So, before a ball is kicked, how will the 2024/25 season end?

[Greg.]

The poll two years ago:

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Way, way, way too early to predict. Still. We have made some wonderful signings on paper, but we haven't got anywhere near enough squad depth. We simply haven't recruited fast enough. We all knew that would be case because the club are useless in that sense.

So as it stands, no idea. Couldn't call it.

 

[AnstonBlade1]

10-12th

 

[Westran]

The poll two years ago:

View attachment 189354

Pretty much exactly the same as this time round! Look how that ended up .

 

[SGBlade]

I really like the signings we’ve made and I think we’ll be in for some interesting games, plenty of goals/good football. I also think we’ll tonk a fair few sides and look like a top-two side on occasions.

But stability (on and off the pitch) and squad depth are two key factors that most promotion sides have and we’re nowhere close to that. Typical recipe for promotion from the champ:

• ability to pay top champ wages and bring in strong loans. Check.
• strong core set of players with experience and winning mentality. Check (ish?)
• sprinkling of stardust in the first team to win a few games out of nothing. Check.
• deep squad with two quality players in each position, to cover injury and create positive competition. No.
• stable management team with clear style of play, well drilled into the players. No (although I’m happy we’re changing styles / formation)
• stable ownership with minimal off-field distractions. Definitely not.

Of course there are always exceptions (in last few years: Ipswich, Luton, us) but I’d say you generally need to tick more than half the above to go up.

I think it’ll take two more windows and the ownership sorted before we’re there. So it looks to me like next season will be our best chance. I voted for mid-table but, with such a thin squad, so much depends on keeping everyone fit. If we’re lucky with injuries and the young lads (blaster, brooks, maybe peck and marsh) step up with 15-20 good games each, then I could see us playing some great football, being top 10 at Christmas and making a push for the playoffs in the new year.

Either way, I’ve got some positivity back. I think it’ll be an interesting season and we’ll see some good football. I like that we’re recycling the squad, signing some exciting young players (both loans and perms), changing the formation, and bringing on some academy prospects. But, generally, that doesn’t equate to a top four finish. I’m trying to manage my expectations - I think I’ll enjoy the season more if I do!

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

strong core set of players with experience and winning mentality. Check (ish?)

Check?

The entire squad has been ripped apart.

Only Robinson and Ahmedhodzic are left from the team that got us promoted two seasons ago.

 

[SGBlade]

I was thinking of Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Souttar, Hamer, O’Hare, Moore. All v.experienced and successful at this level.

But yeah, nothing like the number of leaders we had two years ago. Hence the ‘ish?’ Was probably too generous to us on that one in retrospect .

 

[tincan]

Replacing the 91point squad with freebies, and injury prone sick notes is a huge risk. Add to that still no depth, Wilders .48 ppg, his transfer record - he signed Grbic when we were desperate for a GK! The lateness of signing a first team let alone a squad - they are still a bunch of players, not a team.
The only caveat is I didn't watch the championship last season. Apart from dirty Leeds and their joyful playoff final, I don't know any others in the championship or their levels. Burnley, Luton were just as crap as us last season. So, no relegation and bottom third will be a good season.

 

[JJBlade]

Not another trip to Wembley. Please.

Yeah, because that always works out well doesn't it?
The fact that we'd sell about 25,000 out of 40,000 tickets because everyone would have to go on their own would get proceedings off to a positive start weeks before the game even kicked off.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Understocked and under prepared, as if starting on -2 wasn't hard enough. I can see us playing real catch up, even by the end of August/September. How have we not learnt from last season?

 

[72 years a blade]

A good start tomorrow is needed; a loss and I will be worried .

 

[WSMBlade]

Got to admire those 25.5%, of souls, at the moment anyway, who voted for champions/automatic promotion, in spite of it all.
Your ancestors must have been amongst those who said, hope it doesn’t delay us getting to New York, when the Titanic struck an iceberg.
I salute you.

In fairness, there are not that many ancestors of the hapless passengers who took that particular journey, but otherwise point understood

 

[BigBed]

According to Don Goodman, Coventry will do well, even though the chap in the pic now wears red n white!