Does higher expectation take away some of the pleasure of the game.

I have been thinking about my level of expectation for us next season and how it differs from what I would have been satisfied with this year.

In August last year my targets for NUFC for the season were, to finish 17th, not get hammered in the derby games (and maybe even pick up a couple of points) and I really did not care about the cups as a good run in the cup could have a detrimental affect on our league form.
Of course the club have far exceeded these expectations in what has been a fantastic season, but, because of the fact that we have done so well, I expect so much more from next season (even taking into account 2nd season syndrome).

I am hoping that we will retain most of our squad (although I think that Jose is off) and I am quite hopeful that we will sign 3-4 decent players. If we can do this I would expect us to achieve a top 10 finish, a share of the points in the derby games (you never know what is going to happen) and a good run in one of the cups.

This has left me feeling quite uneasy. You see the weird thing is that I have felt quite comfortable this year because I have not expected too much from our team. I have coped with ****e performances like Bolton away because I expected things like this to happen and we were still doing better than I had hoped, whereas losing at home to teams like Blackpool and Stoke left me pissed off, the feeling was not as severe as it would have been in previous seasons.

So, the result of this is that I have enjoyed this season far more than many other premiership seasons even though we "only" finished 12th.

Next year however, I am expecting far more (delusion is returning) and can envisage myself being thoroughly pissed off if we get beaten at home by teams who finished below us in the league this year. So my question is, will this higher level of expectation take away some of the enjoyment and highten the disappointment when things do not go so well?
Maybe I would be better off just trying to convince myself that once again 17th should be our aim.

 

Well you say does it take the pleasure away... Do you remember the days of 7th under Roeder? 4th, 3rd then 5th under Sir Bobby? If so that should answer the question Happiest times i've had supporting Newcastle and that includes our Championship holiday!

 

I totally agree with what you're saying there mate, I'll be honest now and say that I'd be disappointed if we finish 12th next season but it really depends on how much money we spend and injuries etc.

We're in a better position than Arsenal etc who expect trophies every season.

 

As long as I see the team strengthen it's quality and depth then I'm going to be happy with simply finishing in a slightly higher league position next season.

I don't expect challenging for Europe etc or having a serious cup run.

Can't beat a bit of Kaizen...

 

Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing us play in the Champions League and competing with the "Sky 4".

I suppose the years under Souness, Allardyce etc. have made me cautious about having too much hope.

 

I expect Europe! And winning a cup! And by Europe i mean real Europe not that Europa League rubbish! Im busy Thursdays!

 

i'd say if we finish top 10 (i've gone for 9th) and a good cup run then i'd be over the moon
the relegation has taught me a valuable lesson in not getting carried away if slow progress is made and as long as we don't finish below this seasons finish i for one will be happy


bollox to that champions league here we come

(to the sound of silence by simon and colo lookalikie)

Hello delusion, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of tyneside

 

I agree with you sir on this.... But I look at things in a slightly different way.
This season has been great and bad at times... We have belted some teams and been belted and lets not forget the magic 4-4. Now this season has... lets be honest been exciting with lots of twists and turns. But for the first time In a while we can approach a premiership season as a stable football club... with a good pre season and some new signings and a manager who will stay for the duration we should improve on last season.

So I say we look at next season and say that 11th position is the very minimum we should accept and anything above is a bonus and thus us moving in the right direction.

We are looking for steady improvement within the financial constraints that are imposed.

 

This makes sense, but I know that if we sign a really good striker the little deluded Geordie within me will burst out like a scene out of Alien, and once he's out it's a hell of a job to control him!!!!

 

At least until Cashley sells said striker in the following January...