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Post by Trouserdog on May 13, 2009 19:15:45 GMT
I can't see anyone breaking the Big 4's stranglehold on the champions league spots for a while yet.
Looking beneath this group, I can see a "Not quite so big 4" developing, with perennial UEFA cup qualifiers Villa and Everton being joined by Spurs and Man City.
Unless another team have some kind of inspired season, or there's some serious mismanagement from these bigger teams, I think the top 8 may soon be pulling away from the rest, and that 8th spot might be considered just as unobtainable by the rest of the also-rans as 4th spot is to the likes of Villa.
However, although perhaps West Ham are a bit better than us, I can't see any reason, assuming we do make a few good signings, that we couldn't finish as high as 9th next season. It's a big ask, and would be a major achievement, but it's clearly within the bounds of possibility.
Having said that, if we finished 17th I would be happy, as there really isn't a lot to separate the pack that make up mid-table and the lower reaches.
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Post by Cupid Stunt on May 13, 2009 19:19:27 GMT
1st. Bloody pessimists
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Post by walrus on May 13, 2009 19:21:28 GMT
If we make good signings and hold on to our best players, the Europa League is not an impossibility. Really though, I think we should target the top ten.
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Post by Inverness Stokie on May 13, 2009 19:22:59 GMT
13th ?
I hope we can make Europe if the signings are good enough.
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Post by Pugsley on May 13, 2009 19:40:24 GMT
Reach for the stars, climb every mountain higher, reach for the.....
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Post by actongatestokie on May 13, 2009 19:41:40 GMT
Depends totally on who we do or don't bring in.
Bring in some very good players then top half. If we don't then another fight for survival.
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Post by imallstokedup on May 13, 2009 19:43:04 GMT
Top 10 would be a huge achievement.
Pulis recently stated that he was looking for evolution, not revolution.
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Post by blythebridgestokie on May 13, 2009 19:46:27 GMT
11th it improves, probably on this season and its very respectable, plus its something to build upon the season after.
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Post by zigiiiiiiiiiiiic on May 13, 2009 19:53:04 GMT
i'd be happy with the same as this season, but with players that are being mentioned, its hard to see how we can not improve.
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Post by jbstokie on May 13, 2009 19:56:19 GMT
I can't see anyone breaking the Big 4's stranglehold on the champions league spots for a while yet. Fucking hell ;D ;D
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Post by Hugh Jorgan on May 13, 2009 19:57:43 GMT
didnt we rip the piss out of the baggies fans for similar threads last season.
You know this will be brought back to the top in a years time ;D
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Post by jbstokie on May 13, 2009 19:57:46 GMT
The higher we finish this season (11th I reckon), the more disappointed we'll be next season when we don't finish any higher. Be patient now, don't expect too much, not for two or three years anyway. Next year will be as hard if not harder than this season.
Goarrn Stoke
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Post by zigiiiiiiiiiiiic on May 13, 2009 20:00:28 GMT
it will be hard to better or even equal this seasons home form next season as it has been outstanding this season, we really need to be winning away games next year too imo.
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Post by StokeOnTour on May 13, 2009 20:02:08 GMT
seventh, why not?
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Post by Vodkab1ock on May 13, 2009 20:15:17 GMT
i'd take 17th place now but would hope that we can build this summer and get 15th-14th. We have massively over achieved and people who think we can finish top half etc be in for a shock if they really believe that next season.
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on May 13, 2009 20:24:54 GMT
Top 10 would be a huge achievement. Pulis recently stated that he was looking for evolution, not revolution. So he's looking to evolve not revolve? Back of the net, kiss my face!
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Post by Rip Roaring Potter on May 13, 2009 20:27:25 GMT
To be honest i dont see why above 10th is an impossibility, this season was about surviving, and we are currently 12th with 2 games left. is 3 places a big ask ? some new signings like the ones this year and Europe is a possibility the season after.
