I have seen a lot of folk talking about 17th this season as a huge success. I get that, up to a point. I have also seen posts that survival would eclipse last seasons success too. So what are folks thoughts, now the dust has settled on the tfr window and we have played 3. I am going to put it out there. Relegation would be a failure and huge disappointment. We have spent serious money, and on players with some hefty reputations. To go down having invested like we have would be poor. I also look at the prem this season and see teams who will leave the door wide open for the promoted sides. Wolves, Fulham, Brentford, West Ham. Honestly think we should stay up with a couple of games in hand. As for eclipsing last season. Regis worked miracles to achieve promotion last season. To take that squad, who had been allowed to drift badly and morale drop, and get them starting and finishing so strong was an unreal job. Youngest squad, low wage bill etc etc. Teams with parachute money and we matched them. I honestly think promotion was one of those all time achievements in our history, given the season before, and our young squad. Given what we have done this summer, which is remarkable, I think we need to get up toward 12th-14th to match last season, which by the way I think should be our target. Sure lots will disagree, but there you go. Club has done everything right, now over to coaches and players to live up to capability imo.
I just want us to stay up and build from there, regardless of where we finish. Internally, I think the club will have more ambition than just survival in 17th though.
At the talk in, Speakman said initially that we were planning on winning it! After that he said look at finishing comfortably above relegation, then mid table, then push for Champions League etc., places. He didn't give a timescale on that. It does seem better doing it in baby steps like that and getting it right along the way rather than boom/bust thing. Nobody wants to be a yoyo club.
A 17th place finish would mean a season long relegation battle … … this team is better than that in my opinion. The team/squad is clearly nowhere near clicking but all the right components are there. I’d be very disappointed with 17th , with those players, especially as we’re already 6 points into our target.
I'd be delighted with 17th but I don't think that's how the club will be thinking. They will be looking upwards towards mid table. No chance a player of Xhakas ability is 'aiming' for 17th.
Staying up will be a huge success. genuinely believe that if we can stay up this season we could be on the verge of something special with this lot in charge. don’t care how we do it just make sure we do it
I'm sure Leicester finished approx 20 points less than Spurs who were 17th. Staying up is paramount and after watching virtually a brand new team playing exciting football I believe we can stay up and hit lower to mid table.....at least. I think we will surprise a few of the experts who all predicted relegation with us at the bottom.
17th is success, but I believe this squad is capable of better than that. Not just the ability, but the togetherness already as seen in the players after Saturday, and the team spirit that still pours out of every club video. It’s still about bucking that trend and staying up, nobody would be gutted with survival. We win the FA Cup too.
At the end of the last season staying up would have been a miracle with the players we had. The transfer window has changed my views significantly.. Don't get me wrong I would take 17th now but I really do think that with the players we've bought although a lot haven't played premier league I would also be very disappointed if we went down. I think this squad is capable of 13th 14th and who knows what will happen come the January transfer window. I believe the club when they say we aren't here to make the numbers up. It will be difficult we will need players to stay fit and when needed squad players to grasp an opportunity and perform well. So I'm with @FellTop disappointing if we go down but I'm very confident that we won't and a nice gentle run in to the end of the season.
For me this season is still a free hit, no matter what. I do think the team are capable of staying up and maybe even get to around 15th. If we go down, it'll be disappointing but one that I trust the club to learn from and bounce back stronger.
I don’t think any of us know. As I’ve said a few times all it takes is a player that’s a bit of an unknown quantity like a Talbi or now Brobbey to fly and we could raise 4-6 places. We will know a lot more in 6 games time, but my god do we look competitive and that’s a start. Saints didnt last season. Leicester and Ipswich did early on but didn’t bank points. We’ve already got 15% of the points we are looking for.
To me there's a bit of nuance to this mythical 17th place. It's not like we'll get to that point and just sit there so it'll either be doing well, and slipping back, or fighting back up from the bottom three. Either would be very uncomfortable and less than we're hoping for, especially as we're already ahead of what many thought ... ... and the big problem with 17th is that it's very very close to 18th
17th keeps you up. It’s a clear as that mate. How we make it to 17th is immaterial. If we rise or fall to it last day of the season, or sit there a while, net result is the same. I strongly believe we will finish higher, but 17th is fine.
17th would be unbelievable I predict 16th or 17th. Initially thought 19th and relegated but my mind has changed. We’ve signed some very good players and loads of experience - that was massively needed.
It’s early to day for me. We could have bad looked luck with injuries while others differ. We have to view in context. However we have a good, broad unit and it appears trust in the coach and organisation. So survival is the bare minimum bit I think a place or two or four above and some space for a deep breath is hoped for
17th but a good few points clear of 18th, plus winning two particular games, that would be tremendous. Champagne time if 18th was taken by a certain other team!
The way I see it. We have won 2 out of 3 games. On one hand you could say the teams we’ve already played are comfortably lower half teams so it’s not that impressive. However on the other hand we are a newly promoted team with a ton of new players who are still learning about each other, still getting to know each other and how each other plays, how and when the make runs etc. my point is, as I’ve mentioned previously in other posts, we are only going to get better. You could argue that we are a team of strangers at the moment but that won’t always be the case. Call me a happy clapper but I’m so much more confident about our chances this season than I was 3 months ago
I'd take 17th right now, can then build from there I reckon we will finish 16th, would love a comfortable finish and not going into the last few games worrying about going down
