|
|
Post by blackpoolred on Aug 11, 2016 21:39:43 GMT
Here are my thoughts and predictions for what they are worth and yes things could change big time in the remaining window, but the season is upon us, so here are my predictions as our squad stands now.
The Positives
Despite all the negativity we still have 3 decent defenders at this level and if they stay fit I am sure they will do us fine.
We also have one of the best keepers in the country and I’m sure he will be even better than last year, if that is possible.
In midfield we have some special talent and if 2 or 3 of them hit form then we are going to cause problems for the some teams
The Negatives
For 3 windows now we have needed backup in defence, defensive midfield players, a proven striker and a bit of pace and for 3 windows we have had very little in the areas specified(lets hope this changes before the window).
Defensively we are heavily relying on 3 injury prone players, neither of them getting any younger - the backup, in my opinion, is mediocre at best. A potentially weak back four is protected by a midfield that is poor defensively and were almost non-existent(defensively) at times in the 2nd half of last season. We are awful as a defensive unit at the moment and if you belief Twitter then not hard to see why.
I think out of all the teams in the prem Stoke are the hardest to predict. If Whelan & Allen form a good partnership and shore us up in midfield a bit and Shawcross and Butland stay fit, then we have a good chance of showing that bit of consistency which may see us possibly get to 50pts and top half again - so long as our stars shine at the other end also.
On the other hand I really would not be surprised to see us get off to another awful start and struggle throughout the season. Does not seem to be any balance to the team and I am not quite sure where Hughes is going with this squad at the moment and yes I still think Hughes is losing/lost the plot somewhat.
My heart says we could get to 50pts again, but my head says, depending on injuries, between 35 and 45 points.
So I will go for 42pts and 14th.
Your thoughts and predictions please, we can always bring this post back at the end of the season to see who amongst us get things dreadfully wrong(hopefully I will be miles out in a good way)
|
|
|
|
Post by cmc89 on Aug 11, 2016 22:00:49 GMT
52 and 9th
Is there a prize for being right?
|
|
|
|
Post by retired1 on Aug 11, 2016 22:03:34 GMT
Have no idea, I see no point in trying to predict. It's going to be a much tougher league this year. I just want a positive start, more goals scored less conceded and a degree of style in our play that we are capable of but struggle to maintain.
|
|
|
|
Post by kustokie on Aug 11, 2016 22:10:09 GMT
Red. I suspect the reason that you're getting so few responses is because nobody has a clue what's going to happen.
|
|
|
|
Post by oatcakesteve on Aug 11, 2016 22:14:09 GMT
Got to be 9th or above or we're going backwards. We are looking to improve each season, never mind premier league survival, I think Coates, Hughes, and the team want more each season. If we don't at least match last season, then it's a backwards step.
One of the most frustrating things for me last season was, beating teams that should have beaten us, and losing to teams we should be beating. We could have gathered a few more points and a higher place, but didn't. Anything less than 9th is not good in my humble opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Davef on Aug 11, 2016 22:20:47 GMT
Got to be 9th or above or we're going backwards. We are looking to improve each season, never mind premier league survival, I think Coates, Hughes, and the team want more each season. If we don't at least match last season, then it's a backwards step. One of the most frustrating things for me last season was, beating teams that should have beaten us, and losing to teams we should be beating. We could have gathered a few more points and a higher place, but didn't. Anything less than 9th is not good in my humble opinion. Have a look at the two clubs who finished directly below us last season. I think there's a fair chance that they'll finish above us this season and with the possible exception of Southampton I don't see many clubs above us that we could finish above. Think you're being a bit harsh. Three 9th placed finishes has been a superb effort, but the league is getting harder every season. 11th or 12th would be a decent position for us this season and it wouldn't necessarily mean we've gone backwards. |
|
|
|
Post by JoeinOz on Aug 11, 2016 22:22:55 GMT
Another cup run might be nice.