WE BELIEVE
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Post by LDE76 on May 13, 2009 20:29:17 GMT
Top 10 would be a huge achievement. Pulis recently stated that he was looking for evolution, not revolution. So he's looking to evolve not revolve? Back of the net, kiss my face! "Yeah, give us a second season, you shit!"
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Post by davejohnno1 on May 13, 2009 20:36:24 GMT
Lets not get too carried away here. We have done great, but it is absolutely imperative that we stay up for two seasons and then start to build and move on from there.
Anything better than 4th bottom next season, as with this season, will be a real bonus.
Our home form simply cannot be as good next year, so a similar points target with a better balance of points accrued home and away would stand us in good stead to really push on should we survive beyond the dreaded 2nd year.
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on May 13, 2009 20:43:25 GMT
So he's looking to evolve not revolve? Back of the net, kiss my face! "Yeah, give us a second season, you shit!" Classic intercourse (in a non sexual way ). Text book!
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Post by KDT_SCFC on May 13, 2009 20:44:10 GMT
20TH
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Post by jacka118 on May 13, 2009 21:10:29 GMT
Realistically we could finish anywhere in the bottom 12
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Post by Tubes on May 13, 2009 21:24:13 GMT
think that's a reasonable analysis of the situation, I don't think there is actually that much difference between the majority of teams outside the so called big 8 you;ve mentioned. Any one team can have a good year and make a surge for the top half, or a bad year and end up in the shit.
Realistically, I don't think it would be impossible for us to finish in the top 10, but neither would I be disappointed if we finished 17th.
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Post by apb1 on May 13, 2009 21:31:48 GMT
Lets not get too carried away here. We have done great, but it is absolutely imperative that we stay up for two seasons and then start to build and move on from there. Anything better than 4th bottom next season, as with this season, will be a real bonus. Our home form simply cannot be as good next year, so a similar points target with a better balance of points accrued home and away would stand us in good stead to really push on should we survive beyond the dreaded 2nd year. Correctimundo! We will be starting not from where we finish this season, but level with everyone else on zero points. The first target will be 40 points, and we shouldn't get carried away. I'd be ecstatic if we finished anywhere 9th-14th, had a good cup run, turned over a big 4 team or two, and really stuffed a couple of teams at home. That's achievable, but it's equally likely we'll struggle.
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Post by mermaidsal on May 13, 2009 21:39:03 GMT
In theory anything Fulham can do we should be capable of, but I'm predicting 12th to 14th again plus a non-embarrassing cup run for once and I'd be absolutely delighted by that.
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Post by surreystokie on May 13, 2009 21:42:02 GMT
No idea, as I don't know who we'll sign, who other teams will sign or how many failing managers will be paid off.
Think back to this season, then wonder who would be relegated, had Spurs (Ramos) Pompey (Adams) Blackburn (Ince) and Sunderland (Keane) not been able to afford to get rid of their manager, or in the latter's case, had one who kindly walked out.
That's why it is absurd even to think about it. I'd be in agreement with the suggestion that managers, too, should have a transfer window. If so, there'd have been some worried club chairmen, realising that money isn't everything.
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Post by wizard_of_aus on May 13, 2009 21:44:12 GMT
If we make good signings and hold on to our best players, the Europa League is not an impossibility. Really though, I think we should target the top ten. You say this as if Stoke are going to be the only club that will strengthen. Every premierleague team will strengthen it just depends who does it better than others. I think Europa would be an achieveable goal for Stoke but it depends who you bring in.
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Post by FullerMagic on May 13, 2009 21:55:02 GMT
I think we'll strengthen well - but I'd still take 17th. There's not much to choose between the bottom half of the table.
I agree that 9th/10th must be obtainable.
Crikey, this current squad could very, very easily finish 11th which shows the relative weakness below the top 8.
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Post by Paul Spencer on May 14, 2009 0:15:00 GMT
Realistically we could finish anywhere in the bottom 12 That's the best answer for me so far.
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Post by sheikh al dubai bin stokie on May 14, 2009 7:18:56 GMT
So he's looking to evolve not revolve? Back of the net, kiss my face! "Yeah, give us a second season, you shit!" smell my cheese
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