17/18 Expectations and Predictions

[China Black]

2 hours ago, HighPeakFox said:

Champions 

Love your optimism!!

[HighPeakFox]

3 minutes ago, China Black said:

Love your optimism!!

Life's too short to be miserable about football

[Gerard]

58 minutes ago, Koke said:

 

We are safe pal.

 

We should be but it's May and we aren't mathematically guaranteed.

 

Swansea have three winnable games and we need another point. A loss at home to Watford and the Swansea evening kick off game will become important.

 

For me a point versus Watford isn't a bad result. If we're drawing on 80 mins I would rather play our normal game than risking losing by trying to win it. I still have hopes for an 8th placed finish but I still have half an eye on 18th place as well.

[China Black]

11 minutes ago, HighPeakFox said:

Life's too short to be miserable about football

That is true. We should always aim for the stars.

[Beachyboy]

Top 4 build the foundations before building the ceiling, £100 million spent an maybe, if it's spent right on 2x CB a RB a CM an a striker, if Mahrez goes another winger to replace him Albrighton an Gray are sound enough but would need depth to challenge top 4, top 8 is very realistic, following season we could then go in as an established premier league team, in the mould of Southampton an Stoke (they don't even consider 40 points at start of season)

[Vacamion]

 

City to be upper mid table (if we keep Craig Shakespeare as manager).  Slimani to bag a right few. Mendy to overcome his injuries and come good.

 

Spurs to lose a few players to higher paying clubs and slip back, as their form dips at Wembley.

 

Southampton to lose more players and struggle for a change.

 

West Ham to sack Bilic, appoint some foreigner and fail.

 

Man Utd and Man City to challenge and the title race to be a close 3 way struggle.

 

Sadly, no Leicester players to make the England WC 18 squad.

 

 

[Stadt]

Burnley to go down, sadly that draincover will get a premier league though.

[nnfox]

Chelsea

Man U

Man City

Arsenal

Liverpool

Spurs

Everton/Leicester

 

Relegated:

Huddersfield

Bournemouth

West Ham

 

We should be pushing for a spot in the Europa League, either through league position or cup success.  Would love to win the FA Cup.

[Vacamion]

 

You also wonder whether the wheels will finally come Bournemouth's bus.  If they lose their manager, who knows...

[Nick]

No idea - depends on our recruitment and managerial appointment - I'd say at least top 8 after that - who knows.

 

If Man U land targets like Griessman and spend another 200 million they will be challenging for the title.

 

Liverpool should be thereabouts too but losing Coutinho might be a a Kante esq blow for them if he toddles off to Madrid.

 

Spurs will be playing in a large weird ground so it'll be like an away game every week for them so it'll be close between them and us outside top 4 I'd say.

 

Man City - well pep's had his adjustment period.... 2nd or third I'd say....

 

Arsenal 5th and the end of Wengers reign.

 

Chelsea for the title.

 

 

[Great Boos Up]

2 hours ago, lgfualol said:

Top 9

Cup final please

Keep manager whole season

 I was thinking that. At any other club it's possibly enjoyably feasible.

Something stressful is going to happen again isn't it!

[FireFox]

Manchester United - Jose will find a way to turn draws into wins.

Chelsea - Will focus on the CL and lose the final.

Leicester - Why not.

Arsenal/Liverpool - Arsenal if they change manager and buy a striker.

Manchester City - I'm not convinced Pep will learn how to have Man City stop conceding goals.
 

No way Spurs finish top 4 when playing home games at Wembley. Could see them getting knocked down to and out of Europa again.

[Bryn]

Hard to comment on what other teams will do.

I think the logical aspiration for us is to establish ourselves as perennial top 8-10. Like Stoke and West Brom but hopefully without switching off after 40 points.

 

No reason we can't go beyond that though with some smart planning and a bit of luck.

 

I'd expect the big teams to get much stronger again; they're becoming conspicuous by their absence from the final 4 of the Champions and I think they'll all splash the cash now that the race for the top 4 is so wide open. I think you have to think Chelsea have a real opportunity to become a massive, massive side; I think you add a new centre-back, right wing-back and striker to that team and you've really got something, they'd be mad not to spunk some serious money on major talent to establish a stanglehold on English football. I think Manchester United will be strong as well, I think they'll nick the last CL spot and even if they don't they might well win the Europa (which would give us 5 times in the CL if they miss out on top four). And of course Man City, and Tottenham. I think Arsenal will wane if they don't have a very, very good summer, and Liverpool continue to look "best of the rest" to me but despite that they're looking competitive for top four too so they probably don't need much. I think you'd have to expect Everton to make a few good signings. Those are the top 7, I think a sensible target for us would be to come 8th.

[Foxxed]

Hard to say until we've confirmed the manager and know next years players.

 

In an ideal world where Shakey turns into the manager we want, we don't lose too many players, we attract a couple new first teamers and our youth team gives us another couple of decent players, then I'd go for anywhere between 10th and 4th with a decent cup run.

[Tielemans63]

Next season I'd like us to ditch our high tempo counter-attacking game and develop into a more patient possession-based side. Seems like the natural progression. What could go wrong? 

[tom27111]

We'll finish top 6.

