hippo Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 8 minutes ago, nick76 said: Really? #irony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 If we play to our full potential this season, I don't see why we can't get 7th. Our squad is really good now. Honestly the only thing separating us and the genuine top 6 teams is 1 genuinely world class player or 2, but even them some teams like Arsenal don't even have that. Who knows, maybe Bouba or Emi or even Leon could develop into one by the end of the season. Coutinho was one himself not too long ago. This is all to say there's a lot of potential in this team. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 Anything below Top ten should see manager relieved of his duties. The huge expansion of the wage bill and improvement of personnel in key areas means that Top 8 is really minimum expectation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chine Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 I’m still thinking 9th really happy —- 12th not fantastic but still a goer , I don’t think above 9th is realistic and below 12th we are much better than that , I keep going back to where we were a short time ago , the others teams currently around us being well in front , time to establish and keep building , we are a good side going in the right direction, UTFV !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 4 minutes ago, Dale said: Anything below Top ten should see manager relieved of his duties. The huge expansion of the wage bill and improvement of personnel in key areas means that Top 8 is really minimum expectation. I think it will take something pretty drastic for the club to abandon project Stevie G. Then of course there is bringing in someone to get better than 10th place. 10th or thereabouts is reasonable imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 1 minute ago, Chine said: I don’t think above 9th is realistic Whilst I don't think it's " unrealistic ", I think people genuinely underestimate how tough it will be up there with strong competitors, some of which were already strong, and will get even stronger. For me, optimistically 8th , and anything above is backflips. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattVillaPortsmouth Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 Always target 1st, try to win every game Aim for Top 8, Realistic top 10. Anything below 12th is failure. Lots of variables this season, Mid season WC, 5 Subs, Newcastle! Just to name a few. looking forward to it, think we have potential, football is all about momentum . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chine Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 4 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said: Whilst I don't think it's " unrealistic ", I think people genuinely underestimate how tough it will be up there with strong competitors, some of which were already strong, and will get even stronger. For me, optimistically 8th , and anything above is backflips. Agree , seriously tough up there and I’m not saying we should be continually happy with midtable but we are going in the right direction, hopefully wel push on keep the progression going and crack the top 6-7 , our lords seem like the kind of men who will keep investing to get and keep us there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCJonah Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 Squad wise we have the potential to be up there in 7th. 10th or above and I'd be happy. I still have some doubts Gerrard will achieve it. I'm still worried he doesn't know his best team when it comes to the final 3rd. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick76 Posted July 19, 2022 Author Share Posted July 19, 2022 (edited) 19 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said: Whilst I don't think it's " unrealistic ", I think people genuinely underestimate how tough it will be up there with strong competitors, some of which were already strong, and will get even stronger. For me, optimistically 8th , and anything above is backflips. Well Gerrard is telling the squad he expects top 7 Edited July 19, 2022 by nick76 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomsky_11 Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 2 hours ago, hippo said: I'm really not seeing why things should be radically different next season. Aside from the Critchley factor which is an unknown. So 9th under Gerrard then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 5 minutes ago, tomsky_11 said: So 9th under Gerrard then? I said 10th myself. But yeah 9th is in that ballpark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KMitch Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 2 hours ago, nick76 said: Well Gerrard is telling the squad he expects top 7 I think 7th would require a lot of luck with injuries, huge improvements from certain members of the squad, and significant tactical changes to Gerrard's setup from last season. 7th is hilariously optimistic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomsky_11 Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 15 minutes ago, KMitch said: I think 7th would require a lot of luck with injuries, huge improvements from certain members of the squad, and significant tactical changes to Gerrard's setup from last season. 7th is hilariously optimistic. 7th would likely require us to finished above the likes of West Ham, Leicester, Wolves, Brighton, Newcastle, Palace. None of those are so far ahead of us that 7th should be "hilariously optimistic". Especially given Gerrard (with his tactical setup and all) had us tracking 9th in his time last season. If 9th the baseline straight out of last season (which for me it is), and we already look to have fixed the biggest personnel issue holding back Gerrard's tactical setup last season, I don't see why 7th isn't achievable. Add to that we appear to have also improved with Carlos a back line that was 8th best in the league in terms of goals conceded under Gerrard. None of the other teams listed above appear to have improved as much yet this window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 4 minutes ago, tomsky_11 said: 7th would likely require us to finished above the likes of West Ham, Leicester, Wolves, Brighton, Newcastle, Palace. None of those are so far ahead of us that 7th should be "hilariously optimistic". Especially given Gerrard (with his tactical setup and all) had us tracking 9th in his time last season. If 9th the baseline straight out of last season (which for me it is), and we already look to have fixed the biggest personnel issue holding back Gerrard's tactical setup last season, I don't see why 7th isn't achievable. Add to that we appear to have also improved with Carlos a back line that was 8th best in the league in terms of goals conceded under Gerrard. None of the other teams listed above appear to have improved as much yet this window. It's been said elsewhere the squad is decent. The telling factor is how they perform as a team. Certainly as a collection of footballers there is a lot of talent there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted July 19, 2022 Moderator Share Posted July 19, 2022 I think 7th to 11th will be a lottery of sorts, at the end of the season you'll probably be able to throw a hankie over the teams competing for those spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 3 hours ago, DCJonah said: Squad wise we have the potential to be up there in 7th. 10th or above and I'd be happy. I still have some doubts Gerrard will achieve it. I'm still worried he doesn't know his best team when it comes to the final 3rd. I think we have the 7th best squad in league if played to their potential. Gerrard has privately stated that 7th is the aim. Kind of making a rod for his own back but I respect it. I'll be judging his season by how close he gets to his target. A really good manager can get us 7th I believe. Really hope Gerrard is that guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 3 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said: I think 7th to 11th will be a lottery of sorts, at the end of the season you'll probably be able to throw a hankie over the teams competing for those spots. I used to work with a bloke called John Hankie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 So we're all agreed on 7th then ? Or could we possibly squeeze 6th ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomsky_11 Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 14 minutes ago, hippo said: It's been said elsewhere the squad is decent. The telling factor is how they perform as a team. Certainly as a collection of footballers there is a lot of talent there. IMO they improved as a team last season. As did a number of key individuals. Felt to me more tactically clear and effective than late Smith had done and certain players got it and made great strides in the system. Where it was less effective seemed to me for the most part much more down to certain individuals clearly unsuited to the roles they were asked to perform rather than major failings of the setup itself. IMO we've already fixed the biggest of these problem areas and we are clearly still looking for more players with this system in mind before the window closes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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