Realistic expectations for 2020-21?

[Deleted member 27995]

Top eight and a cup.

 

[Yiddo100]

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.

Chelsea got £180m for hazard and morata which they couldn’t spend, so that plus 2 windows of not spending is probably why they’re allowed to spend all the money

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Ziyech is clearly very talented and at worst is a good player, but it’s laughable that he’s continually being used as an example of why Chelsea will be much improved when there’s absolutely nothing to suggest that a 27 year old who has only ever played in the Dutch league will improve on one of last season’s best AMs in Willian. At best in my opinion he’s likely to match him and sustain that level for a few years longer given that Willian is entering his final years at this level, but he’s not going to improve their attacking midfield on last season much like Pulisic wasn’t and isn’t ever going to improve them on Hazard.

Werner is another matter, he’s almost definitely an improvement on their striking options and with him, Tammy and Giroud I’m suddenly quite jealous of their depth in that area.

If they get Havertz then once again, superb player potentially and I imagine that having him and Mount competing for that slot will be great for them. I actually think we should have a go for RLC as I can’t see him playing much at all. As it stands, Havertz is still a Leverkusen player.

Chillwell is interesting as I’ve seen some of his matches and though there’s a real player there, but other times he just comes off as an energetic all rounder who can get up and down but not really excel at much. They’ve been very strong there for years with Alonso anyway while I actually think Emerson looks good, so like Ziyech I’m not sure Chilwell would improve them, more just sustain them.

In the meantime, as good as he may have been in his pomp, is an ancient Thiago Silva really going to fix the fact that they don’t have any passable centre backs? What’s going to happen with the expensively acquired Kepa who couldn’t catch a beach ball? If Kante is going through a Dembele like deterioration physically, who are they succeeding with him? Or are the going to continue their Harry Winksesque experiment of Jorginho as their DM?

Chelsea have obvious strengths and in some ways are buying as we should’ve when our best Pochettino side was at the end of its cycle, but Werner aside they’ve not done anything yet, not are they rumoured right he doings anything, which does anything other than sustain last season‘S level, while some glaring weaknesses seem like they will remain so.

 

[nedley]

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.

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.

I'll be honest. We probably would have finished top 4 if Levy made the call at the right time.

That was Brighton.

 

[Fredo]

Top 4 and Europa/FA Cup

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

Our problem is that our rivals have all finally got their acts together at once. Top 4 will be extremely tough tbh, but not impossible. Our best chance of a trophy is Europa League, where we will not have to face any of them bar Arsenal. That should be our main focus this year.

 

[WiganSpur]

As the squad is now with Hojbjerg in we'll have a similar season to last finishing 5th or 6th with no trophies, with a decent RB and striker i'd put us top 4 with a chance of one of the cups. More than that and I think we can finish 3rd and maybe bring home more than one.

4th and a cup would be successful for me, though i'd definitely take a terrible league performance if it meant we won the EL.

 

[spursfan77]

I think some are under estimating us.

 

[Clark28]

Depends on injuries and what we do with the rest of the transfer window

If we can keep our key players fit ? ? ? then I'd say top 4 and hopefully a decent cup run

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

I think some are under estimating us.

With our current full backs, lack of quality in depth in CB position, and no back up striker, we are going to struggle to have a significant impact in the league.

 

[For the love of Spurs]

I think some are under estimating us.

I think it depends on the transfer window, we have some very good players but also some weak areas. Fix the weak areas and we have a good shot at top 4, do little else and top 6 is more realistic.

 

[DiVaio]

With our current full backs, lack of quality in depth in CB position, and no back up striker, we are going to struggle to have a significant impact in the league.

Toby, Dier, Davinson, Tanganga and Foyth is lack of quality in depth in CB position?

 

[hughy]

, but he’s not going to improve their attacking midfield on last season much like Pulisic wasn’t and isn’t ever going to improve them on Hazard.

That's a huge statement. I think there's every chance Pulisic will be as good as Hazard was for them. He was outstanding in some games post lockdown last season, and that was his first in the Premier League.

 

[Joshua]

I think some are under estimating us.

Yep. We were in Top 4 form after lockdown and we’ve already made one signing that improves the first XI. I don’t think we’re nailed on for a top 4 finish but I don’t think our rivals are much better placed than us. The Leicester bubble burst after lockdown, Wolves now have to operate within strict financial structures, United finished strong but still have issues to resolve in their squad and yet they’ve put all their eggs in one Sancho shaped basket which seems to be slipping away from them. Chelsea’s business looks exciting and it’s understandable why we’d throw envious glances their way, but that’s a lot of big players to try and fit into one cohesive unit. And if a few results don’t go their way then the pressure is immediately ramped up on Lampard. As soon as a gap appears between themselves and City or Liverpool big questions will be asked. And Arsenal are relying on a very young coach so solve the plethora of issues they have. Although admittedly he seems to have started well. They actually worry me more than most. So whilst all those teams remain strong and will be in amongst it, I personally don’t think we’re alone in having issues to solve. Confident we’ll be right in the mix for top 4 next season.

 

[Joshua]

That's a huge statement. I think there's every chance Pulisic will be as good as Hazard was for them. He was outstanding in some games post lockdown last season, and that was his first in the Premier League.

Hazard was the best player in the league and a top 5 player in the world for large parts of his spell at Chelsea. Think it’s a bigger shout to say Pulisic can reach that level surely. Very good player though.

 

[al_pacino]

I think some are under estimating us.

Depends. A lot of people seem to be going top 4 and a trophy which is what I'm sure the club are targeting. Or should be anyway. At the same time how many times has the club done that in your lifetime?

It's a realistic target to have but it would be a fantastic achievement.

 

[Japhet]

A lot will depend on the rest of the transfer window. I think we could possibly push for a top 4 spot as things stand but if Utd and Arsenal plug a few gaps I think we'll struggle. Europa League should be a real target since it probably offers an easier route into CL.

 

[hughy]

Hazard was the best player in the league and a top 5 player in the world for large parts of his spell at Chelsea. Think it’s a bigger shout to say Pulisic can reach that level surely. Very good player though.

That's the thing, Hazard has been absolute top quality at times, but has he ever had a spell of 4 or 5 seasons on the bounce at that level? His final season in the Premier League was undoubtedly phenomenal, but his stats as a whole over his 7 PL seasons don't particularly stand out considering there wasn't a season where he played under 30 league games.

As I say, there's absolutely nothing to suggest from what we've seen that Pulisic can't surpass that. But if they keep referring to him as Captain America I'm going to go on a murder spree.

 

[worcestersauce]

What I expect and what I want are quite different but what I expect is that we'll become a very hard to beat team and with the strikers we have that will contribute to us winning more than we draw. Because of that added to the fact that Jose takes them seriously, we are suited to having a good cup run and maybe with good fortune getting a trophy. We'll without doubt be challenging strongly for a top four place and succeed or not it will be close
I also strongly believe Mourinho will really want to win the Europa League.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I'm with you on that. It's partly why I've never understood those who didn't want us to reach the Europa. An extra ~11-18 Spurs games? Sounds good to me!

It’s good for the fans and if our squad is big enough and has enough quality then it’s good for the squad anyway as more of them will be happy as minutes will be shared rather than 1 game a week and the same first XI all the time.