Tim S Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 Well lets look at a few of the facts.... Last season Dele Adebola was a great player for us, but many would also say that when he played our game dropped and we resorted to "lump" football which wasnt as effective. When Adebola didnt play, we got the ball on the ground a bit more and played better although the results didnt quite go our way - partly due to the service to the final third of the pitch. But when we did get it right, Maynard showed that he can score goals given the service and even Johnson chipped in with a couple of goals when he pushed himself forward. Our set pieces last season were awful. Everytime we got a free-kick on the edge of the area, or a corner, or any good chance to get the ball into the box 9 times out of 10 we would waste the chance. This was down to poor delivery's, bad movement in the box or just down right awful misses. We also got very predictable. I feel that in these areas if we could just improve then we have the key to a successful season. We CAN play good football, we have the players and they have the skills. We just need to sort out the final delivery into the box and general service to the strikers. Its not about hoof football, its about the precision pass, the perfectly timed runs and the finishing. We CAN do all of this - we just need to tie it all together! This season I think we can. Set pieces I hope will improve this season. I would like to see other players getting involved in taking them, not just Lee Johnson all the time and I want to see us mixing up the set plays, catching teams out again - like "The Weasel" in the play offs against Palace. In my opinion, last season we lost as many as 20 points on wasted set pieces due to so many draws. Just one more goal in many games would have see us so much higher in the league and set pieces could have been the key. Maynard I think will show us just what we paid £2million for this season. Were he an older player I would be questioning the price tag - but he has age on his side and I think he can now take what he has learned in his first season in the championship and put it into his game this season and we will see the results I'm sure of that. Plus I'm quite excited to see how he pairs with Clarkson too - I think there could be an unexpected gem of a partnership here to prove that you don't always need a big man up there to be able to do a job. Add to this the addition on Paul Hartley who I think could be a very good signing putting some vital experience in the midfield. I know the signings so far might not have set the world alight if you look at them, put them all together in the jigsaw that is the new season and they will all have their vital part to play and this could well be a very successful season if everything comes together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Gow Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 Am i the only one that thinks Forest will be right up there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chowie Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 I'm still in mid-table expectations at the moment, it sounds like just one more signing to come (left winger for McIndoe) and it really depends on how some of the younger players in the squad perform when called upon. I think the likes of Wilson, Ribs, Akinde & maybe Plummer will see more action this season. The last time I was not expecting a high finnish we got to the play off final so I hope thats an omen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BcfcCalum Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 I feel optimistic about the upcoming season, as we have a quality set piece taker in Hartley which is something we didnt have last year which cost us many points. I'm thinking top 6 finish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screech Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 You're writing about replacing the whole team more-or-less. :noexpression: I reckon our midfield lacked determination last season - mainly due to Marvin Elliott being injured for so long - and that was the main reason for us finishing outside the top 6. The inability to win instead of draw at home cost us dear and that could have been corrected with a few timely midfield signings. It's a shame we couldn't have brought in Paul Hartley at the beginning of last season - we could be Premier League now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_Lemon Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 1. Sheffield United 2. Preston North End ---------------- 3. Middlesbrough 4. West Brom Albion 5. Cardiff City 6. Bristol City --------------- 7. Reading FC 8. Ipswitch Town 9. Derby County 10. Doncaster Rovers 11. Sheff Wednesday 12. Swansea City 13. Queens Park Rangers 14. Nottingham Forest 15. Crystal Palace 16. Peterborough United 17. Newcastle United 18. Coventry City 19. Watford 20. Leicester City 21. Barnsley --------------- 22. Blackpool 23. Plymouth Argyle 24. S****horpe I would like to make a bet with someone the table will end up similar to that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brislingwood Red Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 Hate to be a pessamist but I'm thinking without a further 3 (first eleven) signings, 4 if McIndoe goes, then I reckon will labour to a mid table position. Roughly 14th. With the current squad I do believe that will be an achievement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 What people have to remember is the fact that we had 13 home draws last season. If all those home draws were converted to wins then we would have had 26 extra points and promotion. We really weren't that far off last year and had Paul Hartley been in our midfield he really could have made the difference between a mid table and a promotion finish. Yeah also IF those draws were losses we could of been relegated :noexpression: we have also lost our second highest goalscorer and replaced him with someone who`s never played in this league. There are two sides to everything most of us like looking a the bright side because we are biased; I cannot share the optomism of most on here, and remain wary; and we do need more signings before the end of the month whatever the cost. Signed;Doom merchant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellyred Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 