So what about next season?

[GymClassHero]

If the CWAK trend continues we should be on for runners up next year
Realistically though, with the right kind of signings in the transfer window, what do we think our chances might be next season.
For the purist posters, I know it's impossible to predict until we know who signs who, who comes up etc, but opinions can still be shared based on this season's achievement so far.
For me, I'd be hoping for top 10 again, with a realistic hope that we could make the top 6. Top 4? Kinell, my arse is tweaking just at the thought of it.
I can't believe I just typed that, but such is the Wilder machine that I can dare to believe.
After Villa, Newcastle and Manure, I allowed myself to consider whether the bubble had burst.
Soz CWAK. I should have known better.
So what's it to be next season? A slip in fortunes, more of the same, or better still?

Mid table finish and a good cup run and I'm happy. Genuinely think we can expect more with this Management team though.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Return the formation to 3412 or perhaps tweak to 3421 in some games.

This should give us more options to get forward and score more goals.

Bring Hendo back for loan season no:3

Bring in 1 quality player to go straight in the team - being a new no:10 - perhaps following the recent rumours of Cantwell or Eze.

UTB

 

[Upton_Blade]

I personally think McBurnie will score goals with the right level of service...or do not see us upgrading on him for the likely fee and wages we can afford to fund.

I truly think we'll see exactly why we paid so much for McB next season. Before lockdown he'd started to really look the part and barring the 1st few games of the restart (they were all shite) he's looked great and has started scoring again now. You're right about the level of service. I'm struggling to think of many decent chances he has missed this season. There's been a few headers he probably could've done a bit better with but generally when he's had a chance he's stuck it away. I also think it's key who plays up top with him. When he plays with Billy he's the one dropping off and looking for the ball. When he plays with Didzy he's exactly where he should be when the chances land.

Say Villa stay up change manager and they spend another 150m (on good players) and we spend £0. You then have fans expectations that we finished ahead of AV last season so we should this season. We are a little fish in a huge pond with sharks.

I think this is pretty spot on tbh. I don't really rate Smith as a manager and think they should've done far better this season. A better manager and more targeted investment and I'm not sure they'll struggle again like this season.

I think Mourinho will get Spurs firing next season. He's a good manager who is used to winning things so I fully expect him to make them a better outfit next season.

I can't see anything other than another good season for Liverpool and moneybags Man City either. Chelsea I'm not so sure about? I think the appointment of Lampard is a gamble and based on sentimentality rather than his ability as a manager. And I'm not convinced that Arteta is the right man to sort Arsenal out. I think he's not experienced enough to sort out that juggernaut of a club and get it winning something.

Not sure about Mourinho and Spurs. There's a big rebuild needed there especially at the back and not sure they have the funds do it one window. I can see another similar season to this and a lot of fan unrest. Given time and a few windows I think he probably could sort them out but will he get that time? I think the Spurs fans have really short memories tbh as just look where they were when he came in under their god Pochettino.

Leicester to fall away next term and Chelsea will need to recruit well to be up there again next season. I can see FL gone by Christmas.
If Wolves keep hold of NES they should be up and around top 6 again.

Lampard got the Chelski job due to the circumstances at the time. Transfer embargo and no real expectation and having just lost their best player. Under any other circumstances he wouldn't even have been considered. He's probably done better than anyone there expected. They've already spent big and will probably spend a shed load more by the time the new season kicks off so the expectation will be ramped up again and I'm really not sure he's the man for the job. I left the Wolves quote in as if/when Fat Frank goes I could really see them going for Nuno and personally think it would be a pretty good move for him.

 

[Barney]

Higher end target: Champions league.

Lower end target: Mid-table/comfortable/further consolidation.

 

[Upton_Blade]

Return the formation to 3412 or perhaps tweak to 3421 in some games.

I think we can all agree we need to score more goals next season. Particularly as we can't just rely on the defence being as solid again.

I get why CW moved to a flat 3 as he didn't want us to get over run in MF and it has worked well has probably hindered our attacking play to an extent especially when Didzy isn't playing as the gap between MF and attack looks huge at times.

A move to 3421 IMO would be the best balance between the 2. McB as a lone striker with say Didzy and AN Other behind him.

 

[Bladezz]

I think we can all agree we need to score more goals next season. Particularly as we can't just rely on the defence being as solid again.

I get why CW moved to a flat 3 as he didn't want us to get over run in MF and it has worked well has probably hindered our attacking play to an extent especially when Didzy isn't playing as the gap between MF and attack looks huge at times.

A move to 3421 IMO would be the best balance between the 2. McB as a lone striker with say Didzy and AN Other behind him.

CWAK tweaked the formation and it has had huge success and put us 7th in the PL table. It’s not the formation. If we want to be a top 7 side it’s ££££££.

We sign a Jiminez and Watkins and 5 others. We would have scored more goals and being solid. This is the highest point we go without massive investment.

 

[BanderSerge]

I think we can all agree we need to score more goals next season. Particularly as we can't just rely on the defence being as solid again.

