Like it says on the tin really, with wins in our last three friendlies and some good football and some decent looking acquisitions in Immers, Zohore, Jazz, and Freddy where do you lot think we'll finish?
Well it's already been said that top 6 is the minimum target and I don't think that's beyond us with the change of management regime for this season. If we manage that, then going up through the playoffs is always on. Top 2 is a much longer shot, and going up as Champions is on offer 33/1 which reflects the difficulty of the task. I'll go for the middle optimistic choice - we can go up by one route or another, maybe through the playoffs. Once you're in that mix it's down to just three games at the end of the season and it'll be down to Trollope and Co. to push us over the line.
Trollope is showing he is his own man. A more appealing formation than the 442 of last year whatever the results. Distancing himself from Slade. Not earthshattering signings but all look as if they'll add to the mix. As important are the transfers out. Add to that the utilisation of a few youngsters and steps forward have been made. A few more to see the door hopefully, but unlike many on here I'd be happy to see ALF to stay. The change in formation is likely to suit him. I'm looking forward with a degree of optimism to the coming season.
Can't see beyond Newcastle, Villa & Norwich. With the current squad, I foresee City will win more than they'll lose but don't have the overall quality the 3 relegated clubs will have once they've finished sorting out their squads.
I think Norwich have the best bet. They've not gone boom and bust and have been up and down a few times so know their way around this division. Newcastle undoubtedly have the quality and the deep pockets. It comes down to how well Benitez copes with the hurly burly of championship football Saturday Tuesday Saturday. Villa are likely to go bang. Like Hilts I think they could go straight down. I'm sure the likes of Blackburn, Brighton, Derby, Wednesday and Wolves will be in the mix with the usual surprise package as we have every year (Wigan?).
Have to agreed with Nin about Villa. Not the same team that were relegated and Di Matteo is a quality appointment and with new owners they'll have the cash to spend in both transfer windows. Defo Top 6
I'm feeling optimistic this morning. A play-off win is not out of the question. Like others, I think Newcastle and Norwich will dominate and return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. I am not sure about Villa, but DiMatteo always seemed to put a good squad together, although I don't think they will get an automatic return to the top flight, they may get a play-off spot and will fail against the bluebirds. I'm hoping for a better season than last, with Trollope getting the best out of the lads.
Villa were an absolute shambles last season, they've got a huge amount of work to do to stabilise and be competitive. Unless they do some really good business they'll be nearer the bottom than the top of the division imo. Has anyone gone from shambles to promotion contender in recent years? Maybe you could say QPR? The geordies were too good to go down and were only relegated due to god awful management of Schteve. Rafa is a class act and will take them up as champions imo. Norwich seem to be following the 'new' Burnley/Hull route (formerly the bouncing Baggies method) of being stable and trying to go straight back up. We all saw how that worked out last year. As the PL gets richer and chairmen calmer in the face of relegation we'll see a lot more relegated sides returning at the first time of asking imo. Therefore making it much more difficult for Championship sides to get promoted unless they have a chairman with very deep pockets. I think we can look forward to season of trying to play decent football, we've got a squad capable of being competitive Tues/Sat/Tues when you look at the midfield options. 3-5-2 would seem to suit Whits and our attacking (defensively rubbish) full backs. Where we finish will probably depend on whether Zahore and/or the new guy can be a consistent goal threat. The new guy does seem to be having an effect every game, with a couple of goals and winning a pen in 3 games. That's encouraging, but him him and Zahore are very much rough diamonds and no one can know how it'll work till they've actually played a decent amount of football at this level. I'm sure Zahore will benefit for his look at the division last season though.
While we have achieved decent results in somewhat strange circumstances in the friendlies I'm not sure of the quality of opposition. You can only beat what's in front of you but from the clips I saw the majority looked very poor. Bournemouth on Saturday will provide a much stiffer test - and they will want revenge for to 3 -2 win we got their last season. As for our new man, Gonzo, as I can't say let alone spell his name, time will tell. If he turns out as good as his country man, Gestede, eventually became then he will be a good acquisition - provided that happens with us.
Probably the longest ever post on this board Agree that Zahore could be a real handful, unsure about Gounogbe yet. Squad certainly has some depth in defence & midfield. Think City need another option up front.
should be an entertaining season ahead>>>>lots of changes at most clubs.....teams not yet complete until loan window shuts so its anyone`s guess at mo>>>>>>>>>I be happy 2 be in the mix come the end of season with the players we have currently in place tho.....watch the bluebirds fly
Hm, Villa to be docked 9 points, that puts paid to my prediction they'll finish in a play-off spot. http://www.socceronsunday.com/article/aston-villa-docked-9-points/
Likewise to my prediction as well Do recall though few years ago Sunderland lost their first 4 games but still went up as champions.
Not sure about this Villa points deduction "scoop". That link from Taff is the only report I can find about Villa being docked 9 points. Is it a load of bollucks or has April 1st come early? Surely there would have been mentions of it all over the place in the media. Has anyone seen any other info on it and can provide a link?
I instantly had a look at the BBC Villa page and decided the absence of any mention meant the article was almost certainly rubbish. It would be big news if it was happening, not hidden away on an obscure web site.
It's bollocks - look at some of the other comments and references. Would be a nice way for us to start the season though. Villa on -9!!!
