Realistic expectations for 2020-21?

DogsOfWar · Aug 16, 2020

Neon_Knight_ said:
Do you realise you've accredited Maguire's performances last year to both Leicester and Man Utd?

Maybe need to look at who replaced Maguire at Leicester.

Neon_Knight_ said:
But Wanyama and Sissoko were signed in the same transfer window to play in different positions...and you've conveniently left out two of our best / best value signings (Moura & Bergwijn), to make our recruitment look worse than it actually has been

Again, you're missing the point.
Forget about the examples, I'm simply saying that over the last four years our starting eleven has diminished by 6 players.
In that same timeframe we have spent £200 million on 6 players who have had little effect on the first team.
My belief is that £200 million is a significant sum of money and had we used that money more effectively we wouldn't be in the position we are.

The examples were simply to show how two teams had spent the same amount of money more effectively and finished above us as a result.
And had we bought those players instead we would still be top four.
This emphasises my point it's not the amount of money but how well it is spent.

The only reason I'm arguing about this in the 'expectations' thread is that I don't believe our business needs to be high cost to get us back into the top four.
We can pick up a DM, second striker, and RB for less than £50 million (minus outgoings) and I think that can see us challenging 3rd place (again, assuming we buy the right players).

Harryson · Aug 16, 2020

Firstly, I'd like the see a balanced team again. There were points under Poch, even when we went 1-0 down, I just knew we would win. We need that back and to push it over the edge I will go with what Jose said:

"I want them to be an intelligent bunch of c***s"

Yid · Aug 16, 2020

Top 5 finish
Loss at Europa League Final
Loss at FA Cup Final
Victory at the League Cup Final.

Snarfalicious · Aug 16, 2020

1. Sign Messi
2. Play him at LB

stov · Aug 16, 2020

yido_number1 said:
Wow the BSODL are clubbing together these days. No point discussing anything with people that think Levy makes no mistakes and that we are anything other than an investment.

Hyperbole. No one said he hadn't made mistakes.

BringBack_leGin · Aug 18, 2020

The way we seem to be conducting our transfer business is raising my expectations.

Need a DM, sign the best available premier leave proven DM.

Need an RB, strongly linked to a fair few and now to an RB who’d play for any of the top sides bar Liverpool.

Need a new GK following the departure of Vorm, about to announce the signing of a better, younger option who has played and won at the highest level.

Going on links it seems clear we’re also after an striker to support Harry, and if we can improve on our current attacking midfield with fresh blood we will too.

Clear parallels with summer 09.

jondy1 · Aug 19, 2020

At the time of writing with our current business .
Are we going to finish above Liverpool ? Very unlikely.
Man City? Very unlikely.
Man united? Unlikely.
Chelsea? Unlikely. If they sell Zouma to us
very unlikely.?
Arsenal? It’s going to be close.
Leicester? Probably.
So by that reasoning I think 5th or 6 th.

yiddo · Aug 22, 2020

BringBack_leGin said:
The way we seem to be conducting our transfer business is raising my expectations.

Need a DM, sign the best available premier leave proven DM.

Need an RB, strongly linked to a fair few and now to an RB who’d play for any of the top sides bar Liverpool.

Need a new GK following the departure of Vorm, about to announce the signing of a better, younger option who has played and won at the highest level.

Going on links it seems clear we’re also after an striker to support Harry, and if we can improve on our current attacking midfield with fresh blood we will too.

Clear parallels with summer 09.

So you are saying that on the basis of bringing in Hart and Hoijberg and being linked with Doherty & C.Wilson, this has you believing we will break back into the top 4....?

Wow.... can only imagine what you think we would achieve if we had signed Ziyech & Werner and were close to signing Havertz, T.Silva & Chilwell.

PrettyColors · Aug 22, 2020

Not to be too negative but if all we get is Doherty/Celik/Aaron’s and Callum Wilson, there still exist some massive (Christian Eriksen-sized) holes in the squad that make us a long shot for top 4.

Did anyone watch how insipid we looked again packed defenses under Jose? Bournemouth, West Ham and Sheffield were dire AVB esque performances and that was with everyone fit. Winks is not going to become Steven Gerrard just because we have a DM. Dele is more forward than creative midfielder. I remain very skeptical on TN becoming a durable midfielder capable of giving 30+ good performances this season.

While financially COVID comes at the worst time, I really don’t have any high expectations for the season ahead. Hoping to see some significant improvement from N’Dombele, Winks, and Sessegnon and have a good EL run.

ilikeost · Aug 22, 2020

I'll hopefully lose some weight and get a hot girlfriend.

spursfan77 · Aug 22, 2020

BringBack_leGin said:
The way we seem to be conducting our transfer business is raising my expectations.

Need a DM, sign the best available premier leave proven DM.

Need an RB, strongly linked to a fair few and now to an RB who’d play for any of the top sides bar Liverpool.

