and we could be a real handful next season. Edited December 15, 2021 by The Fun Factory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomav84 Posted December 15, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted December 15, 2021 4 hours ago, The Fun Factory said: We need to survive the Christmas fixtures without too many injuries/suspensions/covid. If we are still in the top half after January then I think we could have an outside chance, but I think we will end up just short this season. We need then a good summer window and not to sell our best players and we could be a real handful next season. christmas will be massive this year, more so than usual with covid starting to affect things again. if we can take 7 points from these next 4 games that will be a really decent return i think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 If in tonight's games Brighton V Wolves game finishes as a draw, and Palace fail to beat Southampton, and and then if tomorrow Leicester get beat by Spurs by three goals or more, then we will move up to eighth in the table. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBlack Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 22 minutes ago, useless said: If in tonight's games Brighton V Wolves game finishes as a draw, and Palace fail to beat Southampton, and and then if tomorrow Leicester get beat by Spurs by three goals or more, then we will move up to eighth in the table. All realistically possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Leicester apparently have a number of defenders out, the least unlikely is probably Southampton avoiding defeat to Palace, especially away from home. Have a feeling that Brighton might beat Wolves, if only for the fact that Brighton haven't won any of their last twelve games going back to September, ten of those in the league, so are surely due a win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 43 minutes ago, useless said: If in tonight's games Brighton V Wolves game finishes as a draw, and Palace fail to beat Southampton, and and then if tomorrow Leicester get beat by Spurs by three goals or more, then we will move up to eighth in the table. Nice Trixe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejs1111 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 1 hour ago, useless said: If in tonight's games Brighton V Wolves game finishes as a draw, and Palace fail to beat Southampton, and and then if tomorrow Leicester get beat by Spurs by three goals or more, then we will move up to eighth in the table. That will be tough given that Spurs have about 6 available players currently. According to Conte, Spurs have 287843 players and staff with COVID. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Leicester too apparently have a bunch out with covid, so maybe that's another one in danger of being called off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejs1111 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 2 minutes ago, useless said: Leicester too apparently have a bunch out with covid, so maybe that's another one in danger of being called off. maybe it can be 7v7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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