Tony Bloom and his prediction...

[jimhigham]

A possible hiccup might be the disruption of our passing game through the winter if pitches cut up. I worry about a lack of goals or what happens if opponents send out the likes of that Symes thug on KLL. Having said all of that, we are top on merit and now seem to be bossing games pretty often.

I'd be very disappointed not to have at least a playoff sport given our start. Top two is certainly possible but I think we might need to hold on to KLL after Christmas for this.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

I'll say it AGAIN.

Does no one else here agree that our performances will improve as the season goes? The players are still bedding in to how Gus wants them to play. We're TOP OF THE LEAGUE without playing THAT well by our standards. Surely that's a case for optimism?

We could improve performance wise and get even better results, yes. But if we start drawing a blank in front of goal, results will tumble quickly. I'm happy the defence will keep up their form but goals for are a big worry. Kazenga or Murray aren't going to score from 25 yard out every week. Need to start getting some scrappy goals and more from Bennett, Barnes, Murray, Dicker, Sparrow and Kish.

 

[The Grockle]

No chance - 1 injury to either of the full backs or widemen or Murray and we're in a right hole.

That, and we don't score enough goals.

Oh, and if LuaLua goes back to Newcastle we might as well chuck it in and accept 10th.

I'm afraid I agree with you.

I think we have enough quality to finish top four but injuries to key players do concern me.

I have to say though my main concern is us the fans and how some react to inevetable rough patches, a blip could easily become a long run of bad performances if people get on the team and management staff's backs.

 

[empire]

playing safe,we will finish 9th/10th,anything more is a bonus

 

[algie]

I'm afraid I agree with you.

I think we have enough quality to finish top four but injuries to key players do concern me.

I have to say though my main concern is us the fans and how some react to inevetable rough patches, a blip could easily become a long run of bad performances if people get on the team and management staff's backs.

Well that's a negative outlook then.Most teams would struggle with losing a key player.Saints struggled without Lambert,Swindon struggle without Austin etc.Untill it happens why worry about it?
That's where a good manager shines when he tinkers with formation/ using players in different roles and still gets results.There's aways the loan market if we need it.
So all this bollox we couldn't cope with injuries is crap.We lost our best midfielder and yet we are coping fine.
There is nothing wrong with the current squad apart from upfront.We have a cracking manager and no team has played us off the park yet.Very few team will either.

 

[227 BHA]

For f***'s sake you lot!

We're gonna romp this league!

Championees Sorted!

 

[The Grockle]

Well that's a negative outlook then.Most teams would struggle with losing a key player.Saints struggled without Lambert,Swindon struggle without Austin etc.Untill it happens why worry about it?
That's where a good manager shines when he tinkers with formation/ using players in different roles and still gets results.There's aways the loan market if we need it.
So all this bollox we couldn't cope with injuries is crap.We lost our best midfielder and yet we are coping fine.
There is nothing wrong with the current squad apart from upfront.We have a cracking manager and no team has played us off the park yet.Very few team will either.

Perhaps a little negative but I assure you, right now i'm as happy as a pig in shit and have every faith in Gus and the players just don't want to get too carried away.

 

[pintsawhiskey]

PROMOTION = LUA SATYING TILL MAY, LE FONDRE SIGNING JANUARY, BENNET STAYING JANUARY AND CALDE!!= TOP 2 SIMPLES!!

 

[Notters]

If we're around the top come January, we're surely going to be far more appealing to the likes of Le Fondre than we were in the summer, and Shirley Bloom won't be able to resist getting his wallet out?

 

[Dirty Dave]

who's Shirley Bloom? Tony's wife?

 

[clippedgull]

Well that's a negative outlook then.Most teams would struggle with losing a key player.Saints struggled without Lambert,Swindon struggle without Austin etc.Untill it happens why worry about it?
That's where a good manager shines when he tinkers with formation/ using players in different roles and still gets results.There's aways the loan market if we need it.
So all this bollox we couldn't cope with injuries is crap.We lost our best midfielder and yet we are coping fine.
There is nothing wrong with the current squad apart from upfront.We have a cracking manager and no team has played us off the park yet.Very few team will either.

I agree with this. As for KLL. I think Newcastle will be ok about extending the loan until seasons end. If we don't make promotion, then we have zero chance of getting him next season, as I believe Newcastle will want him playing at least Championship football by then.

 

[Foolg]

Can all this Le-Fondre stuff stop? Its starting to gather pace again and to be honest its complete rubbish. The guy will go for well over £1m, there were offers for over that amount in the summer, from Championship clubs (Derby being one), so the fact he's proving he's not just a one season wonder will only increase interest from the Championship.

