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Post by blackpoolred on Sept 5, 2020 4:43:16 GMT
First season in a while where I have a bit more hope than possible relegation.
That said, for me, we are still in a catastrophic state defensively(even under MON) see QPR, Derby, Wigan & Leeds games in the 2nd half of last season.
We have to hope that, in the centre of defence, either Shawx or Chester are available for selection for the entire season(highly unlikely) and that Batth remains fit and is available for every game. Even with those players fit it is still going to be a slow and cumbersome central pairing who will come unstuck against pace and slick passing team, but there is enough experience in there to make it difficult for some of the teams in the championship.
We were told by everybody that MON would sort our defence out, including the guy on Quest, but it has been another laughable and poor window regarding our defence, which has no strength, depth, pace, height, footballing nouse and zero competition for places.
That said it could be the first season in a while where we could start the campaign with no square pegs in defence, which is a minor miracle for this club and could see us improve on last year.
For a season where we are not looking over our shoulders at the bottom of the table we need, Batth, Chester, Smith, Fox and Davies all to remain fit and show some form, a couple of injuries in defence and we are in trouble, particularly at RB, central defence and goalkeeper, even at LB we will be playing a square peg should Fox pick up an injury or turn out to be a poor signing.
We need Allen back and showing the form of last season and Campbell(whos' goals saved us last year) also showing the same form as last season. Of our new signings I think Mikel could actually improve us but struggling with any of MON's other signings - totally underwhelmed with transfer dealings so far, both ins and outs, but still time, I am hoping if Lindsay is moved on then he is replaced - but don't hold out much hope there.
If you have a poor defence then you have no chance and ours is mediocre, at best, even if all of our viable players are fit - a few injuries and we are in serious trouble - so for me if all of our viable defenders stay fit and Campbell and Allen show the form of last season then we can be mid-table.
Lot's of variables in there that could see us do a little better than mid-table, but also some glaringly obvious variables that could see us struggle again
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Post by FullerMagic on Sept 5, 2020 16:17:38 GMT
Not a great day for some of the more fancied Champo clubs in the League Cup
Derby 0-0 Barrow Plymouth 3-2 QPR Walsall 0-0 Sheff W Barnsley 1-0 Forest Birmingham 0-1 Cambridge Huddersfield 0-1 Rochdale Luton 3-1 Norwich Newport 2-0 Swansea Nortampton 3-0 Cardiff
I bet there's a hell of a lot of kneejerk whining going on!
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Post by robwahlmann on Sept 5, 2020 17:03:03 GMT
I think I'll wait till Christmas before I get too much hope about promotion, but if we are up there at that stage I guess we will have a decent chance!
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Post by heworksardtho on Sept 5, 2020 17:12:19 GMT
Top 2 for Stoke this season , we will smash this tin pot league 😎
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Post by firfuxache on Sept 5, 2020 17:36:15 GMT
£10 on promotion at 13/1 and £10 on for Champions at 20/1. Nice little earner if we do “stroll this tin pot league”.
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Post by Goonie on Sept 5, 2020 17:52:05 GMT
Top 8 with a good winter window would be great.
Mid-table mediocrity would be just that
Relegation/fight would be very difficult to stomach and seems unlikely
Top 8 for me 👍
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Post by alanhudson1972 on Sept 7, 2020 9:24:11 GMT
Obviously Stoke along with Norwich, Brentford, Swansea and Bournemouth I think Bournemouth might well struggle next season.
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Post by alanhudson1972 on Sept 7, 2020 9:27:46 GMT
Before the odds come out (presumably that'll be tonight some time?), who do you fancy next season? Notice on twitter we're getting the odd mention! That's made me realise how wank are badge is I was thinking that too, it really does look shite.
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Post by FullerMagic on Sept 7, 2020 16:53:30 GMT
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Post by thevoid on Sept 7, 2020 17:27:54 GMT
Where does Prutton have us, below Wycombe?
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Post by scfcno1fan on Sept 7, 2020 18:52:22 GMT
They are always very accurate with everyone, bar us. Still, refreshing they don’t have us in the bottom three.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Sept 7, 2020 18:54:22 GMT
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Post by PotterLog on Sept 8, 2020 5:22:16 GMT
That's made me realise how wank are badge is I was thinking that too, it really does look shite. It’s the stand-out worst one of the lot isn’t it. Depressing.
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Post by LL Cool Dave on Sept 8, 2020 6:47:59 GMT
I'll be disappointed if we don't finish top with record points and be crowned champions by February.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2020 6:56:59 GMT
Are they aware that we were third highest scorers in the league under O'Neill last season? Thanks Pulis, thanks to your bullshit football we'll be tagged with this pragmatic football style for ever and a day. The style O'Neill had us playing at certain times under him was nothing, absolutely nothing like the deathball he trashed us with.
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Post by alanhudson1972 on Sept 9, 2020 12:07:13 GMT
I was thinking that too, it really does look shite. It’s the stand-out worst one of the lot isn’t it. Depressing. Yes mate, it's absolutely awful.
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Post by franklin on Sept 9, 2020 12:24:20 GMT
As in every year I'm optimistic 😬 but for some reason I'm more optimistic than usual. I genuinely think we will be right up there at the end and I've a warm feeling me will be promoted.
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