:sorted: they had us third last season, behind Cardiff and Leeds.
Expectations for Season 20/21 (2 viewing)
- Thread starter Indian Bee
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LingfieldBee
Active member
I think we need a few signings to boost the squad, and Top 6 with a good run and forwards on form maybe top 2
Guildford Bee
Well-known member
The Totally Football League Podcast predicts play-offs again
The most important thing for me is going to watch my team and being entertained. Part of that is the jeopardy of not knowing what the result will be. No such thing as an easy match in the Championship.
So, that normally means if we get to April and still in with a shout of the Play-offs, it suggests we have probably done ok and will continue to be entertained through to the end of the season.
However, after this last fantastic season, I have to raise my expectations.
Still want to be entertained. Come start of April, in the Play-offs with a shout at top 2.
A top 2 finish would be amazing.
So, that normally means if we get to April and still in with a shout of the Play-offs, it suggests we have probably done ok and will continue to be entertained through to the end of the season.
However, after this last fantastic season, I have to raise my expectations.
Still want to be entertained. Come start of April, in the Play-offs with a shout at top 2.
A top 2 finish would be amazing.
Alan D
Alan D
Personally I would be very surprised, but obviously delighted, if we are in the mix for automatic promotion. We are losing 43 goals from last season and have to bed up to two new attackers in. So for me I see a mild flirtation with the play - offs, but evetually finishing somewhere around 10th.
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
Absolutely no idea this season, I think it has turned into a bit of a lottery what with no crowds and a very congested schedule. Top 6 would be a great achievement again
AB
Well-known member
The season after we went up we lost our two top goalscorers and replaced them with a guy from L2 who got injured a couple of games in and one from the Conference. We finished 5th with a team that our current squad less Said would blow away. There are maybe three players who on their 14-15 performances would get into our starting XI (Judge, Gray & Pritchard) and at least two of those wouldn’t start the season as starters on the basis of their 13-14 background compared to who they’d be displacing (eg would Judge after scoring 7 in L1 really be a shoe in to replace Da Silva who got 10 in the Championship?). Jota was amazing but much less productive than Mbeumo.
The league is probably somewhat tougher now (though it is noteworthy that that season’s champions have only just come down from the PL) but the idea that we’re not at the very least a strong and consistent top 6 challenger this season is unduly pessimistic.
I think we'll be harder to beat this season but the question will be whether we can score enough goals. I don't except Toney to weigh in with 20 + in his first season, others need to score minimum 10+. You don't need a prolific goal scorer, Leeds won the league without one. Top 6 is realistic, top 2 possible.
Weststand Bee
Formerly known as 'Hayward's Way'
I think we will be challenging again, although my gut feeling is that we need a Said replacement (not sure if Canos can be that replacement) and possibly one other. Toney will be great for us, that i'm certain and we have one of the most creative midfields on our day, coupled with a mean defence - we will be up there. I'll go for second spot.
Norfolk Bee
Norfolk Bee
Top ten for sure, hopefully challenging for promotion with great football and a bit of savvy at times. Championship wide open,never a dull moment.Until last few years never thought we would even be a solid second tier club in a state of the art stadium with a very good squad of players and coaches. Incredible. In the dark days that seemed impossible.
brentfordwannabee
Member
If the rest of the transfer window plays out as expected (Benrahma goes, Henry and Raya both stay) then Play Offs, experience finally counts in our favour and we beat Watford in the Final:beer:
shaun
Active member
Top 6. Don’t think our midfield is good enough for automatic.
we haven't lost any midfielders from last season. Are you saying it is that area that let us down?
shaun
Active member
IMO, the midfield was the weakest part of our team last year and it hasn’t been upgraded either in quality or quantity as far as I am aware (I don’t think there is a lot of cover amongst the midfield areas in the squad).
BMW scored a lot of goals last year and whilst a lot of assists would have come from (for example) the midfield, I suspect a lot of chances were also created by BMW amongst themselves.
If BMW Mark 2 (MT*) generate the same level of output as last year, we will be knocking on the door of automatics but I don’t think you can rely on that.