I get why CW moved to a flat 3 as he didn't want us to get over run in MF and it has worked well has probably hindered our attacking play to an extent especially when Didzy isn't playing as the gap between MF and attack looks huge at times.

A move to 3421 IMO would be the best balance between the 2. McB as a lone striker with say Didzy and AN Other behind him.

You really want to change a system that’s baffled everybody for 4 years, to one that every team in the league plays? I’m of the school of thought “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Improve the strikers. If Lunny won’t sign, bomb him ASAP. He’s cost us £750,000 over 4 years, so we’ve had good value? So hopefully, a RS midfielder with pace. Resign Henderso, if not, we need a keeper. Quality over quantity, if we want to improve.

 

[lakedistblade]

There will be vomit inducing second season syndrome bandwagonery from the pundits if we get off to a poor start. And sadly some Blades. After this latest mind blowing turnaround I have finally and sheepishly learned to trust in CWAK and the players. See no reason why we can't replicate Burnley and keep digging ourselves out against the financial odds and have a solid mid table season. Euro and cup runs would be icing on the cake. We have to face facts that several big spending clubs have been in transition this year so this could be our highest finish for a while. No shame in that and Savouring every minute right now.

 

[XM657]

If the CWAK trend continues we should be on for runners up next year
Realistically though, with the right kind of signings in the transfer window, what do we think our chances might be next season.
For the purist posters, I know it's impossible to predict until we know who signs who, who comes up etc, but opinions can still be shared based on this season's achievement so far.
For me, I'd be hoping for top 10 again, with a realistic hope that we could make the top 6. Top 4? Kinell, my arse is tweaking just at the thought of it.
I can't believe I just typed that, but such is the Wilder machine that I can dare to believe.
After Villa, Newcastle and Manure, I allowed myself to consider whether the bubble had burst.
Soz CWAK. I should have known better.
So what's it to be next season? A slip in fortunes, more of the same, or better still?

After the Villa, though we actually won this game, Newcastle and Manure hick up, I also lapsed in belief and was cursing the forced break as the fact we seemed to be slipping.
What a sin, I repent and move forward in belief that despite stumbles along the way CWAK will always endeavour to keep 'United' at the optimum of their abilities and as high in the league as possible.
Next season, with a reasonably calm sea and favourable winds there is every possibility there will be improvement in 'United's' status so smile on (SO) and UTB

 

[Dutch Blade]

All depends on whether we can keep the likes of Stevens, O'Connell, Fleck etc. And that depends on whether we qualify for European football or not.

If we do, I think there's a big chance of keeping all our players. The Champions League teams in the Premier League are not gonna buy our players, and if we have European football the other Prem teams don't have a lot more to offer than just money. But we will also have more funds for that, so the players know what they have here, and are comfortable staying here I think. In that case, we should aim for another top 10 finish.

If we don't get European football / a lot of players leaving us, I think we should just be satisfied with staying in it, and trying to stay out of the real relegation battle and just be a mid tier team (place 12-15) for a year and teach the new players our system.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Return the formation to 3412 or perhaps tweak to 3421 in some games.
This should give us more options to get forward and score more goals.

Bring Hendo back for loan season no:3

UTB

I think that if we qualify for Europe it's nailed on he'll be back

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

I truly think we'll see exactly why we paid so much for McB next season. Before lockdown he'd started to really look the part and barring the 1st few games of the restart (they were all shite) he's looked great and has started scoring again now. You're right about the level of service. I'm struggling to think of many decent chances he has missed this season. There's been a few headers he probably could've done a bit better with but generally when he's had a chance he's stuck it away. I also think it's key who plays up top with him. When he plays with Billy he's the one dropping off and looking for the ball. When he plays with Didzy he's exactly where he should be when the chances land.



I think this is pretty spot on tbh. I don't really rate Smith as a manager and think they should've done far better this season. A better manager and more targeted investment and I'm not sure they'll struggle again like this season.



Not sure about Mourinho and Spurs. There's a big rebuild needed there especially at the back and not sure they have the funds do it one window. I can see another similar season to this and a lot of fan unrest. Given time and a few windows I think he probably could sort them out but will he get that time? I think the Spurs fans have really short memories tbh as just look where they were when he came in under their god Pochettino.



Lampard got the Chelski job due to the circumstances at the time. Transfer embargo and no real expectation and having just lost their best player. Under any other circumstances he wouldn't even have been considered. He's probably done better than anyone there expected. They've already spent big and will probably spend a shed load more by the time the new season kicks off so the expectation will be ramped up again and I'm really not sure he's the man for the job. I left the Wolves quote in as if/when Fat Frank goes I could really see them going for Nuno and personally think it would be a pretty good move for him.

