Iford Albion
Active member
- Jul 30, 2017
- 243
Danny mills knew one of the group I went to the World Cup in Brazil with and met us for drinks in a bar. My impression based on a couple of conversations with him was that he was a supercilious plank.
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[Albion] Relegation Battle 2021/2022
- Thread starter Nameless
- Start date
Perhaps rising above 16th might help.
Or maybe stop looking so shite scared whenever they get close to the dizzying heights of 15th promptly lose the next 3 games.
The only problem with that is they're not Ings and Shaw so Mills hasn't heard of them which also equals relegation.
Jolly Red Giant
Well-known member
- Jul 11, 2015
- 2,615
Of the three teams that have been promoted I think Brentford have the best chance of staying up - good team, good manager and Toney was impressive last season. If he hits the ground running in the PL they will score enough goals to avoid the drop.
Norwich's fate is likely dependent on how much of an impact Gilmour has. However, they have already lost their best player and if Villa come back for Cantwell then I see Norwich struggling (as they usually do). The one thing that might save them is that they are more solid at the back than the last time (I think Omobamidele could emerge as a star this season - been very impressed with the kid every time I've seen him)
Can't see Watford surviving - limited squad and they have done little to improve it.
It is hard to gauge Burnley - they released a lot of players - but I suspect they will make a couple of more signings before the end of the window. Nathan Collins was a good buy for them. They seem to lack squad players and if they get hit with injuries they could well struggle.
Southampton will miss Ings - and they need to buy a striker. I think their fate will ultimately come do to whether the younger players produce (because they have barely strengthened the squad) - Djenepo, Obafemi, Perraud, Valery, Smallbone, Livramento, Salsu, Tella, Diallo. I think they will struggle.
Newcastle have to be on the list of potential relegation candidates - while they have a big squad, they released more than 20 players and haven't made any signings. As long as Ashley is holding the purse strings they are in trouble.
Palace - First question is whether Viera is any good - he didn't exactly set the world on fire at Nice. They released nearly 30 players - including many of their senior players - and those they have signed are promising but young. Keeping Zaha would probably help - but I expect them to struggle, particularly early on in the season.
I also think that Leeds will find it a lot more difficult that last season - they haven't improved the squad and I think other teams will be more prepared for them this season. I suspect Leeds will suffer second season jitters but they should have enough to survive.
It is hard to get a read on Wolves - Lage has bounced around a lot. While he won the title with Benfica it appears that it was a one off and linked more to what others were doing and he was gone the following season. On top of that the squad appears weaker and if they lose Coady to Spurs then they could be in trouble.
Brighton - here is the problem - and it is the same for all of the above clubs - you have to improve your squad every year just to stand still. The sale of White will impact the team. He has yet to be replaced (if I was Potter I would look at Dara O'Shea). Having Lamptey healthy will help compensate a bit. The young players have a year more experience but the team has lost Propper who I suspect will be missed. The club paid a lot of money for Mwepu but it will take time to see if he is a quality PL player. The big issue of scoring goals will not go away (and it will likely be an issue for all of the above clubs except maybe Leeds).
I think the pandemic has had a big impact on many clubs - and I think this season will see the gap between the top 6/7 teams and the rest grow significantly (and if Spurs lose Kane then they could drop out of that mix as well). Man City are just throwing money at the game - £250million if they get Grealish and Kane and likely a mega contract if they get Messi now that he is leaving Barca. Man Utd have got Sancho who is a good player and if they get Varane it will make a big difference to the defence. Trippier and a couple of other good signings will see them improve and I think getting rid of Pogba would only be a good thing. It will be interesting to see what difference Lukaku will make to Chelsea if they manage to sign him. Liverpool haven't made any real improvement but are good enough to be top four. After that I like what Leicester have done but this year proably sees them cut adrift from the top 4. Villa will miss Grealish but they have been impressive with their signings and should have a good season.
So the top 4 - then everyone else and I think the bottom 8/9 clubs will find it very tough to get points against any of the top half.
