It's that time again gentlemen. What are your expectations for the coming 24/25 season. No tap dancers please.
I'll play. I expect that we'll successfully progress from last season. So, no big player sales, though Trips might go. One or two high grade signings. Eddie Howe to stay. Target top 4. If injuries are kinder, achieve top 4 or 5. Some silverware success. You've gotta dream.
Not committing yet but I suspect we’re not in a good place behind the scenes - I realised that players like Trippier, Wilson, Almiron, Burn and Longstaff will be viewed as very dispensable by someone like Mitchell. They lack ability, but Howe - as has been demonstrated a number of times - puts a lot of faith in commitment, effort, character and loyalty, sometimes to the detriment of player ability. I feel there’s going to be arguments coming down the road. We almost seemed to rush through the pointless GK signings before Mitchell arrived, because presumably he’d never sanction such a weird couple of transfers. Sure we let Karius go, but we offered Gillespie a new contract and now have him, Pope, Dubs, Vlach and Ruddy. It makes no sense. I don’t feel like we’re close to signing anyone. Howe said as much. And for someone who was effectively completely in charge up until a couple of weeks ago we seem to be very bereft of immediacy, which implies all is not quite working as intended. Appreciate there’s plenty time but, for me, something doesn’t feel right,
I think it is just a change in the tide. The GK transfers were weird but small fry. Howe has lost some control which he just has to accent. His battle cry for space to operate is a big statement for me. It’s a shift in control upwards. Howe is supposed to be a coach and a good one. So do your job. Have input into transfers yes and have some say in style and direction. But then it’s up to the new guard to implement transfers. They can of course get it wrong which then Howe has an Ace card because he can say he didn’t get what he needed. Howe isn’t as bullet proof now. Results go in the wrong direction if we get the players on and he’s toast. But I feel like if we get the players Howe will deliver. Of course he doesn’t have to play them. Aka Hall. Livermento.
PL winners FA Cup winners League Cup winners Isak to finish top scorer Pope to get most clean sheets Gordon and Barnes’s to get 10 goals and assists each
Wet sheets galore Obi to get fatter Chaos to go to Canada Ten Haag to be sacked by Easter That Sloth guy from the dippers to be sacked by Easter Wilson to get injured
Think the expectation is to finish in the top 7 this year (but actually qualify for Europe this time!) but if we drop out the European places I think Eddie will be in big trouble. Not the season to have a slow start, go through the gears and finish strongly - need to be out of the gate at almost full racing pace and still finish strong. Personal prediction 6-8th (but will edit to narrow down once the window finishes)
5th will be minimum from the board, make no mistake. Any pissing about around 8th will see the end of Howe.
