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

[chas vs dave]

I'm not setting expectations. I'm taking each game at a time.

 

[jimbo]

Pretty much all of those teams have their own issues.

Liverpool's defence is about as good as ours is. Chelsea's is bigger than ours and they had a worse season than we did. Man Utd don't look great. Newcastle, Brighton, and Villa have European football to contend with. Us, Liverpool, and Chelsea don't.

There's actually a lot of problems the teams that finished above us last season have to contend with.

Respect the viewpoint, but all teams have issues always - Real Madrid have to replace Benzema for example. I think our issues are more extensive than most of the teams we’re competing with personally but happy to agree to disagree - once our season gets underway properly we’ll know a bit more about what we’re looking at for this year.

 

[Danfunkel]

I'm not setting expectations. I'm taking each game at a time.

There’s no Europe, no worrying about if we have a shit season will Kane leave now either. No pressure. Play football, see where we are after Christmas.

 

[zepstar]

The race for top 4. No European football to worry about. Saturday fixtures. There’s some talented footballers there. I think we’ll surprise a few, but the first month or so will be a bit shaky.

 

[Young Nasty Man]

This is a season of transition in many forms. It feels that for the first time since Pochettino, we are trying to build a new identity rather than attaching to managers identity.

Given the competition at the top of the table, a cup run and anything higher than last seasons finish will be success. Every game should be taken in stride. Most importantly, I hope Ange is given time to work through the bumps in the road. If he is given similar patience to what Arteta was given, I think we are limitless.

 

[muppetman]

This is a season of transition in many forms. It feels that for the first time since Pochettino, we are trying to build a new identity rather than attaching to managers identity.

Given the competition at the top of the table, a cup run and anything higher than last seasons finish will be success. Every game should be taken in stride. Most importantly, I hope Ange is given time to work through the bumps in the road. If he is given similar patience to what Arteta was given, I think we are limitless.

Definitely a transitional season, but I think we will be rebuilt in Ange's "identity", which hopefully more closely mirrors what we all want.

 

[ultimateloner]

It's not a case of what I want or demand. Given we got 8th despite really struggling, finishing below that would indicate things are even worse. I want to see more attractive attacking football but if you think the fans - or the board - are going to accept a poor midtable finish - unless we win a cup, given the money we are spending you are mistaken. Ange deserves all the support we can give him for the whole season- but football is a results business and that scenario means he would be gone.

I accept and think that things are getting worse. We are a worse team now than last season, and therfore I expect us to finish below 8th.
I dont know if the majority of fans think the same.
I think if the board expects better then they would really need to spend the Kane money to back Ange; as things stand, it is my firm believe that Ange won't last this season (if the board wont accept a mid-table finish).

 

[bubble07]

Haven't seen 1 pundit predict us to finish top 6

Last time that probably happened was over a decade ago

 

[Goobers]

Having seen 1 pundit predict us to finish top 6

Last time that probably happened was over a decade ago

yup we are a very different beast at the moment and we need to address our expectations accordingly. Amazing how quickly your level drops after almost a decade of work and development to get you to a certain place in the league or th standing of the game.

 

[nicdic]

I accept and think that things are getting worse. We are a worse team now than last season, and therfore I expect us to finish below 8th.
I dont know if the majority of fans think the same.
I think if the board expects better then they would really need to spend the Kane money to back Ange; as things stand, it is my firm believe that Ange won't last this season (if the board wont accept a mid-table finish).

I guess username checks out

 

[jolsnogross]

yup we are a very different beast at the moment and we need to address our expectations accordingly. Amazing how quickly your level drops after almost a decade of work and development to get you to a certain place in the league or th standing of the game.

It's not amazing, it's entirely predictable. When Levy sacked Poch and appointed Mourinho, with plenty of support on here, he tore up the playbook that had built our competitiveness. He not only got rid of a football man and leader - far better at those things than Levy is - but the operating system that had made such great strides. And now he's sold our killer goal scorer to boot.

So I think once things settle down after 6 or 7 games, we'll have a clearer picture and I don't think we're in the top tier of 5 or 6 sides.

But maybe the process of playing much better footy and getting our mojo back will be underway and those suggesting Postecoglu shouldn't survive in the job if we're hovering around 8th should also suggest what comes next.

 

[SpartanSpur]

No one in MNF putting us in the top 6. Personally I think we'll be back in european competition next season, likely Europa/EC but wouldn't rule out a top 5 challenge either.

Still work to do this window but I believe in Ange and his system and also think there is a lot more quality in our squad than people give us credit for.

