If we finished 21st next season

Many supporters haven't walked away from the club, the crowds are up.

 

I’ll make a judgement after I see our transfer business.

Right now I’d say 21st seems disappointing but if Davies goes, if a big offer comes in for Pinnock, if the lads with only one year left get sold & are replaced with kids from the lower leagues like last time round then 21st might end up been a successful season.

 

naughty

 

I'd accept now for next season but the following season I'd want us a strong top 10 contender.
Next season there's no reason why 60/65 isn't achievable depending on transfer activity.

 

!! ‘Kinell !!

 

I would like to think we will finish mid-table and have a month where we flirt just outside the play-off places.
I will however be hoping, not expecting that we will be promoted.

 

Nudge in "this is not a dig at Patrick Cryne" post.

BBS is shocked.

 

I'd say it would be a major disappointment, rather than a failure. This team, as it stands, are capable of a mid-table finish in the Championship. I would suggest the squad, manager and board would be planning for at least that.
Some players will leave. Its the board stated aim to sell for profit. I could see Ethan going to a Premiership side.
Potential replacements from higher up the food chain, will now be looking at us as a more attractive step in their professional development.

 

I'm optimistic even if we lose one or two players. Unlike the previous regime we are recruiting players that suit the system and how we want to play. We do however have to be realistic and appreciate the competition.The teams we will be playing against will be equal or better than the top 6 in league 1 week in week out and nearly all will have more resources. So survival has to be the main aim but I believe we can and will do better. We just need to 'man up' . I recently went to a Rotherham game and they were more savvy and physical yet haven't been good enough. I do hope we tweak the plan and add two or three established championship players to the squad. We have the talent but not the experience imo.

 

We have played lovely football for the vast majority of the season - despite the stats, we have looked susceptible at times - better strikers would capitalise on this - if we tighten up (yes I know we have had a great defensive record this season but there’s also been some rubbish finishing v us n’all), & if we can retain the spine of the team, we will do very well - well outplay many teams but need to ensure we don’t get our pockets picked. Remember we only conceded 1 goal v the Shrews but could have been 5 (with better finishing & no Davies)

 

They just don't want to sit near you.

The same core group has been around me for 10-15 years now. Apart from a few kids that have started coming or a few that have passed away.

 

What’s the point of getting some supporters in at one end - while you are losing them at the other end ???
We should have retained our support over the last 14 years and then built on it.
We haven’t.
Over the last 14 years we have mostly been fighting relegation from the Championship or fighting for promotion to the Championship.)
How many supporters do you come across that don’t go to Oakwell anymore because they became sick of the rollercoaster ride?
If you don’t know any then yer not talking to enough people.

 

I'm clearly not talking to enough people then Nudger or you're talking the same old rubbish as usual.
When i was in my late teens, early twenties there was a group of about 15 of us used to stand on the Ponty week in week out, home and away. There's probably barely three or four that still go to every game. Life happens, people move away, get families, have other priorities. The rollercoaster ride has been going on for 130 years. Here's a hint...it's not going to stop either.
The vast majority of regular fans don't stop going because they're fed up, they stop going because life throws up other priorities. Just because you stopped going because you were fed up doesn't make you a trend.

 

There will be plenty of clubs of a similar standing or with a budget no bigger than ours. Reading, Preston, Birmingham City, Brentford, Wigan, QPR, Luton, Blackburn, Hull, Millwall off the top of my head. We've a great chance to use our momentum and new financial backing to properly kick on and learn from the mistakes of 16/17 and 17/18. I'd hope we could at least finish mid-table.

 

I’d like to see the club have every cup game do some sort of offer like quid for a kid, bring yer m8 for a fiver, fancy dress etc.

 

They might have left cos they didn't like who they were sitting with. Where I sit, its the same faces and it as been for years.

 

IF, IF we can keep the squad together, keep Daniel Stendel and maybe add 1 or 2 bits of quality then we could make the playoffs. Its a big IF though.

 

My feeling on this will depend on how we finish the season. I.e. there would need to be a positive trend in the development of our team.
To quote from the Feb forum: "we are building a squad today that we believe is competing to be a mid table championship club" and "Obviously, upon promotion, we will reinvest and further supplement the squad as we are gaining some additional revenue. That will then go back into the squad. So that's the immediate goal".
Reflecting on these statements, I would probably be disappointed with 21st but just happy to go with the flow & not voting in this poll.