2018 - Bookies say 8th

[Dan]

I'd say that's about right personally. I think we're the best side outside of the top 7 when we're on song (which we have been for a couple of months now) and to be honest I don't think Everton are all that either. As previously stated they're probably going to lose their key player and I might be being harsh here, but a lot of their other players strike me as very hit and miss, players like Barkley, Mirallas etc..

 

I don't think it's completely beyond us to come above Everton. Consider they'll have Europa League as well.

[tom27111]

Has 5000/1 not taught everyone that bookies know nothing?

[Dan]

On the subject of Everton I still see a lot of their fans demanding big investment into their squad as it lacks depth. I get the impression there'll be a lot of change at Everton and they may take time to adjust.

 

If we hold onto Schmeichel & Vardy I think we will make the Europa League. Mahrez I think will leave either way but he hasn't been great even recently.

 

Players like Albrighton, Huth, Simpson etc... we just won't lose.

[cropstonfox]

200-  1  i'm on it!

 

 

[adam95581]

29 minutes ago, tom27111 said:

Has 5000/1 not taught everyone that bookies know nothing?

I get your sentiment but the bookies are rarely as wrong as they were two years ago

[Webbo]

4 hours ago, AKCJ said:

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.

Closer to 7th than 8th? Are we going to finish 7th and a half?

[AmarteyAndChill]

28 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

On the subject of Everton I still see a lot of their fans demanding big investment into their squad as it lacks depth. I get the impression there'll be a lot of change at Everton and they may take time to adjust.

 

If we hold onto Schmeichel & Vardy I think we will make the Europa League. Mahrez I think will leave either way but he hasn't been great even recently.

 

Players like Albrighton, Huth, Simpson etc... we just won't lose.

Mahrez is the only game changer we have in our squad though. I'd try and play him in the 10 behind Vardy. He's our best player and he shouldn't be tracking back all the time. I know he's played their before and not done well but I'd play him there till the end of the season. 

[AKCJ]

13 minutes ago, Webbo said:

Closer to 7th than 8th? Are we going to finish 7th and a half?

Yes

[ajthefox]

49 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

I'd say that's about right personally. I think we're the best side outside of the top 7 when we're on song (which we have been for a couple of months now) and to be honest I don't think Everton are all that either. As previously stated they're probably going to lose their key player and I might be being harsh here, but a lot of their other players strike me as very hit and miss, players like Barkley, Mirallas etc..

 

I don't think it's completely beyond us to come above Everton. Consider they'll have Europa League as well.

I totally agree. They've played some nice football in the games against us and they do look good going forward but I think they got more credit than they deserve really considering the very average quality of most of the teams from 8th downwards.

 

Having said that, I think they will continue to improve under Koeman and I think if he improves their defence more (Southampton seemed pretty tight at the back under him) I think they will get better. Having said that, I think it's only a matter of time until Lukaku goes and without him they won't pose anywhere near the same threat they do now.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

38 minutes ago, ajthefox said:

I totally agree. They've played some nice football in the games against us and they do look good going forward but I think they got more credit than they deserve really considering the very average quality of most of the teams from 8th downwards.

 

Having said that, I think they will continue to improve under Koeman and I think if he improves their defence more (Southampton seemed pretty tight at the back under him) I think they will get better. Having said that, I think it's only a matter of time until Lukaku goes and without him they won't pose anywhere near the same threat they do now.

 

Everton need a keeper and centre half... but in terms of Lukaku, they might get better if he leaves given you could say he's a bit one dimensional and a flat track bully. 

 

You know, they get £50 million for him from Chelsea and re-invest that well, who knows.

[mod hero]

5 hours ago, UniFox21 said:

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 

Take away my uncles boll@cks he'd be my auntie 

[Dan]

1 hour ago, ajthefox said:

I totally agree. They've played some nice football in the games against us and they do look good going forward but I think they got more credit than they deserve really considering the very average quality of most of the teams from 8th downwards.

 

Having said that, I think they will continue to improve under Koeman and I think if he improves their defence more (Southampton seemed pretty tight at the back under him) I think they will get better. Having said that, I think it's only a matter of time until Lukaku goes and without him they won't pose anywhere near the same threat they do now.

They're not bad but nothing I don't think we could catch if we played the summer right. Big if, granted.

 

They've not won away since January apparently.

[z-layrex]

I'd be really happy with 8th. Just want some stability now.

[Stadt]

I hate it when people say "a good cup run" I'm not content with just getting to the semi or the final, it's all about winning it. I couldn't give a toss if we're out in the third round or the quarters we're still out and there's really not much better about going out later on, it gets your hopes up but ultimately you're still out. "Good cup runs" are for non league sides needing cash, we should be aiming to win the FA cup.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/may/07/richard-iii-shakespeare-staged-leicester-cathedral

 

Omen?

