[Albion] A difficult season ahead

[Cozzy]

As CH would have said ... there are no easy games in the EPL .... of course it will be tough , even Liverpool & City found it tough all be it not as tough as Albion.

There could be a couple of surprise teams doing worse than expected like Burnley last season due to little investment & European football and Albion could go 25 games unbeaten ... sorry dont have crystal balls just a free ticket on the roller-coaster that is being an Albion fan.

Lets get the summer break out the way before we let the stress levels re-build & enjoy whatever kind of weather we get before the blood pressure rises.

 

[Bakero]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4m-lNi61Rk

 

[withdeanwombat]

41 points. 15th.

Let’s see what happens in 21/22.

 

[Arkwright]

I thought it was going to be a walk in the park, having read the OP I'm now a ruined man and my summer totally ruined.

 

[Weststander]

If TB and co get us a decent striker and GP manages well we will stay up. The general view is that GP is a good manager. So it is down to the recruitment team to deliver (Murray is too old and Andone and Locadia not up to it)

Not enough.

Our CM has no pace and mobility (bar the work in progress Bissouma), very little creativity and is unable to support our striker.

The team is crying out for two quality CM’ers, playing in front of the ‘sitter’.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

We're DEFIANTLY loose

 

[Blues Rock DJ]

Next seasons premier league looks like one of the strongest yet, definitely the strongest we’ve been in. The teams getting promoted are no push overs, villa are a sleeping giant, and if given financial backing this summer will be very strong with players like grealish and mcginn. Sheffield United and Norwich are possibly on paper the weakest teams, but have a strong togetherness and good managers, whilst also having tidy players. The bottom half of the table teams also are all looking strong. Southamptons new manager has them playing again and is said to be given a lot of money this summer. Newcastle with a possible new takeover and an outstanding manager. Burnley are possibly the weakest remaining team, however, this is said about them every year and every year they surprise people. I believe if hughton had stayed then we would’ve sleep walked into relegation, how many of those teams would we realistically finish above with hughton in charge? Potter is a risk, but a risk which needed to be taken.

you're a bundle of laughs !!

 

[GT49er]

Not enough.

Our CM has no pace and mobility (bar the work in progress Bissouma), very little creativity and is unable to support our striker.

The team is crying out for two quality CM’ers, playing in front of the ‘sitter’.

Yes, midfield is the crucial area that needs to be improved. Our attacking players (yes, probably even Locadia and Andone) will score a percentage of the chances they get. Trouble was last season was that too often it was a percentage of F*** all.
CMs running the show, supplying chances and supporting the attack (by actually appearing at speed in the opposition penalty area!) will make quite a difference.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

Not enough.

Our CM has no pace and mobility (bar the work in progress Bissouma), very little creativity and is unable to support our striker.

The team is crying out for two quality CM’ers, playing in front of the ‘sitter’.

That as well. I was trying not to be greedy. I certainly agree regarding the midfield, the obvious need being to turn defence into attack at some pace. That seems to be the route to success.

 

[stewart_weir]

The odds suggest we are not favourites to go down. The key to not going down will be the same as previous seasons; win at home and draw or nick a few wins away.

 

[Weststander]

Yes, midfield is the crucial area that needs to be improved. Our attacking players (yes, probably even Locadia and Andone) will score a percentage of the chances they get. Trouble was last season was that too often it was a percentage of F*** all.
CMs running the show, supplying chances and supporting the attack (by actually appearing at speed in the opposition penalty area!) will make quite a difference.

Exact that.

Andone, Locadia and Muzza fed on scraps.

 

[dingodan]

Man Utd for the drop IMO.

 

[GT49er]

Blank.

 

[Weststander]

The odds suggest we are not favourites to go down. The key to not going down will be the same as previous seasons; win at home and draw or nick a few wins away.

View attachment 110366

Incredibly we’re not in the bottom 3!

 

[Spicy]

Next seasons premier league looks like one of the strongest yet, definitely the strongest we’ve been in. The teams getting promoted are no push overs, villa are a sleeping giant, and if given financial backing this summer will be very strong with players like grealish and mcginn. Sheffield United and Norwich are possibly on paper the weakest teams, but have a strong togetherness and good managers, whilst also having tidy players. The bottom half of the table teams also are all looking strong. Southamptons new manager has them playing again and is said to be given a lot of money this summer. Newcastle with a possible new takeover and an outstanding manager. Burnley are possibly the weakest remaining team, however, this is said about them every year and every year they surprise people. I believe if hughton had stayed then we would’ve sleep walked into relegation, how many of those teams would we realistically finish above with hughton in charge? Potter is a risk, but a risk which needed to be taken.

We are still in May and you have us in the relegation zone before a ball is even kicked. Let's all praise everyone else and condemn ourselves to the football scrapheap (yeah right). Unbelievable. Bet you are fun to live with.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

Yes, midfield is the crucial area that needs to be improved. Our attacking players (yes, probably even Locadia and Andone) will score a percentage of the chances they get. Trouble was last season was that too often it was a percentage of F*** all.
CMs running the show, supplying chances and supporting the attack (by actually appearing at speed in the opposition penalty area!) will make quite a difference.

All we need then is to sign a couple of midfielders to run the show in PL games. Straightforward hey ? Not a chance mate. We will not be running many shows next season.

 

[Weststander]

All we need then is to sign a couple of midfielders to run the show in PL games. Straightforward hey ? Not a chance mate. We will not be running many shows next season.

To at least run long spells of home games, and even some away from home.

Quite feasible with better ACM’ers. Watford, West Ham, Newcastle, Burnley, Stains, Bmuff all achieved just that. Each with a very handy CM trio.

How do I know? ..... I saw them all do that against us, plus watching a fair few PL matches on the box.

 

[Triggaaar]

Someone has to come out with the same old rhetoric every season. This is a tough league every year.

I don't think all years are the same. I've felt that in the last 6 or 7 years the Championship was getting harder most seasons, as more and more teams tried to spend their way out. Next year I don't actually expect it to get harder, as I feel the teams that have dropped have been comparatively week. Equally I don't think it was as hard to stay in the PL last season, which benefited us.

It's too early to predict what next season will be like - let's see the summer spending first.

 

[Mr Putdown]

The key to not going down will be the same as previous seasons; win at home and draw or nick a few away wins

Makes you wonder how a team like palace could ever survive a single season in the EPL, never mind six with their home record.

 

[Seagull122]