Given the budget I think we have done good business, we have a good manager and a bit of depth in the squad (depending on who stays). It is nice to see players coming in before too many go out - the right way to do things. In the current position I don't believe we could have realistically asked much more of the board and management. Whatever happens on the pitch, I am not faulting the work and effort that has gone in to putting together a squad.
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season with minus 4 points I think thats doable.
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season minus 4 points I think thats doable.
I think Hull are coming 23rd so for me, it’s just one other team we have to be better than. Which will be easier said than done, but I’d hope with our investment and manager, we’ll be better than at least one of Preston, Portsmouth, Derby and Bristol City (without Manning, I think they’ll really struggle this year.)
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season with minus 4 points I think thats doable.
I think this is nonsense - you hope this is the case but it isn't. The championship is no stronger than it was 5 or 10 years ago - same with the premiership. More money, bigger transfers does not mean better players. We shall see.
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season minus 4 points I think thats doable.
I think Hull are coming 23rd so for me, it’s just one other team we have to be better than. Which will be easier said than done, but I’d hope with our investment and manager, we’ll be better than at least one of Preston, Portsmouth, Derby and Bristol City (without Manning, I think they’ll really struggle this year.)
I keep on wanting to throw Oxford into that list but with Rowett they'll scrap their way to 19th or something. Bristol City a very good shout , Struber hasn't done a lot as a manager post Barnsley and I'm not convinced stylistically it's going to work.
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season with minus 4 points I think thats doable.
I think this is nonsense - you hope this is the case but it isn't. The championship is no stronger than it was 5 or 10 years ago - same with the premiership. More money, bigger transfers does not mean better players. We shall see.
I agree! Bristol City were crap for the best part of last season but still came within 3 games of the premier league which is insane! This was only because a handful of teams around them couldn’t sustain a push themselves. I am not denying it’s a tough league but to say it’s got stronger is not true!
All three promoted sides staying up last season proved that!
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season with minus 4 points I think thats doable.
I think this is nonsense - you hope this is the case but it isn't. The championship is no stronger than it was 5 or 10 years ago - same with the premiership. More money, bigger transfers does not mean better players. We shall see.
agree with this - yes it's very competitive (but it always was), don't particularly think it's any stronger than when we last came up, it's just with teams paying massive money for the same standard of player it creates that illusion.
We'll finish in the bottom 8 but I think we'll be 'relatively' comfortable. Hard to beat and will hopefully keep alot of clean sheets again, that alone will see us ok
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season with minus 4 points I think thats doable.
I think this is nonsense - you hope this is the case but it isn't. The championship is no stronger than it was 5 or 10 years ago - same with the premiership. More money, bigger transfers does not mean better players. We shall see.
agree with this - yes it's very competitive (but it always was), don't particularly think it's any stronger than when we last came up, it's just with teams paying massive money for the same standard of player it creates that illusion.
We'll finish in the bottom 8 but I think we'll be 'relatively' comfortable. Hard to beat and will hopefully keep alot of clean sheets again, that alone will see us ok
I think it is tougher this season than it was last.
The three teams coming up are strong and Ipswich and Southampton in particular are going to be very good for the level. Leicester will be too probably but there’s every chance they implode.
Definitely being hard to beat and keeping clean sheets will be the key.
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season with minus 4 points I think thats doable.
I think this is nonsense - you hope this is the case but it isn't. The championship is no stronger than it was 5 or 10 years ago - same with the premiership. More money, bigger transfers does not mean better players. We shall see.
The Championship has definitely improved in quality over time, even since we were last in it. I really think a decent chunk of our fan base are going to get a rude awakening in a couple of weeks time when they see how high the standard is versus the pub league we’ve been slogging it out in for the last thousand years.
My perspective hasn’t massively changed with the Kelman signing, I think 21st would be a great finish and getting even that will be tough. Thankfully there will be a couple of teams with embargo’s & possible points deductions which will help us out.
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season with minus 4 points I think thats doable.
Starting on plus 4 and you still won’t make the play offs 😀
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season with minus 4 points I think thats doable.
I think this is nonsense - you hope this is the case but it isn't. The championship is no stronger than it was 5 or 10 years ago - same with the premiership. More money, bigger transfers does not mean better players. We shall see.
The Championship has definitely improved in quality over time, even since we were last in it. I really think a decent chunk of our fan base are going to get a rude awakening in a couple of weeks time when they see how high the standard is versus the pub league we’ve been slogging it out in for the last thousand years.