WARFIELD BEE
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Top eight, with what we have at the moment, assuming SB goes, injuries in one or two key areas could leave us light, although I do expect us to get more in.
Ealing Bee
Active member
No idea myself but here's what Benjamin Bloom thinks:
plymouthbee
Member
I am expecting mid table this year,would love to think higher but I am hoped to be proved wrong.
AB
Well-known member
Never seen him before but that was a pretty decent and fair summary even if he didn’t mention Toney.
beesbees_bfc
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clearly not under the radar with this fella, very complimentary and seems to ‘get it’
OP
Indian Bee
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- Thread Starter
- #121
I completely disagree. In my view the best midfield we have had since we got promoted to the Championship. Having a player as Norgaard helped the defence greatly. Josh scored what 10. I am expecting Baptiste if he can be injury free to have a big season. What we need is more consistently I performance levels from Josh, Jensen and Marcondes.
Wicko Bee
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This season will be a long hard slog for all teams, with more midweek matches quality and depth of squad will be massively important, and teams with less quality outside of their starting eleven will struggle.
As many mention, if we can get some cover in for DCM & RB (until Roerslev is fit) then we will have a very competitive squad.
If we can get a half decent start I am optimistic of a top 6 spot, top 2 if Toney / Forss / Dervisoglu can replace Ollie’s goals on a regular basis.
As many mention, if we can get some cover in for DCM & RB (until Roerslev is fit) then we will have a very competitive squad.
If we can get a half decent start I am optimistic of a top 6 spot, top 2 if Toney / Forss / Dervisoglu can replace Ollie’s goals on a regular basis.
shaun
Active member
Do you honestly think that the midfield was stronger than either our front 3 or defence last season?
Presumably not given you think that they need more consistency.
Noorga is a good central defensive midfielder. Personally, I don’t rate him as highly as others on here but each to their own.
The biggest change defensively though is the experience and power at centre half now.
OP
Indian Bee
Active member
- Thread Starter
- #124
I respect your opinion and not saying I am right or you are wrong. I personally rate him highly.
I think we need more consistency not with Nørgaard but other midfield players around him, like Josh, Marcodes and Jensen. We are missing a Mokotjo type player for sure and that needs to be addressed.
Les Beeavinu
Administrator
Top 4.
cromerbee
...we are the Royal Oak, Griffin Park.
Mid table
LingfieldBee
Active member
Squad depth is going to play a massive role this season across the table. And I do hope we use some of the moment to invest in that way. Players will need resting across the season and I hope we have enough. We ran out of puff last 5 games, with no rotation of the squad same will happen again.
The next three weeks are crucially important. Possibly the most important since getting out of League 1 for continuing the progression. Stating the bleedin’ obvious, I know.
We were imperious at times last year with BMW at their best, but W is gone, B’s going and M is still not convincing post-CoVid.
That bad news aside, we’re £28m better off and Said’s money to come. So will we spend? £50m burning the hole in your pocket question. Do “we” spend £10m? £15m?
Sergi’s a good honest old-fashioned winger. Head-down, push and go, one-dimensionsal, but has none of Said’s trickery. Ditto Fosu. Would either of them get into Leeds’s squad last year, let alone team? No. Good squad players; nothing more.
Jensen and Marcondes on their day are unplayable, but they need to prove those days are the rule rather than the exception. Again, great squad players. More?
IMHO, the DOFs need to buy a creative midfielder who can do it week in week out at top of the Championship level (think Pritch in the first play-off season) and a winger/inside forward with a major touch of the unexpected a la Said. Hopefully Ghoddos or similar. That’s a proper £££ outlay.
Easy, no? With those it‘s top 2. Without, it’s 5th-12th
Interesting times
We were imperious at times last year with BMW at their best, but W is gone, B’s going and M is still not convincing post-CoVid.
That bad news aside, we’re £28m better off and Said’s money to come. So will we spend? £50m burning the hole in your pocket question. Do “we” spend £10m? £15m?
Sergi’s a good honest old-fashioned winger. Head-down, push and go, one-dimensionsal, but has none of Said’s trickery. Ditto Fosu. Would either of them get into Leeds’s squad last year, let alone team? No. Good squad players; nothing more.
