Expectations

[jambreck]

Back in late August, when it looked as though we'd be adding Coentrao to all our other signings, and maybe another striker too, I genuinely thought that we would be able to mount a title challenge this season. Especially given the upheaval elsewhere.

But obviously we didn't sign a left back. Or another striker. And while I expected that it would take quite a few months before the team properly gelled, I had hoped that we would have played a bit better and picked up more points at home.

So a title challenge looks unlikely to me now, even if we are only 6 points adrift. I can't help but think that City, especially, have hit their stride. Even top four will be a lot harder this year because both Liverpool and Everton have been unexpectedly consistent. And you have to expect that Man Utd will make a big splash in the transfer market and will come on strong in the second half of the season.

I'm not going to predict where we might finish but this certainly looks like being one of the tightest and most exciting seasons since the advent of the Premier League.

 

[shelfboy68]

Expectations definitely lower now than start of season I think 8th-9th is where we will be.
I hope Tim does ok but can't see him winning anything or getting top four reckon he can stabilise it for now although I would like to see him get the back four sorted as we have become shit in recent weeks but before we were OK.

 

[jambreck]

Expectations definitely lower now than start of season I think 8th-9th is where we will be.
I hope Tim does ok but can't see him winning anything or getting top four reckon he can stabilise it for now although I would like to see him get the back four sorted as we have become shit in recent weeks but before we were OK.

Injuries, perhaps?

 

[onthetwo]

I think it depends on the consistency of Ade in particular, which makes me very uncomfortable.
Keep him motivated and we'll be in the mix come May.

 

[shelfboy68]

Injuries, perhaps?

Some of it perhaps but they have been wank as well.

 

[sharky127]

PL Champions, FA Cup & EUFA Cup winners. Anything else is an abject failure!

 

[Francis Gibbs]

Expectations? - the same as Levy, I raised the white flag on them yesterday

 

[whatsappnin]

Before the season I had top 4 easy! that wained to survival during the last 5 games of AVB's spell. I am hopeful now of an 8th to somewhere above.

It could end up back to top 4 possibly if Tim does the business! COYS!

 

[Francis Gibbs]

I think it depends on the consistency of Ade in particular, which makes me very uncomfortable.
Keep him motivated and we'll be in the mix come May.

stick a new contract offer under his nose and he will be fine

 

[dimiSpur]

Look at it this way, we're currently (exempting the Southampton result) in turmoil, having players that are not settling in, without knowing what our best XI is, with numerous defensive players injured and with a new manager that we have no idea about in terms of his style (especially against the top sides) and yet we're 6 points off top.

It's a really weird season, everyone is really tight together. To be honest, minus sacking AVB and bringing in Sherwood, Spurs are reminding me of an Arsenal type of turmoil. In the last 2 seasons Arsenal have been "shit" in the first 19 games yet we never seem to kill them off. Even when they are poor they are never more than 6-10 points behind us and we are the same this season. They are having an "amazing" start and we're so bad that we've changed managers, yet we're still relatively close.

So my expectations? I really don't know. One thing for sure I'm not expecting a top four finish like I was at the start of the season. I'm slightly hoping for it. I know we have players to come back and surely some of our new players will find form before the end of the season, meaning arguably we can only get better. If Tim can get Adebayor playing like that every week we have every chance of achieving something this season still, Carragher was spot on last night when he called him a disgrace for being so ineffectual despite his talent (talking in general terms not in terms of the Soton match).

I do expect some exciting stuff now from what we've seen of Sherwood's playing style, so that's a plus for sure.

 

[Metalhead]

I wonder whether many of those who are expecting a top 4 finish under Sherwood are also the ones saying that he lacks experience?

 

[Metalhead]

Look at it this way, we're currently (exempting the Southampton result) in turmoil, having players that are not settling in, without knowing what our best XI is, with numerous defensive players injured and with a new manager that we have no idea about in terms of his style (especially against the top sides) and yet we're 6 points off top.

It's a really weird season, everyone is really tight together. To be honest, minus sacking AVB and bringing in Sherwood, Spurs are reminding me of an Arsenal type of turmoil. In the last 2 seasons Arsenal have been "shit" in the first 19 games yet we never seem to kill them off. Even when they are poor they are never more than 6-10 points behind us and we are the same this season. They are having an "amazing" start and we're so bad that we've changed managers, yet we're still relatively close.

So my expectations? I really don't know. One thing for sure I'm not expecting a top four finish like I was at the start of the season. I'm slightly hoping for it. I know we have players to come back and surely some of our new players will find form before the end of the season, meaning arguably we can only get better. If Tim can get Adebayor playing like that every week we have every chance of achieving something this season still, Carragher was spot on last night when he called him a disgrace for being so ineffectual despite his talent (talking in general terms not in terms of the Soton match).

I do expect some exciting stuff now from what we've seen of Sherwood's playing style, so that's a plus for sure.

I'm hoping for top 4 but to me, that would not be prerequisite for him remaining as head coach next season. I suspect that many of those saying that are the ones who are gutted that he got the job and would not be sorry to see him sacked.

 

[sunnydelight786]

Yes. I had us finishing top 4 & winning a cup even with the setbacks with AVB. Now I see us finishing 7th, mugs knocking us out of FA cup & reaching last 16 of EL before Benfica knock us out.

 

[jimbo]

1. Arsenal 40
2. Man City 39
3. Liverpool 38
4. Chelsea 38
5. Everton 38
6. Tottenham 36
7. Man Utd 34

Any of those top 7 could finish in the CL places or miss out, I think the second half of the season could see some surprises but at the moment I have no expectations.

It's hard to see Man City, Chelsea or Arsenal losing out (though not impossible) so we're basically up against English footballs best two teams in Man Utd and Liverpool for that fourth spot. Easy.

 

[robbiedee]

I know the realists and pragmatists amongst us will say, 1 game at a time, and they are right, but I've gone a bit crazy and predicted the top 8 league positions after the New Years Day matches:

Man City 44 (w,w,w)
Arsenal 43 (w,d,w)
Liverpool 40 (l,d,w)
Everton 39 (w,d,d)
Chelsea 38 (w,d,d)
Spurs 37 (w,w,d)
Man U 35 (w,w,d)
Newcastle 33 (d,d,d)

There is no reason why we can't get into the top 4 with a decent run. Its so bloody close really.

I think Sherwood will have us playing in a similar style to Redknapp, but hopefully focussed on the job in hand and picking the best players available for the job each game.

I'm both excited and nervous, but fingers crossed we can get that top 4. The Spurs roller coaster just keeps going. Hold on tight and keep your arms in the car at all times...

Good Luck Tim!

 

[Legend10]

My prediction is that Liverpool who everybody is banging one out over and Spurs who everybody is supposedly laughing at will hit the new year hour on equal points!

 

[Legend10]

From here on in I think City will comfortably win the league, by at least 6 points.

If we avoid Juve then we will make the EL final, then who knows, but what a night it would be to play the Old Lady on their own ground in a European final!

 

[Metalhead]

My prediction is that Liverpool who everybody is banging one out over and Spurs who everybody is supposedly laughing at will hit the new year hour on equal points!

Liverpool are doing really well but although they do have a decent team, they are in a similar position that we were when we had Bale.

 

[double0]

I reckon Man Utd well win the league. Tottenham will finish above Liverpool and Everton CL league will be between us Chelsea Arsenal.

 

[Damian99]

I reckon Man Utd well win the league. Tottenham will finish above Liverpool and Everton CL league will be between us Chelsea Arsenal.

Man United??