What are your expectations for this season?

[rickyfullerbeer]

In one post, what are your expectations for this season following the summer transfer window and our first five games?

Perhaps a thread to revisit come the end of the season.

[stokesupporter]

Right now: not to get relegated.. this could go so badly wrong with these new players unless we click soon. Then again if we do click, anything is possible. But first and foremost not to get relegated.

[cvillestokie]

12th-16th: we are too vulnerable to set pieces and too weak, physically to progress at present; this could change if we build on our deficiencies in January.

[y_oh_y_delilah]

Call me naive if you like but I honestly believe that when the new recruits gel into a cohesive unit we’ll be challenging at or near the top of the league.

[metalhead]

Mid table

[chigstoke]

10th would be a good start, but I think around 12th or so is where we may end up finishing. I think play offs are going to be beyond us, even if I jump on the HMS Piss The League after a good win.

Next season, if we finish outside of the play offs this time around, has to be a play off push, IMO.

[marwood]

fully expect a new thread every time some ex player touches a ball (FFS McCleans just come off the bench in L2 and got an assist - Neil OUT)

[metalhead]

Sept 2, 2023 21:17:56 GMT y_oh_y_delilah said:

Call me naive if you like but I honestly believe that when the new recruits gel into a cohesive unit we’ll be challenging at or near the top of the league.

You're not naive. This forum is full of absolute flappers.

[peterthornesboots]

Top half finish as a minimum.

Top ten would be a good season.

If we could get ourselves in or around the play offs them that would represent excellent progress.

[Vadiation_Ribe]

Promotion contenders - no different to what I thought yesterday.

[matelot1996]

I can only make a judgement on what I have seen so far and whether the new additions will improve us. So I am confident we are a mid table side. 12th.

[pushon]

If Neal doesn't buck his ideas up and get us playing some winning football by the turn of the year, I expect we'll be searching for yet another manager.

[nicethrow]

Top 6.

This squad is capable.

[Gods]

I honestly don't know. The excitement generated by our summmer spending splurge is palpable.

But I can't shift from my mind the thought that AN has been seduced by Google Jared's good looks and transatlantic confidence and Tricky Ricky's psychobabble from his latest management course in to sanctioning the purchase of a job lot of players from around the globe the majority of whom simply don't have what it takes to make a meaningful impact in the killing fields that are the English championship.

And nothing but trouble lies ahead.

[thevoid]

Jam tomorrow

[benjaminbiscuit]

Sept 2, 2023 21:47:24 GMT Gods said:

I honestly don't know. The excitement generated by our summmer spending splurge is palpable.

But I can't shift from my mind the thought that AN has been seduced by Google Jared's good looks and transatlantic confidence and Tricky Ricky's psychobabble from his latest management course in to sanctioning the purchase of a job lot of players from around the globe the majority of whom simply don't have what it takes to make a meaningful impact in the killing fields that are the English championship.

And nothing but trouble lies ahead.

I think that’s 100% spot on , the recruitment is nothing like he’s ever done before today was very concerning .

[CBUFAWKIPWH]

Sept 2, 2023 21:31:29 GMT pushon said:

If Neal doesn't buck his ideas up and get us playing some winning football by the turn of the year, I expect we'll be searching for yet another manager.

We've played 7 games won 4 lost 3. You are right in that if the owners ignore the games he actually wins Neil is toast.

[Gods]

Sept 2, 2023 21:59:36 GMT benjaminbiscuit said:

Sept 2, 2023 21:47:24 GMT Gods said:

I honestly don't know. The excitement generated by our summmer spending splurge is palpable.

But I can't shift from my mind the thought that AN has been seduced by Google Jared's good looks and transatlantic confidence and Tricky Ricky's psychobabble from his latest management course in to sanctioning the purchase of a job lot of players from around the globe the majority of whom simply don't have what it takes to make a meaningful impact in the killing fields that are the English championship.

And nothing but trouble lies ahead.

I think that’s 100% spot on , the recruitment is nothing like he’s ever done before today was very concerning .

Our super market sweep is such an un-AN like thing to do I can only assume that this is Jared and Tricky's work and AN is just clinging on for the ride with everything crossed like the rest of us.

[Scrotnig]

I expect very little from Stoke, been around too long and don’t fall for that any more.

In seriousness, I think I like what the manager is trying to do and the team he’s trying to build.

I think we will finish in the top ten this season, quite comfortably, and for a near-complete rebuild that will be a decent start. I have no doubts we will achieve it.

[PotteringThrough]

Challenging for playoffs

[jesusmcmuffin]

12-14th

[mickstupp]

Sept 2, 2023 22:15:29 GMT Gods said:

Sept 2, 2023 21:59:36 GMT benjaminbiscuit said:

I think that’s 100% spot on , the recruitment is nothing like he’s ever done before today was very concerning .

Our super market sweep is such an un-AN like thing to do I can only assume that this is Jared and Tricky's work and AN is just clinging on for the ride with everything crossed like the rest of us.

I have no idea what the alternative is if this goes wrong then. Everything else we’ve tried has failed dismally.

[svengaliinplatforms]

I'd take 10th, with definite signs that we're making progress.

At the minute we look vulnerable, and aren't creating a lot against organised teams.

Work to do...

[nottsover60]

Honestly, solid upper mid table, optimistically playoff challengers right to the end of the season. More entertaining football than the last 6 years.

[sticky]

Top 10, plenty of time yet to gel. I feel a lot more positive about this season..The players look half decent now, in previous seasons you could see they weren’t going to be good enough to move forward

[Gods]

Sept 2, 2023 22:42:57 GMT mickstupp said:

Sept 2, 2023 22:15:29 GMT Gods said:

Our super market sweep is such an un-AN like thing to do I can only assume that this is Jared and Tricky's work and AN is just clinging on for the ride with everything crossed like the rest of us.

I have no idea what the alternative is if this goes wrong then. Everything else we’ve tried has failed dismally.

It does have a 'last throw of the dice' feel about it.

I suppose you can't we haven't gone all in!

[blackpoolred]

Not to get relegated - 50pts always the first thing.

Would be nice to break out of the bottom half. I think with so many signings nobody knows which way it is going to go - could be disaster or we may have finally unearthed some gems and have that bit of quality that sees us push on a bit.

With so many new signings it is going to take quite a while to see who makes the cut and lots of chopping and changing before we get a fairly settled side. For me it is about keeping out of the dog fight for the first couple of months and then hoping the side starts to show some consistency around December and the new year with a chance of adding some more quality in the January window and then see how it goes from there - possibly a top half finish

[yellowsnowman]

9th 10th 11th some where there i think. Need two new cbs asap. Otherwise that would be higher. Slightly.

[sensiblestokie]

Playoffs.

[Mr_DaftBurger]

My expectations are the same as every season but even more so this season. We're going to piss this tinpot league!