Norwich's fate is likely dependent on how much of an impact Gilmour has. However, they have already lost their best player and if Villa come back for Cantwell then I see Norwich struggling (as they usually do). The one thing that might save them is that they are more solid at the back than the last time (I think Omobamidele could emerge as a star this season - been very impressed with the kid every time I've seen him)
Can't see Watford surviving - limited squad and they have done little to improve it.
It is hard to gauge Burnley - they released a lot of players - but I suspect they will make a couple of more signings before the end of the window. Nathan Collins was a good buy for them. They seem to lack squad players and if they get hit with injuries they could well struggle.
Southampton will miss Ings - and they need to buy a striker. I think their fate will ultimately come do to whether the younger players produce (because they have barely strengthened the squad) - Djenepo, Obafemi, Perraud, Valery, Smallbone, Livramento, Salsu, Tella, Diallo. I think they will struggle.
Newcastle have to be on the list of potential relegation candidates - while they have a big squad, they released more than 20 players and haven't made any signings. As long as Ashley is holding the purse strings they are in trouble.
Palace - First question is whether Viera is any good - he didn't exactly set the world on fire at Nice. They released nearly 30 players - including many of their senior players - and those they have signed are promising but young. Keeping Zaha would probably help - but I expect them to struggle, particularly early on in the season.
I also think that Leeds will find it a lot more difficult that last season - they haven't improved the squad and I think other teams will be more prepared for them this season. I suspect Leeds will suffer second season jitters but they should have enough to survive.
It is hard to get a read on Wolves - Lage has bounced around a lot. While he won the title with Benfica it appears that it was a one off and linked more to what others were doing and he was gone the following season. On top of that the squad appears weaker and if they lose Coady to Spurs then they could be in trouble.
Brighton - here is the problem - and it is the same for all of the above clubs - you have to improve your squad every year just to stand still. The sale of White will impact the team. He has yet to be replaced (if I was Potter I would look at Dara O'Shea). Having Lamptey healthy will help compensate a bit. The young players have a year more experience but the team has lost Propper who I suspect will be missed. The club paid a lot of money for Mwepu but it will take time to see if he is a quality PL player. The big issue of scoring goals will not go away (and it will likely be an issue for all of the above clubs except maybe Leeds).
I think the pandemic has had a big impact on many clubs - and I think this season will see the gap between the top 6/7 teams and the rest grow significantly (and if Spurs lose Kane then they could drop out of that mix as well). Man City are just throwing money at the game - £250million if they get Grealish and Kane and likely a mega contract if they get Messi now that he is leaving Barca. Man Utd have got Sancho who is a good player and if they get Varane it will make a big difference to the defence. Trippier and a couple of other good signings will see them improve and I think getting rid of Pogba would only be a good thing. It will be interesting to see what difference Lukaku will make to Chelsea if they manage to sign him. Liverpool haven't made any real improvement but are good enough to be top four. After that I like what Leicester have done but this year proably sees them cut adrift from the top 4. Villa will miss Grealish but they have been impressive with their signings and should have a good season.
So the top 4 - then everyone else and I think the bottom 8/9 clubs will find it very tough to get points against any of the top half.
Baldseagull
Well-known member
Quite a lot of negativity on this thread, we are going to be checking the [MENTION=3734]Giraffe[/MENTION] tracker for staying on target for the European places, not the 40 point minimum.
However, I am looking for a new signature, I need a miserabalist prediction to ridicule for the next 5 years.
However, I am looking for a new signature, I need a miserabalist prediction to ridicule for the next 5 years.
East Staffs Gull
Well-known member
Our lowly positions have been as much down to a failure to accumulate points against the bottom six as to anything else. I think that this is more of a mindset issue, which I’m confident GP will address.
durrington gull
Well-known member
Spot on - until we address our Achilles heel of our strikers then we’ll keep struggling- simple
Don't know about mindset - It's game management where we're week.
A nice new shiny striker would be great (but I don't think there'll be one incoming) - if we can just crack the art of game management (which let us down last seaon) we'll be aout 12th. Our young squad is learning an improving all the time - look at the last half of last season. That was good - we'll be better this time as our young players learn the dark arts and improve.
Don't know about mindset - It's game management where we're week.
