Will next season in the Prem be as difficult?

[TheWiseMaster]

assuming we make it?

...and I think we will

Having survived one season,will it be as difficult to attract good players?

Will the other teams have sussed out our complicated game plan?

Will we continue to fill the stadium with the same noisy crowd?

Will our manager be better for the experience?

[Pugsley]

Will the other teams have sussed out our complicated game plan?

Is that some kind of joke?

[march4]

The extra money and the heightened profile should help. The main danger is over-confidence as shown by Ipswich and Reading.

[TheWiseMaster]

Did you miss the smiley face there Puggs?

[mermaidsal]

If we avoid relegation by one point on the final day half the media are going to say we overachieved and are due for second season syndrome

[Pugsley]

There isn't one against that line (on my mac anyway). I take it then the whole thread is tongue in cheek and you don't believe we will stay up?

[A-teen_six_T3]

I think, looking at they players we've attracted already..Although not world class, some very decent players. I was syaing last night, next window if we are still in the prem, We will sign some good players. Tone must sell the club very well!

[TheWiseMaster]

Puggs slightly....though I do believe that we will stay up

But the answers will be interesting nonetheless

[trebor63]

Having survived one season,will it be as difficult to attract good players?

I reckon it'll be easier to attract better players as we will be looked upon as a more realistic chance of staying up and our name will have been banded about all over the world for the last twelve months

Will the other teams have sussed out our complicated game plan?

I don't think you can 'suss out' hard work. We fight for everything we're well organised and we play to our strengths and bit by bit we're incorporating more quality into the mixture. Theres never been a big secret to how we play but NOBODY can do anything about it unless they work even harder.

Will we continue to fill the stadium with the same noisy crowd?

This is thre one that worries me. Having revisited many grounds I'd not been to for a few years the drop in atmosphere in grounds has been incredible. I really hope we carry on the intimidation and noise but looking at how the rest have gone I doubt it
Will our manager be better for the experience?

We are sooooooo lucky to have TP he has improved us year on year (ignoring the vile binary season!) he will keep making us better and better if he's allowed to manage in his slowly but surely style

[Pugsley]

Feb 3, 2009 19:56:02 GMT trebor63 said:

Having survived one season,will it be as difficult to attract good players?

I reckon it'll be easier to attract better players as we will be looked upon as a more realistic chance of staying up and our name will have been banded about all over the world for the last twelve months

Will the other teams have sussed out our complicated game plan?

I don't think you can 'suss out' hard work. We fight for everything we're well organised and we play to our strengths and bit by bit we're incorporating more quality into the mixture. Theres never been a big secret to how we play but NOBODY can do anything about it unless they work even harder.

Will we continue to fill the stadium with the same noisy crowd?

This is thre one that worries me. Having revisited many grounds I'd not been to for a few years the drop in atmosphere in grounds has been incredible. I really hope we carry on the intimidation and noise but looking at how the rest have gone I doubt it
Will our manager be better for the experience?

We are sooooooo lucky to have TP he has improved us year on year (ignoring the vile binary season!) he will keep making us better and better if he's allowed to manage in his slowly but surely style

1. Players - Players like Beattie will be the best we can do. Nowt wrong with that but we will pay over the odds for these type of players. All this over the world nonsense is irrelevant as we have a manager who refuses to buy equivalent but cheaper players from abroad.

2. Game Plan - I'm sure Benitez and co are quaking in their boots at coming up against the Stoke City masterplan. Bubbles could suss it out ffs.

3. Crowds - club has to price it accordingly. Season ticket sales should hold up if the price is right.

4. Manager - he will have to improve. For my sanity more than anything.

Will we stay up? - with the players brought in i expect us to.

[Mozzaa]

Well with the teams who will come up Wolves, Reading & Probably Birmingham i'd say yes...Wolves will finish bottom if they came up tbh with you & Reading & Birmingham would be very difficult teams to play against, so yes.

[trebor63]

2. Game Plan - I'm sure Benitez and co are quaking in their boots at coming up against the Stoke City masterplan. Bubbles could suss it out ffs.

