Should we be aiming for Europe next season?

I've seen a lot of talk lately of people being happy with a top 10 finish next season. I'm not sure if that's their true feeling, or whether they're simply trying to dispel the 'delusional geordie' tag.

However, I personally think we should set our sights for Europe and make that our goal. Especially as we would've finished in the top 10 last season if it wasn't for a few very small changes in the results. For example:

- Drawing 3-3 with West Brom. If we had just managed to hold onto that lead, we would have had 48 points, and we could have been as high as 9th.

- If Gyan hadn't walked the ball into the net in the last minutes of the game, we would have had 48 points.

- If Spurs didn't pull back that draw very late into the game, we could have had 48 points as well.

All of these lost points are purely down to the team taking their foot off the gas in the last minutes of the game. If we had just persevered a little more and ground out all of those results without falling at the last hurdle, we could have had as many as 52 points, and been placed at 8th behind Everton.

It's a lapse in concentration of just a few minutes over the ENTIRE season which cost us so many places in the table. Obviously it wasn't meant to be, but an 8th place finish was never very far away at all.

Bar those moments of madness, we were more than good enough to reach 10th, so I'm not sure how anyone can say that they would be happy with 10th again after we possibly spend £30million+ on new players? Plus two top players for FREE so far.

We did most of 10/11 with some serious injury troubles, no depth and an utterly woeful attack force, yet we were still just pipped to the post for a top 10+ finish. Considering the improvement in quality we could have next season, considering how we'll finally have some quality strikers, and considering how we'll have the likes of Ben Arfa back, I think we should be aiming for Europe. Even if we don't get it, it's no big deal, but that should be the target to strive for. Anything less is not an improvement over last season - especially with tens of millions worth of new players and squad depth.

So yeah, I know people call us deluded sometimes, but I think on this occasion, we're within our rights to aim higher up the table this time. Things may falter (as they almost always do) but I think it's important to have an ambitious, yet realistic, target.

 

yeh why not. I can see us finishing high next season if everything goes to plan. I think the top 6 is pretty much sown up but apart from that anyone could get in there

 

win League cup if we dont sack Pardew

 

So yeah, I know people call us deluded sometimes, but I think on this occasion, we're within our rights to aim higher up the table this time. Things may falter (as they almost always do) but I think it's important to have an ambitious, yet realistic, target.
___________________________________

Sticks and stones may break our bones but calling will not hurt us.

We should always aim as high as possible.

 

We should aim for as high as possible, but aiming is different from expecting!! we dont want pple calling us deluded do we???

 

Well i don't think by next season, but certainly in the next 2/3 years or so if we want to keep players like Ben Arfa and Tiote.

 

We should be aiming for the top 7 (then if we fall short its still been a good season) and using our squad properly to compete seriously in the cups for some long overdue silverware and an alternative gateway to Europe.

Also I'd go so far as to say within 3-4 years we and our top players should expect to get into Europe, or at least top 8.

 

Europe may be too high for us next year. I think we should be aiming at top 10. We need quality strikers and at the moment we only have maybe 1. Lets be patient.

 

Its like aiming for the urinal we aim high but you know sumtimes you will miss

 

This.

In theory, everyone who finished around midtable (8th-14th) will probably be aiming for europe. This doesnt mean I will be disappointed if we dont get it, but we have the squad and a few quality players needed to aim for a top 7 finish. The season last year was ridiculously close. If its the same this year then why not?

 

Don't really know until I see who is going to leave and is coming in. With the current squad, i'd say top 10 if we get a few more in and keep Enrique then yes I would expect Europe.

 

Newcastle 8th Sunderland 10th id be happy

 

It isn't an aim though. Or a goal. We were inches away from a top 10 finish in 10/11 season with a **** attack force and tons of injuries. Are you seriously telling me that we should have, more or less, the same target for next season after we've spent £25-30+million AND brought in two top free signings?

There's no ambition in that man - especially considering the spending.

 

And shoot yourself in the foot?

 

I think with Cabaye and Marveaux we have great signings and can only improve.


Whether you call it delusion or ambition weve done **** more than the Arse

 

I certainly think so, there's so little to seperate teams between 6th and 15th and we're making all the right noises with our latest signings. Let's gan for it!

 

This.

 

This

 

Let's try and win the league, and if we don't then no harm done.

 

I would say we should be aiming for as high as possible, which realistically I would say at the moment could be anywhere from 7th - 10th. So I'd like that to be the aim, but I'd be concerned about it being the be-all-end-all i.e. if we finished 11th - 14th I wouldn't want anyone calling for Pardew to go; more than anything the aim next season must be to keep the same manager and a strong set of players with obvious signs we're building big time for the future.