A new season is upon us, and as always, it'll be interesting to see what our expectations are for this campaign. Currently difficult to gauge, especially as the transfer window is open for another three weeks and we're still short in a few areas. However, the poll will remain open with the option of updating selections once the window closes. My own expectations are mixed. I think we can take advantage of the added experience and we have good quality in midfield. Additionally, it's good to begin with a more settled defence - especially after last season - and I hope the change in head coach will create a more positive relationship with the fanbase. Unfortunately, we have lost a lot of goals from the team and start with limited attacking options. Furthermore, the lack of pace within the squad is a worry, especially in defence, and I'm concerned about our goalkeeping quality. The league appears to be more competitive than last season, and I feel teams will take points from each other, ensuring it will be tight. If we address the deficiencies within the squad, then we should be there or thereabouts, and optimistically, I can see us finishing 5th or 6th.
For now it is hard to fully place us as we have not got all signings in, nor have other clubs. As we are now I would have to say play off contenders but possibly just missing out, like Lincoln/Blackpool last season. But with a new attacker or two I would say we are certainly top 6 ready again.
I think they relegate 4 from league 1, or at least they used to. Not that I’m expecting us to be anywhere near the bottom I’ve gone for an optimistic play off spot
Expectation, or what we think might happen? I expect us to be challenging the top 6, given our budget, and therefore that's what I've gone for. At the minute, I reckon we're just short of that, but not by a million miles. So I've gone for 3-6th.
I think it's going to be a very competitive league this year, and we could end up anywhere between 1st and 12th. I've gone for the playoffs as I think we've got a good chance of being better than last year, it just depends how other teams perform. We could improve but still miss out given the strength of the league. We've done well to replace most of the departing players. Gent is a decent replacement for Cadden, the combo of Hourihane/Craig is an upgrade on Kane, and while Williams at RWB was probably better than anything we have now, Roberts is a much better CB which is where Jordan played most of last year. Clarke has made multiple references to players who thought the door might be closed getting another chance, I think it's fairly obvious this means Watters. I don't think Watters is much worse than Cole, and hopefully given a chance he'll start well and grow into the team. I think this will also be the year that Jalo and Marsh will make some kind of meaningful contribution. 20 goals & assists between them. The other important factor is of course Clarke himself. There needs to be a big difference to how the side performs. No more early goals conceded, no more having to come from behind. Can he get them playing attacking football with confidence? I think the team is a match for anybody and they need to act like that. If we do manage to get a good goalkeeper, as well as adding Keillor-Dunn, then we'll be very competitive. It's probably a good thing so many people from last year's team have left, including the manager, as it is clear there was some kind of underlying trauma that meant we kept repeating the same mistakes. Was it just complacency and apathy because so many knew they'd be leaving? With a freshened up squad there should be renewed belief and a more positive attitude.
Perhaps we will have more than a decent squad come the end of August when the window closes, therefore we won’t have to spend that big.We simply don’t know yet, so for the time being it’s optimism for me.
I suspect there will be more movement come deadline day & we hopefully add to our attacking options via the loan market. Not convinced we’ll meet Mansfields valuation for DKD
Agreed, if we can get a proper striker in we could push top 6 but I think 7th-10th is most likely at this stage.
11th to 16th. A season of development, realignment and consolidation. Though of course Clarke can buck that with excellent management.
The transfer window is still open till the end of this month so I'd say that there isn't one club in this division 'going with what they have' so it's hard to say. A lot of betting sites have us just outside the top 6.. 8th' ish. I think they are spot on with what we have at present
Playoffs again. Realistically, Birmingham and probably Huddersfield will have too much for us to threaten the automatic places, but our midfield looks very strong, and Conor and Robbo will add that bit of nous we were lacking at times last season. Also, I don't believe the striker situation is anywhere near as dire as people think. A lot of it is a service issue. Play on the front foot and we've got enough creativity to score goals throughout the side. We seem to be flying a little bit under the radar, but I genuinely believe that neutrals are placing far too much emphasis on the loss of Cole and Kane - understandably so if they didn't watch us play regularly.
I voted 7th-10th - unless we sign a forward or two by the end of the window. Best hope that for Clarke's sake we aren't in the playoffs with a game to go - otherwise he's toast.
Every season I hear people saying "it'll be a tough division this time", and every year there's a whole load of dross and only a handful of real contenders for play-offs and above. I don't expect anything different this season. I think we'll comfortably make the play-offs. Whether we go all the way remains to be seen...