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ShorehamRevolution

ShorehamRevolution

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Wasn’t that the plan this time last year? Consolidate in our first season and then push on? The vast majority of us were happy to finish 4th bottom to mid table.
I was in the happy with 4th bottom and anything else is a bonus brigade, I used to be an optimist with Sheffield United, 6 years in league one turned me to the opposite but after a flying few months up until December I changed my mind about consolidating in our first season and like a lot of blades fully believed we could easily finish in the top 6, unfortunately this didn’t happen due to some deserved and undeserved results, however the optimism within me maintained itself and after hearing Lord Wilder of shoreham has signed a new deal, rumours of a decent transfer kitty and also a bright prospect in Jamal Blackman interested in signing it no wonder the optimism is looking like it’s here to stay. The whole prince and McCabe debacle doesn’t bother me slightly, as long as Wilder is happy we should be happy.

Have your expectations changed? I’m now firmly optimistic we can finish top 6.
 



ShorehamRevolution said:
Wasn’t that the plan this time last year? Consolidate in our first season and then push on? The vast majority of us were happy to finish 4th bottom to mid table.
I was in the happy with 4th bottom and anything else is a bonus brigade, I used to be an optimist with Sheffield United, 6 years in league one turned me to the opposite but after a flying few months up until December I changed my mind about consolidating in our first season and like a lot of blades fully believed we could easily finish in the top 6, unfortunately this didn’t happen due to some deserved and undeserved results, however the optimism within me maintained itself and after hearing Lord Wilder of shoreham has signed a new deal, rumours of a decent transfer kitty and also a bright prospect in Jamal Blackman interested in signing it no wonder the optimism is looking like it’s here to stay. The whole prince and McCabe debacle doesn’t bother me slightly, as long as Wilder is happy we should be happy.

Have your expectations changed? I’m now firmly optimistic we can finish top 6.
Click to expand...
These rumours of a decent transfer kitty worry me a bit - they’re words not usually associated with United
 
ShorehamRevolution said:
Wasn’t that the plan this time last year? Consolidate in our first season and then push on? The vast majority of us were happy to finish 4th bottom to mid table.
I was in the happy with 4th bottom and anything else is a bonus brigade, I used to be an optimist with Sheffield United, 6 years in league one turned me to the opposite but after a flying few months up until December I changed my mind about consolidating in our first season and like a lot of blades fully believed we could easily finish in the top 6, unfortunately this didn’t happen due to some deserved and undeserved results, however the optimism within me maintained itself and after hearing Lord Wilder of shoreham has signed a new deal, rumours of a decent transfer kitty and also a bright prospect in Jamal Blackman interested in signing it no wonder the optimism is looking like it’s here to stay. The whole prince and McCabe debacle doesn’t bother me slightly, as long as Wilder is happy we should be happy.

Have your expectations changed? I’m now firmly optimistic we can finish top 6.
Click to expand...

A lot can change before August and of course we can't control the other 23 clubs, some who will be similarly optimistic and have lots more to spend than we do. As long as we don't lose any key players and can find those elusive 2 or 3 quality 1st-teamers then there's no reason to believe we can't kick-on.

We'll never know what impact, say, Princey taking over might have and we don't know whether we should judge the team on the 1st half of last season's results, 2nd half or overall but optmistic, yeah :)
 
ShorehamRevolution said:
Wasn’t that the plan this time last year? Consolidate in our first season and then push on? The vast majority of us were happy to finish 4th bottom to mid table.
I was in the happy with 4th bottom and anything else is a bonus brigade, I used to be an optimist with Sheffield United, 6 years in league one turned me to the opposite but after a flying few months up until December I changed my mind about consolidating in our first season and like a lot of blades fully believed we could easily finish in the top 6, unfortunately this didn’t happen due to some deserved and undeserved results, however the optimism within me maintained itself and after hearing Lord Wilder of shoreham has signed a new deal, rumours of a decent transfer kitty and also a bright prospect in Jamal Blackman interested in signing it no wonder the optimism is looking like it’s here to stay. The whole prince and McCabe debacle doesn’t bother me slightly, as long as Wilder is happy we should be happy.

Have your expectations changed? I’m now firmly optimistic we can finish top 6.
Click to expand...

My expectations are as last season, top 10.
My hope's are that we'll have a fantastic pre-season bringing in key players in key area's and comfortably make the the top 6.
 
It's the tone of Wilder's message that indicates we're in far better shape where competing for better quality players is concerned.

Last season, Wilder wasn't shy when it came to repeating his discontent with the budgets he had to play with. This latest message suggests a far more upbeat and positive approach to the job in hand. As always, Wilder is realistic, but last season's frustration is now replaced with possibility.
 
We out performed last year finishing mid table. Now with a mid table budget I would hope we can push on but anything around 12th would be fine.

We have to establish ourselves as a championship main stay. Not many teams fly through the championship. Teams with huge budgets and superstar players can languish in here for a few years.

Last January we didn’t even a proper bench. Now we need to build slowly solid foundations and hope we can sneak into the top 6.
 
Top 10 for me would be an excellent season. Getting in and around the playoffs is the aim.
 
