2018 - Bookies say 8th

[Mease]

I thought I would have a gander at what the bookmakers are saying about the title next season and I see most giving odds of 200/1 making us 8th favourites.

 

Basically we are the best of the rest (bar Everton in 7th)

 

Suprisingly Man City backed as champions at 11/4 (crap odds before a kick) with Man Utd and the Chelsea 2nd and 3rd respectively.

 

8th a good shout? Or a safe prediction?

 

I personally believe we can ruffle those feathers again.

 

 

[Fox92]

Bit early considering the league isn't even made up yet and we haven't even got a permanent manager. 

[AKCJ]

I'd say that 8th is about right.

 

Although i'd expect us to be further away from "the best of the rest" and closer to 7th.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

8th would be good. If people are expecting us to challenge again they're in for a disappointing season imo.

[Guest]

Depends who we keep ad who we sign. 

If we keep the squad together and make a couple of really good signings then maybe we can look at the big boys once again. 

[TheStig]

Bookies also said 5000/1

[StriderHiryu]

Sounds about right, and 8th is nothing to sniff at in this league. 8th place and a really good attempt at both clubs and I think we'd say we'd had a decent season. However, I believe we have what it takes to do even better! If we keep our best players, then with the reduced amount of games we have to play then we still have the spine that won us the league, so pushing the top 6 is a possiblity. I also thnk the owners will back us again in the summer and we could see our transfer record broken again. If we can bring in players that are better than we currently have (the big mistake we made last summer), then we could be even more threatening. We don't need to sign a ton of players... even signing just 2 top class players could have a huge effect as the rest of the team is strong.

 

This season has of course shown the fickle nature of sport, and we really did look dead and buried in January. So we can't take anythign for granted. But the current team fels like it has 1-2 seasons left in them yet. The real challenge will likely be in 4-5 when most of the current squad are gone.

 

 

[MrsJohnMurphy]

I'd take 8th and the FA cup,thanks

[UniFox21]

I'd be happy with around 8th next year, shows we're a solid team, just needing a good set of recruitment here and there to be able to get into the top 7 

The top 7 all seem like 'big' clubs, but they aren't as huge as they used to be, id say we're a couple a decent signings in a few key positions from being up there

Look at Spurs, take out Kane and Alli and Erisken and they'd be lower

Man U, take out Ibra and Rashford and De Gea and they're struggling 

[Jattdogg]

Lets do 40 points first and then  go from there

[brucey]

200/1 next season aren't bad odds, considering we were 50/1 this season... especially as we'll likely do better next season than this

[weller54]

6 minutes ago, Jattdogg said:

Lets do 40 points first and then  go from there

Cheers Claudio! 

[bovril]

I think it'll be tougher than we think, especially if we lose a couple of players - Mahrez and Kasper will be very difficult to keep hold of and they are often the difference between 1 point and 3.

We're in a strange period at the moment and I honestly can't predict what's next. Cup run next year will do me, can't say I'm too bothered with becoming a 'solid PL club' like WBA.

[fazzyfox]

We could have comfortabley been 8th this season were it not for numerous games ruined by our early season tactics / decision making, playing like we have under Shakey for a whole season would easily do it. That puts us behind the current "Big 6" and Everton but ahead of Southampton (West Brom & the rest). But by being around (no lower than) 8th all season, a really good run of results from April would push us into who knows 4th-7th. Just need to be sensible tactically, be respectful but not fearful and have adequate cover when we miss players (if say Ndidi was to miss 7-8 games it would seriously agfect us at the moment). 

 

To be ranked above Southampton is fairly respectful, Everton have a big summer coming up with potential departures but a very good crop of youngsters replacing some of the mediochre veterans. Palace could be decent if they can ever become solid at the back and the returning Newcastle under Rafa will have ambitions of top 10 but will need a lot of boosting the squad to achieve that.

[Wizerud]

To be expected, some may say conservative. The big question is if we can play at or very close to our current levels throughout next season. If we can finish 8th-10th this year with the distractions of Europe and playing terrible for half the season what can we do next year without either of those? We've gone W7 D1 L2 in the league since Shakey took over with three European games in the mix and it doesn't seem far-fetched to potentially be close to the same team next year.

[Richard]

Our aim should be to challenge with Saints and Everton to at least try and keep up with the pack

[HybridFox]

Saw a stat. Only Tottenham have had more points than us since Shakey took charge. (Which we could better in the coming weeks!) 

 

So not bad at all. The concern like people have mentioned is what we do in summer. Can't afford another disastrous window. The investment we put it and finding the right balance, especially with the youth players/loanees returning who will want a chance. Also keeping hold of certain star men.

 

It's never boring to follow Leicester and never quite sure what to expect next. I just hope we give it a right go. More feathers are there to be ruffled 

[Jattdogg]

25 minutes ago, weller54 said:

Cheers Claudio! 

Pizza for everyone!

 

No reason why we can't challenge for top 8 spot if we keep our team and make smart changes where needed

[Koke]

I just hope Shakespeare doesn't pull out the tired 40 points mantra like CR did. We are better than that small time talk.

[HybridFox]

Just now, Koke said:

I just hope Shakespeare doesn't pull out the tired 40 points mantra like CR did. We are better than that small time talk.

It seemed fun during our title win because of the hysteria of us being top of the league when all we wanted was "40 points" 

 

But I agree absolutely did my head in to hear it again and again when as champions we should have ambitions much higher than that. Was really refreshing to see Shakey come out after that Atletico game and say we wanted to be back there. I hope he carries that attitude forward. (If given the job of course!) 

[Ted Maul]

As long as we have a decent transfer window, I can see us pushing for a Europa League place.

 

Hopefully we can  push on and establish ourselves in the same sort of bracket as Everton & Southampton (the second 'mini league') rather than Watford, Stoke, etc.

[bovril]

57 minutes ago, TK95 said:

It seemed fun during our title win because of the hysteria of us being top of the league when all we wanted was "40 points" 

It was more than fun, the attitude that we fostered last season was one of the reasons we ended up winning the title imo. Say what you like about Ranieri, the way he handled the pressure last year was genius. Makes this seasons meltdown all the more baffling.

[Matt]

200/1 is worth a bet!

 

I'm not saying we will, far from it, but the league was poor the year we won it, it's been as poor this season barr Chelsea, I keep saying this and I honestly believe it.

 

My aim and expectation was 6th this season, looks like we're gonna get 8th at best, which if you take CL QF's into account is a very acceptable, enjoyable and season to be proud off (Especially given where we were at Christmas).

 

My aim and expectation for next season at this early stage is the same, 6th and I don't think that is unrealistic at all.

[Benguin]

I can actually see an underdog winning next season. Chelsea will have European football again and I have a strong feeling that their squad will change quite a lot. Arsenal and Tottenham are bottlers and I just don't fancy United or City to win it. I think Liverpool could win it next season.

[Chico1958]

Our challenge is to compete with Everton, West Ham and Southampton next year.

 

All the "Big Clubs" will have Champions League or Europa to drag them down.

 

If we can continue the latter part of this seasons exploits and take them n to next season.

 

Anything could happen as history has shown............... Champions it is then   

 

Don't forget Rafa's back as well if he has the funds available to him it could be interesting