[seymour]

48 minutes ago, Paddy. said:

Next season I'd like us to ditch our high tempo counter-attacking game and develop into a more patient possession-based side. Seems like the natural progression. What could go wrong? 

[foxtillidrop]

If we get off to a good start, anything is possible. Critical that Shakey gets the job - certain players, particularly Vardy, appear to have an intrinsic desire to play for Shakey.

[Jimothy]

5 hours ago, urban.spaceman said:

I genuinely believe we can get back into that top 6, if we stick to our style of play and acquire wisely. This season Claudio changed far too much but as soon as Shakey took over we had our intensity back and we were showing why we were the best team in the league last season. The owners have a massive decision this summer about the manager's role - they need to keep Shakey at the club and happy as a no2 if they choose to bring someone it - they got lucky with Claudio being happy to keep him and Walsh as his team.

 

Top 4:

Chelsea

Man City

Man Utd

Liverpool

 

Relegated:

Sunderland

Spurs (They're crap at Wembley and also it would be fcking hilarious)

Hull

 

FA Cup: Leicester

League Cup: Leicester

Why not?

 

Best goal difference: Spurs

Lowest net spend: Spurs

Erm, you know Sunderland have already gone down this year don't you?

[Dan]

1. Man City

2. Chelsea

3. Man Utd

4. Tottenham

5. Liverpool

6. Arsenal

7. Leicester

8. Everton

9. West Ham

10. Crystal Palace

11. West Brom

12. Southampton

13. Newcastle

14. Bournemouth

15. Stoke

16. Burnley

17. Watford

18. Brighton

19. Reading

20. Hull

[Dan]

4 hours ago, Gerard said:

 

We should be but it's May and we aren't mathematically guaranteed.

 

Swansea have three winnable games and we need another point. A loss at home to Watford and the Swansea evening kick off game will become important.

 

For me a point versus Watford isn't a bad result. If we're drawing on 80 mins I would rather play our normal game than risking losing by trying to win it. I still have hopes for an 8th placed finish but I still have half an eye on 18th place as well.

Can't get on board with that at all. They've lost four on the trot away from home without even scoring, including a 2-0 loss at ten man Hull last time out.

 

We should beat Watford.

[Gerard]

Just now, Dan LCFC said:

Can't get on board with that at all. They've lost four on the trot away from home without even scoring, including a 2-0 loss at ten man Hull last time out.

 

We should beat Watford.

 

We should expect to beat Watford but there is a lot more value in the draw for us considering one more point almost confirms safety barring a disastrous GD reversal.

 

For the record I'm far from sweating on survival but I also recognise more than most that it's still a possibility. As far as playing PL football next season 1pt is almost as much value as winning the game. 

[Dan]

6 minutes ago, Gerard said:

 

We should expect to beat Watford but there is a lot more value in the draw for us considering one more point almost confirms safety barring a disastrous GD reversal.

 

For the record I'm far from sweating on survival but I also recognise more than most that it's still a possibility. As far as playing PL football next season 1pt is almost as much value as winning the game. 

To be honest I think it's as disastrous to get relegated from here anyway. It's not just the fact we're that many clear of Swansea but there's another five teams they're gunning at before us.

 

Then again this is Leicester. We don't deal in the usual way.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

 

I don't think anyone can confidently make a meaningful prediction, given so much will be in the air until the season has started and the transfer window closed. 

 

Naturally, the big factor going into next season is no Champions League football... so not only do we have this against us when trying to attract players in, it's also a massive issue in trying to persuade our existing stars to stay for another season or two, now they've had a taste of those special nights. 

 

It could also have an effect on us as a fan base, because after all these giddy heights, we will be coming back down to earth somewhat - will Saturday kickoffs against Bournemouth and Watford suddenly have the same appeal? Will the whole feel of the place suddenly dip?

 

The other nagging doubt I have in my mind is the manager position... which may seem unfair, but here me out.

 

Yes, Craig has done brilliantly with the situation presented to him, but he did have the useful advantage of having a strong hand to play with - he knew the players well and their quality. What we don't know is what Craig would be like if we lost 3/4 starters over the summer. Would he be able to attract the calibur of player that a lot of our fans believe we should be attracting? 

 

I do see the attraction with Craig continuing, especially if that decision keeps key members of the squad together, but players are a fickle bunch so they could easily rejoice at his appointment only to depart weeks later. Naturally, the danger with letting Craig continue into next season is we reach November / December and realise it was a mistake... and our managerial options to put that right are then that much reduced. 

 

Thats why I think it shouldn't be considered a completely done deal that Craig gets the job... we may need to take the playing side into a different direction order to progress, especially if we lose key playng figures, so doing this may be a whole lot easier under a completely new manager. 

 

Another key factor to consider, which is something we have no control over, is how other sides recruit in the summer etc... the top 6/7 are in a much more stable position compared to our League winning season and will be that much harder to break into, newcomers Newcastle and Brighton have the potential to be decent performers as they ride the crest of their promotion season waves and standard mid table yardsticks such as West Brom and Southampton are likely to be there or there abouts again. 

 

One thing is for certain about next season however... it will ultimately decide whether this fantastic era for the club continues for a bit longer of disappears with disappointment soon following.

[urban.spaceman]

29 minutes ago, Facecloth said:

Erm, you know Sunderland have already gone down this year don't you?

Old habits.