Arteta is similar to Guardiola, without the experience. He is ignoring the defence, which needs a complete overhaul and doesn’t have a DeBruyne to unlock the tightest of defences.
Mourinho will destroy Spurs, like he has done everyone of the clubs he has been at.
FL is spending big but does he have a plan. Like Arsenal, the defence is the weakness and he is buying attacking players. He might survive the season but wouldn’t be surprised to see him gone.
Man U will challenge Man City and Liverpool but Ole lacks experience and looks like a rabbit in the headlights when they’re losing.
Wolves are dependent on keeping Nuno, (as we are CWAK) and if they do they will be top 6.
Leicester could be interesting. Can Rodgers build or is-he a bit of a fake?

 

[Blade for Sale]

New kop with fromagerie, delicatessen, microbrewery, exquisite wine cellar, high class brothel and a franchise of Mrs Miggins Pie Shoppe. Just to stop people frothing at the gash over Spur's stadium.

Academy rehoused at a newly purchased and refurbished Hillsbrough.

Gareth Bale and David Silva spearheading the title charge.

Martin Samuel crywanking.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

Looking at the History of the dynamic duo so far I'd predict a higher finish next season, and if it runs true to previous outings it will go something like this -

1st season in charge - promotion from 1st Div. to championship.
2nd season - consolidate in Championship.
3rd season - promotion to Premiership.
4th season - consolidate..
5th season - consolidate.
6th season - Champions of the Premiership.
Of course there will have been other trophy's along the way as well.......

Be warned Admin -
We will soon be on the lookout for a far bigger trophy cabinet .......

 

[DaveBassettsgoneonholiday]

In a way, particularly for our wellbeing on here, it might not have been such a disaster that our first four matches post re-start didn't go our way.
If we'd done well in those games, added to our current form, I'm sure there'd have been some pessimism on here along the lines of....."well yeah, we've adapted better than other teams since lockdown playing in empty stadia.....but what about when the crowds come back ?"
Obviously this thought would never have occurred to me in a million years......

Next season ? Can't see anything other than us trying to push on and keep standards up.
FA Cup would be nice.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

A combination of being stupidly busy at work and having cloth ears meant I completely missed the announcement of 12/13 September as start date for the new Prem season.

Have I also missed any on-the-record discussion about options for getting fans back into stadia?

Edit: add bat-eyes to cloth ears. Just seen this:

40% rule

Apologies if posted elsewhere. PL considering bringing in max 40% capacity in football stadiums for next season 25k ST holders 11,800 miss out...

www.s24su.com

Cheers, Blade58

 

[Dublinblade]

This season has been amazing and lets hope we can make Europe with the last 3 games, but next season has to be about consolidation and establishing ourselves in the Premier League. I want us to kick on of course I do but we have to be realistic and say without adding more goals replicating this seasons performance will be very difficult to do. I think we are 2-3 years away from having the right to expect to be regular top 10 challengers.

Europa knockout stages, a good cup run and a 12 -14th place finish I think would be achievable and a reasonable 2nd season in the top flight.

 

[Oohaah! Bob Bookah!]

IFAB confirm the use of 5 subs for next season dependant each countries approval

 

[Shoreham_Bhoys]

IFAB confirm the use of 5 subs for next season dependant each countries approval

Should be 3, plus 2 British trained U23s if you want

 

[metalblade]

It's coming. The game will be loaded in favour of the big six even more.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

If the CWAK trend continues we should be on for runners up next year
Realistically though, with the right kind of signings in the transfer window, what do we think our chances might be next season.
For the purist posters, I know it's impossible to predict until we know who signs who, who comes up etc, but opinions can still be shared based on this season's achievement so far.
For me, I'd be hoping for top 10 again, with a realistic hope that we could make the top 6. Top 4? Kinell, my arse is tweaking just at the thought of it.
I can't believe I just typed that, but such is the Wilder machine that I can dare to believe.
After Villa, Newcastle and Manure, I allowed myself to consider whether the bubble had burst.
Soz CWAK. I should have known better.
So what's it to be next season? A slip in fortunes, more of the same, or better still?

Much the same I think, but with the added joy of Leeds playing the Norwich role.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

My aim would be getting Berge, Robinson (x2), McBurnie and Mousset and firing on all cylinders
Get the new TW lads (whoever it may be) settled and perfoming
aim for Europa knockouts
consolidate in the PL - steering well clear of a relegation battle

Is Robinson still getting a game for West Brummie Albion....I hadn’t taken much notice.

 

[PaulHalfway]

All depends on keeping all our main players', spend another 60 million on 3 quality players and a couple of younger players with potential to develop and improve
A quality goal keeper, would be good to keep Hendo for another year

 

[PaulHalfway]

Circa £120m coming next season then?

Wow.

There potentially is, but also we will be down 20/30 million on the effect of Covid on tv revenue, crowd income, sponsorship and hospitality

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

There potentially is, but also we will be down 20/30 million on the effect of Covid on tv revenue, crowd income, sponsorship and hospitality

Still, £90/100m is still an income. I'm not privy to the wage bill mind.

 

[BigBed]

I'm going to wait and see what Garth Crookes predicts, and then go the opposite!