|
|
|
|
Post by oatcakesteve on Aug 11, 2016 22:28:47 GMT
Got to be 9th or above or we're going backwards. We are looking to improve each season, never mind premier league survival, I think Coates, Hughes, and the team want more each season. If we don't at least match last season, then it's a backwards step. One of the most frustrating things for me last season was, beating teams that should have beaten us, and losing to teams we should be beating. We could have gathered a few more points and a higher place, but didn't. Anything less than 9th is not good in my humble opinion. Have a look at the two clubs who finished directly below us last season. I think there's a fair chance that they'll finish above us this season and with the possible exception of Southampton I don't see many clubs above us that we could finish above. Think you're being a bit harsh. Three 9th placed finishes has been a superb effort, but the league is getting harder every season. 11th or 12th would be a decent position for us this season and it wouldn't necessarily mean we've gone backwards. Ok Dave, fair point, and last season did seem like a bit of an anomaly in terms of who finished where. I think what I'm trying to get at is how much of a mixed bag our performances are, we blow hot and cold and it's incredibly frustrating. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2016 22:29:34 GMT
55pts & 8th.
|
|
|
|
Post by Davef on Aug 11, 2016 22:29:42 GMT
Wouldn't argue with that Steve.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrcoke on Aug 11, 2016 22:36:06 GMT
Very negative OP IMO.
Surely with the players we have got now, last seasons plus Allen and the club doing their best to sign more. Provided we can keep Ryan and Jack fit, we have reasonable cover for all other positions, I expect us to break our record points tally and achieve at least 8th place. The only negatives are Afellay's injury and still not securing a striker and CB. Arni and Afellay took half a season to get going in the Prem, so I expect Shaq and Imbula will be in better form this season, while Diouf will hopefully have put his personal grief last year behind him. Allen was lightly used by Liverpool, so I don't expect him to have a hang-over from the European Nations and hit the ground running.
I predict all the big 6 clubs are going to be busy taking points off one another, Leicester are going to struggle with the added burden of Europe and will have lost some of their best players as will Southampton and Everton. We have kept all ours. West Ham are not going to like playing in the Olympic stadium. I suspect one of the big 6 clubs is going to "lose the plot" like Chelsea did last season, my guess is Klopp is going to "lose it" at some point and his team suffer from his extrovert exhibitionism.
Provided we can consistently defeat the bottom half teams (like Swansea did in 2014-15 and finished 8th) instead of the regular failures we have had against teams that solely defend, we could achieve a 6th to 8th position.
|
|
|
|
Post by boskampsflaps on Aug 11, 2016 22:37:14 GMT
20th with one million points and claim the record for highest points total for a bottom placed team.
|
|
|
|
Post by oatcakesteve on Aug 11, 2016 22:38:42 GMT
Very negative OP IMO. Surely with the players we have got now, last seasons plus Allen and the club doing their best to sign more. Provided we can keep Ryan and Jack fit, we have reasonable cover for all other positions, I expect us to break our record points tally and achieve at least 8th place. The only negatives are Afellay's injury and still not securing a striker and CB. Arni and Afellay took half a season to get going in the Prem, so I expect Shaq and Imbula will be in better form this season, while Diouf will hopefully have put his personal grief last year behind him. Allen was lightly used by Liverpool, so I don't expect him to have a hang-over from the European Nations and hit the ground running. I predict all the big 6 clubs are going to be busy taking points off one another, Leicester are going to struggle with the added burden of Europe and will have lost some of their best players as will Southampton and Everton. We have kept all ours. West Ham are not going to like playing in the Olympic stadium. I suspect one of the big 6 clubs is going to "lose the plot" like Chelsea did last season, my guess is Klopp is going to "lose it" at some point and his team suffer from his extrovert exhibitionism. Provided we can consistently defeat the bottom half teams (like Swansea did in 2014-15 and finished 8th) instead of the regular failures we have had against teams that solely defend, we could achieve a 6th to 8th position. I like this post  |
|
|
|
Post by senojbor on Aug 11, 2016 22:39:51 GMT
I get the feeling a lot of people are not confident. We should be 50/1 for relegation, bookies have us at 14/1 thereabouts last time I looked. I'll say 12th
|
|
|
|
Post by oatcakesteve on Aug 11, 2016 22:40:12 GMT
20th with one million points and claim the record for highest points total for a bottom placed team. What have you been smoking?  |
|
|
|
Post by cobhamstokey on Aug 11, 2016 22:56:08 GMT
11th and 44pts. Lots of big spending in the window.