My perspective hasn’t massively changed with the Kelman signing, I think 21st would be a great finish and getting even that will be tough. Thankfully there will be a couple of teams with embargo’s & possible points deductions which will help us out.
You mainly can only play to the standard of the other team you are playing against. Sure, you can outclass them, run rings around them and generally look a much better standard but if they are shit then your game will come down a few notches. However, play a much better team or one from a higher division and your game often raises accordingly. There is/will be a big step up in the standard of opposition we will come up against but as we saw last time (and that was a very strong league that year) if you strengthen your squad, and we’ve definitely done that, you can more than hold you’re own against the other teams. We just need to avoid dodgy owners, an excessive number of injuries, Covid, lockdowns and our key striker deciding he no longer wants to play because he’s jumping ship.
5-10 years ago a proper investment in the side like this window has been would see a League One club probably cement top half but nowadays the gap between League One and the Championship is so big I still think we will find it very difficult.
We are giving it a go though and that’s all we can ask, hopefully it’s enough to stay up, unfortunately the two sides we’ve come up with are unlikely to go down so we will have to finish above three other sides
Spot on with that first paragraph. It’s a much bigger jump up these days between L1 and the championship.
You’ve made some decent signings though and the basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday will finish bottom so you only have to worry about finishing above two others. Even starting the season with minus 4 points I think thats doable.
You’re forgetting that our minus four is evened out by playing Pompey again.
I approach every season with optimism, in my head we’re going to be promoted and I’m not as I do every season planning to be away in May for the play offs…I know this is wildly optimistic but who knows and no doubt I will have a rude awakening but without hope what is left.?
Getting more and more positive as each week passes. I can see us fishing as high as 12th-15th at the minute. One of the three relegated sides from the Prem will have a stinker - could be Leicester, I think Sheff Weds are screwed, Hull will be poor, Bristol City I have a feeling will struggle despite last season’s good performance, as may Pompey, Derby, Preston and Stoke. I think we will finish above Wrexham. They may come strong with signings but I would take NJ over Parky any day in the Championship and just think their bubble will deflate a bit. Probably not enough to be in the bottom three, but I think we will be stronger by season end as I have said. Will be up and down results wise all season and if fans start booing against any side after a defeat, they will need to give their heads a shake. We will act as 12th man all season and back us home and away to do our job!
Lots of new signings means this team will need time to gel.
If we're in and around the bottom three in October I hope the fanbase gives NJ time to make it happen.
Just remember what we looked like after Crawley at home last season, compared to where we ended up!
Even if we get relegated I don’t think NJ should be under any pressure or lose his job (unless it was a real disaster and we were 24th and a long way off)
If the worst did happen and we went down, who would you rather have in charge than him to take us back up? We’ve backed him with a long deal and recruitment, so need to stick with him whatever happens
Worth noting that in recent seasons Luton got promoted, Ipswich went straight up after coming out of league one, and last year all 3 promoted clubs stayed up.
Plus if we look at the clubs going the other way, in the last 3 seasons out of the 9 clubs relegated from the Championship to League one, only 2 of them got promoted back and one was Birmingham who broke every single spending record to do so.
So all of that doesn't say a lot for there being a huge gulf in class between league 1 and the championship. Of course there is a going to be an increase in quality but it's not like the gulf jumping from Championship to PL.
Im confident we have a squad now to be nowhere near relegation. FWIW this would be my starting lineup based on what we have so far (subject to Knibbs coming)
too much negativity on this thread for my liking. I'm predicting a finish between 10th and 16th. And suggesting some players have only come to us because no one else was interested? Firstly, if no one else was interested then these players by default can't be very good so why have we paid out decent fees to get them? And secondly, how would anyone know whether other clubs were interested or not?
Comments
We'll finish in the bottom 8 but I think we'll be 'relatively' comfortable. Hard to beat and will hopefully keep alot of clean sheets again, that alone will see us ok
Definitely being hard to beat and keeping clean sheets will be the key.
Steady the ship in the championship and push on from there.
If we're in and around the bottom three in October I hope the fanbase gives NJ time to make it happen.
Just remember what we looked like after Crawley at home last season, compared to where we ended up!
Plus if we look at the clubs going the other way, in the last 3 seasons out of the 9 clubs relegated from the Championship to League one, only 2 of them got promoted back and one was Birmingham who broke every single spending record to do so.
So all of that doesn't say a lot for there being a huge gulf in class between league 1 and the championship. Of course there is a going to be an increase in quality but it's not like the gulf jumping from Championship to PL.
Kaminski
Ramsay Jones Bell
Apter Coventry Rankin-Costello Edwards
Knibbs Oloafe
Kelman