A nice new shiny striker would be great (but I don't think there'll be one incoming) - if we can just crack the art of game management (which let us down last seaon) we'll be aout 12th. Our young squad is learning an improving all the time - look at the last half of last season. That was good - we'll be better this time as our young players learn the dark arts and improve.
ShandyH
Well-known member
Danny Mills had us down as
One of the favourites to go down. He’s as narrow as a commentator as he was as a player. Lack of research by former players on radio and TV is embarrassing.
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One of the favourites to go down. He’s as narrow as a commentator as he was as a player. Lack of research by former players on radio and TV is embarrassing.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
Young squad
Webster, Dunk, Duffy, Burn, March, Lallana, Biss, Trossard, Maupay, Welbeck ain’t no spring chickens all mid career and over.
Young squad
Brighton had the fourth youngest team last season, weighted by minutes played.
Of course the potential is there to rise, considering if they drop 2 (two) places they're relegated.
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We will finish 16th again but Sanchez, March and Welbeck will finish 13th, 11th and 10th respectively.
Young squad
What a load of nonsense. Bissouma and Maupay are 24 while Webster and Trossard are 26. So none have hit peak age yet.
Dick Knights Mumm
Take me Home Falmer Road
And if Lallana was peak age he wouldn’t be playing for us.
Fine lines
A striker away from mid table
A striker / lwb and rwb from top half
Losing bissouma away from relegation
As we are a struggle
Edit one thing we are quite fortunate with is we can prob absorb injuries better than the 3 that came up which is what did Norwich last time .
I did think when we got to the prem the transfer windows would be mental exciting . Total opposite isn’t it
Still time to add that 2 or 3 quality players we need if serious about doing something .
A striker away from mid table
A striker / lwb and rwb from top half
Losing bissouma away from relegation
As we are a struggle
Edit one thing we are quite fortunate with is we can prob absorb injuries better than the 3 that came up which is what did Norwich last time .
I did think when we got to the prem the transfer windows would be mental exciting . Total opposite isn’t it
Still time to add that 2 or 3 quality players we need if serious about doing something .
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bobbysmith01
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2015
- 806
Well I have always been a glass half full sort of guy and think we are a top half potential team based on:
1.Our Play and performances from last year
2.If we keep Biss, then think we have a slightly better squad than last year, with options to sign more players.
3.Young players improving, hopefully.
4.We can't have the same amount of bad luck as we had last year
As a fan of 58 years, this is the best squad and team we have ever had, let's enjoy the ride and hopefully some improvement from last year. We will not be a relegation struggle this year as I think with the above points, plus we are better than, Saints, Brentford, Burnley, Palace, Norwich, Watford, Newcastle and should be competing to be with the likes of Leeds, Everton, Villa etc. Now where are those tablets?
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1.Our Play and performances from last year
2.If we keep Biss, then think we have a slightly better squad than last year, with options to sign more players.
3.Young players improving, hopefully.
4.We can't have the same amount of bad luck as we had last year
As a fan of 58 years, this is the best squad and team we have ever had, let's enjoy the ride and hopefully some improvement from last year. We will not be a relegation struggle this year as I think with the above points, plus we are better than, Saints, Brentford, Burnley, Palace, Norwich, Watford, Newcastle and should be competing to be with the likes of Leeds, Everton, Villa etc. Now where are those tablets?
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- Aug 24, 2020
- 7,144
Are your tablets on the fridge? That's where I keep mine.
Actually, I agree with all that you say. There's no point in thinking we're doomed, even before we kick a ball. Let's get clobbered by Burnley first, and then let the misery set in.
Here's my take on it.
1. I'm biased.
2. We performed better in the second half of last season. We improved and found our feet.
3. Referring to your point 4, we will have been working on what went wrong with all the missed chances and Xg expected (but not converted) chances etc. There will still be some travesties of justice (e.g. Man U, Palace etc), but not as many as last season.
4. Mwepu's stats (from Statsbomb) put him on a par at least, with Bissouma. I guess that's why we bought him.
5. Younger players are coming through - Moder, Karbownik, maybe Khadra. Caicedo is a real prospect.
T - 8 days and counting! UTA!