[Mease]

11 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

On the subject of Everton I still see a lot of their fans demanding big investment into their squad as it lacks depth. I get the impression there'll be a lot of change at Everton and they may take time to adjust.

 

If we hold onto Schmeichel & Vardy I think we will make the Europa League. Mahrez I think will leave either way but he hasn't been great even recently.

 

Players like Albrighton, Huth, Simpson etc... we just won't lose.

Everton have great youngsters coming through. I fancy Barcelona may come knocking for Ron soon.

[Viva]

12 hours ago, tom27111 said:

Has 5000/1 not taught everyone that bookies know nothing?

5000/1 was the right odds. That's how big an achievement it was. 

[Munshi]

Aim should be Europa League, however I see us bettering that.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

11 hours ago, z-layrex said:

I'd be really happy with 8th. Just want some stability now.

Have to agree with that!! Its boring but I want us to stay in the PL for a long time

[Finnaldo]

Agree with a couple above when they say that we should be bettering eighth. We have been shocking two thirds of the season and finished eighth, obviously we're not sure what the team will loom like come August but if we keep the pivotal parts of our squad's structure we should be looking to compete for a European spot.

 

Simply put, there's no such thing as an 'established' club outside the traditional Top 7 (including Everton). Teams like Fulham, Blackburn, Villa & Newcastle prove you can stick around for a lot time around midtable, even win the Prem, but ultimately it takes a bad run of form or a bad appointment and you're back in the Championship. If we want to be established, if we want to stay around we have to be aiming for Europe every season, and this squad has proven it can reach that. Now more than ever where money is so evenly spread you need the edge of having European football to attract the best. This club is capable of that now more than ever so we need to push forwards and make it a reality.

[foxy boxing]

First and foremost we need stability for the whole of next season and also a good pre season and depending on who goes and who comes in, we certainly should be aiming for a top half finish and who knows we could put a good run together next season and again surprise people.outside the established top six we could very well finish seventh!

[z-layrex]

5 hours ago, Finnaldo said:

Agree with a couple above when they say that we should be bettering eighth. We have been shocking two thirds of the season and finished eighth, obviously we're not sure what the team will loom like come August but if we keep the pivotal parts of our squad's structure we should be looking to compete for a European spot.

 

Simply put, there's no such thing as an 'established' club outside the traditional Top 7 (including Everton). Teams like Fulham, Blackburn, Villa & Newcastle prove you can stick around for a lot time around midtable, even win the Prem, but ultimately it takes a bad run of form or a bad appointment and you're back in the Championship. If we want to be established, if we want to stay around we have to be aiming for Europe every season, and this squad has proven it can reach that. Now more than ever where money is so evenly spread you need the edge of having European football to attract the best. This club is capable of that now more than ever so we need to push forwards and make it a reality.

Great post, I said I would be happy with 8th but this is a very convincing argument. 

[NotTheMarketLeader]

19 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

I'd say that's about right personally. I think we're the best side outside of the top 7 when we're on song (which we have been for a couple of months now) and to be honest I don't think Everton are all that either. As previously stated they're probably going to lose their key player and I might be being harsh here, but a lot of their other players strike me as very hit and miss, players like Barkley, Mirallas etc..

 

I don't think it's completely beyond us to come above Everton. Consider they'll have Europa League as well.

Agreed. 

 

Though it does depend on what happens in the transfer 'market'.

 

Take out Vardy through injury and we are massively weakened for example.

[Detroit Blues]

A projection of 8th sounds pretty accurate. We're certainly capable, at our best, of competing with anyone. If we retained our stars, made a few quality signings and finished in the top 4, we would not be shocking the world. After all, we won the title and finished in the top 8 of the champions league.

 

We've also shown how mortal we can be. We struggled to adapt to a new tactical approach under Ranieri,. Perhaps we could struggle under new management (should we not make Shakespeare our permanent manager). We also have shown that our recruitment is by no means world class. We struggled to attract players, despite winning the league and having champions league football. The players that we did bring in, have not had the kind of impact we we're hoping for.

 

Right now, in the form we are in, I see our potential as being higher than 8th. I see no reason we couldn't really give next season a go without the struggles of dealing with European mid-week fixtures. But after the summer, I wonder if we'd feel the same way if we end up losing some important players like Schmeichel, Mahrez, and/or Vardy. If that was the case, I would probably take  8th place in a heartbeat.

 

I think externally, the club will project it's goals as staying up in the premier league, finishing in the top half of the table, and trying to win the league/FA cup. But internally, I would expect the players that decide to stay would aim higher. They've won the title, they've had a taste of the champions league, and they know that they are capable of finishing in the top 4 next season.

 

 

[Collymore]

22 hours ago, tom27111 said:

Has 5000/1 not taught everyone that bookies know nothing?

No. I thought they were being greedy offering 5000/1. I honestly don't think I'd have bothered with £1 if we'd been a million/1.