Based on the current squad, think we’re a safe bet for mid table, maybe slightly better.
So currently I’d predict 9th or 10th.

However Wilder was new to the division.
He should have learnt so much about the strengths and weaknesses of his squad
And what’s required to be successful in the Championship.

I’m hopeful Wilder will identify the required transfer targets.
It all depends how the board back him. That’s issue seems to be still undecided.

If we manage to sign our transfer targets then I’d make us dark horses for the play-offs.
However I only expect a slight increase in budget, so Wilder will still have to be cautious regards purchases and probabky still be seeking “value for money”.

Hopeful we’ll be in and around the playoffs.
 
TBH. I think we need to wait and see the quality of any new recruits before we can start predicting?.
The proposed increase in budget needs to be seen first!.
I know we can push on but possible promotion may take a couple of seasons. Up the blades.
 
I believe with some good signings I think anything less than playoffs would be a shame, we almost did it this season and that was with some really undeserved results near the end when we outplayed teams but couldn't score.

Obviously anything could happen from now until the end of the season, but our current squad has shown its capability in this league and with some decent signings I don't see why we could not outplay any team in the league.
 
The way I see it we're in a group of (relatively) well managed teams along with Brentford and Preston with aims on finishing in the top 6th without expecting to. I expect Stoke and West Brom to aim squarely for the top two along with Boro and Fulham if they lose to Villa. Swansea will lose their better players and to my mind can't really be expecting a top 2 finish but will expect to finish in the top 6. Wednesday will probably have to sell Westwood along with Forestieri or Rhodes but they do (and I hate to say this) have a decent core of players and will be aiming for a top 6 finish.

Below that it's a story of finances with Villa (if they don't go up), Derby, Norwich, Wednesday, QPR, Hull and Forest all struggling with mounting losses under FFP regulations while the three sides promoted from League One aren't as strong as Millwall or us.

Should be aiming for the top 2: Stoke, Middlesbrough, Fulham*, West Brom

Expecting playoffs at worst: Villa**, Swansea

Hoping for the playoffs: United, South Barnsley***, Brentford, Preston

Midtable: Leeds, Norwich***, Blackburn, Derby***, Millwall, Bristol City

Bottom half: Birmingham, Wigan, Hull***, Ipswich, Forest

Season of struggle: Bolton, Rotherham/Shrewsbury, Reading, QPR***

*If they don't go up through the play offs
** If they don't go off through the play offs and if they decide to gamble - last year of parachute payments and under major financial pressure
*** Impending financial problems
 



ShorehamRevolution said:
Wasn’t that the plan this time last year? Consolidate in our first season and then push on? The vast majority of us were happy to finish 4th bottom to mid table.
I was in the happy with 4th bottom and anything else is a bonus brigade, I used to be an optimist with Sheffield United, 6 years in league one turned me to the opposite but after a flying few months up until December I changed my mind about consolidating in our first season and like a lot of blades fully believed we could easily finish in the top 6, unfortunately this didn’t happen due to some deserved and undeserved results, however the optimism within me maintained itself and after hearing Lord Wilder of shoreham has signed a new deal, rumours of a decent transfer kitty and also a bright prospect in Jamal Blackman interested in signing it no wonder the optimism is looking like it’s here to stay. The whole prince and McCabe debacle doesn’t bother me slightly, as long as Wilder is happy we should be happy.

Have your expectations changed? I’m now firmly optimistic we can finish top 6.
Click to expand...


I will reserve my excitement and expectations until I see;
a) who we actually sign this summer
b) who departs this summer

If we retain all our quality players and make 4 good Championship quality signings in key areas ( loan /perm) then I will agree with you mate …. :rolleyes:

UTB & FTP
 
Darthblade said:
I will reserve my excitement and expectations until I see;
a) who we actually sign this summer
b) who departs this summer

If we retain all our quality players and make 4 good Championship quality signings in key areas ( loan /perm) then I will agree with you mate …. :rolleyes:

UTB & FTP
Click to expand...



Common sense alert......
 
Leeds / Norwich will spend more than us I would expect.

Derby have to cut back but will still sign players be interesting to see if they lose Davies and Vydra!
 
I expected mid table last season, predicted 11th, finished 10th.

Will wait to see what develops over the next two months as to what I expect over next season.
 
We ran out of steam. Not because of "momentum" crap but because our squad wasn't big enough and the reserves weren't quite good enough to rotate key positions. Missing Freeman for most of the campaign meant our fullbacks never got a rest. We know that our best eleven, fit and healthy, can give a game to anyone in this division.

I think we're a couple of good signings from finishing higher next season. Unfortunately, I also think we're a couple of players from doing a lot worse. Take a couple of Fleck, JOC, Duffy, and Clarke out of our side and we could really struggle. And I honestly think this is why the budget has been such a big concern, because we're as close to being a lot better as we are to being a lot worse.
 
If Coutts comes back and shows anything like last season’s form it will be a massive boost for our prospects, but I suspect that ‘if’ is going to be one of Wilder’s biggest conundrums as he seeks to recruit. Does he push the boat out and bring in a top quality player in the Coutts mould early on knowing that both will expect to play if fit, or see how Coutts performs in preason before making the decision and risk losing a main target?

