Is finishing 10th seen as a disappointment this season?

[Herr Tubthumper]

I'd say par was about eighth. I'd feel slightly disappointed with 10th againj as I feel the squad is stronger, but then again teams have had a year to work out how to stop us.

There are some teams, even if not brilliant, that you know will be up there this season, the likes of Bolton and Blackburn.

But if our form hadn't tailed off so badly last season we would have been in the play-offs, and that should be the target this time.

This. And teams might have had a season to work out how to stop us, but equally our squad and management have had a years worth of Championship experience they didn't have last season.

 

[El Presidente]

Could easily be anywhere between 5th and 16th.

I'd take tenth and a double over Palace NOW if offered.

 

[Mutts Nuts]

Personally I would be over the moon if we make it to the play offs- Do we have the squad to power on ? I think we will miss out personally but this may change between now and the end of August.

The way the players are talking in interviews the team would be very disapointed with 10th,but with the current squad i can`t see us finishing in the top half of the table.We have a good GK good defence and midfield but we will not score enough again this season.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

I am a glass half full type of fan and recognise that we are building towards the Premiership but this will take time. Like most on here (plus Tony Bloom and Gus Poyet) I would be delighted if we can get promotion this season but realistically I think I have a feeling that we are not (yet) quite on a par with our promotion rivals and may even struggle to do as well as last season. In spite of being the new boys we got off to an absolute flyer and were top three for the first couple of months. However most teams in the Championship now know our style. Plus I don't think we (yet) have the squad to consistently compete for the automatic promotion places. I recall the relief on here around last Xmas time that we had secured 50 points, so relegation was not a factor. We then failed to kick on and wasted too many chances, especially away from home. We need to be more clinical this time around, but are we good enough?

Yes we have Crofts who gives us essential bite in midfield but it is asking a lot to rely on him and going forward we are the same as last year. The defence has been reinforced but Swindon managed to open it up, so our Championship rivals will already fancy their chances. I can see Gus being under pressure by Xmas especially if we dont have 35 points in the bank, because he doesn't have a plan B. On the other hand it is what happens in the last couple of months of the season ie next March/April that really count and so there is plenty of time to make a decent run for the Premiership. Reading didn't exactly have a brilliant squad but brought in Roberts in the January transfer window and then became pretty invincable, which shows it can be done.

I hope we do a 'Reading' but feel it isn't an even playing field for Clubs like the Albion against those with the parachute payments and feel we need to sign 2-3 players who are top Championship/ Premiership quality to be solid contenders.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Promotion, in whatever form, or Gus will be off. So yes, 10th will be disappointing..

 

[00snook]

I got absolutely assassinated for suggesting we would finish 10th after the Swindon game, and now everybody suddenly seems happy with it.

Gotta love NSC