Need a new GK following the departure of Vorm, about to announce the signing of a better, younger option who has played and won at the highest level.

Going on links it seems clear we’re also after an striker to support Harry, and if we can improve on our current attacking midfield with fresh blood we will too.

Clear parallels with summer 09.

I actually like the news that we are looking at attacking midfielders too. I actually think we need another creative player to help change things up at the top of the pitch. I think it would breathe new life into our attacking play and we need that.

Shanks · Aug 22, 2020

Looking at what José achieved at United, second, league cup and europa cup with that said at the time.

that’s achievable..

but top four and a trophy please

FibreOpticJesus · Aug 22, 2020

spursfan77 said:
I actually like the news that we are looking at attacking midfielders too. I actually think we need another creative player to help change things up at the top of the pitch. I think it would breathe new life into our attacking play and we need that.

What we need and what we wish for sadly cannot happen until we sell. At the moment we are not hearing of any interest from other clubs for our players apart from Aurier. So Rose, Lamela, Sissoko, Foyth need to agree to move. The silence on these players says it all.

hellava_tough · Aug 22, 2020

I expect us to be a well organised, hard to beat team next season.

We'll be favourites in the 28 league games we play against the teams that finished below us this season. And Mourinho will have enough insight and experience to make us competitive when we play the 'Top 5'.

I also think that Man Utd and Leicester are catchable in the league, although Chelsea may be out of reach if they bring in their reported transfer targets.

Finally, Europa League is definitely on the cards, considering Mourinho has won it a couple of times.

So overall, Top 4 and a few cup runs.

nedley · Aug 22, 2020

Minimum expection is top 4 and a cup.

Thats what we should aiming for and anything less would be a failure.

Maureen has alot to prove as does to the club in backing him.

I have my doubts.

BringBack_leGin · Aug 22, 2020

yiddo said:
So you are saying that on the basis of bringing in Hart and Hoijberg and being linked with Doherty & C.Wilson, this has you believing we will break back into the top 4....?

Wow.... can only imagine what you think we would achieve if we had signed Ziyech & Werner and were close to signing Havertz, T.Silva & Chilwell.

no, what I’m clearly saying, to anyone with more than 2 specks of dust between their ears anyway, is that we are doing unglamorous but clever business to address our weakness and plug holes with good players who know this league and have proven themselves here too, which more often than not will improve us.

Just go support Chelsea given that you’re such a fucking fanboy of theirs.

spursfan77 said:
I actually like the news that we are looking at attacking midfielders too. I actually think we need another creative player to help change things up at the top of the pitch. I think it would breathe new life into our attacking play and we need that.

I don’t disagree, but I do imagine that any changes in that part of the pitch totally depends on outgoings given that we’ve got quality in depth there already.

Yid-ol · Aug 22, 2020

Disappointment, heartache and poor football....

:cautious:

Probably will be challenging top 4, cup final(and hopefully a win) and sign players that we need now to fix the team! (Full backs and back up striker)

Steffen · Aug 22, 2020

yiddo said:
So you are saying that on the basis of bringing in Hart and Hoijberg and being linked with Doherty & C.Wilson, this has you believing we will break back into the top 4....?

Wow.... can only imagine what you think we would achieve if we had signed Ziyech & Werner and were close to signing Havertz, T.Silva & Chilwell.

We would have been top 4, if the season started when Jose took over - only 3 teams got more points than us after he joined. And that’s with most of our best players injured for large periods of that time.

So yes, I believe we will break back into the top 4. It’s not about buying the flashiest players, it’s about buying the players you need. We needed Højbjerg. Chelsea’s problem last season was the barn-shaped hole in their defense, and Ziyech & Werner won’t fill that.

spids · Aug 22, 2020

Giving Man C are untouchable now that FFP became an unenforced joke, and Chelsea are clearly financially doping again with Ziyech (£37.4M), Werner (£52M) already done, Havertz being lined up for £80M+, and press reports saying they are close to both Chilwell (£50/60M!) and Silva from PSG, and Liverpool set for a few years of dominance, we're playing for 4th along with Man U, Arsenal, Leicester, and Wolves. Arteta looks like he knows what he is doing and despite the financials, Willian is a good signing for them. If they get a decent CB and PEA signs a new contract, then they will very much be in the race for 4th.

It is very frustrating that, after spending so many years being prudent whilst building the new stadium, the period when that stadium starts paying dividends and gives us an income advantage over our peers is gatecrashed by Covid-19 and we do not see any of it.

markt · Aug 22, 2020

A lot depends on recruitment and form. City and Liverpool are the 2 miles ahead. I think chelsea and united will be favourites to finish 3rd and 4th, but they are by no means complete squads even with the money they are throwing around. There are still gaps and we are capable of finishing above them.

I predict we will be anywhere from 3rd-6th. A lot will depend on Kane and Son staying injury free. Ndombele realising his potential and at least a better RB.

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