Maybe bubbles should manage Liverpool cos Benitez couldn't crack us in two attempts and Arsenal were sent packing too and the shit and Chelsea only just scraped past us this year.

[TheWiseMaster]

Puggs

It will be interesting to see what changes for the away games now that we have some better players

I read somewhere that Pulis is looking at a plan B

[Pugsley]

Don't be so defensive Robert.

Liverpool had a good goal disallowed and slaughtered us at Anfield. Only a miracle on a par with the loaves and fishes saved us. At the Brit we gave them a very good game with a draw being the fair result.

Arsenal - we outplayed them. Brilliant performance and result. Are you confident of going to the Emirates needing something to stay up? I'm not.

Chelsea - at the Brit they won without coming out of first gear. At the Bridge they dominated Stoke and won the game. Two late goals make it a sickener.

[march4]

Feb 3, 2009 20:11:09 GMT TheWiseMaster said:

Puggs

It will be interesting to see what changes for the away games now that we have some better players

I read somewhere that Pulis is looking at a plan B

What!!! Plan B?

Nurse, quickly I've had a terrible shock, bring my medication. ;D

[Pugsley]

Feb 3, 2009 20:11:09 GMT TheWiseMaster said:

Puggs

It will be interesting to see what changes for the away games now that we have some better players

I read somewhere that Pulis is looking at a plan B

;D ;D

At least he has admitted he needs to change things away from home. 6 months too late but fair enough.

The more I think about it the more I like the 3 signings. I would have liked a centre-midfielder (and I think the Manager would) but it wasn't to be.

[offthewall]

We will benefit from the way TP does things in year 2, he is building a team, sounds simple i know but in building a team with few 'big' stars in it will prevent us suffering 2nd season syndrome, as it is less likely the big boys will come in and pick of our rising super stars.

I think PC understands it takes time to build a team (unlike some on here) and this is just the start of a contsant building process for a few years, whatever season were in !

[trebor63]

Not being defensive at all merely pointing out that YET AGAIN a wrist slasher is looking for the negative despite a three season run of virtual non stop success.

We would never go up in to the Prem with TP we did
We'd never stay there with TP. We will.
And now its coming round to the we'll not stay there for a second year!!

[scfclifer]

look at sunderland for answers to the questions

[Vadiation_Ribe]

assuming we make it?

If we stay up I think the second season will be more difficult. It could be harder to motivate the same players to do as well second time round, not that that's a criticism, just a subconscious/mental thing. Saying that, everyone will be better for the experience, and the way Pulis/Coates are going, they are building things the right way.

Having survived one season,will it be as difficult to attract good players?

We should be able to attract more players of the quality we require.

Will the other teams have sussed out our complicated game plan?

Hopefully we'll be able to add more dimensions to the team, like the addition of Etherington...a creative central midfielder perhaps.

Will we continue to fill the stadium with the same noisy crowd?

I'm not sure. It's all new to us and a bit of a siege mentality this season with most outsiders expecting us to get relegated. Tickets prices need to remain as is I think.

Will our manager be better for the experience?

Yes, Pulis will be better for the experience.

[Stokester]

Historically second seasons have proved tougher for a number of clubs.

To be honest deal with it if (when) it happens.

[Pugsley]

Feb 3, 2009 20:32:13 GMT trebor63 said:

Not being defensive at all merely pointing out that YET AGAIN a wrist slasher is looking for the negative despite a three season run of virtual non stop success.

We would never go up in to the Prem with TP we did
We'd never stay there with TP. We will.
And now its coming round to the we'll not stay there for a second year!!

I have never said we are going down and I have said on numerous posts INCLUDING THIS ONE I expect us to stay up.

I'll give you the first one

Anybody who dares say anything about the manager is wrong according to some people on this board no matter how constructive the criticism might be. People aren't happy unless it's constant stream of sycophancy.

[TheWiseMaster]

Will we find it more difficult? - maybe as it will be more difficult for some players to lift themselves and the Prem will be more ready for us

However we will have better players

Will the crowd noise drop - probably as the novelty wears off

Will crowd numbers drop?

[beardofzeus]

Lets just crack on w/ this season before we think about next season