Happy with 6th or above. Too soon for top four. In a season or twos time definitely but still a couple of players short this season.
We're still not finished signing yet so its too early to say ''we're short on players''. We all know that the title is out of the question, its Citys to lose. However top four is realistic, Arsenal don't scare anyone and Spurs have replaced an idiot with a buffoon.
Would be very surprised if we got top four. We have had major changes in our system as a whole which will take time to bed in. If you look at our rivals, they're in equal to better places at the moment. City/United. Obviously very unlikely. Chelsea - I think will be on one this season and have signed quality players. Arsenal - Even without RVP they always get ahead of steam which I doubt we will be able to follow. Spurs - I would of said they were ahead of us with a better squad - but they look vulnerable atm. There is a chance we can overtake. Newcastle - Bit of an unknown. Can they carry on like last year? They have as good squad as us so I expect us to be jousting with them all season. 6th i'd be happy with, 7th dissapointed, anything higher than 6th i'd be delighted.
Yeah i'd agree with that. Not quite sure how the season will pan out for us - but i'm expecting us to be harder to beat and keep the ball better. Welcome back btw!
Ignoring City & United. Chelsea - New manager, who'se honeymood period is now over. Have signed a ridiculous amount of attacking players but still weak in defence. Left back is solid, CB's are average. Cahill is okay, Terry has been good but showed signs that he's not as good as once was. David Luiz - who knows, very inconsistent and at the moment dont have a right back. RDM had an "easy" task last year of just saying to his older players, go out there and do what you've been doing for years. Now he's lost Drogba, can he work out a way to get the bets out of Torres? Arsenal - Always there or there abouts but who knows what the RVP saga will do to them. Seem to have brought well but still look shaky in defence. No decent LB and also should one of their CB's or Sagna get injured they don't really have much cover. Spurs - very similar to us in that they have a talented squad but need to get used to a new way of playing. Also interesting to see what happens to Modric and how it affects the team. They are very light upfront with Defoe the only recognised forward at the moment. Newcastle - I wouldn't like to predict. May have another brilliant season however are likely to again lost top players to the African Nations in January (Ba, Cisse, Tiote). there is no reason as to why we couldn't get 4th, but we just need to play the way we have done in the last 3 games, take our chances and hope the new signing bed in well.
To be honest you need to clear things with one or two of the other mods rather than myself. You do need to calm down though that is true.
That's fair enough mate. You don't have to change everything - we all have our moments, just learn when to draw the line. Lets move on...
Just out of topic, 'Harry Redknapp, whose European Championship predictions for Italy and Spain proved so accurate, tip the Reds as the suprise team of the new season.' He also said that Holland won't make it out of the group stages and they didn't. Also looking at our last few games we did look really sharp, you never know top 4 could be in our grasp this season. But won't get overly excited or ambitious, until I have a look at the first couple of games in the league.
Wouldnt be all that shocked if you got top 4. Top 3 for me is nailed on United, City, Arsenal. 4th is very much up for grabs. Chelsea have signed a good few players and lost one of the most important in their history. They might click and be amazing but with no goal scorer and far from settled as a unit I would say the are not certain of top 4 Spurs look thin. New manager with something to prove though. Newcastle are the most settled of the teams going for 4th but was last season a one off? Big season for them, are they a real contender? Liverpool like spurs have a new manager and a few fresh faces with more expected. Its not too unlikely they are in the battle for 4th come the end of the season and with none of the teams above appearing overly strong they could nick it.
@UIR, Arsenal nailed on? I know Wenger has an excellent record of getting into the top 4 but with Song AND Van Persie edging towards the exit I'm not so sure they're nailed on. Song 10+ League assists (I think) last season while Van Persiecontributed to over 40 of their league goals. Will Giroud and Podolski be able to bridge that deficit? It would be even worse if Walcott left.
At the start of each season we go over whether Arsenal will make the top 4 and everytime they do. Yes they may lose said players but they have bought well ( for them at the very least ) and have a few more in their sights ( competing with you guys for some ) so I can see them getting 3rd a few points above 4th but a way behind United and City. I think they have bought to spread the goals which will benefit them rather than relying on RVP to supply the finish every time. Most people think its Chelsea's but I think Drogba will be a bigger loss than they think, they have bough well but they have not replaced him and it was him who all but won them 2 cups last season. If they play like they did in the Shield even with 11 men they wont be getting 3rd and it leaves Arsenal for me who ( this wont go down well but its just my opinion ) are better than Spurs, Newcastle and Liverpool.
Pretty hard to predict where we will finish as just as much depends on how other teams fare. However, one thing I feel reasonably confident in predicting is that we will score a higher number of goals and end up with a higher points total. How high? We'll just have to enjoy the journey to find out.