Jensen and Marcondes on their day are unplayable, but they need to prove those days are the rule rather than the exception. Again, great squad players. More?
IMHO, the DOFs need to buy a creative midfielder who can do it week in week out at top of the Championship level (think Pritch in the first play-off season) and a winger/inside forward with a major touch of the unexpected a la Said. Hopefully Ghoddos or similar. That’s a proper £££ outlay.
Easy, no? With those it‘s top 2. Without, it’s 5th-12th
Interesting times
JANORAK
Active member
-Blown that out of the water then!
Top 6 is dependent on:
- A decent replacement for Benrahma (i.e gets plenty of goals & assists and can create space/chances). Hopefully Ghoddos.
-Toney getting 20+ goals & adapting to the team fairly quickly (& vice-versa).
-The much-vaunted plan B for games where we go behind.
-New signing(s) with some steel & consistency in the middle to help Norgaard. Jensen & Marcondes aren't the answer.
If we can sort the above out by 10 games in, top 2 is a strong possibility. If not, we might just make 6th place, but top half is the likely finish. Lots more teams will play the spoiling game against us. We need that creativity and flexibility to find a way around it. (Or just get much better at plan A, but we don't have the players for that...yet).
- A decent replacement for Benrahma (i.e gets plenty of goals & assists and can create space/chances). Hopefully Ghoddos.
-Toney getting 20+ goals & adapting to the team fairly quickly (& vice-versa).
-The much-vaunted plan B for games where we go behind.
-New signing(s) with some steel & consistency in the middle to help Norgaard. Jensen & Marcondes aren't the answer.
If we can sort the above out by 10 games in, top 2 is a strong possibility. If not, we might just make 6th place, but top half is the likely finish. Lots more teams will play the spoiling game against us. We need that creativity and flexibility to find a way around it. (Or just get much better at plan A, but we don't have the players for that...yet).
The Pipe
Active member
Still confident a top 6 place is ours, where in that top 6 will depend on luck ( and refs not missing nailed on penalties!!!)
I note that posters are anxious to spend the Watkins money that is burning a hole in the pocket. However these are very different times and the return of crowds seems a long way away. Without gate receipts clubs will struggle financially big time and over the next few months I can see more than one club in financial difficulties or in fact just folding up.
we have players on high wages and very little income to cover those expenses, as such whilst we may not like it, keeping our powder dry until January when the future is clearer may be a shrewder option. Whilst without doubt in the short term not ideal but in the long term the sales of Watkins and Benrahma may enable us to see out the present difficulties and endure the clubs longevity
I note that posters are anxious to spend the Watkins money that is burning a hole in the pocket. However these are very different times and the return of crowds seems a long way away. Without gate receipts clubs will struggle financially big time and over the next few months I can see more than one club in financial difficulties or in fact just folding up.
we have players on high wages and very little income to cover those expenses, as such whilst we may not like it, keeping our powder dry until January when the future is clearer may be a shrewder option. Whilst without doubt in the short term not ideal but in the long term the sales of Watkins and Benrahma may enable us to see out the present difficulties and endure the clubs longevity
halibutbee64
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I think we are going to struggle to beat these men behind the ball teams.
14th place
14th place
Mr Cynical
Well-known member
We played sh*t on Sat and still had 3 or 4 clear chances...
HaylingBee74
Member
If we had converted 1 or 2 of those chances, views of the performance would have been dramatically different
OP
Indian Bee
Active member
- Thread Starter
- #135
We all knew Watkins and Said will go. But if we managed to keep the rest of the squad and add a couple more and I am confident we will although I am aware one of our top target may not be available until Jan or next summer we would have had a good transfer window. Most teams seem to be worse off than last year and I do not see a outstanding team in the league.
Still confident as being Champions and thats on the condition we don't sell anyone else in our squad today.
Still confident as being Champions and thats on the condition we don't sell anyone else in our squad today.
amersfoort bee
Active member
Champions without doubt.
But then I always thought that during the dark, dark days in the past.
But then I always thought that during the dark, dark days in the past.
nick logan
Well-known member
Speechless unless you put the 1 in error. Zero chance of us not at least being in play offs . 14th ???
cromerbee
...we are the Royal Oak, Griffin Park.
