What Are Your Expectations For The Season?

In all reality we will probably sign players to improve us, but we have nothing up front. Absolutely nothing. I can only predict how I think we’ll fair with the squad we currently have.

 

Such as? I genuinely don’t know as I haven’t really scoured other clubs’ transfers so far this Summer, but from what I have seen I think we’re out of the chasing pack, so to speak. I just don’t want to have to rely on other sides to be worse than us already.

 

Are you LaClusazSki in disguise?

 

I'm only basing my lowly prediction because of the state of our forward line. Even if we sign Wesley, he doesn't score goals, so it's not really going to improve us. I can see both Bayo and Healey missing good chances throughout the season, and we'll be a really frustrating team to watch. If the players play the high pressing game, we will force teams into mistakes, and we will get chances, but like we saw at Palace, we'll miss a lot of good opportunities. In fact, I see that Palace friendly as a macrocosm for how I think our season will go. We'll put in a decent performance, miss good chances and make unforced errors leading to soft goals against. This will keep us down the foot of the table, but I'm hoping we'll have enough to stay up of course.

However, if we do sign some better quality, then my view will instantly change to one a little more optimistic. I see our transfer window as Pedro out - Chakvetadze/Healey in, Sarr out - Ince in, Choudhury out - Livermore in, Davis out - Wesley in, Kamara out - Lewis in. All downgrades apart from Lewis who is probably on a par with Kamara. So, we weren't great last season, and with downgraded replacements, even factoring in a new system under Ismael, is that really going to make us better?

 

We had Kienan Davis last season, one of the worst strikers I have ever seen.

 

That might well be so, but Wesley is a downgrade on him, IMO.

 

Of all the positions in a team, proven goal scorers are the hardest and usually the most expensive players to sign.

So with our practically non-existent budget, it was always going to be a hard task.

We’ve lost an almost certain guaranteed 10+ goals each from Pedro and Sarr. Now we are having to gamble. Can Healey make the step from the French league to here (I believe he will but it’s all predictions)? Will Bayo step up in Ismael’s playing system? (He gets chances, which is a good thing..but misses most of them, which clearly isn’t). Will the midfield come up with more goals? (Ince should, Louza could, Kone/Kayembe/DB didn’t score last season so even one goal would be an improvement). Can Porteous and Hoedt continue to grab a few goals as they did last year?

My prediction is a season where nobody hits double figures (except maybe Healey) but goals are shared around and we manage just enough of them to stay competitive.

 

Bayo, who is woeful, is an upgrade on Davis.

 

I don’t disagree with your logic, but you also have to factor in a possible upgrade in the attitude of the team following the introduction of different players and a new manager with a new approach. We know that can take a squad of fairly limited ability a long way in the Championship (L*t*n, Millwall, etc.).

 

Also a reminder with goals that it’s not always how many you score but when you score them.

A solitary strike in a 1-0 win is worth more to the team than a hat trick in a 3-4 defeat.

Bayo was by no means a success last season, but he did net us a few points. That’s not a bad habit to have.

I’m not anti him by any means as I realise he does get into good positions, which is half the battle, but I find it a bit disconcerting that in effect he wasn’t considered good enough for us in the second half of last season and banished off on loan, but now could be starting the season.

 

It's all about opinions, but I respectfully I disagree and so did the club last season, as they shipped out Bayo who was seen as not good enough.

 

For me Bayo is an Andre Gray clone. So many similar traits as that guy had. Works quite hard, decent at sniffing out good chances, but woeful at finishing.

 

Who knows with the championship. Very little between bottom 6 and PO contenders. Get a run of results and some momentum, and we could challenge for the POs or be serious relegation trouble. Just look at Reading & Coventry last season. OK Reading had a points deduction but they started the season near the top, Cov in relegation trouble. It ended with Reading down and Cov a couple of pens away from promotion to the prem.

 

Let's not forget Sema he could weigh in with between 5 to 10 goals me thinks!!!

 

The fact they played together a few years ago is a funny coincidence in the small world of football. Both did well that Season but I think I read Healey was the overall better player of the two and was the starter of the two. (Toulouse, 2020/2021)

 

Not playing RW he won’t. Looked awful against Palace and held onto the ball way too long. Kept trying to take players on rather than pass. Looked very uncomfortable on the RW.

 

I think Asprilla will play RW and Martins LW. They're our most dangerous wide players. Agree Sema at RW is clearly not comfortable for him as he's so one footed.

 

I would be genuinely shocked if we got relegated

 

This time next week we could have 3 or 4 new additions which could change the picture, but we will just not score goals with what we currently have. It stands to reason a side that can’t score will be down the bottom of the league.

Maybe Ismaël can get a tune if of our no hopers, but I think it’s going to be a big problem this season.

 

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, I think VI will be decent for us though. Is our squad really any weaker than the pre-Pozzo squads that used to comfortably avoid relegation each year? I just don't see it

 

I also think VI is doing a good job. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him so far.

But I do feel this is the weakest squad we’ve had in years. Even pre-Pozzo we had at least 1 decent striker. Be it a young Deeney, Mooney, King, Hendo, Graham etc. We’ve got no one, absolutely no one, who is going to score goals for us this season.

 

I really think Healey is going to pleasently surpise. But would definnitely like a more guaranteed source of goals as well.

 

We barely had that last season.

 

Pedro, Sarr and Davis? I don’t think some people really get the level squad has dropped to in terms of goal potential.

 

I hope you’re right mate. But with Healey I think we’ll see a player we all instantly take too. He’ll be a fan’s favourite because if his work ethic and never say die attitude. But even the Toulouse fans who adored him say he needs three good chances before he scores.

Even though he’ll be a popular player, I don’t see him scoring too many, but of course hoping my forecast is entirely wrong.

 

It's undoubtedly the weakest but what did anyone expect ? We are in that difficult financial transition from Prem team income to Champ team income and we've got to cut our cloth accordingly. 2012/13 - 2014/15 we benefitted from quality loans from Udinese but it seems that's a thing of the past. How bleak those years would have been without the loans.

 

Sadly we cut our cloth by splashing £10m on Bayo and Okoye, that was the real waste of funds in first season down. Now we're skint.

 

On paper, yes, of course the players are less talented now. The problem is this was a byproduct of having players who thought they were better than they are. Give me less talented players who care and give their all every time.

I think (hope) we will be looking at a more balanced squad, that has been built to succeed on the pitch first and foremost and players with something to prove.

 

His finishing ability is one of his best attributes! He's outperformed his xG for the last 5 seasons:

22/23: 2 goals - 0.38 xG - ok a bit unfair to include that season!
21/22: 19 goals - 14.33 xG
20/21: 13 goals - 11.17 xG
19/20: 10 goals - 6.55 xG
18/19: 8 goals - 7.31 xG
_________
52 goals - 39.74 xG

 

We'll win the league with 10 games to go, record scoring figures for a re-signed Adalberto "like-a-new-signing" Peñaranda.

COYH

 

Cocaine is a hell of a drug

 

Good statting sir

 

I have absolutely no idea how we will do this season. We have a new team, so much depends on how players we don't know perform as individuals and as a team. Last season we were not a team. If I knew how we will do compared to all the other teams in the Championship I would be down at the local bookies preparing for my retirement. There will be some surprises along the way.