What Are Your Expectations For The Season?

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by Pozzo Out, Jul 17, 2023.

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What are your expectations for this season with the squad as is & 5 weeks of the window left?

Poll closed Aug 7, 2023.
  1. Automatic promotion

    4 vote(s)
    2.8%
  2. Play offs

    19 vote(s)
    13.3%
  3. 8-11th

    38 vote(s)
    26.6%
  4. 12th-16th

    65 vote(s)
    45.5%
  5. 18th - 21st

    13 vote(s)
    9.1%
  6. Relegated

    4 vote(s)
    2.8%
  1. Pozzo Out

    Pozzo Out Squad Player

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    Quite varied opinions across here and other forms of social media.

    So, as our squad currently is & with 5 and a half weeks left of the window given our work so far.

    What do you expect this season?
     
  2. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

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  3. BusheyOrn

    BusheyOrn Reservist

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    I think we will battle for top half position with workmanlike team performances. If we are in with a shout of play-offs or auto come January then we may splash some cash at that stage.
     
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  4. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

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    Solidly midtable with the squad as it stands. Uber dull season ahead.
     
  5. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator

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    Realistically, looking at what we have right now, top six is out of the question. Mid table, 12th - 16th with a flirt with relegation is not totally out of the question next season. It's going to take us a long time until we return to the dizzy heights of 11th in the Premier League, but I do fear things might get worse before they get better.
     
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  6. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

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    Expectations I have none. Hopes are that we see a team who fight for their lives for the 90+ minutes every game. That only could put us in contention for the playoffs.
     
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  7. YellowKicks

    YellowKicks Squad Player

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    A lot can change but right now somwhere between 14th-18th. A little flirt with the bottom 6 around February but finish pretty safe.
     
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  8. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

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    If we only add a couple of Livermore types then 14th to 20th. Relegation the season after when Louza/ Asprilla sold. Duxbury will continue to consume his 900k throughout the misery and Giaretta will be paid to get in Manga’s way as he trys to deploy his £250k budget.
     
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  9. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

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    I have a nasty feeling we will miss out on the champions league places altogether this season.
    Not sure about Watford though.
     
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  10. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator

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    Step back in time... we were close in week four.

    upload_2023-7-17_17-16-2.png
     
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  11. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

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    Out of both cups in the first round and a lower half of the table finish
    4 managers
    Players cheered off after putting up a spirited but not quite good enough performance to hang on for the win/draw every week
     
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  12. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

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    With the squad as it is - a trudging struggle, in which we never really even look like making a genuine challenge for the playoffs, and end up in a position lower than last season's purgatorial 11th.
     
  13. reids

    reids First Team

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    12th-15th. Add a proven goalscoring winger and another rotational striker and I'll bump that up to 9th-12th.
     
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  14. fuzzy73

    fuzzy73 Squad Player

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    I expect automatic promotion and if we’re not 5 points clear at the top by the September equinox, I hope our owner is brave enough to make changes to the management team
     
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  15. CaveManHornet

    CaveManHornet Reservist

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    12th-16th

    Worse squad than last season. Pep Guardiola couldn’t sort our mess out so VI doesn’t stand much hope.

    However, there are some real bum teams who are worse than us.
     
  16. CaveManHornet

    CaveManHornet Reservist

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    What a great moment that was. Was very short lived, but fun whilst it lasted.
     
  17. Cassetti's Beard.

    Cassetti's Beard. Academy Graduate

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    12th-16th with the current squad.

    Higher if we sign some more players who can score.

    Weirdly looking forward to the season, newish squad with very low expectations.
     
  18. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

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    All depends on who we bring in from now until September 1st. But, you can only predict with what we have available right now. If we sign no one else, then it's bottom six and that's being optimistic. But I reserve the right to change my opinion based on new signings.
     
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  19. RMT79

    RMT79 First Year Pro

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    Play offs minimum - if that lot up the road can get promoted with that squad, some fight and organisation then there is no reason why we can’t
     
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  20. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player

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    I expect us to finish 12th.

