|
Post by The Toxic Avenger on Jul 31, 2018 6:45:09 GMT
When you look at the fact that as things stand we've made several reasonably high profile signings for this level and held on to most of our best players (which obv could change), it's hard to put too many squads ahead of us isn't it? Who would people say should be considered clearer favourites? Boro maybe. Forest maybe. Villa still maybe.
But it doesn't mean much either way as the Championship is so often bookie-proof. Wolves were favourites year on year for the best part of two decades and buggered things up more often than not. Leeds, Villa etc have been heavy favourites after coming down and blown it.
Nobody saw Barnsley, Blackpool, Huddersfield, Cardiff, Hull or arguably us being promoted the seasons we went up. Teams can come from nowhere.
|
|
|
Post by chipsaway on Jul 31, 2018 6:45:31 GMT
I don't think you can make a generalisation that the fans are pessimistic - personally I'm pretty optimistic. We've got a decent core group of players and have made some great signings. McClean in particular will prove to be a bargain. We've spent shed loads more than most so I don't understand much of the criticism about alleged 'penny pinching'. Most importantly we've got a manager and backroom team who know the Championship backwards.
|
|
|
Post by The Drunken Communist on Jul 31, 2018 7:23:13 GMT
Most other fans seem to think as we'll do the best out of the relegated teams (Which 'should' mean we'll be toward the top end) Sky did a poll on it yesterday...
(Incase the results don't show it had nearly 53,000 votes. Swansea 21%, West Brom 26%, and Stoke 53%.)
|
|
|
Post by raythesailor on Jul 31, 2018 7:34:46 GMT
The problem with being a clear favourite is that everybody will be up for having a go at us.
It seems to be a very British thing but the underdogs will turn on there best performances of the season against us. Not to mention a few cloggers who will look foreward to some juicy tackles.
|
|
|
Post by darksideofthemoon on Jul 31, 2018 8:34:23 GMT
You say that; we were 6/4 to get promoted (automatic or play-offs) when I checked the other day. Bonkers. 9/2 on sky bet now. Next best is 8/1. 9/2 to get promoted??? Fill yer boots, cobbers!!!!
|
|
|
Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 31, 2018 8:37:50 GMT
9/2 on sky bet now. Next best is 8/1. 9/2 to get promoted??? Fill yer boots, cobbers!!!! To win the league sorry.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2018 13:31:38 GMT
Bookies work things out scientifically. If people put money on an outcome, the odds shorten. Simples, people are betting on Stoke to be promoted.
|
|
|
Post by estrangedsonoffaye on Jul 31, 2018 14:05:21 GMT
The fact is we won't really know until the season starts. Pre-season has been quite disappointing and after an early flurry of signings, things seem to have stagnated a little bit, whilst we've only shifted a couple of players who were always going to go, rather than those who should be thrown out of the door.
I'm less concerned about the results in our friendlies compared to our performances where we've looked toothless and somewhat disturbingly like the team that player last season.
There's still some time to get stuff done, and when the whistle blows and we start we'll probably get a much better idea of where we stand. Other teams and fans seem very alarmed by us, but who knows the club better in reality?
|
|
|
Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 31, 2018 14:16:47 GMT
Combination of factors for me to be honest.
We have a significant number of "names" in the team/squad, which will lead people to believe we are better than teams who have fewer (lazy journalism).
Let me just list some names though;
Butland Bauer Shawcross Indi Pieters Allen Etebo Ndiaye Ince Afobe
How many of those (in absolute honesty) DO NOT walk into every team in the Championship. Because i'm struggling to think of many. We got beat up last year, and didn't do much better the year before that. But the fact remains we are built on some pretty solid foundations. The above doesn't include Bojan, Berahino, Imbula, Crouch, Choupo-Moting, McClean & Cameron, all of whom would find no problem finding a home in this league were they available, and certainly with the first 3 if they get going, they would be the best players in the division. With Sorensen, Edwards, Tymon & Campbell likely to challenge as well, we might have some areas of improvement, but we're hardly in dire straits.
There's cause for optimism because we should be optimistic, we just haven't got it in us.
|
|
|
Post by estrangedsonoffaye on Jul 31, 2018 14:20:03 GMT
Combination of factors for me to be honest. We have a significant number of "names" in the team/squad, which will lead people to believe we are better than teams who have fewer (lazy journalism). Let me just list some names though; Butland Bauer Shawcross Indi Pieters Allen Etebo Ndiaye Ince Afobe How many of those (in absolute honesty) DO NOT walk into every team in the Championship. Because i'm struggling to think of many. We got beat up last year, and didn't do much better the year before that. But the fact remains we are built on some pretty solid foundations. The above doesn't include Bojan, Berahino, Imbula, Crouch, Choupo-Moting, McClean & Cameron, all of whom would find no problem finding a home in this league were they available, and certainly with the first 3 if they get going, they would be the best players in the division. With Sorensen, Edwards, Tymon & Campbell likely to challenge as well, we might have some areas of improvement, but we're hardly in dire straits. There's cause for optimism because we should be optimistic, we just haven't got it in us. I'd say Pieters is the only one who would struggle to get into every team, but he would still make it into most. I think your last line is a factor, as is the fact like you say we took a beating last year and were crap in 16/17. I think it's a mindset issue. We need to shake off the habit of losing, a good start and I think we'll absolutely run away with it. But it's getting that good start that concerns me.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2018 14:47:49 GMT
You can see why the bookies wouldn't want to offer a big price on us.
IF all of our players played to the best of their ability we would have a squad of players as follows (noting current crazy market values):
Butland - £30-40m Bauer - £10-15m Shawcross - £10m BMI - £10-15m Pieters - £10-15m
Allen - £25m Badou - £25m Etebo - £15-25m
McLean - £8m Ince - £12m Bojan - £10-20m Choupo - £10-15m
Berahino - £0-30m Afobe - £10-20m
This is only a quick overview and we all know that that 13 is a good mid table PL club IF IF IF they play to their best ability.
But we all know a good lot, if not all of them haven't but this is why the bookies have us as favourites and we are pessimistic about the whole thing.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2018 15:23:29 GMT
I’ve never seen a poor bookie yet. They have us favourites and rightly so. I still can’t believe our huge odds. We’ve got a strong squad, a bucket load of cash and a hungry manager intent on success. Printing money
|
|
|
Post by JetBlack on Jul 31, 2018 15:26:13 GMT
The problem with being a clear favourite is that everybody will be up for having a go at us. It seems to be a very British thing but the underdogs will turn on there best performances of the season against us. Not to mention a few cloggers who will look forward to some juicy tackles.I agree with this completely especially the last sentence. Shaq would have been a 'marked' man if he'd stayed here, I reckon he would've lasted two matches then been out injured for 8 weeks after that! Some spicy tackles will still be coming our way I expect, and I expect Bauer to be 'welcomed' to the Championship by defenders with gusto! Why is this week taking so bloody long?!!
|
|
|
Post by johnnysoul60 on Jul 31, 2018 15:28:56 GMT
It's a long season but a lot still needs sorting.
I don't think what we have now is capable of promotion but there is a week to do permanent deals then a few weeks for loans . Then can we get enough results by Jan to justify more investment ? What others do including the usual surprise team
Lose a few games odds will soon change .
|
|