Realistic Expectations

[Mystic]

What our your realistic expectations/hopes for the coming season? We've heard John Henry say outside of the champions league would be a huge disappointment, is this realistic?

Honestly for me, I have a hunch we'll finish third and things will be a lot closer than people are expecting. I think Us, Arse, City, United and Chelsea will all be up there with Chelsea and United pulling only slightly ahead.

 

[Woland]

I realistically expect that although there are perhaps 20 topics covering this same point, there will be a shitload more made in the next week.

 

[keniget]

We've spent a billion pounds so we should be challenging for the CL spots.

I'd be very disappointed if we finished 5th / 6th again.

 

[Mystic]

[quote author=Krump link=topic=46312.msg1373682#msg1373682 date=1312287128]
I realistically expect that although there are perhaps 20 topics covering this same point, there will be a shitload more made in the next week.
[/quote]

Yet on the three most recent pages of topics going back over a week. There is not a topic on this, just one about what our owner expects.

 

[Mystic]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=46312.msg1373684#msg1373684 date=1312287185]
We've spent a billion pounds so we should be challenging for the CL spots.

I'd be very disappointed if we finished 5th / 6th again.
[/quote]

A billion pounds?

But yes, quite, especially considering the lack of movement from others around us, only United and City have made changes, although I expect this to change.

 

[mark1975]

I think the key to our season is Suarez. Gerrard being available will just be a bonus, everything seems to kind of rest on him being able to do his thing around everything else.

It's a worry the way things have gone preseason, from a defensive point of view but we're still scoring goals. If we can get the defence upto speed and make a few additions in the next week or so, then things will surely get better. It hasn't been ideal having so many injuries and the Copa America to deal with.

 

[Richey]

Top 4 finish as a minimum requirement is realistic. That is what we have set for our last few managers, we have spent a fair bit of money this summer and (even after an appalling start) we weren't THAT far off last season.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I expect us to start slowly, given how many new players we have, and have a much better second half to the season. We'll just about get a Chamions League spot.

 

[Akakabooto]

I think Suarez will establish himself as one of the very top players in the world and we'll lift the title.

 

[dmishra]

I'm concerned that we haven't bought enough quality. With Gerrard injured and fading, we have only one legitimate match winner in the squad in Suarez. Arsenal, United, City or Chelsea on the other hand have at least 2-3, and that IMO, could be very telling over the course of a season .

I think we'll be better than Spurs this season, but I'm not entirely confident about us getting a top 4 spot with the squad we have today.

However, if we end up adding a CB, a LB and another quality attacking player, 2nd or 3rd could be a possibility. Though it really depends on who we buy. The next 30-40 million we spend thus are going to absolutely crucial. I don't think I can overstate this.

 

[singlerider]

I think 4th should be a realistic minimum expectation, given our form at the end of last season and the money we've spent.

Anything less is pretty poor

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=singlerider link=topic=46312.msg1373740#msg1373740 date=1312293915]
I think 4th should be a realistic minimum expectation, given our form at the end of last season and the money we've spent.

Anything less is pretty poor
[/quote]

Spot on.

 

[Dylan]

I think we'll finish 3rd behind the two Mancs. I also expect to reach one of the cup finals.

 

[23carragold]

I realistically expect us to finish 1st.

 

[the count]

I think we will win a tropy this year, possibly the Carling Cup :🙂 and finish in the top four.
I suspect that there will be less than six points between first and forth with fifth only a few points back.

 

[Frogfish]

I realistically now know I am suffering from Alzheimer's ....... or maybe it's Groundhog Day ?

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=46312.msg1373690#msg1373690 date=1312287867]
I think the key to our season is Suarez. Gerrard being available will just be a bonus, everything seems to kind of rest on him being able to do his thing around everything else.

It's a worry the way things have gone preseason, from a defensive point of view but we're still scoring goals. If we can get the defence upto speed and make a few additions in the next week or so, then things will surely get better. It hasn't been ideal having so many injuries and the Copa America to deal with.
[/quote]


The person who imho Is key to our season is carroll because what will make or break our season is our form on the road and Carroll is vital for this. Obviously Suarez will be key to our ability to break down teams at home but given our away form of the past two seasons our away form has got to change for us to mount a top 4 challenge.

 

[TheBunnyman]

I'm feeling kind of pessimistic at the moment. Our summer signings have been mediocre/risky, and I just can't see us getting into the top three, which will IMO consist of United, City and Chelsea. I think we'll be battling it out with Arsenal and Spurs for fourth.

Of those three clubs, Arsenal have the best system of play; Spurs have the best squad; and we have the best ... team spirit? Possibly.

I'd definitely be happy with fourth place and a cup, given the players we've signed (as opposed to the money we've spent) since John Henry took us over.

 

[Modo]

I can't see us finishing above 5th with the current squad.
Get Enrique, Dann/Cahill, Mata (or keep Aquilani) and I'll change my mind.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=23carragold link=topic=46312.msg1373808#msg1373808 date=1312304284]
I realistically expect us to finish 1st.
[/quote]Good girl.


------------------------------------------------------Suarez-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------9 other players-------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------Reina--------------------------------------------------------

League win.

 

[The Nomad]

4th... That is all.

 

[kingjulian]

I'm thinking we are going to win the god damned league finally!

Our signings will have had a lot of time to gel in and give us a bright start - covering for the absence of Stevie G. Stevie G to come and steady our ship from the usual November/December slump we have. We will be within a shout of the leaders at Chrimbo and the owners, sensing the occasion, will decide to get us one other marquee player who will help us get that title!

It's all set in stone! It's inevitable!

 

[Y1]

2011/12 is looking like this at the moment:

1) Man U or Chelsea or Man City
2) Chelsea or Man U or Man City
3) Man City or Chelsea or Man U
4) Liverpool or Arsenal or Spurs
5) Arsenal or Liverpool or Spurs
6) Spurs or Arsenal or Liverpool

 

[Modo]

[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=46312.msg1373962#msg1373962 date=1312347857]
I'm thinking we are going to win the god damned league finally!

Our signings will have had a lot of time to gel in and give us a bright start - covering for the absence of Stevie G. Stevie G to come and steady our ship from the usual November/December slump we have. We will be within a shout of the leaders at Chrimbo and the owners, sensing the occasion, will decide to get us one other marquee player who will help us get that title!

It's all set in stone! It's inevitable!
[/quote]
What in this pre-season has convinced you of that?
Our 3-3 draw against Valerenga reserves?

 

[Hansern]

Realisticly we should be challenging for 4th. If Gerrard gets back to his best and Suarez is on fire then maybe 3rd.

Thought this was a bit interesting regarding pre seasons:

Pre-season friendlies:
This year: P5 W2 D1 L2 F13 A15
2010: P3 W0 D1 L2 F0 A2
2009: P7 W2 D2 L3 F9 A7
2008: P8 W5 D3 L0 F13 A3
2007: P8 W6 D2 L0 F17 A6

Glory-years sampling:
1989: P6 W3 D2 L1 F6 A3
1988: P5 W3 D1 L1 F16 A8
1987: P7 W5 D1 L1 F18 A5
1986: P6 W3 D3 L1 F8 A 4
1985: P7 W3 D2 L2 F18 A12

Friendly embarrassments
2009: 0-3 v Espanyol
2006: 0-5 v Mainz
2002: 0-1 v Chester
1988: 1-5 v Atletico Madrid