Who do you think will finish bottom 3 this year? I went to see Barnet vs Swansea this evening for ***** and giggles. A team's fortunes for the season shouldn't be based on one friendly, but if it were... Swansea would be going down. It was like they were trying to piece a broken team together. Really, really poor. Considering putting a tenner on them to go down. They just didn't have a clue and couldn't break down the Barnet defence. They had some youngsters on the pitch, but even when there were more experienced players on the pitch they looked useless. It ended 1-0 to Barnet. Side note: Barnet goalkeeper Stephens is ******* quality. He wasn't that busy but on the few occasions that we he was tested, he made some really high quality saves.
I'd say Huddersfield, Swansea and one other of the semi-established teams, either Palace, Stoke or West Ham.
Barnet's number 30, Justin Amaluzor was a very spritely player. Caused them the most grief. 2nd Swansea and Huddersfield. If West Brom don't strengthen big time then I reckon they'll be in danger. They have a very thin squad list. If they get a few injuries at one time they could go through a really rough patch.
It's all pre-season mate, it means f@ck all. Even when Swansea loses 1-0 to Barnet, they treat it as a preparation game/warm up. If I remember correctly, didn't we lose to Borehamwood under QSF in 2015/16 pre-season or am I imagining things. If it were true, the season that followed weren't so shabby
"A team's fortunes for the season shouldn't be based on one friendly, but if it were... Swansea would be going down."
I predicted Swansea would go down last season, if they lose Sigurdson then I believe they will be down there for sure. I've heard from a Stoke fan that Hughes has lost the dressing room and players are trying to leave a sinking ship. The 3 that come up right now I'd fancy Huddersfield to be a surprise package just because of their transfer activity,Brighton may struggle and Newcastle have been quiet. If I had to pick 3 now it would be Brighton Burnley Stoke but I think I'll change my predictions come the start of season and then again by end of transfer window.
I realised this but I stand by my point, all pre-season friendlies should be taken with a pinch of salt and league table predictions shouldn't really be based on them. As you said though IF they were related to pre-season games, Swansea may be going down (we haven't seen our first team play yet!)
That'd be my 3 based on current squads and transfer activity. Still a while to go until the start of the season so it'll probably be us and two others by then *sob*
I would read absolutely nothing in to a pre season friendly in July. Result and performance utterly meaningless
Il never predict us to go down but its a possibility. Who i would like to see go down is west ham, bournemouth and swansea. Who I reckon is going down is swansea huddersfield and brighton.
I thought Swansea were nailed on to go down last season, I do think they have a good coach, it all depends on how they spend the money they get for the players they sell.
I guess Burnley will have an issue in defence without Keane and they will need to keep up their home form. Stoke seem to be going no-where really so might struggle. Huddersfield Brighton Burnley Probably be totally wrong though! We need to pick up a striker or two...
There tends to be one surprise amongst the three. If an "established" premier league team were to go down I hope it's West Ham. Would like Brighton to stay up so will go for West Ham, Swansea and Huddersfield.
Outside the top 6 or 7, most teams are pretty piss poor. It can be anyone from: Leicester, Brighton, Burnley, Palace, WBA, Huddersfield, Newcastle, Stoke, Swansea, West Ham and us.
Seen they've got West Ham and Millwall coming up to, might go down and see a game as well as I live within 5 minutes of their stadium, sounds like they've got a decent team.
I think Swansea are definitely in trouble, especially if they lose Sigurdson. Brighton will be down there and I think the final spot is between us and Burnley at the moment! Think Huddersfield will be surprisingly decent this season!
"Some" youngsters? I also went to the match (friend is a Swansea fan) - First half was largely players not good enough for their PL team (Barrow, Montero) mixed with academy and the only key names being Carroll and Routledge. Second half they bought on Naughton, Davies, Sigurdsson (who has now been left off their US tour to sort out his head), Narsingh etc. Impossible to tell how they'd fare next season from one pre-season friendly when they didn't even play their main team together. Swansea players who didn't play a second last night who played a decent amount last season: Fabianski, Llorente, Mawson, Britton, Sung-Yeung Ki nor did they play their key signing so far in Mesa....
If the transfer window shut tonight and the season started tomorrow I'd say it's between Brighton, Huddersfield, Burnley, Newcastle and Swansea. With us, Palace, Stoke and WBA not miles away. If we get a decent striker in I'll be happy, our squad / team isn't as bad as it was made to look last season.
Remember we do have Peryera who will be like a new signing, also Zarate if he stays and gets fit could be useful! Then we have the new signings when they come which I am sure they will!
Let's not pin our hope son Peryera - he had the odd good game but did not set world alight Guessing Us, Huddersfield and Burnley - any of those 3 come 17th and they would snap your hand off
We are gonna be great this year so: Huddersfield Westbrom Newcastle With Arsenal looking dodgy until the second part of the season (like West Ham last year and Chelsea year before)
We need pace and some younger legs as out aging squad isn't getting any spritlier. Us, Burnley and Brighton
Anyone that thinks West Brom are going down is deluded. No way under Pulis. Huddersfield have spent a lot of money but I'm not convinced on a lot of their buys (Mounie is untested, Mooy is a good championship player but may not be able to make the step up etc) Brighton have so far been a mixed bag, I like the Matthew Ryan signing and I really like Pascal Gross but I'm not sure the rest of their team is good enough Burnley could easily go down, Palace could be around that area as well. Not overly enamoured with Newcastle's business so far, but a couple of good buys should see them stay up. Swansea are another that could be in real trouble. Considering the above i'd say we have a great chance of staying up this season - there'll definitely be 3 worse teams than us.
Until tonight I probably would have put us in the bottom three, but with the signing of Chalobah, we might just keep clear of it, but I still think we need a good goal scoring striker to be fairly safe of staying in the PL.