The league is there for he taking . We are quite capable of winning it!!!
OP
Indian Bee
Active member
- Thread Starter
- #139
Lol I can't think of 2 teams better than us let alone 13.
Doovster
Well-known member
I thought you said mid table last week!!
cromerbee
...we are the Royal Oak, Griffin Park.
Changed my mind - I'm allowed!!!I thought you said mid table last week!!
Doovster
Well-known member
Quite right too, champions all day long
OP
Indian Bee
Active member
- Thread Starter
- #143
It is looking more and more likely the only first team player now that potentially will leave is Said. We got a good point today and I am led to believe we are hoping to sign one more player, selling club really don't want to sell and we may need to wait until January. Even if Said does leave I believe we have got a great squad that is top 2 this year. Brought in Goode, Toney and Ghoddos and Forss back with us this year also.
I am less fussed than others about Blackburn and Reading after 3 games and still firmly believe we will be top 2 if not Champions. All those knocking Canos and Marcondes they will eventually be great squad players that we will need as the season progresses (how many teams will cope with the December fixtures). The performances at Southampton and West Brom gives me huge confidence we have the best squad in the division.
So Champions it is.
I am less fussed than others about Blackburn and Reading after 3 games
and still firmly believe we will be top 2 if not Champions. All those knocking Canos and Marcondes they will eventually be great squad players that we will need as the season progresses (how many teams will cope with the December fixtures). The performances at Southampton and West Brom gives me huge confidence we have the best squad in the division.So Champions it is.
nick logan
Well-known member
Going upIt is looking more and more likely the only first team player now that potentially will leave is Said. We got a good point today and I am led to believe we are hoping to sign one more player, selling club really don't want to sell and we may need to wait until January. Even if Said does leave I believe we have got a great squad that is top 2 this year. Brought in Goode, Toney and Ghoddos and Forss back with us this year also.
I am less fussed than others about Blackburn and Reading after 3 games
So Champions it is.
longdistancebee
Active member
Top 10 – guaranteed (as far as anything can be guaranteed in football!)
Top 6 – a good chance
Top 2 – we will need that bit of luck that has eluded us thus far
Pros:
Assuming Raya stays, our back 5 is very strong, with good cover
Norgaard is in the form of his life
JDS is getting better all the time
Toney and Ghoddos have previous form to suggest that they can more than adequately replace Ollie and Said
Cons:
Take out Norgaard – injury, suspension – and we have no hard-tackling ball winner at the base of the midfield – it would be good to have a quality understudy
Toney and Ghoddos may take a few weeks (months even) to get up to speed with the Championship – we need to be firing on all cylinders asap.
COYB!
Top 6 – a good chance
Top 2 – we will need that bit of luck that has eluded us thus far
Pros:
Assuming Raya stays, our back 5 is very strong, with good cover
Norgaard is in the form of his life
JDS is getting better all the time
Toney and Ghoddos have previous form to suggest that they can more than adequately replace Ollie and Said
Cons:
Take out Norgaard – injury, suspension – and we have no hard-tackling ball winner at the base of the midfield – it would be good to have a quality understudy
Toney and Ghoddos may take a few weeks (months even) to get up to speed with the Championship – we need to be firing on all cylinders asap.
COYB!
beesbees_bfc
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You missed league cup winners off of your prediction Nick!Going up
AB
Well-known member
Let’s go for the treble!
Kingston Bee
Active member
The margins are so fine, if we continue to turn 0-1 losses into draws or wins like Saturday we can make automatic, otherwise top 6 should be possible as the squad is today. However, with Said moving on and no further replacements, and if we are unlucky with injuries, it will be top 10. Whatever happens I would like to think we get a little bit of luck on the way which can make the difference, and at least provide a chance of the play offs.
liverbee
Active member
I feel very good about Toney. Norgaard, JDS and Bryan too. Hopeful about the youngsters. Felt very good about Rico. In fact, keeping fairly injury free is the break we’ll need. Could make top two.
LIONHEART
on the lash
3rd behind bournemouth and watford