Hi Percival,
What were your expectations for last season exactly?
Eleventh place was a brilliant position for all players and staff involved. The way we finished the term was superb. At the beginning of last season we had a completely different side to the one that finished the season.
First game of the season vs Swansea:
Matt Duke; Nolberto Solano, Kamil Zayatte, Anthony Gardner, Andy Dawson; Will Atkinson (Devitt 70), Ian Ashbee [captain], Tom Cairney, Kevin Kilbane; John Bostock (Barmby 83); Richard Garcia (Cullen 78).
Last game of the season vs Bristol City:
Matt Duke; James Chester (McShane 34), Jack Hobbs, Anthony Gerrard, Andy Dawson [captain]; James Harper, Robert Koren (Mclean 34), Hope Akpan; David Amoo (Cairney 46), Matty Fryatt., Jay Simpson
As you can see, only Duke, Dawson and Cairney featured in both games. This highlights that we were in a transitional period throughout the season. Transitional sides are not promotion chasers nor are they playoff sides. The fact we came up a few games short of the playoffs was a fantastic achievement in itself.
The closest comparison you should be making is with Portsmouth, as they were relegated in the previous season and had major financial and playing issues like us. We finished 7 points ahead of them and put a serious challenge together at the tail of the season. Furthermore, we have a very ambitious, hungry and talented squad to develop and train for future success.
Kind regards,