Goal difference is a fair predictor of where a team will end up. Last season we finished 9th with GD = -4. But we shipped some ugly goals down the home stretch - 4 to Fulham plus the 5 to 'Pool etc. So the negative perhaps skews the numbers against us. We have lost DG / Moore / Schechtar: -7. Gained Bony / Pozuelo / Shelvey / Canas: +20 to +25 (guessing). Let's presume Michu only gets 14 in the league instead of 18. That would put us: +5 to +10. Good enough for 7th or 8th. If we cut down our goals against - we shipped 51 - by say 10, then we are +15 to +20, which is pushing towards 5th. It all depends on Bony's output and staying healthy, Michu repeating, and then what the likes of Ki, Pozuelo, JDG, Pablo etc contribute.
Well with the squad we have now got and providing that everyone gels as quick as last season, with minimal injuries, then I can see us finishing 6-7, provided what happens at a few other clubs, i.e. Liverpool and Eveton
My only reservation about all this is the unknown factor of Europa football and what it will take out of us. We gain in one respect, in that we will have played a couple of competitive games before the league starts. With luck, this will iron out some wrinkles and give the players a chance to gel with each other. This could give us a head start against teams who are starting "cold". The flip side is, the more successful we are in Europe, the harder the PL will become as legs become heavy and we have to play teams who undoubtedly will be fresher. We all know how the likes of Toon, Stoke and Fulham had to battle for results because of the fatigue factor. Without Europa football, I'm convinced that our present squad could well push hard for 7th place. However, it remains to be seen how the extra games will affect us. Mind you, if we have a really good run and make the semi or even final of the Europa Cup, the momentum could well carry us into a decent position in the league - winning mentality and all that.
This is why we have signed so many midfielders. Will be interesting to see how Laudrup rotates his squad.
Laudrup will do a lot of rotation of the players this season. With what we have, we have technically two very good sides. This will help us with our European exploits, and I can see us finishing 6th or 7th.
All the sides around us last year have strengthened and obviously the top 5 / 6 should remain the same ,I'm not confident to say anything other than top half would be great but above the relegation places will be fine .
Spot on Bony - we have made some great signings, and if they all gel we could have a fantastic season, but then others have also made some great signings. This league is too tight to get complacent - this season, like the last two, I would settle for anything above relegation - any higher would be a bonus. Maybe that is a little negative because we certainly have a squad that is far better than many teams around us - but we all know that the Premier League can be a fickle mistress and if any team goes on a bad run that see's them dragged into the relegation dogfight, it is very hard to get out of. My heart says that we will be fine, and maybe even better last seasons points tally - my head says that this is going to be another very hard and competitive campaign! But given the quality signings Huw and Laudrup have made, we have a great chance for glory both in Europe and the domestic league! Is gonna be another rollercoaster ride, but one I am really looking forward to!
Me neither never - hate the Summer break; have even resorted to watching the women's football (England lost to Spain 3-2). Roll on August 1st - just hope we don't draw Prestatyn!
Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea are the top three. Arsenal and Tottenham are both in a better position than us too. Everton may drop backwards a little whilst we improve. Sixth is better than seventh so everything finishing like that would be an improvement (assuming there is a massive gap between sixth and seventh making us the best of the rest so to speak). However, I think BR has to have us challenging for a top four spot. by that, I mean in with a chance (slim or not) come the beginning of May. Maybe a good cup run too but they're a gamble competition anyway. Of course, it all depends on what signings happen between now and 1 September, both incoming and outgoing. PS...don't wum then
Well,they can look,Ffs, There's no law against them "looking". As for anything else,well..... !? I paid a very rare visit to "the other place" earlier,only to discover john hughs giving a master class in spelling. This is the guy who has repeatedly claimed to be a student in Swansea University. In reality,the only occasions that he would be allowed on campus would be to empty the bins.
I don't think it will take its toll on us physically though Norway as we have a very strong 25 man squad. We could easily put out to decent sides this season. The problem will be if we are still in the cup competitions for a decent run, as the fixtures would then pile up around January, if we are still in all competitions. Have to say, would sacrifice the cup competitions now, for a good run in the EL and a top 10 finish in the league