|
|
|
|
Post by JoeinOz on Aug 11, 2016 23:02:00 GMT
Bottom with no points.
|
|
|
|
Post by right on Aug 11, 2016 23:46:46 GMT
2nd with 111 points
|
|
|
|
Post by pottarius on Aug 12, 2016 1:48:54 GMT
An optimistic 8th - around 60 points with a positive goal difference
|
|
|
|
Post by PB1863 on Aug 12, 2016 2:13:07 GMT
8th with 56 points
|
|
|
|
Post by jimigoodwinsbeard on Aug 12, 2016 2:14:11 GMT
12th, 50pts, and hope upon hope we get a Cup Final..............
|
|
|
|
Post by cooper67 on Aug 12, 2016 2:34:45 GMT
12th.
46-48 points.
|
|
|
|
Post by Boothenpotter89 on Aug 12, 2016 4:26:49 GMT
Id take anywhere from 15th up with a cup final !
|
|
|
|
Post by wagsastokie on Aug 12, 2016 4:54:07 GMT
Snap snap snap SNAP
Hark is that the gravity crocodile I hear slowly approaching from a distance
|
|
|
|
Post by benjaminbiscuit on Aug 12, 2016 6:11:42 GMT
GC here
A poor summer with no additions in the key areas of
Defence . Striker and Pace coupled with death wish form at the end of last season mean there is an integerAdd in an expected slow start mean you are on the radar sort of one slightly open eye on stoke a bit line Swansea last year. Easier prey to the east in Hull means its an observation. Watch not definite target .
However the strong likelihood of only a maximum of 3 ( possibly
Less )points by game 6 when WBA come to town mean I will have a very special interest in that game as a weakened loser might prove easy pickings.
I have very special skills and I will find the weakest prey and kill them
Good luck !
GC
|
|
|
|
Post by rawli on Aug 12, 2016 6:16:55 GMT
Snap snap snap SNAP Hark is that the gravity crocodile I hear slowly approaching from a distance You never hear the gravity crocodile. She lurks between the premier league and the championship, waiting for her Huthless victims to sink towards her. Then she pounces, pulling you deeper and deeper until there is only darkness. And a trip to Rotherham awaits. |
|
|
|
Post by cousindupree on Aug 12, 2016 7:12:06 GMT
The concern for me is that we are going into the season looking exactly like we did last season, same players, same tactics and same issues of defensive lapses and a lack of goals up front. Last season we had some shockers against midtable and lower half teams, zip points from west brom and Palace and just a point from Sunderland. These results were offset by some stellar wins against the big boys. The big boys this season have got bigger, Chelsea Man City and Manure will be much harder to beat so its vital that we work out how to beat the likes of West Brom palace and Sunderland, but with the same players will we?
As others have said Everton and Chelsea I would expect to finish above us and the only team above us last season who might struggle are Southampton.
People say its hard to predict, I don't agree I think we are about the same as last season whereas others have improved. A top CB and a 15+ striker would have an impact but we seem some way off those signings.
Middlesboro will be a test as how we can beat a team set up to stifle our flair, and then we have some tough games which suggest another slow start. Hughes's teams have a good habit of bouncing back after some poor results, that's reason for optimism.
I think we are pretty much nailed on 11th with around 48 pts
|
|
|
|
Post by blackpoolred on Aug 12, 2016 17:15:21 GMT
52 and 9th Is there a prize for being right? Yes - the prestige of knowing you are footballing guru and a wonderful pundit |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 17:17:32 GMT
Bottom with 10 apparently...
|
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Aug 12, 2016 17:19:08 GMT
Have we had the 'hoping to be proved wrong' brigade on yet?
I've never known a bunch of so-called supporters so willingly ready to piss on people's chips.
|
|