Obviously only one game so far but I thought based on that sample there are 4 big teams that seem either flawed or in transition. Thought Utd looked very poor tonight. Saturday will be very interesting.

Utd and Liverpool both looked very open in midfield. Us and Chelsea in total rebuild mode, both looking handy but with the flaws you'd expect early on with a new boss.

Yes losing Harry will be a blow to us but not as bad as Conte totally negging the place into oblivion as he did last season. Things couldn't have gone much wrong in final 2/3rds of last season and we still only dropped as low as 8th.

Hopefully no Europe will also work out in our benefit too. The extra games could really disrupt Newcastle, Villa and Brighton.

There is a ton of quality in the league this year, but City aside I don't think anyone is guaranteed top 4/5. Arsenal most likely runners up but CL to contend with now and for me their squad is still on the small side for playing on 4 fronts.

 

[Dashy]

It's not amazing, it's entirely predictable. When Levy sacked Poch and appointed Mourinho, with plenty of support on here, he tore up the playbook that had built our competitiveness. He not only got rid of a football man and leader - far better at those things than Levy is - but the operating system that had made such great strides. And now he's sold our killer goal scorer to boot.

So I think once things settle down after 6 or 7 games, we'll have a clearer picture and I don't think we're in the top tier of 5 or 6 sides.

But maybe the process of playing much better footy and getting our mojo back will be underway and those suggesting Postecoglu shouldn't survive in the job if we're hovering around 8th should also suggest what comes next.

I agree. To be a consistent top 6 side needs ambition and the costs involved.
This Summer has proved Levy and enic don't have this.
But hey I supported Spurs during the 90's so I recognise where we are headed....
Mid table baby.

 

[amathews3416]

I don’t know, watching this opening weekend I see no reason we can’t challenge for Champions League football. Liverpool has a very soft midfield and are currently in a transition period. United looked bang average today and nothing they have done in the transfer market improved them. Chelsea have a scattered gun approach to signings and good luck to Poch trying to make that gel.

Nobody expects much from us and the pressure is off. I have confidence this group.

 

[easley91]

I don’t know, watching this opening weekend I see no reason we can’t challenge for Champions League football. Liverpool has a very soft midfield and are currently in a transition period. United looked bang average today and nothing they have done in the transfer market improved them. Chelsea have a scattered gun approach to signings and good luck to Poch trying to make that gel.

Nobody expects much from us and the pressure is off. I have confidence this group.

What I will say is United lost the first two or three games last season (got battered by Brentford don't forget) then kicked on to finish 3rd. It's difficult to judge everyone after one game. So though they looked poor last night, it may take a few weeks for them or indeed any side to click. In fact we may be facing United at the right time as the second game of the season at home.

 

[dickieven]

I think a lot of teams will take points off the top 7 or 8.
Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Newcastle are all there for us to overtake if we have a good season and they don't. And some of them won't have a good season.
We have a sniff at top 4 or 5 I think.

 

[WiganSpur]

Depends who we bring in, but gonna say we'll be in the race for a European spot whether that's the Europa League or Conference League. I think we are being slightly underestimated by pundits because of an accumulation of small improvements:

- Udogie, Sarr and GLC effectively being new signings
- Royal playing in a more suitable role

Good second CB dependent, we will finish somewhere between 5th and 9th. I think we'll be competing very closely with United and Newcastle for 5th, 6th and 7th who could struggle with balancing CL and the league.

City (just)
Arsenal
Chelsea
Liverpool
United
Newcastle
Spurs
Brighton

Is my top 8.

 

[WiganSpur]

I don’t know, watching this opening weekend I see no reason we can’t challenge for Champions League football. Liverpool has a very soft midfield and are currently in a transition period. United looked bang average today and nothing they have done in the transfer market improved them. Chelsea have a scattered gun approach to signings and good luck to Poch trying to make that gel.

Nobody expects much from us and the pressure is off. I have confidence this group.

No CL unless 2 of the 3 players we bring in are top quality imo. Also massively depends on Vicario.

 

[zonbon32]

Appreciate there are issues at other teams in the top 7/8 but we still have huge glaring problems.
The amount of space we afforded Brentford at times will get punished by better teams, our midfield is wide open just like United's was yesterday.

Work in progress and I accept we're in a longer term rebuild. We'll do very well to be top 8 this year IMO.

 

[Japhet]

Haven't seen 1 pundit predict us to finish top 6

Last time that probably happened was over a decade ago

Pundits are generally completely blinkered by what happened last year coupled with unwavering bias towards their own teams. It's the law.