[Albion] Would you take 7th place, if offered now?

[Cheshire Cat]

We'll be tumbling down the table soon unless they start winning some.

A draw against the worst team in the league is not good.

August and September are a long time ago.

It could be a long, cold, lonely winter.

 

[Weststander]

Looks good now but if we can recover key players early next year then no reason why we can't go on a spectacular run to the finish

If we can just get all our stars back, we’ll have a chance of making European football next season.

 

[Stat Brother]

Right now I'd take 17th.

 

[birthofanorange]

We'll be tumbling down the table soon unless they start winning some.

A draw against the worst team in the league is not good.

August and September are a long time ago.

It could be a long, cold, lonely winter.

That reminds me - I'm looking forward to seeing the Bootleg Beatles for the first time, in a few weeks.

 

[Justice]

We are still only nine points of the top, everyone back and firing for the second half of the season we will be top six.

 

[Weststander]

I took this a couple of months ago, just missing out on a ‘printing money’ evens. Now 3.05.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

There are only three teams that will definitely finish above us - Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool. There are still two Champions League spots after that and we're in a fight with Newcastle, Aston Villa, Man United and Spurs for those. Finishing in the top two of those five is clearly difficult, but not impossible when we have the best manager in the division. So to answer the question, I probably wouldn't take it at this stage as this could be the best chance we'll ever have to make the Champions League and I really think we can do it.

We will not finish above Villa and Spurs…..and maybe even Chelsea

 

[birthofanorange]

We will not finish above Villa and Spurs…..and maybe even Chelsea

Without meaning to be defeatist, I tend to agree.....except for Chelsea, despite their 4 -4 today.

 

[Binney on acid]

It's quite obvious that with our (lack of) resources, we cannot play European football on a Thursday, and beat a mediocre premier league team on a Sunday. 7th would be a massive achievement for little ol' Brighton.

 

[Weststander]

It's quite obvious that with our (lack of) resources, we cannot play European football on a Thursday, and beat a mediocre premier league team on a Sunday. 4th would be a massive achievement for little ol' Brighton.

The 8 or 9 huge spenders, where needed got rid of rubbish coaches. If we make Europe next May, that alone would be an amazing achievement.

 

[peterward]

We will not finish above Villa and Spurs…..and maybe even Chelsea

Of the teams that finished above us last season, all have improved except maybe Man U.

Below us and Villa, Spurs and Chelsea, all bigger clubs with bigger resources have also improved considerably.

We've lost 2 key players of team that finished 6th, and whilst we've added some good prospects, I think thus far, our squad to that that ended last season, isn't quite at the same level.

We're missing Enciso at the same time as Solly out and Mitoma gone off the boil slightly. Thank goodness we've got Adingra. Gonna be a problem once he's off to AFCON

 

[Napper]

Top 12 probably ok

 

[oldboyroy]

On current form and injuries, yes

 

[saafend_seagull]

Need to sign 3 players in jan.

Also lose Mitoma and adingra for 5 or so weeks.

 

[Weststander]

Need to sign 3 players in jan.

Also lose Mitoma and adingra for 5 or so weeks.

Crikey, I didn’t realise, without March/Enciso that’s our attacking width gone. If Baleba’s called up for Cameroon, we can prepare for Pompey and Oxford

 

[Albion my Albion]

If the Albion had kept McAlester & Caicedo and the additions, Adingra, Pedro, etc. would they have finished higher in the table?

 

[Weststander]

If the Albion had kept McAlester & Caicedo and the additions, Adingra, Pedro, etc. would they have finished higher in the table?

They would probably finish too 4.

In terms of balancing squad numbers, Pedro, Igor, Fati and Adingra, replacing Lallana, Colwill, no need to sign Milner or Baleba.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Yep, we need 2-3 seasons of consistently qualifying for other European football before taking on the CL

 

[Uh_huh_him]

City, are definitely better than us..
Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal have better squads than us and are performing
United, Chelsea have better squads than us but aren't performing strongly.

The other main contenders (Newcastle, Villa, West Ham, Brentford) are not better than us.
I would expect to come top of our mini league and also expect to finish above United this season.
Hopefully better than Chelsea too.

So 5th - 7th feels like par for me.
grasping for 7th out of desperation, just doesn't feel right to me.... yet.

 

[trueblue]

Don't see us securing a Champions League position in the PL this time even if it goes to 5th. We're in transition, others with far greater resources have sorted themselves out and not everyone has European football to contend with. I'll settle for 7th AND qualifying for Champions League football by winning the Europa League. That wouldn't be a bad season

Realistically, top half would be good and a run to the final 8 of the Europa League minimum or a real good crack at winning the Europa Conference if we drop into that. Whatever happens, we'll still be able to beat anyone on our day - and in style - so it's all good.