    This season will be better for this very reason.

    Last season everyone thought we would get promoted. The pundits, the bookies, EFL on Quest/ITV and most of all US the fans.

    At this same point last season everyone was contemplating whether Sarr would stay and if Joao Pedro would come good. Would we get the automatics? Well looking at the squad, we ought to really be there or thereabouts. Not to make the playoffs - unthinkable!

    So after we had our little bubble burst by the shipshow of last season, NOW things are different. Now the expectations have changed. Now it's the automatics that are unthinkable. Making the playoffs would be a surprise and delight!

    Most expect a struggle. Most expect a repeat of last season's dismal shyte.

    So imagine the sweetness if we do start playing. If we go to Leeds or Leicester or Southampton away and stuff 'em and start climbing up the table.

    The sweetness of unexpected success is much, much sweeter than the almost neutral satisfaction of completing an expected victory.
     
  21. davisp2

    davisp2 Reservist

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    No idea, that’s the great thing about the championship - most of the teams have a chance of promotion. Team spirit is more important than bringing in lots of new players, so not worried about lack of signings. Most of the teams in the league have yet to spend any money in the window, but that means very little
     
  22. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

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    Depends if Healey is fit and carries his Toulouse form over to us.

    I don't think we're awful, but I don't think we're very good either. Exciting stuff.
     
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  23. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach

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    Another miracle season similar to Barnsley's if VI can get some of the other players he needs in. Not looking likely at the moment. And the season is not too far off. Gino twiddling his thumbs while Watford burns.
     
  24. Ilkley

    Ilkley Formerly known as An Ilkley Orn Baht 'at

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    £250k budget?
    You're being unusually optimistic.
     
  25. Loyalhornet

    Loyalhornet Reservist

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    It’s very hard to say with presumably a few more signings to come. Particularly upfront( goals ) I feel we are currently light.So at the moment my expectations are not massive. A mid table to chasing playoffs kind of season .

    As we know , success in the championship is all about Winning the battle and if we don’t see that fight and intensity that was lacking last season we could be in for a very tough season. However , VI can get it out of the squad then who knows …
     
  26. BeersThen

    BeersThen Reservist

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    18th / 19th. A complete sh1tshow. Knocked out the Milk Cup by Stevenage (1-0 AET) and out the FA Cup 9-0 at Man City (live on BT Sport, 5pm Saturday).
     
  27. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

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    There’s no extra time in the “Milk Cup”. So we’ll either have to concede in the 89th minute (probably from a corner) or lose on pens.
     
  28. TomWatfordFC

    TomWatfordFC Reservist

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    Autos are a no-go. The hope for most of the season will be to snatch a play-off place. We won't. We'll scrape 11th again.
     
  29. Crezzy95

    Crezzy95 First Year Pro

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    Mid table & I'll happily take a mid table finish if we see a team that fights for 90 minutes & tries to win.
     
  30. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

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    I'm looking forward to not having Keinan Davis
     
  31. HELGO

    HELGO Reservist

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    I expect us to be just as crap as the last two seasons. Gino says no change to the philosophy so how can we expect any improvement. Must admit it’s becoming a struggle to go most weeks.
     
  32. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

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    Probably another season of inconsistency and injures with the manager being blamed as he turned the wrong way in training,.
     
  33. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

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    Would take anything above 22nd, but realistically, I think lower mid table
     
  34. Robert Peel

    Robert Peel Squad Player

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    14th - Play with a bit more passion, but a disjointed squad with no depth in certain areas and poor in front of goal.

    If / when Ismael turns out to be the wrong fit and gets the boot (poor Gino let down by another manager who didn't deliver what they promised with this amazing squad and set up), I think a significant chunk of fans will simply give up going. I don't see much in the way of protests and Pozzo won't be going anywhere as he's sunk too much in, so fans will just walk away.
     
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  35. wfcwarehouse

    wfcwarehouse First Team Captain

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    Agreed, he’s garbage.
     

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