I think you'll finish above Burnley. It's too early to say yet, it's only really when the window's closed that you can make an educated guess on who's going to struggle. We're bring in at least three more players and I'm sure you'll be doing the same, you haven't got a strong enough squad to cope in the Premier League yet and I'm sure NP is aware of this.
It is undeniably tough for promoted teams ... if you survive the first season (when you do have a certain element of surprise on your side) you can be found out in the second (a salutary note for our visitors from Yorkshire some of whom seem to believe they have better knowledge of our squad than we do) ... For me, I feel far more optimism than I did when we went up under Mickey Adams, in fact, I'm getting a similar feel of 'guarded excitement' that I had under O'Neil ... wondering if the (unknown) quality players like Izzet, Heskey, Lennon and Kaamark would be as good in that league and whether the more experienced but undeniably good players like Walsh and Garry Parker had the desire/legs ... would the signings fit in and prosper? Scruffy Steve wasn't proven in the Prem ... what might happen if things started to go wrong? Whilst there are parallels to most of the above there is one important difference - we can now (indeed we are already) compete in the transfer market - coupled with a scouting system even better than we had under Martin O'Neil ... we also have such financial clout that if we need to address problem areas in transfer windows we can do so ... For me we are capable of survival, indeed should fear nobody at all but may come up short against the top six or seven ... so what... most do ... many of our 'rivals' are desperate for us to fail ... then they would have only two other teams to finish above ... occurs to me that 'wishful thinking' colours some of the rival posters on here ... Spatchcock O'Gooliegrab being a prime example it's all conjecture and I'm looking forward to battling it out for 8th down to 17th with all those other teams around us ...
One of my points really is that no one ever thinks their team will go down, but 3 teams have to and apart from burnley, and arguably west brom under irvine, i cant see teams worse than us. A minor worry is that our first 5 games are like a champions league group stage and i tend to think its vital to get off with some momentum - particularly not to go without a win in 5 - but im trying not to think too much about that. We have 4 CMs but hammond and king id think are not up to the task and we have too many eggs in the basket of avoiding injury (currently, i know) due to not the numbers, but the quality of the squad depth. Now we all hope we will strengthen further, but as it stands i do worry. The entire left side i see as a serious problem going into the season.
Southampton don't have a team, We have a better team then Burnley and QPR, West Brom could go either way with Irvine. Hull finished 17th and with the europa league to contend with they might find it tough See we can pick faults with a lot of teams but until the season starts no one will really know what shape the squads are actually in. Our squad needs another 2 or 3 players but overall I think were in quite good shape
I think you've convinced yourself that Hull City have some sort of rivalry with Leicester. I don't really care if you go down or not, I just think you will because your squad doesn't look as strong as the other teams in the bottom half, the same goes for Burnley. Spatchcock O'Gooliegrab? Good grief...
If the game is played on paper you are probably right tbh. However the whole bottom half last ear was very close so it's not a huge gap to bridge to be safe (in terms of points) and our hopes are pinned on areas such as team spirit/surprise and hard work not how the teams look on paper. I understand the views of other teams fans regarding our team though
There you go Ed. We just comfortably beat a very decent (in terms of names) Everton side. Still worried?
You survived on 37 points in a league where 43 has sent teams down before. Snodders and Ince are great Championship players but below average Prem players. Most of our first team is yet to have a crack at the Prem and players that outsiders think of as Championship players will not be though as such in the near to mid-term future. This is why you have a skewed view on us, but we've seen you and your new signings in the Prem, and can make a much fairer assessment.
Really? Some fans may believe with their heart as opposed to their head, but, if it came down to it, they probably fear the worst (as you're doing). Few clubs go up in our strong position though - remember, no side that has achieved over 100pts in the Championship has ever been immediately relegated. Our team as plenty of pace and skill, which is essential in the Prem and we have money, so even if come January we're not where we want to be, we can fill the gaps then. It's not always essential to get a good start. Sunderland got most of their points in the second half of the season, as did Palace. That's your personal opinion Ed. King I think will flourish at this level, can't wait to see him get his chance. If injuries happen, we can look at emergence loans. We could end up with players we'd never be able to sign that way anyway. I've said I'd like us to sign two more players, and these are the positions (LM, LB) that I'd like to see added to BUT I'm not going to be worried if we don't.
Just think, the ones that think we aren't good enough and will struggle this season, are the ones who thought we would struggle and be lucky to finish in the top 6 last season...
Snodgrass scored seven goals last season which is a great return for a winger especially in a team that was struggling , as for your comment on ince you may want to tell 50% percent of the premier league that has tried to sign him over the last six months , he is better than anything Leicester have in the same position
While im not saying there bad signings but Snodgrass got relegated and Ince scored 1 goal and struggled with Palace Not really Messi and Ronaldo
Ince has only played several games in the Premier League so that point goes right down the drain. Snodgrass is also an established Premier League player who has proven himself to be more than capable in this league, he's not below average and is better than everyone in your squad so that point also goes down the drain.
... not even enough to be regularly on our board and to even feel the need to vote in a poll about our possible finishing position? do have a word with yourself fella ... That's why I hate predictive text ... unfortunately the 'rivalry' isn't yet intense enough for me to be arsed to scroll back up to check your actual forum name ...
