2023/24 - The Race For..................

[Flobadob]

I'm sure we'll add to them and toy around...son through the middle etc

Relax

Son through the middle may be top 4 standard.. maybe. We aren’t linked with anyone or have anyone else in our squad that’s currently that level though. I’m not relaxed at all with current options up there. Very relaxed with everything else. That front line isn’t going to be good enough though and we’ve performed well despite it the first few games

 

[TC18]

Bring me Peps head on a platter. Ange is winning us the league.

 

[Tucker]

We’ve made a very positive start, there will be bumps in the road ahead, expected and unexpected. Too early to make any predictions either way.

 

[dirtyh]

We’ve made a very positive start, there will be bumps in the road ahead, expected and unexpected. Too early to make any predictions either way.

fun sponge. Get with the program

 

[Mr Pink]

Son through the middle may be top 4 standard.. maybe. We aren’t linked with anyone or have anyone else in our squad that’s currently that level though. I’m not relaxed at all with current options up there. Very relaxed with everything else. That front line isn’t going to be good enough though and we’ve performed well despite it the first few games

Jesus, ok man lol.

 

[Flobadob]

Jesus, ok man lol.

Who do you think is then? You’re the one saying we’ll make top 4 based on absolutely fuck all. Make an argument

 

[WiganSpur]

Not with this front 3 we won’t

We can't forget the defence either. Things will quickly change if this central defensive partnership gets broken up. We need more quality back there. Keep Van de Ven and Romero on their toes.

 

[Mr Pink]

Who do you think is then? You’re the one saying we’ll make top 4 based on absolutely fuck all. Make an argument

Based on fuck all?

I'm basing it on the overall strength of the squad and quality of the manager you mug.

 

[Flobadob]

Based on fuck all?

I'm basing it on the overall strength of the squad and quality of the manager you mug.

Blind faith after 3 games but you specialise in blind faith every year, you’re a dreamer. Keep the petty insults to yourself as well, you sound like a child

 

[CookieYiddo]

3 games in and I think it’s fair to say, Domestic treble is on lads

 

[G Ron]

We can't forget the defence either. Things will quickly change if this central defensive partnership gets broken up. We need more quality back there. Keep Van de Ven and Romero on their toes.

I agree, even today when Udogie came off I was worried thinking of the drop off in dynamism if Davies had to step in for any period of time.
We’re like the scum last year - very good 1st 11 but lack depth in key positions.

fingers crossed we pull a few rabbits out of the hat this week.

COYS!!!

 

[Adam456]

I am a pessimist but i put 100€ that we would make top 4 after we sold Kane. Lets see what happenes.

I don't normally gamble but put a bet on after the Brentford game at 5/1 that we would finish top 4. I wanted to see that pre-season wasn't just opponents' fitness etc. and I really liked what I saw obvs

And I put it on at PP as I figured with those odds there's s good chance I can still cash out at a significant profit if we are within half a dozen points come March/April

I had some expectation that we would get a good striker in and that's not necessarily the case of course but I expect that we'll deal with it one way or another

 

[cwy21]

Isn't it a race for top 5 this year?

More likely than not but a few sides bottling the group stage could make it close.

 

[Saoirse]

Isn't it a race for top 5 this year?

Probably. England would need to be in the Top 2 scorers in UEFA Coefficient points this season. This normally happens, but e.g. in 19-20 England came 3rd behind Germany and Spain, same in 15-16, and in 14-15 4th behind Italy as well. Some other seasons have also been close. One very, very important thing though is having your 7th team make the Conference League group stage. And while Villa are 5-0 up after the first leg against Hibs, Osasauna and Fiorentina are behind to Club Brugge and Rapid Wien respectively, with Frankfurt level against Levski Sofia. Any of those sides going out would be a huge boost.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

Blind faith after 3 games but you specialise in blind faith every year, you’re a dreamer. Keep the petty insults to yourself as well, you sound like a child

Finally, some real action on the forum.

Currently 2-1 on the judges score cards for @Mr Pink but he may just land the knockout in the 4th round with his upcoming response.

 

[Mr Pink]

How many times have we finished top 4 in the last 8 years or so....

Hardly blind faith lol.

Even without Kane its already evident we'll get goals from all over the pitch and right through out the squad.

 

[Styopa]

Not with this front 3 we won’t

Newcastle’s top 3 scorers last season contributed 39 league goals. So basically 1 a match between the 3 of them.

 

[Shanks]

I’d have been happy with a top 6/7 place this season and a decent cup run, given it’s a new manager, fair fee new players, lost the worlds best number 9 and wondering how quickly a change in culture would actually take at the club, it’s been a rather shitty few years yet we still scrape a top5/5/6 position, having already strengthen some of last seasons weaknesses and already having beaten a team tipped to challenge title.

top 4 would be a fantastic achievement, but I’d love to see us lift some silverware, get that monkey off our back and keep moving forward from there.

so, being ever so slightly cautious, given we had our next ever start to a campaign last season, top 6 would be suitable for me during this transition year.

 

[worcestersauce]

Our advantage this season is that we have no European gamed, that will level the playing field over the season against the usual suspects and carry us beyond the teams unused to it.
Qualifying for Europe is a shoe in for us top four may be a step too far this being our first year of our glorious new era but if we can really gel quickly why not?

 

[Styopa]

so, being ever so slightly cautious, given we had our next ever start to a campaign last season, top 6 would be suitable for me during this transition year.

I agree about not getting carried away based on 3 matches. But for me the big difference is the mood around the club and the way we are playing compared to last season. In fact compared to the start of any season in recent memory.

Last season we started well in terms of results but there were serious questions regarding performances early on. So much so that there was a whole narrative about Conte’s master-plan being to conserve energy during the first half of the season.

A lot of pieces are in place now that weren’t last year, like positive football, a coach who is committed for more than a year, no European football.

I think we should aim high. I won’t be massively disappointed if we don’t finish in the top four but I think we should be having a crack at it, at the very least.