I don't see us finishing higher than 14th at the moment and thats if we are lucky. I think we may well get dragged into a bit of a dogfight this year, if we are in the bottom 3 come September then I think we will really struggle. Such an optimist me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebrenn Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 Am i the only one that thinks Forest will be right up there? no your not mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terjon Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 We all want a top 6 finish, but.. Arguebly the most consitant players last season have left, Adebola and (Mccindoe, soon). We have replaced these 2 with Hartley and Clarkson. Hopefully better. The other 2 players we signed are for cover, (wont play....Keeper) and the other a kid from pompey who never made it, (wont play) We have released players so the squad numbers are down on last season. :noexpression: Up front We have Maynard (praying he comes good this year) Akinde (never really played at this level.) Trundle ( Just cant deliver) We will need another signing of better quality if we want top 6. Wide men........Sproule (quick) No one else (williams is better in the middle) We will need 2 more wide men quick sharpe and once again better quality than we have for a top 6 finish. Full backs...........ORR good player but awful distribution.........Maccalister (inconsistant) We basically have no wide men who can cross a ball........... The midfield will depend on Marv staying fit, to drive the team on......Lets hope he stays fit. Carey. fonts........we also need cover there for me.......Mccombe not good enough, So to finsh in the top 6 we are relying on AKINDE, RIBS, WILSON, CLARKSON, MAYNARD, HARTLEY, to all come really good and for Elliot to stay Fit, and all the other round pegs to play above what we have seen so far........ I believe unless we add 2 - 3 better quality players for the starting eleven before the season starts we will finish around 16th, if we add the 3 player needed then a top 6 is possible because they would lift the players and the fans. I believe hartley will be a very good signing for us, but he is not Ronaldo and a lot of fans are already talking PRAY OFFS, GJ and SL will have a bit more work to do if top 6 is required in my oppinion....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Ciderhead Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 I don't think we have the squad to mount a playoff challenge - Yet. Although we've undoubtably added some good players to our ranks, our squad still looks to have the same problems as last season. We still don't have a quality out and out winger on either flank, and in the centre of midfield we don't have that creative Tinnion type player that can thread balls through the eye of the needle. So what we have at the moment in my opinion is a slightly above average workmanlike side that will probably finish around 10th-15th. Of course theres still a good chance that we'll add a couple more at least before the season starts....if we sign a couple of wingers and a target man then i'd be more confident but as it stands I think we're looking at mid table again! So something like: 1 West Brom 2 Ipswich 3 Sheff Utd 4 Reading 5 Middlesbrough 6 Cardiff 7 Derby 8 QPR 9 Newcastle 10 Preston 11 Doncaster 12 BCFC 13 Sheff Wed 14 Peterborough 15 Nottm Forest 16 Leicester 17 Swansea 18 Blackpool 19 Crystal Palace 20 Watford 21 Coventry 22 S****horpe 23 Plymouth 24 Barnsley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssexRobin Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 1 West Brom........ 24 Barnsley 1: Sheffield Utd 2: Newcastle --------------------------- 3: Ipswich Town 4: West Brom 5: Cardiff City 6: BRISTOL CITY --------------------------- 7: Middlesbrough 8: Nottingham Forest 9: Queens Park Rangers 10: Derby County 11: Peterborough 12: Crystal Palace 13: Reading 14: Preston North End 15: Swansea City 16: Doncaster Rovers 17: Blackpool 18: Leicester City 19: Plymouth Argyle 20: S****horpe United 21: Coventry City --------------------------- 22: Sheffield Wednesday 23: Watford 24: Barnsley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbonkingbob Posted July 9, 2009 Report Share Posted July 9, 2009 People putting Derby in the top half need to lay off the cooking alcohol. They've got a massive squad of very average players, half of whom they want rid of but can't because they're on huge wages. There's a good chance that one or two of their better players like Commons or Hulse will go, and their manager is a non-league specialist who had them limping to safety by the end of the season. His signings thus far have been freebies and non-leaguers. I reckon they're a good bet for the relegation battle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssexRobin Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 So four months after this post was first made (and now we're a third of the way through the season), let's have a look at how close our predictions were...... :noexpression: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_Lemon Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 I see a few of you have put Derby in your top 6....... sorry have I missed something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Mosquito Posted November 22, 2009 Report Share Posted November 22, 2009 So four months after this post was first made (and now we're a third of the way through the season), let's have a look at how close our predictions were...... :noexpression: My predictions from July '09..... 1: Bristol City FC 2: Newcastle United - these barcodes to be beaten home and away by Bristol's Red Army. 3: West Brom 4: Reading 5: Middlesbrough 6: Cardiff City * * Baaadiff to win the pray-offs to give us a Severnside Premier League derby. ....well, we got an away draw to the Geordie barcodes and it's looking more and more like a scrap between Newcastle and WBA for first and second place. Barring Reading - looking to be up for relegation - I could still be right more-or-less with my prediction. You Redzzzzz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusader Posted November 22, 2009 Report Share Posted November 22, 2009 Newcastle WBA Sheffield United Middlesbough Swansea City 7/8th Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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