So happy that we are back there, but no idea where our place is. Obviously, in my view, not a top 8 team, unless a lot of money is pumped into players which I hope isn't the case. I can see us rising to those dizzy heights in years to come, mainly helped by the youth we will produce. In league 1 I was confident that we would be one of the big boys. In the champ I thought we would be at least top 8. But prem, no idea. Fighting to stay up like the good old days? Scared the crap of me every last day of the season, but I loved it. Mid table safety? Would be rather nice to have a season we could enjoy with no stress. Just have no idea and can't wait to find out
I won't be able to handle a relegation battle. Going back down would undo so much of the good work done at the club, and getting back up might be tricky. Mid table safety would be lovely, so that we can just enjoy a season of great games without stress. I think a realistic finish for us is 11th-14th, so somewhere between Sunderland and Stoke in relation to this current season.
Agreed as long as we strengthen which we will I can see us being somwhere around mid-table. No reason why we can't do as well as Norwich and Swansea.
Somewhere in the range of 10th - 17th. I think NA and NC will be aiming for top half, but I would consider just staying in the league a success. It will be interesting to see who we bring in this transfer window, will we go for young hungry talent from the football league, premier league experienced or players from foreign leagues? Probably a mixture. We will be back to being the underdogs once again and favorites for relegation and just because Norwich and Swansea have done well this year, doesn't mean that its a given that we will do as well... although of course I'd like to think that we can.
Bit early for this thread so I will answer this question properly once we are in August and we know what's what. For now I will say '14th'.
I'm going to say I think we will end up around 17-15th place unless we spend a lot of money. I would rather we spend most of it on youth exciting times COYR's
12-15th. This season we were a good side coming up and performed better than most thought, but doubt that will be true in 2012-13. A good team coming up should be better than struggling teams near the bottom of PL season, so I expect us to stay up but not be in top half. Was wrong last season so hope I am again and we do well.
Copying the Norwich & Swansea blueprint,play your normal game every week and work your socks off,would be the way I'd go.
Realistically I think 12th - 16th. Avoiding relegation has to be the main aim, we don't have to push for top half in the first year. We are way ahead of schedule.
These are the teams that I think we will definately be behind... Man U Man C Arsenal Spurs Chelsea Newcastle Liverpool Everton These are the teams that I expect us to be above.... West Brom West Ham/B'ham/Blackpool Reading QPR/Bolton Wigan Aston Villa...depending on whether they stick with McLeish. Now if we can get 9th place it will be like winning the league for us, but I think that we are capable of achieving this... The teams I think that we will be fighting for the top of the mid-table league will be .. Sunderland Fulham Norwich Swansea Stoke
After this season's early predictions being so way off the mark I am reserving judgement until the dust has settled on all the transfers in and out in the PL.
Not sure about Wigan either...The way they have finished this season, they could do well next season.
I think that is fair enough. Out of your bottom 6 there are a couple of wildcards, Reading will hope to join us in mid table I am sure, WBA could do well depending on who they replace Roy with. Villa I can see struggling without changes. If QPR stay up they may will invest and will probably be a far better side next season. From the mid table league, Stoke haven't had a great season but don't have to worry about Europe next year, Norwich and Swansea could go in either direction. Sunderland and Fulham I think are potential top half material. One of the key problems is that it is quite difficult to pick out three clear relegation strugglers for next season. I think there will be a lot of teams who will be more than happy to pick up 40 points so it is difficult to call.
i think we will finish 10th or even exceed that, we have to many good players to go down. I also think Lallana will get 10+ and suprise a lot of neutrals next season
I think this is the key, you just cannot see any of the teams next season being really weak. As Saints Alive said there are different Leagues within the League and I think he has bracketed them fairly well, however it is difficult to tell. Fulham and Stoke may do better next season whereas if Newcastle are in Europe they may do worse. I think West Brom will do quite well as Ranieri seems poised to take over. I think we should be looking at beating teams that play a similar way to us eg. Wigan whereas we may struggle with alien teams such as Stoke.
Just stay up. That's it. Start the process of re-establishing ourselves as rightful members of the Premiership, and as a consequence improve our ability to attract more quality players. That won't happen overnight. But in the meantime, just stay up.....
