Where will we finish next season?

As we've seen at close quarters, some fans will accept a lot of things if it gives their team wins and points. We'll just have to see, but I don't think it would be a surprise to most if we're onto our next head coach in the next few months.

 

That's generally because that's how success is measured.

The style of play, whilst not pretty at times, is reaping rewards. Those rewards may well translate into financial success, then we might be able to start buying the players capable of free flowing football at championship/premier League level that you (and me, and others) would love to see.

I'm happy to "put up with" our style of play because I firmly believe it will lead to bigger and better things.

 

19th for me. Sorry to be negative but we’re losing Dike & Mowatt & I expect at least 3 of the manager, Styles, Brittain, Anderson & Helik to also leave.

Hopefully Mowatt & the manager will stay & we’ll recruit well but we’ve won a lot of games by a single goal this season, it only takes a few percent drop off in performances & them narrow wins become narrow defeats.

 

As noted above, it all depends on whether or not Val is still here.

If Val stays, the system needs tweaking. Opposition teams know what we're all about now and will set up to try and play us at own game.
I don't mind the direct style, but we need to get the ball on the floor in the opposition half a lot more. On Saturday there was a short period in the second half where we got the ball down and strung a few passes together and there was so much space to work with.

I'm going to say we will finish mid-table next season.

 

As its a sporting leisure pass time, I simply judge it on whether I enjoy it or not. Like I would a meal, or a film, or a walk, or back in time, a city break, even though I have no choice over who I support compared to those other things. And I understand thats a less common way to view something that is so tribal for many, or deemed as the town versus the world.

And sometimes measures conflict don't they? The records will show we finish 5th and not how. But my memory will likely fade much of this season and still remember the joy I experienced of other seasons which are still fresh despite years passing, despite not being as high as 5th in a table.

It may well allow a spring board. It could also be an outlier or aberration. we can't possibly know. We'll just have to be patient to see what occurs over the close season and first few weeks of the new.

 

Yep. I fully expect him to move on, I just don't think West Brom would be a particularly good move for him.

 

And couldn't really blame him, an opportunity in the Premier League would be very difficult to turn down.

 

Relegation scrap.

We had to go up this season - it would have set us up for years. Even if we'd come back down with a record of something like 3-4-31, thanks for the quarter of a billion.

We'll lose Valerie, Helik, Mowatt, one of the wing-backs, and maybe one of the strikers, in addition to us never seeing Dike again.

Back down to earth with a bump next season. But we have shown that, so long as we can cling on in this division, the right recruitment can take us from relegation battlers, to the top six, in no time.

 

Top next season. Up the reds.

 

At this moment, I haven't the foggiest idea and am somewhat surprised at the conviction of others. Whether that be challenging at the top, or struggling against relegation..

 

Got to agree with this DWLC

I nearly said something last night, but afraid it would have come across not as well. Couldn't quite come up with words to articulate it tbh.

You do have many valid points, but im drawn to the word hoof in every post and just lose the will to debate and discuss, as I thought it would be futile.

We've got an interesting couple of months though ahead. And it will define our ownership I feel. They have a real balance to strike. Can they do it, i hope so, but I don't really want to see wholesale changes. That would be madness.

 

Not seen enough of West Brom to comment on this last season. I know the fans grew tired of Pulis' style of play, which is understandable, and they also have expectation levels that sees managers sacked whilst sat in the top 4 of the Championship.

Am not saying Ismael plays the same style as Pulis did, I just think WBA wouldn't be a great fit for him, and it would be a bit of a gamble to go there. They're not a club that have been playing a high press, so he's starting from scratch, and he'll have high expectations and no credit in the bank with the fanbase. Whereas it's probably the opposite here. If he stays and we have a mid table finish, his reputation will still be enhanced given where we were when he took over.

There'll be plenty of clubs interested in him, he can afford to be choosy.

 

Which games were superb in the second half?

Perhaps some training of your eyes should be considered too?

 

Sadly, i didn't see that one.

 

QPR home and away.