Either way it was obvious last season that we need better quality backup in central midfield, it’s just the thought that somebody as good as Coutts and Fleck for instance would expect to be in the starting 11.
 
GrayBlade said:
If Coutts comes back and shows anything like last season’s form it will be a massive boost for our prospects, but I suspect that ‘if’ is going to be one of Wilder’s biggest conundrums as he seeks to recruit. Does he push the boat out and bring in a top quality player in the Coutts mould early on knowing that both will expect to play if fit, or see how Coutts performs in preason before making the decision and risk losing a main target?

Either way it was obvious last season that we need better quality backup in central midfield, it’s just the thought that somebody as good as Coutts and Fleck for instance would expect to be in the starting 11.
Click to expand...

Coutts back would be a huge lift. I've defended Lundstram quite a bit but the reality is that he's a part of why we dropped down a few positions. He's one of those players that would've been seen as a good find if we were happy in the bottom half of the table but probably isn't good enough to take us a step further next season.
 
All I want to see I see progress. In a tough league of very fine margins I would measure that in two ways:-

1. Finish 9th and at least one point closer to the playoffs.
2. Start seeing out games when we are a goal in front or level.

A top six finish in our second year would be a bonus. I would be happy edging a little closer, turning the defeats into draws and the draws into wins. Steady progress.
 
GrayBlade said:
If Coutts comes back and shows anything like last season’s form it will be a massive boost for our prospects, but I suspect that ‘if’ is going to be one of Wilder’s biggest conundrums as he seeks to recruit. Does he push the boat out and bring in a top quality player in the Coutts mould early on knowing that both will expect to play if fit, or see how Coutts performs in preason before making the decision and risk losing a main target?

Either way it was obvious last season that we need better quality backup in central midfield, it’s just the thought that somebody as good as Coutts and Fleck for instance would expect to be in the starting 11.
Click to expand...

Gray, for me the inclusion of an in-form Coutts alongside Fleck, and possibly Duffy, is a given. It's the best midfield we've had for years, possibly decades, so there's little reason not to imagine a scenario where they don't play together again. The one thing that should be apparent is to have depth, and although I think that Evans, and possibly Lundstram, might offer comparable quality, we're looking to show a level of consistency that very few at this level are capable of delivering. Wilder will know where to strengthen, hence the interest in the lad from Chelsea, Palmer, but another quality centre back will also go a long way to giving us a formidable side ready for the campaign ahead. Oh, and do I have to mention at least one, possibly two, forwards to give us the finishing edge we sometimes lacked last season?
 
ShorehamRevolution said:
Wasn’t that the plan this time last year? Consolidate in our first season and then push on? The vast majority of us were happy to finish 4th bottom to mid table.
I was in the happy with 4th bottom and anything else is a bonus brigade, I used to be an optimist with Sheffield United, 6 years in league one turned me to the opposite but after a flying few months up until December I changed my mind about consolidating in our first season and like a lot of blades fully believed we could easily finish in the top 6, unfortunately this didn’t happen due to some deserved and undeserved results, however the optimism within me maintained itself and after hearing Lord Wilder of shoreham has signed a new deal, rumours of a decent transfer kitty and also a bright prospect in Jamal Blackman interested in signing it no wonder the optimism is looking like it’s here to stay. The whole prince and McCabe debacle doesn’t bother me slightly, as long as Wilder is happy we should be happy.

Have your expectations changed? I’m now firmly optimistic we can finish top 6.
Click to expand...

“Consolidate” isn’t in Wilders vocabulary, although it seems to be in a lot of fans vocabulary. It’s something you do when in trouble. A good example being Clough’s strategy when he took over with us in relegation trouble. In that situation it’s entirely sensible. When you’ve just won the League below with 100 points and absolutely steamrollered teams and played a quality of football well above the standard of the division you’re in, it isn’t.

I’m glad Wilder didn’t share that view about “consolidating”. He went for it and with a bit more luck (and investment) we’d have made the top 6.

I predicted 8th -12th finish last season, with the possibility of top 6 if we strengthened sufficiently in Jan.

Next season I can’t call yet. Let’s see if we do go out and make some quality additions first.
 
Look we were promised Liverpool but to show i'm not that demanding next season I will settle for winning promotion and the FA cup.
 
GrayBlade said:
If Coutts comes back and shows anything like last season’s form it will be a massive boost for our prospects, but I suspect that ‘if’ is going to be one of Wilder’s biggest conundrums as he seeks to recruit. Does he push the boat out and bring in a top quality player in the Coutts mould early on knowing that both will expect to play if fit, or see how Coutts performs in preason before making the decision and risk losing a main target?

Either way it was obvious last season that we need better quality backup in central midfield, it’s just the thought that somebody as good as Coutts and Fleck for instance would expect to be in the starting 11.
Click to expand...

Understood. But you never know what’s around the corner. Players lose form or fitness or want to leave. I wouldn’t hesitate for one minute to bring in another quality player if available and I’d worry about how to fit them in later.
 



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