This season.

[THOWIG]

We are entering into one of the toughest seasons in a long long time. The Premiership is a simple two horse race. Chelsea don't concern me, Arsenal do because Arsenal always concern me and Liverpool will improve as they have made a fantastic appointment in Rodgers.

I know this is a bold statement, but I really don't care about getting into the Top 4. I know it brings in money and some players might be more tempted to join, but it's not an achievement for me. The best achievement is winning the league.

We have a very dedicated, forward thinking, passionate and exciting manager at the helm and we must give him time. He must be allowed to build his team and implement his ideologies.

We must show patience, which I know we are not very good at.

Personally I'm excited about the future.

 

[StartingPrice]

I <LIKE> because I don't agree with everything - what I disagree with is that I think everyone is going way overboards about the Goons signings - I'm not that impressed. They've lost RVP. They may, now, lose Song, too.
Other than that, I agree. The funny thing is, I actually think we will make the top 4 - I am just not that concerned whether we do or not this season just so long as there are clear signs of improvement in other ways that bode well for the future.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Liverpool wont improve that much. Rogers isn't a miracle worker.

 

[leffe186]

I'm not as concerned about getting into the top four because (a) Modric has (pretty much) gone and Bale has signed a new contract, and they were the two key players who might be swayed by top four (b) The new stadium looks like becoming a reality (c) I just can't see us doing it this year. It is still what we should be aiming for, but other teams just look better prepared for this season. My main hope is that AVB does a good job, and keeps the press off his back to allow him to continue to do just that.

 

[dontcallme]

Not a big fan of the time argument.

AVB has inherited a very talented squad and he is paid big money to get good results. We don't really have time.

A few seasons out of the CL and revenue-wise we fall further behind and the cycle of struggling to attract top players continues.

HR got us 4th twice and within budget, I expect AVB to challenge for top four.

We have a good enough squad to have an exciting future and present.

 

[Huddlebone]

i think we have a great chance to improve now in the last days of the transfer and slide by Arsenal And chelsea big time. Because Arsenal without RVP isn`t the same team and sagna will be out for i while as well. it will take a while to play togheter their new squad. And i think Hazard, Oscar And Marin will need time to adjust so i would say this is a very good time to improve and take that last step CL !!!!

 

[Huddlebone]

And i dont see Liverpool as a contender to challenge the top 4 position

 

[lillywhites61]

I think we do need to give a certain amount of time, I just hope he gets the players he believes will fit the pieces of the jigsaw within reason of course.

None of us know how we will perform under AVB but we do know that up until a yet ago when his confidence was soaring he was flying so I hope he does it again now.

The team in my opinion is stronger. Modric will be gone, but I think we already hve players who will fit in and possibly one on the horizon, the only issue for me is strikers, I simply cannot see us not signing someone and I still think it will be two by the end of the window.

We don't have such a tough start this season so I think we will get off quite well and when new arrivals come in a lot of the fears will be dispelled.

 

[chinaman]

Let's just give him 3 matches to show his mettle.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Whilst I do care about Champions League, I completely endorse your sentiments re AVB. We've made a decision, we have decided to change the core philosophy and working methodology of the club, that will not happen in a couple of weeks.

I disagree with THOWIG about Chelsea. I think they will be very strong this year, once their creative new boys bed in. I think a rejuvenated and now, numero uno Torres, will thrive with people like Hazard & Oscar to feed him.

For the first time in a long time I think they will be stronger than Arsenal. Wenger's coaching is always worth a shit load of points every season, but this is the weakest Arsenal team - on paper - in compared to this around them, for over a decade I think. They have a couple of very good players, some good ones, but there really aren't any "special" players in that group anymore now RVP has gone. could be wrong, maybe the collective will pull together, combine with Wenger's usual effect and become more than the sum of their parts. But if I was a gooner, I'd be more worried about this season than for a long time.

The two players ManU have bought are quality, and they have strengthened, so will of course be strong. It will be interesting to see how RVP adapts to ManU's more direct approach and how Rooney adapts to having another huge ego inhabiting the same areas of the pitch.

ManC will be ManC.

Liverpool will be a threat to us, without a doubt. They were unlucky last year. Their position didn't reflect their general quality - not that it was brilliant, but better than 8th. They have made a brave but very good choice of manager. They have strengthened, I really like Joe Allen. Not a glamourous signing but a player who helps all those around him play, without getting any glory himself. He keeps moving, passing and moving, works tirelessly for the team. Suarez might be a ****, but I'd swap what he brings to a team for what Defoe does in a heartbeat.

Newcastle deserve credit for doing simple things well and recruiting good value players that played as a team. I think they over achieved last year, but that said, they reminded me of us about 6 years ago. If they keep the group together (including the excellent Cabaye) then they will be sniffing around where we want to be like last year I guess.

It's really hard to properly assess where we are at until the window closes, we all know we need a striker and, for me, are desperate for a creative player or two who could provide some craft and intelligence to challenge the predictable whizzy directness of Bale and Lennon.

Let's review this thread on September 1st.

 

[guns_healy]

Top 4 is vital

If winning the league is the only thing that you're interested in then you'll be uninterested for the foreseeable future.

I'm looking forward to the season and I'm hopeful we can get top 4

 

[THOWIG]

I want us to win the league.

 

[spurslenny]

I like AVB, and I really hope he can implement some improvements in our tactics and set piece plays, but, and it's a horrible nagging but, I be got this feeling that this is gonna be another 'Ramos' moment for us.

I really, really hope I'm wrong.

 

[THOWIG]

It will be if we don't give him time.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

It will be if we don't give him time.

It's all very well saying 'give him time' but football is a results business, the time is now.

Even though Levy is doing his best to ruin the transfer window I'm 110% behind AVB and have a good feeling we will come out of this season well (bearing in mind our season is only 36 games compared to everyone else thanks to our dear leader). I think his systems will sink in to our players better than they did at Chelsea, and hopefully he has learned from his almighty cock ups he made there.

The media want him to fail, other clubs want him to fail, but I'll think we'll be ok.

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

I'd probably settle for a good league season (top 6), but would love to see us win a trophy again this season. AVB has stated he will take all competitions seriously so I expect us to do really well in Europa.

 

[haxman]

B-C's assessment is spot on imo.

I was looking forward to the season, and still am, but not with the same levels of anticipation as say a month ago. I said 5th then and still stand by that.

 

[tototoner]

We will have to improve on last season to finish Top 4 again and with the players we have lost over the players who have come in ( right this minute ) we haven't. AVB or no AVB

 

[SteveH]

I have no clue where we will finish, but hope top four. If we start slowly results wise, I will not be surprised, as its a marathon not a sprint, I hope we give AVB time, when he does make his mistakes, which he will. Also I hope we dont start rounding on players like we have done in the past with the like s of Jenas.

I am looking forward to the new season as always. I also will be intrigued to see how ALL teams fare in the EPL.

 

[saintlyspur]

I think a good start is vital or the press and the people on this website will be wanting AVB gone