Back to the original question, personally i think we have a fantastic chance with obtaining a play-off spot. We've had a great start, but an injury to Murray leaves us in the shit, as Barnes has showed he cant play up top alone, and Sandaza doesnt look like he could keep us in a top 2 spot week in week out. Huddersfield and Sheff Wed are far stronger in depth, and come the end of the season that will really start to show. As players tire, injuries start occuring especially in winter (making passing football harder too), this will probably start to show. Southampton IMO will still walk this league, Adkins is no mug, and seemingly a good manager mentally, which is key for the Southampton job. However, I still feel we're far better than some of those fancied for a play-off spot (Plymouth, Swindon, Brentford), and will be ahead of Charlton come May.

So, Southampton to win the league, with Huddersfield or Peterborough in Second, us in the Play-offs.

Saints
Peterborough
Huddersfield
BHA
Sheff Wed
Charlton

In that order.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Fair assessment there Foolg. I think Posh will win it with Saints 2nd though

 

[The Large One]

I asked this on the Albion Roar the week before last :

"If you were offered a playoff place NOW (instead of top 2) would you take it ?" - in other words, sacrifice a possible top 2 finish for a definate 3rd-6th place finish.

I said I'd take the Playoffs now, if it was offered. But as each week passes, I'm getting greedier.
(I don't think I got a STRAIGHT answer from Alan)

You did - eventually. I said it's too early to ask.

In response to the OP, the aim of any chairman of any club in this division is 'a top 2' finish. I don't think he so much predicted it as (I still say unfairly) demanded it - then later, I believe, tempered that down a bit.

 

[Easy 10]

You did - eventually. I said it's too early to ask.

Whaddya mean ?

It was practically lunchtime.

 

[Ernest]

Why SO many NEGATIVE people on here ? We are 3 points clear WITH a quarter of the SEASON already gone , we ARE going to ROMP away with this LEAGUE.

:albion1::albion1::albion1:

 

[salty seagull]

Never mind who might leave in january,we should be more excited about who might come in with the lure of Falmer on the horizon.Our team is 3 points clear(should be at least 5)We`ve got a manager that I wouldn`t swap for any other and a chairman......ooh i`ve got to change my pants again.WE`RE GUNNA WIN THE LEAGUE!!! Some of the miserable bastards on here don`t know how to enjoy the good times with their pessimistic comments.Our team may not be perfect but we`re not playing the Real Madrids of this world.....Yet!!

 

[algie]

Can all this Le-Fondre stuff stop? Its starting to gather pace again and to be honest its complete rubbish. The guy will go for well over £1m, there were offers for over that amount in the summer, from Championship clubs (Derby being one), so the fact he's proving he's not just a one season wonder will only increase interest from the Championship.

Back to the original question, personally i think we have a fantastic chance with obtaining a play-off spot. We've had a great start, but an injury to Murray leaves us in the shit, as Barnes has showed he cant play up top alone, and Sandaza doesnt look like he could keep us in a top 2 spot week in week out. Huddersfield and Sheff Wed are far stronger in depth, and come the end of the season that will really start to show. As players tire, injuries start occuring especially in winter (making passing football harder too), this will probably start to show. Southampton IMO will still walk this league, Adkins is no mug, and seemingly a good manager mentally, which is key for the Southampton job. However, I still feel we're far better than some of those fancied for a play-off spot (Plymouth, Swindon, Brentford), and will be ahead of Charlton come May.

So, Southampton to win the league, with Huddersfield or Peterborough in Second, us in the Play-offs.

Saints
Peterborough
Huddersfield
BHA
Sheff Wed
Charlton

In that order.

Sheff wed might have a bit more depth then us but they are certainly not better then us.If anything our players are better suited for the winter months because they are use to it.Some championship players can't hack league 1 football as they don't get much time on the ball.I don't rate there defence either and i'm confident we will finish higher then them.They still have alot of players that took them down as well.

Again if's all if's and buts,but if Murray does get injured we can easily pack the midfield out and play Barnes alone upfront untill he recovers.He has done it before and there's no reason why he can't again.Again loan market.
People read to much into things and always presume the worse.
If we don't finish in the top 2 now i will be disappointed.
What we have over alot of teams is stability.Our defence is practically the same as last year which took us to the top of the form guide.We haven't changed managers either or made wholesale changes.
One defeat in 11 and NO HOME LOSES yet is the perefct tonic for automatic promotion.We have changed our fortunes at home.All the signs are very good and exciting.
If you want me to make one negative point i will.We have failed to beat a top 6 team yet,just picking up draws.That's not to bad though as long as we beat the rest.

 

[seagullwedgee]

Our success is not a recent phenomenon.

We scored 41 points in the second half of last season, and that is playoff territory. And our squad has been strengthened since.

So, par performance is playoffs. Below par is missing out on playoffs. Above par is automatic promotion. We should be used to this thinking by now.

Personally I think we lack bite up front, but in Gus we trust, everything else is OK. He knows we are a striker short. My best guess is knife edge, finsihing 2nd, 3rd or 4th.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Were averaging a prefect 2 in 1 at the moment, which would take us up in 2nd